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
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
David Mitchell | Host / Presenter |
Graeme Garden | Guest |
Clive Anderson | Guest |
Lucy Porter | Guest |
Chris Addison | Guest |
Dan Gaster | Writer |
Jon Naismith | Producer |