Lateral with Tom Scott

Science communicators Taha Khan, Melissa Fernandes, and Sabrina Cruz of Answer in Progress tackle wonderfully odd questions. They explore a citadel’s final family, frogs revealing chemical nerve signals, the origins of the clown car and “scientist,” Japanese dogs delivering prayers, and the unusual way internet standards reach consensus. Expect curious detours, strange history, and plenty of laughs.

Jay Foreman and Mark Cooper-Jones, the comedy geography duo behind Map Men, join Australian improviser Lizzy Skrzypiec for a brain-bending round of questions. They explore dog-free Crufts course walks, polystyrene balls replacing bulls, Grace Hopper’s famous wire, and how hot-air balloons reshaped trespass laws. Also: leaning minarets, look-alike medicines, and pop-punk DNA clues.

Charlotte McDonnell and Libby Watson, co-hosts of a British culture podcast, join Daniel Peake, a Telegraph puzzle editor and quiz creator. They tackle bizarre connections involving Audi’s logo, post-surgery toothbrushes, Waymo door-closing gigs, ferry commuters’ collaborative jigsaws, puppet theater furniture, Krakatoa and The Scream, and Louis XIV’s chilly Versailles dinners.

Jonny Robins, a TV and podcast contributor, and James Smales, a quiz-format creator, join forces with John Cantrell for a wonderfully strange quiz. They tackle a gold-plated ping pong ball in royal headwear, Olympic medals for art, upside-down aircraft, doomed products, diner slang and Venus flytraps that count their prey.

Ria Lina, British comedian and writer, joins escape-room enthusiasts Dani Siller and Bill Sunderland for a whirl of wonderfully odd questions. They tackle a keyboard mishap that transforms a smile, a novel tattooed across thousands of people, genealogy hidden in reunion T-shirts, vodka-sprayed costumes, villagers faking madness, and tire tracks that reveal snowy mountain encounters.

Ólafur Waage, comedian and Nordic-culture video maker. Iszi Lawrence, comedian and podcaster with ongoing book projects. Charlotte Yeung, PhD researcher with curious academic insights. They riff on Chinese restaurant misunderstandings, a Swedish ship shaping football colours, caramelising bock beer with a red-hot poker, Transylvanian reconciliation rooms, tank-testing piggyback tricks, and marathon logistics films.

Katelyn Heling, frequent panel contributor who offers sharp observations. Evan Heling, designer and content creator with an ergonomic laptop project. Sage the Bad Naturalist, science communicator known for wildlife explainers. They tackle gridlocked articulated buses forming a square, finches using cigarette butts to ward off parasites, viral ASMR medical clips, traffic-signal backfires and deadly nonstick fumes for birds.

Kip Heath, clinical scientist and science communicator who explains technical quirks. Rowan Ellis, film podcaster and video essayist who provides cultural and theatrical context. Matt Gray, comedian and YouTuber who brings funny, observational takes. They discuss blocked DVLA number plates, how adaptive cruise control was fooled by a child’s drawing, the origin of "winging it," and the invention of collapsible paint tubes.

Elle Cordova, online creator and musician known for witty science fiction takes; Jarvis Johnson, YouTuber covering tech and culture; Jordan Adika, comedian from the Sad Boys podcast. They tackle quirky visual quirks and practical hacks. They explore flag-fading that makes plates look Finnish, the Unicode elephant recognisability test, why a pink hat became a presence marker, bridge-moving slick tricks, and a brand paying someone not to wear its clothes.

VT Physics, physics teacher and YouTuber known for clear demos, and Geoff Marshall, transport YouTuber and filmmaker, return for a playful round of oddities. They cover axolotl banknote hoarding, Melbourne's 'Beware the Rhino' tram campaign, software numeronyms like I18N and A11Y, deep-sea gasoline buoyancy, and bell-casting pits. Short, surprising, and full of curious trivia.