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
  • Special repeated Saturday at 1:15pm on CBBC
  • JustWatch Streaming rank this week: 603

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Episode menu

Series 1, Episode 9

A Victorian inspector checks that school is suitably cruel, HHTV News reports live from the Great Plague and Thumbelina drowns in poo.

Further details

Tackling more historical, gory and bizarre facts, this week's edition of the comedy sketch show reveals a pungent Tudor toilet forecast, debunks some of the historical myths often taught as fact and reveals some of the punishments dished out to children by Victorian teachers.

The shouty man advertises the new Victorian Child, the perfect solution for dirty chimneys, while a commercial for Roman Gods Direct extols the virtues of their numerous deities and a promotion for Ye Sun offers health tips, features and stories from plague-ridden England.

Historical Wife Swap from Ancient Greece, meanwhile, finds the battle-ready Spartan Family, from Sparta, swapping with the theatre-loving Athenians, from Athens. Finally, Thomas Farriner reveals his tasty tips as he provides viewers with his run-down of the vital ingredients to start the Great Fire of London in 1666, in another helping of Ready Steady Feast.

Broadcast details

Date
Thursday 11th June 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
John Eccleston Rattus Rattus
Writing team
Ben Ward Writer
Dave Cohen Writer
Steve Punt Writer
Jon Holmes 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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