Horrible Histories

Video: 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.

Prom 20: Horrible Histories - review

Pitched somewhere between a pantomime, a Footlights revue and an old-school variety show, this year's free Family Prom barely qualified for its Prom status, save for 10 judiciously chosen classical excerpts that were crowbarred in between the skits. Not that it mattered: the queue for returns snaked several hundred yards out of the Albert Hall, suggesting that this show could probably have filled Wembley Stadium.

Terry Deary interview

As the BBC takes 'Horrible Histories' primetime, its creator, Terry Deary, speaks his mind...

I have to admit this is the first time I have watched Horrible Histories, which is strange because I loved the books when I was a kid. Having watched the first episode in the new series it is clear that this is something I've grown out of, as sadly this show is not for me.

It is such a shame because it is clearly popular with both its target audience of children, with some adults, and with the people who decided to give it the British Comedy Award for "Best Sketch Comedy". However, for me much of it was just annoying. For example, one episode featured a Roman general trying to kill 5,000 people in battle so that he could get a parade, but the enemy surrendered after 4,999 deaths, so the general kills a Roman bureaucrat to reach the total. That is all right as an idea for a sketch, but then the general did this annoying beat-boxing at the end to celebrate reaching 5,000.

It wasn't the only thing annoying thing about the show. There was also a parody of the Adam and the Ants song "Stand and Deliver" telling the story of Dick Turpin, which just got on my nerves; all the way through the show little signs kept popping up saying things like, "This really happened!", which wound me up; and there was a sketch about a French prankster - although to be fair the character was deliberately meant to be annoying.

Also, this show also had quite a lot of jokes involving and seeing faeces. To be fair however, at least the sketch was teaching children about gong farmers (people paid to remove human waste) and tanners (people who used poo to make leather), whereas in Lead Balloon it just came out in one sudden unpleasant burst.

I suppose the way to conclude this review is that if you like it, good for you, because there is more to come. There is already a spin-off called Gory Games which features Dave Lamb as a co-host - interesting to see that he is willing to entertain children face-to-face but not adults. I'm guessing children are much easier to please.

Horrible Histories is also being re-worked for a primetime audience, with Stephen Fry acting as a host. However, I don't think even he is going to make me watch it. For me, this is a children's sketch show that the children can keep for themselves.

Children's TV is growing up - is that a good thing?

Horrible Histories' move to primetime shows how sophisticated kids' shows have become. Would you rather watch CBBC?

A new series for the superb historical show, which romped off with the best sketch show prize at this year's British Comedy Awards. It's an educational Blackadder for kids, and wonderfully written for a grown-up show, never mind juveniles. It has also spawned a spin-off quiz show, Gory Games, presented by Dave Lamb and a puppet rat. He even keeps score with an abacus. No bleepy, flashy nonsense here. Just historical questions and Crystal Maze-style games. It would have enthralled 20 years ago and is all the better for it. Hooray.

Grace Dent's TV OD: Horrible Histories

Does CBBC's Horrible Histories hold the key to teaching children about the past? Or is it just a great comedy full of really stupid deaths?

Horrible Histories: comedy for all ages

The 'edutainment' show that makes history appealing to children returns for a third series on CBBC.

Win tickets to the Horrible Histories Prom!

Want to see the cast performing the brilliant Horrible Histories songs in the flesh? Then you'll want to head to the BBC Proms at London's Royal Albert Hall for a special Horrible Histories Prom at 11am on Saturday 30 July.

Laurence Rickard interview

Horrible Histories won three BAFTAs and a Comedy Award last year - not bad for a children's programme. The show's back on CBBC for a third series. Laurence Rickard, who both writes and appears in it, tells TV Choice more...