Horrible Histories (2009 TV series)
Encyclopedia
Horrible Histories is an award-winning British children's television series
based on the Terry Deary
book series of the same name
. The first series was thirteen episodes long, and was broadcast from 16 April to 9 July 2009 on CBBC
on BBC One
. A second series, of twelve episodes (not counting the "Savage Songs Special"), aired from 31 May 2010 to 27 July 2010. A Christmas special was broadcast on 17 December 2010, and a third series, also of twelve episodes (again not including the "Savage Songs Special" at the end), aired from 30 May 2011 to 26 July 2011 on CBBC. A fourth series has been filmed, and according to the official Twitter accounts of its cast, will be broadcast in spring 2012. A spin-off game show entitled Gory Games
has started airing, hosted by Dave Lamb
, and a second spin-off show, Horrible Histories with Stephen Fry, began on 19 June 2011, looking back on the best sketches of the show during its first two seasons on BBC One on prime time
Sunday nights.
was made by Lion Television and shown on BBC One
and CBBC
in the United Kingdom. The production of the television series followed a relaunch of Deary's books, and Lisa Edwards, editorial director of Scholastic UK stated: "the TV show will be a great addition to the perennially popular Horrible Histories property."
Before the series went on air, BBC executive producer Kim Shillinglaw said: "Horrible Histories will be stuffed full of blood, battles and black humour – and will also give children some of the great facts and narratives of history". Lisa Edwards, the editorial director explained: "Following the hugely successful re-launch of the books this year, the TV show will be a great addition to the perennially popular Horrible Histories property."
The first series of Horrible Histories was released on Region 2 DVD in the United Kingdom on 10 May 2010, and on Region 4 DVD in Australia on 1 July 2010.
The second series of Horrible Histories began airing on BBC 2 and CBBC on 31 May 2010 in co-production with Citrus Television, following post production by Platform Post Production, London.
The third series began airing on 30 May 2011 alongside the debut of its Gory Games spin-off.
The show was repackaged for a prime-time BBC One slot with Stephen Fry
as host. The new six-part series featured a selection of the best clips from Series 1 and 2, and new segments featuring Fry, who replaced the puppet host Rattus Rattus. "Horrible Histories has been a hideously gruesome and gory success for CBBC and we are delighted to welcome it to BBC One," says Cassian Harrison, Commissioning Executive, History and Business, Science and Natural History.
Mathew Baynton
, actor and writer for the Horrible Histories TV show said: "There's definitely a Monty Python influence to it...however ridiculous things might seem, it's all based on fact."
In September 2011, Reece Shearsmith
announced via Twitter
, that The League of Gentlemen
will reunite to perform sketches together on the fourth series of Horrible Histories.
Series One:
Series One's Episode 9 also included a Terrible Teacher
s themed sketch, completely made up and original to the episode. This sketch was a response to the Vicious Vikings Viking Helmet sketch that was shown before it.
Eras/civilisations introduced in Series 2:
There was also an internet reminder from Rattus Rattus about the Horrible Histories 'Terrible Treasures' game at the end of each episode of Series 2:
The reminder is absent in the DVD release.
Eras/civilisations introduced in Series 3:
In Series 3 there were two different internet reminders from Rattus Rattus about the Horrible Histories CBBC website at the end of episodes:
Series 1, Episode 7 included an Egyptian Mummy fantasises sketch a spin-off of Rattus fantasises. Completely rare to the show.
Other actors include:
With special guests:
Puppeteer:
Additional voices:
In 2011, Horrible Histories was nominated for BAFTA awards in Writing (writing team), Performer (Martha Howe-Douglas) and Comedy in the children's section.
The programme was also the surprise winner of the Best Sketch Show category of The British Comedy Awards of 2010, the first ever children's programme to be recognised at the ceremony.
commented on its success: "The show...proved a huge hit, with nearly 50 per cent of six to 12 year-olds in the UK tuning in to watch an episode"
praised the first episode of the series, writing that, although she did not enjoy the Terry Deary
book series, she loved the first episode for being "everything that Blue Peter
isn't: fun, filthy and genuinely engaging in a peer-to-peer way." The British Comedy Guide gave the first series a positive review, stating: "This show is great! A talented cast and writing team have made this a comedy highlight for us." Mike Ward of the Daily Star commented: "Kids can learn to love history just so long as it's told to them in a way that brings it to life. And this new series [...] does precisely that". Harry Venning of The Stage
wrote: "Horrible Histories scours the past for interesting, bizarre, unpleasant and unpalatable facts and uses them as the basis for some seriously funny, beautifully performed and endlessly inventive sketches." Naomi West of The Daily Telegraph
described the series as "boundary-pushing" and a "comic gem", writing that the first series "delivered more laughs than most post-watershed comedies". Tom Stucliffe, also of The Independent commented that: "As a grown-up you might quibble with the fact that they don't always distinguish between things that genuinely are true and the things that people would like to be (sadly, there's no hard evidence that Aeschylus
was brained by a tortoise dropped by an overflying eagle). But grown-ups and children should enjoy the gleefully anachronistic way in which information is conveyed".
Throughout its run, the show received many positive reviews from various publications. Radio Times
praised the new season, saying "three cheers for the return of this factual but funny series". It also complemented the series by explaining that "history hasn’t been this much fun since the last series finished". The Mail on Sunday
referred to the series as "superior edutainment
" and Radio Times
deemed it "one of the best shows anywhere". Telegraph heralded the series, calling it "a boundary-pushing sketch show … more laughs than most post-watershed comedies …a comic gem". The show has also been acclaimed by TV Times
for its ability to surruptitiously teach children facts about history in a funny and clever show, "slapstick gags and hilarious pastiches disguising useful educational content…our favourite take on British history…we wish history had been taught like this in our day!". The Sunday Express said "There’s nothing kids like quite so much as violence and horror which is why Horrible Histories has been such a success" The Sunday Times referred to the series as "An attention grabbing mix of the wilder parts of history". The Independent called it "Educational Silliness" The British Comedy Guide gave a positive review, saying "This show is great! A talented cast and writing team have made this a comedy highlight for us. In fact, it has become quite a hit with those outside its target audience. Why? Well, much like Sorry, I've Got No Head
, the material doesn't patronise but instead treats the children watching as the intelligent people they are. The musical numbers are the real highlight - make sure you check them out!
Damian Kavanagh of Controller CBBC said "Horrible Histories is a stand-out critical and ratings success for CBBC loved as much by adults as by our young viewers. The 11 awards the series has now picked are testament to its enormous appeal. Series three is a belter and is even bigger and better than the last."
Children's television series
Children's television series, are commercial television programs designed for, and marketed to children, normally scheduled for broadcast during the morning and afternoon when children are awake. They can sometimes run in the early evening, for the children that go to school...
based on the Terry Deary
Terry Deary
Terry Deary is a children's author now living in Burnhope, County Durham, England.A former actor, theatre-director and drama teacher, Deary says he began writing when he was 29...
book series of the same name
Horrible Histories
Horrible Histories is a series of illustrated history books published in the United Kingdom by Scholastic. They are designed to engage children in history by concentrating on the unusual, gory, or unpleasant. The series has proved exceptionally successful in commercial terms...
. The first series was thirteen episodes long, and was broadcast from 16 April to 9 July 2009 on CBBC
CBBC
CBBC is one of two brand names used for the BBC's children's television strands. Between 1985 and 2002, CBBC was the name given to all the BBC's programmes on TV for children aged under 14...
on BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
. A second series, of twelve episodes (not counting the "Savage Songs Special"), aired from 31 May 2010 to 27 July 2010. A Christmas special was broadcast on 17 December 2010, and a third series, also of twelve episodes (again not including the "Savage Songs Special" at the end), aired from 30 May 2011 to 26 July 2011 on CBBC. A fourth series has been filmed, and according to the official Twitter accounts of its cast, will be broadcast in spring 2012. A spin-off game show entitled Gory Games
Horrible Histories: Gory Games
Horrible Histories: Gory Games is a television game show co-produced by Citrus Television & Lion Television for the BBC. It is a spin-off of the main Horrible Histories show. The first series began on 30 May 2011, the same day on which the first episode of Horrible Histories series three first aired...
has started airing, hosted by Dave Lamb
Dave Lamb
Dave Lamb is a British actor and voice-over artist best known for his work on Come Dine with Me as well as appearances in British television and radio programmes, especially comedy programmes. He also currently presents the CBBC game show Horrible Histories: Gory Games.- Early work :Lamb's first...
, and a second spin-off show, Horrible Histories with Stephen Fry, began on 19 June 2011, looking back on the best sketches of the show during its first two seasons on BBC One on prime time
Prime time
Prime time or primetime is the block of broadcast programming during the middle of the evening for television programing.The term prime time is often defined in terms of a fixed time period—for example, from 19:00 to 22:00 or 20:00 to 23:00 Prime time or primetime is the block of broadcast...
Sunday nights.
