So many. The songs in particular, featuring references to artists such as The Bee Gees, Michael Jackson, The Monkees, Lady Gaga, and Adam and the Ants. Recognisable personalities include Gordon Ramsay ("Hello, I'm an angry shouty Roman chef!") and UK newscaster Peter Snow (as sent up by Bob Hale). A lot of the sketches are more-or-less direct takeoffs of Monty Python (especially the ones set in Rome) or Blackadder (the Tudors). Entire segments are based off various types of reality shows, eg. Masterchef, Wife Swap, Come Dine With Me, etc.
- Bonus points in actually getting Dave Lamb to narrate the Come Dine With Me sketches, and to host the game show.
- Many of the songs include a direct Shout-Out to the original inspiration:"Mary Seacole" (parody of Beyoncé's "Single Ladies"): "And I think it my destiny, child / To be a war medic!""The Few (RAF Pilots)" (parody of Take That (Band)'s "Relight My Fire"): "Take that, Hitler!"note"Ra Ra Cleopatra" (parody of Lady Gaga): "That bad romance led to an overcrowded throne...""Aztec Priests' Song" (parody of The Bee Gees): "Ain't stayin' alive, ain't stayin' alive!""Dick Turpin Highwayman" (parody of Adam Ant's "Stand and Deliver"): "No more stand and deliver.." Also, the line "I was no Prince Charming," references another Adam and the Ants hit single "Prince Charming"."Australia" (parody of Kylie Minogue's "I Should Be So Lucky"): "And that is when your Neighbours don't become good friends."
- Special points have to go to "Norman Family Tree" for managing to name drop no less than nine ABBA songs.
- Similarly, the Simon & Garfunkel parody "Vikingland" manages to weave in musical and/or lyrical callbacks to nearly all of S&G's iconic hits (plus to Paul Simon’s solo hits 'Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover' and ‘Call Me Al’ for good measure).
- The song "I'm a Knight" is a deliberate Monty Python pastiche (complete with uncanny Eric Idle lookalike aka show writer Steve Punt). See also the Historical Paramedics' retreating cry as the modern-day EMS approach: "Run away! Run away!"
- In the "Greek Thinkers" song, which is already a pastiche
of both The Monkees and The Beatles film A Hard Day's Night, there's a quick shot that is the exact same as the opening of the famous Python "Upper Class Twit of the Year" race, with the philosophers taking the place of the Twits. - The Dick Turpin song mentioned above is a direct homage to the Adam Ant song (and music video) "Stand and Deliver".
- While the song where Charles Darwin sings about the Theory of Evolution and Natural Selection is a homage to the David Bowie song ''Changes''. Including a direct reference to "Ch-ch-changes".
- There's also a nod to the drumming gorilla from the Cadbury's Dairy Milk ad.
- There's also a nod to the drumming gorilla from the Cadbury's Dairy Milk ad
- Even before you see the distinctive font, the inspiration for the Olympic song is obvious: "Flame! It's gonna burn fore-e-ever...!"
- The "Charles II: King of Bling" rap is a G-rated but otherwise unapologetic takeoff of Eminem's distinctive style. "My name is/My name is/My name is Charles the Second!"
- The "God Compare!" sketch is blatantly based on the equally...offbeat "Go Compare" adverts.
- Similarly, "We sell any monk sends up this We buy any car advert.
- And "Queen Fit" is based on this Kwik-Fit advert.
- The 'Prisoner of War' sketch is another fairly obvious parody, of the American show Hogan's Heroes. The musical motif, the characters of incompetent Commandant Klinzman (for Colonel Klink) and cheeky Squadron Leader Higgins (for Colonel Hogan), and the constant escape attempts are all very familiar.
- A cute one in the Series Four song special episode, which introduces Rattus' feisty, googly-eyed young nephew Scrappus. Naturally, by only the second intermission, Uncle Rattus has been driven to lock him in a cage 'for his own good'.
- Their portrayal of Pope Alexander VI is clearly a nod to Vito Corleone.
- Twit Light features dark, brooding Lord Byron turning on the lights to reveal he's not a vampire — merely "an incredibly pretentious poet."
- The "Georgian Crimefighting sketch is an obvious parody of Sherlock, complete with the white text showing important details. It also includes a 'Dr. Mottson' and the Holmes character wearing a dark longcoat.
- The Vercingetorix vs. Caesar sketch uses gag noses, overhead shots of a cartoon diagram of Gaul with a standard shoved in it, and scenes of Caesar raving in his room about 'the impudent Gauls', which all together make it vaguely resemble an Asterix comic (which features a small Gallic village still holding out after Vercingetorix's defeat). A later sketch involving Roman legionaries being paid in salt makes the Asterix parallels even more obvious: "Join the Roman Army, they said..."
- "The Borgia Family" is a pastiche of The Addams Family theme song, complete with a scene of Lucrezia trimming roses that's nearly identical to a famous one of Morticia.
- The Movie Pitch sketches are pastiches of the cinema adverts for Orange phones that used to run in Odeon cinemas.
- “Cash in the Abbey”, a sketch about the Dissolution of the Monasteries, is based on British antique show ‘’Cash in the Attic’’, even showing price tags on the things Henry VIII is carrying out of the monasteries.
- The "Wonders of the (era) Universe" sketches feature a "gorgeous (era) scientist" who is doing a spot-on vocal impression of Prof. Brian Cox (and is identified as "Brian") talking in the pop-science way established by his "Wonders of the Universe", but invariably devolves into gushing about mythology as if it's fact.
- The Measly Middle-Ages sketch where some peasants are discussing the leader of their revolt Wat Tyler is a clear homage to Abbott and Costello's iconic Who's on First? skit.
- The Cleopatra song is full of references to Lady Gaga. Several of her songs are referenced through the song (including Poker Face and Bad Romance).
