Catch up TV
Series 8: 6. Bizarre Beasts
A look at some of the various ways in which, throughout history, humans have lived with, worked with, and interacted with animals - from the very first socialising with wolves thousands of years ago through to farting fish almost starting a nuclear war in more recent history!\n\nWe take a trip to Elizabeth I’s menagerie which was housed at the Tower of London and home to exotic animal gifts from foreign rulers, and included wolves, hyenas, bears, leopards and even lions. There were also some nice dogs but, well, leopards.\n\nSophie and Sebastian are on hand to advise both Alexander the Great and King Porus as to which animals they could use in battle to defeat their enemies, seemingly ignoring the fact that Alexander and Porus are actually fighting each other.\n\nElsewhere, the Australian army faces the unruly might of an emu invasion, Romans release an album in praise of their favourite pet (eels), and Charles Darwin hosts Yummy Planet, a look at some of the animals he actually ate whilst on his travels. Plus, we take a look at how humans have used animal by-products in different ways, including drinking milk and the Victorian penchant for 'coprolite' - jewellery made from fossilised dinosaur poo.
Source: CBBC
Most recent episodes of Horrible Histories
Horrible Histories
Series 2: Episode 2
A pirate captain regrets stealing a herd of seasick cows, a Georgian sportsman invents a whole new way of boxing, King Charles II raps about his party lifestyle, and the Georgia ...
16-06-2026
CBBC
Horrible Histories
Series 11: 5. Twisted Technology
The watch! The mobile phone! The microwave! The vibrating poo platform! Thomas Edison stage diving! It’s all here as Horrible Histories takes a journey through the history ...
12-06-2026
CBBC
Most popular episodes of Horrible Histories
Horrible Histories
Series 8: 9. Heroic Home Front
Marking the eightieth anniversary of the outbreak of World War II, Horrible Histories looks at how the war affected those left back home in the UK, on the home front. \n\nWe sta ...
24-02-2026
CBBC
Horrible Histories
Series 11: 3. Ludicrous Landmarks
How long does it take to build a pyramid? Why didn’t people like the Statue of Liberty? Why are there pineapples on St Paul’s? Horrible Histories takes a tour of the ...
29-05-2026
CBBC
Horrible Histories
Series 11: 14. Top Ten Naughtiest People
Rattus is on the naughty step yet again. But at least it has given him an excellent idea for a list of some of his favourite sketches as he presents his top ten of some of histo ...
26-05-2026
CBBC
Horrible Histories
Series 10: 11. Terrifying Tower Of London
Famous inmates, botched escapes and thefts, and Henry VIII’s favourite executions – they’re all here in a terrifying history of the Tower of London, one of Eng ...
06-05-2026
CBBC
Horrible Histories
Series 10: 9. The Chaotic Civil War
Take a journey through one of the weirdest, wildest periods in English history, featuring the only time that a king has been tried and executed for treason!
01-05-2026
CBBC
Horrible Histories
Series 9: 12. Henry And Liz's Family Face-off
Terrible Tudors King Henry VIII and his daughter Queen Elizabeth I bicker about who was the best ruler. Henry had a mechanical dragon kite, but Liz had a flushing toilet.
25-03-2026
CBBC
Horrible Histories
Series 5 - Song Special
Historical sketch show. Some of history's greatest characters serenade us with tales of their lives. Featuring the all-conquering Alexander the Great.
22-03-2026
CBBC
Horrible Histories
Series 10: 4. Gruesome Gunpowder Plot
Horrible Histories presents the sometimes-ludicrous story of Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot.
24-04-2026
CBBC