Production
In 2009 a live-action television series based on the books by Terry DearyTerry Deary
Terry Deary is a children's author now living in Burnhope, County Durham, England.A former actor, theatre-director and drama teacher, Deary says he began writing when he was 29...
was made by Lion Television and shown on BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
and CBBC
CBBC
CBBC is one of two brand names used for the BBC's children's television strands. Between 1985 and 2002, CBBC was the name given to all the BBC's programmes on TV for children aged under 14...
in the United Kingdom. The production of the television series followed a relaunch of Deary's books, and Lisa Edwards, editorial director of Scholastic UK stated: "the TV show will be a great addition to the perennially popular Horrible Histories property."
Before the series went on air, BBC executive producer Kim Shillinglaw said: "Horrible Histories will be stuffed full of blood, battles and black humour – and will also give children some of the great facts and narratives of history". Lisa Edwards, the editorial director explained: "Following the hugely successful re-launch of the books this year, the TV show will be a great addition to the perennially popular Horrible Histories property."
The first series of Horrible Histories was released on Region 2 DVD in the United Kingdom on 10 May 2010, and on Region 4 DVD in Australia on 1 July 2010.
The second series of Horrible Histories began airing on BBC 2 and CBBC on 31 May 2010 in co-production with Citrus Television, following post production by Platform Post Production, London.
The third series began airing on 30 May 2011 alongside the debut of its Gory Games spin-off.
The show was repackaged for a prime-time BBC One slot with Stephen Fry
Stephen Fry
Stephen John Fry is an English actor, screenwriter, author, playwright, journalist, poet, comedian, television presenter and film director, and a director of Norwich City Football Club. He first came to attention in the 1981 Cambridge Footlights Revue presentation "The Cellar Tapes", which also...
as host. The new six-part series featured a selection of the best clips from Series 1 and 2, and new segments featuring Fry, who replaced the puppet host Rattus Rattus. "Horrible Histories has been a hideously gruesome and gory success for CBBC and we are delighted to welcome it to BBC One," says Cassian Harrison, Commissioning Executive, History and Business, Science and Natural History.
Mathew Baynton
Mathew Baynton
Mathew Baynton is an English actor and writer. He stars in the UK television series Horrible Histories as a singer, actor and writer. He also played Deano in Gavin & Stacey. Mat is also in the band Special Benny and also has a separate solo career under the name of Dog Ears...
, actor and writer for the Horrible Histories TV show said: "There's definitely a Monty Python influence to it...however ridiculous things might seem, it's all based on fact."
In September 2011, Reece Shearsmith
Reece Shearsmith
Reeson "Reece" Shearsmith is an English actor and writer. He is most famous for his work as part of The League of Gentlemen along with fellow performers Steve Pemberton, Mark Gatiss and co-writer Jeremy Dyson.-Early life:...
announced via Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
, that The League of Gentlemen
The League of Gentlemen
The League of Gentlemen are a group of British comedians formed in 1995, best known for their radio and television series.The League of Gentlemen may also refer to:* The League of Gentlemen ,...
will reunite to perform sketches together on the fourth series of Horrible Histories.
Features
These are the eras and civilizations that feature in the TV series:Series One:
- Savage Stone AgeStone AgeThe Stone Age is a broad prehistoric period, lasting about 2.5 million years , during which humans and their predecessor species in the genus Homo, as well as the earlier partly contemporary genera Australopithecus and Paranthropus, widely used exclusively stone as their hard material in the...
- Awful EgyptiansAncient EgyptAncient Egypt was an ancient civilization of Northeastern Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. Egyptian civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh...
(Original book was titled "Awesome Egyptians") - Groovy Greeks
- Rotten RomansAncient RomeAncient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
- Smashing SaxonsSaxonsThe Saxons were a confederation of Germanic tribes originating on the North German plain. The Saxons earliest known area of settlement is Northern Albingia, an area approximately that of modern Holstein...
- Cut-Throat Celts
- Vicious Vikings
- Measly Middle AgesMiddle AgesThe Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
- Wicked Witches (exclusive to Series One, Episode 3; combination of Stuarts and Middle Ages)
- Terrible TudorsTudor periodThe Tudor period usually refers to the period between 1485 and 1603, specifically in relation to the history of England. This coincides with the rule of the Tudor dynasty in England whose first monarch was Henry VII...
- Slimy StuartsStuart periodThe Stuart period of English and British history refers to the period between 1603 and 1714, while in Scotland it begins in 1371. These dates coincide with the rule of the Scottish royal House of Stuart, whose first monarch to rule England was James I & VI...
- Putrid Pirates
- Gorgeous GeorgiansGeorgian eraThe Georgian era is a period of British history which takes its name from, and is normally defined as spanning the reigns of, the first four Hanoverian kings of Great Britain : George I, George II, George III and George IV...
- Vile Victorians
- Potty Pioneers
- Frightful First World War (absent in Series 2)
- Woeful Second World War (absent in Series 3)
- Ruthless Rulers
Series One's Episode 9 also included a Terrible Teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
s themed sketch, completely made up and original to the episode. This sketch was a response to the Vicious Vikings Viking Helmet sketch that was shown before it.
Eras/civilisations introduced in Series 2:
- Incredible IncasInca civilizationThe Andean civilizations made up a loose patchwork of different cultures that developed from the highlands of Colombia to the Atacama Desert. The Andean civilizations are mainly based on the cultures of Ancient Peru and some others such as Tiahuanaco. The Inca Empire was the last sovereign...
(absent in Series 3) - Awesome USA (only in Episode 7 from Series 3)
There was also an internet reminder from Rattus Rattus about the Horrible Histories 'Terrible Treasures' game at the end of each episode of Series 2:
"Want to travel through the time sewers with me? Ha! Then play Horrible Histories 'Terrible Treasures'. Go to the CBBC website and click on Horrible Histories!"
The reminder is absent in the DVD release.
Eras/civilisations introduced in Series 3:
- Angry Aztecs
- Nasty Knights
- Fabulous French
In Series 3 there were two different internet reminders from Rattus Rattus about the Horrible Histories CBBC website at the end of episodes:
"Want some more Horrible Histories? Then come with me down the Time Sewers. Just go to the CBBC website and click on Horrible Histories. See you down there!"
"Psst! Can you keep a secret? No, me, neither. I've just found some great games in the Time Sewers. Want to come and play? Then just go to the CBBC website and click on Horrible Histories. See you there!"
Sketches
Each episode features 6-8 different eras/civilisations with 1-4 sketches from each. Sketches include :- HHTV News (pastiche of BBC NewsBBC NewsBBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...
) - My Big Fat (Scottish) Wedding (Pastishe of My Big Fat Greek WeddingMy Big Fat Greek WeddingMy Big Fat Greek Wedding is a 2002 Canadian and American romantic comedy film written by and starring Nia Vardalos and directed by Joel Zwick. The film is centered on Fotoula "Toula" Portokalos , a middle class Greek American woman who falls in love with a non-Greek upper middle class "White...
) - HHTV Sport (once in Rattus fantasises)(pastiche of SportsroundSportsroundSportsround was a weekly spin-off from CBBC children's news programme Newsround. The sports magazine show was broadcast Friday evenings at 6:30pm on CBBC Channel and on Saturday mornings on BBC Two at 7.25am....
) - The Bob Reports
- Twisted Fairytales (Series 1 only)(pastiche of Tellytales)
- Historical Hairdressers (Series 1 only)
- Historical Wife Swap (pastiche of Wife SwapWife SwapWife Swap is a reality television program, originally produced by UK independent television production company RDF Media and created by Stephen Lambert. It was first broadcast in 2003 on the UK's Channel 4. Since 2004, a US version has also been broadcast on the ABC network...
) - Historical Hospital (incorporates pastiche of Holby CityHolby CityHolby City, stylised as Holby Ci+y, is a British medical drama television series that airs weekly on BBC One.The series was created by Tony McHale and Mal Young as a spin-off from the established BBC medical drama Casualty, and premiered on 12 January 1999...
) - Court of Historical Law (Series 1, Episodes 5 and 11)
- My Stuart Family (Series 1, Episode 2 only)
- Historical Magazines (Series 1, Episodes 4, 5, 7 and 11, then on Series 2, Episodes 3 and 11, also on Series 3, Episodes 2 and 10)
- Shouty Man (pastiche of various advertisments)
- Stupid Deaths
- Greek Myth Talk (Series 1, Episode 6 only)
- Historical Art Show (Series 1, Episodes 2, 3 and 12 then in Series 2, Episodes 2 and 12, also in Series 3, Episode 8) (pastiche of SMartSMartSMart was a British CBBC television programme based on the subject of art, which began in 1994. The programme was recorded at BBC Television Centre in London, previously it had been recorded in Studio A at BBC Pebble Mill in Birmingham. The format is similar to the Tony Hart programmes Take Hart...
