Comedian Jay Foreman Claims He Knows Every London Tube Station, But Does He?

Comedian Jay Foreman claims he knows every London tube station, but can he make the right connections? He's challenged to name the fastest route between any two stations. If he can name at least 10 correct connections within 90 seconds, he goes home with £1,000!
🍩 Performance info:
Jay Foreman took the challenge on 'Go For It' in 2016.
🍩 Series info:
In TALENT BITES we highlight the best, funniest, most inspiring, and crazy performances of international talents. Who should we give a spotlight next? Let us know in the comments!
🍩 Hashtags:
#TalentBites​ #GoForIt #JayForeman

[@TalentSnacks]

How impressed are you with Jay's skills?

[@TerryTheNewsGirl]

He's awesome!

[@cheesynuggets408]

scaringly exquisite

[@hanstheexplorer]

Yes

[@MartijnVos]

I'm mostly impressed with his skill to play weird 8/5 rhythms on guitar while singing about creepy couches. But this is cool too.

[@abzinhoo]

Cold

[@DoctorCyan]

It's interesting, that to those of us around the world and online, Jay Foreman is 100x more famous than this show or anyone else on it.

[@abzinhoo]

Ah

[@acmenipponair]

true. Who is that guy who tests him? Never seen him on the medias that matter :D

[@swymaj02]

​@@acmenipponairlooks like Dec.

[@agin1519]

Wonder how many weeks rent in London the grand covers..! Assuming he actually lives there…

[@barryhomeowner9293]

That's Steven Mulhern. I'd say he's more famous than Jay, but Jay is more famous than this show

[@deponentfutures]

If that guy knows so much about maps and London, he should make a youtube channel

[@rhiannoooon]

He has had one for years, that's where the majority of the ppl in the comments know him from

[@daravel5318]

@@rhiannoooon They were being sarcastic :)

[@NoxCaelis]

@@rhiannoooon r/whoooosh

[@tehs3raph1m]

Maybe they could call it something like place person or direction dude

[@bob_the_bomb4508]

@@tehs3raph1m cartography chaps?

[@alexgreen2747]

Nice to see Jay invite a guest and audience on his show.

[@6904LoL]

And that person would most like go:Ealing boardway Newbury boardway I forgot and chelsea

[@tfae]

If one Map Man can do this, imagine what they could achieve with two.

[@chiralvandal]

TWO? What would they call them, “map people”? “map guys”? “map man but there’s 2 of us”? Get out with your half baked idea!

[@kersacoft]

@@chiralvandal Map Men-Men?

[@kagenlim5271]

@@kersacoft Map Men Map Men Map Men Map Men Men Men

[@chiralvandal]

@@kersacoft oh that makes sense. Map Man-Man works too.

[@blacxthornE]

homme cartes

[@althejazzman]

At first I was expecting Jay to have invented a spoof game show, and then I realised we weren't on his channel.

[@sekokqedaus4377]

"Good grief" Jay singing calmly

[@xxDEAGORxx]

For real, I was like 1min into the video when I realized this wasn't a parody

[@rogerk6180]

Yeah i was expecfing a skit lol.

[@cecerchio]

Us Londoners know that the quickest way from Victoria to Queensway is circle to Bayswater and a short walk to Queensway. And I could see that Jay knew it too but for the sake of the game he went for the longer route. What a legend.

[@VonOzbourne]

He used to use that route until he started being confronted by the train driver who thought Jay was claiming to know the routes better than him. Now he just takes the alternate way to avoid further unpleasant conversations.

[@Slimmeyy]

I just checked Google Maps, and that claims that Jay's listed route is 3 minutes faster than yours.

[@cecerchio]

@@Slimmeyy weird as Google maps gives me 15 minutes victoria to Bayswater and then walk to Queensway vs 23 minutes Victoria/Oxford Circus/Queensway. I guess you must have checked when trains were not frequent or delayed.

[@Slimmeyy]

@@cecerchio I checked for like 2-3 hours' worth of time on a weekday afternoon :P

[@Jackalos1]

Likewise, Hyde Park Corner to Moor Park, it would be faster to switch to the Jubilee at Green Park, then change to the Met at Finchley Road. It's an additional change but the trains arrive at Finchley Road on adjacent platforms (and often at the same time).

