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In Case of Emergency, Call 999
Episode 288
The world’s first emergency number, 999, was launched in London on 30th June, 1937 - to a great deal of scepticism, and open laughter in the House of…
3 years, 6 months ago
Let's Go Cruising
Episode 287
The first purpose-built cruise ship in history, the Prinzessin Victoria Luise, was launched by Albert Ballin’s Hamburg-America Line on 29th June, 190…
3 years, 6 months ago
Bonnie Prince Betty
Episode 286
When Jacobite heir Bonnie Prince Charlie made his escape from the British Army on 28th June, 1746, he did so in bizarre style - disguised in drag as …
3 years, 6 months ago
When Hugh Met Divine
Episode 285
It was the sex scandal of the year: British rom-com star Hugh Grant procuring the services of hitherto unknown L.A. streetwalker Divine Brown on Suns…
3 years, 6 months ago
The Chicken of Tomorrow
Episode 284
With breast meat so chunky it could feed the whole family, and drumsticks so small you could carve straight past the bone, the ‘chicken of tomorrow’ …
3 years, 6 months ago
Inventing The Typewriter
Episode 283
The Glidden-Sholes prototype for “the writing of ordinary communications with types instead of a pen” was granted a patent on 23rd June, 1868. It was…
3 years, 6 months ago
Public Enemy Number One, Number One
Episode 282
John Dillinger, infamous 1930s gangster, jail breaker, bank robber and brawler, earned himself a new title on 22nd June, 1934 - when he became the FB…
3 years, 6 months ago
Empire of the Sunglasses
Episode 281
Why are spectacles so expensive? The sheer scale of EssilorLuxottica, the world’s biggest maker of eyewear and lenses, might have something to do wit…
3 years, 6 months ago
The Famous Painting Ape
Episode 280
Congo, pet chimp of science writer and TV personality Desmond Morris, was considered a novelty in the art world when his paintings were displayed in …
3 years, 6 months ago
Fancy Meeting You Here
Episode 279
When Norwegian explorer Fridtjof Wedel-Jarlsberg Nansen abandoned his epic, but failed, attempt to reach the North Pole, he was not expecting to hitc…
3 years, 6 months ago