) - This Is Your Reign (Series 1 only)
- Historical Eastenders (pastiche of East Enders) (Once in Series 1, Episode 4 (Saxons) then on Series 2, episodes 9 and 10 (Victorians), Also in series 3, Episode 11 (Victorians))
- Warrior (Series 1, Episode 1 and 10, then Series 3, Episode 10)(pastiche of various gaming advertisments)
- Dodgy War Inventions (series 1 and 2 only)
- Ready Steady Feast (series 1 and 2 only)(pastiche of Ready Steady CookReady Steady CookReady Steady Cook was a BBC daytime TV cooking programme it first debuted on 24 October 1994 and the last edition was broadcast on the 2 February 2010. The programme was hosted by Fern Britton from 1994 until 2000 when celebrity chef Ainsley Harriott became the new host...
)(replaced by Historical Masterchef) - Great Historical Inventions (Series 1, Episode 10 only)
- Rattus fantasises (Series 1 and 2 only)
- Historical Dragon's Den (in series 2 episode 7 and in series 3 episode 11) (pastiche of Dragons Den)
- That Was Entertainment (Series 1, Episode 7 only)
- Ye Sun (Series 1, Episode 9 only)(pastiche of The Sun)
- The Axe Factor (Series 1, Episode 11 only)(pastiche of X FactorThe X Factor (TV series)The X Factor is a television talent show franchise originating in the United Kingdom, where it was devised as a replacement for Pop Idol. It is a singing competition, now held in various countries, which pits contestants against each other. These contestants are aspiring pop singers drawn from...
) - Historical Come Dine with Me (Once in Series 2, but appeared more often in Series Three)(pastiche of Come Dine with MeCome Dine With MeCome Dine With Me is a popular Channel 4 television programme shown in the United Kingdom, produced by Granada Television and first broadcast in January 2005. The show has either four or five amateur chefs competing against each other hosting a dinner party for the other contestants...
) - Historical Mastermind (Series 2, Episode 1 only)
- Historical Masterchef (Once in Series 2's Christmas special, then in series 3 episodes 1,2,10 and 11)(pastiche of Masterchef)
- Scary Stories (Series 2, then two more times in Series 3)(pastiche of Grizzly Tales for Gruesome KidsGrizzly Tales for Gruesome Kids' is a series of books by Jamie Rix and a TV series produced for ITV.The original TV series was based on the award winning collections of cautionary tales by Jamie Rix. Grizzly Tales for Gruesome Kids, Ghostly Tales for Ghastly Kids, Fearsome Tales for Fiendish Kids and More Grizzly Tales for...
) - Historical Desktops (Series 2, Episode 2 and episode 12 on Rattus fantasizes then one more time in Series Three episode 8) (pastiche of Windows VistaWindows VistaWindows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs...
and/or Windows XPWindows XPWindows XP is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops and media centers. First released to computer manufacturers on August 24, 2001, it is the second most popular version of Windows, based on installed user base...
) - Cliff Whiteley (Series 2, Episodes 3 & 6 and series 3 episode 12)
- School (2 times in Series 1,2)
- News of the Empire (Series 2, Episode 8 only) (pastiche of News of the WorldNews of the WorldThe News of the World was a national red top newspaper published in the United Kingdom from 1843 to 2011. It was at one time the biggest selling English language newspaper in the world, and at closure still had one of the highest English language circulations...
) - Historical Fashion Fix (played twice in each series starting from Series 2)(pastiche of Gok's Fashion Fix)
- Crimewatch BC (Series 2, Episode 8 only)(pastiche of CrimewatchCrimewatchCrimewatch is a long-running and high-profile British television programme produced by the BBC, that reconstructs major unsolved crimes with a view to gaining information from the members of the public. The programme is usually broadcast once a month on BBC One...
) - Historical Shopping Channel (Series 2, Episodes 4 & 5)(pastiche of teleshopping)
- Historical Family Fortunes (Series 2, Episode 6 only) (pastiche of Family FortunesFamily FortunesFamily Fortunes is a British game show, based on the American game show Family Feud. The programme ran on ITV from 6 January 1980 to 6 December 2002 before being revived by the same channel in 2006 under the title of All Star Family Fortunes...
) - Histrorical Weather Forecast (Series 1, Episode 9 also on Series 2, Episodes 6 and 11 then on Series 3, episodes 2 and 11)) (pastiche of DaybreakDaybreak (ITV)Daybreak is the weekday breakfast television programme on the British commercial ITV network that broadcasts on weekday mornings from 06:00 to 08:30 and is currently presented by Adrian Chiles and Christine Bleakley from Monday to Thursday with Dan Lobb and Kate Garraway on Fridays...
Weather) - My Big Fat Medieval Scottish Wedding (Series 2, Episode 11 only) (pastiche of My Big Fat Greek WeddingMy Big Fat Greek WeddingMy Big Fat Greek Wedding is a 2002 Canadian and American romantic comedy film written by and starring Nia Vardalos and directed by Joel Zwick. The film is centered on Fotoula "Toula" Portokalos , a middle class Greek American woman who falls in love with a non-Greek upper middle class "White...
) - Historical Paramedics (once in series 2 episode 3 but in episodes 1,3,6 and 11 in Series 3)
- Historical Pet Shop (Series 3 episodes 6,9 and 11)(pastiche of Pads 'N' Paws Pet Shop)
- Horrible Points of View (Series 3 episodes 6 and 7 and 12)
- Detective D.I. Bones (Series 2, Episode 12 and Series 3 episode 4)
- Winter Cooking with The Hairy Vikings (Series 3, Episode 8 only)
- Historical Gardener's World (Series 3, Episode 9 only)
Series 1, Episode 7 included an Egyptian Mummy fantasises sketch a spin-off of Rattus fantasises. Completely rare to the show.
Series 1
- Born 2 Rule (pastiche of WestlifeWestlifeWestlife are an Irish boy band established on 3 July 1998. They are to disband in 2012. The group's line-up was Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, Shane Filan, and Brian McFadden . The group are the only act in British and Irish history to have their first seven singles peak at number one...
) - Divorced, Beheaded and Died (The Wives of Henry VIII) (with on-screen lyrics)
- How to Make a Mummy Song (with on-screen lyrics)
- We're the Tudors (pastiche of MadnessMadness (band)In 1979, the band recorded the Lee Thompson composition "The Prince". The song, like the band's name, paid homage to their idol, Prince Buster. The song was released through 2 Tone Records, the label of The Specials founder Jerry Dammers. The song was a surprise hit, peaking in the UK music charts...
; with on-screen lyrics) - A Georgeous Georgian Lady
- I'm a Knight (two parts; pastiche of Monty PythonMonty PythonMonty Python was a British surreal comedy group who created their influential Monty Python's Flying Circus, a British television comedy sketch show that first aired on the BBC on 5 October 1969. Forty-five episodes were made over four series...
; with on-screen lyrics) - Caveman Love (two parts; pastiche of doo-wopDoo-wopThe name Doo-wop is given to a style of vocal-based rhythm and blues music that developed in African American communities in the 1940s and achieved mainstream popularity in the 1950s and early 1960s. It emerged from New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Baltimore, Newark, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and...
; with on-screen lyrics) - It's Not True! (with on-screen lyrics; pastiche of "The Laughing PolicemanThe Laughing Policeman (song)"The Laughing Policeman" is a music hall song by Charles Jolly, the pseudonym of Charles Penrose.-The Song:In 1922, Penrose made the first recording of this song, . The composition of the song is officially credited to his wife Mabel under the pseudonym "Billie Grey"; however, the music and melody...
") - Bring Out Your Dead (Plague Song) (with on-screen lyrics)
- British Things
- We Are Greek (two parts; pastiche of Flanders and SwannFlanders and SwannThe British duo Flanders and Swann were the actor and singer Michael Flanders and the composer, pianist and linguist Donald Swann , who collaborated in writing and performing comic songs....
; with on-screen lyrics) - Burke and Hare Song (with on-screen lyrics)
Series 2
- The Vikings: Literally (pastiche of Guns N Roses)
- Charles II: King of Bling (incorporates pastiche of EminemEminemMarshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
) - Spartan High School Musical (pastiche of the High School MusicalHigh School MusicalHigh School Musical is a 2006 American television film, first in the High School Musical film franchise. Upon its release on January 20, 2006, it became the most successful film that Disney Channel Original Movie ever produced, with a television sequel High School Musical 2 released in 2007 and...
films) - The World War II Girls (pastiche of "The PromiseThe Promise (Girls Aloud song)"The Promise" is a pop song performed by British all-female pop group Girls Aloud, taken from their fifth studio album Out of Control . The song was written by Miranda Cooper, Brian Higgins and his production team Xenomania...
" by Girls AloudGirls AloudGirls Aloud are a British and Irish pop girl group based in London. They were created through the ITV1 talent show Popstars The Rivals in 2002. The group consists of Cheryl Cole , Nadine Coyle, Sarah Harding, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh. They are signed to Fascination Records, a Polydor...
) - George IV: Couldn't Stand My Wife (sequel to Born 2 Rule; another WestlifeWestlifeWestlife are an Irish boy band established on 3 July 1998. They are to disband in 2012. The group's line-up was Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, Shane Filan, and Brian McFadden . The group are the only act in British and Irish history to have their first seven singles peak at number one...
pastiche) - Blackbeard (pastiche of Gilbert & Sullivan, particularly Pirates of Penzance)
- Victorian Inventions (pastiche of music hallMusic hallMusic Hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment which was popular between 1850 and 1960. The term can refer to:# A particular form of variety entertainment involving a mixture of popular song, comedy and speciality acts...
