Horrible Histories — Specials

01 Savage Songs

Jul 27, 201030m

A compilation of the songs from the second series, featuring Spartan High School Musical, the Viking Rock Band, punky Queen Boudica, Incan emperor Pachacuti, the posh rapping of Charles II, Blackbeard the Pirate, George IV going solo, the Victorian Inventions song, and the World War 2 Girls.

02 Horrible Christmas

Dec 17, 201030m

Christmas is a time for charity, hope and goodwill to all men - but for Horrible Histories it's a time of farting jesters, finding bacon in your Christmas card, and having your dinner confiscated by Oliver Cromwell. This episode showcases bizarre Yuletide absurdities from over the centuries with a unique blend of sketches, pastiche and song - a foul and festive treat. Revel in the smelliest, silliest and goriest stories about everyone's favourite time of year.

03 Horrible Histories Big Prom Party

Jul 30, 20111h 1m

As part of the 2011 BBC Proms, the cast of Horrible Histories join up with the Aurora Orchestra, the Choir from the Music Centre, the Kids Company Choir and a group of dancers for a special event. The show features a selection of songs from the first three series, some excerpts from classical pieces and original sketches.

04 Sport Relief Bob Report

Mar 22, 20124m

05 Sport Special

Jul 20, 201230m

Special sport episode of the historical sketch show, based on the successful series of books. All the top sporting action from the past, including Emperor Nero and Jesse Owens singing the history of the Olympics. We're at the finish line to see Pheidippides run the first ever marathon, then we count down the top Marathon Cheats of all time and take a look back at some of our favourite Horrible Histories sporting events.

06 Scary Special

Oct 31, 201230m

Death from 'Stupid Deaths' presents a show full of spooky highlights in this Halloween special.

07 Ridiculous Romance

N/A30m

We find out what happens when Henry VIII takes part in TV show Dating In Darkness and meets latest love Anne of Cleves, discover the problems encountered by Queen Elizabeth I’s portrait artist, and are treated to romantic musical interludes from The Love Rats Club, plus Queen Victoria as she duets with Prince Albert. We also say hello to Rattus Rattus’s brand-new girlfriend Ratalie, who Rattus Rattus is hoping will be impressed by a romantic dinner of ‘cockroach in jus de rubbish bag’...

08 Frightful First World War

N/A30m

Bob Hale and Rattus Rattus guide us through the horrible history of 1914-18. Featuring the soldiers, pilots, civilians, girl guides, suffragettes and even kings who were all caught up in the fighting.

09 Sensational Shakespeare

Apr 19, 201630m

April 2016 marks the 400th anniversary of the death of Britain's greatest playwright, William Shakespeare (or is it William Shagspeare or Willm Shakspere - even the great Bard himself didn't know!). In this episode, we look at the life and times of the playwright - 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.

10 Staggering Storytellers

Jul 11, 201630m

Who wrote the first detective novel? When were books invented? Why do we like stories so much? In its own distinctive and irreverently accurate style, the episode takes a look at some of literature's greatest works and history's wackiest writers. Along the way we see the development of storytelling technology. We learn how a party at Lord Byron's house led to the writing of the Gothic masterpiece Frankenstein, and how Charles Dickens was the Harry Styles of his day. Spanning 3,000 years of recorded history we take a look at the funny and ridiculous ways some of our finest writers cured their writing block - did you know Tennyson used to pretend to go the loo as a party trick? Also, of course, our trusty host Rattus guides the way.

11 The Grisly Great Fire of London

Sep 5, 201630m

For the 350th anniversary of the Great Fire of London, Horrible Histories returns for a one-off special looking at the disaster and the events that surrounded it. On the night of 2 September, a spark from a baker’s oven in Pudding Lane ignited a fire which roared through the tightly packed streets of London, tearing up the timber-framed houses and destroying up to a third of the city. In true Horrible Histories fashion, this special episode explores London and Britain before the fire, full of plague and party in the raucous Restoration atmosphere personified by King Charles II. We see how London’s Mayor preferred to stay in bed during the fire because been partying the night before, and how Samuel Pepys rushed to bury his parmesan cheese for safety.

12 Savage Songs Special (2013)

Jul 23, 201330m

Some of history's greatest characters serenade us with tales of their lives. Featuring the all-conquering Alexander the Great, the cash-loving Crassus, the feisty Joan of Arc, the brilliant but miserable Charles Dickens and the very determined Rosa Parks.

13 Savage Songs Special (2012)

Jul 4, 201230m

In a special musical episode of the award-winning Horrible Histories, host Rattus Rattus chooses his favourite songs from the fourth series to entertain his young nephew.

14 Top 5: 1. Football with Alex Scott

Jun 19, 201930m

England footie star Alex Scott delves into the Horrible history of Soccer. From the Middle Ages, when whole villages would play against each other, with dire injuries as a consequence - to the famous Christmas truce in World War 1, when British and German troops put down their guns and spoke the universal language of football.

15 Top 5: 2. Back to School with Emily Atack

Aug 15, 201930m

Back to School??! Ugh! It could be worse, though – in honour of everyone going back to school, Emily Atack takes you through the Horrible History of what school days were like in the past…

16 Black History Month with Oti Mabuse

Oct 1, 201912m

In celebration of Black History Month, Oti Mabuse brings you a selection of Horrible Histories sketches and songs featuring Rosa Parks, Civil War spy Mary Bowser, pioneering boxer Bill Richmond, plus Mary Seacole and Martin Luther King Jr.

