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 3, Episode 3

Graeme Garden talks about China, Chris Addison looks at the postal service, Clive Anderson discusses the Moon and Lucy Porter chats about moustaches.
The Unbelievable Truth. Image shows from L to R: Lucy Porter, Clive Anderson, David Mitchell, Chris Addison, Graeme Garden. Copyright: BBC / Random Entertainment

The Truths

Graeme Garden - China (the country)

- It is believed Marco Polo brought the recipe for pasta from China to Italy. Found by Clive.

- The Chinese invented toilet paper. The sheets used by the first emperor to use them were 2 feet by 3 feet in size. Found by Lucy.

- The advertising slogan "Come alive with Pepsi" was translated into Chinese as "Pepsi brings your ancestors back from the grave." Found by Lucy.

- If you crossed the boarder from China into Afghanistan you would lose three-and-a-half hours, because all of China is in one time zone. Found by Chris.

- In Ancient Chinese culture it was common to use the lining of a cats stomach as a condom. Successfully smuggled.

Chris Addison - The Postal Service

- Post is traditionally not delivered on a Sunday. Found by Graeme. Accidentally included by Chris.

- Equatorial Guinea was the first country to put flying saucers on its stamps. Found by Clive.

- The USA has stopped the posting of children. Found by Graeme.

- An Iraqi terrorist blew himself up after a letter bomb he posted did not have enough stamps. The bomb was returned, and forgetting he sent it, he opened it and he died. Successfully smuggled.

- The Kingdom of Bhutan issued a stamp which was actually a small record which played the Bhutanese national anthem. Successfully smuggled.

- Tonga once issued a stamp in the shape of a banana. Successfully smuggled.

Lucy Porter - Moustaches

- The Navaho Indians nickname for Adolf Hitler translates as, "He smells his moustache." Found by Chris.

- In the original novel, Dracula had a moustache. Found by Graeme.

- In Alabama it is illegal to grow a moustache which causes laughter in church. Found by Chris.

- Ainu girls in Japan often added a tattoo of a moustache on their upper lip in the belief it made them more attractive. Successfully smuggled.

- At least two opera singers have been known to have accidentally swallowed their false moustaches whilst singing. Successfully smuggled.

Clive Anderson - The Moon

- If the Earth were the size of an orange, the Moon would be the size of a cherry. Found by Chris.

- Erasmus Darwin, James Watt and Josiah Wedgwood were all members of the Lunar Society, a dining club which met under a full moon. Members were known as "lunatics". Found by Chris.

- There are three golf balls on the Moon. Found by Chris.

- When the Apollo 12 astronauts landed on the Moon in 1969 the surface vibrated for very nearly an hour. Successfully smuggled.

- The Moon is shaped like an egg. Successfully smuggled.

Scores

- Chris Addison: 8 points
- Clive Anderson: 3 points
- Lucy Porter and Graeme Garden: -2 points

Broadcast details

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

Repeats

Show past repeats

Date Time Channel
Sunday 12th April 2009 12:00pm Radio 4
Sunday 13th October 2013 7:30am Radio 4 Extra
Sunday 13th October 2013 10:00pm Radio 4 Extra

Cast & crew

Cast
David Mitchell Host / Presenter
Guest cast
Graeme Garden Guest
Clive Anderson Guest
Lucy Porter Guest
Chris Addison Guest
Writing team
Dan Gaster Writer
Production team
Jon Naismith Producer

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