Episodes

SeriesEpisodeFirst
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040120070516David Baddiel chairs the programme which challenges established ideas.

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisd

040220070523David Baddiel chairs the programme which challenges established ideas.

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisd

040320070530David Baddiel chairs the programme which challenges established ideas.

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisd

040420070606David Baddiel chairs the programme which challenges established ideas.

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisd

040520070613David Baddiel chairs the programme which challenges established ideas.

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisd

0406 LAST20070620David Baddiel chairs the programme which challenges established ideas.

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisd

05012008051520121217/18 (BBC7)
20121223 (BBC7)
Victoria Coren chairs. With David Baddiel, David Mitchell and Rev Richard Coles.

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisdo

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05022008052220121224/25 (BBC7)
20121230 (BBC7)
With Sue Perkins, Euan Ferguson and Richard Herring.

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisdo

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05032008052920121231 (BBC7)
20130101 (BBC7)
20130102 (BBC7)
20130106 (BBC7)
Victoria Coren hosts the show that thinks the unthinkable. From May 2008.

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisd

05042008060520130107/08 (BBC7)
20130113 (BBC7)
Victoria Coren hosts the show that thinks the unthinkable.

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisd

050520080612Guests are Sue Perkins, Rev Richard Coles and Simon Evans.

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisdo

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The panellists are Arthur Smith, Michael Bywater and David Mitchell.

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisdo

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06012009040720131111/12 (BBC7)Victoria Coren hosts the show that thinks the unthinkable. With David Baddiel and more.

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisd

[R4 BD=2009090

06022009041420131118/19 (BBC7)Panellists are Rev Richard Coles, journalist Matthew Norman and comedian Mark Steel.

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisdo

[R4 BD=20090908

06032009042820131125/26 (BBC7)The panellists are comedians Frank Skinner and Arthur Smith and journalist Lucy Mangan.

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisd

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06042009050520131202/03 (BBC7)Victoria Coren chairs. With Euan Ferguson, Tanya Gold and David Mitchell.

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisdo

06052009051220131209/10 (BBC7)Victoria Coren chairs, with guests Dave Gorman, Jeremy Hardy and Sue Perkins.

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisdo

[R4 BD=20090915

0606 LAST2009051920131216/17 (BBC7)Can the internet be trusted? Victoria Coren puts this question to her guests.

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisd

07012010051920140508/09 (BBC7)Victoria Coren joins forces with comedian Rufus Hound, artist Grayson Perry and newspaper columnist Julia Hartley-Brewer in challenging conventional wisdom and knee-jerk thinking.

For example, the received wisdom that 'Women look better in men's clothes than women do in women's' is rejected by Grayson Perry on the grounds that he's never been more successful with the ladies than when he's wearing a dress.

In arguing against the belief that 'an artist who doesn't make his own work is a fraud' Julia Hartley-Brewer points out that nobody ever complained that Sir Christopher Wren was never seen up a ladder laying the bricks of St Paul's Cathedral.

And all three guests dismiss the idea that spending 4.4 billion on the Large Hadron Collider is a waste of money - if only on the grounds that it may prove useful for smashing a few political leaders' heads together.

Producer: Brian King.

An Avalon production for BBC Radio 4.

The panellists are comedian Rufus Hound, artist Grayson Perry and Julia Hartley-Brewer.

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisdo

07022010052620140515/16 (BBC7)Atheist Marcus Brigstocke clashes with the Rev Richard Coles in a discussion about the irrationality of religious belief in an unusually combative edition of Heresy.

Victoria Coren Mitchell is aided in her attempts to maintain order by comedian Natalie Haynes, who argues that agnosticism is the only rational position to be adopted on the issue.

Victoria's guests find more consensus in taking a heretical position against the received wisdom that Kate Middleton should get a job, and that transport strikes are terrible for commuters.

Producer: Brian King

An Avalon production for BBC Radio 4.

Clashes aplenty as Victoria Coren Mitchell invites her guests to commit heresy.

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisdo

07032010060220140522/23 (BBC7)Victoria Coren presents the programme which attempts to prove our most deeply held beliefs, the assumptions on which we base our view of the world, are all plain wrong. Helping Victoria commit heresy are comedians David Baddiel and Dave Gorman and style journalist and celebrity interviewer Polly Vernon.

