It Just So Happened - an alternative history show
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41 episodes
This episode was recorded at The Hill St Theatre at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe on 7th August 2023. The panellists were Angus Coutts, Charles Dundas and Aleksandr Popov. The host was Richard Pulsford. On This Day topics covered included: The first performance of Macbeth (07/08/1606) The Turkish Straits Crisis (07/08/1946) Lynne Cox swims The Bering Strait (07/08/1987) Petit's high-wire act between NY's Twin Towers (07/08/1974) Oliver Hardy (died, 07/08/1957) (Charles didn't get the memo about not shaving for this one!)
This episode was recorded at The Hill St Theatre at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe on 6th August 2023. The panellists were Dr Anthony Drew, David Cruickshanks and Marijke Cortenbach. The host was Richard Pulsford. On This Day topics covered included: - Chay Blyth completes a round the world voyage (06/08/1971) - Gherman Titov's flight as the second cosmonaut (06/08/1961) - The proposed phone booth ban (06/08/1925) - The remains of A.A. Andree's expedition were found (06/08/1930) - Lucille Ball (born 06/08/1911) - Ben Jonson (died 06/08/1637) Some of the history of Edinburgh was also covered!
This episode was recorded at The Hill St Theatre in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe on 5th August 2023. The panellists were Paul Connolly, Eppie Brilliant and Tasha Mott, and the host was Richard Pulsford. On This Day topics covered included:- - The American version of Whose Line Is It Anyway? debuts on ABC (5th August 1998) - Mayflower and Speedwell depart (5th August 1620) - The Beatles release Revolver (5th August 1966) - The first cinema in the UK opens (5th August 1901) - The first lab-grown burger is produced (5th August 2015) - Edgar Guest died (5th August 1959)
This episode was recorded at the Green Man Gallery in the Buxton Fringe on 15th July 2023. The panellists were Scott Allsop and Donna Scott, and the host was Richard Pulsford. On This Day topics covered included:- - St Swithun's Feast Day (15th July) - General Tom Thumb died (15/07/1883) - Mary Queen of Scots imprisoned at Bolton Castle (15/07/1568) - The first Twitter prototype was made publicly available (15/07/2006) - Anton Chekhov died (15/07/1904) Buxton topics included:- - the actor and comedian John Kane - Harpur Hill - tennis in the town
This episode was recorded at the Assembly Rooms in the Ludlow Fringe on 24th June 2023. The panellists were Richie Rands, Simon Bolton and Chrissy Derbyshire, and the host was Richard Pulsford. On This Day topics covered included:- - The coronation of Henry VIII (24/06/1509) - The first performance of the song which would become Canada’s ‘national anthem’ (24/06/1880) - A Ludlow Tanner’s Apprentice John Eaton receives his master’s will (24/06/1697) - Mary Pickford becomes the first actress to sign a $1m contract (24/06/1916) - The Dancing Plague started (24/06/1374) - The Festival of Fors Fortuna (24th June)
This episode was recorded at the Bedford Inn, Balham in the Wandsworth Arts Fringe on 22nd June 2023. The panellists were Alex Kitson, John Rands and Arthur Smith, and the host was Richard Pulsford. On This Day topics covered included:- - The Charing Cross, Euston and Hampstead Railway opened (22/06/1907) - The Holy Office in Rome forced Galileo Galilei to recant (22/06/1633) - Beatles make first record as backing for Tony Sheridan (22/06/1961) - The Hand of God goal (22/06/1986) - Pétain became Prime Minister of Vichy France (22/06/1940) - George Carlin died (22/06/2008) - Balham: Gateway to the South - Miss Marple and Du Cane Court - John Sullivan, born in Balham - Captain Sensible, born in Balham - Pedestrian crossings
This episode was recorded at the Toy and Model Museum in the Brighton Fringe on 27th May 2023. The panellists were John Rands, Arna Spek and Mike Coxon, and the host was Richard Pulsford. Topics covered included:- - Dashiel Hammett's birthday (27/05/1894) - John crowned king of England (27/05/1199) - Habeas Corpus Act receives royal assent (27/05/1679) - Oliver Cromwell offered the crown (27/05/1657) - Paul Gascoigne's birthday (27/05/1967) - Brighton and Hove Albion, ABBA's entry in Eurovision, Brighton sewers, St. Bartholomew's church, and local witch Doreen Valiente.