[@BiteBolt_77]

When the participant is more well known than the person presenting the program

[@lonelymelon6623]

Stephen Mulhern is much better known than Jay Foreman outside of these youtube circles lol

[@Albionic_]

@@lonelymelon6623 I think you over estimate how big TV is nowadays

[@reddillon8425]

@@lonelymelon6623 just letting you know, you've become your father. remember growing up how you were super scared of that happening? It happened. "Outside of these youtube circles" is a craaazy thing to say in 2023, the internet has VASTLY surpassed television. Being famous on the internet IS the new "REAL" famous. "Real" famous is no longer real famous.

[@qwertyTRiG]

​@@reddillon8425 Internet fame is more siloed.

[@amyhatto4420]

Stephen is more well known than Jay in the Uk I’d be almost certain of it. He’s been on tv since I (31) was a kid.

[@m_eudk]

Truly a map man

[@thomasreese2816]

Map map map map men men

[@yusufgazi7]

​@@thomasreese2816men

[@watermelonZESTY]

Map men map map map map men men

[@TFHS420]

He should make a mini series where he partners up with a guy with prominent eyebrows. He could call it directional paper fellows

[@koushuu]

coloured parchment males

[@lornarettig3215]

Cartography Chaps

[@TFHS420]

@@koushuu Very good

[@TFHS420]

@@lornarettig3215 Ah yes I can see that as a valid option

[@shiiiiiion]

Atlas associates

[@nickfleiwer5272]

I think this is much more impressive then regular talent shows participants, since three amount of combinations is not possible to remember by heart each, but rather visualise the tube map as a whole to track down the fastest way. Most other challenger I’ve seen on such tv formats just learn a long list by heart.

[@MurderWho]

I feel like they checked out his youtube channel and realized they could really challenge him and still expect him to win . . . which makes for great TV.

[@wj11jam78]

There is a lot which can be done to simplify the memorisation process though. For example, many stations exist just on the ends of a line, beyond any interchanges. So you can model them in your head as one station with many names, if that makes sense.

[@mx2000]

Hmm, I would have thought the opposite, this seems very easy to me. Before Google Maps became ubiquitous, taxi drivers in my city had to learn every street in the city - and that's an order of magnitude more, and still there wasn't a shortage of taxi drivers.

[@leftyamazed]

Jay's knowledge is amazing. I would imagine that bring on this show, his inner voice was saying, 'you can tolerate Mulhern for just a little longer, it's worth a stack of cash'

[@Yorick257]

1000 pounds is probably still nice but not life changing for him

[@dominateeye]

Ohhhhh, THIS is Mulhern. I assumed it was one of Ant or Dec. Now I have a face to put to all those times the Technical Difficulties joke about him.

[@Bryzerse]

@@dominateeye What's the joke? :)

[@GumSkyloard]

@@Bryzerse Several of 'em. There's not just one joke about Mulhern, because of course.

[@jwfilmmaking7877]

@@GumSkyloardmulhern himself is a walking joke, love tech diff by the way

[@stu6533]

Jay Foreman is an absolutely top man.

[@jameshewitt5863]

Top man Top man Top top top man (man)

[@alli_the_fruity_frog]

​@@jameshewitt5863 I'm the man, and here's the top.

[@abzinhoo]

Indeed

[@barryhomeowner9293]

​@@alli_the_fruity_frogMark is the top?

[@texasred5665]

A propa geez

[@MaiaSdeLara]

Ironic that the last question was involving Mill Hill East, because it was in the first Unfinished London episode

[@jackmartinleith]

Didn't he grow up in that area? I think he mentioned that a relative (aunt? gran?) lived by the former Mill Hill East to Edgware alignment.

[@daroldcarold3443]

@@jackmartinleith it was a joke about how a random house that had to be knocked down for the northern heights extension plan was his grandma’s house. Fairly certain tho that it’s just a joke

[@amyhatto4420]

I love him. It’s so funny to see him “out of character” and smiling too!

