Hadrian's Wall

16 snips

Dec 16, 2025

Discover the fascinating world of Hadrian's Wall, built by the ambitious Roman Emperor. Explore the struggles of Roman invasions in chilly Britain, including Julius Caesar's failed attempts. Unearth Hadrian's relationship with Antinous and how it influenced his reign. Journey through the wall's impressive design and its role as both a defense and tax point. Dive into life along the wall, complete with bustling forts and taverns. With humor and engaging storytelling, history comes alive in unexpected ways!

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INSIGHT

Rome's Slow Grip On Britain

The Roman presence in Britain began with partial invasions by Julius Caesar and a full conquest under Emperor Claudius a century later.
Early Roman efforts showed Britain was hard to control and required persistent military commitment rather than quick raids.

ANECDOTE

Hadrian's Rise Through Patronage

Hadrian came from a Spanish noble family and rose through Roman elite networks aided by guardians and marriage.
His personal background and patronage shaped his political career before he became emperor.

ANECDOTE

Antinous And Hadrian's Grief

Hadrian fell deeply in love with Antinous, a handsome Greek youth, and lavished sculptures and dedications on him.
After Antinous drowned, Hadrian declared him a god, built a city and started a cult in his honour.

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Dead Funny History: Hadrian's Wall.

Join historian Greg Jenner for a hilarious and fascinating family adventure through ancient Britain, exploring the History of Hadrian’s Wall, one of the most iconic landmarks of the Roman Empire.

Rome meets Britain When the Romans first invaded Britain, they weren’t prepared for the chilly weather, the fierce tribes or how long it would take to build their empire. From Julius Caesar’s half-hearted invasions to Emperor Claudius’s chilly conquest, Greg Jenner whizzes through the centuries of Roman rule with his trademark wit and sketches.

Enter Emperor Hadrian! Then along comes the main man himself: Hadrian. The bearded emperor with a love of architecture, art, and… his boyfriend Antinous. With comedy flair, Greg tells how Hadrian rose to power, toured the empire, and decided to solve his northern problem by building a giant wall across Britain.

Hadrian’s Wall stretched 80 Roman miles, from coast to coast. A monumental feat of engineering that marked the edge of the empire. But was it an impenetrable defence, or just an ancient form of border control (with a bit of extra tax collection on the side)?

Behind the wall Greg and the Dead Funny History cast bring the world of Roman soldiers to life, complete with bustling forts, bakeries, temples, hospitals and toga shops! There’s even a few unfortunate emperors who discovered that visiting York didn’t always end well…

With jokes, sketches and sharp historical insight, this episode turns stone and history into laughter and learning for children, families and anyone curious about ancient Britain.

The afterlife of a wall From the Romans’ chilly retreat to the medieval locals who recycled Hadrian’s Wall into castles, churches and pigsties, Greg reveals how this monumental structure survived and how it later became a treasured World Heritage Site.

History has never been this funny Packed with facts, puns and fast-paced fun, Dead Funny History – Hadrian’s Wall makes the Roman past lively and unforgettable. Perfect for curious kids, history-loving families, and fans of Greg Jenner’s clever storytelling.

Writers: Jack Bernhardt, Gabby Hutchinson Crouch, and Dr Emma Nagouse Host: Greg Jenner Performers: Mali Ann Rees and Richard David-Caine Producer: Dr Emma Nagouse Associate Producer: Gabby Hutchinson Crouch Researcher: Dr Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow Audio producer: Emma Weatherill Script consultant: Dr Andrew Birley Production Coordinator: Liz Tuohy Jo Kyle: Production Manager Studio Managers: Keith Graham and Andrew Garratt Sound Designer: Peregrine Andrews

A BBC Studios Production