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The Unbelievable Truth. David Mitchell. Copyright: BBC / Random Entertainment.

The Unbelievable Truth

BBC Radio 4 panel show built on truth and lies. 147 episodes (pilot + 24 series), 2006 - 2020. Stars David Mitchell.

New series to air in late 2020..
Series 17, Episode 1 is repeated on Radio 4 Extra on Monday 2nd November at 9am.

Series 4, Episode 1

In a special episode recorded at the 2009 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Reginald D. Hunter talks about cats, Shappi Khorsandi looks at tea, Adam Hills discusses Adolf Hitler and Rhod Gilbert chats about golf.
Preview clip

Further details

The Truths

Rhod Gilbert - Golf

- Before 1848 golf balls were made with leather and stuffed with feathers. Found by Reginald.

- 12% of all lightning fatalities in the USA happen on golf courses. Found by Reginald.

- Edward VII had a golf bag that was made from an elephant's penis. Successfully smuggled.

- Tiger Woods's first televised game was at the age of 2. Successfully smuggled.

- Rudyard Kipling invented the game of "snow golf", where he had the balls painted red so that they would be shown in the snow. Successfully smuggled.

Reginald D. Hunter - Cats

- The lecture is Reginald D. Hunter's on the subject of cats. Found by Adam. Accidentally included by Reginald when he read out the title of his lecture.

- Cats have played an important part in warfare. Found by Rhod. Accidentally included by Reginald.

- The poet Shelley once tied a local tomcat to a kite and flew it in a thunder storm to investigate the power of electricity on a living body. Found by Adam.

- In Ventura County, California cats and dogs are not allowed to have sex without a permit. Successfully smuggled.

- The Persians once threw dozens of cats over the walls on an Egyptian fort because they worshipped them. The Egyptians soon surrendered. Successfully smuggled.

- In Liverpool on March 1828, 18,000 mummified cats where imported from Egypt were auctioned off as fertiliser. Successfully smuggled.

- Cats cannot taste sweets. Successfully smuggled.

Shappi Khorsandi - Tea

- Tibetans put salt in their tea. Found by Rhod.

- "Cold tea syndrome" is medical slang for when a geriatric has died. The name comes from all the cold cups of tea on the deceased's bedside table. Found by Rhod.

- In 2001 a Zambian man was granted divorce after he found a frog in a cup of tea his wife had made him. Found by Adam.

- Every year in Britain almost 40 people are admitted to hospital for injuries involving tea cosies. Successfully smuggled.

Adam Hills - Adolf Hitler

- The Führerbunker is now a car park. Found by Rhod.

- Damon Hill was once in a punk band called "Sex, Hitler and the Hormones". Found by Shappi.

- Hitler stipulated that in a film, if a woman broke up a marriage she must die at the end of the film. Successfully smuggled.

- When Hitler was in power it was illegal for any domesticated animal to be called "Adolf". Successfully smuggled.

- Both Hitler and General Franco had only one ball. Successfully smuggled.

Scores

- Reginald D. Hunter and Rhod Gilbert: 0 points
- Shappi Khorsandi: -1 point
- Adam Hills: -2 points

Broadcast details

Date
Monday 5th October 2009
Time
6:30pm
Channel
BBC Radio 4
Length
30 minutes

Cast & crew

Regular cast
David Mitchell Host / Presenter
Guest cast
Adam Hills Guest
Reginald D Hunter Guest
Shappi Khorsandi Guest
Rhod Gilbert Guest
Writing team
Dan Gaster Writer
Production team
Jon Naismith Producer

Video

Reginald D Hunter on Cats

There are three truths hidden in this animated sketch, which is based on audio from The Unbelievable Truth.

Featuring: Reginald D Hunter.

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