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Dan Cruikshank follows in the footsteps of two of London’s greatest chroniclers to explore one of the most dramatic centuries in the history of the British capital in a BBC documentary.

The 17th century saw London plunged into a series of devastating disasters. The Civil War, a murderous plague and the destruction that was the Great Fire of London should have seen the small medieval city all but destroyed. Yet, somehow, London not only survived, but emerged as one of the wealthiest and most influential cities in Europe.

Using two remarkable surveys written at either end of this momentous century, Cruikshank discovers how a unique combination of innovation, ambition and the sheer spirit of enterprise saw Londoners thrive.

Engaging and revealing, Cruikshank’s journey uncovers a London never seen before, delighting in the twists and turns of a century that laid the foundations of one of the most important cities on the planet.

After a screening from the programme, Cruikshank will be interviewed by Cassian Harrison, BBC commissioning executive producer, knowledge.