History ShoutOut / HorribleHistories

* The Cleopatra song is full of references to Music/LadyGaga. Several of her songs are referenced through the song.

* The Measly Middle-Ages sketch where some peasants are discussing the leader of their revolt Wat Tyler is a clear homage to Creator/AbbottAndCostello's iconic WhosOnFirst skit.

** Similarly, the Simon & Garfunkel parody "Vikingland" manages to weave in musical and/or lyrical callbacks to nearly all of S&G's iconic hits (and a reference to 'Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover' for good measure).

-->"Dick Turpin Highwayman" (parody of Adam Ant's "Stand and Deliver"): "No more ''stand and deliver''.." Also, "I was no Prince Charming," references another Adam and the Ants hit single "Prince Charming".

-->"Dick Turpin Highwayman" (parody of Adam Ant's "Stand and Deliver"): "No more ''stand and deliver''.."

-->"The Few (RAF Pilots)" (parody of Music/TakeThatBand's "Relight My Fire"): "Take ''that'', Hitler!"

* The Measly Middle-Ages sketch where some peasants are discussing the leader of their revolt Wat Tyler is a clear homage to Creator/AbbotAndCostello's iconic WhosOnFirst skit.

* The "Wonders of the (era) Universe" sketches feature a "gorgeous (era) scientist" who is doing a spot-on vocal impression of Prof. Brian Cox (and is identified as "Brian") talking in the pop-science way established by his "Wonders of the Universe", but invariably devolves into gushing about mythology as if it's fact.

''So many.'' The songs in particular, featuring references to artists such as Music/TheBeeGees, Music/MichaelJackson, Music/TheMonkees, Music/LadyGaga and Adam and the Ants. Recognisable personalities include [[Series/HellsKitchen Gordon Ramsay]] ("Hello, I'm an angry shouty Roman chef!") and UK newscaster Peter Snow (as sent up by Bob Hale). A lot of the sketches are more-or-less direct takeoffs of Creator/MontyPython (especially the ones set in Rome) or ''Series/{{Blackadder}}'' (the Tudors). Entire segments are based off various types of reality shows, eg. Masterchef, Wife Swap, Come Dine With Me, etc.

* Bonus points in actually getting Dave Lamb to narrate the Come Dine With Me sketches, and to host the [[{{Spinoff}} game show]].

* The [[http://youtu.be/yIAc6BiD3y0 "God Compare!"]] sketch is blatantly based on the equally... ''offbeat'' "Go Compare" adverts.

* “Cash in the Abbey”, a sketch about the Dissolution of the Monasteries, is based on British antique show ‘’Cash in the Attic’’, even showing price tags on the things Henry VIII is carrying out of the monasteries.

* The Movie Pitch sketches are pastiches of the cinema adverts for Orange phones that used to run in Odeon cinemas.

* In the "Greek Thinkers" song, which is [[http://goryghastlymeanandcruel.tumblr.com/post/39208855784/the-genius-that-is-horrible-histories-and-british already a pastiche]] of both TheMonkees and Music/TheBeatles film ''Film/AHardDaysNight'', there's a quick shot that is the exact same as the opening of the famous Python "Upper Class Twit of the Year" race, with the philosophers taking the place of the Twits.

-->"The Few (RAF Pilots)" (parody of Music/TakeThat's "Relight My Fire"): "Take ''that'', Hitler!"

* In the "Greek Thinkers" song, which is [[http://goryghastlymeanandcruel.tumblr.com/post/39208855784/the-genius-that-is-horrible-histories-and-british already a pastiche]] of both TheMonkees and Music/TheBeatles film ''AHardDaysNight'', there's a quick shot that is the exact same as the opening of the famous Python "Upper Class Twit of the Year" race, with the philosophers taking the place of the Twits.

* The [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2kyNbZc7oc "Charles II: King of Bling" rap]] is a G-rated but otherwise unapologetic takeoff of {{Eminem}}'s distinctive style. "My name is/My name is/My name is Charles the Second!"

* A cute one in the Series Four song special episode, which introduces Rattus' feisty, googly-eyed young nephew [[ScoobyDoo Scrappus]]. Naturally, by only the second intermission, Uncle Rattus has been driven to lock him in a cage 'for his own good'.

* ''[[{{Twilight}} Twit Light]]'' features dark, brooding Lord Byron turning on the lights to reveal he's ''not'' a vampire -- merely "an incredibly pretentious poet."

* The Vercingetorix vs. Caesar sketch uses gag noses, overhead shots of a cartoon diagram of Gaul with a standard shoved in it, and scenes of Caesar raving in his room about 'the impudent Gauls', which all together make it vaguely resemble an ''ComicBook/{{Asterix}}'' comic (which features a small Gallic village still holding out after Vercingetorix's defeat). A later sketch involving Roman legionaries being paid in salt makes the ComicBook/{{Asterix}} parallels even more obvious: [[CatchPhrase "Join the Roman Army, they said..."]]

* While the song where Charles Darwin sings about the Theory of Evolution and Natural Selection is a homage to the DavidBowie song [[http://youtu.be/Pt2gHpqfZNA ''Changes'']]. Including a direct reference to "Ch-ch-changes".

-->"Ra Ra Cleopatra" (parody of Music/LadyGaga): "That [[BadRomance bad romance]] led to an overcrowded throne..."

-->"Australia" (parody of KylieMinogue's "I Should Be So Lucky"): "And that is when your ''{{Neighbours}}'' don't become good friends."

-->"Aztec Priests' Song" (parody of Music/TheBeeGees): "Ain't [[SaturdayNightFever stayin' alive]], ain't stayin' alive!"

* The 'Prisoner of War' sketch is another fairly obvious parody, of the American show ''HogansHeroes''. The musical ''motif'', the characters of incompetent Commandant Klinzman (for Colonel Klink) and cheeky Squadron Leader Higgins (for Colonel Hogan), and the constant escape attempts are all very familiar.

* The Vercingetorix vs. Caesar sketch uses gag noses, overhead shots of a cartoon diagram of Gaul with a standard shoved in it, and scenes of Caesar raving in his room about 'the impudent Gauls', which all together make it vaguely resemble an ''{{Asterix}}'' comic (which features a small Gallic village still holding out after Vercingetorix's defeat). A later sketch involving Roman legionaries being paid in salt makes the {{Asterix}} parallels even more obvious: [[CatchPhrase "Join the Roman Army, they said..."]]