So there we have it - two weeks away from the computer, and I still managed a fact every day. By the way, if you want proof, I still have the scribblings on my notepad. OK, so technically that's not proof. Anyway, I've spent about three hours typing up my etchings and I'm dying for a Chinese takeaway, so here goes:
John Graham from Cumbria is the world's biggest liar.
That's right, Graham, a 69-year-old imaginatively nicknamed 'Johnny Liar' (a bit like calling David Beckham 'Dave Football') has won the coveted title six times in all, and reclaimed his crown last year with a tall tale about U-boats invading Britain (nice to see he's keeping up with the times). The event takes place at the Santon Bridge Inn in Cumbria, and apparently involves competitors trying to tell the fattest lie they can muster within a five minute time frame.
Sue Perkins, of Light Lunch semi-fame, won the contest in 2006, having turned up to make a documentary about it. Sadly, the tournament has been marred by jingoism in the past, with a South African champion being derided for not being local. It seems they can't quite grasp that being a liar is not actually something to be proud of. If they're looking for homegrown talent, I can think of the ideal contestant, and his specialist subject.
1 comment:
Hey matey, that fact about a society of liars was interesting. Makes me wonder how exactly you measure the magnitude of a lie? I mean, if I told a stranger that I am actually God, that would be a pretty big lie. Presumably I have to go to Cumbria to claim my title though.
Sorry, not trying to invalidate your fact, just thought it was amusing! Also appreciated the irony of a fact about lies.
Glad you had a good trip anyway! Did you, as we did back in '04, have a day where you couldn't breathe for midges? Very unpleasant!
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