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Horrible Histories (2009)
Popularity 26.3
Overview
Based on the best-selling children's books and liberally splattered with guts, blood and poo, a group of British comedians offer an anarchic and unconventional take on some of history's most gruesome and funny moments, with topics including the Stone Age, the Middle Ages, the Egyptians and the Romans, among others.
TITLE INFORMATION
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Trailers & Videos
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▶ From Charles II to Cavewoman 2, Horrible Histories cast share their favourite characters | BAFTA · Official
▶ Horrible Histories creators on bringing the show to life + a Monarchs Song sing-along! | BAFTA · Official
▶ Baroness Floella Benjamin presents the BAFTA Special Award to Horrible Histories | BAFTA · Official
▶ CBBC: Horrible Histories - World War 1 sketch · Official
▶ Horrible Histories trailer
THE PEOPLE BEHIND IT
Cast & Crew
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Key Crew
Susie DonkinWriter
Richard BradleyExecutive Producer
ARTWORK GALLERY
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EPISODE GUIDE
Seasons & Episodes
Season and episode information in the catalog.
Specials
93 episodes · First aired 2010-07-27
E01
Savage Songs
2010-07-27 · 30 min
A compilation of the songs from the second series, featuring Spartan High School Musical, the Viking Rock Band, punky Queen Boudica, Incan emperor Pachacuti, the posh rapping of Charles II, Blackbeard the Pirate, George IV going solo, the Victorian Inventions song, and the World War 2 Girls.
E02
Horrible Christmas
2010-12-17 · 30 min
Christmas is a time for charity, hope and goodwill to all men - but for Horrible Histories it's a time of farting jesters, finding bacon in your Christmas card, and having your dinner confiscated by Oliver Cromwell. This episode showcases bizarre Yuletide absurdities from over the centuries with a unique blend of sketches, pastiche and song - a foul and festive treat. Revel in the smelliest, silliest and goriest stories about everyone's favourite time of year.
E03
Horrible Histories Big Prom Party
2011-07-30 · 61 min
As part of the 2011 BBC Proms, the cast of Horrible Histories join up with the Aurora Orchestra, the Choir from the Music Centre, the Kids Company Choir and a group of dancers for a special event. The show features a selection of songs from the first three series, some excerpts from classical pieces and original sketches.
E04
Sport Relief Bob Report
2012-03-22 · 4 min
E05
Sport Special
2012-07-20 · 30 min
Special sport episode of the historical sketch show, based on the successful series of books. All the top sporting action from the past, including Emperor Nero and Jesse Owens singing the history of the Olympics. We're at the finish line to see Pheidippides run the first ever marathon, then we count down the top Marathon Cheats of all time and take a look back at some of our favourite Horrible Histories sporting events.
E06
Scary Special
2012-10-31 · 30 min
Death from 'Stupid Deaths' presents a show full of spooky highlights in this Halloween special.
E07
Ridiculous Romance
· 30 min
We find out what happens when Henry VIII takes part in TV show Dating In Darkness and meets latest love Anne of Cleves, discover the problems encountered by Queen Elizabeth I’s portrait artist, and are treated to romantic musical interludes from The Love Rats Club, plus Queen Victoria as she duets with Prince Albert. We also say hello to Rattus Rattus’s brand-new girlfriend Ratalie, who Rattus Rattus is hoping will be impressed by a romantic dinner of ‘cockroach in jus de rubbish bag’...
E08
Frightful First World War
· 30 min
Bob Hale and Rattus Rattus guide us through the horrible history of 1914-18. Featuring the soldiers, pilots, civilians, girl guides, suffragettes and even kings who were all caught up in the fighting.
E09
Sensational Shakespeare
2016-04-19 · 30 min
April 2016 marks the 400th anniversary of the death of Britain's greatest playwright, William Shakespeare (or is it William Shagspeare or Willm Shakspere - even the great Bard himself didn't know!). In this episode, we look at the life and times of the playwright - from his largely unknown and humble beginnings in Stratford, through his times as a jobbing actor in London, to his success as the country's most respected and financially savvy writer.
E10
Staggering Storytellers
2016-07-11 · 30 min
Who wrote the first detective novel? When were books invented? Why do we like stories so much? In its own distinctive and irreverently accurate style, the episode takes a look at some of literature's greatest works and history's wackiest writers. Along the way we see the development of storytelling technology. We learn how a party at Lord Byron's house led to the writing of the Gothic masterpiece Frankenstein, and how Charles Dickens was the Harry Styles of his day. Spanning 3,000 years of recorded history we take a look at the funny and ridiculous ways some of our finest writers cured their writing block - did you know Tennyson used to pretend to go the loo as a party trick? Also, of course, our trusty host Rattus guides the way.
E11
The Grisly Great Fire of London
2016-09-05 · 30 min
For the 350th anniversary of the Great Fire of London, Horrible Histories returns for a one-off special looking at the disaster and the events that surrounded it. On the night of 2 September, a spark from a baker’s oven in Pudding Lane ignited a fire which roared through the tightly packed streets of London, tearing up the timber-framed houses and destroying up to a third of the city. In true Horrible Histories fashion, this special episode explores London and Britain before the fire, full of plague and party in the raucous Restoration atmosphere personified by King Charles II. We see how London’s Mayor preferred to stay in bed during the fire because been partying the night before, and how Samuel Pepys rushed to bury his parmesan cheese for safety.
