'THE GREAT FIRE' EPIC SERIES
GETS OLIVER JACKSON COHEN, CHARLES DANCE, ANDREW BUCHAN, JACK HUSTON
A starstudded cast has been gathered for ITV's new historical mini series THE GREAT FIRE! GAME OF THRONES Charles Dance and DRACULA's Oliver Jackson Cohen lead 
the cast which will also have Rose Leslie, Jack Huston, Andrew Buchan, Daniel Mays! Set in the 17th century the four part mini series will tell the story of humble baker Thomas Farriner (Andrew Buchan) and his fabled involvement in The Great Fire of London. Jack Huston will play King Charles II, Oliver Jackson Cohen is portraying his brother, James Duke of York, Daniel Mays is Samuel Pepys, a close confidante, while Charles Dance will be Lord Denton - an emissary of the King's! To be directed by Jon Jones (MR. SELFRIDGES) the series won't use CGI but real pyrotechnics and special effects.
DEZZY'S HISTORY LESSON
In 1666 London was the greatest city in the world with a population of 300,000! In just four days THE GREAT FIRE destroyed nearly half the city and threatened the monarchy. The fire didn't reach the aristocratic parts of London, but it did burn down St. Paul's
Cathedral, and the
homes of about 70,000 inhabitants. The deaths of the poor people
weren't recorded at that time so the number of victims is still unknown.
The fire had actually started in Farriner's bakery at midnight and then
rapidly spread across the town. The indecisiveness of London's mayor to
start the demolition of certain parts of the city in order to stop the fire
had caused the firestorms which ate up the rest of the city in just two
days. The rumours of the fire being set by foreigners resulted in
horrid lynchings and street violence against strangers. The battle
against fire was won when the Tower of London garrison used gunpowder to
create effective firebreaks to halt further spread eastward. Since
there wasn't enough money nor workforce (most of the citizens fled the
city) London wasn't transformed into a monumental new capitol but was
instead pretty much recreated as the old one with new buildings being of
stone not of wood. It is interesting that a 
year before a huge plague
epidemics had killed a sixth of London's citizens and the fire the year
after that actually helped purge all the rats and unsanitary housing
which were a threat for a new outbreak. Ultimately, London was changed
forever, paving the way for the dawn of a
new era, in which modern London rose from the ashes.
In 1666 London was the greatest city in the world with a population of 300,000! In just four days THE GREAT FIRE destroyed nearly half the city and threatened the monarchy. The fire didn't reach the aristocratic parts of London, but it did burn down St. Paul's
Cathedral, and the
homes of about 70,000 inhabitants. The deaths of the poor people
weren't recorded at that time so the number of victims is still unknown.
The fire had actually started in Farriner's bakery at midnight and then
rapidly spread across the town. The indecisiveness of London's mayor to
start the demolition of certain parts of the city in order to stop the fire
had caused the firestorms which ate up the rest of the city in just two
days. The rumours of the fire being set by foreigners resulted in
horrid lynchings and street violence against strangers. The battle
against fire was won when the Tower of London garrison used gunpowder to
create effective firebreaks to halt further spread eastward. Since
there wasn't enough money nor workforce (most of the citizens fled the
city) London wasn't transformed into a monumental new capitol but was
instead pretty much recreated as the old one with new buildings being of
stone not of wood. It is interesting that a year before a huge plague
epidemics had killed a sixth of London's citizens and the fire the year
after that actually helped purge all the rats and unsanitary housing
which were a threat for a new outbreak. Ultimately, London was changed
forever, paving the way for the dawn of a
new era, in which modern London rose from the ashes.
THE MACHINE SF TRAILER
WITH TOBY STEPHENS!
Check out the first trailer for British sf film THE MACHINE with BLACK SAILS star Toby Stephens. Two computer programmers fall in love as they create the first ever piece of self-aware artificial
intelligence, which is designed to help humanity. But things go wrong when the MoD steal their breakthrough and teach it to become a robotic weapon.
intelligence, which is designed to help humanity. But things go wrong when the MoD steal their breakthrough and teach it to become a robotic weapon. 
This is the first I've heard of The Machine, but it looks pretty cool.
ReplyDeleteI've heard about it only recently too :)
DeleteOooo, why do things always go wrong with robots! LOL
ReplyDeleteOne of the guesses would be that they're devil's business :))
DeleteGreat trailer the machine !
ReplyDeleteCheers .
I like it too, Vincent
DeleteMachine looks interesting. I feel like this could really happen one day. Crreeppy!
ReplyDeleteit sure can, if it haven't already :)
Deletewelcome to the machine... i too not heard of that thank you. i wish i could grow a stash like that.
ReplyDeletealways here to inform among the first :)
DeleteHandled well, "The Great Fire" could be an interesting series.
ReplyDeleteyes, we could draw an important lesson from that episode in history.... only if history wouldn't repeat itself constantly....
DeleteVery true Dez but it sounds good for the historical part anyway.
Deleteit does, it will be interesting seeing how they dealt with fires back in those ancient days
DeleteThe Great Fire might be good. We had a great fire in Chicago year ago that burned a lot of the city down, but I don't think it took out as much at the one in London.
ReplyDeleteoh, my, that's horrible. We had a dumpster caught by fire last summer and the whole block smelled nasty for weeks :(
DeleteAllways love your history lessons.
ReplyDeleteThat trailer looked intense!
why, thank you kind Sir of Walstonia! I do try to write these historical tidbits whenever a post allows :)
DeleteThat was a fascinating time in history for London. Glad I wasn't there.
ReplyDeleteThe Machine looks interesting.
me too, Lynda, fire scares the coon's tail out of me!
DeleteHope they're careful with the pyrotechnics. Thanks for the history lesson:)
ReplyDeleteThey're not shooting in London, so the city is safe :)
DeleteThe Machine actually sounds a lot like the plot of the Megaman X games
ReplyDeletenever heard of them
DeleteAh, a Phoenix story! Way cool Dezzy. Thanks for the history lesson.
ReplyDelete.......dhole
be welcome, Donna
DeleteFascinating London history, Dez.
ReplyDeleteglad you enjoyed it :)
DeleteHope things are well with you Dezzy. Cold but super duper bright sun here.
ReplyDeleteit's almost spring here
DeleteThe Great Fire sounds fascinating and Mr. Cohen is rather easy on the eyes ;)
ReplyDeletewhich is why we often feature him here :) I think he reads us because he once tweeted about us :)
DeleteThis is the first time I've heard anything about The Machine, and it sounds interesting. The Great Fire also interests me because of the historical aspect of it. Thanks for info! I appreciate it.
ReplyDeletebe welcome, Pat, glad you found both projects interesting
DeleteVirginia Madsen looks amazing. I remember her in the Electric Dreams movie back in the 80s. The new show sounds interesting. Hope they play it here in Dubai soon.
ReplyDeleteI loved her as princess Irulan in famous DUNE and also in that old horror CANDYMAN
DeleteVirginia Madsen looks amazing. I remember her in the Electric Dreams movie back in the 80s. The new show sounds interesting. Hope they play it here in Dubai soon.
ReplyDeleteDo you have foreign shows in Dubai? I bet you have Turkish MAGNIFICENT CENTURY historical series :)
DeleteDesigned to help humanity. But things go wrong... I'm shocked.
ReplyDeletesuch scandal it is! It's almost unimaginable :) Such things would never happen in reality :)
Delete