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 Stamp Performed by Sarah Beebe Sound Edited by Will Jacob

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.

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!

Bram Stoker worked for the charismatic actor and theatre manager Henry Irving in the 1890s. In gothic style, Becky Stamp considers how Irving’s overbearing presence inspired the character of Count Dracula.

In this special episode, recorded live in front of an audience at the Chalke Valley History Festival, Robbie Stamp introduces three stories from Britain's Anglo Saxon past: Friends Live on Earth - Winflaed’s Will - written and performed by Olivia Bell They Borrowed a Barrow - written and performed by Robbie Stamp Before You Can Beat the Bounds, You Have to Read Them - introduced by historian Alex Langlands and performed by Olivia Bell Hosting duties by Viel Richardson, sound editing by Will Jacob.

This episode links events that happened in different eras; two actors perform Othello 100 years apart, two musical geniuses live next door, two centuries apart, and one murder leads to ghostly apparitions for over a century. Hosted by Neil Fleming: The Golden Earrings written by Milo Harries, performed by Stephen Fry [The Savoy Theatre, The Strand, and The Theatre Royal, Covent Garden] It’s the Messiah written by James Rampton, performed by Neil Fleming [40 South Moulton St and 25 Brook St, Mayfair] 193 Steps written by Robbie Stamp, performed by Kate Reid [Maiden Lane, The Stage Door of the Adelphi Theatre and Covent Garden Tube Station]

In this episode medieval monks try to make a heaven-sent garden, drugs drag a writer to hell, and Bob Dylan creates a now-iconic short film. Hosted by Kate Reid Gardening for God, written by Sarah Fleming and performed by Kate Reid [Covent Garden] Tales of the Odious Opium Eater, written by Zak Ghazi-Torbati and performed by Stephen Fry [4 York Place, and around Covent Garden] The Anthem of the Counterculture, written by James Rampton and performed by Robbie Stamp [The Savoy Steps, near the Savoy Hotel, the Strand]

In this episode, travel back to the seventeenth century and meet master-builder Inigo Jones, who has been summoned for a meeting with the Earl of Bedford. Performed by Stephen Fry, hosted by Lulu Freeman and written by Hamish Roberts, this episode charts the conception of the Covent Garden piazza. How would YOU change London [Bedford House, Covent Garden, London] Walking in the Air [The streets of London] Space [Bedford House, Covent Garden, London] Sound editing by Jon Jardine.

In this week’s podcast, Dame Joanna Lumley introduces stories about punishment, prostitution and pugilism: Ritual Humiliation written by Joanna Clarke and performed by Lulu Freeman [Charing Cross, Central London] An Unlikely Purchase written by Sarah Fleming and performed by Olivia Bell [A Coffee House in Bedfordbury, Covent Garden, a Theatre in Lincoln’s Inn Field,  and Holy Trinity Church, Wensley, Yorkshire] “The Celebrated Professor of the Fist” written by James Rampton and performed by Cassius Konneh [Moulsey Hurst in Surrey and Horse and Dolphin pub in Leicester Square] Sound editing by Jon Jardine

In this week's episode of HappenedHere, hosted by Stephen Fry, we explore the life of the man who changed the face of clowning forever - Joseph Grimaldi, with three stories written by James Rampton and performed by Dame Joanna Lumley: He Swung Joseph with the Utmost Velocity [Sadlers Wells Theatre, Roseberry Avenue, Clerkenwell, London] Make ‘Em Laugh [Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London] "I make you laugh at night, but I’m Grim-all-day" [Theatre Royal, Drury Lane] Sound editing by Jon Jardine.

In this week's episode of HappenedHere, hosted by Stephen Fry, we go on three very different nights out: Ghosts written by Viel Richardson and performed by Olivia Bell [The Queen’s Theatre, Haymarket, London] A Horse in Your Lap, Madam? written by James Rampton and performed by Dame Joanna Lumley [Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London] Stormy Weather written by James Rampton and performed by Jasmine Elcock [The Café de Paris Nightclub, 3-4 Coventry St, Piccadilly Circus] Sound editing by Will Jacob.