) - The Hieroglyphics (pastiche of "ABCABC (song)"ABC" is a 1970 number-one hit song by The Jackson 5. "ABC" was written with the same design as "I Want You Back", and was first heard on American Bandstand in February 1970. "ABC" knocked The Beatles song "Let It Be" out of the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1970...
" by The Jackson Five) - The Cowboy Song (pastiche of bluegrass musicBluegrass musicBluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
) - Boudicca (pastiche of The Ting TingsThe Ting TingsThe Ting Tings are an English music duo comprising Jules de Martino and Katie White . They formed in December 2007 while based at Islington Mill Studios in Salford...
) - The Monk Song (incorporates pastiche of "Play That Funky MusicPlay That Funky Music"Play That Funky Music" is a funk song written by Robert Parissi and recorded by the band Wild Cherry. The performers on the classic recording included the members of the band at the time: lead singer Parissi, guitarist Bryan Bassett, bassist Allen Wentz, and drummer Ron Beitle, with session horn...
" by Wild Cherry and "Funky Gibbon" by The GoodiesThe GoodiesThe Goodies are a trio of British comedians who created, wrote, and starred in a surreal British television comedy series called The Goodies during the 1970s and early 1980s combining sketches and situation comedy.-Honours:All three Goodies now have OBEs...
) - Pachacuti (pastiche of summer novelty songs; with on-screen lyrics for chorus)
Christmas Special
- Silent Night (pastiche of "Silent NightSilent Night"Silent Night" is a popular Christmas carol. The original lyrics of the song "Stille Nacht" were written in Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria, by the priest Father Joseph Mohr and the melody was composed by the Austrian headmaster Franz Xaver Gruber...
"; with on-screen lyrics) - Good King Wenceslas (pastiche of "Good King WenceslasGood King Wenceslas"Good King Wenceslas" is a popular Christmas carol about a king who goes out to give alms to a poor peasant on the Feast of Stephen . During the journey, his page is about to give up the struggle against the cold weather, but is enabled to continue by following the king's footprints, step for step,...
"; with on-screen lyrics) - We Wish You a Merry Christmas (pastiche of "We Wish You a Merry ChristmasWe Wish You a Merry Christmas"We Wish You a Merry Christmas" is a popular secular sixteenth-century English carol from the West Country of England. The origin of this Christmas carol lies in the English tradition where wealthy people of the community gave Christmas treats to the carolers on Christmas Eve such as 'figgy...
"; with on-screen lyrics) - O Christmas Tree (pastiche of "O Christmas Tree"; with on-screen lyrics)
Series 3
- Dick Turpin the Highwayman (pastiche of "Stand and DeliverStand and DeliverStand and Deliver is a 1988 American drama film, based on the true story of high school mathematics teacher Jaime Escalante. Edward James Olmos portrayed Escalante in the film and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.-Plot:...
" by Adam and the AntsAdam and the AntsAdam and the Ants were a British rock band active during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The original group, which existed from 1977 to 1980, became notable as a cult band marking the transition from the late-1970s punk rock era to the post-punk and New Wave era...
) - English Kings and Queens Song (with on-screen lyrics for chorus; pastiche of Chas & Dave') - The longest Savage Song in the series.
- William Wallace, Scottish Rebel (pastiche of "Rebel YellRebel Yell (song)"Rebel Yell" is the first song on the Billy Idol album of the same name. When first released in 1984, it charted outside the UK Top 40, but a re-issue in 1985 reached #6. It did not fare as well in the US, only reaching #46...
" by Billy IdolBilly IdolWilliam Michael Albert Broad , better known by his stage name Billy Idol, is an English rock musician. A member of the Bromley Contingent of Sex Pistols fans, Idol first achieved fame in the punk rock era as a member of the band Generation X...
) - Work, Terrible Work! (Victorian Work Song) (pastiche of "Food, Glorious Food" in Lionel BartLionel BartLionel Bart was a writer and composer of British pop music and musicals, best known for creating the book, music and lyrics for Oliver!-Early life:...
's Oliver!Oliver!Oliver! is a British musical, with script, music and lyrics by Lionel Bart. The musical is based upon the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens....
) - Ra Ra Cleopatra (pastiche of Beyonce and Lady GagaLady GaGaStefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta , better known by her stage name Lady Gaga, is an American singer and songwriter. Born and raised in New York City, she primarily studied at the Convent of the Sacred Heart and briefly attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts before withdrawing to...
, particularly "Bad RomanceBad Romance"Bad Romance" is a song by American recording artist Lady Gaga. It was released as the lead single from her third extended play , and second major release The Fame Monster . Written by Lady Gaga and produced by RedOne, the track was inspired by Gaga's fear of negative love relationships and the...
") - Richard III Song (pastiche of Leona LewisLeona LewisLeona Louise Lewis is a British singer and songwriter. Lewis first came to prominence in 2006 when she won the third series of the British television series The X Factor....
, particularly "Better in TimeBetter in Time"Better in Time" is a pop and R&B song performed by British singer Leona Lewis. It was written by J. R. Rotem and Andrea Martin, and was produced by Rotem. It is featured on Lewis's debut album Spirit...
") - Evil Emperors Song (pastiche of "Bad" by Michael JacksonMichael JacksonMichael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
) - We're the Suffragettes (pastiche of BananaramaBananaramaBananarama are an English female pop duo who have had success on the pop and dance charts since 1982. Rather than relying on a two part harmony, the duo generally sings in unison, as do their background vocalists. Although there have been line-up changes, the group enjoyed their most popular...
) - Ain't Staying Alive (Aztec Priests Song) (pastiche of "Staying AliveStaying AliveStaying Alive is the 1983 film sequel to Saturday Night Fever, starring John Travolta as dancer Tony Manero, with Cynthia Rhodes, Finola Hughes, Joyce Hyser, Steve Inwood, Julie Bovasso, and dancers Viktor Manoel, Kate Ann Wright, Kevyn Morrow and Nanette Tarpey...
" by the Bee GeesBee GeesThe Bee Gees are a musical group that originally comprised three brothers: Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. The trio was successful for most of their 40-plus years of recording music, but they had two distinct periods of exceptional success: as a pop act in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and as a...
) - Cavaliers versus the Roundheads (English Civil War Song) (pastiche of "CoolCool (Leonard Bernstein song)"Cool" is a song from the musical West Side Story. Leonard Bernstein composed the music and Stephen Sondheim wrote the lyrics.-Context:In West Side Story, the song is sung by Riff before the Rumble meeting. The Jets are itching to fight with the Sharks, but Riff tells them to wait for the rumble.In...
" from Jerome RobbinsJerome RobbinsJerome Robbins was an American theater producer, director, and choreographer known primarily for Broadway Theater and Ballet/Dance, but who also occasionally directed films and directed/produced for television. His work has included everything from classical ballet to contemporary musical theater...
's West Side StoryWest Side StoryWest Side Story is an American musical with a script by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and choreographed by Jerome Robbins...
) - The Stone Age (pastiche of Randy NewmanRandy NewmanRandall Stuart "Randy" Newman is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, composer, and pianist who is known for his mordant pop songs and for film scores....
) - Celtic Boast Battle (pastiche of Tinie TempahTinie TempahPatrick Chukwuemeka Okogwu , better known by his stage name Tinie Tempah, is a British rapper. He made his first mixtape in 2007 with 28 songs, freestyles and remixes, the album features Mz Bratt, Chipmunk and G-Unit...