[@hotelmario510]

I love how the Technical Difficulties have repeatedly made fun of Stephen Mulhern, when thanks to this show and Jay they have one degree of separation from Stephen Mulhern.

[@K97i]

cant wait for stephen mulhern's get out thats my trout

[@rikardottosson1272]

Jesus the mistakes were either “oh, I need to get off here and take the district” - he’s physically on the right track already - or mishearing something. Thankfully he was so fast justice could prevail in the end.

[@TheCryptanalysis]

It's very strange seeing Jay awkward and nervous interacting with the normieverse when you know he is an Internet superstar and legend.

[@amanwithaplaninavan]

'normieverse' christ tell me you've never been outside before in one word

[@rogerk6180]

Wow. Normieverse is now my favorite word! Thank you ❤

[@samp.8099]

@@amanwithaplaninavan You don't seem very pleasant

[@bruhmoment1835]

@@amanwithaplaninavanyour mother doesn't even like you

[@nunyabiznis3595]

good god how i HAAAATE this host and his "suspense building" pauses

[@gojeta1982]

Jay is one of my favourite KZbinrs. Total legend.

[@pollutingpenguin2146]

Jay Foreman is quite possibly the most quintessential English man in England.

[@farzanamughal5933]

in london

[@martavdz4972]

Aaaaand... he's Jewish. 😄

[@KendlickLama]

Always so weird to see online creators in a classic TV format

[@im_sorry_i_forgot_my_username]

Geoff Marshall would be proud.

[@kiera4136]

i knew jay was tube smart but that blew my mind, super impressive.

[@AZ-vv1rf]

Genuinely happy for Jay. What a great guy

[@Amphibiot]

All i got from this is that Jay Foreman votes for the Stripy Party.

[@goawayimsleeping509]

Only tactically, to stop the Very Spotty Party from getting in - you have to vote tactically in a seat like Little Upper Chipping Stortford-on-the-Mimms!

[@SDCentralTSV]

I tried this out too by pausing the video after each question - it was so fun! However, I am slightly confused by this. One, the criterion is that the “quickest route” is the one with the fewest changes, not necessarily the fewest stops (which would be better). Two, based on this rule, Jay’s final answer was actually incorrect - for the fewest changes, you should take the Northern Line to Waterloo or London Bridge and change for the Jubilee line to Swiss Cottage.

[@Sp4wnEffect]

I think they did mean quickest which is often the least changes, right? Because then you spend more time on the platform. But hey, I'm not from London so what do I know right...

[@acmenipponair]

Often it's better to use a route with more stops instead of one transfer more, as you can always have the problem that you miss the tube by 1-2 minutes and then have to wait for 3-7 minutes, also transfer at many stations will take another one to three minutes often, which is compareable to one to two stops more just staying on the train.

[@hairyairey]

The last one would have been quicker as it involves fewer stops and probably a quicker change. There are several stations where you wouldn't want to change trains due to the walking distance involved. Don't if there is a nearby solution.

[@amitbasu8159]

I live near Swiss Cottage Station. While you are correct about it requiring just the one change by taklng the Northern Line to Waterloo or London Bridge, no-one would ever do that as in terms of time the journey is far longer overall - far more stations involved, and also a long walk between platforms, particularly if you change at London Bridge. In practice you would either take Jay's route or do the second change at Baker Street. Or better still, take the Northern Line to Euston, then one stop on the Overground to South Hampstead, then walk about to Swiss Cottage station, which is about 200m away.

[@hairyairey]

@@amitbasu8159 Most of the big tube stations have a long walk between tube lines and it's not accidental. It's the easiest way to control the flow of passengers. Before the recent upgrade of Victoria station they had to close the station regularly.

[@GrandSlamScotty]

Geoff Marshall definitely wants to battle Jay 😂😂😂

[@pdoot]

Does this mean Jay has finally finished London?

[@kaziiqbal7257]

Is anyone unsettled by the fact that Jay is just a normal bloke in real life?

[@jnerdsblog]

n...no?

[@rogerk6180]

Not really.

