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
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.
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CBBC
Series 11: 7. Monstrous Mothers
From terrifying Spartan mums to hidden Victorian mums, via Queen Victoria and Cleopatra, Horrible Histories looks at some of history’s most monstrous mothers.
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CBBC
Series 9: 11. Monstrous Myths
Count Rattula guides us through some of history’s greatest myths and monsters, including Henry VIII’s Robin Hood obsession and ancient ghostbusters.
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CBBC
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.
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CBBC
Series 9: 9. Diabolical Daily Life
Daily life can be a bit of a grind, but not as much as it was in the past! Rattus takes us round the clock, revealing daily routines throughout history, from waking in Ancient E ...
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CBBC
Series 11: 8. Rat-o-vision Song Contest
If you watch one Song Contest this year, then make sure it’s the Eurovision Song Contest! But if you watch two, then look no further than this Rat-o-vision special, as Rat ...
17-05-2025
CBBC
Series 3 - Episode 9
Historical sketch show. The Vikings launch an advert, Queen Elizabeth I surprises her court with some very odd laws and the Aztec priests sing their gruesome disco song.
30-11-2023
CBBC
Series 3 - Episode 4
Historical sketch show. A modern detective tries to solve a series of murders in Emperor Caligula's house, King George IV meets his dead relatives and other historical high jinks.
23-11-2023
CBBC
Series 11: 7. Monstrous Mothers
From terrifying Spartan mums to hidden Victorian mums, via Queen Victoria and Cleopatra, Horrible Histories looks at some of history’s most monstrous mothers.
04-07-2025
CBBC
Series 9: 11. Monstrous Myths
Count Rattula guides us through some of history’s greatest myths and monsters, including Henry VIII’s Robin Hood obsession and ancient ghostbusters.
03-07-2025
CBBC
Series 9: 7. Foul Feasting
Horrible Histories serves up the history of foul feasting, from Stone Age lentils to Queen Victoria’s anti-fart bread.
27-06-2025
CBBC