LAUGH YOUR HEAD OFF!
Looks back at 15 years of kids’ show Horrible Histories
given the chop, battle disasters and stupid deaths have all helped to make Horrible Histories a success.
The BBC show featuring comic sketches and songs about historical figures began life on CBBC in 2009.
It could be argued it was wasted on kids and adults quickly started watching the series as well.
Original cast members Mathew Baynton, Simon Farnaby, Martha Howe-Douglas, Jim Howick, Laurence Rickard and Ben Willbond enjoyed working together so much that they went on to make Sky
One series Yonderland and BBC sitcom Ghosts.
There have also been movie spinoffs like
2019’s Horrible Histories: The Movie – Rotten Romans starring Sir Derek Jacobi and Sherlock actor Rupert Graves, and Bill in 2015 spoofed the life of William Shakespeare and featured Homeland actor Damian Lewis. There has also been a spin-off game show and plays. Through its hilarious sketches, catchy songs, and unforgettable characters, the show has brought history to life for audiences of all ages, spanning generations. There have been 162 episodes so far and HorriROYALS
ble Histories has picked up 13 Bafta Awards over the last 15 years, three British Comedy Awards, an International Emmy Award and six RTS awards.
Horrible Histories: ‘Orrible Opera also sold out the Royal Albert Hall in London twice as part of the BBC Proms.
Rowan Atkinson, Dara Ó’Briain, Rosie Jones, Rob Delaney, Fred Sirieix, Rose Ayling-Ellis, Alex Scott, and
Jill Scott have also featured in the TV show in recent years and episodes of Horrible Histories are now available on BBC iPlayer.
Renowned classicist Mary Beard says: “I’m a huge fan of Horrible Histories. They actually get to parts that some grown up
histories don’t reach. I start my recent book on Roman emperors with the third century emperor Elagabalus, but I admit that Horrible Histories got there first, as that emperor himself says, in the HH song, to another Imperial villain, Caligula…. ‘Your nastiness was fabulous. But my name’s Elagabalus, and I was far, far worse.’ “We shouldn’t forget that a lot of historical knowledge starts with a joke.”