Room 101: Highlights from the Classic BBC Radio 5 Comedy Series

Nick Hancock finds out what people, places and pop songs his celebrity guests would consign to oblivion

Room 101 is the anti-Desert Island Discs. Instead of picking the tracks, books and luxuries they love, guests are invited to banish their least favourite things to Orwell's eponymous chamber of horrors. Twenty-seven episodes of the show were broadcast on Radio 5 between 1992 and 1994, and it went on to run for 18 hit series on BBC TV before relaunching on Radio 4 in 2023.

This specially-curated collection contains 16 of the very best editions of the original radio series. Included are the first ever show, in which Paul Merton reveals his aversion to Northanger Abbey, the city of Edinburgh and Kenneth More's laugh, and the final one from 1994, which sees Andy Hamilton hoping to rid the world of Look Back in Anger, 'Long Haired Lover from Liverpool' and Field of Dreams.

Among the other famous names discussing their bugbears and bête noires are Helen Lederer, Trevor and Simon, Caroline Quentin, Tony Hawks, Kevin Day, Maria McErlane and Mark Lamarr. Weighing up their arguments (and adding a few prejudices of his own) is host Nick Hancock, who has the final say on what stays and what goes.

Will he let Arthur Smith put Barbara Cartland into Room 101? What has Jenny Eclair got against 'My Little Pony' videos? Why does Ian Hislop detest 'We Are The Champions'? And why does Steve Punt think Platform 5 at East Croydon station is the worst place in the world? All will be revealed in these bright and breezy shows, as some of our favourite celebrities share their peeves, pet hates and personal stories.

Production credits

Presented by Nick Hancock

Produced by Lissa Evans and Phil Clark

First broadcast on BBC Radio 5 on the following dates:

Paul Merton 9 January 1992

Jenny Eclair 16 January 1992

Arthur Smith 30 January 1992

Steve Punt 6 February 1992

Ian Hislop 14 August 1992

John Walters 4 September 1992

Helen Lederer 11 September 1992

Donna McPhail 2 October 1992

Trevor Neal and Simon Hickson 3 September 1993

Caroline Quentin 10 September 1993

Tony Hawks 17 September 1993

Kevin Day 15 October 1993

Maria McErlane 22 October 1993

Mark Lamarr 29 October 1993

Nick Revell 27 February 1994

Andy Hamilton 25 March 1994

© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

© 2023 BBC Digital Audio (Lydbog): 9781529902792

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Lydbog: 23. november 2023