Mr Dilly’s History Live – Free Curriculum-Based History Streams for Schools

Step into the past with Mr Dilly’s History Live! Join Mr Dilly as your guide for thrilling history adventures streamed direct to your classroom.

Each episode blends on-location filming at world-class museums and heritage sites, curator insights, and in-studio conversations with special guests — all linked to the KS2 and early KS3 curriculum. Some episodes also include short film excerpts of Mr Dilly in character, bringing people of the past to life in fun and memorable ways.

It’s free, flexible, and designed for schools — making history vivid, fun, and accessible for ages 7–13.

How It Works

Choose your episode from the list below.

• Book free on Eventbrite (click Book Now).

• All episodes go live twice each term for flexibility — your booking is for one of the dates shown.

• Your private viewing link will be emailed to you 48 hours before your chosen date.

• Watch “as live” in class on the Mr Dilly website (the stream plays via YouTube).

• The same stream also plays live on YouTube at the same time.

• Replay is free for 7 days via your private link on the Mr Dilly website (not on YouTube).

This Term’s Episodes

Ancient Rome - What Did the Ancient Romans Do for Britain?

Dates & Viewing Windows (goes live 9:15am GMT):

• Mon 2nd February (available to watch for 7 days)

• Thur 12th March (available to watch for 7 days)

Ages 7–13 / UK: Years 3–8 / US: Grades 2–8
Running time: 60 minutes

Travel back nearly 2,000 years with Mr Dilly to Fishbourne Roman Palace, the largest Roman residence in Britain. Explore mosaics, artefacts, and the remains of a luxurious villa as we uncover how the Romans transformed life in Britain — from roads and towns to culture, technology and governance — with insights from the palace’s own experts.

Back in the studio, Mr Dilly is joined by public historian Greg Jenner (author of Chaotic History: Romans and host of BBC’s You’re Dead To Me) for a lively, accessible discussion on Rome’s lasting impact on Britain — perfect for curriculum links.

📽️ Plus: Meet figures from the past in Mr Dilly’s in-character film clips, including Caratacus and a warrior of Boudicca’s tribe, bringing the drama of Roman Britain to life.

Note: The stream goes live at 9:15am GMT on the date you book, then is available to watch anytime for 7 days.

Ancient Egyptians – How Did Beliefs Shape Life and Death in Ancient Egypt?

Dates & Viewing Windows (goes live 9:15am GMT):

• Thur 12th February (available to watch for 7 days)

• Tues 17th March (available to watch for 7 days)

Ages 7–13 / UK: Years 3–8 / US: Grades 2–8
Running time: 50 minutes

Step into the world of Ancient Egypt with Mr Dilly at the Petrie Museum of Egyptian and Sudanese Archaeology, home to an extraordinary collection of artefacts. Discover how religion and belief shaped life and death — from gods and temples to mummification and the afterlife — with insights guided by the museum’s expertise.

Back in the studio, Mr Dilly is joined by historian and author Iszi Lawrence (BBC Radio 4 presenter and author of The Cursed Tomb) for a lively, accessible conversation about the rituals, traditions and stories that made Ancient Egypt so fascinating.

📽️ Plus: Watch Mr Dilly in a funny, slightly gruesome character short film as “Eddie the Embalmer”, demonstrating the mummification process.

Note: The stream goes live at 9:15am GMT on the date you book, then is available to watch anytime for 7 days.

WW2 Remembrance – Why Do We Remember the Second World War?

Dates & Viewing Windows (goes live 9:15am GMT):

• Wed 25th February (available to watch for 7 days)

• Mon 23rd March (available to watch for 7 days)

Ages 8–13 / UK: Years 4–9 / US: Grades 3–8
Running time: 75 minutes (approx.)

Join Mr Dilly at The D-Day Story, Portsmouth, for a powerful, curriculum-linked exploration of the Second World War. With a curator-led guided tour, pupils will discover compelling artefacts and personal stories connected to D-Day and the wider war — and reflect on why remembrance still matters today.

Back in the studio, Mr Dilly is joined by award-winning author Tom Palmer (After the War, Arctic Star, D-Day Dog) for an engaging discussion about remembrance and how these stories continue to inspire us.

📽️ Plus: See Mr Dilly’s celebrated short film marking VE Day 80 — a creative retelling of the war featuring Mr Dilly in multiple roles from the period.

Note: The stream goes live at 9:15am GMT on the date you book, then is available to watch anytime for 7 days.

• Do I need special tech?

No. Watch on the Mr Dilly website via your private link (the video plays via a YouTube embed). Please check your school firewall allows access to YouTube.

• Can multiple classes watch?

Yes — please register each class/teacher on Eventbrite so everyone receives their own private link.

• When will my viewing link arrive?

Your private viewing link is usually emailed approximately 48 hours before the date you booked.

• When can we watch?

Each episode is offered on two dates each term. The stream goes live at 9:15am GMT on the date you book, then you can watch any time, 24/7, for 7 days from that point.

• Will my link work for both dates?

No — links are date-specific. Your private link will only work during the 7-day viewing window for the date you registered for.

• Will the streams stay on YouTube?

No. The stream also plays live on YouTube at the same time, but on-demand replay is only available via the Mr Dilly website (using your private link) for 7 days.

• What age range?

Ages 7–13 (UK Years 3–9), linked to KS2 and early KS3 (Some episodes are best for slightly older pupils — check the age guidance on each event.).