Horrible Histories. Image shows from L to R: Gemma Whelan, Ryan Sampson, Tom Stourton
Horrible Histories

Horrible Histories

  • TV sketch show
  • CBBC / BBC One
  • 2009 - 2024
  • 140 episodes (10 series)

Hit sketch show based on surprising facts from world history, inspired by the hit children's book series. Stars Jim Howick, Simon Farnaby, Ben Willbond, Mathew Baynton, Martha Howe-Douglas and more.

Episode menu

Series 1, Episode 7

The Houses of Parliament smell of poo, Cinderella struggles with the Blitz, and Helen of Troy reveals her complicated love life.

Further details

A bevy of bygone beauty and teenage love tips feature in this week's edition of the comedy sketch series. An advert for Oh Yea! magazine reveals the Tudors' tantalising beauty routines, in which Elizabeth I enjoyed four baths a year, and St Catherine Of Sienna divulges her rather unpalatable diet of pus and water. Helen of Troy's amorous exploits are imagined as a photo love story and the programme follows the Second World War alternative to stockings using gravy and eye-liner.

A Tudor doctor takes the helm in Historical Hospital; three knights romp through the rules of chivalry in song; and this week's Fairy Tale is Cinderella - the Second World War version. That Was Entertainment takes a look at entertainment from days gone by and features Jousting On Ice - the medieval pastime played by peasants when the Thames was frozen. Finally, Victorian parliamentarians put their noses together to sniff out a solution to the Big Stink of 1858.

Broadcast details

Date
Thursday 28th May 2009
Time
4:35pm
Channel
BBC One
Length
30 minutes

Repeats

Show past repeats

Date Time Channel
Thursday 18th February 2010 4:05pm BBC1
Friday 29th October 2010 4:30pm BBC1
Saturday 21st May 2011 3:05pm CBBC
Sunday 29th May 2011 2:35pm CBBC
Friday 3rd June 2011 12:55pm CBBC
Saturday 24th September 2011 11:00am CBBC
Wednesday 15th February 2012 11:00am CBBC
Monday 9th April 2012 1:25pm CBBC
Sunday 25th November 2012 9:00am CBBC
Monday 22nd July 2013 10:30am CBBC
Tuesday 10th September 2013 7:45am CBBC
Saturday 1st February 2014 3:30pm CBBC
Sunday 23rd February 2014 6:30pm CBBC
Tuesday 19th April 2016 7:00pm CBBC
Monday 8th August 2016 7:00pm CBBC
Sunday 23rd April 2017 9:30am CBBC
Friday 9th February 2018 7:00pm CBBC
Monday 2nd April 2018 1:50pm CBBC
Tuesday 31st July 2018 9:05am CBBC
Tuesday 31st July 2018 7:00pm CBBC
Tuesday 11th September 2018 7:00pm CBBC
Wednesday 5th December 2018 7:00pm CBBC
Sunday 28th April 2019 10:45am CBBC
Tuesday 2nd July 2019 7:00pm CBBC
Monday 2nd September 2019 7:00pm CBBC
Friday 14th February 2020 5:30pm CBBC
Wednesday 15th December 2021 6:20pm CBBC
Friday 6th May 2022 10:30am CBBC
Tuesday 31st January 2023 8:35am CBBC
Monday 9th October 2023 10:25am CBBC

Cast & crew

Cast
Jim Howick Various
Simon Farnaby Various
Ben Willbond Various
Mathew Baynton Various
Martha Howe-Douglas Various
Laurence Rickard Various
Sarah Hadland Various
Jon Culshaw Various (Voice)
Jess Robinson Various (Voice)
Meera Syal Self
Giles Terera Ensemble Actor
Katy Wix Ensemble Actor
Javone Prince Ensemble Actor
John Eccleston Rattus Rattus
Guest cast
Steve Punt Various
Writing team
Ben Ward Writer
Jon Holmes Writer
Toby Davies Writer
Chris Pell Writer
Susie Donkin Writer
Production team
Steve Connelly Director
Chloe Thomas Director
Caroline Norris Series Producer
Giles Pilbrow Producer
Dominic Brigstocke Producer
Richard Bradley Executive Producer
Kim Shillinglaw Executive Producer
Charlie Fawcett Editor
Michelle Turkington Editor
Miranda Jones Production Designer
Richie Webb Composer
Matt Katz Composer

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