Broadcast: Friday 7th May 2021 (CBBC 5pm)

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Summary: Horrible Histories charts the contribution of black people to British life throughout history. How did African soldiers come to be guarding Hadrian's Wall? Why was a West African diver asked to help salvage Henry VIII's ship, the Mary Rose? And the actor Ira Aldridge tells us how he came to leave New York to find fame in 19th-Century England.

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Sketches: Written by Ben Ward, Howard Read, Dave Cohen, James McNicholas, Claire Wetton, Akemnji Ndifornyen, Tasha Dhanraj, Athene Kugblenu, Celia Morgan. Filmed under Coronavirus restrictions.

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• In a recruitment film an African soldier guarding Hadrian’s Wall is still getting used to British weather (advert)

• The new Archbishop of Canterbury learns he wasn't the first choice for the role (animated)

• Jaques Francis is employed to dive and recover parts of the Mary Rose (animated)

• John Hawkins practices his pitch on the Slave Trade to one of Elizabeth I's courtiers (animated)

• Song: The Sons of Africa - In the 1780s The Sons of Africa began campaigning to end slavery. Backed by William Wilberforce, Britain's first black political organisation brought the issue to Parliament. 

• A couple of MPs realise they aren't the only ones skipping the 1796 abolition vote, to visit the opera

• The first black boxing star, Bill Richmond, is the star of Georgian Hello Magazine

• Writergram: Phillis Weatley has a hard time reassuring fans that she wrote her book

• Song: Ira Alridge - In 1824 Ira Aldridge arrived in Britain, ready to make a name for himself in theatres. But there's more to his story than that...

• Song: Mary Seacole - from S04E05

• Mary Seacole is left out of the planning for her own aid festival, and she has some reservations about the idea (animated)

• Even The Blitz cannot dampen Lillian Bader's spirit, after getting wed during the war

• Song: Black People Played Their Part - A special song looking back at the contributions of Black Britons since the very start.

Cast & crew: See 2021 Specials page

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Episode photos: