Horrible Histories is a children’s live-action historical and musical sketch-comedy TV series based on the book series of the same name written by Terry Deary. The show ran for five series of thirteen episodes each (plus seven full-length one-off specials), between 2009 and 2013.
Series producer was Caroline Norris. Series 1 was directed by Chloe Thomas and Steve Connelly, with all future series directed by Connelly and Dominic Brigstocke. Writers are listed as per credits of each episode. Original music was—except where noted—written by Richie Webb (music) and Dave Cohen (lyrics), with instrumentals by Webb. The songs were not given formal titles; where possible their creators’ names for them have been used.
The starring troop over all five series consisted of Mathew Baynton, Simon Farnaby, Martha Howe-Douglas, Jim Howick, Laurence Rickard, Ben Willbond and Sarah Hadland, some combination of whom appear, with very rare exceptions, in every live-action sketch; their voices can also be heard in the animated sketches. Supporting cast was headed by Alice Lowe, Lawry Lewin and Dominique Moore.
Notable guest stars are indicated in the episode in which they appear, or in the case of recurring roles, on first appearance. Several sketches incorporate parodies of other UK pop-culture media and/or personalities; these parody inspirations are likewise indicated on first appearance.
In 2015, the series returned with a new cast in a revised format. Episodes centred around the life of one prominent historical figure played by an established comedy actor. It was in 2016 that a seventh series began with just three specials before the full series in 2017. The three specials marked anniversaries through the year: 400 years since Shakespeare died, the BBCs ‘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 new members. This was the first series where none of the main original cast were present.
Song:
Gorgeous Georgians: “The 4 Georges: Born 2 Rule” (boyband parody). Lyrics by Dave Cohen with additional lyrics by Laurence Rickard and Caroline Norris. Performed by Ben Willbond, Mathew Baynton, Simon Farnaby and Jim Howick.
Song:
Terrible Tudors: “The Wives of Henry VIII: Divorced Beheaded & Died”. Lyrics by Terry Deary. Performed by Ben Willbond.
Song:
Awful Egyptians: “Making a Mummy”. Performed by Jim Howick.
Song:
Terrible Tudors: “Terrible Tudors” (Madness pastiche). Performed by Martha Howe-Douglas and Ben Willbond.
Song:
No song is included in this episode (for the only time in series history).
Song:
Gorgeous Georgians: “A Gorgeous Georgian Lady”. Lyrics by Terry Deary (adapted from his book Gorgeous Georgians). Performed by Martha Howe-Douglas.
Song: Measly Middle Ages: “I’m a Knight” (Monty Python pastiche). Performed by Mathew Baynton, Steve Punt and Jim Howick.
Song:
Savage Stone Age: “Caveman Love” (1950’s doo-wop parody). Performed by Susie Donkin and Sarah Hadland, with Jim Howick, Ben Willbond and Mathew Baynton.
SongTerrible Teachers: “It’s Not True!”. Performed by Mathew Baynton and Martha Howe-Douglas.
SongMeasly Middle Ages: “The Plague Song” (musical theatre parody). Lyrics by Terry Deary. Performed by Ben Willbond and Katy Wix with Mathew Baynton and Sarah Hadland.
SongVile Victorians: “British Things”. Performed by Sarah Hadland and Mathew Baynton.
SongGroovy Greeks: “We are Greek” (Flanders & Swann pastiche). Performed by Mathew Baynton and Jim Howick. (Two parts.)
SongVile Victorians: “Burke & Hare”. Performed by Mathew Baynton with Jim Howick and Simon Farnaby.
Song:
Vicious Vikings: “Literally (The Viking Song)” (1980’s glam metal power ballad parody). Lyrics by Mathew Baynton and Laurence Rickard. Performed by Mathew Baynton, Jim Howick, Ben Willbond and Laurence Rickard.
Sketches:Rotten Romans: “Roman Come Dine with Me”: Emperor Elagabalus plays some very nasty practical jokes on his dinner guests (parody of Come Dine with Me). Terrible Tudors: Elizabeth I is picky about her portrait. “Historical Mastermind”: Shakespeare, category ‘Words What I Made Up’ (parody of Mastermind).Incredible Incas: Shouty Man: New! Multi-Purpose Incan Hole. Incan Sham-pee (advertisement).Vile Victorians: The invention of badminton. Meet the many eccentric pets of Walter Rothschild, 2nd Baron Rothschild (animated). Stupid Deaths: Bobby Leach.Slimy Stuarts: The story of the Gunpowder Plot as action movie “Fawkes’ 13” (movie trailer). Charles I’s unusual punishments for government critics.Woeful Second World War: PM Winston Churchill discusses arming the British Home Guard. Video game: Operation Defend Britain. The Durham Home Guard branch do more damage to themselves than to the enemy.Vicious Vikings: Attempting to navigate by following (but not necessarily feeding) a raven.
