Horrible Histories (2015 TV series)
| Horrible Histories | |
|---|---|
_-_Title_Card.png) Logo used for Series 6 and "The Specials II" | |
| Genre | Comedy |
| Based on | Horrible Histories by Terry Deary |
| Written by |
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| Directed by | CBBC |
| Release | 7 February 2015 – present |
| Related | |
| Horrible Histories | |
Horrible Histories is a British sketch comedy children's television series, the second live-action iteration of the book series Horrible Histories written by Terry Deary.
Produced by Lion Television for the
History
In 2014, CBBC executives announced that, owing to the critical and popular success of the original, discussions were underway regarding some form of return. Original series star Mathew Baynton subsequently confirmed that he and the other five members of the starring cast would not be reuniting as a team for the new project.[1]
The resulting series, while sharing the same core concept, genre and sensibilities as its predecessor—including an original parody song in each episode—follows a notably different format. In lieu of the previous short, unconnected sketches from randomly-selected time periods, the new series consists of specials focusing on the specific life and times of one prominent historical figure. It will also involve a largely all-new production team and cast, while still retaining Greg Jenner as lead historical consultant and many of the original series's writers. In addition, original stars Sarah Hadland, Simon Farnaby, Lawry Lewin, Dominique Moore, Katherine Jakeways, Giles Terera and Jim Howick returned in limited roles, with Farnaby in particular reprising his role as Death. Minor Series 4 actors Jessica Ransom and Jalaal Hartley took on more central roles. Several prominent UK comedy veterans, including Ben Miller, Kathryn Drysdale, Kevin Eldon, Tom Rosenthal and Rowan Atkinson, guest-starred as the spotlighted figures.[2]
In February 2015, the new series debuted with an episode drawing on the events leading up to the signing of Magna Carta, timed to coincide with the BBC's larger commemoration of the document's 800-year anniversary before being followed by a run of fourteen episodes. 2016 saw the broadcast of three specials to mark certain events throughout that year: 400 years since Shakespeare died, the BBC's "Love to Read" campaign, and 350 years since the Great Fire of London. There was a slight change in cast where the main stars Jalaal Hartley, Tom Stourton and Jessica Ransom continued with some of the supporting cast, while a number of the sixth series cast, including the two original members Jim Howick and Simon Farnaby were absent.
A full-length seventh series was aired every Monday on CBBC from June 2017, and it continued into 2018. Hartley, Ransom and Stourton continue alongside Gemma Whelan and Richard David-Caine who stayed on from the 2016 specials; Ryan Sampson now makes up the sixth main cast member. This time, Series 7 focuses each episode on a theme, e.g. music, explorers, medicine, presidents etc. The format is very much the same with recurring sketches, a song or two each episode (with the main songs now placed at the end of each episode, except for Ruthless Rulers and Series 8's Mind Your Manners), animated characters in-between sketches and quiz questions asked by various historical figures. One notable difference is that of host Rattus Rattus, who has his own storyline based on the theme of the episode and is appearing in many different costumes. Guest-stars include Sanjeev Bhaskar with various roles, as he did in Series 6, and First Dates host Fred Sirieix who appears for 'Historical First Dates' sketches to host.
An eighth series began filming in September 2018, and began airing on 3 June 2019 on CBBC, with a similar concept to Series 7 (each episode focusing on a theme) whilst also occasionally featuring guest co-hosts. The series had two special episodes: the first one being Football with Alex Scott, a special where
On 19 December 2019, It was announced that the remaining episodes of series 8 will air during 2020, however a new ninth series will also be set to air sometime in the year.[3]
In October 2022, a special episode about the history of the BBC was shown to celebrate the BBC's 100th anniversary.[4]
Cast
Further information see:
These are the cast who have appeared in all or most of the episodes:
| Starring Actor | Roles (recurring only) |
|---|---|
| Richard Atwill (2016 Specials) | Gabriel Spenser (2016 Specials), Robert Hooke (2016 Specials), John Shakespeare (2016 Specials) |
| Richard David-Caine (2016 Specials – present) | Tsar Peter III
