The Unbelievable Truth

David Mitchell is joined by Rufus Hound, Fern Brady, Ria Lina, and Tony Hawks as they lie on the subjects of mushrooms, milk, monkeys, and children.

The Truths

Tony Hawks - Children

- During the COVID-19 lockdown, an Indian couple who had boy and girl twins named the girl Corona and the boy Covid. Found by Ria.

- In early 20th century America, children could be sent by parcel post. In 1913, the US Postal Service increased the parcel weight limit from 4lb to 11lb, with very little regulation on what could be sent. It was later made illegal to send people via post in 1920. Found by Ria.

- Queen Victoria had jewellery made out of her children's baby teeth. Found by Rufus.

- In Saudi Arabia, it is illegal to name your child Sandy. Other banded names in the country include Linda, Elaine, Alice and Lauren. Successfully smuggled.

- In Hungary, parents threaten their naughty children with a visit from the copper-penis owl. Successfully smuggled.

Fern Brady - Milk

- The female Pacific beetle cockroach produces milk. Found by Rufus.

- Milk from the Pope's cows is used to paint the Vatican buildings. The milk is mixed with slate lime and natural pigments using an ancient recipe dating over 500 years ago, which is hand-patted onto the walls. Found by Tony.

- Breast milk is a natural laxative. Found by Tony.

- Whale milk has the consistency of toothpaste. Successfully smuggled.

- Before fridges were invented, Russians kept their milk fresh by putting live frogs in it. Successfully smuggled.

Ria Lina - Monkeys

- Monkeys avoid selfish people. Scientists placed capuchin monkeys in front of actors, who were asked to act in either helpful or unhelpful ways, which were of no direct relevance to the monkeys. When the actors offered food to the monkeys, they were more likely to take food from the helpful actors. Found by Rufus.

- Monkeys were considered for the part of Yoda in Star Wars. George Lucas originally planned for a monkey in a mask to play the character in The Empire Strikes Back, and while screen testing happened, the plan was abandoned because the monkey kept taking the mask off and waving it around. Successfully smuggled.

- In 2003, six monkeys were funded by the Arts Council to see how long it would take them to type the works of Shakespeare. Successfully smuggled.

- When the four original members of the Arctic Monkeys decided to create a band, none of them could play any instruments. Successfully smuggled.

- Some rhesus macaques will pay to see compromising pictures of female monkeys' bottoms. A study found that the monkeys would hand over their ration of fruit juice to see such photos. The same monkeys would however have to be paid fruit juice to see the bottoms of lower-ranking monkeys. Successfully smuggled.

Rufus Hound - Mushrooms

- Japanese scientists have discovered that lightning helps to make mushrooms grow. This proves an old Japanese folklore which claims the lightning storms help produce bountiful mushroom harvests. Found by Ria.

- Alan Titchmarsh discovered magic mushrooms growing in the Queen's gardens in Buckingham Palace. Found by Fern.

- Small button mushrooms, medium-sized white mushrooms and large Portobello mushrooms are all the same mushrooms at different levels of maturity. Successfully smuggled.

- Mushrooms can make it rain. Millions of tonnes of mushroom spores are spread up to 50 miles into the atmosphere each year, and recent evidence shows they act as nuclei for the formation of raindrops in clouds. Successfully smuggled.

- According to published research, there is a bright orange mushroom in Hawaii that when smelled causes an instant orgasm in women. Successfully smuggled.

Scores

- Ria Lina: 4 points
- Fern Brady and Rufus Hound: 2 points
- Tony Hawks: 1 points