- Title: The Worst Jobs In History - Series 1
- Date: 18th September 2004
- Description:Tony Robinson looks at our history in a new light,instead of concentrating on the Roman Emperors or the Kings and Queens,this six-part series is about the people who literally made our history. Tony Robinson looks at the jobs on the lowest rungs of the historical ladder and when he has established what he considers to be the worst job in any particular era; he has a go at it himself. (episode four) "Remember remember the fifth of November". We all know about Guy Fawkes,but Tony Robinson finds that the gunpowder business relied on the Saltpetre-Men who collected urine and dug up latrines to get the vital ingredient of potassium nitrate. Carrying a sedan chair was tiring,but not as dangerous as the Civil War job of Petardier's Assistant who had to blow the gates off besieged castles. Tony finds out just how dangerous with the aid of some Civil-War infantrymen armed with paintball guns. The plague supplied horrible employment opportunities such as Seekers of the Dead,and Cat-and-Dog Killers. But the worst job comes from the world of culture. The modern violin was only possible because of countless String-Makers rummaging around in the guts of dead sheep for their raw materials. Produced and directed by Nigel Walk Presented by Tony Robinson
- Broadcaster:Channel 4
- Collection: Channel 4
- Genre:Documentary and Factual
- Producer:Spire Films Ltd.
- Programme Episode:Episode 4
- Transmission Date:18/09/2004
- Rights:Worldwide
- Decade: 2000s