Song:
Slimy Stuarts: “Charles II: King of Bling” (rap music parody, feat. My Name Is by Eminem). Performed by Mathew Baynton with Martha Howe-Douglas, Jim Howick, Ben Willbond, Laurence Rickard and Lawry Lewin.
Song:
Groovy Greeks: “Spartan High School Musical” (parody of Disney’s High School Musical). Performed by Mathew Baynton, Jim Howick, Ben Willbond and Laurence Rickard.
Song:
Woeful Second World War: “We’re the WWII Girls” (Parody of “The Promise” by Girls Aloud). Performed by Alice Lowe, Katy Wix and Martha Howe-Douglas.
Song:
Gorgeous Georgians: “George IV: Couldn’t Stand My Wife” (pop ballad parody). Lyrics by Laurence Rickard. Performed by Jim Howick with Lawry Lewin.
Song:
Putrid Pirates: “Blackbeard’s Song” (Gilbert & Sullivan parody). Performed by Jim Howick with Laurence Rickard, Ben Willbond and Mathew Baynton.
Song:
Vile Victorians: “Victorian Inventions” (music hall pastiche). Performed by Ben Willbond and Alice Lowe.
Song:
Awful Egyptians: “Learn Your Hieroglyphics” (parody of ABC by the Jackson 5). Performed by Mathew Baynton with children’s chorus.
Song:
Awesome USA: “Real Live Cowboys” (bluegrass parody). Performed by Ben Willbond, Laurence Rickard and Nathaniel Martello-White.
Song:
Cut-Throat Celts: “Boudicca” (alternative rock parody). Performed by Martha Howe-Douglas with Mathew Baynton, Jim Howick, Ben Willbond and Laurence Rickard.
Song:
Smashing Saxons: “Funky Monks” (“The Monks’ Song”) (parody of Play That Funky Music by Wild Cherry, incorporating Gregorian-style chanting). Performed by Ben Willbond, Mathew Baynton and Jim Howick with Terry Deary and Alice Lowe.
Song:
Incredible Incas: “Do the Pachacuti” (parody of novelty dance songs). Lyrics by Laurence Rickard. Performed by Mathew Baynton with Martha Howe-Douglas, Alice Lowe and Laurence Rickard.
Song:
Gorgeous Georgians: “Dick Turpin, Highwayman” (parody of “Stand and Deliver” by Adam and the Ants). Performed by Mathew Baynton with Jim Howick, Simon Farnaby, Laurence Rickard, Ben Willbond and Martha Howe-Douglas.
Song:
Ruthless Rulers: “The Monarchs’ Song (The English Kings and Queens)” (Chas & Dave parody). Performed by Simon Farnaby, Jim Howick, Laurence Rickard, Mathew Baynton, Ben Willbond and Martha Howe-Douglas.
Song:
Measly Middle Ages: “William Wallace, Scottish Rebel” (heavy metal parody of “Doctor Alibi” by Slash ). Performed by Ben Willbond with Simon Farnaby, Jim Howick, Laurence Rickard and Mathew Baynton.
Song:
Vile Victorians: “Work, Terrible Work!” (parody of “Food, Glorious Food” from the musical Oliver!). Performed by Ben Willbond, Laurence Rickard and Mathew Baynton with children’s chorus.
Song:
Awful Egyptians: “Ra Ra Cleopatra” (Lady Gaga parody, particularly “Bad Romance”). Performed by Martha Howe-Douglas with Ben Willbond and Mathew Baynton.
Song:
Measly Middle Ages: “The Truth About Richard III” (pop ballad parody). Performed by Jim Howick.
Song:
Rotten Romans: “The Evil Emperors’ Song” (parody of Bad by Michael Jackson). Performed by Simon Farnaby, Mathew Baynton, Ben Willbond and Jim Howick.
Song:
Potty Pioneers: “The Suffragettes’ Song” (synthpop parody). Performed by Martha Howe-Douglas and Alice Lowe with Ben Willbond and Laurence Rickard.
Song:
Angry Aztecs: “Discaztec (Ain’t Staying Alive)” (disco parody, feat. “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees). Performed by Laurence Rickard, Mathew Baynton and Jim Howick.
Song:
Slimy Stuarts: “The English Civil War Song” (parody of “Cool” from West Side Story). Performed by Mathew Baynton, Jim Howick, Lawry Lewin and Ben Willbond with Laurence Rickard and Simon Farnaby.
