Shows
It Just So Happened - an alternative history showIJSH74 - EDINBURGH - 2nd August 2025NB Apologies for the poor audio in this episode but there was a loud hum coming from one of the theatre lights during the performance and in editing most of this out, there has been an associated loss in sound quality.
This episode (no. 74) was recorded at The Hill St Theatre in Edinburgh on 2nd August 2025, as part of The Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
The panellists were Jane Walker, Scott Redmond and Andy Bullick, and the host was Richard Pulsford.
We presented the following On This Day topics before going into some of the...
2025-11-271h 00It Just So Happened - an alternative history showIJSH73 - EDINBURGH - 1st August 2025NB Apologies for the very poor audio in this episode. Not only did we battle with having no audience, frequent interruptions as people walked in, and the theatre lights going off during the recording, there was a loud hum from a light which had to be edited out but which has resulted in a significant loss of sound quality. If you make it through the whole of this episode - congratulations!
This episode (no. 73) was recorded at The Hill St Theatre in Edinburgh on 1st August 2025, as part of The Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
The panellists...
2025-11-1353 minIt Just So Happened - an alternative history showIJSH72 - SHAFTESBURY - 18th July 2025This episode (no. 72) was recorded at The Gold Hill Museum in Shaftesbury on 18th July 2025, as part of The Shaftesbury Fringe Festival.
The panellists were Richie Rands, Elaine Barratt and Tim Biglowe, and the host was Richard Pulsford.
We presented the following On This Day topics before going into some of the history of Shaftesbury:
- The Fire of Rome, 18th July 64
- John Hatch made his last will and testament, with Aaron Upjohn as executor, 18th July 1782
- Cricketer W. G. Grace, born 18th July 1848
- Nelson Mandela, born 18th...
2025-10-3058 minIt Just So Happened - an alternative history showIJSH71 - SCARBOROUGH - 13th June 2025This episode (no. 71) was recorded at The Shakespeare Gallery in Scarborough on 13th June 2025, as part of The Scarborough Fringe Festival.
The panellists were Denzil Ede, John Oxley and Bryan Ghosh, and the host was Richard Pulsford.
We presented the following On This Day topics before going into some of Scarborough's history:
- Pope Gregory's decretal against cats, 13th June 1233
- The Peasant's Revolt reaches London, 13th June 1381
- The siege of Scarborough Castle, 13th June 1645
- Ludwig II of Bavaria, died 13th June 1886
- Emile Levassor 'won' the first-ever...
2025-10-1658 minIt Just So Happened - an alternative history showIJSH70 - LEICESTER - 9th February 2025This episode (no. 70) was recorded at Wygston's House in Leicester on 9th February 2025, as part of The Leicester Comedy Festival.
The panellists were Ben Ennis, Jo Mungovin and Kevin Hudson, and the host was Richard Pulsford.
We presented the following On This Day topics before going into some of Leicester's history (horse racing seemed to be a recurring theme):
- the first recorded horse race, Chester, 9th February 1539
- William Henry Harrison (US president), born 9th February 1773
- Write Vasily Andreyevich Zhukovsky, born 9th February 1783
- X-rays 'developed' to see broken...
2025-10-021h 00It Just So Happened - an alternative history showIJSH69 - FAVERSHAM - 20th October 2024This episode (no. 69) was recorded at The Guildhall in Faversham on 20th October 2024, as part of The Faversham Fringe.
The panellists were Kate Smurthwaite, Jude Sach and Micky Gibbons, and the host was Richard Pulsford.
We presented the following On This Day topics:
- Thomas Bartholin, Danish physician, discoverer of the human lymphatic system, born 20th October 1616
- The Treaty of 1818, which settled the US-Canada border, 20th October 1818
- The Battle of Navorino (Greek War of Independence), 20th October 1827
- Oxford colleges grant women's colleges equal status, 20th October 1959
...
2025-04-171h 00It Just So Happened - an alternative history showIJSH68 - DUNDEE - 15th September 2024This episode (no. 68) was recorded at The Keiller Centre in the Dundee Fringe on 15th September 2024.
The panellists were Luis Alcada, Julia Knight and Andy Bullick, and the host was Richard Pulsford.
