Kids sketch show Horrible Histories takes us on a journey into the gruesome and ghastly events of times past. Based on the series of very popular books by Terry Deary each episode of the show featured skits from different periods in history and in best sketch show style also managed to take the mickey out of pop culture icons too and also find time for the odd musical moment as well! The whole thing is presided over by talking Rat puppet Rattus.
Quite the hit Horrible Histories scores heavy by not patronising it’s junior audience and in the process appealing to an older age group too. Series one featured guest stars such as Meera Syal, Steve Punt and Terry Deary himself whilst the second run of episodes attracted the likes of David Baddiel, Jon Culshaw, Alexei Sayle and David Lamb. The final episode of season two was a Savage Songs Special which featured the pick of the song clips from the previous twelve episodes. Horrible Histories also ran as an animated series from 2001-2002.
production details
UK | CBBC – BBC One – Lion Television | x25 minute episodes | Broadcast 16 April 2009 – 24 August 2015
Writers: Steve Punt, Jon Holmes, Ben Ward, Dave Cohen (series 1), Fay Rusling (series 2), Oriane Messina (series 2)
Books: Terry Deary
Music: Richie Webb, Matt Katz
Directors: Chloe Thomas (series 1), Dominic Brigstocke (series 2), Steve Connelly
Regulars on the series are
MARTHA HOWE-DOUGLAS
BEN WILLBOND
MATHEW BAYNTON
SARAH HADLAND
SIMON FARNABY
JIM HOWICK
LAURENCE RICKARD
Whilst there were semi-regular appearances from
KATY WIX
COREY J SMITH
LISA DEVLIN
BERTIE GILBERT
JAVONE PRINCE
GILES TERERA
