The Unbelievable Truth is a BBC Radio 4 comedy panel game devised by Graeme Garden and Jon Naismith. The game is chaired by David Mitchell and is described in the programme's introduction as "the panel game built on truth and lies." The object of the game is for each panellist to deliver a short lecture about a given subject, which should be completely false save for five true statements which they must attempt to smuggle past the other players. The first series began broadcasting in 2007, and the 33rd series aired in April 2026.
Reception The Guardian's Elisabeth Mahoney reviewed the programme positively: "From the first moments of its plinky plonky theme tune, The Unbelievable Truth is a delight". The Guardian's Zoe Williams, however, was critical of the programme, writing: "The Unbelievable Truth, for instance, should never have been recommissioned. It's only funny when Clive Anderson is speaking."
The BBC received "almost 50" complaints about insensitivity after David Mitchell opened a fourth series episode with the joke: "There is absolutely no truth in the rumour that the last line in Anne Frank's diary reads: 'Today is my birthday; dad bought me a drum kit'."
It won the "Best Radio Panel Show" award at the British Comedy Guide's 2011 and 2016 awards.
Episodes
Winners are highlighted in bold.
Series 1 Episode First broadcast Guests SubjectsPilot19 October 2006Jeremy Hardy, Andy Hamilton, Neil Mullarkey, Graeme GardenHair, Football, Cats, Bees01x0123 April 2007Tony Hawks, Frankie Boyle, Neil Mullarkey, Marcus BrigstockeCats, Michael Jackson, Beards, Coffee01x0230 April 2007Jeremy Hardy, Alan Davies, Jo Brand, Clive AndersonThe Human Body, Coca-Cola, Morris Dancing, Carrots01x037 May 2007Jeremy Hardy, Alan Davies, Jo Brand, Clive AndersonChickens, London Underground, Queen Elizabeth I, Ancient Egyptians01x0414 May 2007https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007h3lk Sandi Toksvig, Dara Ó Briain, Jo Caulfield, Graeme GardenGeorge W Bush, Women, Ants, Olympic Games01x0521 May 2007https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007jclz Tony Hawks, Frankie Boyle, Neil Mullarkey, Marcus BrigstockeBras, Hemp, Barcodes, Queen Elizabeth II01x0628 May 2007Sandi Toksvig, Dara Ó Briain, Jo Caulfield, Graeme GardenDenmark, Rats, Duke of Edinburgh, Trousers
Series 2 Episode First broadcast Guests Subjects02x015 May 2008Phill Jupitus, Alan Davies, Simon Evans, Tony HawksBears, Beards, Queen Victoria, Tennis02x0212 May 2008Michael McIntyre, Fred MacAulay, Graeme Garden, Lucy PorterThe Toilet, Cows, Sandwiches, Giraffes02x0319 May 2008Tim Vine, Adam Buxton, Ed Byrne, Lee MackHedgehogs, Hair, Kissing, Potatoes02x0426 May 2008Tony Hawks, Simon Evans, Alan Davies, Phill JupitusSkateboards, William Shakespeare, Frogs, Bananas02x052 June 2008Fred MacAulay, Graeme Garden, Lucy Porter, Michael McIntyreThe Bed, Sweden, Leonardo da Vinci, Pigs02x069 June 2008Lee Mack, Tim Vine, Ed Byrne, Adam BuxtonFleas, Napoleon Bonaparte, Left-Handedness, Marriage
2008 Christmas Special Episode First broadcast Guests Subjects Special 15 December 2008 Graeme Garden, Jack Dee, Sean Lock, Armando Iannucci Christmas trees, Charles Dickens, Turkeys, Father Christmas
Series 3 Episode First broadcast Guests Subjects 03x01 23 March 2009 Graeme Garden, Chris Addison, Clive Anderson, Lucy Porter Bicycles, Albert Einstein, Money, Penguins 03x02 30 March 2009 Tony Hawks, Simon Evans, Johnny Vaughan, Milton Jones Dogs, Iceland, Football, Prince Charles 03x03 6 April 2009 Graeme Garden, Chris Addison, Lucy Porter, Clive Anderson China, The Postal Service, Moustaches, The Moon 03x04 13 April 2009 Jack Dee, Fred MacAulay, Will Self, Jeremy Hardy Smiling, Charles Darwin, Cucumbers, Dolphins 03x05 20 April 2009 Sue Perkins, Arthur Smith, Sean Lock, Miranda Hart Henry VIII, Cockroaches, Dancing, Cricket 03x06 27 April 2009 Fred MacAulay, Jack Dee, Will Self, Jeremy Hardy The Brain, Umbrellas, Alcohol, Cheese
