Witch Craze
You're Dead to Me
12/29/25
•14m
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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 Host: Greg Jenner Performers: Mali Ann Rees and John-Luke Roberts Producer: Dr Emma Nagouse Associate Producer: Gabby Hutchinson Crouch Audio Producer: Emma Weatherill Script Consultant: Professor Suzannah Lipscomb Production Coordinator: Liz Tuohy Production Manager: Jo Kyle Sound Designer: Peregrine Andrews
A BBC Studios Production
Previous Episode
Marie Curie
December 26, 2025
•15m
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 Host: Greg Jenner Performers: Mali Ann Rees and John-Luke Roberts Producer: Dr Emma Nagouse Associate Producer: Gabby Hutchinson Crouch Audio Producer: Emma Weatherill Script Consultant: Professor Iwan Morus Production Coordinator: Liz Tuohy Production Manager: Jo Kyle Sound Designer: Peregrine Andrews
A BBC Studios Production
Next Episode
King John and the Magna Carta
December 30, 2025
•14m
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 Host: Greg Jenner Performers: Mali Ann Rees and Richard David-Caine Producer: Dr Emma Nagouse Associate Producer: Gabby Hutchinson Crouch Audio Producer: Emma Weatherill Researcher & Script Consultant: Dr Emmie Rose Price Goodfellow Production Coordinator: Liz Tuohy Production Manager: Jo Kyle Sound Designer: Peregrine Andrews
A BBC Studios Production
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