The Peek with Samuel Pepys

The Peek with Samuel Pepys is a scripted fiction, historical-comedy podcast inspired by the diaries of British writer Samuel Pepys (1633-1703), which provide one of the only first-hand accounts of life in England’s Stuart Restoration, under the rule of King Charles II (1660-1685), through the eyes of a time-traveling celebrity gossip reporter. Irreverent and anachronistic, The Peek joins other absurdist, semi-factual historical comedies, such as The Great (2020-2023, Hulu) and Oh, Mary! (Broadway). Accents may vary – oftentimes within the same sentence. But, hey. It's not like we really know what they sounded like back then, now do we?

All Episodes

The Peek with Samuel Pepys

003 | Alike

August 15, 2025 • The Peek Presents • Season 1 • Episode 3

Send us a text

Celebrity gossip has NEVER been juicer than this.

Like, literally. It’s the 1660s. We just invented celebrities last week.

Pepys and Valentino attend the opening night performance of The Maiden Queen at the King's Theatre Company, on invite by actress Nell Gwyn. After the show, they encounter many major players in the Restoration Era theatre scene – including King Charles II himself. Rivalries are exposed, old lovers are scorned, and Valentino begins to realize the intricacies of these proto-celebrities' lives are more complicated than he could have ever imagined...

S1 of The Peek Stars:

Samuel Pepys – Ethan Peña Mock

The Stranger / Valentino – Charlie B. Foster

Jane Birch – Melissa Bautista

This episode also guest stars:

Francesca Pinilla as Nell Gwyn

Matthew Cubillos as Charles Hart

James Kenna as Sir Thomas Killigrew

Aaron Dorelien as Sir William Davenant

Eunan Cannon as The Stagehand

James Carlos Lacey as King Charles II

Jacqueline McKenna as Mary Knep