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
Streaming rank this week: 818
Episode menu
2016 Specials - Sensational Shakespeare
Further details
Tom Stourton stars as the Bard, as we find out about his humble beginnings, his glove-making father and his early life as an actor. How did he climb to become a royal favourite? And what was it like to be in the audience of one of his plays, where fruit was thrown at the stage, it was illegal for women to act, and there were no toilets?
The episode is a look at the life and times of the playwright William Shakespeare - from his largely unknown and humble beginnings in Stratford, through his times as a jobbing actor in London, to his success as the country's most respected and financially savvy writer. Along the way we meet his gang of London friends - the playwrights, poets and brawlers Marlowe, Jonson and Spenser. We also explore the social history of Britain and the world, and how, if you wanted to avoid the plague, it was important to eat your none-a-day portion of fruit and veg.
This episode has a special guest appearance from Miles Jupp.
Broadcast details
- Date
- Tuesday 19th April 2016
- Time
- 4:30pm
- Channel
- CBBC
- Length
- 35 minutes
Cast & crew
| Jalaal Hartley | Various |
| Jessica Ransom | Various |
| Natalie Walter | Various |
| Richard David-Caine | Various |
| Gemma Whelan | Various |
| Jon Culshaw | Various (Voice) |
| Louise Ford | Ensemble Actor |
| Dominique Moore | Ensemble Actor |
| John Eccleston | Rattus Rattus |
| Tom Stourton | William Shakespeare |
| Richard Atwill | Various |
| Thom Tuck | Various |
| Mel Giedroyc | Publisher |
| Miles Jupp | Frances |
| Daniel Lawrence Taylor (as Daniel Taylor) | Ensemble Actor |
| Ben Ward | Writer |
| Dave Cohen | Writer |
| Gerard Foster | Writer |
| Steve Punt | Writer |
| George Sawyer | Writer |
| Dan Maier (as Daniel Maier) | Writer (Additional Material) |
| Ben Ward | Script Editor |
| George Sawyer | Script Editor |
| Toby Davies | Writer |
| Joe Tucker | Writer |
| Raphael Warner | Writer |
| Lucy Clarke (as Lucy Clark) | Writer |
| Daniel Peak (as Danny Peak) | Writer |
| Daniel Peak (as Danny Peak) | Script Editor |
| Steve Connelly | Director |
| Tom Miller | Series Producer |
| Lisa Mitchell | Producer |
| Melissa Hardinge | Executive Producer |
| Richard Bradley | Executive Producer |
| Simon Welton | Executive Producer |
| Gareth Heal | Editor |
| Richie Webb | Composer |
| Alison Jeffery | Production Designer |
Videos
Shakespeare at School
See what happens when William Shakespeare visited a modern day school to talk about his writing.
Featuring: Tom Stourton (William Shakespeare).
Shakespeare Quote Alert
William Shakespeare can't even walk down the street without people quoting his work.
Featuring: Jessica Ransom, Natalie Walter, Tom Stourton (William Shakespeare), Thom Tuck & Miles Jupp (Frances).
What to eat to avoid disease
Want to keep disease away? Then eat none-a-day!
Featuring: Jessica Ransom & Daniel Taylor.
Press
With the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death approaching, the HH team gather their best bard jokes and return to the Tudor days, when theatre was huge. "It had to be, there wasn't any telly." Ben Jonson, Christopher Marlowe and Gabriel Spenser delight as bad-boy rappers, while a Gene Kelly-spoofing turn from Miles Jupp centres on an era when people emptied chamber pots out of upstairs windows: "I'm singing in urine."
Jonathan Wright, The Guardian, 19th April 2016