Song:
Savage Stone Age: “The Ages of Stone” (bebop parody). Performed by Mathew Baynton.
Song:
Cut-Throat Celts: “Celtic Boast Battle” (hip-hop parody, loosely parodying “Jump Around” by House of Pain incorporating beatboxing). Performed by Mathew Baynton and Jim Howick with Ben Willbond and Laurence Rickard.
Song:
Woeful Second World War: “The Few (RAF Pilots)” (Take That parody). Performed by Mathew Baynton, Jim Howick, Ben Willbond, Simon Farnaby and Laurence Rickard.
Song:
Vile Victorians: “Charles Darwin: Natural Selection” (parody of “Changes” by David Bowie). Performed by Mathew Baynton with Jim Howick.
Song:
Groovy Greeks: “The Thinkers” (parody of “(Theme From) The Monkees”, incorporating elements of The Beatles and Monty Python). Performed by Mathew Baynton, Jim Howick, Ben Willbond and Laurence Rickard.
Song:
Awesome USA: “It’s a New World (Pilgrim Fathers)” (parody of “Empire State of Mind” by Jay-Z feat. Alicia Keys). Performed by Mathew Baynton, Martha Howe-Douglas, Ben Willbond, Laurence Rickard and Simon Farnaby.
Song:
Vile Victorians: “Mary Seacole” (parody of “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” by Beyonce). Performed by Dominique Moore.
Song:
Vile Victorians: “Victoria & Albert: A Love Ballad” (parody of 1980’s easy-listening romantic duets). Performed by Martha Howe-Douglas and Jim Howick.
Song:
Shocking Scotland: “We’ve got The Blue-Blooded Blues” (parody of “Sleeping on the Sidewalk” by Queen). Performed by Ben Willbond, Mathew Baynton and Martha Howe-Douglas.
Song:
Gorgeous Georgians: “The Luddites!” (parody of early punk rock, feat. the Sex Pistols and The Clash). Performed by Jim Howick, Mathew Baynton, Laurence Rickard and Simon Farnaby.
Song:
Radical Renaissance: “The Borgia Family” (parody of “Addams Family Theme”). Performed by Jim Howick, Mathew Baynton, Martha Howe-Douglas, and Ben Willbond.
Song:
Terrible Tudors: “Mary the First” (parody of “Wuthering Heights” by Kate Bush). Performed by Sarah Hadland.
Song:
Terrible Tudors: “William Shakespeare & the Quills” (big band parody). Performed by Mathew Baynton with Ben Willbond, Jim Howick, Martha Howe-Douglas, Laurence Rickard and Simon Farnaby.
Song:
Gorgeous Georgians: “(We’re the) Georgian Navy” (parody of “Vindaloo” by Fat Les, incorporating John Barnes’s rap from World in Motion). Written by Greg Jenner and Giles Pilbrow. Performed by Jim Howick, Mathew Baynton, Ben Willbond, Laurence Rickard and Simon Farnaby.
Song:
Troublesome 20th Century: “Rosa Parks: I Sat on a Bus” (Parody of “Respect” by Aretha Franklin). Performed by Dominique Moore with Gospel Singers Incognito.
Song:
Vicious Vikings: “Vikings and Garfunkel” (Simon & Garfunkel parody). Performed by Jim Howick and Mathew Baynton.
Song:
Vile Victorians: “Charles Dickens” (The Smiths parody, feat. “This Charming Man” and “Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now”). Performed by Mathew Baynton with Jim Howick, Laurence Rickard and special guest Al Murray.
Song:
Rotten Romans: “Crassus: Minted” (parody of Bonkers by Dizzee Rascal and Armand van Helden). Performed by Simon Farnaby.
Song:
Fabulous French: “Joan of Arc” (parody of Price Tag by Jessie J feat. B.o.B). Performed by Martha Howe-Douglas with Mathew Baynton.
Song:
Groovy Greeks: “Alexander the Great” (stadium rock parody). Performed by Ben Willbond with Jim Howick, Laurence Rickard and Mathew Baynton .
Song:
Measly Middle Ages: “Owain Glyndwr: First Prince of Wales” (Delilah by Tom Jones and Kiss by Prince parody). Performed by Jim Howick with Mathew Baynton, Simon Farnaby and Ben Willbond.
Song:
Potty Pioneers: “Transportation” (parody of “Greased Lightnin'” from Grease). Performed by Mathew Baynton, Simon Farnaby, Jim Howick, Laurence Rickard and Ben Willbond.
Song:
Terrible Tudors: “Henry VII: The Original Tu-Tu-Tudor” (glam rock parody). Performed by Mathew Baynton with Jim Howick, Laurence Rickard and Simon Farnaby.
