You might be a HUGE fan of Young Sheldon, but we bet you’ll still learn something new in this amazing list of facts! We’ll take you behind the scenes of the top TV comedy where you’ll learn all sorts of amazing things – like which Big Bang Theory cast members have appeared in the show, where Medford is, and what happened when Iain Armitage encountered a dial telephone for the first time! We’ve also got lots of Young Sheldon quizzes waiting for you when you’re done – find out which Young Sheldon character you are, or if you’re smarter than Sheldon!

1. Jim Parsons came up with the idea

Jim Parsons, who plays Sheldon in The Big Bang Theory, was the one who came up with the idea of a prequel all about Sheldon’s childhood! Sheldon Cooper was a HUGELY popular character, so it just made sense to give him his own show. Jim is also an executive producer on the show, as well as the narrator!

2. Iain Armitage had to memorise a three-page monologue for his audition

Iain Armitage, who plays Sheldon, has a VERY wordy role, so it only makes sense his audition was dialogue heavy. Iain had to memorise and deliver a THREE-PAGE monologue, which is especially impressive as he was only eight at the time! He did it via iPhone, and creator Chuck Lorre says he was absolutely hilarious.

3. Iain Armitage is actually blond!

Iain Armitage had to dye his naturally blond hair brown to play Sheldon, who had dark hair in The Big Bang Theory.

4. Sheldon’s mum is Sheldon’s mum’s daughter!

Zoe Perry, who plays Sheldon’s mum, is the real-life daughter of Laurie Metcalf, who plays Sheldon’s mum in The Big Bang Theory! Zoe did have to audition for the part, though, just to make sure she was absolutely right.

5. A different actress plays Meemaw!

Meemaw is played by Annie Potts in Young Sheldon, but in The Big Bang Theory she is played by June Squibb. It makes sense to change the actress because Meemaw is meant to be a lot younger in Young Sheldon. Annie Potts doesn’t really look anything like June Squibb, but Young Sheldon fans agree she’s so good in the role that it doesn’t matter!

6. Sheldon mentored Sheldon

Jim Parsons helped Iain Armitage prepare for the role of Sheldon. On an episode of The Ellen Show, Iain called Jim “an incredible mentor.” Awww!

7. Iain Armitage hadn’t watched the Big Bang Theory

When Iain Armitage auditioned for the show he revealed he’d never actually watched The Big Bang Theory! He said at the time it wasn’t really appropriate for his age level, so he only watched a few clips. With the help he got from Jim Parsons, Iain made Sheldon his own!

8. The theme song was written by the guy from Blue’s Clues

The show’s theme song, “Mighty Little Man”, is way catchier than most theme songs (a bit like the theme for The Big Bang Theory)! It was written and performed by Steve Burns, who is well-known to viewers of the classic children’s series Blues Clues as Steve, one of the best-known hosts! Steve also appeared in a few episodes of Young Sheldon, playing a Trekkie called Nathan.

9. Sheldon’s dad was in The Big Bang Theory

Lance Barber, who plays George Sr., might look familiar if you’ve seen The Big Bang Theory. That’s because he guest-starred in one episode, playing one of Leonard’s high school bullies.

10. Medford isn’t real

The show is set in the town of Medford, which is supposed to be somewhere in east Texas – but it actually doesn’t exist! Sheldon does give an area code for the town which places it about an hour from Houston. Texan fans have also said it’s a pretty realistic depiction of small-town Texas life!

11. There are voice cameos from the BBT cast!

The series stars the voice of Jim Parsons, but it also has appearances from some of the other main BBT cast members! Mayim Bialik, who plays Amy, appears twice in voiceover with Sheldon, and Simon Helberg, who plays Howard, appears once. Kaley Cuoco (Penny) also has an uncredited voice cameo as the pool water in Sheldon’s nightmare in season 3.

12. The kids didn’t recognise the older props

The series is set in the late 80s and early 90s, when technology looked VERY different from now. But the kids in the cast were all born in the late 2000s, so they’d never seen some of the props before! Walkmans, cassette tapes, VHSs and dial phones were all a bit confusing for the child actors – Zoe Perry said that Iain Armitage had trouble figuring out how to operate a push-button phone at first! Have you ever used any 90s tech?

13. Dolly Parton inspired Meemaw’s look

Meemaw’s OTT Southern style was influenced by a lot of women Annie Potts knew in real life, but especially by Dolly Parton’s character in the film Steel Magnolias. Dolly Parton actually guest-starred in an episode of Annie Potts’ sitcom Designing Women!

14. Sabrina the Teenage Witch directed!

Actress Melissa Joan Hart is best known for her starring roles in Sabrina The Teenage Witch and Clarissa Explains It All, stepped behind the camera and directed five episodes of Young Sheldon! She really enjoyed the experience, saying she had “the most amazing time.”

15. Raegen Revord brought her own toy on set

If you’re a VERY sharp-eyed viewer, you might spot a white stuffed dog on Missy’s bed in a few scenes. The dog actually belongs to Missy’s actress Raegen Revord! The dog’s name is Snowflake, and it was a gift from Raegen’s great-grandmother when Raegen was five. She used to take him everywhere, and said in 2019 that Snowflake is actually sitting in her lap in quite a few scenes where the camera won’t show him. Does that make him the secret extra member of the Cooper family?