Series 4 Episode First broadcast Guests Subjects 04x01 5 October 2009 Rhod Gilbert, Reginald D. Hunter, Shappi Khorsandi, Adam Hills Golf, Cats, Tea, Adolf Hitler 04x02 12 October 2009 Clive Anderson, Henning Wehn, Fi Glover, Dom Joly Baldness, Winston Churchill, Urine, Dwarves 04x03 19 October 2009 Tony Hawks, Arthur Smith, Phill Jupitus, Graeme Garden Teeth, Underpants, The Vikings, Birmingham 04x04 26 October 2009 Rhod Gilbert, Reginald D. Hunter, Shappi Khorsandi, Adam Hills Milk, Julius Caesar, Kissing, Kangaroos 04x05 2 November 2009 Clive Anderson, Henning Wehn, Fi Glover, Dom Joly Tobacco, Sausages, Frogs, Elvis Presley 04x06 9 November 2009 Tony Hawks, Arthur Smith, Phill Jupitus, Graeme Garden Ludwig van Beethoven, Wigs, Honey, The Telephone
2009 New Year's / QI Special Episode First broadcast Guests Subjects Sp. 28 December 2009 Rob Brydon, John Lloyd, Stephen Fry, Alan Davies Snow, Tax, Champagne, Tigers
Series 5 Episode First broadcast Guests Subjects 05x01 29 March 2010 Marcus Brigstocke, Henning Wehn, Lucy Porter, Graeme Garden Childbirth, Beer, Sleep, Sir Isaac Newton 05x02 5 April 2010 Tony Hawks, Arthur Smith, Catherine Tate, Phill Jupitus Hats, Pigeons, Hairdressers, Admiral Horatio Nelson 05x03 12 April 2010 Fred MacAulay, Susan Calman, Liza Tarbuck, Charlie Brooker Skiing, Cleopatra, Elephants, Chocolate 05x04 19 April 2010 Marcus Brigstocke, Henning Wehn, Lucy Porter, Graeme Garden Soap, Pudding, Rabbits, Taxis 05x05 26 April 2010 Tony Hawks, Arthur Smith, Catherine Tate, Phill Jupitus Ostriches, Toast, Red, Spectacles 05x06 3 May 2010 Fred MacAulay, Liza Tarbuck, Susan Calman, Charlie Brooker Ducks, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Make-up, Thomas Edison
Series 6 Episode First broadcast Guests Subjects 06x01 27 September 2010 Chris Addison, Susan Calman, Rufus Hound, Armando Iannucci Henry Ford, Biscuits, Rain, Squirrels 06x02 4 October 2010 Tony Hawks, Henning Wehn, Graeme Garden, Arthur Smith Nudity, Shoes, Walt Disney, Cakes 06x03 11 October 2010 Rhod Gilbert, Tom Wrigglesworth, Lucy Porter, Kevin Bridges Spiders, Mushrooms, Eggs, Edinburgh 06x04 18 October 2010 Chris Addison, Susan Calman, Rufus Hound, Armando Iannucci Clocks & Watches, Funerals, Goldfish, Joseph Stalin 06x05 25 October 2010 Tony Hawks, Henning Wehn, Arthur Smith, Graeme Garden Noses, Apples, Lord Byron, Fishing 06x06 1 November 2010 Rhod Gilbert, Tom Wrigglesworth, Kevin Bridges, Lucy Porter Bells, Mrs. Beeton, Donkeys, The Police
Series 7 Episode First broadcast Guests Subjects 07x01 4 April 2011 Marcus Brigstocke, Lucy Porter, Alan Davies, Jack Dee Flies, Breasts, Enid Blyton, Curry 07x02 11 April 2011 Henning Wehn, Sue Perkins, Clive Anderson, Graeme Garden Dogs, The Sun, Lewis Carroll, Lobsters 07x03 18 April 2011 Tony Hawks, Charlie Brooker, Arthur Smith, Rhod Gilbert Mice, television, Sir Walter Raleigh, Soup 07x04 25 April 2011 Marcus Brigstocke, Lucy Porter, Alan Davies, Jack Dee Dieting, Snakes, Eyes, Cutlery 07x05 2 May 2011 Clive Anderson, Henning Wehn, Sue Perkins, Graeme Garden Sheep, Furniture, Ancient Greeks, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 07x06 9 May 2011 Rhod Gilbert, Arthur Smith, Tony Hawks, Charlie Brooker Badgers, Ears, Divorce, Ice Cream
Series 8 Episode First broadcast Guests Subjects 08x01 26 December 2011 Lee Mack, Graeme Garden, Jack Dee, Rufus Hound Reindeer, Pantomime, Christmas decorations, Boxes 08x02 2 January 2012 Mark Watson, Henning Wehn, Ed Byrne, Phill Jupitus The Olympics, Blood, Bees, Butter 08x03 9 January 2012 Tony Hawks, Tom Wrigglesworth, John Finnemore, Alan Davies Hamburgers, Snoring, Crocodiles, Pens 08x04 16 January 2012 Jack Dee, Lee Mack, Graeme Garden, Rufus Hound Boy Scouts, Nuts, Florence Nightingale, Circuses 08x05 23 January 2012 Alex Horne, Henning Wehn, Roisin Conaty, Mark Watson The Romans, Chickens, Sweets & Confectionery, Competitions 08x06 30 January 2012 Tom Wrigglesworth, John Finnemore, Alan Davies, Tony Hawks The Radio, Pasta, Flowers, Wool
