Greg Jenner is joined in ancient North Africa by classicist Professor Josephine Quinn and comedian Darren Harriott to learn about Hannibal of Carthage and his war with Rome.

Located in modern-day Tunisia, Carthage was once a Mediterranean superpower that rivalled Rome. In 218 BCE, the Second Punic War began between the two powers, with the Carthaginian army led by a man named Hannibal Barca. Famously, Hannibal took his forces – including a contingent of war elephants – over the Alps and into Italy, finally marching on Rome itself. But eventually the Carthaginians were beaten back, and Hannibal ended his days in exile. In this episode we explore his epic life, from his childhood in Spain, to his tactical brilliance as a general, to his post-war career as a reformist politician.

This is a radio edit of the original podcast episode. For the full-length version, please look further back in the feed.

Hosted by: Greg Jenner

Greg Jenner is joined in Egypt by historian Professor Islam Issa and comedian Athena Kugblenu to learn all about the history of science and philosophy in the city of Alexandria.

Founded by ancient conqueror Alexander the Great, Alexandria from its earliest days was a city at the forefront of scientific discoveries, philosophical enquiry and religious debate. At its height, the city’s famous library housed nearly one million texts, and attracted thinkers like Hypatia of Alexandria, Euclid and Heron (who invented the steam engine). This episode tells the story of this incredible site of knowledge and culture, taking in its epic founding, the rise of Christianity and its impact on the city, its fate during the Crusades, the coming of Napoleon, and its role in the rise of the Arab nationalism movement.

This is a radio edit of the original podcast episode. For the full-length version, please look further back in the feed.

Hosted by: Greg Jenner

Dead Funny History: The Brontës.

Join historian Greg Jenner for a fast-paced, funny and fascinating journey through the lives of the Brontë sisters, Charlotte, Emily and Anne, three literary legends whose tragic family story inspired some of the greatest novels of the 19th century.

This episode of Dead Funny History is packed with jokes, sketches and sound effects that bring the past to life for families and Key Stage 2 learners. From their Yorkshire parsonage to their tiny books written in doll-sized handwriting, the Brontës were bursting with creativity. But their lives were also filled with heartbreak, illness and rejection.

Discover how the sisters used gender-neutral pen names to get published, how their brother Branwell tried (and mostly failed) to join in, and how their novels, Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights and Agnes Grey, were shaped by their real-life experiences as governesses, teachers and grieving siblings.

Expect parodies, sketch comedy, and a quiz to test what you’ve learned. There’s a mournful bell for every tragic twist and a goat who’s surprisingly good at literary criticism. It’s history with heart, humour and high production value. Perfect for curious kids, families, and fans of You’re Dead To Me.

Written by Jack Bernhardt, Gabby Hutchinson Crouch and Dr Emma Nagouse

A BBC Studios Production

Dead Funny History: Justinian and Theodora.

Join historian Greg Jenner for a fast-paced, funny and fascinating journey through the lives of Justinian and Theodora; the ultimate Byzantine power couple who ruled an empire, survived riots, and reformed the law.

This episode of Dead Funny History is packed with jokes, sketches and sound effects that bring the past to life for families and Key Stage 2 learners. From humble beginnings, he was the nephew of a pig farmer, she may have been the daughter of a bear trainer, Justinian and Theodora rose to become co-rulers of the Byzantine Empire, based in Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul).

Their love story began at the chariot races and led to a marriage that defied the law, until Justinian got it changed. Together, they faced the terrifying Nika Riots, when rival teams joined forces to burn the city. Justinian wanted to flee, but Theodora’s legendary speech convinced him to stay and rebuild.

Expect parodies, sketch comedy, and a quiz to test what you’ve learned. Discover how they reformed Byzantine law, improved rights for women, and built the stunning Hagia Sophia. There’s also a Thrash Metal battle with the Vandals and Ostrogoths, a ghostly uncle, and a goose-honking nod to Theodora’s early career.

It’s history with heart, humour and high production value. Perfect for curious kids, families, and fans of You’re Dead To Me.