|
| Simon Farnaby (Series 6) | Death, George III (Series 6), Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher (Series 6), Benjamin Disraeli (Series 6) |
| Jalaal Hartley (Series 6 – Series 8) | Orville Wright, Joseph Stalin (Series 6), John Cage, C. Auguste Dupin, Christopher Marlowe, Donatello, John Logie Baird, Alexander Fleming, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Pierre Curie, Claudius, Henry II (Season 7)
|
| Harrie Hayes (Series 8-present) | Charlotte Bronte (Series 8 – present)
|
| Jim Howick (Series 6) | Napoleon Bonaparte (Series 6), Winston Churchill (Series 6), Mr. H, host of "History's Craziest Fools"
|
| Samson Kayo (Series 7) | Shaka Zulu
|
| Naz Osmanoglu (Series 6) | Prince Albert (Series 6), Francis II of France (Series 6), Chris Staycalmer
|
| Jessica Ransom (Series 6 – present) | |
| Adam Riches (Series 6) | Geoff Reason, Julius Caesar (Series 6), Host of "Historical Grand Designs" (Series 6), Richard I of England (Series 6), Æthelwulf, King of Wessex (Series 6), Henry VII of England (Series 6), Charles I of England (Series 6), Pope Stephen VI (Series 6), Edward the Confessor (Series 6), Edward Jenner(Series 6), Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (Series 6) |
| Ryan Sampson (Series 7) | King John of England (Series 7), Henry Richardson Labouisse Jr. (Season 7), Gonzalo Pizarro (Series 7)
|
| Tom Stourton (Series 6 – present) | Captain Robert Falcon Scott
|
| Thom Tuck (2016 Specials) | Branwell Bronte (2016 Specials), Edward VI
|
| Mike Wozniak (Series 8) | Wilhelm II of Germany
|
| Gemma Whelan (2016 Specials – present) | Vigée Le Brun, Mona Lisa, Lisa del Giocondo, Nefertari, Hatshepsut, Agrippina the Younger, Mary I of England, Ada Lovelace, Parthenope Nightingale, Eleanor of Aquitaine (Season 7), Marie Curie, Maria Theresa, Margaret of Anjou, Queen Victoria (Series 7)
|
| Michael Abubakar (Series 8 – present) | Aurelian Moor Roman General, Neolithic Man, Georgian Man, Tudor Courtier, World War soldier, Windrush Migrant, Ottobah Cugoano |
| Ethan Lawrence (Series 10 – present) |
William Rufus, Aneurin Bevan
|
| Lolly Adefope (Series 7) | Head Teacher Hannah Lawrence, Harriet Tubman, Mary Bowser, Mary Seacole, Irène Joliot-Curie |
| Sanjeev Bhaskar (Series 6 - Series 7) | Dean Mahomet (Series 6 – Series 7), Mahatma Gandhi (Series 6 – Series 7), Greek Man (Series 6 – Series 7), Shah Jahan (Series 6 – Series 7), Indian Man (Series 6 — Series 7)
|
| Louise Ford (Series 6 – Series 7) | Mary II of England and Scotland (Series 6 – Series 7), Frances Nightingale, mother of Florence Nightingale (Series 6 – Series 7), Maria Anna Mozart (Series 6 – Series 7)
|
| Katherine Jakeways (Series 6) | Catherine de' Medici (Series 6), Anne of Cleves (Series 6) |
| Lawry Lewin (Series 6) | Brian, host of "Amazing Scientists" (Series 6), Oliver Cromwell (Series 6) |
| Jason Lewis (Series 6) | Jamie Castle |
| Bhavna Limbachia (Series 6) | Egyptian in Horrible Histories Health Direct (Series 6) |
| Dan Li (Series 6) | Emperor Zhengde (Series 6 – Series 7), Qin Shi Huang (Series 6 – Series 7), Confucius (Series 6 – Series 7)
|
| James McNicholas (Series 7 – present) | Charles Darwin (Series 7 – Series 8), Louis VII of France (Series 7 – Series 8), Edward VI (Series 7 – Series 8), Henry VI (Series 7 – Series 8), William III of England (Series 7 – Series 8), Augustus (Series 7) Julius Caesar (Series 8) |
- Richard Atwill[5] (2016 Specials)
- Richard David-Caine (2016 Specials – present)
- Simon Farnaby (Series 6)
- Jalaal Hartley[5][6][7] (Series 6 – present)
- Harrie Hayes (Series 8)
- Jim Howick (Series 6)
- Samson Kayo[5] (Series 7)
- Naz Osmanoglu (Series 6)
- Jessica Ransom[5][6][7] (Series 6 – present)
- Adam Riches (Series 6)
- Ryan Sampson[7] (Series 7)
- Tom Stourton[5][6][7] (Series 6 – present)
- Thom Tuck[5] (2016 Specials)
- Mike Wozniak (Series 8)
- Gemma Whelan[5][7] (2016 Specials – present)
- Ethan Lawrence (Series 10)
Supporting cast:
- Michael Abubakar (Series 8)
- Lolly Adefope[5] (Series 7)
- Sanjeev Bhaskar[2][7] (Series 6 – Series 7)
- Louise Ford[5][6][7] (Series 6 – Series 7)
- Katherine Jakeways (Series 6)
- Lawry Lewin[6] (Series 6)
- Jason Lewis[6] (Series 6)
- Bhavna Limbachia (Series 6)
- Dan Li[6][5] (Series 6 – Series 7)
- Emily Lloyd-Saini (Series 8)
- James McNicholas[5][7] (Series 7 – present)
- Dominique Moore[5] (Series 6 – 2016 Specials;Series 9)
- Tom Palmer[5] (Series 7)
- Daniel Lawrence Taylor[5] (2016 Specials)
- Giles Terera (Series 6)
- Danielle Vitalis (Series 8)
- Natalie Walter[5] (Series 6 – 2016 Specials)
- Ellie White[5](Series 7 – Series 8)