Recorded at The Griffin bar in Glasgow on Sunday 19th March 2023, as part of the Glasgow International Comedy Festival. The Panel included Iain Pringle, Amanda Hursy and Bryan Ghosh, with Richard Pulsford as host. On This Day topics covered included: - over 200 members of the Peking imperial family and court commit suicide in loyalty to the Emperor (19th March 1644) - the US Standard Time Act (19th March 1918) - David Livingstone (born 19th March 1813) - Albert Speer's birthday / The Nero decree (19th March 1905 / 1945) Some of the history of Glasgow covered: - The City Chambers - Glasgow statues - Isabella Ure Elder - The Stone of Destiny - Saint Valentine (bits of him) - The first official international football match - Sir Roger and his 'musth' problem - Chicken tikka masala
Recorded at Wygston's House in Leicester on Sunday 12th February 2023, as part of the Leicester Comedy Festival. The Panel included Jo Mungovin, Ben Ennis and Kevin Hudson, with Richard Pulsford as host. On This Day topics covered included: Lost Penny Day (12th February) Benjamin Franklin receives a doctorate (12th February 1759) X-Rays (Wilhelm Roentgen died, February 1923) Ecuador annexes the Galapagos Islands (12th February 1832) Edvard Munch's The Scream stolen (12th February 1994) Lady Jane Grey (executed 12th February 1554) Abraham Lincoln (born, 12th February 1809)
Recorded at The Guildhall in Faversham on Friday 28th October 2022, as part of the Faversham Fringe. The Panel included Jude Sach, Richie Rands and Christy Haragan, with Richard Pulsford as host. On This Day topics covered included: Festival of St Jude (28th October) Gulliver's Travels published (28th October 1726) The Cuban Missile Crisis (28th October 1962) The Statue of Liberty dedicated (28th October 1886) Vote to change succession rules for the British monarchy (28th October 2011) Christy Haragan and Richie Rands. (l-r) Richie Rands, Richard Pulsford and Jude Sach. Thanks to Richie Rands for the back-up audio recording and to Chloe Foster at Faversham Fringe for the photographs.
Recorded at theSpace at Surgeons' Hall during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe on Saturday 13th August. The Panel included Michael Akadiri, Dave Chawner and Daniel Downie, with Richard Pulsford as host. On This Day topics covered included: Stolen 1911 Picasso painting La Coiffeuse returned to France (2015) Patent for first coin-operated phone (13th August 1889) Alfred Hitchcock (born 13th August 1899) Florence Nightingale (died 13th August 1910) Battle of Dupplin Moor (2nd Scottish War of Independence) (1332) Apologies for the middle section being of poorer sound quality. Warning - this episode contains mild swearing.
