The Great Stink of 1858
- 2023
- Returning Series
- Documentary
- 1 season
- 6.0/10
Dr Xand van Tulleken tells how an extraordinary heatwave struck London in the summer in 1858 and a terrible stench began to rise from the River Thames.
Latest: Season 1 · 2023
View all seasonsE1. Contagion
Feb 16, 2023
n the 19th century, thousands of gallons of raw sewage from across London was being dumped into the Thames every day. When a summer heatwave hit the city in 1858, it turned the river into a festering, noxious cesspool of filth. Xand van Tulleken reveals how the stench overwhelmed London, spreading sickness and fear.
E2. Saving London
Feb 17, 2023
Continuing the story of the 19th-century smell which dominated London. Xand van Tulleken reveals how Queen Victoria suffered from the stench - during a trip to see Isambard Kingdom Brunel's gigantic ship, the Great Eastern. Plus, Raksha Dave recreates the Great Stink with the help of a special-effects expert.
