The Unbelievable Truth
- Radio panel show
- BBC Radio 4
- 2006 - 2024
- 183 episodes (30 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 31
- Series 27, Episode 4 repeated Friday at 2pm on Radio 4 Extra
Episode menu
Pilot
The Truths
Jeremy Hardy - Hair
- Despite the myth, hair stops growing when we die. Found by Graeme.
- Hot weather makes your hair grow faster. Found by Andy.
- Blondes have more hair per square inch than anyone else. Redheads have the least. Found by Neil.
- A head of hair could, in theory, support the weight of two elephants. Found by Graeme.
- It was once thought that witches used their hair to control the weather. Successfully smuggled.
Andy Hamilton - Football
- The Aztecs invented chocolate. Found by Neil. Accidentally included by Andy.
- Originally the ball was egg-shaped until Indian rubber was used to make it round. Found by Graeme.
- One early football game involved playing with the head of a Danish prince. Found by Jeremy.
- When the first modern football rules were founded by Thomas Arnold of Rugby School in 1860, you were allowed to kick a player below the knee, so long as you were not part of a gang holding them down. Found by Graeme.
- In the early 1970s Chelsea played a team from Luxembourg which included a player with only one arm. Successfully smuggled.
- The penalty was a 20th century invention originally called "The Kick of Death". Successfully smuggled.
Neil Mullarkey - Cats
- Cats have lived with humans for about 4,000 years. Found by Jeremy.
- The Russian blue cat sometimes has an extra toe. Found by Graeme before it was given.
- Sir Isaac Newton invented the cat flap. Found by Andy.
- A group of kittens is called a "kindle". Found by Andy.
- The only feline thing about Dick Whittington was that his trading ship was called "The Cat". Found by Jeremy.
Graeme Garden - Bees
- Bees have five eyes. Found by Andy.
- Sniffer bees are being used to find drugs. They have a better sense of smell than dogs and can be trained within three days. Successfully smuggled.
- In Slovakia, hives are carved into the shape of the beekeeper and his wife so that bees will recognise them. Successfully smuggled.
- The carpenter bee is the world's largest bee and has been known to mate with almost anything that flies including light aircraft and hand gliders. Successfully smuggled.
- The world's smallest advert which was used to advertise the launch of the Guinness Book of Records website was on a knee-band worn by a bee. Successfully smuggled.
Scores
- Graeme Garden: 11 points
- Andy Hamilton and Neil Mullarkey: 1 point
- Jeremy Hardy: -3 points
Broadcast details
- Date
- Thursday 19th October 2006
- Time
- 6:30pm
- Channel
- BBC Radio 4
- Length
- 30 minutes
Cast & crew
David Mitchell | Host / Presenter |
Graeme Garden | Guest |
Jeremy Hardy | Guest |
Andy Hamilton | Guest |
Neil Mullarkey | Guest |
Iain Pattinson | Writer |
David Quantick | Writer |
Jon Naismith | Producer |