- Title: The Worst Jobs In History - Series 1
- Date: 28th August 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 one) Tony revisits the first millennium,a time of successive waves of immigrants to Britain,each bringing with them terrible employment opportunities. Tony experiences the back-breaking work of Roman old mining. He tries ploughing with a wooden Saxon ard and oxen,and constructs a wattle and daub Saxon house using the vital ingredient of dung. He enters the strange worlds of Bog Iron Hunters,Charcoal Burners and Coin-Making Thralls. And he discovers how rotten fish guts helped the feared Vikings get their longships overland. With such a wealth to choose from you'd think that one of these would be the worst job of all. Not a bit of it. Tony's choice may be subjective,but as someone who's terrified of heights there's nothing worse than being a Viking Egg Collector,abseiling over a 300-foot cliff in search of guillemot eggs. Wearing leather shoes and a Viking tunic Tony has a go at a job that survived as "Climming" in Yorkshire until the 19th century. Produced and directed by Brendan Hughes Presented by tony Robinson
- Broadcaster:Channel 4
- Collection: Channel 4
- Genre:Documentary and Factual
- Producer:Spire Films Ltd.
- Programme Episode:Episode 1
- Transmission Date:28/08/2004
- Rights:Worldwide
- Decade: 2000s