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 8 repeated at 2:20pm on CBBC
  • JustWatch Streaming rank this week: 962

Episode menu

Series 1, Episode 9

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

Further details

Tackling more historical, gory and bizarre facts, this week's edition of the comedy sketch show reveals a pungent Tudor toilet forecast, debunks some of the historical myths often taught as fact and reveals some of the punishments dished out to children by Victorian teachers.

The shouty man advertises the new Victorian Child, the perfect solution for dirty chimneys, while a commercial for Roman Gods Direct extols the virtues of their numerous deities and a promotion for Ye Sun offers health tips, features and stories from plague-ridden England.

Historical Wife Swap from Ancient Greece, meanwhile, finds the battle-ready Spartan Family, from Sparta, swapping with the theatre-loving Athenians, from Athens. Finally, Thomas Farriner reveals his tasty tips as he provides viewers with his run-down of the vital ingredients to start the Great Fire of London in 1666, in another helping of Ready Steady Feast.

Broadcast details

Date
Thursday 11th June 2009
Time
4:35pm
Channel
BBC One
Length
30 minutes

Repeats

Show past repeats

Date Time Channel
Thursday 4th March 2010 4:05pm BBC1
Friday 12th November 2010 4:30pm BBC1
Sunday 29th May 2011 3:30pm CBBC
Tuesday 30th August 2011 6:25pm CBBC
Monday 2nd April 2012 7:40am CBBC
Monday 2nd April 2012 5:00pm CBBC
Monday 9th April 2012 2:25pm CBBC
Monday 9th July 2012 10:00am CBBC
Wednesday 24th July 2013 10:30am CBBC
Thursday 12th September 2013 7:45am CBBC
Saturday 1st February 2014 4:30pm CBBC
Sunday 9th March 2014 6:30pm CBBC
Thursday 21st April 2016 7:00pm CBBC
Wednesday 10th August 2016 7:00pm CBBC
Thursday 12th January 2017 7:30pm CBBC
Sunday 30th April 2017 9:30am CBBC
Friday 16th March 2018 11:15am CBBC
Friday 16th March 2018 7:00pm CBBC
Wednesday 4th April 2018 1:50pm CBBC
Thursday 2nd August 2018 9:05am CBBC
Thursday 2nd August 2018 7:00pm CBBC
Thursday 13th September 2018 7:00pm CBBC
Friday 7th December 2018 7:00pm CBBC
Sunday 12th May 2019 10:45am CBBC
Thursday 4th July 2019 7:00pm CBBC
Wednesday 4th September 2019 7:00pm CBBC
Friday 28th February 2020 5:30pm CBBC
Tuesday 10th May 2022 10:35am CBBC
Thursday 2nd February 2023 8:35am CBBC
Wednesday 11th 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
Writing team
Steve Punt 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

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