We presented the following On This Day topics, some of which seem rather prescient in the light of recent world events:
- Urban VII became Pope, on 15th September 1590
- Writer Agatha Christie, born 15th September 1890
- Tanks first introduced into battle, 15th September 1916
- Graham Taylor, England football manager, born, 15th September 1944
- Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev...
2025-04-031h 02It Just So Happened - an alternative history showIJSH67 - EDINBURGH - 10th August 2024This episode (no. 67) was recorded at The Hill Street Theatre in the Edinburgh Fringe on 10th August 2024.
The panellists were Chrissy Derbyshire, Bryan Ghosh and Julia Knight, and the host was Richard Pulsford.
We presented the following On This Day topics:
- Saint Lawrence died, on 10th August 258
- the opening of The Louvre, on 10th August 1793
- Abai Qunanbaiuly was born, on 10th August 1845
- Herbert Hoover was born, on 10th August 1874
- Sunset Boulevard premiered, on 10th August 1950
- an 'almost edible' fruitcake from Capt Scott's Terra...
2025-03-201h 00It Just So Happened - an alternative history showIJSH66 - EDINBURGH - 9th August 2024This episode (no. 66) was recorded at The Hill Street Theatre in the Edinburgh Fringe on 9th August 2024.
The panellists were Eppie Brilliant, Luis Alcada and Andy Bullick, and the host was Richard Pulsford.
We presented On This Day topics from across a wide historical timespan:
- the Battle of Adrianople, on 9th August 378
- the Leaning Tower of Pisa was founded, on 9th August 1173
- the patent for the world's first washing machine was issued, on 9th August 1910
- singer Cliff Richard signed with EMI records, on 9th August 1958
...
2025-03-061h 00It Just So Happened - an alternative history showIJSH65 - EDINBURGH - 8th August 2024This episode (no. 65) was recorded at The Hill Street Theatre in the Edinburgh Fringe on 8th August 2024.
The panellists were C.J. Hooper (from the U.K.), Kaytlin Bailey (from the U.S.) and Aleksandr Popov (from Estonia), and the host was Richard Pulsford.
We presented On This Day topics from across a very wide timespan:
- Destruction of the Antonia Tower on 8th August 70
- Sweden defeated by Estonian tribes on 8th August 1220
- Europe's first hot air balloon flight on 8th August 1709
- The Beatles pose for the Abbey...
2025-01-301h 00It Just So Happened - an alternative history showIJSH64 - EDINBURGH - 7th August 2024This latest episode (Episode 64) was recorded at The Hill Street Theatre in the Edinburgh Fringe on 7th August 2024.
The panellists were Vladimir McTavish, Paul Connolly and Alex Leam, and the host was Richard Pulsford.
We mainly covered On This Day topics from the twentieth century but also went as far back as the early 17th Century for one topic:
- The first performance of Macbeth, 7th August 1606
- Napoleon writes about reintroducing slavery in Cayenne, 7th August 1802
- Fanny Blankers became the first woman to win 4 gold medals, at The Olympic Games...
2025-01-161h 00It Just So Happened - an alternative history showIJSH63 - EDINBURGH - 6th August 2024We're back with our fortnightly episodes after a well-earned Christmas break! This latest episode (Episode 63) was recorded at The Hill Street Theatre in the Edinburgh Fringe on 6th August 2024.
The panellists were Luis Alcada, Caitriona Dowden and Paul Connolly, and the host was Richard Pulsford.
We covered a few On This Day topics from the twentieth century but also went as far back as the 15th Century, including when:
- Pope Calixtus III died, on 6th August 1458
- Ben Jonson died, on 6th August 1637
- Alfred, Lord Tennyson was born, on 6th A...
2025-01-0259 minIt Just So Happened - an alternative history showIJSH62 - EDINBURGH - 5th August 2024This latest episode (Episode 62) was recorded at The Hill Street Theatre in the Edinburgh Fringe on 5th August 2024.
The panellists were Micky Alexander, Dylan Dodds and Karismaa, and the host was Richard Pulsford.