17 Brexit

Jan 31, 20209m

Nish Kumar brings us a selection of sketches about European Historical figures, featuring the dance stylings of the Normans, Italian fashion, Leonardo da Vinci, Louis XIV’s bottom problems & the vocal stylings of the Four Georges…

18 Savage Songs Special (2011)

Jul 26, 2011

Chronological compilation of the standout music videos from the third series, as chosen by the producers. An encore is omitted this year to make room for the slightly longer "Monarchs' Song".

101 Song - The 4 Georges. Born 2 Rule

N/A30m

102 Song - The Wives of Henry VIII. Divorced Beheaded & Died

N/A30m

103 Song - Making a Mummy

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104 Song - Terrible Tudors

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105 Song - A Gorgeous Georgian Lady

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106 Song - I'm a Knight

N/A30m

107 Song - Caveman Love

N/A30m

108 Song - It's Not True!

N/A30m

109 Song - The Plague Song

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110 Song - British Things

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111 Song - We are Greek

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112 Song - Burke & Hare

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201 Song - Literally (The Viking Song)

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202 Song - Charles II. King of Bling

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203 Song - Spartan High School Musical

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204 Song - We're the WWII Girls

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205 Song - George IV. Couldn't Stand My Wife

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206 Song - Blackbeard's Song

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207 Song - Victorian Inventions

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208 Song - Learn Your Hieroglyphics

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209 Song - Real Live Cowboys

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210 Song - Boudicca

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211 Song - Funky Monks

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212 Song - Do the Pachacuti

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301 Song - Dick Turpin, Highwayman

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302 Song - All The Monarchs!

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303 Song - William Wallace, Scottish Rebel

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304 Song - Work, Terrible Work!

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305 Song - Ra Ra Cleopatra

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306 Song - The Truth About Richard III

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307 Song - The Evil Emperors' Song

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308 Song - The Suffragettes' Song

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309 Song - Discaztec (Ain't Staying Alive)

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310 Song - The English Civil War Song

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311 Song - The Ages of Stone

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312 Song - Celtic Boast Battle

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401 Song - The Few (RAF Pilots)

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402 Song - Charles Darwin. Natural Selection

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403 Song - The Thinkers

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404 Song - It's a New World (Pilgrim Fathers)

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405 Song - Mary Seacole

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406 Song - Victoria & Albert. A Love Ballad

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407 Song - We've got The Blue-Blooded Blues

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408 Song - The Luddites!

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409 Song - The Borgia Family

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410 Song - Mary the First

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411 Song - William Shakespeare & the Quills

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412 Song - (We're the) Georgian Navy

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501 Song - Rosa Parks. I Sat on a Bus

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502 Song - Vikings and Garfunkel

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503 Song - Charles Dickens

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504 Song - Crassus. Minted

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505 Song - Joan of Arc

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506 Song - Alexander the Great

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507 Song - Owain Glyndŵr. First Prince of Wales

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508 Song - Transportation

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509 Song - Henry VII. The Original Tu-Tu-Tudor

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510 Song - Matilda(s) and Stephen ... and Henry

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511 Song - Australia

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512 Song - We're History (The Finale)

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513 Science with Dara Ó Briain

Mar 6, 2020

In honour of Science Week, Dara Ó Briain brings you some of his favourite science-themed sketches, including the music of Charles Darwin, the serious goings-on at The Royal Society, Historical Paramedics, Victorian Inventions and Vaccinations…

514 The Bits We Left Out (S02)

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Second season extended episodes and sketches.

515 The Bits That Went Wrong (S02)

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Outtakes and gag reel from the second season

516 Season 2 Quizzes

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All quizzes from the second season

517 Stuff We Couldn't Fit In (S03)

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More cut or extended scenes and sketches from the third season

518 More Bits That Went Wrong (S03)

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More hilarious outtakes and gag reel from the third season.

519 Season 3 Quizzes

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Quizzes from the third season.

520 More Stuff We Couldn't Fit In (S04)

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Extended scenes and cut sketches from the fourth season.

521 Stuff That Didn't Make It

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Finished work that had content that didn't match the themes.

522 Season 4 Quizzes

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Quizzes from the fourth season.

523 Season 5 Quizzes

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Quizzes from the fifth season.

524 Even More Stuff We Couldn't Fit In (S5)

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525 Even More Bits That Went Wrong (S5)

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526 Animated Specials: 1. Gruesome Guide to Growing Up

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Life wasn’t always fun for children in the past. Horrible Histories delves into the not-so-easy lives of children throughout history, from the strict parenting of ancient civilisations, to the terrible fights the young King Louis XIV had with his little brother - even weeing on each other's beds! And find out just why Henry VIII was so keen for his son Edward VI to stay inside.

528 'Orrible Opera

Sep 8, 20231h 13m

Henry VIII, Queen Victoria and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart are our hosts for a special live concert as part of the BBC Proms season at London’s Royal Albert Hall, introducing us to the world of opera. Mozart is sure that the Horrible Histories audience will love opera, with all its grisly and gruesome stories. But Queen Victoria is not so sure, thinking opera is totally unsuitable for children. In fact, she thinks the audience need to leave at once! Can Mozart change her mind?