Room 101 - Series 1

This new series has three guests on each programme who are fighting it out to get their things into the room. The guests are:

January 20: Danny Baker, Fern Britton, Robert Webb

January 27: Gregg Wallace, Gabby Logan, Sarah Millican

February 3: Chris Packham, Chris Tarrant, Alice Cooper

February 10: Ross Noble, Jamelia, Germaine Greer

February 17: Alistair McGowan, Hilary Devey, Josh Groban

February 24: Nick Hewer, Carol Vorderman, Rhod Gilbert

March 2: Larry Lamb, Lauren Laverne, David O'Doherty

March 9: John Prescott, Micky Flanagan, Rebecca Front

Out of those, Danny Baker, Chris Tarrant, Ross Noble and Germaine Greer have all been on previously (the only other returning guest being Ian Hislop).

Interestingly, according to DigiGuide, the episodes are all pre-watershed (20:30).

EDIT: The BBC has issued a press release with more information. Turns out there will also be extended repeats.

Friday 20:30, despite being described as a "prime slot", isn't really that great (see also QI eventually moving back to BBC2 because it was getting shunted into that slot, The Ones being quietly burnt off there because they're presumably crap and the non-stop repeats otherwise shoved there). I don't think the BBC have that much confidence in this show or they wouldn't have scheduled it there.

I'm sure I've said this elsewhere but I think giving this show to Frank Skinner is a wasted oppotunity.

It's a shame because I enjoyed the old format. I'm not sure why in these times of austerity you'd want to add two unnecessary guests.

I loved it the old way, but from the clip I just watched on here it does look pretty good. https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/room_101/videos/
As with anything, it'll depend on the guests. Frank's always funny though.

My thoughts on the first episode:

I wasn't expecting to think much of it - and no, of course it's not really Room 101 in the true sense - but the first episode is actually really good. The interaction between the guests is very well managed, and between Skinner and the inherent features of the new format, a very nice, very funny, relaxed and chatty atmosphere is created. I was expecting to be sat in front of another really rather tedious panel show, but it was lots of fun and I got some big laughs from it.

Of course, with different guests each week the dynamic is potentially quite vulnerable, but hopefully there'll always be someone on board who bridges the gaps well (Webb).

Why does everything have to be a panel game? And isn't that near enough the same guest list as the last series of Would I Lie To You?

Frank Skinner is perfect for this and some good laughs in there too, the Jeremy Kyle clip for one. The mix of guests makes for a more panel like feel but that's not a bad thing and makes more room for funny banter. It's a lot removed from the old show and I am inclined to say I preferred it the old way but it's back on again so I ain't complaining!

I really enjoyed it. Have gone off Fern though. Sci fi indeed! Pah.

And her argument for it was full of holes...black ones.

Quote: Timbo @ January 20 2012, 9:30 PM GMT

Why does everything have to be a panel game?

View original

Ask Danny Baker.

This is the first time I've sat through a full episode of something with Frank Skinner in it for a few years, so I'd consider it a success.

Danny Baker was good.

With his little safety pins.

I liked it, although they could lose the three levers. It looked awkward when used.

Aw, I liked the levers!

What I didn't like was that the things chosen to go into Room 101 didn't fall down, they were lowered.