Horrible Histories

Horrible Histories reveals history's most monstrous musicians. From the earliest screeches of the neanderthal, right through to Jimi Hendrix burning his guitar, Rattus Rattus guides us through the story of music making, even bumping into Simon Cowell at Beethoven's 'H Factor' audition. Starring Ryan Sampson and Gemma Whelan.

Horrible Histories goes pear-shaped in an explorers special, meeting Christopher Columbus as he tries to teach a class that the world is indeed, shaped like a pear. On the strict instructions of Emperor Nero, some hapless Roman centurions are quite literally stuck in the mud, searching for the source of the Nile. And intrepid Arctic explorer Peter Freuchen has to dig his way out of the snow with a frozen poo. From the Vikings' first small steps on American soil, to humankind's first giant leaps on the moon, join Horrible Histories on this epic adventure.

This week Horrible Histories charts the path towards true love - and some of history's biggest and most ridiculous romantics are in the spotlight.

With his woeful record for choosing the right woman, Henry VIII enlists the help of Maître d' Fred Sirieix as he tries to find the right wife on Historic First Dates. Elsewhere, we sample some Medieval Munich Love Magic, see how Renaissance men tried to impress the ladies, listen to some of History's greatest love letters, and watch as King Alfonso of Spain's wedding takes a turn he's not expecting.

A look at some of history's greatest artists, from the first images painted onto the walls of caves through to Chris Ofili's work with elephant poo. We discover the most stolen painting in history, how Picasso and Dali found innovative ways of paying for things without using money, the horror of painting people smiling, and see the Teenage Mutant Ninja Renaissance Artists help a lady in distress.

This week Horrible Histories takes a look at the world's greatest Heroes and Villains: on the Heroic side, we've everything from Douglas Bader's frequent escapes to the first men on the moon and Martin Luther King Jr, whereas our more Villainous side contains Al Capone, Rameses the Great, and Steve Biceps brings us History's Deadly 60.

In this week's episode mankind's most Ingenious Inventors are given the Horrible Histories treatment, as we take in everything from the invention of the wheel to the crisp, featuring the Gutenberg press, the man who invented both the dictionary (very successfully) and manned flight (less successfully), and the Greeks vs the Chinese battling as to which of them are History's best inventors.

Horrible Histories takes a look at America and its various presidents, from George Washington to the present day, including President Jackson's rude parrot, the establishment of the Secret Service, German cowboys, and spy Mary Elizabeth Bowser. 

A look at the most ruthless rulers of all time. Henry VIII is so demanding he has a brick wall built at his bedroom door every night, those vicious Vikings find that sorry seems to be the hardest word, hold your nose in Versailles, because Louis XIV hasn't got any loos, and rock out with the Warlords from Hell.

On its 100th anniversary, Horrible Histories takes a look at the Russian Revolution. Tsar Nicholas II gives tips for survival in Russia's extreme climate, and we reveal that Lenin's European Communism lecture tour took in a trip to London Zoo. Lenin also provides beauty advice on how to look good even after death! Meanwhile, Dave TDS finds out just how hard it is to invade Russia, and we listen to Uncle Joe Stalin's Nursery Rhymes and find out that, at one point, he also decided that the key to world domination might, in fact, lie in poo.

A look at the hideous history of health, from the invention of toilet paper to the healthy origins of the cornflake. Along the way we discover that the Mayans believe that drinking wee could cure all ills, that the Tudors had to teach themselves how to swim again (everyone had forgotten), Victorians had a taste in beauty products that was literally shocking, and we take an in-depth look at Louis XIV's bottom problems.

A tribute to Florence Nightingale, The Lady with the Lamp 'just don't let Florence hear you calling her that!' The programme charts how Florence revolutionised medicine and the treatment of the sick during the Crimean War, but also how she also unwittingly sparked the public's desire for trinkets and tat featuring her image. Elsewhere, there's the bizarre practice of Victorian War Tourism (tea, cake and carnage), a look at some Embarrassing Victorian Bodies, and a visit to Mary Seacole's British Hotel.

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 Lancastrians and the Yorkists came together for Love Day, how to stage a Russian coup, and how our royal family, the Windsors, came to change their family name to something a little 'less German'.

Horrible Histories presents a collection of some of history's finest songs, as Rattus attempts to put together his own festival (the delightfully named Glastonsmelly). From singing poos to tuneful Warlords, there's something for all musical tastes and Rattus has somehow also roped Brad from The Vamps in to help him out, although rather than playing live on the main stage, Brad's role seems to be more about unblocking the toilets just behind it.

Horrible Histories presents our guide to ancient civilizations, featuring new sketches about Alexander the Great's first kiss, Emperor Nero's greatest hits, and how double parking in ancient times could result in being impaled, rather than fined. Also, Swill Gumbitz takes a look at Greek statues, the musical instrument that could make you poo yourself, and the evolution of bottom-wiping.

Featuring everything you need to know about history's most famous family. Including a never-before-seen sketch with the murderous Medicis, hilarious outtakes, and a special one-off written by a CBBC competition winner.