)
Cast
| Actor | Characters |
|---|---|
| Mathew Baynton Mathew Baynton Mathew Baynton is an English actor and writer. He stars in the UK television series Horrible Histories as a singer, actor and writer. He also played Deano in Gavin & Stacey. Mat is also in the band Special Benny and also has a separate solo career under the name of Dog Ears... |
Charles II of England Charles II of England Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War... , Dick Turpin Dick Turpin Richard "Dick" Turpin was an English highwayman whose exploits were romanticised following his execution in York for horse theft. Turpin may have followed his father's profession as a butcher early in life, but by the early 1730s he had joined a gang of deer thieves, and later became a poacher,... , George II of Great Britain George II of Great Britain George II was King of Great Britain and Ireland, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Archtreasurer and Prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire from 11 June 1727 until his death.George was the last British monarch born outside Great Britain. He was born and brought up in Northern Germany... , Pachacuti, Henry I of England Henry I of England Henry I was the fourth son of William I of England. He succeeded his elder brother William II as King of England in 1100 and defeated his eldest brother, Robert Curthose, to become Duke of Normandy in 1106... , Mark Anthony Mark Antony Marcus Antonius , known in English as Mark Antony, was a Roman politician and general. As a military commander and administrator, he was an important supporter and loyal friend of his mother's cousin Julius Caesar... , Zeus Zeus In the ancient Greek religion, Zeus was the "Father of Gods and men" who ruled the Olympians of Mount Olympus as a father ruled the family. He was the god of sky and thunder in Greek mythology. His Roman counterpart is Jupiter and his Etruscan counterpart is Tinia.Zeus was the child of Cronus... , Caligula Caligula Caligula , also known as Gaius, was Roman Emperor from 37 AD to 41 AD. Caligula was a member of the house of rulers conventionally known as the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Caligula's father Germanicus, the nephew and adopted son of Emperor Tiberius, was a very successful general and one of Rome's most... (season 2), Black Bart Bartholomew Roberts Bartholomew Roberts , born John Roberts, was a Welsh pirate who raided ships off America and West Africa between 1719 and 1722. He was the most successful pirate of the Golden Age of Piracy. He is estimated to have captured over 470 vessels... , Robert Knox Robert Knox Robert Knox was a Scottish surgeon, anatomist and zoologist. He was the most popular lecturer in anatomy in Edinburgh before his involvement in the Burke and Hare body-snatching case. This ruined his career, and a later move to London did not improve matters... , Francis I of France Francis I of France Francis I was King of France from 1515 until his death. During his reign, huge cultural changes took place in France and he has been called France's original Renaissance monarch... , Menelaus Menelaus Menelaus may refer to;*Menelaus, one of the two most known Atrides, a king of Sparta and son of Atreus and Aerope*Menelaus on the Moon, named after Menelaus of Alexandria.*Menelaus , brother of Ptolemy I Soter... , Pompey Pompey Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, also known as Pompey or Pompey the Great , was a military and political leader of the late Roman Republic... , Guy Fawkes Guy Fawkes Guy Fawkes , also known as Guido Fawkes, the name he adopted while fighting for the Spanish in the Low Countries, belonged to a group of provincial English Catholics who planned the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605.Fawkes was born and educated in York... , Vercingetorix Vercingetorix Vercingetorix was the chieftain of the Arverni tribe, who united the Gauls in an ultimately unsuccessful revolt against Roman forces during the last phase of Julius Caesar's Gallic Wars.... , Elagabalus Elagabalus Elagabalus , also known as Heliogabalus, was Roman Emperor from 218 to 222. A member of the Severan Dynasty, he was Syrian on his mother's side, the son of Julia Soaemias and Sextus Varius Marcellus. Early in his youth he served as a priest of the god El-Gabal at his hometown, Emesa... , D.I. Bones, Æthelred the Unready, William Shakespeare William Shakespeare William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"... , Philip II of Spain Philip II of Spain Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count.... , Charles I of England Charles I of England Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles... , Captain Robert Scott Robert Falcon Scott Captain Robert Falcon Scott, CVO was a Royal Navy officer and explorer who led two expeditions to the Antarctic regions: the Discovery Expedition, 1901–04, and the ill-fated Terra Nova Expedition, 1910–13... , Thomas Farriner Great Fire of London The Great Fire of London was a major conflagration that swept through the central parts of the English city of London, from Sunday, 2 September to Wednesday, 5 September 1666. The fire gutted the medieval City of London inside the old Roman City Wall... , Leonidas I Leonidas I Leonidas I was a hero-king of Sparta, the 17th of the Agiad line, one of the sons of King Anaxandridas II of Sparta, who was believed in mythology to be a descendant of Heracles, possessing much of the latter's strength and bravery... , Aristotle Aristotle Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and polymath, a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. His writings cover many subjects, including physics, metaphysics, poetry, theater, music, logic, rhetoric, linguistics, politics, government, ethics, biology, and zoology... , spoof of Gok Wan Gok Wan Gok Wan is a British fashion consultant, author and television presenter of British Chinese heritage. He is known for his appearances on many television programmes , for providing fashion advice to celebrities and for contributing his views to fashion magazines published internationally.-Early... in "Historical Fashion Fix", Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , baptismal name Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart , was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era. He composed over 600 works, many acknowledged as pinnacles of symphonic, concertante, chamber, piano, operatic, and choral music... (only at The Proms The Proms The Proms, more formally known as The BBC Proms, or The Henry Wood Promenade Concerts presented by the BBC, is an eight-week summer season of daily orchestral classical music concerts and other events held annually, predominantly in the Royal Albert Hall in London... ), Hephaestion Hephaestion Hephaestion , son of Amyntor, was a Macedonian nobleman and a general in the army of Alexander the Great... |
| Simon Farnaby Simon Farnaby Simon Alexander Farnaby is an English comedy actor and writer in television, theatre and film.-Early life:Born in Wath-upon-Dearne, South Yorkshire, Farnaby trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art, National Youth Theatre, and Trinity College, Dublin... |
Grim Reaper, William the Conqueror, Caligula Caligula Caligula , also known as Gaius, was Roman Emperor from 37 AD to 41 AD. Caligula was a member of the house of rulers conventionally known as the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Caligula's father Germanicus, the nephew and adopted son of Emperor Tiberius, was a very successful general and one of Rome's most... (series 1 and 3), George III of England (series 1 and at The Proms The Proms The Proms, more formally known as The BBC Proms, or The Henry Wood Promenade Concerts presented by the BBC, is an eight-week summer season of daily orchestral classical music concerts and other events held annually, predominantly in the Royal Albert Hall in London... ), William Burke, Hippocrates Hippocrates Hippocrates of Cos or Hippokrates of Kos was an ancient Greek physician of the Age of Pericles , and is considered one of the most outstanding figures in the history of medicine... , Mercury Mercury (mythology) Mercury was a messenger who wore winged sandals, and a god of trade, the son of Maia Maiestas and Jupiter in Roman mythology. His name is related to the Latin word merx , mercari , and merces... , Robert Walpole Robert Walpole Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford, KG, KB, PC , known before 1742 as Sir Robert Walpole, was a British statesman who is generally regarded as having been the first Prime Minister of Great Britain.... , Walter Raleigh Walter Raleigh Sir Walter Raleigh was an English aristocrat, writer, poet, soldier, courtier, spy, and explorer. He is also well known for popularising tobacco in England.... , Cliff Whiteley, Executioner Executioner A judicial executioner is a person who carries out a death sentence ordered by the state or other legal authority, which was known in feudal terminology as high justice.-Scope and job:... , Tiberius Tiberius Tiberius , was Roman Emperor from 14 AD to 37 AD. Tiberius was by birth a Claudian, son of Tiberius Claudius Nero and Livia Drusilla. His mother divorced Nero and married Augustus in 39 BC, making him a step-son of Octavian... , William Harvey William Harvey William Harvey was an English physician who was the first person to describe completely and in detail the systemic circulation and properties of blood being pumped to the body by the heart... |
| Martha Howe-Douglas Martha Howe-Douglas Martha Howe-Douglas is an English actress, best known for playing the receptionist Donna Parmar in the BBC One daytime soap, Doctors. She has appeared in the children's series Horrible Histories, and as Lady Anne in the BBC Radio 4 sitcom "The Castle".... |
Elizabeth I of England Elizabeth I of England Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty... , Cleopatra, Boudicca, Victoria of Great Britain (only during The Proms The Proms The Proms, more formally known as The BBC Proms, or The Henry Wood Promenade Concerts presented by the BBC, is an eight-week summer season of daily orchestral classical music concerts and other events held annually, predominantly in the Royal Albert Hall in London... ), Florence Nightingale Florence Nightingale Florence Nightingale OM, RRC was a celebrated English nurse, writer and statistician. She came to prominence for her pioneering work in nursing during the Crimean War, where she tended to wounded soldiers. She was dubbed "The Lady with the Lamp" after her habit of making rounds at night... , Pet shop owner, Sam from HHTV News, Emmeline Pankhurst Emmeline Pankhurst Emmeline Pankhurst was a British political activist and leader of the British suffragette movement which helped women win the right to vote... , Madame Tussaud, Caroline of Brunswick Caroline of Brunswick Caroline of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel was the Queen consort of King George IV of the United Kingdom from 29 January 1820 until her death... , Matilda of Flanders Matilda of Flanders Matilda of Flanders was the wife of William the Conqueror and, as such, Queen consort of the Kingdom of England. She bore William nine/ten children, including two kings, William II and Henry I.-Marriage:... , Rhea Rhea (mythology) Rhea was the Titaness daughter of Uranus, the sky, and Gaia, the earth, in Greek mythology. She was known as "the mother of gods". In earlier traditions, she was strongly associated with Gaia and Cybele, the Great Goddess, and was later seen by the classical Greeks as the mother of the Olympian... , Suzanne from Historical Hairdressers |
