n the first episode, Matthew asks whether humans are doomed to be unoriginal, as we evolve collectively with shared cultural cues and learn from what has worked in the past. Matthew uses the story of a shamed author accused of plagiarism to explore how we might learn to be more original.

Other subjects explored in the next series of Sideways include:

Why you might need an alter ego to get ahead
The myth of hidden influences, explored through the 1990 trial of metal band Judas Priest
What children's television tells us about the developing mind
Lessons on teamwork from the Middle Ages
Matthew says: "The new series of Sideways is packed with new ideas, curious backstories, and sideways angles that will help you to see the world, well, a bit differently. I've learned more recording this series than doing anything else for years, an eclectic set of stories with a mosaic of themes.”

Richard Knight, Radio 4’s factual commissioning editor, says: “In Sideways Matthew joins the dots between different strands of thinking to tell us something surprising about ourselves while also telling us a cracking story. It’s a great combination and I’m delighted to see Sideways back on Radio 4 with a second series.”

Sideways is on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds weekly from 4pm, Wednesday 23 June.

Presented by Matthew Syed.

Series Editor: Katherine Godfrey
Executive Producer: Max O'Brien
A Novel production for BBC Radio 4