They'll be challenging, among other things, the received wisdom that British comedy is more offensive than ever.

Producer: Brian King

An Avalon production for BBC Radio 4.

Offensive comedy? David Baddiel, Dave Gorman and Polly Vernon challenge received wisdom.

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisdo

07042010060920140529/30 (BBC7)Victoria Coren presents the programme which sets out to prove our most deeply held beliefs, the assumptions on which we base our view of the world, are all plain wrong.

This time, Victoria's guests leap to the defence of the weather forecasters, with Janet Street-Porter admitting that one particular BBC weatherman has been sending her temperature soaring. Richard Herring argues that we have come to expect too much of forecasters, pointing out that in medieval times, Michael Fish would have been hailed as a god for his predictive powers.

And on another topic, Mark Steel uncharacteristically speaks out in favour of David Cameron and George Osborne, praising them for their 'proper poshness' in the face of the pseudo-poshness of their Labour counterparts.

Producer: Brian King

An Avalon production for BBC Radio 4.

Richard Herring, Mark Steel and Janet Street-Porter are invited to commit heresy.

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisdo

07052010061620140605/06 (BBC7)Victoria Coren presents the programme which attempts to prove our most deeply held beliefs, the assumptions on which we base our view of the world, are all plain wrong.

Helping Victoria commit heresy are comedians David Mitchell and David Schneider and newspaper columnist Matthew Norman, who argue against the received wisdom that the TV shouldn't be used as a babysitter. They reluctantly concede that television viewing among the under-threes should be limited - but only to around ten hours a day. How else will the little angels learn to cook?

And in a discussion about the hypocrisy of eating farmyard animals, but not domestic pets, a range of mouth-watering recipes are rolled out for loin of Labrador and fillet of feline.

Producer: Brian King

An Avalon production for BBC Radio 4.

The panellists are The panellists are David Mitchell, David Schneider and Matthew Norman.

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisdo

0706 LAST2010062320140612/13 (BBC7)Victoria Coren presents the programme which loves to commit heresy.

Arguing against the received wisdom that it's okay to download a bit of film and music without paying, guests Clive Anderson, Rufus Hound and Fern Britton find themselves slightly out-manoeuvred by a member of the audience. In response to the accusation, by barrister Clive Anderson, that downloading of music is effectively theft, he replies 'but when I take it, it's still there'.

Fern Britton, married to television chef Phil Vickery, has no problem arguing against the proposition that there are too many celebrity chefs, and all three guests find reasons to believe that model Jordan's marriage to cage fighter Alex Reid will last longer than three rounds.

Producer: Brian King

An Avalon production for BBC Radio 4.

Victoria Coren Mitchell gets Rufus Hound, Clive Anderson and Fern Britton to commit heresy

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisdo

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The first in a new series of the programme that dares to commit heresy. Victoria Coren and her guests have fun exposing the wrong-headedness of received wisdom and challenging knee-jerk public reaction to events.

Her guests in the first programme are comedian Mark Steel, novelist Jessica Berens and actor and national treasure, Christopher Biggins.

Christopher Biggins gets on his high pantomime horse, arguing against the assertion that Panto is an outdated art form, Mark Steel comes out in support of public displays of drunkenness and former Tatler journalist Jessica Berens explains why people are totally misguided if they think it would be nice to live in a house like Downton Abbey.

Producer: Brian King

An Avalon Television production for BBC Radio 4.

Victoria Coren Mitchell challenges Mark Steel, Jessica Berens and Christopher Biggins.

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisdo

[R4 BD=20130101

08022011120720111214 (BBC7)
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Victoria Coren presents another edition of the show which dares to commit heresy.

Her guests this week are comedians David Baddiel and Lucy Porter and the co-presenter of daytime quiz show Pointless, Richard Osman. Together they have fun exposing the wrong-headedness of received wisdom and challenging knee-jerk public reaction to events.

Arguing against the common belief that 'the economy is up the creek without a paddle', David Baddiel says we're actually sailing serenely through the recession. Lucy Porter isn't convinced that 'the innocence of children is snatched away too fast these days' and wants to know when her 13 month old daughter will start paying her share of the household bills, and Richard Osman finds reasons not to mourn the passing of the News of the World.

Producer: Brian King

An Avalon production for BBC Radio 4.

