Bloody Britain

Bloody Britain is a British history documentary, presented by TV comedian Rory McGrath and produced by Sophie Theunissen for the Discovery Channel. The series looks into Britain's more gruesome past, such as public executions and bloody battles. The show uses computer animation to create a more realistic and in depth program.

Episodes

Cast

The Battle of Trafalgar

1. The Battle of Trafalgar

1st Jan 2004

Rory McGrath looks back at one of Britain's most famous military victories, the gory and glorious Battle of Trafalgar.

Bloody Mary

2. Bloody Mary

8th Jan 2004

Rory McGrath explores Mary Tudor's murderous reign, learning about various Tudor techniques for torture, and finds out how to burn a heretic.

The Bodysnatchers

3. The Bodysnatchers

15th Jan 2004

Rory McGrath investigates body snatching in 19th century London, travelling to graveyards and learning how to get a body out of a coffin.

The Siege of Rochester

4. The Siege of Rochester

22nd Jan 2004

Rory McGrath finds out how King John was able to burn down Rochester Castle in 1215 using the fat of forty pigs and learns how to fire a crossbow.

The Witchfinder General

5. The Witchfinder General

29th Jan 2004

Rory McGrath finds out about the savage witch-hunts of the 1640s, learning how to test for a witch and how to protect himself from witchcraft.

The Monmouth Rebellion

6. The Monmouth Rebellion

5th Feb 2004

Investigating the rebellion of 1685, Rory McGrath travels to Dorset, learns how to fire a musket and takes on a horse in a running race.

Jack the Ripper

7. Jack the Ripper

12th Feb 2004

Rory McGrath investigates the killings of Jack the Ripper, tracking a villain with a bloodhound to find out whether this method could have caught him.

The Vikings

8. The Vikings

19th Feb 2004

Rory McGrath travels to Northumberland to learn the story of a Viking raider nicknamed 'Hairy Trousers' and finds out how to fight Viking-style.

The Welsh Rebellions

9. The Welsh Rebellions

26th Feb 2004

Rory McGrath learns about an attempt to seize Wales from the English in the 1400s, trying out for himself the weapons and techniques used.

The Peasants' Revolt

10. The Peasants' Revolt

4th Mar 2004

Rory McGrath finds out why the peasants stormed London in 1381, learning how they would have fought knights and how many people were beheaded.

First air date

1st Jan 2004

Last air date

4th Mar 2004

Status

Ended

Type

Scripted

Original language

en

Networks