- Sophie Wu[5] (Series 6 – Series 7)
Guest starring:
- Rowan Atkinson[2]
- Terry Deary
- Kathryn Drysdale[2]
- Kevin Eldon[2]
- Mel Giedroyc[5]
- Miles Jupp[5]
- Ben Miller[2]
- Tom Rosenthal[2]
- Fred Sirieix (Series 7–8)[7]
- Lorna Watson[2]
- Robert Webb[5]
- Bradley Simpson
- Dara Ó Briain
- Alex Scott
- Holly H
- Dani Dyer
- Javone Prince
- Rose Ayling-Ellis
- Jo Brand
Episodes
Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Horrible Histories Series 7 | BAFTA Children's Award for Best Writing | Nominated[8] |
| 2018 | Tom Stourton as Henry VIII | BAFTA Children's Award for Best Performer | Nominated[8] |
| 2018 | Horrible Histories Series 7 | BAFTA Children's Award for Best Comedy | Nominated[8] |
| 2018 | Horrible Histories Series 7 | Broadcast Award for Best Children's Programme | Won[9] |
| 2017 | Horrible Histories Special: Crooked King John and Magna Carta | International Emmy Award for Best Kids Factual | Won[10] |
| 2017 | Horrible Histories Special: Sensational Shakespeare | Broadcast Award for Best Children's Programme | Nominated[11] |
| 2016 | Horrible Histories Special: Sensational Shakespeare | BAFTA Children's Award for Best Comedy | Won[12] |
| 2016 | Tom Stourton as William Shakespeare | BAFTA Children's Award for Best Performer | Nominated[12] |
| 2016 | Horrible Histories Special: Sensational Shakespeare | BAFTA Children's Award for Best Writing | Nominated[12] |
| 2015 | Horrible Histories Series 6 | British Comedy Guide Award for Best Sketch Show | Won[13] |
| 2016 | Horrible Histories Special: Crooked King John and Magna Carta | Kidscreen Award for Best Non-Animated or Mixed Series | Won[14] |
| 2016 | Horrible Histories Special: Awesome Alfred the Great | Broadcast Award for Best Children's Programme | Nominated[15] |
| 2015 | Horrible Histories Special: Crooked King John and Magna Carta | BAFTA Children's Award for Best Comedy | Nominated[16] |
| 2015 | Jessica Ransom as Mary, Queen of Scots | BAFTA Children's Award for Best Performer | Won[16] |
| 2015 | Horrible Histories Special: Crooked King John and Magna Carta | BAFTA Children's Award for Best Writing | Nominated[16] |
DVD and online releases
The series, treated as the sixth of the original 2009–2013 run, was released on Region 2 DVD on 31 August 2015. Episodes are also available online through UK iTunes as "Series 6: Rotten Rulers". The 2016 specials were released on DVD under "The Specials II" on 12 September 2016. The seventh series, including its then-unaired episodes, was released on DVD on 6 November 2017 for regions 2 and 4.
Controversies
Australian Chinese viewers claimed that the "I'm a Tang Celebrity" segment on the second episode of series 6 was "spreading institutionalised racism".[17]
References
- ^ "Horrible Histories Series 6 in planning". British Comedy Guide. 4 July 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Top comedy stars join CBBC's Horrible Histories". BBC Media Centre. 5 January 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
- ^ Horrible Histories TV [@HHTV_] (20 December 2019). "Next year the rest of #HorribleHistories Series 8 will air. Then what? MORE! Series 9 people...https://twitter.com/Manofminitalent/status/1207233916987412480 …" (Tweet). Retrieved 23 January 2020 – via Twitter.
- ^ "BBC 100 on TV, iPlayer, Radio and Sounds: Your ultimate guide to centenary programming across the BBC".
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "Tom Miller Linkedin". Linkedin. Retrieved 19 March 2016.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b c d e f g "Series 6, Magna Carta Special: Crooked King John and Magna Carta". CBBC. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Horrible Histories TV". Series 7 Cast. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
- ^ a b c "Children's Awards Winners 2018". bafta.org. 17 October 2018.
- ^ 2018-02-07T21:54:00+00:00. "Best children's programme: Horrible Histories". Broadcast.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Nominees – International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences".
- ^ "Children's programme: The Boy on the Bicycle". Broadcast. 1 February 2017. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
- ^ a b c "Horrible Histories, TrueTube lead BAFTA Children's noms".
- ^ Guide, British Comedy. "Comedy.co.uk Awards 2015 results". British Comedy Guide.
- ^ "The 2016 Kidscreen Awards winners are…".
- ^ "shortlist". Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
- ^ a b c "Children's Awards 2015". BAFTA. 22 October 2015. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
- ABC Online. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