E12
Savage Songs Special (2013)
2013-07-23 · 30 min
Some of history's greatest characters serenade us with tales of their lives. Featuring the all-conquering Alexander the Great, the cash-loving Crassus, the feisty Joan of Arc, the brilliant but miserable Charles Dickens and the very determined Rosa Parks.
E13
Savage Songs Special (2012)
2012-07-04 · 30 min
In a special musical episode of the award-winning Horrible Histories, host Rattus Rattus chooses his favourite songs from the fourth series to entertain his young nephew.
E14
Top 5: 1. Football with Alex Scott
2019-06-19 · 30 min
England footie star Alex Scott delves into the Horrible history of Soccer. From the Middle Ages, when whole villages would play against each other, with dire injuries as a consequence - to the famous Christmas truce in World War 1, when British and German troops put down their guns and spoke the universal language of football.
E15
Top 5: 2. Back to School with Emily Atack
2019-08-15 · 30 min
Back to School??! Ugh! It could be worse, though – in honour of everyone going back to school, Emily Atack takes you through the Horrible History of what school days were like in the past…
E16
Black History Month with Oti Mabuse
2019-10-01 · 12 min
In celebration of Black History Month, Oti Mabuse brings you a selection of Horrible Histories sketches and songs featuring Rosa Parks, Civil War spy Mary Bowser, pioneering boxer Bill Richmond, plus Mary Seacole and Martin Luther King Jr.
E17
Brexit
2020-01-31 · 9 min
Nish Kumar brings us a selection of sketches about European Historical figures, featuring the dance stylings of the Normans, Italian fashion, Leonardo da Vinci, Louis XIV’s bottom problems & the vocal stylings of the Four Georges…
E18
Savage Songs Special (2011)
2011-07-26
Chronological compilation of the standout music videos from the third series, as chosen by the producers. An encore is omitted this year to make room for the slightly longer "Monarchs' Song".
E101
Song - The 4 Georges. Born 2 Rule
· 30 min
E102
Song - The Wives of Henry VIII. Divorced Beheaded & Died
· 30 min
E103
Song - Making a Mummy
· 30 min
E104
Song - Terrible Tudors
· 30 min
E105
Song - A Gorgeous Georgian Lady
· 30 min
E106
Song - I'm a Knight
· 30 min
E107
Song - Caveman Love
· 30 min
E108
Song - It's Not True!
· 30 min
E109
Song - The Plague Song
E110
Song - British Things
E111
Song - We are Greek
E112
Song - Burke & Hare
E201
Song - Literally (The Viking Song)
E202
Song - Charles II. King of Bling
E203
Song - Spartan High School Musical
E204
Song - We're the WWII Girls
E205
Song - George IV. Couldn't Stand My Wife
E206
Song - Blackbeard's Song
E207
Song - Victorian Inventions
E208
Song - Learn Your Hieroglyphics
E209
Song - Real Live Cowboys
E210
Song - Boudicca
E211
Song - Funky Monks
E212
Song - Do the Pachacuti
E301
Song - Dick Turpin, Highwayman
E302
Song - All The Monarchs!
E303
Song - William Wallace, Scottish Rebel
E304
Song - Work, Terrible Work!
E305
Song - Ra Ra Cleopatra
E306
Song - The Truth About Richard III
E307
Song - The Evil Emperors' Song
E308
Song - The Suffragettes' Song
E309
Song - Discaztec (Ain't Staying Alive)
E310
Song - The English Civil War Song
E311
Song - The Ages of Stone
E312
Song - Celtic Boast Battle
E401
Song - The Few (RAF Pilots)
E402
Song - Charles Darwin. Natural Selection
E403
Song - The Thinkers
E404
Song - It's a New World (Pilgrim Fathers)
E405
Song - Mary Seacole
E406
Song - Victoria & Albert. A Love Ballad
E407
Song - We've got The Blue-Blooded Blues
E408
Song - The Luddites!
E409
Song - The Borgia Family
E410
Song - Mary the First
E411
Song - William Shakespeare & the Quills
E412
Song - (We're the) Georgian Navy
E501
Song - Rosa Parks. I Sat on a Bus
E502
Song - Vikings and Garfunkel
E503
Song - Charles Dickens
E504
Song - Crassus. Minted
E505
Song - Joan of Arc
E506
Song - Alexander the Great
E507
Song - Owain Glyndŵr. First Prince of Wales
E508
Song - Transportation
E509
Song - Henry VII. The Original Tu-Tu-Tudor
E510
Song - Matilda(s) and Stephen ... and Henry
E511
Song - Australia
E512
Song - We're History (The Finale)
E513
Science with Dara Ó Briain
2020-03-06
In honour of Science Week, Dara Ó Briain brings you some of his favourite science-themed sketches, including the music of Charles Darwin, the serious goings-on at The Royal Society, Historical Paramedics, Victorian Inventions and Vaccinations…
E514
The Bits We Left Out (S02)
Second season extended episodes and sketches.