With comedians David Baddiel and Lucy Porter and quiz show presenter Richard Osman.

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisdo

[R4 BD=20130108

08032011121420111221 (BBC7)
20141113 (BBC7)
20141114 (BBC7)
20160930 (BBC7)
20161001 (BBC7)
Victoria Coren presents another edition of the show which dares to commit heresy.

Her guests this week are comedian David Mitchell, the Rev Richard Coles and Diane Abbott MP. Together they have fun exposing the wrong-headedness of received wisdom and challenging knee-jerk public reaction to events.

Diane Abbott is happy to argue against the received wisdom that 'the Labour Party chose the wrong Miliband' though she can't help observing that the party really should have chosen her, the Rev Richard Coles is happy to speak in defence of parents who go to church just to get their kids into the local faith schools, and David Mitchell is incredulous that anyone would believe that 'if a friend is doing something for charity you should sponsor them.

Producer: Brian King

An Avalon Television production for BBC Radio 4.

Victoria Coren Mitchell hosts the show that dares to commit heresy.

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisdo

[R4 BD=20130115

08042011122120111228 (BBC7)
20141120 (BBC7)
20141121 (BBC7)
Victoria Coren presents another edition of the show which dares to commit heresy.

Her guests this week are comedians Rufus Hound and Dr Phil Hammond and writer and broadcaster Germaine Greer. Together they have fun exposing the wrong-headedness of received wisdom and challenging knee-jerk public reaction to events.

GP, Dr Phil Hammond enthusiastically argues against the received wisdom that people should not self-diagnose using the internet, pointing out that statistically doctors only just beat the internet in getting it right. Germaine Greer offers some constructive if controversial advice for self-diagnosers who get it wrong: 'Just die!

Germaine also refutes the belief that the sixties were a great time to be young by cheerfully recalling the decade as a time of police repression and sexually-transmitted diseases.

And Rufus Hound pours scorn on the suggestion that the best Christmas presents are the ones you make yourself. He warns Victoria Coren that if she turns up at his house on Christmas Day with a gift she has baked herself, he will ask her to leave.

Producer: Brian King

A Avalon Television production for BBC Radio 4.

Victoria Coren Mitchell gets Germaine Greer, Phil Hammond and Rufus Hound to commit heresy

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisdo

08052011122820120104 (BBC7)
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20141128 (BBC7)
20161007 (BBC7)
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Victoria Coren presents another edition of the show which dares to commit heresy.

Her guests this week are comedian Dave Gorman and newspaper columnists Matthew Parris and Julia Hartley-Brewer. Together they have fun exposing the wrong-headedness of received wisdom and challenging knee-jerk public reaction to events.

Arguing against the popular opinion that celebrities shouldn't tell people how to vote, former MP Matthew Parris says he would much rather listen to an attractive celebrity talking rubbish than listen to the garbage spouted by the average politician.

Julia Hartley-Brewer defends Chick Lit against its detractors on the grounds that you shouldn't judge a book by its pink cover, and argues that it's the kind of literature Jane Austen would be writing if she were around today.

And Dave Gorman puts his republican views to one side to ride to the defence of the extraordinary hat worn by Princess Beatrice at the wedding of William and Kate. Though the Princess may wish he hadn't.

Producer: Brian King

A Avalon Television production for BBC Radio 4.

With comedian Dave Gorman and newspaper columnists Matthew Parris and Julia Hartley-Brewer

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisdo

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0806 LAST2012010420120111 (BBC7)
20141204 (BBC7)
20141205 (BBC7)
20161014 (BBC7)
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20130205 (R4)
Victoria Coren presents the last in the current series of the show which dares to commit heresy.

Her guests this week are comedian Sue Perkins, singer Cerys Matthews and actress Maureen Lipman. Together they have fun exposing the wrong-headedness of received wisdom and challenging knee-jerk public reaction to events.

Both Sue Perkins and Maureen Lipman disagree with the view that the world would be a better place if it was run by women, arguing that women would make an equally fine mess of things.

Former lead singer with the rock group Catatonia, Cerys Matthews, doesn't believe it's more fun to be a pop star than a classical violinist. Confessing to a previous life as an oboe player, she claims that orchestral musicians definitely have more fun - particularly the horn players.

