The inside story of Trump's Comedy Central roast: The Donald 'edited jokes to make himself seem richer, banned discussion of his bankruptcies and was sensitive about his hair'

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Donald Trump edited jokes to make himself seem richer when he appeared on the Comedy Central roast, network executives and writers claim.

The Republican presidential candidate, who was just beginning to consider a run at the White House, banned discussion of his multiple bankruptcies and was sensitive about jokes and his hair, the Huffington Post reports. 

Trump also complained that one of the women set to accompany him onto stage was 'not pretty enough.'  

Celebrities from Jersey Shore's Mike 'The Situation' Sorrentino to rapper Snoop Dogg had lined up to take a swipe at the media mogul during the show in 2011, hosted by Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane.

But it was an awkward affair, with The Donald grimacing through the two-hour verbal battering from comedians and TV stars.

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Ouch: Donald Trump looked pained as he reacted to a joke about himself during the Comedy Central roast in March 2011

But the comedians were under strict instructions to keep away from two subjects: Trump's past bankruptcies, and any suggestion that he was not as wealthy as he claimed to be.  

'I don't think we ever got that in writing, but that was definitely conveyed verbally,' said Jonas Larsen, Comedy Central’s senior vice president, who served as executive producer for the event.  

Bankruptcy jokes are the 'one thing (Trump's) super sensitive about,' comedian Jeff Ross, who first suggested Trump should participate in the Comedy Central show after a roast at comedy club Friars Club, told Jimmy Kimmel in July. 

The Donald also appeared to be extra sensitive about his hair.

During the writing process, Trump vetoed numerous jokes about his signature bouffant - returning the writing team's suggestions covered in black Sharpie.

Trump was driven on stage in a golden golf cart flanked by beautiful women 

Sometimes he would leave the joke itself - but cross out the entire punchline. 

'I have done this a long time and nobody blacks out punchlines,' said Jesse Joyce, one of the writers. Scrapping punchlines represents 'a classic lack of an understanding of how a joke works,' he added.

Lead Comedy Central writer Ray James said he had tried to explain to Trump why he needed to add in a joke referencing his hair - a subject he knew was likley to be a source of fun by the roasting comedians. 

But time and time again Trump refused. He rejected one joke about needing to feed his squirrel like hairdo, suggesting his own 'joke': 'Look how great it looks.'

Eventually the writers persuaded him to keep in one gag - but only as it appeared to boost his personal wealth.

Celebrities from Jersey Shore's Mike 'The Situation' Sorrentino to rapper Snoop Dogg (left) had lined up to take a swipe at the media mogul during the two-hour show, hosted by Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane (right) 

Trump made it clear from the start that two subjects were off the table: his past bankruptcies, and any suggestion that he was not as wealthy as he claimed to be

Viewers heard the eventual joke as: 'What's the difference between a wet raccoon and Donald Trump's hair? A wet raccoon doesn't have $7 billion.'

However, the original joke was written to be $2 billion. After much negotiation - Trump wanted the figure to be $10 billion, they settled on $7 billion.

In his rebuttal script, which is typically self deprecating for most roastees, Trump doubled the square footage of his penthouse apartment for a joke about how he lives in a '25,000 square-foot penthouse atop my solid-gold space station.'

By the time it came to air, it was 50,000sq ft. His final line was changed from saying he must leave to go 'make a million dollars' to a 'billion' dollars. 

On the actual day of the roast, on March 9, 2011, Comedy Central had gathered an array of comedians and personalities ready to roast the Donald.

But assembling a group of Trump-friendly celebrities turned out to be a much harder task.

The Donald also appeared to be extra sensitive about his hair. During the writing process, Trump vetoed numerous jokes about his signature bouffant

Trump arrived at the event with his wife Melania  who watched as he was battered verbally by comedians

Wrestling impresario Vince McMahon, Regis Philbin and boxer Mike Tyson all turned the show down. 

Celebrity Apprentice winner Bret Michaels eventually agreed to attend after much persuasion by the show's producers. He was joined by TV host Larry King - an old friend of Trump's - and another Celebrity Apprentice graduate, actress Marlee Matlin.

Perhaps it's understandable why the producers had such a hard time finding Trump-friendly roasters when you see his jokes about his 'friends.'

One handwritten note, by Trump, says: 'Their(sic) all losers and I like associating with loser(sic) because it makes me feel even better about myself.'

He had also insisted that everyone on the show referred to him as 'Mr Trump'.

During the dress rehearsal, the real estate mogul is also said to have kicked up a fuss because the woman due to accompany him onstage to take his coat at the roast was 'not pretty enough', according to the stage manager Robert Ferkle.

Comedians Anthony Jeselnik and Whitney Cummings crack up at  the Comedy Central Roast Of Donald Trump 

Trump was to be driven on stage in a golden golf cart flanked by beautiful women. But when the woman in question came to take his coat, he grabbed Ferkle and told him she was 'not somebody he wanted to be associated with at that moment,' the stage manager said.

During the actual roast, at the Hammerstein Ballroom, Trump looked uncomfortable as he was subjected to jokes about his appearance, his love life and his ambitions to run for president.

'Donald say he want to run for president and move on into the White House. Why not? It wouldn't be the first time you pushed a black family out of they house,' said Snoop Dog.

At the time, no one took Trump's mulling over whether to run or not seriously. 

Show executives said Trump sat through the show with a 'scowling curled lip of discontent', and his noticeable lack of laughter - unlike almost every other guest - made for an awkward roast. 

Trump later explained in the roast he did it for charity, claiming Comedy Central paid him $1 million for the show. The network declined to comment on the figure although some say it was closer to $400,000.

But during that year, Comedy Central did donate that amount to the controversial Donald J. Trump Foundation.