Horrible Histories

A Roman emperor finds a nasty alternative to candles, an Egyptian tries to save money on mummification, and the Roundheads and Cavaliers take part in Historical Wife Swap.

Sketches detailing unusual uses for unearthed Egyptian mummies and Emperor Nero's cruel choice of candles are included in this week's edition.

An ad for Witchfinders Direct provides a comic portrayal of how women were accused of witchcraft during the 17th century, while a sketch on Charles I's execution in 1649 reveals that the monarch wore two shirts at the time of his death - as he did not want the weather to make him shiver, which the crowd could have mistaken for fear. And in Historical Wife Swap, problems arise when jovial Restoration family the Merrys swap with dour Puritan family the Miserables.

An Egyptian explains the mummy-making process in a witty song and the series also reveals the bizarre uses found for the mummies dug up from tombs in the 19th century.

The programme is rounded off with a selection of the Vicious Vikings' strange beliefs and details the Roman Emperor Nero's horrid human alternative to candles.