Shows
It Just So Happened - an alternative history showIJSH78 - EDINBURGH - 6th August 2025NB Apologies for the background noise in this episode which was due to a theatre light making a loud noise during the show.
This episode (no. 78) was recorded at The Hill St Theatre in Edinburgh on 6th August 2025 as part of The Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
The panellists were Charles Dundas, Sooz Kempner and Warren Martin. The host was Richard Pulsford.
These are some of the On This Day topics we presented before going into some of the history of Edinburgh:
- Halley's comet passed closest to the sun, 6th August 87BC
...
2026-01-221h 02It Just So Happened - an alternative history showIJSH77 - EDINBURGH - 5th August 2025NB Apologies for the background noise in this episode which was due to both a loud theatre light and a delivery of beer barrels in the street outside the venue during the performance. I guess that's the Fringe!
This episode (no. 77) was recorded at The Hill St Theatre in Edinburgh on 5th August 2025, as part of The Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
The panellists were C.J. Hooper, Autumn Unwin and Michael Balazo. The host was Richard Pulsford.
We presented the following On This Day topics before going into some of the history of Edinburgh:
2026-01-081h 00It Just So Happened - an alternative history showIJSH76 - EDINBURGH - 4th 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 and volume.
This episode (no. 76) was recorded at The Hill St Theatre in Edinburgh on 4th August 2025, as part of The Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
The panellists were Aleksandr Popov, Nick Everritt and Gabrielle Macpherson, and the host was Richard Pulsford.
We presented the following On This Day topics before going into some...
2025-12-2558 minIt Just So Happened - an alternative history showIJSH75 - EDINBURGH - 3rd 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 and volume.
This episode (no. 75) was recorded at The Hill St Theatre in Edinburgh on 3rd August 2025, as part of The Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
The panellists were Denzil Ede, Leslie Gold and Julia Knight, and the host was Richard Pulsford.
We presented the following On This Day topics before going into some...
2025-12-1158 minIt 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 min