Out Of The Ordinary

Out of the Ordinary

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BBC Radio 4 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced BBC Home Service.

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Documentary series uncovering stories from the left field. Presented by Jolyon Jenkins

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Out of the Ordinary: Series 8: How to memorise anything

How to memorise anything

Series 8

BBC Radio 4 - Out of the Ordinary, Series 8, How to memorise anything

How the world of 'memory sports' was rocked by a group of North Korean teenage girls.

'Memory athletes' compete to see who can remember the most random numbers. Everyone thought we were at the limits of the possible - until some teenage North Korean girls turned up

"Memory athletes" compete to see who can remember the most random numbers in an hour. Or else to memorise decks of playing cards. Memory training is big in China, where there are TV game shows for memory contests, and where parents pay good money to get their children trained in memorisation techniques. 

Everyone thought the Chinese were invincible, and that we were at the limits of what could be memorised - until 2019 when a group of North Korean teenagers arrived at the world championships, smashed a bunch of records, and returned to Pyonyang. Since then, nothing has been heard of them. What's their secret? And why does North Korea want to dominate the world in this obscure sport?

Presenter/Producer: Jolyon Jenkins

Out of the Ordinary: Series 8

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Extraordinary stories of ordinary people on the fringes of so-called normal behaviour.

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Out of the Ordinary

Series 8

How to memorise anything

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