Recorded at theSpace at Surgeons' Hall during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe on Friday 12th August. The Panel included Bryan Ghosh and Angus Coutts, with Richard Pulsford as host. On This Day topics covered included: Clarence Birdseye patents fish fingers (12/08/1930) The first IBM PC released (12/08/1981) Robert Southey (born 12/08/1774) John Cage's 4'33" James Bond author, Ian Fleming (died 12/08/1964) William Blake (died 12/08/1827)
Recorded at theSpace at Surgeons' Hall during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe on Thursday 11th August. The Panel included Charmian Hughes and Alex Hiscock, with Richard Pulsford as host. On This Day topics covered included: Amateur archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann destroys remains of Troy (1873) First federal prisoners arrive at Alcatraz (1934) The Beatles' Help! US release (1965) and Lennon's apology (1966) Ted Heath and Admiral's Cup victory (1971)
Recorded at theSpace at Surgeons' Hall during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe on Wednesday 10th August. The Panel included Angus Coutts, Natalie Durkin and Nick Elleray, with Richard Pulsford as host. On This Day topics covered included: Missouri made a state (1821) Opening of The Louvre (1793) Ruth Bader Ginsberg sworn in (1993) US President Herbert Hoover born (1874) The first electric guitar patented (1937)
Recorded at theSpace at Surgeons' Hall during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe on Tuesday 9th August. The Panel included Chris (Alf) Leworthy and Alex Hiscock, with Richard Pulsford as host. On This Day topics covered included: Whitney Houston's birthday (born 09/08/1963) The Leaning Tower of Pisa (founded 09/08/1173) The Roman God Sol Indigines (annual sacrifice on 9th August) The Thor Washing Machine (patented 09/08/1910) Writer David Nobbs (died 09/08/2015) [Apologies for the poor sound quality after about half an hour]
Recorded at theSpace at Surgeons' Hall during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe on Monday 8th August. The Panel included Alex Leam, Luis Alcada and Angus Coutts, with Richard Pulsford as host. On This Day topics covered included: The temperature in New York (1988) The first hot air balloon (1709) The 'Great' Train Robbery (1963) Beatles trivia (1966 and 1969)
WARNING - This episode contains a single swear word some people may find offensive! Recorded at theSpace at Surgeons' Hall during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe on Sunday 7th August. The panel included Roisin Kenny, Charalampos Koundourakis and Daniel Downie, with Richard Pulsford as host. Topics covered included: Mary Queen of Scots escorted to France (1548) Macbeth and some unfortunate happenings (1606) Philippe Petit's high-wire walk between New York's Twin Towers (1974) Lynne Cox's swim from the US to the USSR (1987)
Recorded at theSpace venue at Surgeons' Hall during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe on 6th August 2022. Hosted by Richard Pulsford. With guest panellists: Charalampos Koundourakis, David Cruickshanks and Maureen Langan. Topics covered included: S.A. Andree's ill-fated balloon expedition Gertrude Ederle - first female cross-Channel swimmer Gherman Titov - the second cosmonaut in space Satchel Paige - the oldest pitcher to complete a league baseball game Curiosity lands on the planet Mars
WARNING - CONTAINS SOME STRONG LANGUAGE! Recorded at theSpace venue at Surgeons' Hall during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe on 5th August 2022. Hosted by Richard Pulsford. With guest panellists: Bylgja Babylons, Louise Leigh and Roisin Kenny.
Recorded at the Toy and Model Museum in Brighton on 5th June 2022. Hosted by Richard Pulsford. With guest panellists Dave Chawner, Jade Gebbie and Richie Rands. Apologies for the poorer quality of recording - this was due to a technical hitch!
Podcast episode 24 features historical events from 6th February and from the history of Leicester. Recorded at Wygston's House during the Leicester Comedy Festival. With guest panellists Ben Ennis, Jo Mungovin and Kevin Hudson. Topics covered include: - the 70th anniversary of the Queen's accession - playing golf on the moon - lame ducks - the Laughing Policeman - the last UK gibbetting
Recorded at The Quarry Main Theatre during the Bedford Fringe, podcast episode 023 features historical events from 21st July and from the history of Bedford. Listen in as host Richard Pulsford and panel Adam Vincent, Tiffany Trethowan, Simon Munnery and Paul Revill talk about the following (and more): - mad cow disease - Haile Selassie - Bedford-born Ronnie Barker - The Telstar satellite and hit - the first ice cream cones
Podcast episode 022 features historical events from 17th July and from the history of Buxton. Recorded live at The Green Man Gallery as part of the Buxton Comedy Festival. With guest panellists Kevin Hudson, Ishi Khan and Gerard Harris. The panellists performed self-penned stand-up comedy material based on 17th July in history before talking about Buxton. Topics covered include: - The renaming of the British Royal Family to Windsor - Handel's Water Music - The US - USSR Soyuz docking - International emoji Day REVIEW - BUXTON 2021 "Pulsford is a charming host and we finished with some little known facts about Buxton and it’s German twin Bad Nauheim, and a lovely tribute to Buxton’s Tim Brooke-Taylor who would have been 81 on the day. Luckily for you it’s all been recorded for Richard’s podcast, so look out for It Just So Happened online!" - Stephen Walker Kevin Hudson, Ishi Khan, Richard Pulsford and Gerard Harris.