Written by Jack Bernhardt, Gabby Hutchinson Crouch and Dr Emma Nagouse

A BBC Studios Production

Dead Funny History: Emma of Normandy.

Join historian Greg Jenner for a fast-paced, funny and fascinating journey through the life of Emma of Normandy - twice Queen of England, mother of kings, and the medieval Kris Jenner of royal politics.

This episode of Dead Funny History is packed with jokes, sketches and sound effects that bring the past to life for families and Key Stage 2 learners. Emma’s story is full of twists, betrayals and Viking invasions. Born in Normandy around 985 CE, she married King Aethelred the Unready at just 17, became queen, and had three children including future king Edward the Confessor.

But when the Vikings invaded, Emma fled to France, only to return and marry the new Viking king, Cnut. That made her queen again, while Cnut was still married to someone else. Cue royal drama, competitive parenting, and a lot of people named Ælfgifu.

Emma’s life was a whirlwind of political alliances, family feuds and strategic marriages. She was exiled, had her treasures stolen, and saw her children fight for the throne. She even spread rumours to undermine her stepson Harold Harefoot, and helped her favourite son Harthacnut become king - only for him to dig up his half-brother’s body and throw it in a swamp.

Expect parodies, sketch comedy, and a quiz to test what you’ve learned. It’s history with heart, humour and high production value. Perfect for curious kids, families, and fans of You’re Dead To Me.

Written by Gabby Hutchinson Crouch, Athena Kugblenu and Dr Emma Nagouse

A BBC Studios Production

Dead Funny History: King John and the Magna Carta.

King John was one of England’s least popular monarchs. In this episode of Dead Funny History, historian Greg Jenner explores how his chaotic reign led to one of the most important legal documents in history: Magna Carta.

John wasn’t supposed to be king. As the youngest of eight children, he was nicknamed “John Lackland” and spent much of his early life overshadowed by his older brother, Richard the Lionheart. When Richard left for the Crusades, John couldn’t resist meddling – plotting to take the throne, stealing royal treasures, and even teaming up with the King of France.

Greg takes us through John’s many missteps: losing French territories, getting excommunicated by the Pope, and sparking a rebellion led not by peasants, but by angry barons. These posh rebels didn’t storm castles – they wrote a list. That list became Magna Carta, a charter that limited royal power and laid the foundations for modern democracy.

With jokes, sound effects, and a quiz to test your memory, this episode brings medieval history to life for families and fans of You're Dead To Me. You’ll learn why John’s crown jewels ended up at the bottom of The Wash, how Magna Carta gave rights to widows and fish, and why even the Pope got involved in the drama.

Greg also explains how Magna Carta’s legacy lives on, despite John’s attempts to cancel it just weeks after signing. It’s a story of tantrums, treaties, and timeless principles, all told with humour and heart.

Writers: Gabby Hutchinson Crouch, Athena Kugblenu and Dr Emma Nagouse

A BBC Studios Production

Dead Funny History: Witch Craze.

Join historian Greg Jenner for a fast-paced, funny and fascinating journey through the Witch Craze, a terrifying period in European history when thousands were accused of witchcraft, and many paid the ultimate price.

This episode of Dead Funny History is packed with jokes, sketches and sound effects that bring the past to life for families and Key Stage 2 learners. From the infamous Malleus Maleficarum to King James I’s witch-hunting book Daemonologie, Greg explores how fear, superstition and social upheaval led to over 45,000 executions across Europe.

Discover how people were accused of witchcraft for talking to animals, having freckles, or simply being old and female. Learn about bizarre “tests” like swimming with thumbs tied to toes, and how pets named Satan could land you in trouble. There’s even a spoof gameshow, a parody beauty vlog, and a goat who’s tired of being scapegoated.

The episode also highlights real historical figures like Agnes Waterhouse, England’s first woman executed for witchcraft, and Matthew Hopkins, the self-appointed Witchfinder General who tortured victims during the English Civil War. It’s a dark chapter of history, but told with humour, empathy and a clear message: justice should never be based on fear or prejudice.

