Appearing on Paul Merton’s Room 101 (Series 4, Episode 3), the comedy genius and author, Spike Milligan, nominated the city of Portsmouth to be banished to Room 101 (the TV show was extremely funny but the premise of placing things you dislike (rather than the thing you fear the most) in Room 101 made little sense if you were to closely follow the logic of the source of Room 101, George Orwell’s 1984). Milligan’s objections to the city are based around the indifferent reception he received in Portsmouth’s theatres – a fact that may be partly explained by the fact that on the advertisement for the city’s Theatre Royal, he was billed as Spike ‘I Hate Portsmouth’ Milligan. The following is the nub of Milligan’s objections to the city in conversation with Merton:

'I appeared on the stage at Portsmouth three times, and I died the bloody death. I could hear myself walking off the stage. In fact, Peter Sellers was there, and he died, and he said ‘Fuck you all!’ […]

All you got in Portsmouth was the clap'. [except, as Merton wittily pointed out, Milligan didn't].

If you have any comments, corrections, or suggestions in relation to the map please contact Dr Mark Frost, English Department, University of Portsmouth: mark.frost@port.ac.uk