New ITV drama explores the Great Fire of London

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.The fire is one of the best known but least understood events in the capital's history which destroyed 13,000 homes and left 70,000 people homeless. But there is no official record of how many people died.

Behind the pyrotechnics and stunts there is a story of one of Britain's greatest historical disasters.

It's supposed to inspire people to go and find out the facts themselves. I do my research. I draw as much out of the research as I possibly can.

I try to keep the structure of what I'm trying to write vaguely within the bounds of what really happened. And then, you have to have the freedom to fictionalise to a reasonable degree.

We know the fire started at Pudding Lane, at the bakery. But Tom Bradby's version also explores the political intrigue around the events.

Conspiracy theories abounded. My character's belief is that this fire was caused by Catholics who wanted to unseat Charles II from the throne of England.

 Over four episodes the capital's catastrophe will come to life. How did the city cope with the Great Fire of London?

Watch the first episode on ITV at 9pm on Thursday October 16.