Our latest podcast finds Dame Joanna Lumley introducing three stories about a murder and a reputation restored: ‘Frenzy’ written by Joanna Clarke and performed by Stephen Fry [Covent Garden Piazza by the Floral Market Hall] The Master of Promotion written by Joanna Clarke and performed by Stephen Fry [The Thames by the Houses of Parliament, London] The Critic and the Long Shot written by Joanna Clarke and performed by Stephen Fry [3 Henrietta St, Covent Garden] Sound editing by Will Jacob.

Robbie Stamp, co-founder of HappenedHere, introduces stories around this iconic London landmark: Why Seven? written by Joanna Clarke performed by Kate Reid The Black Loyalists written by Viel Richardson and performed by Jasmine Elcock An Englishman, an Irishman and a Scotsman walk into a bar… written by Zak Ghazi-Torbati and performed by Stephen Fry All these stories take place at Seven Dials, London. Sound editing by Viel Richardson.

Robbie Stamp considers the rise and fall of an illegal 1930s LGBTQ+ club: The Caravan Club written by Hamish Roberts and performed by Stephen Fry [Basement, 81 Endell St, London WC2] Hiding in Plain Sight written by Hamish Roberts and performed by Stephen Fry [Bow Street, outside the Magistrates Court, Covent Garden] Cyril’s Fragments written by Hamish Roberts and performed by Stephen Fry [81 Endell St, WC2 and The Old Bailey, EC4] Sound editing by Viel Richardson.

Stephen Fry introduces three real forebears to the fictional Eliza Doolittle who were found over the centuries in Covent Garden’s iconic fruit and vegetable market: Corpses and Cucumbers written by Joanna Clarke and performed by Cassius Konneh [Covent Garden Piazza] Cleaning Strawberries written by Joanna Clarke and performed by Lulu Freeman [Covent Garden Piazza] Oi! You! Jollocks! written by Joanna Clarke and performed by Stephen Fry [Covent Garden to Elephant and Castle, London] Sound editing by Viel Richardson.

This week’s episode, hosted by Robbie Stamp, looks at street entertainment throughout the centuries in and around Covent Garden:  A Tom-Tom Player written by Sarah Fleming and performed by Shama Rahman [London’s West End and 55 Albany St NW1] The Sound of a Whole Orchestra written by James Rampton and performed by Lulu Freeman [Covent Garden Piazza] Busking Changes Everything written by James Rampton and performed by Zak Ghazi-Torbati [Trafalgar Square, London] Sound editing by Viel Richardson.

A massacre on a 18th C British Slave Ship. An unlikely subject for master painter JMW Turner. An abolitionist, Turner used his fame to reignite the memory of this horrific, shameful chapter in British history. A Massacre first brought to the public eye by freedman Olaudah Equiano. In association with The Barbican. Sound editing by Viel Richardson.

Jasmine Elcock hosts this week’s episode of our witty and enlightening podcast, we go there and back again with a very precious club in the 1960s: A Trip to Middle Earth written by James Rampton and performed by Stephen Fry A Painted Tear written by Hamish Roberts and performed by Zak Ghazi-Torbati “I could see everyone’s fillings falling out” written by James Rampton and performed by Jasmine Elcock All these stories take place in The Basement, 43 King St, Covent Garden. Sound editing by Will Jacob.

This week we look at Princess Diana and (more closely) her 18th Century forebear/ancestor, Georgiana, and reflect on what it is to be a woman in the full glare of the media and public view. Hosted by Shama Rahman. Parallel Lives written by Holly Harland and performed by Dame Joanna Lumley [Kensington Palace and Devonshire House, Central London] She Had to Sit on the Floor written by Holly Harland and performed by Zak Ghazi-Torbati [Tavistock Street, Covent Garden] Votes for Kisses written by Holly Harland and performed by Kate Reid [Henrietta St, Southampton St, Tavistock Street and the Piazza, Covent Garden] Sound editing by Viel Richardson.

In this week’s episode, hosted by Stephen Fry, discover how Covent Garden adapted to the trials and tribulations thrown it’s way by Britain’s fight against Nazi Germany: Put on Your Dancing Shoes written and performed by Joanna Clarke [The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden] Mrs Smith’s Coffin written by Joanna Clarke and performed by Stephen Fry [Dawlish, Devon and Covent Garden, London] Keeping Calm and Carrying On written by Joanna Clarke and performed by Jasmine Elcock [The Piazza and Bow Street, Covent Garden] Sound editing by Will Jacob.