The Unbelievable Truth. David Mitchell. Copyright: BBC / Random Entertainment
The Unbelievable Truth

The Unbelievable Truth

  • Radio panel show
  • BBC Radio 4
  • 2006 - 2024
  • 177 episodes (29 series)

David Mitchell hosts this Radio 4 panel game built on truth and lies. Contestants must try and smuggle truths into lie-filled speeches.

  • Due to return for Series 30

Episode menu

Series 4, Episode 4

In a special episode recorded at the 2009 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Reginald D. Hunter talks about Julius Caesar, Shappi Khorsandi looks at kissing, Adam Hills discusses kangaroos and Rhod Gilbert chats about milk.

The Truths

Rhod Gilbert - Milk

- The Queen's milk bottles are monogrammed. Found by Adam.

- Robert Redford's father was a milkman. Found by Adam.

- Hippos milk is pink. Successfully smuggled.

- The expression "Skimmed milk" originates from Shakespeare's play Henry IV Part 1. Successfully smuggled.

- If you bust a paper bag in the ear of a Jersey cow it stop producing milk for half-an-hour. Successfully smuggled.

Reginald D. Hunter - Julius Caesar

- It is widely believed that Caesar was born with teeth. Found by Shappi.

- Caesar wore vegetables to disguise his baldness. Found by Shappi.

- All Romans of the pre-Caesar era were vegetarian. Successfully smuggled.

- Caesar brought the first giraffe to the west. Successfully smuggled.

- Caesar and Cleo were the early stage names of Sonny and Cher Bono. Successfully smuggled.

Shappi Khorsandi - Kissing

- In the 19th century women put pins in their mouths to avoid untoward kissing in the dark. Found by Rhod.

- Noel Edmonds gave the kiss of life to a horse. Found by Rhod.

- Until the Romans invaded the British had no word for kissing. Successfully smuggled.

- In Iowa it is illegal for a man with a moustache to kiss a woman in public. Successfully smuggled.

- Vanessa Feltz's first kiss was with the DJ Pete Tong. Successfully smuggled.

Adam Hills - Kangaroos

- Kangaroos cannot walk backwards or fart. Found by Rhod.

- Kangaroos outnumber Australians three-to-one. Found by Rhod.

- Kangaroos are excellent swimmers. Found by Rhod.

- A group of kangaroos is called a "mob". Found by Rhod.

- The surname of Australian tennis player Evonne Goolagong translates into English as "kangaroo's nose". Successfully smuggled.

Scores

- Rhod Gilbert: 4 points
- Reginald D. Hunter: -1 point
- Shappi Khorsandi: -3 points
- Adam Hills: -6 points

Broadcast details

Date
Monday 26th October 2009
Time
6:30pm
Channel
BBC Radio 4
Length
30 minutes

Repeats

Show past repeats

Date Time Channel
Sunday 1st November 2009 12:00pm Radio 4
Wednesday 30th July 2014 9:00am Radio 4 Extra
Wednesday 30th July 2014 6:00pm Radio 4 Extra
Thursday 31st July 2014 1:00am Radio 4 Extra

Cast & crew

Cast
David Mitchell Host / Presenter
Guest cast
Adam Hills Guest
Reginald D Hunter Guest
Shaparak Khorsandi (as Shappi Khorsandi) Guest
Rhod Gilbert Guest
Writing team
Dan Gaster Writer
Production team
Jon Naismith Producer

Press

David Mitchell's gag over WW2 Anne backfires

David Mitchell is in hot water for making a joke about Anne Frank.

The Sun, 4th November 2009

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