Room 101

Room 101 is a torture chamber in George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty Four which
contained the main character’s worst nightmare – in this case, rats. The BBC
have taken this concept and turned it into a TV show in which various
celebrities talk about the things they hate. Interestingly, the origin of Room
101 was at the BBC anyway. Room 101 was the room of a senior BBC
programme editor who often rejected/edited Orwell’s work. Orwell took his
literary revenge by making the editor’s room into an evil place.

Remember – anything/anyone sent to Room 101 can never escape, so careful

consideration is needed.

Task
You are going to choose several items to be banished to Room 101. Make notes on why
they should be banished in preparation for discussing it with other class members.

Next steps
1. Think of three to five things that really annoy you and ought to be banished to
Room 101.
2. No racial, sexual, prejudicial or insulting items can be considered for Room 101.
3. No students or teachers are allowed to be put into Room 101.
4. When you have made your choice, in pairs tell each other what you are planning to
put into Room 101. Check your ideas are original and interesting – designating
homework to Room 101, for example, isn’t particularly interesting or thought-
provoking.
5. Get into groups and tell the group
which items you have chosen and why.
Nominate one group member as note
taker. As a group decide which is the
best group of items and why.
6. Each group taker reports back to the
class. If you want you then take a class
vote on the best group of items and
reasons.

Planning tip
Concentrate on one item at a time and be
thorough in terms of what you dislike about
it.

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