Horrible Histories
- TV sketch show
- CBBC / BBC One
- 2009 - 2024
- 139 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 8, Episode 5 repeated at 9:20am on CBBC
- Streaming rank this week: 639
Episode menu
Series 1, Episode 12
Further details
There's a monastic start to this week's episode of the comedy sketch show as 'Smashing Saxons' explores the unusual table manners of Saxon monks and reveals the grisly importance of geese, lamb and wasp eggs to the art of writing, in Write Like A Monk.
Vile Victorians looks at some of the bizarre names favoured by Victorians - step forward Minty Badger and Princess Cheese - while Queen Victoria's workout video promises instant results for those wishing to be as wide as they are tall.
Meera Syal tells the fairy-tale of the Ugly Duckling, explaining how royals were the only people allowed to eat swans, while Measly Middle Ages serves up details of the Earl of Warwick's extraordinary dinner party to celebrate his brother's ordination as archbishop. On the menu for that occasion were 104 oxen, 2,000 swine, 1,000 sheep and 13,000 puddings - with not a vegetable in sight.
Notes
This episode was moved to BBC2 to make way for the Wimbledon ladies semi-finals.
Broadcast details
- Date
- Thursday 2nd July 2009
- Time
- 4:35pm
- Channel
- BBC Two
- Length
- 30 minutes
Cast & crew
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 |
Bertie Gilbert | Ensemble Actor |
Ben Ward | Writer |
Dave Cohen | Writer |
George Sawyer | Writer |
Jon Holmes | Writer |
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 |