User reviews

'Horrible Histories' is a show comprising sketches and songs based around a range of different historical periods such as Measly Middle Ages, Slimy Stuarts, Terrible Tudors and Savage Stone Age, often focusing on British history but also covering the history of other nations and peoples such as Groovy Greeks, Rotten Romans and Incredible Incas. The show is based on the hugely popular books by Terry Deary (who plays the occasional cameo!) and features animations by Martin Brown.

The whole show from start to finish is just hilarious. I became addicted earlier this year watching repeats of the first series, and was overjoyed when the second series was aired a few months later. The sketches are incredibly clever - many of them are take-offs of popular shows such as Wife Swap, Ready Steady Cook and This Is Your Life. There's even a catchy, cleverly-written song in each episode which you'll find yourself humming about the house for days afterwards! It's great that the episodes are so funny but also of course it gets kids (and adults!) learning more about history which is no bad thing! And even though it is primarily aimed at children, it's obvious it's meant to entertain the grown-ups just as much! I think there's so many children's series that have come out over the years which are peddled as 'comdedy' for children but they just end up patronising them with 'gags' that they can see coming a mile off and are rarely funny at all - 'HH' credits its young viewers with a lot more intelligence I think.

But I must mention that even though the writing, structure and general concept of the show are inspired, what really makes the show what it is is its fantastic cast, many of whom contribute to the writing. Mathew Baynton, Martha Howe-Douglas, Jim Howick, Ben Willbond, Laurence Rickard and Sarah Hadland (as well as a whole host of others) are all brilliant in their countless roles - they seem to put a lot of thought into maximising the hilarity of each sketch and basically just do their job really well! My favourite moments are too many to list although I particularly like the medieval paramedics, the Will Somers sketch, Mathew Baynton's parody of a certain TV fashion makeover guru and the Franciso Pizzaro Rough Guide. I also love the Boudica, Charles II, four King Georges and Spartan High School Musical songs (the last just seems to get funnier with each viewing!). Just catch the repeats on CBBC or buy the DVD if you've yet to see it - if you have kids they'll love it, and even if you don't, you should like it anyway!

Blood, guts and excrement. Words to make you sick, I meant. Show this to your children and rejoice, toilet calls - there is no choice!

Sorry, didn't rime properly. Bad viking me.

Amazing show. I cannot believe how they market this as a children's show. The humor is quite pythonesque and the pop-culture references are pretty subtle (for a child to understand).

On the minus side there are some historical inaccuracies. E.g. Caligula wasn't murdered by his niece. And there are some more, but who cares. It's fun.

There really are some gruesome moments.. mostly involving feces. Amazing educational show, you silly Brits!

The first 5 season are exceptional. Some of the funniest British comedy sketches I've ever seen and the original music is first rate . I rate seasons 1-5 as 10. Unfortunately the subsequent seasons fall off a cliff. The sketches are drawn out and boring and the music is uninspired.

The 4 King George's as a boy band singing Born to Rule. That's all you need to know. Sketch comedy for the family.

Horrible Histories is one of the best shows on children's television; with catchy songs and entertaining jokes, this show really is the best way to learn about history.

When this show first aired I was starting high school and hated history, I couldn't remember anything and was getting bottom marks in every test. This show saved my grades, every episode meant that a large amount of information became lodged in my head. From Vikings to King Charles II to the Civil Rights Movement, this show covers a lot with coherence and clarity even being clever enough to make spoofs of popular shows and TV adverts ('we buy any monk.com!') that ring true to modern British culture. This should not, however, restrict its audience though since it is an easily accessible show that has something for everyone.

Now what truly makes Horrible Histories special are the amazing covers of popular songs. After six years I still find myself singing to 'Born To Rule' and 'My Name Is Charles'. The catchy lyrics will get stuck in your head faster than the Flash can run and will help you learn. The one downside is that you may get weird looks if you start to sing out loud to the songs in public (Trust me on this!). Everyday life has never been the same, but my friends and I have had great fun trying and failing to sing our favourite songs in tune.

Overall this show is a must watch, especially if you like history or comedy. With an amazingly witty cast and crew this show will have you begging for more episodes (but, since this is a BBC show, you shouldn't hold your breath).

The early series of this show were superb. The writing and attention to detail for the sets and costumes was superb. It always amazed me how much effort (and probably cost!) went into each segment. Sadly it went downhill big time from Series 6 onwards. I'm guessing that the writing changed, but I wouldn't be surprised if the budgets were significantly reduced as well.

Based on the successful book series published by Scholastic (with new titles still being published, mind you), this romp through historical mishaps, deaths, kings and queens, battles, language, and the inevitable fart and poo jokes.

Each episode jumps around between time periods and locations. Being a British show, Europe is the main focus, but the Ancient Incas, Egyptians, and Arab doctors don't escape the HH treatment.

Don't expect a hard hitting documentary, or even a loosely connected series of events. This is sketch comedy with a factual edge. It does its best to show accurate events, but mixes it in with some deliberate anachronistic elements.

Well acted, well written, just a lot of fun for kids of all ages - adults as well if you aren't too proud to admit it.

I first watched this series in 2015 and fell in love with it, the funny sketches,the unpredictable comedy and the lovable actors and their characters.

However the best part about the early series was the songs. The show took samples of famous songs and changed the flow and lyrics to something catchy and enjoyable.

However, in series 6, the original actors left and the show took a drop in quality. Even though it wasn't as good as the first 5 series, the celebs portraying the character performed well, there were occasional funny moments and there were often cameos from the 6 idiots.