On This Day topics covered included when:
- Henry I was crowned King of England, on 5th August 1100
- The Speedwell left Southampton, on 5th August 1620
- Artist Louis Wain was born, on 5th August 1860
- The UK's first cinema opened, on 5th August 1901
- 'People's Poet' Edgar Guest died, on 5th August 1959
2024-12-0559 minIt Just So Happened - an alternative history showIJSH61 - EDINBURGH - 4th August 2024This latest episode (Episode 61) was recorded at The Hill Street Theatre in the Edinburgh Fringe on 4th August 2024.
The panellists were Charles Dundas, Louise Leigh and David Cruickshanks, and the host was Richard Pulsford.
We covered a variety of On This Day topics, including when:
- Douglas attacked the King's tent, on 4th August 1327
- Champagne was invented, on 4th August 1693
- Gibraltar surrendered to the British, on 4th August 1704
- Louis Armstrong was born, on 4th August 1901
- Marilyn Munroe died, on 4th August 1962
2024-11-2159 minIt Just So Happened - an alternative history showIJSH60 - EDINBURGH - 3rd August 2024This latest episode (Episode 60) was recorded at The Hill Street Theatre in the Edinburgh Fringe on 3rd August 2024.
The panellists were Jane Walker, Aaron Twitchen and Nikita Kha, and the host was Richard Pulsford.
We covered a varied list of On This Day topics, including:
- Joseph Paxton was born on 3rd August 1803
- Jesse Owens won the 100m Dash at the Olympic Games on 3rd August 1936
- Lithuania was 'accepted' into the USSR on 3rd August 1940
- The Beatles played at The Cavern Club for the final time on 3rd Augu...
2024-11-0756 minIt Just So Happened - an alternative history showIJSH59 - EDINBURGH - 2nd August 2024Episode 59 was recorded at The Hill Street Theatre in the Edinburgh Fringe on 2nd August 2024.
The panellists were Kate Smurthwaite, Paul Connolly and Daniel Crewe. The host was Richard Pulsford.
As usual we had a varied list of On This Day topics:
Iceland's national anthem was played publicly for the first time in 1874.
The UK Parliament officially adopted Greenwich Mean Time in 1880.
Edwin Harris Dunning became the first pilot to land a plane on a ship in 1917.
American writer and civil rights activist James Baldwin was born...
2024-10-2458 minIt Just So Happened - an alternative history showIJSH58 - BUXTON - 20th July 2024Episode 58 was recorded at The Green Man Art Gallery in the Buxton Fringe on 20th July 2024.
The panellists were Kevin Hudson and Scott Allsop. The host was Richard Pulsford.
As usual we had a varied list of On This Day topics.
It was 55 years since Apollo 11 landed on the moon (20/07/1969).
It was the birth date of Cornelia Zangheri Bandi, born (20/07/1664), who died of apparent spontaneous human combustion, and Dickens used this as a case study for one of his famous novels.
It was also the anniversary of the day...
2024-10-1057 minIt Just So Happened - an alternative history showIJSH57 - TUNBRIDGE WELLS - 30th June 2024Episode 57 was recorded at The Rotunda Theatre in the Tunbridge Wells Fringe Festival on 30th June 2024.
The panellists were Richie Rands, Chris Neville-Smith and Ross Ericson. The host was Richard Pulsford.
The On This Day topics covered were:
- The Tunguska event (30/06/1908)
- Mary Surratt sentenced to death (30/06/1865)
- The first emergency telephone number (30/06/1937)
- Blondin crosses Niagara on a tightrope (30/06/1859)
- I'm walking backwards for Christmas enters the charts (30/06/1956)
- Nancy Mitford, died (30/06/1973)
2024-09-2656 minIt Just So Happened - an alternative history showIJSH56 - CHICHESTER - 6th June 2024Episode 56 was recorded at The Guildhall in the Chichester Fringe on 6th June 2024.
The panellists were Richie Rands, Gerard Harris and Julia Knight. The host was Richard Pulsford.
The On This Day topics covered were:
- Alix of Hesse, born (06/06/1872)
- The Normandy Landings (06/06/1944)
- Dutch swimmer Ada Kok, born (06/06/1947)
- The YMCA founded (06/06/1844)
- 'Sex and The City' first aired (06/06/1998)
- Anne Bancroft, died (06/06/2005)
Please be aware that, unfortunately, the sound quality on this recording isn't as good as it could have been.