[@Sam_on_YouTube]

There was a time I could nearly do this for New York. For many stations I'd even be able to tell you where to stand on the platform to make the connections most easily. I moved away 8 years ago. Now I sometimes have to look at a map.

[@lornarettig3215]

Haha, same! Front, middle, or back of the train for smoothest onward passage! (I knew that Ravenscroft Park was wrong because even 20 years after leaving London I remembered that the Piccadilly line passes through, but doesn’t stop, there 🤓)

[@Sam_on_YouTube]

@@lornarettig3215 I had to plan out how to go from Riverdale to E62nd St. With a double stroller I couldn't carry during rush hour. Had to take the 1 train from 231st with the stroller against the far door that doesn't open until 96th street. Then take that stroller across the platform to the express and put the stroller in just the right spot because only the express opens at the platform on 36th street that has elevator access (there are shorter ways to go, but not with elevator access). Then switch at 36th to the F train, has an elevator that goes up several stories to Lexington Ave.

[@lornarettig3215]

@@Sam_on_KZbin Wowsers!! I had not unlocked the Stroller Extension - this is advanced level stuff! Bravo, friend! 🙌🏼

[@elisa.llew-send]

They’re either gonna go, “that’s quite an impressive feat of memory” or they’re gonna look at me and go, “what a nerd”. Porque no los dos? What an impressive nerd! 😉😂 Seriously tho, he’s a legend.

[@oz_jones]

Quite an impressive feat of what

[@SylviaRustyFae]

"Is he really a map man?" How dare you even try to question that; he is one of only two true Map Men

[@nellybod8742]

Once a Mapman. Always a mapmen!

[@Bergen98]

I am really glad for that show, they finally got the attention because of a guest

[@alex31721able]

I've never heard of the show but people are really underestimating how well know Steven Mulhern is

[@acclaimedconeify]

Who?

[@jeltje50]

Also outside the UK?

[@j.diamond6014]

@@jeltje50Stephen mulberry is known by almost everyone in the uk. That’s a household name to 60 million people. Jay just isn’t that big, even though he’s more talented

[@gracewsho]

Who?

[@Amphy002]

Stephen Mulham is really famous amongst those who watch terrestrial TV. So no, not famous.

[@ShaunakDesaiPiano]

This is something I relate to so much. I would genuinely love to be able to win money by naming fastest routes between tube stations.

[@rimilmurmu10]

Every tourist searching for jays number

[@smvwees]

Jays Number as in Jays Number Conjecture to find your way on the tube with an equation, or just his phone number?

[@comedyfish]

I've never seen this show but it reminds me of YouBet from the 80s - the one I always remember from that show is a guy who could identify any car whilst blindfolded by the door closing. That was like 40 years ago I've never forgotten it lol

[@bentanner3413]

YES! I was definitely getting You Bet vibes :)

[@ianmclean5750]

What a great guy. Truly inspirational.

[@MPSpecial]

I can do the same thing with the Paris metro and I can tell you, this is a very useful skill to have when you take the metro a lot, you never need to look at the map to find your way

[@JuliuszCovers]

I can do this with the Warsaw metro. It's true we have 2 lines, though.

[@lonelyteapot858]

He had to sprinkle a couple of wring ones in so they didn't find out he's an absolute legend.

[@ChaosPootato]

It's quite impressive, but he's got plenty of sick musical skills too

[@martavdz4972]

And writing skills, and language speaking with a proper accent skills, and celebrity impression skills, and video creation skills, and knowledge of London...

[@blahdblah0007]

This is well done. The advanced level has to do with where to stand on the platform (looking ahead to the change), where you do not want to change due to too much walking (looking at you Green Park), and where you should get off and hoof it. But he’s done much, much better than I could have.

[@ethangreen8486]

Of all the map men in the world, Jay is definitely one.

[@zoeadams2635]

Oh my god I was at the recording of this episode but before I'd even heard of Jay Foreman! 🤦‍♀️

[@moover123]

Honestly even if he wouldn't have gotten the fastest route and just simply found A path from every station to the other would already have been impressive

[@TequilaToothpick]

Jay Foreman is one of the best person KZbin.

[@stucky101]

Here I am with Google telling me every single next stop :) This man is a legend ! I like his mapmen channel too.