Song:
Measly Middle Ages: “Matilda(s) and Stephen … and Henry” (Mamma Mia by ABBA) parody. Performed by Martha Howe-Douglas, Laurence Rickard, Alice Lowe and Jim Howick.
Song:
Gorgeous Georgians: “Australia” (parody of I Should Be So Lucky and Can’t Get You Out of My Head by Kylie Minogue). Performed by Martha Howe-Douglas with Simon Farnaby and Ben Willbond.
Song:
Potty Pioneers: “We’re History (The Finale)” (charity single parody)”. Performed by Mathew Baynton, Simon Farnaby, Martha Howe-Douglas, Jim Howick, Laurence Rickard, Ben Willbond, Sarah Hadland, Lawry Lewin, Dominique Moore, Alice Lowe and Giles Terera.
Savage Songs: Chronological compilation of standout music videos from the fifth series as chosen by the producers. One song is omitted to make room for the longer finale song.
Songs:
In lieu of the usual single music video, the often less-than-inspiring origins of classic carols from various historical eras are explored with the help of a traditional group of carollers, including Mathew Baynton, Simon Farnaby, Jim Howick, Martha Howe-Douglas, Alice Lowe and Ben Willbond.
Measly Middle Ages: “(Not-So) Silent Night” (“Silent Night” parody).Smashing Saxons: “Bad Duke Wenceslas” (“Good King Wenceslas” parody).Slimy Stuarts: “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” (“We Wish You a Merry Christmas” parody)Vile Victorians: “O Christmas Tree” (“O Christmas Tree” parody)
Music from Horrible Histories was the theme of the 2011 free BBC children’s Prom, held at the Royal Albert Hall. The concert was hosted by Rattus Rattus the puppet rat and featured the starring cast of the TV show performing a selection of songs from the first three series, interspersed with classical pieces from the same historical eras performed by the Aurora Orchestra. On hand to assist were the Choir from the Music Centre and the Kids Company Choir. The subsequent hourlong BBC television special features all the songs but one (an extended reprise of “The Plague Song”), excerpts from the classical pieces and original linking sketches set in-and-around the concert hall.
Program:
Overture: Mike Peabody reports from outside the Hall. Arrival of Queen Victoria, Charles II, and Rattus Rattus. Excerpt from Strauss’s Also sprach Zarathustra.
“Horrible Histories Theme Tune”, performed by the combined choirs. HHTV News: Bob Hale’s Orchestra Report. Excerpt from John Cage’s 4’33”.”Born 2 Rule”. George III and George IV uneasily share a dressing room. Excerpt from Liszt’s Danse Macabre.Queen Victoria takes her seat. “The Truth About Richard III”.William Shakespeare comments from backstage. Excerpt from Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet. Rattus Rattus checks in from a box seat.Queen Victoria is offered a selection of odd historical snacks. “The Wives of Henry VIII: Divorced Beheaded Died”.Charles II interrupts a mock-execution set to Berlioz’s March to the Scaffold. “Charles II: King of Bling”.George III and George IV look over the rest of the program in their dressing room. Excerpt from Handel’s Royal Fireworks Music. Rattus Rattus checks in.
Interval: Mike Peabody meets an Early Man who’s late arriving for the concert. Shouty Man promotes the “brand-new” Royal Albert Hall. Queen Victoria, Charles II, George III, and George IV queue impatiently for the royal toilets, behind Henry VIII and his Groom of the Stool.
In honour of the 2012 London Olympic Games, the show presents a compilation of sport-themed sketches both old and new, with linking segments featuring Giles Terera’s HHTV Sport presenter and Rattus Rattus. Includes a reprise of the Olympic song, “Flame (It’s Gonna Burn Forever)”.
To celebrate Halloween, Death, host of “Stupid Deaths”, uses spooky songs and sketches from past Horrible Histories episodes to illustrate a list of his “Top 12 Scary Things”, interspersed with new linking segments from his mum’s chintz-intensive home in the suburbs.
It’s Valentine’s Day, Horrible Histories-style… meaning the course of true love is about guaranteed not to run smoothly. Rattus Rattus presents a mix of old and new sketches and songs on the theme, in-between preparations for his own (hopefully) romantic dinner with new love Ratalie (continued in sequel “Ridiculous Romantics”, S07E03, 2017).
Song:
Famous lovers from throughout history assemble to confess their caddishness in “Love Rats” (parody of “The Love Cats” by The Cure). Performed by Ben Willbond, Jim Howick, Simon Farnaby, Martha Howe-Douglas, and Mathew Baynton.
On the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the original Great War, Bob Hale and Rattus Rattus host a chronological look at some of the more strange, sad, and outright Horrible aspects of the conflict.
