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 28, Episode 3

David Mitchell is joined by Lou Sanders, Ria Lina, Milton Jones and Chris McCausland as they lie on the subjects of magazines, the human body, golf and computers.

The Truths

Chris McCausland - Computers

- Half a byte is a nibble, and half a nibble is a crumb. Found by Ria.

- The @ sign is known as a "pickled herring" in Slovakia. Successfully smuggled.

- The "mouse mouse" is a computer mouse housed inside the skin of a dead mouse. Successfully smuggled.

- A man in Finland who lost a finger in a motorcycle accident had it replaced with a USB drive. It is accessed by pealing back his fake fingernail. Successfully smuggled.

- There is a computer virus called the "laundry virus", which caused computer screens to change to pictures of front-loading washing machines. Successfully smuggled.

Lou Sanders - Magazines

- As a teenager Fiona Bruce posed for several romantic photo stories in Jackie Magazine. She was paid £3 and took with photos with boys she fancied at school. Found by Ria.

- Donald Trump cashed a cheque for 13 cents that was printed in Spy Magazine. The only other person to cash the cheque was an arms dealer. Found by Chris.

- In the USA, more young adults read magazines than browse the internet. According to the American Association of Magazine Media, in 2021, 95% of Americans aged between 18-29 read magazines, compared to 91.8% who browsed the internet, and 81% who used Facebook. Successfully smuggled.

- 90 dogs have been on the cover of Vogue since it was founded in 1892. Successfully smuggled.

- One genuine tabloid magazine headline is: "I turned my dead hubby into teabags". Successfully smuggled.

Ria Lina - The Human Body

- The Japanese word for the uvula, "nodochinko", translates into English as "throat penis". Found by Lou.

- The world "muscle" comes from Latin meaning "little mouse" because Romans thought flexed bicep muscles looked like mice running under the skin. Found by Chris.

- The most satisfying place to scratch is the ankle. Successfully smuggled.

- The German word "nasenschleim" means "snot". Successfully smuggled.

- If she were human, Barbie would not have enough fat to go through her first period. Successfully smuggled.

Milton Jones - Golf

- When Alan Shepard hit a golf ball on the Moon, the Royal and Ancient Golf Club rules committee chastised him for not replacing the divot. Found by Chris.

- There is a Bob Jones golf tournament that is only open to people called Bob Jones. It is named after the man considered to have been the greatest amateur golfer of all time. Found by Chris.

- The King Hassan Golf Tournament in Morocco gives a jewel-incrusted gold dagger as the main prize. Found by Chris.

- Mary Queen of Scots was the first known female golfer, and is nicknamed the "Mother of Golf". Successfully smuggled.

- The first officially recorded golf match, which was between James IV of Scotland and the Earl of Bothwell occurred in February 1504 - or as Milton pronounces it, "Fifteen-o-FOUR!" Successfully smuggled.

Scores

- Chris McCausland: 5 points
- Milton Jones: 0 points
- Lou Sanders: -1 point
- Ria Lina: -2 points

Broadcast details

Date
Monday 18th April 2022
Time
6:30pm
Channel
BBC Radio 4
Length
30 minutes

Repeats

Show past repeats

Date Time Channel
Sunday 24th April 2022 12:00pm Radio 4
Monday 25th April 2022 7:30am Radio 4 Extra
Monday 25th April 2022 5:30pm Radio 4 Extra
Monday 25th April 2022 10:00pm Radio 4 Extra
Tuesday 26th April 2022 5:30am Radio 4 Extra

Cast & crew

Cast
David Mitchell Host / Presenter
Guest cast
Milton Jones Guest
Lou Sanders Guest
Ria Lina Guest
Chris McCausland Guest
Writing team
Dan Gaster Writer
Colin Swash Writer
Production team
Jon Naismith Producer
Graeme Garden Creator
Jon Naismith Creator

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