About this season
This brand new and exclusive 14-part series lifts the lid on established and renowned superstars from history to reveal their secret lives. But Secret Life Of… is a biography with a difference – with its tongue firmly in its cheek, it deliciously dishes the dirt on icons of the past, including Henry VIII, Marie Antoinette and Napoleon.
Episodes (14)
1. Henry VIII
Aired 31 July 2012 • 25 min
Discover some unusual facts about notable historical figures. Henry VIII gained infamy as a wife-killing tyrant, but he was also a noted wrestler, poet and musician.
2. Napoleon
Aired 7 August 2012 • 25 min
Napoleon was a mighty French general, but did you know he was also a geek and an early spin doctor? And find out more about his antics in the sack in the mischievous history series.
3. Queen Elizabeth
Aired 14 August 2012 • 25 min
Lesser-known facts about major historical figures. Elizabeth I was a fiery, passionate monarch who had a host of suitors, but only one true love - and no, it wasn't Blackadder.
4. Caligula
Aired 21 August 2012 • 25 min
The Roman Emperor Caligula staged decadent banquets, watched torturing as he ate and had affairs with his senators' wives. Learn more about this tyrannical ruler today.
5. Queen Victoria
Aired 28 August 2012 • 25 min
We are very amused at this cheeky series of quirky historical biographies. Queen Victoria was a passionate figure behind closed doors, with a love shack on the Isle of Wight.
6. Alexander the Great
Aired 4 September 2012 • 25 min
Alexander the Great conquered the world by the time he was 25 - but did he do it all while drunk? Find out in this terrifically tongue-in-cheek history series.
7. Lord Byron
Aired 11 September 2012 • 25 min
This playboy Romantic poet had a flair for fashion and a love of travel, but is perhaps best known for his sordid and complex love life. Hear about the eventful life of Lord Byron.
8. The Borgias
Aired 18 September 2012 • 25 min
The decadent Borgia family produced three popes and yet were suspected of committing a host of crimes - including murder by arsenic poisoning. Hear about their unsavoury history.
9. Marie Antoinette
Aired 25 September 2012 • 25 min
She was the gambling addict who enjoyed a life of luxury, but the mob grew angry at her decadent ways. Learn more about this iconic Queen of excess who had her cake and ate it.
10. Casanova
Aired 2 October 2012 • 25 min
X-rated history series. Giacomo Casanova's name is still synonymous with seduction. Find out more about this 18th century womaniser who charmed his way into high society.
11. Marquis de Sade
Aired 9 October 2012 • 25 min
The Marquis de Sade was a complex man, a revolutionary philosopher and a sexual deviant who spent a lot of his existence in jail. Hear more about his life story in this racy biopic.
12. Mata Hari
Aired 16 October 2012 • 25 min
The glamorous Mata Hari was a Dutch exotic dancer who moonlighted as a German spy in World War I. Hear all about this iconic historical figure in the engaging biographical series.
13. Catherine the Great
Aired 23 October 2012 • 25 min
Catherine the Great was a powerful woman, ruling the Russian empire for over 30 years. But just how close was she to her horse? Hear about her secrets in this brassy biography.
14. Louis XIV
Aired 30 October 2012 • 25 min
Louis XIV's reign over France lasted an astonishing 72 years. What were the secrets to his longevity? Find out in the series that dishes the dirt on key historical characters.