Horrible Histories (2009 TV series)

Horrible Histories
Title logo (with background used from Series 2–5)
Genre	Musical Comedy Sketch comedy Educational Black comedy
Based on	Horrible Histories by Terry Deary Peter Hepplewhite Neil Tonge
Developed by	Dominic Brigstocke Caroline Norris
Written by	Ben Ward Lucy Clarke Dave Cohen Susie Donkin Steve Punt George Sawyer Laurence Rickard Gerard Foster Colin Swash Howard Read Jack Bernhardt Jessica Ransom Gabby Hutchinson Crouch Danny Peak Sarah Morgan Claire Wetton Ben Partridge
Directed by	Steve Connelly (S1–5,7–8) Dominic Brigstocke (S2–5) Simon Gibney (S6) Ian Curtis (S6–7) Gordon Anderson (S9) Paul Taylor (S10–11) Cein McGillicuddy (S10–11)
Starring	Mathew Baynton (S1–5) Simon Farnaby (S1–6) Sarah Hadland (S1–5) Martha Howe-Douglas (S1–5) Jim Howick (S1–6) Dominique Moore Laurence Rickard (S1–5) Ben Willbond (S1–5) Sarah Hadland (S1–5) Jessica Ransom (S6–11) Tom Stourton (S6–11) Richard David-Caine (S7–11) James McNicholas (S7–11) Jalaal Hartley (S6–7) Ryan Sampson (S7) Gemma Whelan (S7) Harrie Hayes (S8–11) Emily Lloyd-Saini (S8–11) Ethan Lawrence (S9–11) Paul G Raymond (S9–11) Timmika Ramsay (S9–11) Inel Tomlinson (S10–11) Naz Osmanoglu (S6) Adam Riches (S6) Michael Abubakar (S8) Divian Ladwa (S9) Puppeteers: John Eccleston (S1–8) Scott Brooker (puppet wrangler) (S1–11) Davie Chapman (S9–11)
Voices of	Jon Culshaw (S1–11)
Theme music composer	Richie Webb & Matt Katz
Composer	Richie Webb
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
No. of episodes	160 episodes over 11 Series (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers	Lion Television: Richard Bradley (S1–11) Bill Hobbins (S6) Simon Welton (S7–11) CBBC: Kim Shillinglaw Alison Gregory Melissa Hardinge (S4–11)
Producers	Giles Pilbrow (S1–3) Imogen Cooper (S3–5) Lisa Mitchell (S7) Matt Lamont (S8–9) Caroline Fisher (S10–11)
Cinematography	Peter Edwards
Editors	Nigel Williams Mike Holliday Will Peverett Peter Oliver Adam Windmill Will Porter Garry Smith Duncan O'Neill Scott Edwards
Running time	28 minutes
Production companies	Lion Television Citrus Television (S3–5)
Original release
Network	CBBC
Release	16 April 2009 (2009-04-16)
Related
Horrible Histories (2015 TV series) Horrible Histories: Gory Games Horrible Histories with Stephen Fry
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Horrible Histories is a multi-award-winning British children's live-action historical and musical sketch comedy television series, based on the bestselling book series of the same name by Terry Deary. The show, now in its 11th series, is produced for CBBC by Lion Television, and was produced in association with Citrus Television from series 3–5. The comedy series first hit screens in 2009 and is now in its 15th year, with more than 160 episodes over the 11 series.

Over the years, the show has featured a large talented cast. Original cast members include Mathew Baynton, Simon Farnaby, Jim Howick, Martha Howe-Douglas, Dominique Moore, Laurence Rickard and Ben Willbond. Current cast includes Tom Stourton, Jessica Ransom, Richard David-Caine, James McNicholas, Emily Lloyd-Saini, Timmika Ramsay, Harrie Hayes, Inel Tomlinson, Ethan Lawrence and Paul G Raymond, among many others. Horrible Histories has also attracted an impressive list of celebrity guest stars, including Rowan Atkinson, Gemma Whelan, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Rob Delaney, Meera Syal, Rose Ayling-Ellis, The League of Gentleman, Rosie Jones, David Baddiel, Rob Rinder and Fred Sirieix.

In 2024, Horrible Histories marked 15 years on air, during which there have been 11 series, multiple specials and spin-offs, a feature film, two sold-out BBC Proms, as well as numerous accolades including nine BAFTAs, and a British Comedy Award – the only children's show to win one. It has also been awarded the Best TV Sketch Show at the Comedy.co.uk awards in 2020, 2021 and 2023. Internationally, Horrible Histories has won a total of 38 awards including two Rose d'Or for Best Children's programme, the Prix Jeunesse Special Award for Best Children's Show of the last 50 years, an International Emmy Award for Best Kids Factual, and in 2024 was awarded a prestigious Banff Rockie Award.

On 24 October 2024 it was announced that Horrible Histories is to be presented with a BAFTA Special Award. The honour will be awarded in recognition of Horrible Histories’ extraordinary cultural and social impact.

Production is now in its 15th year, and a spin off Horrible Science has been announced by CBBC.