2024-09-121h 05It Just So Happened - an alternative history showIJSH55 - BRIGHTON - 2nd June 2024Episode 55 was recorded at The Toy and Model Museum in the Brighton Fringe on 2nd June 2024.
The panellists were Chrissy Derbyshire, Julia Knight, and Micky Gibbons. The host was Richard Pulsford.
The On This Day topics covered were:
- The Marquis de Sade, born (02/06/1740)
- The Vandals sack Rome (02/06/455)
- Queen Elizabeth II's coronation (02/06/1953)
- Surveyor 1 lands successfully on the moon (02/06/1966)
- The Battle of Santiago (02/06/1962)
- Peter Sallis, died (02/06/2017)
2024-08-291h 01It Just So Happened - an alternative history showIJSH54 - LANCASTER - 28th April 2024Episode 54 was recorded at The Borough in the Lancaster Comedy Festival on 28th April 2024.
The panellists were Sallyann Fellowes and Angela Bra. The host was Richard Pulsford.
The On This Day topics covered were:
- Pirate Mary Read, died (28/04/1721)
- US President James Monroe born (28/04/1758)
- Marie Harel, born (28/04/1761)
- The world's first motor car race (28/04/1867)
- Terry Pratchett born (28/04/1948)
2024-08-1552 minIt Just So Happened - an alternative history showIJSH53 - GLASGOW - 24th March 2024Episode 53 was recorded at Whistler on the Green in the Glasgow Comedy Festival on 24th March 2024.
The panellists were Julia Knight, Bryan Ghosh and Richie Rands. The host was Richard Pulsford.
The On This Day topics covered were:
- Joseph Barbera born (24/03/1911)
- Richard I wounded by a crossbow bolt (24/03/1199)
- Joseph Smith tarred and feathered (24/03/1832)
- James VI of Scotland becomes James I of England and Ireland (24/03/1603)
- Harry Houdini born (24/03/1874)
- William Morris born (24/03/1834)
Apologies for the sound quality on this episode, battling as we...
2024-08-0158 minIt Just So Happened - an alternative history showIJSH52 - LEICESTER - 11th February 2024Episode 52 was recorded at the historical Wygston's House in the Leicester Comedy Festival on 11th February 2024.
The panellists were Kevin Hudson, Jo Mungovin and Ben Ennis. The host was Richard Pulsford.
The On This Day topics covered were:
- Margaret Thatcher elected as Conservative Party leader (11/02/1975)
- John Buchan (died, 11/02/1940)
- Tom and Jerry's first cartoon film (11/02/1940)
- Matilda, the world's oldest chicken (died, 11/02/2006)
- The term Robot was first used in a TV programme (11/02/1938)
2024-07-1856 minIt Just So Happened - an alternative history showIJSH51 - NOTTINGHAM - 4th November 2023This episode was recorded at The Playwright in the Nottingham Comedy Festival on 4th November 2023.
The panellists were Sanjay Brown, Denzil Ede and Autumn Unwin. The host was Richard Pulsford.
The On This Day topics covered were:
- Actor Edmund Kean (born, 04/11/1787)
- The Gatling gun is patented (04/11/1862)
- Tutenkhamun's burial chamber found (04/11/1923)
- Nellie Taylor Ross becomes first woman US state governor (04/11/1924)
- Welsh musician James James (born, 04/11/1832)
- Felix Mendelssohn (died, 04/11/1847)
2024-07-041h 02It Just So Happened - an alternative history showIJSH50 - DUNDEE - 17th September 2023This episode was recorded at The Keillor Centre in the Dundee Fringe on 17th September 2023.
The panellists were Luis Alcada, Julia Knight and Andy Bullick. The host was Richard Pulsford.
On This Day topics covered included:
- Norton I declares himself US Emporer (17/09/1859)
- David Dunbar Buick (born, 17/09/1854)
- Hildegard of Bingen (died, 17/09/1179)
- 1st airplane crash fatality (17/09/1908)
- Antoine de Leeuwenhoek first describes bacteria (17/09/1683)
- Tobias Smollett (died, 17/09/1771)
NB This episode was recorded at a festival where there was quite a bit of background noise!
