History isn't boring. It's Horrible

A Review of CBBC’s Horrible Histories

31.05.2024

By Kathleen Starck

Have you ever wondered what dating might have been like for Elizabeth I, what kind of punishments existed for Victorian school children, whose death might be considered the most stupid in history and how on earth anyone is supposed to remember all those British monarchs’ names? Also, do you think history is boring because it consists of learning by heart endless lists of dates?

If you have answered any of the above questions with yes, then this is for you.

Horrible Histories is an award-winning comedy sketch series, based on the books by Terry Deary. Produced by CBBC, the children’s branch of the BBC, the show’s focus is - surprise! - on British history, covering all the historical periods from the ”Savage Stone Age” via the “Measly Middle Ages” to “Woeful Second World War” and beyond. You can learn about the “Cut-Throat Celts”, “Rotten Romans”, “Smashing Saxons”, “Vicious Vikings”, “Terrible Tudors”, “Vile Victorians”, and many others. The topics of the sketches range from big international events and monarchs’ lives and legacies, writers, artists, inventors, etc. to everyday life, such as medical practices or food.

The team behind Horrible Histories are delightfully disrespectful, flippant and creative in their treatment of the “good and great”, making the series hugely enjoyable edutainment. There are songs such as the “Origins of World War I Rap Battle” or on Georgian Influencers, adverts for child labour or monks, game shows, such as “Who wants to be a German Millionaire” about the German hyper-inflation of the 1920s, “news reports” on, for example the Great Fire of London and Tudor football, or spoofs on reality TV shows such as Channel 4’s “Wife Swap”, the BBC’s cooking show “Master Chef”, or Channel 4’s “Extraordinary Extensions” (Yes, in Britain that’s a thing. The 2021 show “follows homeowners as they unleash their inner architect and build beautiful, often radical and ‘out there’ home extensions.“).

Best of all, this is not merely a fun way to learn about history. Chances are you will be able to remember historical facts from the sketches, as there is evidence that humour and memory are closely connected (see Carlson 2011).

The Monarch Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSvKc-8frp8

Elizabeth I’s Dating: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrXy-260pCk

Punishments at Victorian Schools: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGSmilO-ah4

Stupid Deaths: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlIe1Ixtgo0

Extraordinary Extensions: https://www.channel4.com/programmes/extraordinary-extensions

HH’s take on extensions, “Gross Designs”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3x-n5vFAZ8

Historical Wife Swap: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oial3aYTGoE

Origins of World War I Rap Battle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCEUZ4rFiac

Medieval Paramedics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igFhhByIOLo

Historical Master Chefs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2G5ErxV-Es

Advert for chimney sweep: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUBPqCa-tiE

Tudor Football: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QekjU1j1RB8