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 at 2:15pm on CBBC
  • JustWatch Streaming rank this week: 991

Episode menu

Crooked King John And The Magna Carta

Featuring Ben Miller in the title role, Horrible Histories looks at the life and reign of King John (1166-1216).

Preview clips

Further details

Horrible Histories. King John (Ben Miller). Copyright: Lion Television / Citrus Television

King John was one of the most rotten rulers of the lot, whose life was dominated by fights with English noblemen. This episode will explore what was happening in the world during King John's life, such as the rise of Genghis Khan, and the Crusades as well as looking at the King himself, as he went from problem child to angry adult and how, just a year before his rotten death, he signed the Magna Carta in 1215 - the greatest thing to come out of his reign and a document that still affects our lives today.

Broadcast details

Date
Saturday 7th February 2015
Time
5:15pm
Channel
BBC Two
Length
30 minutes

Repeats

Show past repeats

Date Time Channel
Friday 13th February 2015 5:00pm CBBC
Saturday 14th February 2015 7:55am CBBC
Sunday 15th February 2015 1:30pm CBBC
Sunday 31st May 2015 11:55am CBBC
Monday 15th June 2015 7:45am CBBC
Saturday 25th July 2015 2:50pm CBBC
Monday 11th July 2016 10:30am CBBC
Tuesday 12th July 2016 7:00pm CBBC
Sunday 31st July 2016 1:15pm CBBC
Saturday 3rd September 2016 3:15pm CBBC
Sunday 11th December 2016 2:15pm CBBC
Wednesday 15th February 2017 8:25am CBBC
Friday 21st April 2017 8:30am CBBC
Friday 21st April 2017 2:30pm CBBC
Tuesday 19th September 2017 7:00pm CBBC
Sunday 1st October 2017 10:00am CBBC
Thursday 26th October 2017 7:00pm CBBC
Thursday 4th January 2018 7:00pm CBBC
Sunday 25th March 2018 8:30am CBBC
Thursday 23rd May 2019 12:25pm CBBC
Saturday 8th June 2019 8:30pm CBBC
Friday 19th July 2019 12:55pm CBBC
Saturday 24th August 2019 8:30pm CBBC
Sunday 29th September 2019 11:35am CBBC
Wednesday 4th December 2019 7:00pm CBBC
Friday 10th January 2020 10:30am CBBC
Monday 16th March 2020 7:00pm CBBC
Monday 20th April 2020 9:25am CBBC
Monday 1st June 2020 7:00pm CBBC
Thursday 6th August 2020 7:00pm CBBC
Monday 17th August 2020 2:45pm CBBC
Thursday 24th September 2020 7:00pm CBBC
Sunday 11th October 2020 11:20am CBBC
Monday 9th November 2020 10:00am CBBC
Wednesday 25th November 2020 6:55pm CBBC
Thursday 4th March 2021 10:10am CBBC
Saturday 6th March 2021 12:45pm CBBC
Saturday 6th March 2021 5:25pm CBBC
Saturday 3rd April 2021 1:00pm CBBC
Saturday 10th April 2021 4:55pm CBBC
Thursday 5th August 2021 6:35pm CBBC
Thursday 21st October 2021 10:30am CBBC
Monday 3rd January 2022 8:00pm CBBC
Sunday 30th January 2022 1:40pm CBBC
Friday 25th February 2022 10:45am CBBC
Sunday 12th June 2022 6:25pm CBBC
Sunday 3rd July 2022 1:20pm CBBC
Friday 8th July 2022 3:00pm CBBC
Friday 16th September 2022 11:35am CBBC
Sunday 20th November 2022 1:05pm CBBC
Sunday 19th February 2023 12:25pm CBBC
Thursday 20th April 2023 10:25am CBBC
Sunday 7th May 2023 9:35am CBBC
Friday 23rd June 2023 10:30am CBBC
Thursday 21st September 2023 8:30am CBBC

Cast & crew

Cast
Jim Howick Various
Simon Farnaby Various
Tom Stourton Various
Adam Riches Various
Naz Osmanoglu Various
Jalaal Hartley Various
Jessica Ransom Various
Jon Culshaw Various (Voice)
Louise Ford Ensemble Actor
Lawry Lewin Ensemble Actor
John Eccleston Rattus Rattus
Guest cast
Ben Miller King John
Jason Lewis Ensemble Actor
Dan Li Ensemble Actor
Writing team
George Sawyer Writer
Benjamin Partridge Writer
Daniel Peak Writer
Steve Punt Writer
Lucy Clarke Writer
Dave Cohen Writer
Ben Ward Writer
Gerard Foster Writer
Dan Maier (as Daniel Maier) Writer (Additional Material)
Ben Ward Script Editor
George Sawyer Script Editor
Production team
Simon Gibney Director
Ian Curtis Director
Tom Miller Series Producer
Melissa Hardinge Executive Producer
Bill Hobbins Executive Producer
Richard Bradley Executive Producer
Adam Windmill Editor
Will Peverett Editor
Miranda Jones Production Designer
Richie Webb Composer
Tim Searle Animation

Video

Magna Carta song

King John explains The Magna Carta... via a song.

Featuring: Lawry Lewin, Ben Miller (King John), Tom Stourton, Adam Riches, Jalaal Hartley & Jessica Ransom.

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