Chosen: Actually, this is "an estimated 60,000 pigeon fanciers" and so probably not allowed. What the hell use is it anyway I hear you ask? No idea.

Source: The Guardian 21/1/8

Submitted By: Amanda

Chosen: I heard it on the radio in an interview with the editor in chief of the Guinness book of records and it didn't ring any bells in my memory of the World Records section of our file. I thought there could be both funny and poignant comparisons. Presumably there were 3541 babies too.

Source: BBC Radio 2 / Guinness Records

Submitted By: Jack

Dan echoes many people suggesting we have pile of rice representing everyone who has seen the show.
We should really get our act together and try and collate this information. By now this number should be respectable enough to not be laughed at.

Naomi had this brilliant idea for a statistic. She can't believe there would be anyone in this pile. Unfortunately without paying for a survey (which we have no budget for) this seems – like all the most exciting ones – an unknowable statistic.

Eve is interested in the number of people studying to be in the clergy today vs 50 years ago. As she is curious about how the place of religion may have chanaged in our lives. A more complicated research question, but a good one, might be to add a geographic dimension to this query – and explore the rise of certain African States as centres of Christianity whilst Western European states become 'less Christian'.

Thanks Eve, we'll do some digging and may be able to use the results in New York soon.