Happened Here

The story behind Trafalgar Square’s famous annual guest. Written by James Rampton, hosted by Shama Rahman and performed by Stephen Fry. Sound Editing by Will Jacob. Thanks to Westminster City Council for their audio of the 2022 ceremony.

The story of one family’s visit to Covent Garden during the festive season. Written and performed by Robbie Stamp. Sound Editing by Will Jacob.

The story behind a famous Christmas Dinner. Written by Viel Richardson, performed by Lulu Freeman, introduction by Stephen Fry. Sound editing by Viel Richardson.

A story about a young woman in the cold clasp of an Anglo-Saxon winter. Performed by Olivia Bell. Sound editing by Will Jacob.

Performed by Olivia Bell, written by Hamish Roberts, Hosted by Lulu Freeman - a story about the London land beneath your feet and a landscape that becomes a cityscape..

Twelfth Night - written by Jasmine Silk, performed by Cassius Konneh with additional music composed by Minima Hughes and performed by Shama Rahman. A story about Elizabeth the First, Shakespeare and yellow stockings.

In this Special Christmas Story Single Story, we learn a little about the making of Christmas Puddings in the Seventeenth Century and how the ‘Littlest Scullery Maid” saved Stir Up Sunday!

In this Christmas Story Single Story we hear a retelling of the famous Christmas Truce of 1914 - of kindness and compassion amidst the horrors of war.

For New Year's Eve, we present a story of the origins of a New York Perennial! New York’s Times Square New Year’s Ball Drop is an annual ‘must see’ event for people in the USA and beyond. Harry Tucker looks back at its origins.Hosted by Robbie StampPerformed by Sarah BeebeSound Edited by Will Jacob

In our very first full episode, hosted by Stephen Fry, the Curtain Rises on Covent Garden with:The Strange Tale of a Discovered Corpse written by Robbie Stamp and performed by Cassius Konneh [The Jubilee Market]A Theatrical Diva's Autobiography written by Zak Ghazi-Torbati and performed by Dame Joanna Lumley [Theatre Royal, Drury Lane]The Sad Tale of What Happened Next to a Heroic War Nurse written by Viel Richardson and performed by Stephen Fry [Tavistock Street]Sound editing by Will Jacob.

In this episode, with your host Dame Joanna Lumley, we look at ebullient Covent Garden with:Giant Haystacks Meets Giant Cableknit written by James Rampton and performed by Zak Ghazi-Torbati. [Covent Garden Piazza, London]The Trial of Iron-Foot Jack written by Hamish Roberts and performed by Stephen Fry. [81 Endell Street and The Old Bailey, London]Mrs Phillip’s Condoms written by Jasmine Silk and performed by Dame Joanna Lumley. This story contains adult themes [Bedford Street, London]Sound editing by Will Jacob.

Your Host Shama Rahman looks at the artistic side of Covent Garden in this week’s episode, with:Black Swans written by Viel Richardson and performed by Jasmine Elcock [Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London]Theatre of Blood written by Becky Stamp and performed by Stephen Fry [The Lyceum Theatre, Wellington Street, Covent Garden, London]Jane Austen Sees a Portrait written by Sarah Fleming and performed by Kate Reid. This story contains adult themes [Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, London]Sound editing by Will Jacob.

In this episode, hosted by Robbie Stamp, we look at the history of the Covent Garden Piazza, with:This Beautiful Fruitful Rectangle written by Robbie Stamp, performed by Stephen Fry [Covent Garden Piazza, London]A Much Tidier View for the Duke written by Joanna Clarke, performed by Jasmine Elcock [Covent Garden Piazza, London]Concrete Garden Anyone? written by Joanna Clarke, performed by Dame Joanna Lumley [Covent Garden Piazza, London]Sound editing by Will Jacob.

In this episode, with host Dame Joanna Lumley, we look at seventeenth and eighteenth century celebrity criminals, with:The Highwayman of Hearts written by Olivia Bell and performed by Joanna Clarke. [Hampstead Heath, Chandos Place and St Paul’s Church, Covent Garden]The Pregnant Pickpocket with Four Hands written by Olivia Bell and performed by Lulu Freeman. [Lodgings in Long Acre and in and around Covent Garden]Somone’s Sneakin’ Round the Corner written by Olivia Bell and performed by Zak Ghazi-Torbati. [The Black Lion Pub, Drury Lane, various London gaols and Tyburn]Sound editing by Viel Richardson.

This week’s episode does exactly what it says on the tin, as host Stephen Fry bobs about with:Go On Then, Impress Us written by James Rampton and performed by Cassius Konneh [Peckham Manor School, south east London and the Lyceum Ballroom, Wellington Street, Covent Garden, London]Not Your Usual Busker written by James Rampton and performed by Dame Joanna Lumley [near Covent Garden tube station, London]The Bob That Changed the World written by James Rampton and performed by Shama Rahman [108 Bond Street, London]Sound editing by Viel Richardson.

For this week’s episode we journey back in time with host Dame Joanna Lumley to Anglo-Saxon London, with:Wattle, Wyrms and Wyrd Sisters written by Robbie Stamp and performed by Shama Rahman [under the foundations of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London]The Lay of Nine Herbs written by Robbie Stamp and performed by Olivia Bell [Maiden Lane, Covent Garden]Run For Your Life written by Robbie Stamp and performed by Lulu Freeman [earthworks under the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London]Sound editing by Will Jacob.

“Fame will go by and, so long, I’ve had you, Fame”. Host Dr Shama Rahman looks at people who were famous in their time, but have faded from memory, with:The Diva and Her Diamonds written by Sarah Fleming and performed by Dame Joanna Lumley [Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London]Not a Page in Petticoats written and performed by Kate Reid [Theatre Royal, Vere Street, London]I Have Been a Slave, I Know What Slaves Feel written by James Rampton, performed by Jasmine Elcock [7 Solly Terrace, Pentonville, London]Sound editing by Will Jacob.

“The public is wonderfully tolerant. It forgives everything except genius”. This week we look at the downfall of Oscar Wilde with host Dame Joanna Lumley:Intrigue for Intrigue’s Sake written by Jasmine Silk and performed by Stephen Fry [Mayfair, Picadilly and Covent Garden]Still the Sight to See in London written by Jasmine Silk and performed by Stephen Fry [Holding Cell, Magistrate’s Court, Bow Street]From Gaol to Exile written by Jasmine Silk and performed by Stephen Fry [31 Upper Bedford Place, Bloomsbury]Sound editing by Will Jacob.

Three percent of London’s population was black in the eighteenth century. Your host Stephen Fry introduces:An Enslaved Child and His Two Inheritances written by Milo Harries and performed by Cassius Konneh [17 Gough Square, Holborn, London]A Genius in Bondage written by Sara Fleming and performed by Jasmine Elcock [the Tower of London]Beethoven Could Not Believe His Ears written by James Rampton and performed by Stephen Fry [Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, Covent Garden, London and The Augarten Concert Hall in Vienna]Sound editing by Viel Richardson.

In the first episode of our second season, hosted by the celebrated Dame Joanna Lumley, we look at Covent Garden's vice industry in the eighteenth century:Haddock Hogarth and Harlots written by Jasmine Silk and performed by Lulu Freeman [Covent Garden Piazza]Mrs Jenkins' Flogging House written by Joanna Clarke and performed by Stephen Fry [27 Catherine Street]Carnal Pleasures written by Robbie Stamp and performed by Kate Reid [The Shakespeare Tavern, Covent Garden Piazza]Sound editing by Will Jacob.Warning, these stories contain adult themes.