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 25, Episode 6

David Mitchell hosts three comedy couples: Sarah Millican and Gary Delaney, Marcus Brigstocke and Rachel Parris, and Lucy Porter and Justin Edwards, as they talk with deliberate inaccuracy on subjects as varied as nudity, horses and Valentine's Day.

The Truths

Rachel Parris and Marcus Brigstocke - Horses

- Horses cannot vomit. Found by Lucy and Justin.

- Registered race horse names include Why Kick A Moo Cow. Others include Brace Horse, The Wife Doesn't Know, What Am I Chopped Liver, May The Horse Be With You, Fifty Shades Of Hay, Sofa King Fast, and Horsey McHorseface. Found by Lucy and Justin.

- In the USA, depressed people can take on miniature horses onto planes as emotional support animals. Found by Lucy and Justin.

- Most horses operated at around 15 horsepower. Successfully smuggled.

- In 2008, police in Romania arrested a horse for being drunk. Successfully smuggled.

Lucy Porter and Justin Edwards - Valentine's Day

- St. Valentine is the patron saint of beekeepers, as well as lovers, travellers, fainting and plagues. Found by Rachel and Marcus.

- On Valentine's Day, Seattle Aquarium holds regular events where you can watch octopuses mating. Found by Sarah and Gary.

- Dean Gaffney was born on Valentine's Day, 1978. Successfully smuggled.

- In Roman times, young men dressed in wolf masks and loincloths, then ran through the city hitting people with strips of goatskin. Those struck were said to be rendered fertile. This took place during the festival of Lupercalia, a precursor to Valentine's Day, taking place on 15th February and being a bloody and lust-filled celebration. Successfully smuggled.

- A fish and chip shop in Preston produced a special Valentine's Day meal for two, which included a deep-fried sausage candelabra. John Clarkson, owner of Mister Eaters Eating Emporium, claimed he got the idea after he made the world's longest battered sausage and raising money for charity by encouraging women to bring their bras to his shop to be filled with chips. Successfully smuggled.

Sarah Millican and Gary Delaney - Nudity

- In 1998, Czech TV channel TV Nova introduced a late-night naked weather forecast, where the forecaster (originally a busty female, but muscular men where later used) would appear naked, and then put on clothes appropriate to the forthcoming weather. While a ratings hit, it was axed a few years later, but revived online in 2007. Found by Rachel and Marcus.

- In his seventies, Mahatma Ghandi slept with naked women to test his celibacy, believing that if he was not aroused by their presence, he would achieve brahmacarya, a Hindu concept of celibate self-control, and at the same time incapable of lying or harming anyone. At least two of his personal helpers resigned in protest against the practice. Found by Lucy and Justin.

- The lava lamp was designed by Edward Walker, an account and nude underwater film maker. The inspiration for the lamp however came from an oil-based egg timer in a Hampshire pub. Successfully smuggled.

- In the nineties, passengers in a first class train carriage were confronted by a prolific bush: namely George Bush completely naked. This Bush was not the US President, but a man from the 1890s who was sentenced to a month in prison for appearing naked in the carriage. A magistrate ordered him to pay a £20 fine or spend another month in prison. Successfully smuggled.

- The Louvre has a naked version of the Mona Lisa. The Monna Vanna is a charcoal sketch attributed to the school of Leonardo da Vinci, with some experts at the Louvre believing that it could be made by da Vinci himself. Successfully smuggled.

Scores

- Lucy Porter and Justin Edwards: 1 point
- Sarah Millican and Gary Delaney: -2 points
- Rachel Parris and Marcus Brigstocke: -3 points

Broadcast details

Date
Monday 15th February 2021
Time
6:30pm
Channel
BBC Radio 4
Length
30 minutes

Repeats

Show past repeats

Date Time Channel
Sunday 21st February 2021 12:00pm Radio 4
Monday 22nd February 2021 7:30am Radio 4 Extra
Monday 22nd February 2021 5:30pm Radio 4 Extra
Monday 22nd February 2021 10:00pm Radio 4 Extra
Tuesday 23rd February 2021 5:30am Radio 4 Extra
Thursday 28th March 2024 9:00am Radio 4 Extra
Thursday 28th March 2024 2:00pm Radio 4 Extra
Thursday 28th March 2024 7:00pm Radio 4 Extra
Friday 29th March 2024 4:00am Radio 4 Extra

Cast & crew

Cast
David Mitchell Host / Presenter
Guest cast
Marcus Brigstocke Guest
Lucy Porter Guest
Sarah Millican Guest
Gary Delaney Guest
Rachel Parris Guest
Justin Edwards Guest
Writing team
Dan Gaster Writer
Colin Swash Writer
Production team
Jon Naismith Producer

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