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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 11: 6. Enormous Empires
With everything from mid-battle diarrhoea to a warlord taking over a geography class, take a journey charting the rise and fall of some of history’s biggest empires.
08-08-2026
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 ...
01-08-2026
CBBC
Horrible Histories
Series 11: 4. Terrible Transport
From camels to space rockets, via Dandy Horses, actual horses, royal train rides, cars, balloons and planes, it's the Horrible History of travel.
25-07-2026
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 ...
18-07-2026
CBBC
Horrible Histories
Series 11: 2. Ridiculous Rules
From William the Conqueror making rules about chopping off body parts to Elizabeth I in court over some swan-related mischief, Horrible Histories takes a look at some history&rs ...
11-07-2026
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 8: 10. Fierce Females
A show celebrating some of history’s greatest and most formidable females. We begin with ancient tales of the Scythians – incredible warrior women who were part of t ...
08-03-2026
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 ...
18-07-2026
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: 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 11: 13. Phiendish Pharaohs
From preparing for the afterlife to having your own butt doctor, Tutankhamun, Cleopatra, Ramesses II and more are here to reveal what life was like as a fiendish pharaoh.
25-05-2026
CBBC