The Great Stink of 1858

6.0

2023

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.

Production

Seasons

2 Episodes • Premiered 2023

1. Contagion

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.

2. Saving London

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.