British Comedy Guide
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
  • 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 9, Episode 14 repeated at 6:25pm on CBBC
  • JustWatch Streaming rank this week: 818

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Episode menu

Series 1, Episode 5

A priest makes a piano from live pigs, Emperor Caligula declares war on the sea, and we discover disgusting beauty tips from Ancient Egypt.

Further details

Strange Egyptian beauty secrets, a Saxon musical instrument made from pigs and details about William the Conqueror's shambolic funeral form a selection of the fascinating and funny facts featured in this week's edition of the historical comedy sketch series.

Adverts for Pharaoh Fashion magazine and Mouse Fresh Max show how Egyptians stayed up to date by wearing wax cones in their hair and sheep wool wigs and how they kept their breath fresh by putting half a hot dead mouse in their mouths.

Bob Hale romps through the origins of man in two minutes in the Stone Age Report and the series imagines a dinner party between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens.

Meera Syal reads the Saxon version of Goldilocks And The Three Bears and Saxon King Ethelred the Unready reveals some of the ordeals he created to detect if a person is guilty, including ordeal by cake.

A Georgian doctor reports for duty in Historical Hospital, prescribing an unpalatable cure consisting of urine, ground woodlice, sugar and nutmeg.

Broadcast details

Date
Thursday 14th May 2009
Time
4:35pm
Channel
BBC One
Length
30 minutes

Cast & crew

Cast
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
Javone Prince Ensemble Actor
John Eccleston Rattus Rattus
Writing team
Steve Punt Writer
Jon Holmes Writer
Arnold Widdowson Writer
Marc Blakewill Writer
James Harris Writer
George Poles Writer
Production team
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

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