[@Sewblon]

Map Men is the name of the series. The channel is named Jay Foreman.

[@marvelfan3148]

Jay Foreman, the Tube, Stephen Mulhern & game show all in one video? Literally my dream vid!

[@NasirShahidAbeer]

Well done Jay. Love your KZbin videos. So well researched and informative. I got the Ruislip Garden to Upney (1 change at Mile End). Coz I use that route (not necessary those stations).

[@hbowman108]

You know, it's funny: I couldn't imagine this question ever being asked on a game show about New York.

[@merseydave1]

What a witty intelligent guy

[@sammyzord]

truly one of the map men of all time

[@paulinacyganek7440]

I've just stumbled upon this video and this is unbelievable.😯

[@Nihilism4U]

The Map Men are impressive. Such dedication, accuracy, fast thinking and talking and then done with a great flair and sense of humor. Its one of my favorite KZbin channels.

[@Cpr1234]

A god tier KZbinr and a man you often see on the likes of Catchphrase and Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway - this is the crossover I didn't know I needed.

[@eastportland]

Next guest spot for Jay, Taskmaster! (fingers crossed)

[@dzomo]

that needs to happen.

[@hamfish834]

i just love the fact that it's only 1000 pounds. it sounds like so little for a show like this

[@SteveDorsett]

You've got a genuinely talented guy like Jay, getting mugged off by a complete tool in Mulhern.

[@MrBam79]

True. As a fan of Jay, the song bit felt a bit jarring. But it was Mulhern's show and he was the one getting paid to entertain the audience. I think Jay knew his place and just rolled with it. He also looked like he knew he'd just walked right into an old, cheap comedy trick! 😂 All just a bit of fun at the end of the day.

[@Tidbury123]

He's a map man. What did you expect?

[@captainchaos3667]

That's some impressive custom graphics for one game show segment.

[@NardoVogt]

I would say that Jay Foreman is too famous for this show. :D

[@andrewdavies5637]

This man knows about maps! He's one of many map men, map men, map men, map men, map men men men men

[@ShozzleMeNoz]

Not nearly enough mens there.

[@Vibranium603]

Ive never been to the UK. So now its my dream to visit the UK, travel in the tube in London and meet Jay Foreman while doing so.

[@martavdz4972]

Funny thing is, I'm from the Czech Republic and I watched the Tamil film "Kavalai Vendam", where there's a character called Arvind played by the actor Jiiva. And my dream is to go to Tamil Nadu and see Jiiva 🙂

[@tapio_m6861]

I have the same talent but with the Helsinki Underground. There are 30 stations and two lines which in reality are just a single line.

[@ChristianConrad]

You could even say it's up to four lines, since besides the fork in the North-East you have the varying stops in the South-West. But I guess it's really max three -- or still only two -- isn't it? Which is a weird result from two times two, but I'm guessing with every other traing going left and every other right at Itis, and every other stopping at Tapiola and every other going on to Kivenlahti, you get just Myllyäki - Kivenlahti and Vuosaari - Tapiola. Or if it's the other way around, Idunno.

[@DavE-bh8lz]

I wonder if Geoff Marshall Or Jago Hazzard would have done as well ?

[@grahampaulkendrick7845]

I'd put money on the latter. 😀

[@EuanBCFC]

Geoff said at the time he’d been asked to I’m pretty sure

[@acmenipponair]

I guess not. Geoff speaks too slow (don't forget, Jay made 13 connections, although 2 were wrong and 1 incomplete) and Javo is more versed in the history of the tube than how to get to a specific station, I would guess

[@DerekHartley]

That would involve Jago being on screen...

[@NearCry91]

@@DerekHartley He's been on screen.

[@MiceAndMinecraft]

New challenge for Jay: now learn all of this using ONLY wheelchair accessible stations! 😉

[@matti...]

and stop at everything single ikea store on the way, as marked on the london tube map

[@Rutgerman95]

Time for a collab between Jay and Geoff Marshall?

[@RatelHBadger]

Somehow I think Jay and Geoff Marshall would blow this challenge out of the water.