All three guests rather struggle to argue against the received opinion that there is still stigma attached to Internet dating but, when challenged by Victoria Coren, they all admit that they have never tried it themselves - and never would.

Producer: Brian King

An Avalon Television production for BBC Radio 4.

Victoria Coren Mitchell's guests are Sue Perkins, Maureen Lipman and Cerys Matthews.

09012013051620130523 (BBC7)
20161130 (BBC7)
20161201 (BBC7)
20161203 (BBC7)
The first in a new series of the programme that dares to commit heresy.

Victoria Coren Mitchell and her guests have fun challenging knee-jerk public opinion, and exposing the wrong-headedness of received wisdom.

In the first programme of the series Victoria Coren Mitchell is joined by comedians Lee Mack and David Schneider, and writer-broadcaster Germaine Greer, to argue about foxes, maths and Andy Murray

Producers: Victoria Coren Mitchell and Daisy Knight

An Avalon Television production for BBC Radio 4.

Victoria Coren is joined by Lee Mack, David Schneider and Germaine Greer.

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisdo

[R4 BD=20160811

09022013052320130530 (BBC7)
20161207 (BBC7)
20161208 (BBC7)
Victoria Coren Mitchell presents another edition of the show which dares to commit heresy.

Her guests this week are comedians David Mitchell and Alex Horne, and writer and broadcaster Germaine Greer. Together they have fun exposing the wrong-headedness of received wisdom and challenging knee-jerk public reaction to events.

Topics up for discussion are videogames, outer space and horse lasagne.

Produced by Victoria Coren Mitchell and Daisy Knight

An Avalon Television production for BBC Radio 4.

Victoria Coren is joined by David Mitchell, Alex Horne and Germaine Greer.

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisdo

09032013053020130606 (BBC7)
20161214 (BBC7)
20161215 (BBC7)
Victoria Coren Mitchell is joined by Mark Steel, Bridget Christie and Matthew Norman.

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisdo

[R4 BD=20160825

09042013060620130613 (BBC7)
20161221 (BBC7)
20161222 (BBC7)
Victoria Coren Mitchell presents another edition of the show which dares to commit heresy.

Her guests this week are newspaper columnist Julia Hartley-Brewer, the Rev. Richard Coles and food critic, television presenter and novelist Giles Coren.

Producers: Victoria Coren Mitchell and Daisy Knight

An Avalon Television production for BBC Radio 4.

Victoria Coren Mitchell is joined by Julia Hartley-Brewer, Richard Coles and Giles Coren.

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisdo

[R4 BD=20160901

09052013061320130620 (BBC7)
20161228 (BBC7)
20161229 (BBC7)
With panellists Miles Jupp, Sue Perkins and Richard Osman. Victoria Coren Mitchell hosts.

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisdo

[R4 BD=20160908

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20170104 (BBC7)
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Victoria Coren Mitchell is joined by Katy Brand, David Baddiel and Richard Osman.

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisdo

[R4 BD=20160915

10012016051820160525/26 (BBC7)
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The programme that dares to commit heresy. Victoria Coren Mitchell and her guests have fun challenging knee-jerk public opinions, and exposing the wrong-headedness of received wisdom.

In the first programme of the series Victoria is joined by comedians Lloyd Langford and Katy Brand, and the artist Grayson Perry. They talk about French Style, God and Hitler.

An Avalon Production

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2016.

Victoria Coren Mitchell is joined by Lloyd Langford, Katy Brand and Grayson Perry.

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisdo

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Victoria Coren Mitchell presents another edition of the show which dares to commit heresy .

Her guests this week are Alex Horne, Jonny Woo and Richard Osman. Together they discuss money, dress codes and sexy TV dramas.

Producer: Daisy Knight

An Avalon production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in May 2016.

Victoria Coren Mitchell is joined by Alex Horne, Jonny Woo and Richard Osman.

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisdo

10032016060120160608/09 (BBC7)
20210317 (BBC7)
20210318 (BBC7)
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Victoria Coren Mitchell is joined by Lee Mack, Konnie Huq and Dave Gorman. From 2016.

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisdo

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Victoria Coren Mitchell presents the show which dares to commit heresy.

With newspaper columnist Julia Hartley-Brewer, TV presenter Richard Osman and food critic, TV presenter and novelist Giles Coren.

Together they discuss David Bowie, iceberg houses and The Great British Bake Off.

