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 6

David Mitchell is joined by Lou Sanders, Ria Lina, Milton Jones and Chris McCausland as they lie on the subjects of flowers, wood, underground and goldfish.

The Truths

Chris McCausland - Goldfish

- Goldfish were once given as romantic presents from husbands to wives, in a practice from the early 17th century. Found by Lou.

- Goldfish are prone to depression. Successfully smuggled.

- Film producer Samuel Goldwyn also went under the name "Samuel Goldfish". Successfully smuggled.

- Goldfish are worse than humans at hearing. Successfully smuggled.

- John Prescott bought a goldfish for Tony Blair just to cheer him up. Successfully smuggled.

Lou Sanders - Flowers

- Nintendo bred a flower called the "Pikmin", to promote the game Pikmin Bloom. Found by Ria.

- 15% of American women send flowers to themselves on Valentine's Day. Found by Chris.

- Flowers grow quicker when spoken to in a Geordie accent. Found by Chris.

- Humans share 85% of their DNA with daffodils. Found by Milton.

- The naked man orchid gets its name because each petal resembles a naked man, complete with a small penis. Successfully smuggled.

Ria Lina - Wood

- In 2018, the National Toy Hall of Fame in New York gave the "Oldest Toy" award to the stick. Found by Chris.

- The San Francisco Fire Department uses wooden ladders, because they don't conduct electricity from overhanging cables. Found by Lou.

- A woodpecker's tongue wraps around its brain, protecting the brain during high-speed pecking. Found by Lou.

- Woodlice can change sex from male to female if they catch a particular form of parasite. Found by Chris.

- Swedish scientists have developed a transparent wood which can be used to make windows. Successfully smuggled.

Milton Jones - Underground

- The original plans for the London Underground included terminating in Paris. Found by Ria.

- There is a group of pigeons that regularly travel on the London Underground from Hammersmith to Ladbroke Grove. Found by Ria.

- There are hundreds of thousand-year-old tunnel systems in Bavaria, and no-one knows who built them or why. Found by Ria.

- Only one pirate, William Kidd, is known to have buried any treasure underground. Successfully smuggled.

- The largest badger set ever discovered had 50 underground chambers, 178 entrances and 879m of tunnel. Successfully smuggled.

Scores

- Lou Sanders, Milton Jones and Chris McCausland: -1 point
- Ria Lina: -3 points

Broadcast details

Date
Monday 9th May 2022
Time
6:30pm
Channel
BBC Radio 4
Length
30 minutes

Repeats

Show past repeats

Date Time Channel
Sunday 15th May 2022 12:00pm Radio 4
Monday 16th May 2022 7:30am Radio 4 Extra
Monday 16th May 2022 5:30pm Radio 4 Extra
Monday 16th May 2022 10:00pm Radio 4 Extra
Tuesday 17th May 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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