Horrible Histories
- TV sketch show
- CBBC / BBC One
- 2009 - 2025
- 154 episodes (11 series)
Hit sketch show based on surprising facts from world history, inspired by the hit children's book series. Stars Jim Howick, Simon Farnaby, Ben Willbond, Mathew Baynton, Martha Howe-Douglas and more.
- Continues on Friday 28th February on CBBC at 5:30pm with Series 11, Episode 4
- Catch-up on Series 11, Episode 3
Press clippings Page 10
Horrible Histories: CBBC meets Royston Vasey
At their most grotesque, they possessed imagination dark enough to spew forth the village of Royston Vasey - a place populated by pen-obsessed sadists, an incestuous "local" couple and a magical man who swanned around in black-face, abducting innocent women from their homes. Now, after 10 years, The League of Gentlemen are back ... on a children's TV show.
Stephen Kelly, The Independent, 6th April 2012Forget talking-head boffins boffing away in castles and battlefields. Far and away the best history show on TV - for children and adults alike - is this inspired sketch show with its deranged mix of crazy facts, knockabout comedy and bloodthirsty re-enactments. Did you know, to quote just one example, that in the 1630s, women's urine was a key ingredient of gunpowder? That's an icebreaker to store for future use.
Keith Watson, Metro, 5th April 2012Horrible Histories: Terrible Tudors review
Accentuating the visceral is what the Horrible Histories series does best. To this grisly end, blood-spattering visuals and axe-splicing sound effects are key components of the company's tribute to the 16th century's most ruthless royals.
Ronnie Haydon, The Stage, 26th March 2012Video: Horrible Histories Q&A at the BFI
The cast and crew of Horrible Histories talk about the show in advance of the fourth series.
British Film Institute, 18th March 2012Horrible Histories creator blasts 'boring' classes
His Horrible History books have sold in their millions and author Terry Deary believes giving children facts, not fairytales, is a great way to get them to read.
John Dingwall, Daily Record, 3rd February 2012Hurrah for Horrible Histories & the youth of the future
Terry Deary's wonderful books show us not that things used to be worse, but that today's kids are savvier than ever before.
Jonathan Jones, The Guardian, 17th October 2011In other words it's all your favourite songs from the series, performed by the regulars with an orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall. So we get Ra Ra Cleopatra, the Stone Age Song, and The Vikings. Plus, there's plenty of silliness with dances of death, starring Death and his executioners and a whole host of royal performers.
Geoff Ellis, Radio Times, 11th September 2011This year's free family Prom featured the team behind Horrible Histories, the CBBC programme which has capitalised brilliantly on the underexploited fact that real history is far funnier and more gripping than any kids' cartoon. The Guardian's original review of this concert characterised it as "pitched somewhere between pantomime, a Footlights revue and an old-school variety show", only just about qualifying for Proms status by shoehorning classical snippets between sketches. There is something indubitably heartwarming about an Albert Hall full of children enjoying the life of Charles II being rapped in the style of Eminem.
Andrew Mueller, The Guardian, 9th September 2011League Of Gentlemen reunite for Horrible Histories
The League Of Gentlemen's Reece Shearsmith, Mark Gatiss and Steve Pemberton have signed up to appear in Horrible Histories.
British Comedy Guide, 9th September 2011Video: Horrible Histories author hates historians
Terry Deary, author of the Horrible Histories series, which has sold more than 25 million copies, has admitted that he dislikes historians.
BBC Breakfast, 17th August 2011