[@charliebramley]

how impressed are we with the hosts memorising words then looking at camera skill :)

[@OmegaNovaB]

I reckon he’s gonna do it, go on Jay!

[@OmegaNovaB]

Yay!!

[@Dahu_7]

Love the Madness at the beginning

[@--Paws--]

We need someone like Jay for New York City's subway line.

[@theartofmakingsense]

Just me yelling at the telly that Jay could've changed to the Jubilee line at Baker Street for Swiss Cottage? Because its the same amount of stops i guess they still counted that double-back from Finchley Road as a correct answer, still a winner!

[@csongorzih5094]

It's cool the the tenth one was the Northern Line and Mill Hill East, the subject of the first Unfinished London.

[@viewofascene]

Thank you for letting Jay out on day release to participate

[@maksymushka]

Boy all that pressure and everything give the fella at least a few thousand pounds. He did incredibly well considering all the eyes on him.

[@waziotter]

Together at last: Stephen Mulhern & Jay. It’s what the internet was made for!

[@stephenholt4670]

I thought he'd made a mistake at 3:41 because that's the Jubilee line, not the Bakerloo... but looks like in fact the producers of the programme have mysteriously transposed Kenton to Wembley Park on their map, and Jay was of course correct.

[@sprucemaroose]

This is around 8 years old. Not sure if that changes in that time

[@grahamlive]

This quiz would have been much easier if they'd used the Glasgow Underground.

[@CarlMarx]

Never doubted my man's skill with a map!

[@mattresbert]

Brilliant stuff

[@infidelcastro5129]

Fan fuct… sorry - fun fact… When Jay wears that tee shirt his surname changes to ‘Quatre-Homme’

[@ebarshin]

This was insane. So much faster than the app!

[@saltersstuff627]

Well that was a fever dream! I must have missed that episode when it aired

[@scott-mercer]

I'm shocked he got two wrong 😅

[@jd-dev]

I can do that too. In Toulouse, France. 2 lines and 1 connexion, this is simpler x))

[@1mlister]

That challege is sooo hard. It is worth way more than £1000

[@cecerchio]

I actually found it fairly easy as I guessed all of them, without the time pressure (paused video at every question). I'm not even a tube enthusiast nor a nerd, I just happen to have lived in London in the past two decades.

[@keagaming9837]

I know Jay from Map Men! I love Map Men, it is educational and funny!!!!!!!!!!!

[@toanoradian]

I wonder if this is a section of The Knowledge, that intricate and complicated road networks, buildings and roadside attractions of London. Like, if you have Jay go against a proper London taxicab driver in this exact same quiz format, would the two be evenly matched?

[@jannerkev]

Impressive Jay.

[@DNOPLAYSGAMES]

Never even heard of this show before, came for Jay

[@toosleebee]

Love the Madness!!

[@myblues528]

strewth, imagine the speed his brain's working at and calculating the answer. IMPRESSED.

[@hunterhatfield7157]

This is the most popular video on Talent Snacks that ISN'T a clip from the Voice. The power of maps.

[@spaghettiking7312]

I am proud of my autistic brethren.

[@crazycatperson3024]

The answers don't match the questions. The second question was Neasden to Angel but it was missing from the answers. I think Jay was wrong as you can't go from Waterloo to Angel without changing Northern Line branches so they probably cut it out but forgot and left in the question. Personally, from Victoria to Queensway, we think it's probably quicker to get the Circle Line to Bayswater and walk as the entrance is next door to Queensway- no changes that way. We are Jay fans here though. Yes, he does know every tube station. Luckily my young son does too as i'm unlikely to ever be able to call up Jay.

[@hashbrown4325]

You’re right, he should have said London Bridge not Waterloo In reality most people would probably do what you said but I don’t know if that would have counted as the right answer, so Jay’s bet seems safer

[@88porpoise]

I believe this was done for a TV show. It is likely that they cut showing an incorrect answer for time reasons, but they couldn't cut asking it because of the timer.

[@swaggyfrog]

why is him knowing those routes so confidently kinda attractive

[@music_by_carlos]

LOVE JAYYYY

[@Nihilism4U]

Give that man a job working the tubes