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

2016 Specials - The Grisly Great Fire Of London

Horrible Histories. Sir Christopher Wren (Robert Webb). Copyright: Lion Television
For the 350th anniversary of the Great Fire of London, Horrible Histories returns for a one-off special looking at the disaster and the events that surrounded it.

Further details

On the night of September 2nd, a spark from a baker's oven in Pudding Lane ignited a fire that roared through the tightly packed streets of London, tearing up the timber framed houses and destroying up to a third of the city.

In true Horrible Histories fashion, this special episode explores London and Britain before the fire, full of plague and party in the raucous Restoration atmosphere personified by King Charles II. We see how London's Mayor preferred to stay in bed during the fire because been partying the night before, and how Samuel Pepys rushed to bury his parmesan cheese for safety.

We meet Christopher Wren, astronomer and self-styled architect. We see how his new St Paul's, that rose phoenix-like from the ashes, was a physical manifestation of the ideas of the age. We take a look at Isaac Newton and the Royal Society with their wonderfully crazy and gruesome experiments!

And, of course, our trusty sewer dweller Rattus to guide the way! Guest starring Robert Webb.

Broadcast details

Date
Monday 5th September 2016
Time
5pm
Channel
CBBC
Length
30 minutes

Repeats

Show past repeats

Date Time Channel
Saturday 10th September 2016 8:00pm CBBC
Sunday 27th November 2016 2:15pm CBBC
Thursday 5th January 2017 5:30pm CBBC
Thursday 30th March 2017 7:00pm CBBC
Thursday 8th February 2018 7:00pm CBBC
Monday 18th June 2018 7:55pm CBBC
Tuesday 14th August 2018 9:05am CBBC
Sunday 26th August 2018 11:20am CBBC
Monday 5th November 2018 7:00pm CBBC
Monday 26th November 2018 7:00pm CBBC
Monday 31st December 2018 6:30pm CBBC
Monday 18th February 2019 7:00pm CBBC
Friday 4th September 2020 7:00pm CBBC
Sunday 5th September 2021 12:55pm CBBC
Sunday 20th March 2022 6:15pm CBBC
Sunday 3rd April 2022 1:10pm CBBC
Friday 2nd September 2022 5:30pm CBBC
Monday 5th September 2022 11:35am CBBC
Friday 21st October 2022 11:35am CBBC
Friday 12th May 2023 10:25am CBBC
Wednesday 20th September 2023 6:00pm CBBC
Sunday 17th March 2024 1:20pm CBBC
Sunday 31st March 2024 1:15pm CBBC

Cast & crew

Cast
Tom Stourton Various
Jalaal Hartley Various
Natalie Walter Various
Richard David-Caine Various
Gemma Whelan Various
Jon Culshaw Various (Voice)
Jessica Ransom Ensemble Actor
Louise Ford Ensemble Actor
Dominique Moore Ensemble Actor
John Eccleston Rattus Rattus
Guest cast
Richard Atwill Various
Thom Tuck Various
Robert Webb Sir Christopher Wren
Mel Giedroyc Hannah Woolley
Mel Giedroyc Bake Off Narrator (Voice)
Daniel Lawrence Taylor Ensemble Actor
Writing team
Ben Ward Writer
Dave Cohen Writer
Steve Punt Writer
Daniel Peak Writer
Dan Maier (as Daniel Maier) Writer (Additional Material)
Ben Ward Script Editor
George Sawyer Script Editor
Joe Tucker Writer
Raphael Warner Writer
Sarah Morgan Writer
Danielle Ward Writer
Daniel Peak (as Danny Peak) Script Editor
Production team
Steve Connelly Director
Tom Miller Series Producer
Lisa Mitchell Producer
Melissa Hardinge Executive Producer
Richard Bradley Executive Producer
Simon Welton Executive Producer
Gareth Heal Editor
Tracey Gillham Casting Director
Pete Rowe Director of Photography
Vicky Voller Make-up Designer
Richie Webb Composer
Alison Jeffery Production Designer
Lucy Williams Costume Designer
Adam Jenkins 1st Assistant Director

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