The Worst Jobs in History

Season 2

5 episodes · Apr 23, 2006

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  • S2E1

    The Worst Urban Jobs in History

    Apr 23, 200660m

    Tony Robinson examines some of the terrible tasks in Britain's past, and tries them out to find the worst. He begins with the country's urban history, as he gets a bloody nose as a fighting woman, works as a water caddy and confronts his fear of heights as a fireman.

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  • S2E2

    The Worst Royal Jobs in History

    Apr 30, 200660m

    Tony Robinson examines the history of employment opportunities in the royal court, including such roles as lance-maker, laundry woman, fireworker and hall boy. He also offers an insight into one of the worst posts - purple maker - in which the worker was given the task of creating purple items by extracting the colour created when shellfish rotted in urine.

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  • S2E3

    The Worst Industrial Jobs in History

    May 7, 200660m

    Tony Robinson examines some of the worst industry-based employment opportunities in history. He tries his hand at positions such as bridge-builder, soap-boiler, glass-blower, presser, legger and saggar-maker's bottom-knocker, before heading down the mines to experience life as a child hurrier.

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  • S2E4

    The Worst Maritime Jobs in History

    May 14, 200660m

    Tony Robinson examines some of history's least pleasant employment opportunities at sea. He investigates the unenviable roles of liar, underdog, midshipman, flying man, lighthouse builder, gut-girl and stoker, before exploring why some took on the voluntary but extremely dangerous position of lifeboat man.

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  • S2E5

    The Worst Rural Jobs in History

    May 21, 200660m

    In the final programme of the series, Tony Robinson explores some of the most terrible employment opportunities available to those living in rural areas in the past. He tries his hand at being a shepherd boy, nettle harvester, chaff-box boy, sedge cutter and sin eater, and comes across one of his most terrifying jobs - steeplejack - as he tackles the highest spire in Oxford.

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