Horrible Histories

8.0

2009•1h 32m

Production

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.

Trailers & Videos

From Charles II to Cavewoman 2, Horrible Histories cast share their favourite characters | BAFTA

Horrible Histories creators on bringing the show to life + a Monarchs Song sing-along! | BAFTA

Baroness Floella Benjamin presents the BAFTA Special Award to Horrible Histories | BAFTA

CBBC: Horrible Histories - World War 1 sketch

Horrible Histories trailer

Seasons

13 Episodes • Premiered 2009

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.

1. Episode 1

6.5

A pirate captain worries about an early bedtime and the four King Georges form a boyband.

2. Episode 2

6.0

A Stone Age doctor tries to help a modern patient and a Pharaoh invents the pyramid.

3. Episode 3

5.5

A Roman emperor finds a nasty alternative to candles, and an Egyptian tries to save money.

4. Episode 4

6.3

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.

5. Episode 5

7.0

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.

6. Episode 6

7.0

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.

7. Episode 7

8.0

There is a terrible smell in the Houses of Parliament, Cinderella struggles with the Blitz, and Helen of Troy reveals her complicated love life.

8. Episode 8

6.0

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.

9. Episode 9

7.0

A Victorian inspector checks that school is suitably cruel, HHTV News reports live from the Great Plague, and Thumbelina drowns unpleasantly.

10. Episode 10

7.0

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.

11. Episode 11

8.0

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.

12. Episode 12

7.0

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.

13. Episode 13

7.0

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.