British Comedy Guide

Frank Skinner's Room 101 axed after 7 series

Wednesday 25th July 2018, 1:24am

Room 101. Frank Skinner. Copyright: Hat Trick Productions
  • Frank Skinner says his version of Room 101 has been axed
  • The show launched in 2012, after its previous incarnation ended in 2007
  • Skinner has hosted seven series of the comic panel-discussion format

Room 101 will not return to screens for an eighth series.

Originally launched as a radio series in 1992, the format transferred to television two years later, hosted first by Nick Hancock and later Paul Merton. In its original format it ran for eleven series, last being aired in 2007.

The show sees celebrities nominate their pet hates to be consigned to 'Room 101', a room of torture and oblivion created by author George Orwell in his dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four.

Now current host Frank Skinner, whose revamped version of the format was unveiled in 2012, has announced that the show has been axed.

Produced by Hat Trick Productions, the company also behind formats including Have I Got News For You, the BBC One series is currently being repeated by the channel in a popular late-night Friday slot.

Speaking to The Times in an interview published on Saturday, the comic quipped: "Room 101 is dead."

Reacting to his publicist's discomfort at his revealing the news before an official announcement had been made, he added: "But who the f*** cares, really? I don't know if it changes anything. I've done seven series. I don't feel that I have been washed up on the shores of stand-up."

The BBC has yet to respond to British Comedy Guide's request for comment.

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