2024-06-201h 05It Just So Happened - an alternative history showIJSH49 - EDINBURGH - 12th August 2023This episode was recorded at The Hill St Theatre at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe on 12th August 2023.
The panellists were Kate Smurthwaite, Vladimir McTavish and Bryan Ghosh. The host was Richard Pulsford.
On This Day topics covered included:
- New Amsterdam's 1st police force formed (born, 12/08/1658)
- Robert Southey (born, 12/08/1774)
- Erwin Schroedinger (born, 12/08/1887)
- Ian Fleming (died, 12/08/1964)
- Clarence Birdseye patents fish fingers (12/08/1930)
- William Blake (died, 12/08/1827)
2024-06-061h 03It Just So Happened - an alternative history showIJSH48 - EDINBURGH - 11th August 2023This episode was recorded at The Hill St Theatre at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe on 11th August 2023.
The panellists were Jane Walker, Dylan Dodds and Julia Knight. The host was Richard Pulsford.
On This Day topics covered included:
- Enid Blyton (born 11/08/1897)
- 1st federal prisoners arrive at Alcatraz (11/08/1934)
- the founding of Al Qaeda (11/08/1988)
- Ted Heath's Admiral Cup victory (11/08/1971)
- the UK solar eclipse (11/08/1999)
- Robin Williams (died 11/08/2014)
2024-05-231h 00It Just So Happened - an alternative history showIJSH47 - EDINBURGH - 10th August 2023This episode was recorded at The Hill St Theatre at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe on 10th August 2023. Unfortunately the last few minutes did not record. Contains some strong language.
The panellists were Stella Graham, Dave Chawner and Paul Connolly. The host was Richard Pulsford.
On This Day topics covered included:
- The Jim Morrison 'lasciviousness' trial (10/08/1969)
- The opening of The Louvre (10/08/1793)
- Word reaches London on the Paris insurrection (10/08/1792)
- Herbert Hoover born (10/08/1874)
- Wrestler Fred Ottman born (10/08/1956)
2024-05-0958 minIt Just So Happened - an alternative history showIJSH46 - EDINBURGH - 9th August 2023This episode was recorded at The Hill St Theatre at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe on 9th August 2023.
The panellists were Angus Coutts, Micky Gibbons and Bryan Ghosh. The host was Richard Pulsford.
On This Day topics covered included:
- The Leaning Tower of Pisa founded (09/08/1173)
- The first electric washing machine patent (09/08/1910)
- The Coronation of Edward VII (09/08/1910)
- Cliff Richard signs with EMI Records (09/08/1958)
- The bombing of Nagasaki, and Nintendo (09/08/1945)
- Writer David Nobbs, died (09/08/2015)
2024-04-251h 01It Just So Happened - an alternative history showIJSH45 - EDINBURGH - 8th August 2023This episode was recorded at The Hill St Theatre at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe on 8th August 2023.
The panellists were Paul Connolly, Luis Alcada and CJ Hooper. The host was Richard Pulsford.
On This Day topics covered included:
The Kingsmen release Louie Louie (08/08/1963)
The first European air balloon flight (08/08/1709)
The Church inspects Galileo's telescope (08/08/1609)
Beatles trivia (08/08/1966 and 08/08/1969)
Earthquake in Crete (08/08/1303)
Richard Nixon steps down as US President (08/08/1974)
2024-04-1159 minIt Just So Happened - an alternative history showIJSH44 - EDINBURGH - 7th August 2023This 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!)
2024-03-2856 minIt Just So Happened - an alternative history showIJSH43 - EDINBURGH - 6th August 2023This 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...
2024-03-1458 minIt Just So Happened - an alternative history showIJSH42 - EDINBURGH - 5th August 2023This 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)
...
2024-02-2959 minIt Just So Happened - an alternative history showIJSH41 - BUXTON - 15th July 2023This 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
...
2024-02-1556 minIt Just So Happened - an alternative history showIJSH40 - LUDLOW - 24th June 2023This 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 Festiv...
2024-02-0156 min