Horrible Histories

1British Black History

30 minApr 30, 2021

Horrible Histories charts the contribution of Black people to British life throughout history. How did African soldiers come to be guarding Hadrian’s Wall? Why was a West African diver asked to help salvage Henry VIII's ship, the Mary Rose? And the actor Ira Aldridge tells us how he came to leave New York to find fame in 19th-century England.

2Gruesome Guide To Growing Up

30 minJul 7, 2021

Life wasn’t always fun for children in the past. Horrible Histories delves into the not-so-easy lives of children throughout history, from the strict parenting of ancient civilisations, to the terrible fights the young King Louis XIV had with his little brother - even weeing on each other's beds! And find out just why Henry VIII was so keen for his son Edward VI to stay inside.

3Protesting With Pankhurst

30 minAug 20, 2021

Protests about inequality or environmental damage are common today, but how have people protested in the past? Emmeline Pankhurst is our guide through this history of protest, from Cato the Younger’s talkative protest in ancient Rome to the cheese riots of 18th-century Nottingham. Also, how will the Luddites cope with the newfangled technology of a video call?

4Precious Planet

30 minNov 1, 2021

Charles Darwin presents a special show, as Horrible Histories takes a timely look at our planet and how we’ve behaved towards it throughout history. We look at how we’ve not always treated the planet's resources with the utmost care, from the 19th-century gold rush, to Henry VIII enjoying a little too much deforestation to build his warships.

5Dastardly Dance

30 minNov 26, 2021

Strictly’s Shirley Ballas joins Rattus for a waltz through the history of dance, with Bruno Tonioli as Nero, who had his dance teacher killed, and Queen Vic’s Highland reel!

6Cracking Christmas

30 minDec 10, 2021

Horrible Histories brings you a cracking Christmas special, delving into the origins of the festive season.

7Foul Feasting

29 minJan 7, 2022

Horrible Histories serves up the history of foul feasting, from Stone Age lentils to Queen Victoria’s anti-fart bread.

8Infectious Influencers

29 minJan 14, 2022

From Cleopatra’s hairdo to Elizabeth I’s flushing loo, meet history’s biggest Influencers.

9Banging Bling

29 minJan 21, 2022

From Henry VIII’s wine fountain, to Empress Dowager’s marble boat, Horrible Histories talks money, jewellery and untold treasures.

10Diabolical Daily Life

29 minJan 28, 2022

Daily life can be a bit of a grind, but not as much as it was in the past! Rattus takes us round the clock, revealing daily routines throughout history, from waking in Ancient Egypt to Medieval Loo Man.

11Monstrous Myths

28 minFeb 4, 2022

Count Rattula guides us through some of history’s greatest myths and monsters, including Henry VIII’s Robin Hood obsession and ancient ghostbusters.

12Henry and Liz's Family Face-Off

28 minFeb 11, 2022

Terrible Tudors King Henry VIII and his daughter Queen Elizabeth I bicker about who was the best ruler. Henry had a mechanical dragon kite, but Liz had a flushing toilet.

13Cursed Careers

27 minFeb 18, 2022

Rattus considers a career change, and luckily he has the whole of history to look through for ideas. Could he be an inventor like Babbage, or is the pirate life for him?

14Smash Hit Songs

28 minFeb 25, 2022

Rattus has an idea that might make him millions – he is going to launch a streaming service. However, to make Ratify a success, he is going to need some great songs from history.

15Big BBC Birthday Bonanza

21 minOct 15, 2022

Horrible Histories celebrates 100 years of the BBC with this special episode. What was the secret of looking great on a 1930s TV show? How did the BBC try to defeat the Nazis using regional accents? And just what was a kangaroo doing at the launch of BBC Two? Our end song takes us through the history of children’s TV.