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John Rutledge – known to some as Eggsy from comedy rap group Goldie Lookin’ Chain – is on a quest to discover what makes mushrooms so magical. Through a mycological meander in the forests of Wales, a deep dive into medical and ecological research, and a virtual visit to Imperial College London’s Department of Brain Sciences, John explores whether the humble mushroom could solve some of the world’s biggest problems. Could these fantastic fungi really provide sustainable food, help clean up ecological disasters, produce ground-breaking medicines and help cure mental health problems?

John joins Cardiff University’s Professor Lynne Boddy in a Monmouthshire woodland to find out how fungi connect the entire forest with a communication network known as the Wood Wide Web. He stops off at Cynan Jones’ Snowdonia mushroom garden to discover why our fungal friends are so misunderstood and how they can be grown to produce restaurant-class food with minimal ecological impact. Professional forager Rich Prideaux shows John how to source a free meal in the wilderness and explains why picking mushrooms could mean life or death. While clinical trial manager Bruna Giribaldi at Imperial College London’s Centre for Psychedelic Research reveals how mushrooms are beginning to revolutionise the treatment of mental health issues.

Could it be that mushrooms really could save the world?