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
  • Series 10, Episode 9 repeated tomorrow at 2:15pm on CBBC
  • JustWatch Streaming rank this week: 966

Episode menu

Series 1, Episode 8

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.

Further details

A caveman appears on the historical cookery show Ready, Steady, Feast to discuss stone-age delicacies, and viewers are given a taste of the various ingredients used by Georgian dentists to create dentures - including clay, walrus or hippo tusks or human teeth collected from dead soldiers at the battle of Waterloo.

The programme also reveals how animal droppings were put to good use in Saxon times - cow pats made plates, pig poo plastered walls and chicken "number twos" were used to cure animal hides to make into clothes.

Horrible Histories also reveals some of the unusual objects dropped by First World War fighter pilots from their planes.

Broadcast details

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

Repeats

Show past repeats

Date Time Channel
Thursday 25th February 2010 4:05pm BBC1
Friday 5th November 2010 4:30pm BBC1
Saturday 21st May 2011 3:35pm CBBC
Sunday 29th May 2011 3:00pm CBBC
Friday 3rd June 2011 1:25pm CBBC
Sunday 25th September 2011 11:00am CBBC
Tuesday 20th March 2012 6:15pm CBBC
Monday 9th April 2012 1:55pm CBBC
Sunday 2nd December 2012 9:00am CBBC
Tuesday 23rd July 2013 10:30am CBBC
Wednesday 11th September 2013 7:45am CBBC
Saturday 1st February 2014 4:00pm CBBC
Wednesday 20th April 2016 7:00pm CBBC
Tuesday 9th August 2016 7:00pm CBBC
Wednesday 11th January 2017 7:30pm CBBC
Sunday 23rd April 2017 10:00am CBBC
Thursday 15th March 2018 11:15am CBBC
Thursday 15th March 2018 7:00pm CBBC
Tuesday 3rd April 2018 1:50pm CBBC
Wednesday 1st August 2018 9:05am CBBC
Wednesday 1st August 2018 7:00pm CBBC
Wednesday 12th September 2018 7:00pm CBBC
Thursday 6th December 2018 7:00pm CBBC
Sunday 5th May 2019 10:45am CBBC
Wednesday 3rd July 2019 7:00pm CBBC
Friday 21st February 2020 5:30pm CBBC
Monday 9th May 2022 10:35am CBBC
Wednesday 1st February 2023 8:35am CBBC
Tuesday 10th 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)
Lisa Devlin Ensemble Actor
John Eccleston Rattus Rattus
Writing team
Steve Punt Writer
Jon Holmes Writer
Lucy Clarke Writer
Dave Cohen Writer
Ben Ward Writer
Greg Jenner Writer
Simon Littlefield Writer
Susie Donkin Writer
George Poles 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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