Share

Half-Arsed History
QAH Episode 129: Britain's Silliest Laws
Ep. 20129
•
Quarter-Arsed History presents: a brief summary of some of the most absurd laws that are, technically speaking, still in force across the UK - including suspiciously handling a fish, carrying a ladder down the street, and including getting drunk in a pub.
More episodes
View all episodes

Update: On Recent Episodes Being Late and a Few Other Things Too
12:19|TL;DL: No episodes for the next week or so. I'm a little bit burnt out after a huge year, so I've been struggling to get episodes out on time. Solutions for 2026 forthcoming; apologies for the disruptions in the meantime.
10388. Episode 388: Beatrix Potter, the Enterprising Author
51:13||Ep. 10388In this week's episode, get to know the remarkable Beatrix Potter, whose historical legacy goes a lot further than just the authorship of an immensely successful series of children's books.
40048. Inventions Episode 48: The Pill
27:28||Ep. 40048The pill brought about a huge shift in the history of human civilisation, revolutionising the role of women in society, culture, politics, and economics.
20138. QAH Episode 138: The Mad Trapper of Rat River
26:11||Ep. 20138Quarter-Arsed History presents: the tale of the Mad Trapper of Rat River, a mysterious figure who led the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on a month-long manhunt through the frozen wilderness.
10387. Episode 387: Nations Named After People
52:24||Ep. 10387In this week's episode, hear about the history behind the names of five nations, all named after real historical figures.
40047. Inventions Episode 47: Velcro
24:02||Ep. 40047Velcro - or, officially, the hook-and-loop fastener - is a useful little invention that we all still use today, and one that was popularised after helping us get to the Moon.
20137. QAH Episode 137: W.G. Grace, the Great Cricketer
32:11||Ep. 20137Quarter-Arsed History presents: the story of W.G. Grace, one of the most famous cricketers from the 19th century, famous for his immense skill which helped to revolutionise the game.
10386. Episode 386: The History of the Ashes
54:12||Ep. 10386In this episode, get across the origin and history of a fierce century-and-a-half sporting rivalry, brought to life whenever Australia face off against England in Test cricket: the Ashes.
40045. Inventions Episode 46: The Microwave Oven
20:32||Ep. 40045The microwave oven came about due to a very lucky accident involving an electrical engineer and chocolate bar, and today is found in billions of homes worldwide.