E515
The Bits That Went Wrong (S02)
Outtakes and gag reel from the second season
E516
Season 2 Quizzes
All quizzes from the second season
E517
Stuff We Couldn't Fit In (S03)
More cut or extended scenes and sketches from the third season
E518
More Bits That Went Wrong (S03)
More hilarious outtakes and gag reel from the third season.
E519
Season 3 Quizzes
Quizzes from the third season.
E520
More Stuff We Couldn't Fit In (S04)
Extended scenes and cut sketches from the fourth season.
E521
Stuff That Didn't Make It
Finished work that had content that didn't match the themes.
E522
Season 4 Quizzes
Quizzes from the fourth season.
E523
Season 5 Quizzes
Quizzes from the fifth season.
E524
Even More Stuff We Couldn't Fit In (S5)
E525
Even More Bits That Went Wrong (S5)
E526
Animated Specials: 1. Gruesome Guide to Growing Up
Life wasn’t always fun for children in the past. Horrible Histories delves into the not-so-easy lives of children throughout history, from the strict parenting of ancient civilisations, to the terrible fights the young King Louis XIV had with his little brother - even weeing on each other's beds! And find out just why Henry VIII was so keen for his son Edward VI to stay inside.
E528
'Orrible Opera
2023-09-08 · 73 min
Henry VIII, Queen Victoria and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart are our hosts for a special live concert as part of the BBC Proms season at London’s Royal Albert Hall, introducing us to the world of opera. Mozart is sure that the Horrible Histories audience will love opera, with all its grisly and gruesome stories. But Queen Victoria is not so sure, thinking opera is totally unsuitable for children. In fact, she thinks the audience need to leave at once! Can Mozart change her mind?
Series 1
13 episodes · First aired 2009-04-16 · ★ 6.9 All 13 episodes of the BBC series! History with the nasty bits left in! Based on the bestselling series of books for kids (and for adults, but they just won't admit it), Horrible Histories is an anarchic, surprising and unconventional take on history's most gruesome and funny moments. Foul facts, rotten rulers, beastly battles and evil inventions feature in horribly hilarious sketches, songs, cartoons and quizzes - all linked by the show's host, a talking rat! Liberally splattered with guts, blood and poo, Horrible Histories romps through the ages with fascinating facts from the Savage Stone Age, Awful Egyptians, Rotten Romans and Vicious Vikings, taking in the Measly Middle Ages, Terrible Tudors, Gorgeous Georgians and Vile Victorians, right up to the Woeful Second World War.
E01
Episode 1
2009-04-16 · 30 min
A pirate captain worries about an early bedtime and the four King Georges form a boyband.
E02
Episode 2
2009-04-23 · 30 min
A Stone Age doctor tries to help a modern patient and a Pharaoh invents the pyramid.
E03
Episode 3
2009-04-30 · 30 min
A Roman emperor finds a nasty alternative to candles, and an Egyptian tries to save money.
E04
Episode 4
2009-05-07 · 30 min
The Tudors sing their family history, Bob explains the complete history of Rome in two minutes, and a mad Victorian gentleman eats King Louis XIV's mummified heart.
E05
Episode 5
2009-05-14 · 30 min
A priest makes a piano from live pigs, Emperor Caligula declares war on the sea, and there are some disgusting beauty tips from Ancient Egypt.
E06
Episode 6
2009-05-21 · 30 min
An evil Greek god appears on a daytime chat show, a rich Georgian swaps his wife with a peasant, and we meet some weird medieval monsters.
E07
Episode 7
2009-05-28 · 30 min
There is a terrible smell in the Houses of Parliament, Cinderella struggles with the Blitz, and Helen of Troy reveals her complicated love life.
E08
Episode 8
2009-06-04 · 30 min
The Saxons exchange disgusting Christmas presents, a caveman goes on a TV cookery show, and we discover the bizarre causes of the First World War.
E09
Episode 9
2009-06-11 · 30 min
A Victorian inspector checks that school is suitably cruel, HHTV News reports live from the Great Plague, and Thumbelina drowns unpleasantly.
E10
Episode 10
2009-06-18 · 30 min
HHTV News reports live from the Battle of Thermopylae, Celt housewives find decorative uses for severed heads, and we learn the revolting truth about Roman toilets.
E11
Episode 11
2009-06-25 · 30 min
Queen Victoria learns that her British comforts are not very British, a Viking warrior won't stop talking in rhyme, and on 'Axe Factor', the contestants try to become executioners.
E12
Episode 12
2009-07-02 · 30 min
A Victorian teacher is confused by her pupils' bizarre names, the Romans run out of animals to execute, and Queen Victoria advertises her exercise DVD.
E13
Episode 13
2009-07-09 · 30 min
A lazy aristocrat invents the sandwich, the Romans host their own revolting cookery show and William Shakespeare is haunted by the ghost of King Richard III.
