Frightful First World War Special | |
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Season 5, Episode 15 | |
Air date | 4 August, 2014 |
Written by | Dave Cohen, Gerard Foster, Caroline Norris, Giles Pilbrow, Steve Punt, Laurence Rickard, & Ben Ward |
Episode guide | |
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The Frightful First World War Special is a special episode of Horrible Histories devoted to the events of the First World War. It is based off Terry Deary's book, Frightful First World War, & includes many different WWI sketches such as the Shouty Man's World War One Wee Wee & Historical Masterchef.
In this First World War special, the award-winning comedy sketch team, Bob Hale & Rattus Rattus, guide us through the horrible history of 1914-18.
This is the 70th episode overall.
Sketches[]

1914[]
The Cause of WWI (from Series 1, Episode 8)[]
Showcasing the causes of the war, as simply as possible–that is, not very.
First Day in the Trenches (from Series 3, Episode 3)[]
A naïve young recruit to the trenches tries to learn the ropes.
WWI Government Information Film[]
The dos & don’ts of keeping the war effort going strong at home, including a ban on feeding ducks (educational film parody).
German Name-Replacing Pitch[]
A pitch is given to show all the English-sounding alternatives to well-known words introduced during the first world war.
Now That’s What We Call Trench Music[]
A selection of songs from WWI.
HHTV Sport[]
1914 Christmas Day Football Truce (from the Christmas Special)[]
Opposing sides play a friendly game of football during the Christmas truce of 1914.
1915[]
Flying Aces (Computer Game)[]
Shouty Man[]
WWI Wee-Wee (from Series 3, Episode 3)[]
WWI Wee-Wee, the multi-purpose liquid revolution.
1916[]
Battle of the Somme campaign (from Series 3, Episode 1)[]
Summing up the less-than-encouraging results of the Somme campaign.
Historical Masterchef[]
WWI (from Series 3, Episode 10)[]
Wartime improvisation is the order of the day.
1917[]
WWI general inspects the troops (from Series 3, Episode 9)[]
A general arrives to inspect the troops & discovers just how hard up both sides are for new recruits.
True or False[]
George V, Kaiser Wilhelm & Tsar Nicholas, the leaders of Britain, Germany & Russia during World War One, were all cousins.
They were all related through Queen Victoria & until war broke out they were great pals.
Song (Official)[]
- Main article: World War One Cousins
King George V, Kaiser Wilhelm II, & Tsar Nicholas II sing of the war’s impact on their family ties (incorporates parody of the Charleston).
1918[]
The Red Baron[]
The Red Baron’s demands for a new war trophy are hampered by a shortage of silver.
Big Bother[]
Trapped in occupied France, Patrick Fowler must find creative ways to hide from his German housemates in “Big Bother” (parody of Big Brother).
Finishing at 11:00[]
Scenes from the poignantly pointless chaos in the trenches, in the few minutes between learning of the November 11th truce & its actual implementation.
Song[]
- Main article: The Suffragettes' Song
The Suffragettes sing about their struggles & extreme measures they go through to get women the right to vote.
Cast[]
1914 | 1915 | 1916 | 1917 | 1918 | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Cause of WWI | First Day in the Trenches | WWI Government Information Film | HHTV Sport | Flying Aces | Shouty Man | Battle of the Somme campaign | Historical Masterchef | WWI general inspects the troops | Song | The Red Baron | Finishing at 11:00 | Song | |
Mathew Baynton | x | x | x | ||||||||||
Simon Farnaby | x | x | x | x | x | ||||||||
Sarah Hadland | |||||||||||||
Martha Howe-Douglas | x | x | x | ||||||||||
Jim Howick | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | |||||
Laurence Rickard | x | x | x | x | x | ||||||||
Ben Willbond | x | x | x | x | |||||||||
Susie Donkin | |||||||||||||
Katherine Jakeways | |||||||||||||
Lawry Lewin | |||||||||||||
Alice Lowe | x | ||||||||||||
Dominique Moore | |||||||||||||
Steve Punt | |||||||||||||
Jessica Ransom | |||||||||||||
Giles Terera | |||||||||||||
Terry Deary | |||||||||||||
Mark Gatiss | |||||||||||||
Al Murray | |||||||||||||
Steve Pemberton | |||||||||||||
Reece Shearsmith | |||||||||||||
Rattus Rattus (voiced by John Eccleston) | |||||||||||||
Jon Culshaw | |||||||||||||
Jess Robinson | |||||||||||||
Dave Lamb |
Notes[]
- It is played on ABC ME in Australia annually on 25th April to commemorate Anzac Day.
Videos[]
External Links[]
- Series 5, Episode 15 at Horrible Histories T