The BEST episodes of The Smoking Room

Every episode of The Smoking Room ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of The Smoking Room!

Writer Brian Dooley has created a rich pageant of life in the tiny Petri dish of the Smoking Room. Big on witty dialogue, short on plot, the Smoking Room ran for two series and a Christmas special. It was understated and gentle, but not in a mumsy billowy way – the show definitely had edges. And then sometimes it went beyond them.

Last Updated: 11/6/2024Network: BBC ThreeStatus: Ended
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1987
star
8.71
7 votes

#1 - 1987

Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 8/9/2005

Robin discovers photographs from the 1987 company brochure, bringing back mixed emotions of everyone's past portrait.

Directors: Gareth Carrivick
Writer: Brian Dooley
Watch Now:Amazon
Quitters
star
8.67
6 votes

#2 - Quitters

Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 8/30/2005

Despite being a smoker herself, Sharon is concerned about the amount of time being taken by the smokers for smoking breaks. So she's organised an anti-smoking seminar; attendance is compulsory. Naturally, the smokers aren't happy to participate. Derek, the man hosting the seminar, is dressed as a cigarette... he sings too.

Directors: Gareth Carrivick
Writer: Brian Dooley
Watch Now:Amazon
Last Night a Graphic Designer Saved My Life
star
8.67
6 votes

#3 - Last Night a Graphic Designer Saved My Life

Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 9/6/2005

After saving an old lady from a mugger, Sally is front page news. Clint and Len are a little star-struck by the now famous Sally, which leaves Robin wondering if it might be going to her head. Gordon can see an opportunity though and offers his advice on how to exploit her new found fame.

Directors: Gareth Carrivick
Writer: Brian Dooley
Watch Now:Amazon
Happy Birthday
star
8.57
7 votes

#4 - Happy Birthday

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 8/17/2004

It's Lilian's birthday: Yvonne and Lois are organising nibbles, Annie is trying to chat Robin up and Sharon's attempts to mix with her workforce succeed only in driving Gordon to drink. Robin is hoping Ben from the post room will finally turn up.

Directors: Gareth Carrivick
Writer: Brian Dooley
Watch Now:Amazon
Only Temporary
star
8.50
8 votes

#5 - Only Temporary

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 8/10/2004

A new temp has arrived and she has already managed to get Barry out of his trousers. Barry is smitten with her, but Len dreams only of Mickey Mouse. Lilian is back from her holiday, with cheap cigarettes and tales of 'Aristotle'.

Directors: Gareth Carrivick
Writer: Brian Dooley
Watch Now:Amazon
Pity the Fool
star
8.33
6 votes

#6 - Pity the Fool

Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 8/23/2005

It's April Fool's Day and instructions have come from head office to mark the occasion with practical jokes to boost staff morale. Sharon - predictably is against the idea, but that doesn't stop Janet distributing the suitable props she has been issued around the building. The smokers are not in the least bit interested; they feel that life plays enough cruel jokes on you.

Directors: Gareth Carrivick
Writer: Brian Dooley
Watch Now:Amazon
Feeding Time
star
8.29
7 votes

#7 - Feeding Time

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 8/3/2004

It's lunch-hour and it's raining. Janet is supposed to be getting Sharon's lunch, but she's more concerned about keeping her hair dry. A magazine questionnaire reveals more about the smokers than they want to know. While Janet considers rebelling against Sharon, Annie is trying to get Barry's lunch. Then their peace is disturbed by Gordon - a non-smoker.

Directors: Gareth Carrivick
Writer: Brian Dooley
Watch Now:Amazon
Smashed
star
8.29
7 votes

#8 - Smashed

Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 8/16/2005

The smoking room has been vandalised during a break-in. The smokers try to identify the culprit and end up suspecting everyone. Barry has even drawn up a list of possible suspects; Which brings us to, Robin - Just how did he get that black eye?

Directors: Gareth Carrivick
Writer: Brian Dooley
Watch Now:Amazon
Bzzzzzzzzz
star
8.17
6 votes

#9 - Bzzzzzzzzz

Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 7/26/2005

Janet's nephew Dominic shadows Robin for the day for his university thesis.

Directors: Gareth Carrivick
Writer: Brian Dooley
Watch Now:Amazon
Significant Others
star
8.17
6 votes

#10 - Significant Others

Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 9/13/2005

The fact that Janet has a boyfriend is surprising enough, but the fact that he has proposed and she had accepted is even more surprising. Most of the smokers are delighted for her, especially as she has brought champagne to the smoking room to celebrate, but Robin is concerned: is she rushing things?

Writer: Brian Dooley
Watch Now:Amazon
R.I.P.
star
8.10
10 votes

#11 - R.I.P.

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 7/6/2004

Death visits the regulars of The Smoking Room. Martin [a colleague] has dropped dead in Asda and more importantly (to Annie), so has her pet rabbit. No reason to close the office ealry though, according to Sharon.

Directors: Gareth Carrivick
Writer: Brian Dooley
Watch Now:Amazon
No Place Like Home
star
7.88
8 votes

#12 - No Place Like Home

Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 8/2/2005

A severe snowstorm has brought the roads to a gridlock and trapped everyone at work after hours.

Directors: Gareth Carrivick
Writer: Brian Dooley
Watch Now:Amazon
Chocolate Box
star
7.88
8 votes

#13 - Chocolate Box

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 7/27/2004

It's Valentines Day and a box of chocolates has been left in the smoking room, but an ambiguous and badly spelt note left with them makes the identity of the recipient unclear. Clint thinks they are for him, Robin hopes they are for him. Meanwhile Heidi has returned from maternity leave, trouble is, nobody seemed to notice she had gone.

Directors: Gareth Carrivick
Writer: Brian Dooley
Watch Now:Amazon
Light My Fire
star
7.80
10 votes

#14 - Light My Fire

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 7/20/2004

To the annoyance of a Japanese client, nobody in the smoking room has a lighter. To the annoyance of Janet, the Japanese client is annoyed! She's not too impressed with Clint's Yoda impression either. Worse still for Sally, Annie has come to work wearing the same top.

Directors: Gareth Carrivick
Writer: Brian Dooley
Watch Now:Amazon
Do De Dum De Da
star
7.00
14 votes

#15 - Do De Dum De Da

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 6/29/2004

The cast of The Smoking Room are introduced as they try to remember the theme tune to, 'Little House On The Prairie'. Barry has an interview, he thinks it's between him and 'Alky Malky'. However, there's an external candidate to be considered - Monique...

Directors: Gareth Carrivick
Writer: Brian Dooley
Watch Now:Amazon
Pantball
star
6.75
8 votes

#16 - Pantball

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 7/13/2004

There is a distinct lack of enthusiasm amongst the smokers for Sharon's paintballing trip. Janet doesn't seem that keen either, maybe that's why she's written 'pantball' on the posters. Lilian finds out that her night in the Nags' was caught on camera.

Writer: Brian Dooley
Watch Now:Amazon