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 13

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.

Further details

The critically acclaimed historical comedy series concludes this week in true Horrible Histories style, with a selection of sketches packed with gore and toilet humour.

Roman Kitchen Nightmares examines the culinary tastes of the Romans, including tantalising dishes such as sheep's lungs mixed with rotten fish, and the programme also explores the communal delights of Roman lavatoriums.

Meanwhile, guts and gore from Victorian times are detailed in a sketch about life in Crimean hospitals before the arrival of Florence Nightingale, and the macabre carryings on of body snatchers Burke and Hare - who murdered people to sell their bodies to the Edinburgh physician Knox for dissection - are regaled in song.

Rounding off the programme, the last Pharaoh of Egypt is revealed in This is Your Reign; and the ghost of Richard III returns to question Shakespeare's artistic license and lack of historical accuracy.

Broadcast details

Date
Thursday 9th July 2009
Time
4:35pm
Channel
BBC One
Length
30 minutes

Repeats

Show past repeats

Date Time Channel
Thursday 8th April 2010 4:05pm BBC1
Thursday 16th December 2010 3:05pm BBC1
Sunday 22nd May 2011 3:30pm CBBC
Monday 30th May 2011 10:00am CBBC
Friday 9th December 2011 4:30pm BBC1
Friday 6th April 2012 7:40am CBBC
Friday 6th April 2012 5:00pm CBBC
Friday 13th April 2012 11:00am CBBC
Friday 13th July 2012 10:00am CBBC
Saturday 13th April 2013 10:05am CBBC
Sunday 14th April 2013 2:10pm CBBC
Tuesday 30th July 2013 10:30am CBBC
Wednesday 18th September 2013 7:45am CBBC
Sunday 2nd February 2014 4:30pm CBBC
Sunday 6th April 2014 6:30pm CBBC
Thursday 28th April 2016 7:00pm CBBC
Wednesday 18th January 2017 7:30pm CBBC
Sunday 14th May 2017 9:30am CBBC
Sunday 14th May 2017 3:25pm CBBC
Saturday 20th May 2017 4:10pm CBBC
Thursday 22nd March 2018 11:25am CBBC
Thursday 22nd March 2018 7:00pm CBBC
Monday 6th August 2018 9:05am CBBC
Monday 6th August 2018 7:00pm CBBC
Wednesday 19th September 2018 7:00pm CBBC
Thursday 13th December 2018 7:00pm CBBC
Thursday 10th January 2019 7:00pm CBBC
Sunday 16th June 2019 10:45am CBBC
Tuesday 10th September 2019 7:00pm CBBC
Wednesday 8th February 2023 8:35am CBBC
Saturday 8th April 2023 11:05am CBBC
Tuesday 17th 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)
Giles Terera Ensemble Actor
Katy Wix Ensemble Actor
Javone Prince Ensemble Actor
John Eccleston Rattus Rattus
Writing team
Ben Ward Writer
Dave Cohen Writer
Jon Holmes 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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