Horrible Histories 

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Horrible Histories

Children's: Entertainment & Comedy

Children's: Factual

Factual: History

Historical sketch show, based on the successful books by Terry Deary.

Moon Mayhem

New: Horrible Histories

No Master Brand

CBBC Channel

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Jon Culshaw

Jessica Ransom

Mike Wozniak

John Eccleston

Matt Lamont

Lisa Mitchell

Steve Connelly

Richard Bradley

Melissa Hardinge

Simon Welton

Horrible Histories: Series 8: Moon Mayhem

Horrible Histories - CBBC - BBC

Comedian Dara O Briain is Rattus' guest host for a show marking the 1969 moon landings.

Dara O Briain joins Rattus for a show marking the 1969 moon landings. The first use of rocket power, the Space Race, and poo floating in the Apollo 10 cockpit - it’s all here!

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.

For 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?!

Copernicus, 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.

We 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.

The 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.

We 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.

Finally, 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'.

Horrible Histories: Series 8

Series 8

CBBC

The BBC's multiplatform offering bringing the very best programmes to 6-12 year olds.

CBBC is the BBC's multiplatform offering for 6-12 year olds bringing the very best drama, entertainment and factual programmes to its young viewers.

Historical sketch show based on the successful series of books.

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