An Avalon production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in June 2016.

Victoria Coren Mitchell is joined by Julia Hartley-Brewer, Richard Osman and Giles Coren.

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisdo

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Victoria Coren Mitchell is joined by Lee Mack, David Baddiel and Andrew Hunter Murray.

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisdo

1006 LAST2016062220160629 (BBC7)Victoria Coren Mitchell presents another edition of the show which dares to commit heresy.

Her guests are comedians David Mitchell and Katy Brand, and columnist and author Sathnam Sanghera. Together they discuss Ed Miliband, self service checkouts and George Clooney's wedding.

An Avalon production for BBC Radio 4.

Victoria Coren Mitchell is joined by David Mitchell, Katy Brand and Sathnam Sanghera.

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisdo

11012019061120190618/19 (BBC7)Victoria Coren Mitchell presents another edition of the show which dares to commit heresy.

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisd

11022019061820190625/26 (BBC7)Victoria Coren Mitchell presents another edition of the show which dares to commit heresy.

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisd

11032019062520190702/03 (BBC7)Victoria Coren Mitchell presents another edition of the show which dares to commit heresy.

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisd

11042019070220190709/10 (BBC7)Victoria Coren Mitchell presents another edition of the show which dares to commit heresy.

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisd

11052019070920190716/17 (BBC7)Victoria Coren Mitchell presents another edition of the show which dares to commit heresy.

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisd

1106 LAST2019071620190723/24 (BBC7)Victoria Coren Mitchell presents another edition of the show which dares to commit heresy.

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisd

12012022052520220601/02 (BBC7)Victoria Coren Mitchell presents a new series of the show which dares to commit heresy.

Joining Victoria Coren Mitchell to commit heresy about feelings and trigger warnings are comedians Desiree Burch and David Baddiel and artist Grayson Perry.

Written, presented, and produced by Victoria Coren Mitchell

with additional material from Dan Gaster and Charlie Skelton

Series created by David Baddiel

An Avalon production for BBC Radio 4

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisdo

12022022060120220608/09 (BBC7)Victoria Coren Mitchell presents a new series of the show which dares to commit heresy.

Joining Victoria Coren Mitchell to commit heresy about being at one with nature and mediocrity are the comedians Miles Jupp and David Mitchell, and former chair of the Conservative Party, Baroness Sayeeda Warsi.

Written, presented, and produced by Victoria Coren Mitchell

with additional material from Dan Gaster and Charlie Skelton

Series created by David Baddiel

An Avalon production for BBC Radio 4

Victoria Coren Mitchell presents another edition of the show which dares to commit heresy.

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisdo

12032022060820220615/16 (BBC7)Victoria Coren Mitchell presents another edition of the show which dares to commit heresy.

Joining Victoria Coren Mitchell to commit heresy this week are comedians Richard Herring and Phil Wang and the journalist Matthew Norman.

Written, presented, and produced by Victoria Coren Mitchell

with additional material from Dan Gaster and Charlie Skelton

Series created by David Baddiel

An Avalon production for BBC Radio 4

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisdo

12042022061520220622/23 (BBC7)Victoria Coren Mitchell presents another edition of the show which dares to commit heresy.

Joining Victoria Coren Mitchell to commit heresy this week are Sally Phillips, Josh Widdicombe and Sathnam Sanghera.

Written, presented and produced by Victoria Coren Mitchell

with additional material from Dan Gaster and Charlie Skelton

Series created by David Baddiel

An Avalon production for BBC Radio 4

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisdo

12052022062220220629/30 (BBC7)Victoria Coren Mitchell presents another edition of the show which dares to commit heresy. This week with Katy Brand, Phil Wang and David Mitchell.

Written, presented and produced by Victoria Coren Mitchell

with additional material from Dan Gaster and Charlie Skelton

Series created by David Baddiel

An Avalon production for BBC Radio 4

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisdo

1206 LAST2022062920220706/07 (BBC7)Victoria Coren Mitchell presents another edition of the show which dares to commit heresy. This week with Jo Bunting, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Horne.

Written, presented and produced by Victoria Coren Mitchell

with additional material from Dan Gaster and Charlie Skelton

Series created by David Baddiel

An Avalon production for BBC Radio 4

Discussion programme which challenges established ideas and questions received wisdo