| Laurence Rickard Laurence Rickard Laurence Rickard is a British comedy actor and writer. He writes for and stars in the BBC family television programme Horrible Histories and its spin-off show Horrible Histories: Gory Games.... |
Bob Hale Peter Snow Peter Snow, CBE is a British television and radio presenter. He is the grandson of First World War general Sir Thomas D'Oyly Snow, and cousin of Jon Snow, the main presenter of Channel 4 News, nephew of schoolmaster and bishop George D'Oyly Snow, and the brother-in-law of historian-writer Margaret... , John Joseph Merlin John Joseph Merlin John-Joseph Merlin was a Belgian inventor and horologist.He was born Jean-Joseph Merlin in 1735 in the city of Huy, Belgium.... , William II of England William II of England William II , the third son of William I of England, was King of England from 1087 until 1100, with powers over Normandy, and influence in Scotland. He was less successful in extending control into Wales... , Paul Revere Paul Revere Paul Revere was an American silversmith and a patriot in the American Revolution. He is most famous for alerting Colonial militia of approaching British forces before the battles of Lexington and Concord, as dramatized in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem, Paul Revere's Ride... , Draco, Pepi II, Henry V of England Henry V of England Henry V was King of England from 1413 until his death at the age of 35 in 1422. He was the second monarch belonging to the House of Lancaster.... , Deiphobus Deiphobus In Greek mythology, Deiphobus was a son of Priam and Hecuba. He was a prince of Troy, and the greatest of Priam's sons after Hector and Paris... , Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS , was an Irish-born British soldier and statesman, and one of the leading military and political figures of the 19th century... , John Wright John and Christopher Wright John Wright , and Christopher Wright , were members of the group of provincial English Catholics who planned the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605, a conspiracy to assassinate King James I by blowing up the House of Lords. Their sister married another plotter, Thomas Percy... , Arthur Aston, Cowboy Mike, Victorian Pauper |
| Jim Howick Jim Howick Jim Howick is an English actor. He is best known for his roles of Cpl. Matlin in Hellboy, Gerard in Peep Show and various characters including the 'Shouty Man', which he is best known for in CBBC's series of Horrible Histories... |
Lord Nelson, George IV of the United Kingdom George IV of the United Kingdom George IV was the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and also of Hanover from the death of his father, George III, on 29 January 1820 until his own death ten years later... , Alfred Nobel Alfred Nobel Alfred Bernhard Nobel was a Swedish chemist, engineer, innovator, and armaments manufacturer. He is the inventor of dynamite. Nobel also owned Bofors, which he had redirected from its previous role as primarily an iron and steel producer to a major manufacturer of cannon and other armaments... , Henry II of England Henry II of England Henry II ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, was the... , Richard III of England Richard III of England Richard III was King of England for two years, from 1483 until his death in 1485 during the Battle of Bosworth Field. He was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty... , Blackbeard Blackbeard Edward Teach , better known as Blackbeard, was a notorious English pirate who operated around the West Indies and the eastern coast of the American colonies.... , Nero Nero Nero , was Roman Emperor from 54 to 68, and the last in the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Nero was adopted by his great-uncle Claudius to become his heir and successor, and succeeded to the throne in 54 following Claudius' death.... , William Hare William Hare William Hare is a name shared by the following individuals:*William Hare , Irish criminal, member of the infamous Edinburgh duo of Burke and Hare*William D. Hare , Oregon politician... , Edmund II, Robert III of Artois Robert III of Artois Robert III of Artois was the son of Philip of Artois and Blanche of Brittany.In 1318 he married Joan of Valois , daughter of Charles of Valois, and had issue:* Louis... , The "Shouty Man", Winston Churchill Winston Churchill Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice... , William Buckland William Buckland The Very Rev. Dr William Buckland DD FRS was an English geologist, palaeontologist and Dean of Westminster, who wrote the first full account of a fossil dinosaur, which he named Megalosaurus... , Matthew Webb Matthew Webb Captain Matthew Webb was the first recorded person to swim the English Channel without the use of artificial aids. On 25 August 1875 he swam from Dover to Calais in less than 22 hours.-Early life and career:... , Samuel Pepys Samuel Pepys Samuel Pepys FRS, MP, JP, was an English naval administrator and Member of Parliament who is now most famous for the diary he kept for a decade while still a relatively young man... , Napoléon I Napoleon I Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815... , Archimedes Archimedes Archimedes of Syracuse was a Greek mathematician, physicist, engineer, inventor, and astronomer. Although few details of his life are known, he is regarded as one of the leading scientists in classical antiquity. Among his advances in physics are the foundations of hydrostatics, statics and an... , spoof of Gregg Wallace Gregg Wallace Gregg Allan Wallace is an English writer, media personality and former greengrocer, costermonger and farmer. He is probably best known for co-presenting MasterChef, Celebrity MasterChef and MasterChef: The Professionals on BBC Two and BBC One along with John Torode, where he is referred to as an... in "Historical Masterchef" |
| Ben Willbond Ben Willbond Ben Willbond is an English comedian and actor with credits on television, radio and film, including from 2005-2007 Deep Trouble on BBC Radio 4 with actor and writer Jim Field Smith. He was formerly part of the comedy duo "Ben & Arn", who won "Best Newcomer" at the Perrier Award in 1999... |
Henry VIII of England Henry VIII of England Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France... , George I of Great Britain George I of Great Britain George I was King of Great Britain and Ireland from 1 August 1714 until his death, and ruler of the Duchy and Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg in the Holy Roman Empire from 1698.... , Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar Julius Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman and a distinguished writer of Latin prose. He played a critical role in the gradual transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire.... , Kronos Cronus In Greek mythology, Cronus or Kronos was the leader and the youngest of the first generation of Titans, divine descendants of Gaia, the earth, and Uranus, the sky... , Billy the Kid Billy the Kid William H. Bonney William H. Bonney William H. Bonney (born William Henry McCarty, Jr. est. November 23, 1859 – c. July 14, 1881, better known as Billy the Kid but also known as Henry Antrim, was a 19th-century American gunman who participated in the Lincoln County War and became a frontier... , Louis XVI of France Louis XVI of France Louis XVI was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre until 1791, and then as King of the French from 1791 to 1792, before being executed in 1793.... , Paris of Troy, Commodus Commodus Commodus , was Roman Emperor from 180 to 192. He also ruled as co-emperor with his father Marcus Aurelius from 177 until his father's death in 180. His name changed throughout his reign; see changes of name for earlier and later forms. His accession as emperor was the first time a son had succeeded... , Aeschylus Aeschylus Aeschylus was the first of the three ancient Greek tragedians whose work has survived, the others being Sophocles and Euripides, and is often described as the father of tragedy. His name derives from the Greek word aiskhos , meaning "shame"... , William Wallace William Wallace Sir William Wallace was a Scottish knight and landowner who became one of the main leaders during the Wars of Scottish Independence.... , John Balliol, Sweyn Forkbeard, William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley , KG was an English statesman, the chief advisor of Queen Elizabeth I for most of her reign, twice Secretary of State and Lord High Treasurer from 1572... , Walter Rothschild, 2nd Baron Rothschild Walter Rothschild, 2nd Baron Rothschild Lionel Walter Rothschild, 2nd Baron Rothschild, Baron de Rothschild FRS , a scion of the Rothschild family, was a British banker, politician, and zoologist.-Biography:... , Francis Bacon Francis Bacon Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Albans, KC was an English philosopher, statesman, scientist, lawyer, jurist, author and pioneer of the scientific method. He served both as Attorney General and Lord Chancellor of England... , Adolf Hitler Adolf Hitler Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945... , John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich, PC, FRS was a British statesman who succeeded his grandfather, Edward Montagu, 3rd Earl of Sandwich, as the Earl of Sandwich in 1729, at the age of ten... , Robert Catesby Robert Catesby Robert Catesby , was the leader of a group of provincial English Catholics who planned the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605.... , Sir Thomas Hardy, 1st Baronet, Mike Peabody, spoof of John Torode John Torode John Torode is an Australian-born British celebrity chef specialising in Australasian food. He runs Smiths of Smithfield and several other restaurants scattered throughout London's Smithfield market.... in "Historical Masterchef", judge Judge A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open... of the "Court of Historical Law", Francisco Pizarro Francisco Pizarro Francisco Pizarro González, Marquess was a Spanish conquistador, conqueror of the Incan Empire, and founder of Lima, the modern-day capital of the Republic of Peru.-Early life:... , Ludwig Van Beethoven Ludwig van Beethoven Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of... (only at The Proms The Proms The Proms, more formally known as The BBC Proms, or The Henry Wood Promenade Concerts presented by the BBC, is an eight-week summer season of daily orchestral classical music concerts and other events held annually, predominantly in the Royal Albert Hall in London... ) |