Sadly, series 7 - 10 of the show is unwatchable. The writing is boring and unfunny, the characters are not likeable, the show is packed with unfunny fart jokes and the songs have terrible writing and some are unwatchable (it's time for bed,nature song)

I started researching one of my favourite childhood shows and I still love the show until the cast changed

I have recently revisited the brilliant TV show that is Horrible Histories and still found it as amusing as before, it is a brilliant comedy show with originality. To say that the TV Show has some disgusting bits in it is an understatement, it is a fun-packed half an hour, each episode, of blood, gore, vomit, farts, burps and laughs. Whether it's HH TV Sports, HH TV News or the Scary Stories, it will bring a laugh to the darkest of people. If your child of whatever age has not seen this brilliant TV Show then they are missing out on lots of things, if your child thinks that Cartoon Network's Uncle Grandpa is the prime of all children's television or Teen Titans Go is the pick of the bunch then show them this TV Show from start to finish and they will see what they are missing out on. Truly Enjoyable for any ages, this will show people that Michael Macintyre is not funny.

I love this show so much! It's hilarious, it's not boring at all and a great way to learn history. I watch it with my mum and dad every night and they too enjoy it. I know all the words to most songs, and thanks to Horrible Histories, I know all the English kings and queens, things about Charles the 2nd etc. Some of the song film clips resonates well with an older audience, as they are copies of older songs. They creatively add riff offs of shows, such as 'Historical Masterchef', 'Historical Apprentice' and 'Historical Dentist.' If you haven't watched it, I would definitely give it a go as it is funny and entertaining. As you watch the series you begin to get attached to some of the main characters, like we have, so it makes it more fun. 10/10 I love it so much.

I'm with the other reviewers here in being: a) adult and b) hugely admiring of the "Horrible Histories" concept in general, and the way these particular actors put it into effect, in particular. However, I am not sure if the other reviewers have fully cottoned on to the exquisite way in which the work can at times rise to being both funny and moving at the same time. Cases in point are the "We fighter pilots..." song (about the Battle of Britain), and now recently the Magna Carta song (produced in time for the 800th anniversary thereof). Both songs are attractive visually, catchy as musical creations, funny, informative and ... distinctly moving! That's a nice and clever and unusual trick if you can pull it off, and these guys certainly can! Much-deserved congratulations to them, therefore. Their world-beating work fusing education with entertainment offers us yet another reason to be "proud to be British".

At some point, the actors were replaced. Unfortunately, the replacement actors are really very bad. The second part of this series (with the new actors) is not at all funny. With their bad acting, the new cast almost destroyed this wonderful series. :-(

But the first part (with the original cast) is just amazing. Superbly well acted and funny as hell!

Its a very easy and interactive as well as funny way to "laugh your way through history". I definitely recommend this to everyone (children to adults). Great series!!!!!!!!!!!! I wish there would continue filming new series including Huns, china and other cultures which would be very interesting to watch and learn. Awful Egyptians Vile Victorians Gorgeous Georgians Awesome USA Troublesome 20th Century Slimy Stuarts Incredible Incas Angry Aztecs Rotten Romans Groovy Greeks Potty Pioneers Putrid Pirates Ruthless Rulers Frightful WWI Woeful WWII Smashing Saxons Cut-Throat Celts Terrible Tudors Savage Stone Age Measly Middle Ages Barmy British Empire Stormin' Normans Blized Brits Villanious Victorians Vicious Vikings Rutless Romans

P.S. As well as the books

This is one of my childhood shows. I had read all of the books and I used to watch horrible histories after primary school every day. The original cast (first 5 seasons I believe) are amazing and hilarious, they really made the show. The jokes always landed, the songs were great, I learnt so many facts from it. I still watch it to this day! However, there was a cast change from season 6 onwards. They don't work as well as the old cast at all, and the show simply isn't good anymore, it's lost its spark. I'd say if you want to watch the show just watch seasons 1-5 and call it a day. If you want to see more of the actors' works, I heavily reccomend Ghosts and Yonderland.

The first few seasons are honestly some of the best TV CBBC has ever shown. After season 5, the show goes rather rapidly down hill, but until then it is television gold. Educational yet funny. This show has the truly unique ability to actually get young children interested in history, and honestly older kids too! Some of the jokes are cheap and ever so immature, but many of them are witty and intelligent, and the songs are all brilliant. From Charles II to the 4 georges, each song is so catchy and unique, and also filled with information and fun facts which stick with you far longer than most things learnt in a classroom. It truly is a creative and educational masterpiece. Also I owe my entire Public Health section of my GCSE to this show.

BBC Liberal nonsense...has to fit an agenda of indoctrination for children

This is an outstanding TV series. Informative fun. I teach European history and I use it often as a fun way to introduce topics or to reinforce information. I cannot wait until my daughter is old enough to watch, learn, and be entertained by this TV series. Not even historians can be 100% accurate in their interpretation and analysis of the past, but despite that this show has more hits than misses. I know they have just recently made a new series and I do hope they continue to do more. BBC America should show it or PBS - as American kids are missing out - unless they are in my history class lol Good job lads and ladies on an excellent show.

I really can't praise this series highly enough. It is funny, entertaining in the extreme, and fun for children and adults. Some of the humour is very adult for a pg rated children's programme. It is also incredibly gory at times, not shying away at all from it, while trying to say it's all in the viewers mind. On top of this it's highly informative, and a great way to get youngsters to actually enjoy history.