Series 9 Episode First broadcast Guests Subjects 09x01 2 April 2012 Tony Hawks, Lucy Porter, Graeme Garden, Arthur Smith Parrots, Breakfast, Insurance, Oliver Cromwell 09x02 9 April 2012 Tom Wrigglesworth, Henning Wehn, Danielle Ward, John Finnemore Smoking, Football, China, Pandas 09x03 16 April 2012 Marcus Brigstocke, Miles Jupp, Susan Calman, Alan Davies Swimming, Bread, Hotels, Foxes 09x04 23 April 2012 Arthur Smith, Tony Hawks, Lucy Porter, Graeme Garden Barbie, Restaurants, Feet, Garlic 09x05 30 April 2012 Danielle Ward, Henning Wehn, John Finnemore, Tom Wrigglesworth Bats, Cars, Dr. Johnson, Oranges 09x06 7 May 2012 Miles Jupp, Susan Calman, Marcus Brigstocke, Alan Davies Goats, Singing, Glue, Painting
Series 10 Episode First broadcast Guests Subjects 10x01 31 December 2012 Tony Hawks, Lucy Porter, Ed Byrne, Charlie Higson Pies, Dancing, Worms, James Bond 10x02 7 January 2013 Lloyd Langford, Henning Wehn, Celia Pacquola, Rhod Gilbert Wine, Queen Elizabeth II, Bathtubs, Wind 10x03 14 January 2013 John Finnemore, Henning Wehn, Holly Walsh, Arthur Smith Boris Johnson, Computers, Oscar Wilde, Wasps 10x04 21 January 2013 Tony Hawks, Lucy Porter, Ed Byrne, Charlie Higson Gambling, Teeth, Tortoises & Turtles, Lemons 10x05 28 January 2013 Lloyd Langford, Celia Pacquola, Phill Jupitus, Marcus Brigstocke Tomatoes, Koalas, Boats, Cheese 10x06 4 February 2013 Arthur Smith, Henning Wehn, Holly Walsh, John Finnemore Simon Cowell, Beards, Camels, Germany
Series 11 Episode First broadcast Guests Subjects 11x01 8 April 2013 Lloyd Langford, Henning Wehn, Katherine Ryan, Graeme Garden Sharks, Photography, Sugar, Jeremy Clarkson 11x02 15 April 2013 Rhod Gilbert, Richard Osman, Lucy Beaumont, John Finnemore Moles, Cabbages, Trains, BBC 11x03 22 April 2013 Tony Hawks, Lucy Porter, Mark Watson, Ed Byrne Monkeys, Fingers, Windows, Horns 11x04 29 April 2013 Henning Wehn, Katherine Ryan, Graeme Garden, Lloyd Langford Geese, Horses, Advertising, Madonna 11x05 6 May 2013 Richard Osman, John Finnemore, Lucy Beaumont, Rhod Gilbert Octopuses, Aeroplanes, Armadillos, Socks 11x06 13 May 2013 Ed Byrne, Mark Watson, Lucy Porter, Tony Hawks The French, Lions, Grass, Pianos
Series 12 Episode First broadcast Guests Subjects 12x01 30 December 2013 Arthur Smith, Henning Wehn, Bridget Christie, Ed Byrne Poison, Etiquette, Jelly, David Mitchell 12x02 6 January 2014 Marcus Brigstocke, Holly Walsh, John Finnemore, Rufus Hound Eton, Babies, Russia, Hats 12x03 13 January 2014 Henning Wehn, Victoria Coren Mitchell, Graeme Garden, Jeremy Hardy Trees, Spain, Doctors, Newspapers 12x04 20 January 2014 Lloyd Langford, Lucy Porter, Tom Wrigglesworth, Fred MacAulay Women, Japan, Owls, Potatoes 12x05 27 January 2014 Marcus Brigstocke, Holly Walsh, John Finnemore, Rufus Hound Board games, Salt, Guinea pigs, Actors 12x06 3 February 2014 Jeremy Hardy, Graeme Garden, Victoria Coren Mitchell, Henning Wehn The Clergy, Beetles, Novels, The British
Series 13 Episode First broadcast Guests Subjects 13x01 7 April 2014 Alex Horne, Lucy Beaumont, John Finnemore, Jack Dee Birds, Witches, Pubs, Shoes 13x02 14 April 2014 Lloyd Langford, Katherine Ryan, Jon Richardson, Graeme Garden Whales, Canada, Pigs, Buses 13x03 21 April 2014 Alex Horne, Lucy Beaumont, John Finnemore, Jack Dee Legs, The Internet, Dogs, The Middle Ages 13x04 28 April 2014 Lloyd Langford, Katherine Ryan, Jon Richardson, Graeme Garden Wales, The Mouth, Fish, Perfume 13x05 5 May 2014 Tony Hawks, Susan Calman, Phill Jupitus, Miles Jupp The Brain, The Victorians, Toads, Cooking 13x06 12 May 2014 Tony Hawks, Susan Calman, Phill Jupitus, Miles Jupp School, Bears, Underwear, Bottles
Series 14