| Dominique Moore Dominique Moore Dominique Moore is a British actress best known for playing Chanel O'Grady in the ITV2 television drama Footballers' Wives: Extra Time.Dominique is a former pupil of Sylvia Young Theatre School. The BBC fly-on-the-wall documentary series Paddington Green followed her as she tried to win a... |
Agent Moses Harriet Tubman Harriet Tubman Harriet Tubman Harriet Tubman (born Araminta Harriet Ross; (1820 – 1913) was an African-American abolitionist, humanitarian, and Union spy during the American Civil War. After escaping from slavery, into which she was born, she made thirteen missions to rescue more than 70 slaves... , Mary Seacole Mary Seacole Mary Jane Seacole , sometimes known as Mother Seacole or Mary Grant, was a Jamaican nurse best known for her involvement in the Crimean War. She set up and operated boarding houses in Panama and the Crimea to assist in her desire to treat the sick... , Presenter of Ready, Steady, Feast (Series 2), Ferne Polyester Fearne Cotton Fearne Cotton is an English television and radio presenter who is known for presenting a number of popular TV programmes such as Top of the Pops and the Red Nose Day telethon. In 2007, she became the first regular female presenter of BBC Radio 1's Chart Show... , Nurse, Andrea Andrea Andrea is a given name common in many parts of the world:* In Czech, Serbian, Macedonian, Dutch, English, German, Hungarian, Scandinavian languages and Spanish, Andrea is used as a woman's name, as the feminine form of Andrew, Andreas, András, Andrés or Andre.* In Italy and Albania, Andrea is quite... |
| Alice Lowe Alice Lowe Alice Lowe is an English actress and writer mainly in comedy, from the English Midlands.Lowe attended a comprehensive school and graduated from Cambridge University. She began her career co-devising and performing in surreal experimental theatre shows such as City Haunts, Snowbound and Progress In... |
Lady Jane Grey Lady Jane Grey Lady Jane Grey , also known as The Nine Days' Queen, was an English noblewoman who was de facto monarch of England from 10 July until 19 July 1553 and was subsequently executed... , Emily Davison Emily Davison Emily Wilding Davison was a militant women's suffrage activist who, on 4 June 1913, after a series of actions that were either self-destructive or violent, stepped in front of a horse running in the Epsom Derby, sustaining injuries that resulted in her death four days later.-Biography:Davison was... , Marie Antoinette Marie Antoinette Marie Antoinette ; 2 November 1755 – 16 October 1793) was an Archduchess of Austria and the Queen of France and of Navarre. She was the fifteenth and penultimate child of Holy Roman Empress Maria Theresa and Holy Roman Emperor Francis I.... , Joan Of Arc Joan of Arc Saint Joan of Arc, nicknamed "The Maid of Orléans" , is a national heroine of France and a Roman Catholic saint. A peasant girl born in eastern France who claimed divine guidance, she led the French army to several important victories during the Hundred Years' War, which paved the way for the... , Mary I of England Mary I of England Mary I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from July 1553 until her death.She was the only surviving child born of the ill-fated marriage of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon. Her younger half-brother, Edward VI, succeeded Henry in 1547... , Henrietta Maria of France Henrietta Maria of France Henrietta Maria of France ; was the Queen consort of England, Scotland and Ireland as the wife of King Charles I... , Jessica Harvey-Smythe, Poppea, Calpurnia Pisonis Calpurnia Pisonis Calpurnia Pisonis , daughter of Lucius Calpurnius Piso Caesoninus, sister of Lucius Calpurnius Piso, "the Pontifex", was a Roman woman and the third and last wife of Julius Caesar. Calpurnia was the great-granddaughter of a lieutenant of Lucius Cassius Longinus, whose name was Lucius Piso... , Cliff's Receptionist |
| Lawry Lewin Lawry Lewin Lawry Lewin, sometimes credited as Lawrence Lewin in Guisborough, Redcar and Cleveland, England is a British television actor best known for playing the role of Rossiter in both parts of the Doctor Who Christmas special, The End of Time.-Biography:It was reported in June 2009 that Lawry had landed... |
George III of Great Britain, Oliver Cromwell Oliver Cromwell Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland.... , Thomas More Thomas More Sir Thomas More , also known by Catholics as Saint Thomas More, was an English lawyer, social philosopher, author, statesman and noted Renaissance humanist. He was an important councillor to Henry VIII of England and, for three years toward the end of his life, Lord Chancellor... , Francis Tresham Francis Tresham Francis Tresham , eldest son of Sir Thomas Tresham and Merial Throckmorton, was a member of the group of English provincial catholics who planned the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605, a conspiracy to assassinate King James I of England... , Duc de Chaulnes, Revolutionary French Revolution The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years... , William Prynne William Prynne William Prynne was an English lawyer, author, polemicist, and political figure. He was a prominent Puritan opponent of the church policy of the Archbishop of Canterbury, William Laud. Although his views on church polity were presbyterian, he became known in the 1640s as an Erastian, arguing for... , Gladiator Gladiator A gladiator was an armed combatant who entertained audiences in the Roman Republic and Roman Empire in violent confrontations with other gladiators, wild animals, and condemned criminals. Some gladiators were volunteers who risked their legal and social standing and their lives by appearing in the... |
| Sarah Hadland Sarah Hadland Sarah Hadland is an English actress who has a career spanning theatre, film, and television and as a voice-over artist.-Early life and education:... |
Victoria of Great Britain, Florence Nightingale Florence Nightingale Florence Nightingale OM, RRC was a celebrated English nurse, writer and statistician. She came to prominence for her pioneering work in nursing during the Crimean War, where she tended to wounded soldiers. She was dubbed "The Lady with the Lamp" after her habit of making rounds at night... , Helen of Troy, Hatshepsut Hatshepsut Hatshepsut also Hatchepsut; meaning Foremost of Noble Ladies;1508–1458 BC) was the fifth pharaoh of the eighteenth dynasty of Ancient Egypt... , Minerva Minerva Minerva was the Roman goddess whom Romans from the 2nd century BC onwards equated with the Greek goddess Athena. She was the virgin goddess of poetry, medicine, wisdom, commerce, weaving, crafts, magic... , Presenter of Ready, Steady, Feast (Series 1), Nurse Anne, Cavegirl, Nefertiti Nefertiti Nefertiti was the Great Royal Wife of the Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten. Nefertiti and her husband were known for a religious revolution, in which they started to worship one god only... |
| Lisa Devlin | Thumbelina Thumbelina "Thumbelina" is a literary fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen first published by C. A. Reitzel on 16 December 1835 in Copenhagen, Denmark with "The Naughty Boy" and "The Traveling Companion" in the second installment of Fairy Tales Told for Children. "Thumbelina" is about a tiny girl and... , Princess Princess Princess is the feminine form of prince . Most often, the term has been used for the consort of a prince, or his daughters.... from Princess and the Pea, Sleeping Beauty Sleeping Beauty Sleeping Beauty by Charles Perrault or Little Briar Rose by the Brothers Grimm is a classic fairytale involving a beautiful princess, enchantment, and a handsome prince... , Lady in Waiting, Princess Princess Princess is the feminine form of prince . Most often, the term has been used for the consort of a prince, or his daughters.... from Frog Prince The Frog Prince (story) "The Frog Prince; or, Iron Henry" is a fairy tale, best known through the Brothers Grimm's written version; traditionally it is the first story in their collection. In the tale, a spoiled princess reluctantly befriends a frog , who magically transforms into a handsome prince... , Fairy Godmother Fairy godmother In fairy tales, a fairy godmother is a fairy with magical powers who acts as a mentor or parent to someone, in the role that an actual godparent was expected to play in many societies... , Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe, Shelly |
Other actors include:
- Susie Donkin
- Katy WixKaty WixKaty Wix is a Welsh actress who has appeared in Not Going Out, Comic Relief Special, Rush Hour, Miranda and Torchwood.She also has numerous recurring roles in Horrible Histories...
- Giles Terera
- Nathaniel Martello-WhiteNathaniel Martello-WhiteNathaniel Martello-White is a British actor. He has performed in many films, television shows and theatre. Inculde Othello, Nicholas Nickleby and West Side Story. Film credits include The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2, Life Just Is, Deadmeat and short film Invisible...
- Javone PrinceJavone PrinceJavone Prince is a British comedian and actor. He has appeared in many British comedy television shows, such as; Horrible Histories, Sorry, I've Got No Head and Little Miss Jocelyn. He is most famous for starring as Jerwayne in PhoneShop. He is currently performing in the second series of PhoneShop...
- Rhashan StoneRhashan StoneRhashan Stone is a British-American actor, comedian, musician, composer, singer and playwright. He is best known for appearing in many BBC television comedy shows such as Desmond's and Mutual Friends. As well as his numerous television appearances, Rhashan is also an accomplished stage actor...
- George Sawyer
- Daniel Lawrence Taylor
- Allin Kempthorne
With special guests:
- Terry DearyTerry DearyTerry Deary is a children's author now living in Burnhope, County Durham, England.A former actor, theatre-director and drama teacher, Deary says he began writing when he was 29...
- David BaddielDavid BaddielDavid Lionel Baddiel is an English comedian, novelist and television presenter.-Early life:Baddiel was born in New York, and moved to England when he was four months old. His father, Colin Brian Baddiel, was a Welsh research chemist with Unilever before being made redundant in the 1980s, after...
- Dave LambDave LambDave Lamb is a British actor and voice-over artist best known for his work on Come Dine with Me as well as appearances in British television and radio programmes, especially comedy programmes. He also currently presents the CBBC game show Horrible Histories: Gory Games.- Early work :Lamb's first...
(voice only) - Alexei SayleAlexei SayleAlexei David Sayle is a British stand-up comedian, actor and author. He was a central part of the alternative comedy circuit in the early 1980s. He was voted the 18th greatest stand-up comic on Channel 4's 100 Greatest Stand-ups in 2007...
