Catch up TV
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 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. \n\nWe 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.\n\nIn 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.\n\nElsewhere, 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.
Source: CBBC
Most recent episodes of Horrible Histories
Horrible Histories
Series 9: 4. Precious Planet
Charles Darwin presents a special show, as Horrible Histories takes a timely look at our planet and how we’ve behaved towards it throughout history.\n\nWe look at how we&r ...
22-04-2025
CBBC
Horrible Histories
Series 8: 2. Fashion Faux Pas
From the ancient Egyptians pioneering smelling good (a heady mix of fat and perfume plonked on your head, so that it would gradually melt throughout the day and make you smell a ...
20-04-2025
CBBC
Horrible Histories
Series 9: 11. Monstrous Myths
Count Rattula guides us through some of history’s greatest myths and monsters, including Henry VIII’s Robin Hood obsession and ancient ghostbusters.
20-04-2025
CBBC
Horrible Histories
Series 7: 15. Terrible Tudor Special
Chop, chop, it's the Horrible Histories' Terrible Tudors Special, with everything you need to know about history's most famous family. Featuring a never-before-seen sketch with ...
13-04-2025
CBBC
Most popular episodes of Horrible Histories
Horrible Histories
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
Horrible Histories
Series 5: Episode 1
The Saxon gods form an unlikely team of superheroes, famous astronaut Neil Armstrong reveals his new weight-loss programme, we meet Georgian London's crime-fighting genius and R ...
05-04-2025
CBBC
Horrible Histories
Series 5 - Frightful First World War
Bob Hale and Rattus Rattus guide viewers through the horrible history of 1914-18. Featuring the soldiers, civilians, suffragettes and even kings who were caught up in the fighting.
12-11-2023
CBBC
Horrible Histories
Series 10: 5. Hideous Homes
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.
21-03-2025
CBBC
Horrible Histories
Animated Specials: 1. Gruesome Guide To Growing Up
Life wasn’t always fun for children in the past. Horrible Histories delves into the not-so-easy lives of children throughout history, from the strict parenting of ancient ...
31-05-2024
CBBC
Horrible Histories
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
Horrible Histories
Series 10: 8. Gory Greek Myths
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 mayhe ...
26-03-2025
CBBC