Expect musical parodies, sketch comedy, and a quiz to test what you’ve learned. It’s history with heart, humour and high production value. Perfect for curious kids, families, and fans of You’re Dead To Me.

Written by Gabby Hutchinson Crouch, Athena Kugblenu and Dr Emma Nagouse

A BBC Studios Production

Dead Funny History: Marie Curie.

Join historian Greg Jenner for a fast-paced, funny and fascinating journey through the life of Marie Curie; scientific legend, double Nobel Prize winner, war hero, and all-round icon.

This episode of Dead Funny History is packed with jokes, sketches and sound effects that bring Marie’s story to life for families and Key Stage 2 learners. From her rebellious education at the Flying University to her groundbreaking discoveries in radiation, Marie’s life was anything but ordinary.

Learn how she defied the odds to study science in Paris, fell in love with fellow scientist Pierre Curie, and discovered two brand new elements: Polonium and Radium.

Discover how she coined the term “radioactive,” worked in a leaky shed, and became the first woman to win a Nobel Prize… then won another one.

But it wasn’t all lab coats and accolades. Marie faced sexism, heartbreak, and serious health risks from her research. After Pierre’s tragic death, she carried on their work, founded the Radium Institute, and developed mobile X-ray units, Petite Curies, to help soldiers in World War One. Her legacy lives on in cancer treatment, scientific innovation, and the radioactive glow of her still-dangerous notebook.

Expect musical parodies, sketch comedy, and a quiz to test what you’ve learned. It’s history with heart, humour and high production value. Perfect for curious kids, families, and fans of You’re Dead To Me.

Written by Gabby Hutchinson Crouch, Athena Kugblenu and Dr Emma Nagouse

A BBC Studios Production

Dead Funny History: Kingdom of Benin.

Join historian Greg Jenner for a fast-paced, funny and fact-packed journey through the history of the Kingdom of Benin full of powerful rulers, incredible art, and some very questionable British behaviour.

This episode of Dead Funny History is bursting with jokes, sketches and sound effects that bring the past to life for families and Key Stage 2 learners. Discover how the Ogisos, “rulers of the sky”, gave way to the Obas, god-like kings who rebuilt cities and led armies. Learn about Queen Idia, the original palace-owning mum, and the guilds of artists who created the famous Benin Bronzes, many of which were looted during British colonisation.

From Portuguese coconut diplomacy to British invasions to the trading of enslaved people and the destruction of Benin City in 1897.

Perfect for curious kids, families, and fans of You’re Dead To Me, this is history with humour, heart and high production value. Expect sketches, spoof news reports, and a quiz to test your memory.

Written by Gabby Hutchinson Crouch, Athena Kugblenu and Dr Emma Nagouse

A BBC Studios Production

Dead Funny History: Owain Glyndŵr.

Join historian Greg Jenner for a fast-paced, funny and family-friendly journey through the life of Owain Glyndŵr: Wales’ legendary rebel leader, lawman, hostage-taker and Merlin superfan. This episode of Dead Funny History is packed with sketch comedy making it perfect for Key Stage 2 learners and their grown-ups.

Owain Glyndŵr’s story is full of twists. Born into a posh Welsh family, he trained as a lawyer in London before returning home to live the good life. But after years of bad neighbour behaviour from Lord Grey de Ruthyn, and being ignored by King Henry IV, Owain snapped. He declared himself Prince of Wales and led a rebellion that shook the English crown.

Expect battles, betrayals and a surprising number of hostages. Owain captured his enemies, held them for ransom, and even turned one prisoner into a son-in-law. He built alliances with France, inspired Welsh students to ditch Oxford, and launched a bold new vision for Wales including its own parliament, universities and laws.

But Owain wasn’t just a warrior, he was a dreamer. Obsessed with Merlin and Welsh mythology, he became a symbol of national pride. Even after disappearing from history, his legend grew. Today, he’s remembered as a hero who fought for Welsh independence and inspired generations.

Written by Gabby Hutchinson Crouch, Athena Kugblenu and Dr Emma Nagouse

A BBC Studios Production