- Meera SyalMeera SyalMeera Syal MBE is a British comedienne, writer, playwright, singer, journalist, producer and actress. She rose to prominence as one of the team that created Goodness Gracious Me and became one of the UK's best-known Indian personalities portraying Sanjeev's grandmother, Ummi, in The Kumars at No...
- Steve PuntSteve PuntStephen Punt is a British writer, comedian and actor, best known for his long-time comedy partnership with Hugh Dennis. Punt lives in Wimbledon with his girlfriend and two children.-Life and career:...
- Tanni Grey-ThompsonTanni Grey-ThompsonCarys Davina "Tanni" Grey-Thompson, Baroness Grey-Thompson, DBE is a Welsh athlete and TV presenter.Grey-Thompson was born with spina bifida and uses a wheelchair. She is considered to be one of the most successful disabled athletes in the UK...
- Simon CowellSimon CowellSimon Phillip Cowell is an English A&R executive, television producer, entrepreneur, and television personality. He is known in the United Kingdom and United States for his role as a talent judge on TV shows such as Pop Idol, The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent and American Idol...
Puppeteer:
- John EcclestonJohn EcclestonJohn Eccleston is a puppeteer, writer and presenter known for his work as lead puppeteer of Rygel in Farscape, Groove in The Hoobs and his many roles on British children's television alongside Don Austen...
as Rattus Rattus - Scott BrookerScott BrookerScott Brooker is a British voice actor and puppeteer. He is most famous for playing Rattus Rattus in Horrible Histories. The character was usually played by John Eccleston but he was unavailable for the filming of Gory Games and some of the filming of the third season Horrible Histories, so Brooker...
as Rattus Rattus (certain episodes and Horrible Histories: Gory GamesHorrible Histories: Gory GamesHorrible Histories: Gory Games is a television game show co-produced by Citrus Television & Lion Television for the BBC. It is a spin-off of the main Horrible Histories show. The first series began on 30 May 2011, the same day on which the first episode of Horrible Histories series three first aired...
)
Additional voices:
- Jon CulshawJon CulshawJonathan Peter Culshaw is an English impressionist and comedian. He was educated at St Bede's RC High School, Ormskirk and St John Rigby College, in Orrell, Wigan....
- Jess RobinsonJess RobinsonJess Robinson , is an English up and coming comedy actress and impressionist.Jess started out in theatre and trained at The Arts Educational School, Tring Park as a singer. She played Little Voice in The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, by Jim Cartwright, at the Courtyard Theatre...
- Sarah HadlandSarah HadlandSarah Hadland is an English actress who has a career spanning theatre, film, and television and as a voice-over artist.-Early life and education:...
Episodes
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Awards
In 2009, Horrible Histories received an RTS nomination for best Children's Programme. It was also nominated for Europe's most prestigious children's award, the Prix Jeunesse. Executive Producer Richard Bradley said, "After one series, Horrible Histories' unique blend of historical fact and gory, grisly, bloody comedy has clearly made its mark with children and a surprising number of adults. We look forward to laughing ourselves even smarter with series two and three." The series was also nominated for two Baftas at the 2009 EA British Academy Children's Awards. The nominations were in the categories of Best Writing and Best Factual programme. The nominees were Caroline Norris, Chloe Thomas, Steve Connelly, Giles Pilbrow, Ben Ward and Laurence Rickard. Executive Producer Richard Bradley said "We are thrilled that Lion's first venture into children's television has been acclaimed in this way. It's a tribute to all the efforts of an incredibly talented team in creating such a fresh, innovative and ambitious show." In 2010, the TV series was nominated for, and later won 3 BAFTA awards: Best Children's Comedy, Best Writer (the writing team), and Best Performer. (Jim Howick) Horrible Histories won a 2011 Broadcast Award in the category of Best Children’s Programme.In 2011, Horrible Histories was nominated for BAFTA awards in Writing (writing team), Performer (Martha Howe-Douglas) and Comedy in the children's section.
The programme was also the surprise winner of the Best Sketch Show category of The British Comedy Awards of 2010, the first ever children's programme to be recognised at the ceremony.
Ratings
In the week before 15 June 2009, the show topped the children’s TV viewing figures with 191,000 viewers. The Daily TelegraphThe Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
commented on its success: "The show...proved a huge hit, with nearly 50 per cent of six to 12 year-olds in the UK tuning in to watch an episode"
Critical response
Alice-Azania Jarvis of The IndependentThe Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
praised the first episode of the series, writing that, although she did not enjoy the Terry Deary
Terry Deary
Terry Deary is a children's author now living in Burnhope, County Durham, England.A former actor, theatre-director and drama teacher, Deary says he began writing when he was 29...
book series, she loved the first episode for being "everything that Blue Peter
Blue Peter
Blue Peter is the world's longest-running children's television show, having first aired in 1958. It is shown on CBBC, both in its BBC One programming block and on the CBBC channel. During its history there have been many presenters, often consisting of two women and two men at a time...
isn't: fun, filthy and genuinely engaging in a peer-to-peer way." The British Comedy Guide gave the first series a positive review, stating: "This show is great! A talented cast and writing team have made this a comedy highlight for us." Mike Ward of the Daily Star commented: "Kids can learn to love history just so long as it's told to them in a way that brings it to life. And this new series [...] does precisely that". Harry Venning of The Stage
The Stage
The Stage is a weekly British newspaper founded in 1880, available nationally and published on Thursdays. Covering all areas of the entertainment industry but focused primarily on theatre, it contains news, reviews, opinion, features and other items of interest, mainly to those who work within the...
wrote: "Horrible Histories scours the past for interesting, bizarre, unpleasant and unpalatable facts and uses them as the basis for some seriously funny, beautifully performed and endlessly inventive sketches." Naomi West of The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
described the series as "boundary-pushing" and a "comic gem", writing that the first series "delivered more laughs than most post-watershed comedies". Tom Stucliffe, also of The Independent commented that: "As a grown-up you might quibble with the fact that they don't always distinguish between things that genuinely are true and the things that people would like to be (sadly, there's no hard evidence that Aeschylus
Aeschylus
Aeschylus was the first of the three ancient Greek tragedians whose work has survived, the others being Sophocles and Euripides, and is often described as the father of tragedy. His name derives from the Greek word aiskhos , meaning "shame"...
was brained by a tortoise dropped by an overflying eagle). But grown-ups and children should enjoy the gleefully anachronistic way in which information is conveyed".
Throughout its run, the show received many positive reviews from various publications. Radio Times
Radio Times
Radio Times is a UK weekly television and radio programme listings magazine, owned by the BBC. It has been published since 1923 by BBC Magazines, which also provides an on-line listings service under the same title...
praised the new season, saying "three cheers for the return of this factual but funny series". It also complemented the series by explaining that "history hasn’t been this much fun since the last series finished". The Mail on Sunday
The Mail on Sunday
The Mail on Sunday is a British conservative newspaper, currently published in a tabloid format. First published in 1982 by Lord Rothermere, it became Britain's biggest-selling Sunday newspaper following the closing of The News of the World in July 2011...
referred to the series as "superior edutainment
Edutainment
Edutainment is a form of entertainment designed to educate as well as to amuse.-Overview:...
" and Radio Times
Radio Times
Radio Times is a UK weekly television and radio programme listings magazine, owned by the BBC. It has been published since 1923 by BBC Magazines, which also provides an on-line listings service under the same title...
deemed it "one of the best shows anywhere". Telegraph heralded the series, calling it "a boundary-pushing sketch show … more laughs than most post-watershed comedies …a comic gem". The show has also been acclaimed by TV Times
TV Times
TVTimes is a television listings magazine published in the United Kingdom by IPC Media, a subsidiary of Time Warner. It is known for its access to television actors and their programmes. In 2006 it was refreshed for a more modern look, increasing its emphasis on big star interviews and soaps...
for its ability to surruptitiously teach children facts about history in a funny and clever show, "slapstick gags and hilarious pastiches disguising useful educational content…our favourite take on British history…we wish history had been taught like this in our day!". The Sunday Express said "There’s nothing kids like quite so much as violence and horror which is why Horrible Histories has been such a success" The Sunday Times referred to the series as "An attention grabbing mix of the wilder parts of history". The Independent called it "Educational Silliness" The British Comedy Guide gave a positive review, saying "This show is great! A talented cast and writing team have made this a comedy highlight for us. In fact, it has become quite a hit with those outside its target audience. Why? Well, much like Sorry, I've Got No Head
Sorry, I've Got No Head
Sorry, I've Got No Head is a CBBC children's sketch comedy. The programme's cast originally consisted of William Andrews, David Armand, James Bachman, Marcus Brigstocke, Anna Crilly, Justin Edwards, Mark Evans, Mel Giedroyc, Marek Larwood and Nick Mohammed...
, the material doesn't patronise but instead treats the children watching as the intelligent people they are. The musical numbers are the real highlight - make sure you check them out!
Damian Kavanagh of Controller CBBC said "Horrible Histories is a stand-out critical and ratings success for CBBC loved as much by adults as by our young viewers. The 11 awards the series has now picked are testament to its enormous appeal. Series three is a belter and is even bigger and better than the last."