An award-winning film fact podcast is unwrapping Christmas and disco legends.
That’s Not How it Went Down is putting a festive spotlight on The Man Who Invented Christmas, a special episode exploring the myths and truths behind the 2017 film that dramatises the creation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.
The Christmas special is released on 16 December and examines how much of the familiar festive story is grounded in real life, and how much was shaped for the screen.
The podcast has built a growing reputation for its approach to fact checking films that claim to be based on true events.
Each week, one host researches the real history in detail, while the other comes to the episode cold, reacting as Hollywood embellishments are stripped away and unexpected truths emerge.
Launched less than a year ago, the podcast was already recognised as a major new voice on the circuit after winning Best TV & Film Podcast at the Independent Podcast Awards in October this year.
The Christmas episode looks at the cultural impact of A Christmas Carol and asks some pointed questions about the real people and events behind the story. These include the inspirations for Scrooge, Marley, and Dickens’ own family struggles in Victorian London.
Also this December, an episode on Saturday Night Fever looks at the reality behind the 1977 film that helped turn John Travolta into a global star. The episode, which is available now, explores whether the Brooklyn disco scene was portrayed honestly, and if the characters and clubs were rooted in real people and places.
Speaking about the Christmas edition, co-host Elliot Fitzpatrick said: “We all love hearing that a film is based on a true story, especially at Christmas when nostalgia is in overdrive. But so often the truth is either far messier, or far more incredible, than what makes it onto the screen. These December episodes are all about unwrapping those real stories hiding underneath the glitter.”
Co-host Lewis Howard added: “From disco floors in 1970s Brooklyn to Dickensian London, we’ve had huge fun digging into what really happened versus what Hollywood decided would sell. If you’ve ever watched a film and thought, did it actually go down like that, these episodes are for you.”
