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
  • 136 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.

  • Due to return for Series 11
  • 2016 Specials repeated Sunday at 1:15pm on CBBC
  • JustWatch Streaming rank this week: 990

Episode menu

Series 1, Episode 12

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.

Further details

There's a monastic start to this week's episode of the comedy sketch show as 'Smashing Saxons' explores the unusual table manners of Saxon monks and reveals the grisly importance of geese, lamb and wasp eggs to the art of writing, in Write Like A Monk.

Vile Victorians looks at some of the bizarre names favoured by Victorians - step forward Minty Badger and Princess Cheese - while Queen Victoria's workout video promises instant results for those wishing to be as wide as they are tall.

Meera Syal tells the fairy-tale of the Ugly Duckling, explaining how royals were the only people allowed to eat swans, while Measly Middle Ages serves up details of the Earl of Warwick's extraordinary dinner party to celebrate his brother's ordination as archbishop. On the menu for that occasion were 104 oxen, 2,000 swine, 1,000 sheep and 13,000 puddings - with not a vegetable in sight.

Notes

This episode was moved to BBC2 to make way for the Wimbledon ladies semi-finals.

Broadcast details

Date
Thursday 2nd July 2009
Time
4:35pm
Channel
BBC Two
Length
30 minutes

Repeats

Show past repeats

Date Time Channel
Friday 4th September 2009 10:00am BBC2
Thursday 1st April 2010 4:05pm BBC1
Sunday 12th December 2010 9:30am BBC2
Sunday 22nd May 2011 3:05pm CBBC
Monday 30th May 2011 9:30am CBBC
Thursday 5th April 2012 7:40am CBBC
Thursday 5th April 2012 3:05pm BBC1
Thursday 5th April 2012 5:00pm CBBC
Friday 13th April 2012 10:30am CBBC
Saturday 30th June 2012 9:30am CBBC
Thursday 12th July 2012 10:00am CBBC
Monday 29th July 2013 10:30am CBBC
Tuesday 17th September 2013 7:45am CBBC
Sunday 2nd February 2014 4:00pm CBBC
Sunday 30th March 2014 6:30pm CBBC
Wednesday 27th April 2016 7:00pm CBBC
Monday 15th August 2016 7:00pm CBBC
Tuesday 17th January 2017 7:30pm CBBC
Sunday 7th May 2017 10:00am CBBC
Saturday 13th May 2017 2:50pm CBBC
Sunday 2nd July 2017 3:10pm CBBC
Wednesday 21st March 2018 11:25am CBBC
Wednesday 21st March 2018 7:00pm CBBC
Sunday 5th August 2018 11:20am CBBC
Sunday 5th August 2018 8:30pm CBBC
Tuesday 18th September 2018 7:00pm CBBC
Wednesday 12th December 2018 7:00pm CBBC
Wednesday 9th January 2019 7:00pm CBBC
Thursday 6th June 2019 8:20am CBBC
Sunday 9th June 2019 10:45am CBBC
Monday 9th September 2019 7:00pm CBBC
Thursday 9th February 2023 8:35am CBBC
Saturday 1st April 2023 11:05am CBBC
Monday 16th 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
Katy Wix Ensemble Actor
Lisa Devlin Ensemble Actor
John Eccleston Rattus Rattus
Guest cast
Bertie Gilbert Ensemble Actor
Writing team
George Sawyer Writer
Jon Holmes Writer
Dave Cohen Writer
Ben Ward 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

Share this page