Catch up TV

This episode is currently not available.

Series 8: 9. Heroic Home Front



Marking the eightieth anniversary of the outbreak of World War II, Horrible Histories looks at how the war affected those left back home in the UK, on the home front. \n\nWe start with the initial panic following the declaration of war and the measures taken at home to prepare for an imminent Nazi invasion, which didn't actually turn out to be that imminent at all. However, the Nazis are busy planning their invasion - Operation Sea Lion is being carefully orchestrated to avoid damaging places in the UK that they have previously been to on holiday. \n\nWe see how the blackout during the Blitz affected everyday life, and also how King George and Queen Elizabeth refused to leave Buckingham Palace while London was being bombed, despite being advised to head to Canada by their staff. We meet the 'ATA Girls' - the heroic women of the Air Transport Auxiliary led by Pauline Gower. It was their (horrendously dangerous) job to fly broken planes around the country, so that they could be fixed and put back into battle. The planes had no manuals, were often very badly damaged and had nothing in the way of guns mounted on them, so this was a hugely brave undertaking. \n\nWe see how things on the home front change when the American GIs arrive, bringing with them items like chocolate and nylon tights, which had not been seen on these shores for some time! German spies were also a real concern for those on the home front, but we tell one real tale of a set of spies who were caught after they washed up in Scotland in possession of radios, guns and, most tellingly, German sausages. \n\nFinally, we chart the path to allied victory, including Churchill holding conversations with American president Roosevelt in his secret loo, and a barnstorming song as the nation celebrates VE Day.

Source: CBBC

Most recent episodes of Horrible Histories

Horrible Histories

Horrible Histories - Series 5 - Song Special

Series 5 - Song Special

Historical sketch show. Some of history's greatest characters serenade us with tales of their lives. Featuring the all-conquering Alexander the Great.

03-04-2025

CBBC

All episodes

CBBC

Horrible Histories

Horrible Histories - Series 7: 2. Exceptional Explorers

Series 7: 2. Exceptional Explorers

03-04-2025

CBBC

All episodes

CBBC

Horrible Histories

Horrible Histories - Series 8: 1. Monstrous Musicians

Series 8: 1. Monstrous Musicians

02-04-2025

CBBC

All episodes

CBBC

Horrible Histories

Horrible Histories - Series 10: 11. Terrifying Tower Of London

Series 10: 11. Terrifying Tower Of London

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, one of Eng ...

01-04-2025

CBBC

All episodes

CBBC

Horrible Histories

Horrible Histories - Series 8: 11. Outrageous Olympics

Series 8: 11. Outrageous Olympics

Alex Scott joins Rattus for a sport-themed special. Mary Queen of Scots goes grief-golfing, the H2 Freestylers take on a whole village, and sports-mad Henry VIII sings Get Sweaty.

31-03-2025

CBBC

All episodes

CBBC

Horrible Histories

Horrible Histories - Series 7: 11. Formidable Florence Nightingale

Series 7: 11. Formidable Florence Nightingale

Horrible Histories pays tribute to Formidable Florence Nightingale, The Lady with the Lamp (just don't let Florence hear you calling her that!) The programme charts how Florence ...

30-03-2025

CBBC

All episodes

CBBC

Horrible Histories

Horrible Histories - Specials: 2. Staggering Storytellers

Specials: 2. Staggering Storytellers

30-03-2025

CBBC

All episodes

CBBC

Horrible Histories

Horrible Histories - Series 11: 7. Monstrous Mothers

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.

28-03-2025

CBBC

All episodes

CBBC

Horrible Histories

Horrible Histories - Series 5: Episode 12

Series 5: Episode 12

Featuring a female dinosaur expert who sells seashells down on the seashore, Brian the handsome scientist reveals the weird wonders of the Greek Universe, TV's fastest-talking p ...

28-03-2025

CBBC

All episodes

CBBC

Horrible Histories

Horrible Histories - Series 11: 11. Bewitching Books

Series 11: 11. Bewitching Books

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!

28-03-2025

CBBC

All episodes

CBBC

Most popular episodes of Horrible Histories

Horrible Histories

Horrible Histories - Series 11: 6. Enormous Empires

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.

15-03-2025

CBBC

All episodes

CBBC

Horrible Histories

Horrible Histories - Series 5 - Song Special

Series 5 - Song Special

Historical sketch show. Some of history's greatest characters serenade us with tales of their lives. Featuring the all-conquering Alexander the Great.

03-04-2025

CBBC

All episodes

CBBC

Horrible Histories

Horrible Histories - Series 11: 5. Twisted Technology

Series 11: 5. Twisted Technology

The watch! The mobile phone! The microwave! The vibrating poo platform! Thomas Edison stage diving! It’s all here as Horrible Histories takes a journey through the history ...

08-03-2025

CBBC

All episodes

CBBC

Horrible Histories

Horrible Histories - Series 5 - Episode 10

Series 5 - Episode 10

Historical sketch show. There is a right royal squabble over who should rule medieval England.

21-03-2025

CBBC

All episodes

CBBC

Horrible Histories

Horrible Histories - Series 11: 7. Monstrous Mothers

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.

28-03-2025

CBBC

All episodes

CBBC

Horrible Histories

Horrible Histories - Series 8: 4. Mind Your Manners

Series 8: 4. Mind Your Manners

Rattus is panicking, as the Rat Queen is visiting the sewer and he has no idea how to behave nicely around royalty! Not only that, if he can somehow appear attractive to the Que ...

28-01-2025

CBBC

All episodes

CBBC

Horrible Histories

Horrible Histories - Series 10: 2. Nhs 75th Birthday Special

Series 10: 2. Nhs 75th Birthday Special

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 ...

18-03-2025

CBBC

All episodes

CBBC

Horrible Histories

Horrible Histories - Series 10: 1. Daft Dads

Series 10: 1. Daft Dads

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 ...

17-03-2025

CBBC

All episodes

CBBC

Horrible Histories

Horrible Histories - Series 3 - Episode 3

Series 3 - Episode 3

Historical sketch show. A confused World War I soldier spends his first day in the trenches and the Welsh women of Fishguard defeat a French invasion without even trying.

22-11-2023

CBBC

All episodes

CBBC

Horrible Histories

Horrible Histories - Series 8: 1. Queen Vic's Home Vids

Series 8: 1. Queen Vic's Home Vids

Did you know that the Victorians invented films? Not only that, but one of the first stars of the moving image was Queen Victoria! Using real footage recently restored by the BF ...

23-01-2025

CBBC

All episodes

CBBC

© 2025 - Catchupplayer.co.uk