The Word: Encyclopedia - The Word

The Word

The Word was a 1990s late night Channel 4 television programme in the United Kingdom. Its presenters included Mancunian Terry Christian, Mark Lamarr, Dani Behr, Katie Puckrick, Alan Connor, Amanda de Cadenet and "Hufty". The magazine format allowed for interviews, live music, features and even game shows. The flexible late night format meant that guests could do just about anything to be controversial.

There was also an 'I'll do anything to be on television' section called 'The Hopefuls' in which people ate worms, bathed in maggots, and did generally repulsive things in order to get featured on the programme.

The programme ran from 1990 to 1995. Towards the end there was considerable tabloid backlash against the show and it was not recommissioned.

The Word - Memorable moments

• Rod Hull and Emu appearing alongside Snoop Doggy Dogg neither knowing who the other was. For the viewer there was much tension for those who knew that a) Hull's act consisted primarily of attacking his co-guests and presenters with his puppet and b) Snoop placed considerable store in his cool, somewhat threatening image.
• riot grrrls Huggy Bear causing chaos when Mark Lamarr was chatting to a supermodel. The band shouted at the presenter before being violently ejected from the studio.
• Nirvana's performance of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" where Kurt Cobain declared Courtney Love to be "the best fuck in the world".
• Mark Lamarr telling Shabba Ranks that he was "talking crap" after an interview where Ranks expressed homophobic views.
• a member of L7 removing her jeans and underwear during a performance, the full-frontal nudity being briefly broadcast.
• presenter Alan Connor being held at gunpoint in a German sex club
• for a performance by Sepultura for which the show placed their fans in a special animal cage.
• A special spoof of Blind Date for bisexual contestants called Bi Date.
• Dinosaur Jr refusing to stop playing until the plugs were pulled.
• The TV debut of Oasis playing Supersonic.
• Other "I'll do anything to get on TV" moments such as a guy who got into a bath full of watery cow manure, another young guy french kissing an old grandmother, and a guy who put a huge sheep's testicle in his mouth.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "The Word", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki