Horrible Histories with Stephen Fry
It’s history, but not as you know it! British comedian and national treasure Stephen Fry presents the best sketches from hit children’s show Horrible Histories, created by the team that brought you Ghosts. As well as unexpected and hilarious deep dives into history’s most notable figures, including Shakespeare, Joan of Arc and Caesar, Stephen provides his own fascinating knowledge nuggets.
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Horrible Histories with Stephen Fry on BBC Select
Episode 1: King Charles Raps
Get ready for a rap from Charles II and some questioning moments from Shakespeare.
Comedian and legend Stephen Fry presents more irreverent historical hilarity from the hit children’s show. In this edition, King Charles II raps about his party lifestyle, while Helen of Troy reveals her complicated love life. William Shakespeare appears on television quiz show Mastermind, Queen Elizabeth gets very picky about her portrait and a Viking rock band paint the town red… literally.
Episode 2: Victorian Inventions
Victorian inventions are celebrated while some historical wife-swapping takes place.
Comedian, author and British legend Stephen Fry presents more choice moments from the hit children’s show that takes a unique look at history. This time, a rich Georgian swaps lives with a peasant in Historical Wife Swap. Toilet paper, tarmac, and typewriters are just a few of the celebrated marvelous Victorian inventions. There’s a daring World War II escape while the Vikings get confused.
Episode 3: Spartan High School Musical
Joan of Arc experiences an unexpected visit and the Spartan High School Musical opens.
Comedy legend Stephen Fry is back to present the best of the hilarious historical children’s sketch show. In this episode, there is good news for King George IV while a Second World War evacuee encounters the horrors of the British countryside. Joan of Arc gets an unexpected angelical visit, and there is a trip to Ancient Greece to witness the Spartan High School Musical.
Episode 4: Historical Wife Swap
There’s a feast of fun at a Roman dinner and the First World War is explained (sort of).
British comedy legend Stephen Fry presents even more of the best moments from the history- skewering children’s sketch show. This time, a prank-loving Emperor Elagabalus hosts a Roman dinner party with a difference. Some British officers try (and fail) to get to grips with the rather complicated causes of the First World War and some Roundheads and Cavaliers take part in a Historical Wife Swap.
Episode 5: Seasick Nelson
British Naval legend Admiral Nelson gets seasick while first aid adds insult to injury.
Jeeves and Wooster and QI star Stephen Fry hosts another batch of brilliant sketches from the wrong side of history. In this episode, some soldiers injure themselves while trying to learn first aid, while elsewhere the women of World War II sing about Girl Power on the Home Front. Meanwhile, Britain’s greatest sailor, Admiral Nelson, turns out to suffer horribly from seasickness.
Episode 6: Who Killed Caesar?
The murder of Julius Caesar is investigated by a TV crime show and some codes get broken.
Comedic genius Stephen Fry presents more historical madness from the acclaimed children’s sketch show. This edition sees some TV detectives trying to solve the murder of Roman giant Julius Caesar, while a gang of hapless World War II codebreakers forget their own code. Elsewhere, King George III’s manic depression is helped and managed by his Georgian doctors… in no way whatsoever.
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