Horrible Histories

In honour of Father's Day, Horrible Histories takes a look at some of history's daftest dads, featuring Henry VIII, Charles Dickens, William the Conqueror and Joseph Stalin! 

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 joins Rattus to host a special episode in honour of the NHS's 75th birthday. They discover how the NHS came to be, some of its weirder moments, and what life was like before we had the NHS to look after us. Did you know that before the NHS, getting medical help could be both difficult and expensive? We take a look at the role of the almoner, who decided who would have to pay for their treatment, and how much, before Nye Bevan comes along with his notion of free health care for all. 

We learn the story of the first NHS baby (and how she was encouraged to wait a few minutes before actually coming into the world), of how nurses were recruited in large numbers and how, with ventures such as the Common Cold Unit, the NHS tried to learn about how our health could be improved using some weird and wonderful methods. 

In 24 Hours in Historical A&E, we venture into a hospital where medics from across the ages are on call to treat the sick. Some of them are geniuses who were ahead of their time, such as tenth-century surgeon al-Zahrawi. There is also an 18th-century Italian surgeon who thinks the answer to all ills lies in blowing smoke up your bum with some bellows, a Tudor doctor armed with two halves of a chicken, and William Shakespeare, and a guy who thinks aggressively licking your palm is the key to diagnosing what ails you. 

Elsewhere, we stop off for an icky look at treating the plague, before moving to more recent times and the push to vaccinate people against diseases like TB. Finally, we say thanks to our NHS with Nye Bevan and a classic Horrible Histories banger of a tune.  

In honour of the Women's World Cup, legendary Lioness Jill Scott is joined by Rattus for a journey through the history of the beautiful game. 

Although football as we know it is a relatively recent invention, it's been around in some form or other for much longer than you think. Ball games have been played for centuries, and that's why the manager of struggling Ratchester Utd is scouring history to find players who can help him avoid relegation in Historical All or Nothing. 

Elsewhere, a Roman legion is struggling to survive the ancient game of harpastum, a ball game that was meant to encourage team spirit, but seemingly actually encouraged death and dismemberment! 

Women's football is flourishing around the world right now, but did you know that the FA once banned it for more than 70 years? We meet some of the women's game's early pioneers, and also their pet jaguars! In Match of That Day, we witness some of the most bizarre things ever to happen on a football pitch, and we also witness a game in which everyone's toughest opponent was the weather! 

We take a look at how the game as we know it came to be, including the FA trying to get everyone to play by one unified set of rules rather than their own ridiculous local ones, the origins of some famous football club nicknames, how red and yellow cards came to be a thing, and even how you were actually allowed to just kick people in the shins as part of the game! 

Finally, if you have long dreamed of seeing what Jill Scott and a rat look like while singing an incredibly catchy football song together, this is the show for you.

Horrible Histories presents the sometimes-ludicrous story of Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot.  

From how Henry VIII had the most comfortable poo possible, to finding out which bit of his house Charles Dickens called The Demon - take a tour of horrible homes through history. 

From warring brothers to farting mothers, Horrible Histories presents some of the biggest, best and worst rivalries throughout time.

Legendary artists Da Vinci and Michelangelo are the guides for a journey through one of history's most creative, and sometimes weirdest, periods. 

From the Trojan Horse, to Jason and his Argonauts going to find the Golden Fleece, and Zeus going on historical first dates as an ant, Horrible Histories presents mythical mayhem, Greek style! 

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! 

Comedian and children's author Rosie Jones is here to help Rattus choose his World Book Day outfit, and discover the gory details behind some favourite children's books! 

Famous inmates, botched escapes and thefts, and Henry VIII's favourite executions - they're all here in a terrifying history of the Tower of London.

Everything from roads to baths to pies, hosts Emperor Nero and warrior queen Boudicca are here to show what the Romans did while they were here in Britain.