It Just So Happened - an alternative history show

This episode (no. 83) was recorded at The Cosy Club in Nottingham on 9th November 2025 as part of The Nottingham Comedy Festival.

The panellists were Sanjay Brown, Denzil De Cristo and Caitriona Dowden. The host was Richard Pulsford.

These are some of the On This Day topics we presented before going into some of the history of Dundee:
- Margery Kempe, English mystic (1373-1438), commemoration day
- George II, British king, born 9th November 1683
- Coup du 18 Brumaire, 9th November 1799
- Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, architect, born 9th November 1880
- Cullinan diamond found, 9th November 1907
- Hedy Lamarr, actress and inventor, born 9th November 1914

This episode (no. 82) was recorded at The Keiller Centre in Dundee on 12th September 2025 as part of The Dundee Fringe.

The panellists were Scott Redmond, Julia Knight and Luis Alcada. The host was Richard Pulsford.

These are some of the On This Day topics we presented before going into some of the history of Dundee:
- Richard Gatling, inventor of the Gatling gun, born, 12th September 1818
- Arbroath beat Bon Accord 36 v 0 in a football match, 12th September 1885
- Annie Kopchovsky completes a round-the-world cycle, 12th September 1895
- Luna 2 spacecraft launched, 12th September 1959
- Haile Selassie overthrown in a coup, 12th September 1974
- Singer songwriter, Johnny Cash, died, 12th September 2003

This episode (no. 81) was recorded at The Hill St Theatre in Edinburgh on 9th August 2025 as part of The Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

The panellists were David Cruickshanks, Edu Diaz and Julia Knight. 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:
- Christopher Columbus arrives in Tenerife, 9th August 1492
- Newgate prisoners used as vaccine guinea pigs, 9th August 1721
- P. L. Travers, author, born, 8th August 1899
- Hermann Hesse, novelist, died 9th August 1962
- Sir Cliff Richard, singer, signs with EMI Records, 8th August 1963

NB Some of the voices are quiet on this episode due to the editing out of some of the background noise made by a theatre light during the show.

NB 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. 80) was recorded at The Hill St Theatre in Edinburgh on 8th August 2025 as part of The Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

The panellists were Jane Walker, Kiyanosh Sahebi and Emily Briggs. 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:
- Brigham Young's first Latter Day Saints' Solemn Assembly, 8th August 1844
- Graf Zeppelin begins a round the world flight, 8th August 1929
- the 'Great Train Robbery', 8th August 1963
- Richard Nixon steps down as US President, 8th August 1974
- Elvis Presley's last public appearance, 8th August 1977
- the '8888' Yangon protests, 8th August 1988

NB 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. 79) was recorded at The Hill St Theatre in Edinburgh on 7th August 2025 as part of The Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

The panellists were Luis Alcada, Liz Bains and Gwen Coburn. 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:
- The first performance of Shakespeare's Macbeth, 7th August 1606
- Alleged spy, Mata Hari, born 7th August 1876
- Alice Ramsay completes her drive across America, 7th August 1909
- The 'Miracle Mile' race between Landy and Bannister, 7th August 1954
- Bruce Dickinson, born 7th August 1958
- Desert Shield ordered by George H.W. Bush, 7th August 1990

NB 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
- Bogota, Colombia founded, 6th August 1538
- the Vitafone process was first demonstrated (the first 'talkies'), 6th August 1926
- Creme Puff (the longest-lived cat) died, 6th August 2005

NB 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:
- The Gowrie conspiracy, Scotland, 5th August 1600
- Joseph Merrick, aka 'The Elephant Man', born 5th August 1862
- the cornerstone of The Statue of Liberty was laid, 5th August 1884
- the semi-finals of cricket at The Olympic Games were scratched, 5th August 1900
- poet Edgar Guest, died 5th August 1959
- actress and model, Marilyn Monroe, found dead 5th August 1962

NB 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 of the history of Edinburgh:
- Accused Lizzie Borden acquitted, 4th August 1892
- Britain declares war on Germany, 4th August 1914
- The final PMQ's in an initial trial period, 4th August 1961
- Marilyn Monroe quotes - died 4th August 1962
- National Wine Day - the history of wine

NB 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 of the history of Edinburgh:
- Columbus sets sail for the New World, 3rd August 1492
- The Treaty of Cambrai signed, 3rd August 1529
- Richard Arkwright, entrepreneur, died 3rd August 1792
- Joseph Paxton, born 3rd August 1803
- Jesse Owens wins the 100m dash at the Munich Olympics, 3rd August 1936
- Lenny Bruce, comedian, died 3rd August 1966

NB 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 history of Edinburgh:
- The Battle of Cannae, 2nd August 216BC
- The Declaration of US independence was signed, 2nd August 1776
- Iceland's National Anthem first played publicly, 2nd August 1874
- Edwin Dunning successfully lands a plane on a ship, 2nd August 1917
- Alexander Graham Bell, died 2nd August 1922
- Sailors from the USS Indianapolis rescued, 2nd August 1945

NB 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 were Bryan Ghosh, Julia Knight and Will T Davies, and the host was Richard Pulsford.

We presented the following On This Day topics before going into some of the history of Edinburgh:
- Lammas Day, 1st August
- Emporer Claudius, born 1st August 11BC
- Alchemist Edward Kelley, born 1st August 1555
- Novelist Herman Melville, born 1st August 1819
- The Abolition of Slavery Act, 1st August 1834 (and other snippets)
- Vigdis Finnbogadóttir became the first democratically elected president of a country, 1st August 1980

This 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 July 1918
- Nadia Comaneci scores a perfect 10 at the Olympics, 18th July 1976

This 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 motor race, 13th June 1895
- Philosopher Martin Buber, died 13th June 1965

This 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 bones, 9th February 1896
- Charles Darrow sold the rights to Monopoly to Parker Bros, 9th February 1935
- Shergar kidnapped, 9th February 1983

This 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
- Some thoughts from Snoop Dogg, born 20th October 1971
- Some thoughts from Liz Truss, who stepped down as UK PM, 20th October 2022

Certainly, the topic on the Treaty of 1818 suddenly seems much more relevant, as we discussed the then settling of the US-Canada border, when the US last gave up some of its territory, and when Canada last stopped being mindful of a possible US invasion.

This 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 visits the US, 15th September 1959
- Writer Ngozi Adichie, born 15th September 1977

Apologies for the reduced sound quality and the background noise from Festival activity going on around the venue.

This 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 Nova expedition was found, on 10th August 2017

This 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
- novelist Herman Hesse died, on 9th August 1962
- Britain's first nudist beach opened, on 9th August 1979

This 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 Road album cover on 8th August 1969
- U.S. President Richard Nixon steps down on 8th August 1974
Kaytlin also shared a piece on Edinburgh's "madam" Dora Noyce.

This 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, August 1948
- The 'Miracle Mile', 7th August 1954
- Oliver Hardy, died 7th August 1957
- Bruce Dickinson, born 7th August 1958

Thanks go to Paul, who kindly stepped in as a last minute replacement for Jane Walker who was unfortunately ill on the day.