Podcast episode 018 features historical events from 11th February and from the history of Leicester. Recorded at Wygston's House in Leicester, as part of the Leicester Comedy Festival. With guest panellists Lisa Vernon, Kevin Hudson, Rahul Somia and Tony Cowards. The panellists performed self-penned stand-up comedy material based on 11th February in history before talking about Leicester 'firsts' and 'biggests'.
Recorded at The King Richard III Centre in Leicester, as part of the Leicester Comedy Festival 2020. With guest panellists Alasdair Beckett-King, Ben Ennis, Chris Phillips and Jo Mungovin. The panellists performed self-penned stand-up comedy material based on 7th February in history, before recalling some sayings from Leicester-born 'Python' Graham Chapman and finding out about the life of Leicester-born Joseph Merrick. * Apologies for the slightly poorer quality audio on this one - this was due to 'technical issues' on the night! *
Recorded at The Castle pub in Nottingham, as part of the Nottingham Comedy Festival. With guest panellists Lisa Vernon, Tommy Tomski, Tony Cowards and Sanjay Brown. The panellists performed self-penned stand-up comedy material based on 10th November in history, before discussing topics based on some famous events and people with historical Nottingham connections. Amongst other things we find out:- - why it was National Accounting Day - that Kalashnikov umbrellas are a thing - nutmeg and lime is not a tasty combination - how joking about bananas could get you into trouble - ways to get from Dover to Nottingham - how the Goose Fair got its name - why the leading lady in Brief Encounter popped into Boots
Recorded at The Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum in Dunfermline, as part of the Outwith Festival. With guest panellists Vladimir McTavish, Jamie Dalgleish, Dan Downie and Bruce Fummey. The panellists performed self-penned stand-up comedy material based on 4th September in history, before discussing topics based on some famous people with historical Dunfermline connections. Amongst other things we find out:- - how someone was thought to be disguising themselves as a badger - how New Caledonia got its name - what made Mary Queen of Scots so, well, Scottish - what happened when the Forth Road Bridge was opened - just how accurate Shakespeare's Macbeth was - where you could go with some body parts when there was no Crusade to take them on - how a military band played at the dissection of a whale
Recorded at The Beehive Inn in the Grassmarket, Edinburgh, as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. With guest panellists Gerard Harris, Radu Isac and Lee Moore. The panellists performed self-penned stand-up comedy material based on 20th August in history, before discussing topics based on some famous people with historical Edinburgh connections. Amongst other things we find out:- - why Mexico was not a safe haven for an opponent of Stalin - what message of greeting will last for 1 billion years - a very spooky-sounding conspiracy theory based on baseball statistics - whom from Edinburgh was voted the sexiest man alive - something which allegedly happened to Petula Clark - whose wicket Sir Arthur Conan Doyle took in a game of cricket And also why the panel embarked on a rendition of Wee Willie Winkie.
Recorded at The Beehive Inn in the Grassmarket, Edinburgh, as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. With guest panellists Charmian Hughes, Andrew White, Fedor Ikelaar and David Cruickshanks. The panellists performed self-penned stand-up comedy material based on 13th August in history, before discussing topics based on some notorious crimes and criminals in the history of Edinburgh.
Recorded at the Beehive Inn as part of the Scottish Comedy Festival in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. With guest panellists Matt Duwell, Nav Chima, Dylan Dodds and Louise Leigh. The panellists performed self-penned stand-up comedy material based on 6th August in history, before discussing topics based on the history of Edinburgh's Grassmarket and Greyfriars Kirkyard.
