Catch up TV
Series 8: 7. Moon Mayhem
Comedian and space nerd Dara O Briain joins Rattus as guest host for a special show that marks the anniversary of the 1969 moon landings.\n\nFor generations, we have looked to the stars and wondered as to the mysteries they contain, and have even used them as a form of celestial advisor, as shown when one Babylonian king bestows his crown upon a peasant because the heavens have foretold that 'the king would die' - so as long as the current king doesn’t happen to be the actual king when the death happens, then surely all would be well?!\n\nCopernicus, Galileo and Newton are on hand with a floor-filler about their more scientific thoughts on the heavens and the universe and, in Historical Educating, 17th-century philosopher and supply teacher John Wilkins tells his class about their upcoming field trip, during which they will ride a flying chariot to the moon, so that they can meet the people that live there.\n\nWe see the first manned rocket-powered flight, which occurred much earlier than you think it probably did and was an ill-advised (from a health and safety perspective at least) stunt at a celebration for a sultan.\n\nThe Space Race proper gets under way in the 1950s, as America and Soviet Russia fight it out to be the first to harness that rocket power, and use it to get their people into space. We see Soviet Russia’s fearsome Sputnik satellite (the first to reach space), and the even more scary Ivan Ivanovich - a mannequin that actually floated in space while reciting a recipe for Borscht. Owing to this Russian success, the Americans panic and enlist the help of Sophie and Sebastian to come up with some ideas as to how they can take the lead in the Space Race - suggestions include 'space pool', so it’s fair to say that results are mixed, at best.\n\nWe also discover that Yuri Gagarin’s dad was less than impressed with his son being the first man in space, and meet America’s solution to finally getting ahead in the race, and getting a man on the moon: a 'computer' called Katherine Johnson.\n\nFinally, we learn that the Apollo 10 crew faced the horror of someone’s poo floating around in the cockpit, and the episode ends with a swinging tune from JFK and Khrushchev about 'flying to the moon'.
Source: CBBC
Most recent episodes of Horrible Histories
Horrible Histories
Series 8: 14. Fantastic Firsts Special
A special show featuring some of history’s greatest firsts, including the first ever library, Olympic Games, people on the moon and rat roller-skating on TV!
01-05-2025
CBBC
Horrible Histories
Series 7: 12. Deadly Dynasties
A look at the deadliest dynasties and how they came to, and then held on to, power. Witness Aggrippina's deadly recipes for success and Napoleon's needy sister, how the Lancastr ...
01-05-2025
CBBC
Horrible Histories
Series 8: 7. Moon Mayhem
Comedian and space nerd Dara O Briain joins Rattus as guest host for a special show that marks the anniversary of the 1969 moon landings.\n\nFor generations, we have looked to t ...
30-04-2025
CBBC
Horrible Histories
Series 7: 11. Formidable Florence Nightingale
Horrible Histories pays tribute to Formidable Florence Nightingale, The Lady with the Lamp (just don't let Florence hear you calling her that!) The programme charts how Florence ...
30-04-2025
CBBC
Horrible Histories
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 t ...
29-04-2025
CBBC
Horrible Histories
Series 8: 5. Fearsome Families
Families - sometimes you love them, sometimes you bicker with them, and sometimes you marry them off to consolidate your power in Europe. Welcome to a look at some of history&rs ...
28-04-2025
CBBC
Horrible Histories
Series 8: 3. Chaotic Collabs
History is filled with tales of great minds coming together, and collaborating, to achieve incredible things. It’s also full of idiots working together to create an unholy ...
27-04-2025
CBBC
Most popular episodes of Horrible Histories
Horrible Histories
Series 5: Episode 1
The Saxon gods form an unlikely team of superheroes, famous astronaut Neil Armstrong reveals his new weight-loss programme, we meet Georgian London's crime-fighting genius and R ...
05-04-2025
CBBC
Horrible Histories
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 t ...
29-04-2025
CBBC
Horrible Histories
Animated Specials: 1. Gruesome Guide To Growing Up
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 ...
25-04-2025
CBBC
Horrible Histories
Series 5 - Frightful First World War
Bob Hale and Rattus Rattus guide viewers through the horrible history of 1914-18. Featuring the soldiers, civilians, suffragettes and even kings who were caught up in the fighting.
25-04-2025
CBBC
Horrible Histories
Series 7: 11. Formidable Florence Nightingale
Horrible Histories pays tribute to Formidable Florence Nightingale, The Lady with the Lamp (just don't let Florence hear you calling her that!) The programme charts how Florence ...
30-04-2025
CBBC
Horrible Histories
Series 10: 2. Nhs 75th Birthday Special
How did the NHS come into being? When was the first kidney transplant? Is half a chicken actually a cure for anything? Find out as comedian and former psychiatric nurse Jo Brand ...
18-03-2025
CBBC