Horrible Histories

Horrible Histories is an educational entertainment franchise encompassing many media including books, magazines, audio books, stage shows, TV shows, and more.
In 2013, Lisa Edwards, UK publishing and commercial director of Scholastic Corporation, described "Horrible Histories" as one of the company's "crown jewels", and said it is at an "advanced stage of evolution". She added: "We have covered every possible era that has a commercial outcome...We're now in the era of the box set, annuals, newly presented editions and licensed products".
Books.
Main series.
"Horrible Histories" began as a book series by author Terry Deary. The series began in 1993 with "The Terrible Tudors" and "The Awful Egyptians", and the following titles continued the trend to describe British history through the context of the ruling dynasties, as well as explore significant worldwide cultures (often within the context of British history such as the Viking and Roman conquests on the British Isles). A series of specials and novelty books have been released, and the last book was announced to be released in 2013.
Gory Stories.
There is also a fiction-type of "Horrible Histories" books that were added to the series called Gory Stories. The first set of these books were published in July 2008:
Blackout in the Blitz is listed on Terry Deary's website as Bombs on Britain, but on Amazon.co.uk it is listed as Blackout in the Blitz, along with a cover.
Film and television.
2001 TV series.
"Horrible Histories" was adapted into an animated series, starting in 2001. It was about Mo and Stitch's adventures through time and how they learned lessons that could be applied to their modern-day situations.
2009 TV series.
A live-action series, styled as a sketch show, began airing on CBBC in 2009. It won many awards over its 5 series run, including some British Comedy Awards - the first children's show to do so.
With Stephen Fry.
"Horrible Histories with Stephen Fry" was an edited version of the 2009 series hosted by Stephen Fry instead of Rattus Rattus, broadcast in 2011, and was aimed at an adult audience.
2015 TV series.
A rebooted version of the 2009 sketch show aired in 2015, retaining some members of the original cast in guest roles but with each episode focusing on a particular historical figure. Actors in Series 6 included Ben Miller, Rowan Atkinson, Kathryn Drysdale, Kevin Eldon, Simon Farnaby, Sarah Hadland, Lorna Watson, Jim Howick and Jessica Ransom. This series was directed by Simon Gibney and Ian Curtis. This series won an International Emmy Kids Award in Cannes in April 2017 for the episode 'Crooked King John and Magna Carta’. Jessica Ransom also won a Children's BAFTA for her performance as Mary Queen of Scots. It is currently in its 3rd season, or 8th if you count it as a continuation of the 2009 series.
Gory Games.
"" is a children's game show, and is a spin-off to the 2009 series. It is hosted by Rattus Rattus and Dave Lamb. Each episode has 3 contestants competing in challenges to collect Year Spheres.
Films.
The writers and cast of the 2009 series were responsible for the 2015 family adventure comedy film "Bill", a fictional imagining of what happened during the 'lost years' of William Shakespeare's life. "Bill" has no formal connection to the "Horrible Histories" franchise, but through its writers, performers, content and humour shows a number of similarities.
In 2019, the film "", from a new cast and writing team, was released to positive reviews, though generally less favourable than those for "Bill".
Magazines.
One of the first additions to the franchise was a series of magazines in 2003. A new magazine series was launched in 2012.
2003 series.
In late 2003 the "Horrible Histories Magazine Collection", a series of magazines based on Terry Deary's book series. They were published by Eaglemoss Publications, distributed by Cornag Magazine Marketing, printed by UK company Headley Bros, colour originated by Icon Reproductions, and released every fortnight. Some of the material was previously published in the "Horrible Histories" books on the same topics. Originally planned to be 60, the series was continued with an additional 20. Extra items that were included in each edition include Terrible Timelines, Wild 'n' Wicked cards, and royal family trees. The set came with tins to put the cards into, files to hold the timelines and trees, and boxes to hold the magazines. Here is a list of the 80 Issues of the magazine in the order in which they are received:
Each issue came with small cards depicting historic people, places, events and customs as well as a collection of timelines. The first 60 issues came with timelines each showing an era of human history, while the later 20 had timelines showing the history of themes such as fashion, art and science. Some of the first 60 issues also had a royal family tree based on a certain period of history. The only exception of for Savage Stone Age, which instead had a comparison of all the ancient forms of man and what they ate.
There have also been three "special" magazines in the series:
The collection would not be relaunched in the UK in September 2009 due to low trial sales.
2012 series.
A monthly "Horrible Histories" magazine aimed at ages 7 to 10 was launched in the UK in October 2012, published by Immediate Media Company. A digital edition of the magazine was launched in 2013.
Illustrations.
Across the franchise, "Horrible Histories" is recognisable by the illustrations of Martin Brown, an Australian cartoonist/illustrator.
Regardless of what type of illustration is required, Brown's first step is to read the accompanying text. With Horrible Histories colleague Terry Deary, his task as a cartoonist is to inject humour into the books, so he then bounced ideas back and forth, "either coming up with gags to suit the text or interpreting Terry's instructions for best comic or dramatic effect". The third stage is working out how "angles, scale, aspect, style, pace etc" will be considered in the design space. After that he draws the roughs and finally the finished drawing. The roughs are first sent to the publishers who make their comments, and then they are sent to Deary. Tweaks are done in the rough stage. In the case of full colours books, the last stage is adding colour; either he does it via ink and water-colour, or "the line-work is scanned and sent to a colourist who adds the colour on computer".
Theatre.
Some of Terry Deary's books have been adapted into plays. The children's theatre company Birmingham Stage Company Productions have the license to present "Horrible Histories" on stage around the world. They use the "bogglevision" 3D effects.
Prom.
Horrible Histories Prom was a 2011 concert showcasing the original songs of the 2009 TV series, interspersed with classical music. It was performed in the Royal Albert Hall in London as part of the BBC's annual Proms series of concerts. An edited version of the prom was televised as a special episode of the 2009 CBBC TV series entitled "Horrible Histories Big Prom Party".
Audio tapes/CDs.
In 2003 and 2004, BBC Worldwide released 10 CDs of Audio tape/CD dramatizations of books from the "Horrible Histories" series, starring Terry Deary. "Horrible Histories" teamed up with Kellogg's. All of the CDs are read by Terry Deary and were available inside some Kellogg's cereals. The books contained material from the original books, as well as original material. In addition, the Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph gave away four free audiobooks over a two-week period in October 2006.
Between 8 and 14 September 2007, the Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph gave away 7 new Horrible Histories audiobooks, again read by Terry Deary and adapted from his books. They were:
Reception.
The response has been generally positive:Terry Deary and Martin Brown's brilliant books about the nastiest periods in history have now—with the help of some astounding actors—been transformed into a series of audio extravaganzas. Featuring new, extra material not found anywhere in the books, these sound spectaculars are just as thrilling and spilling, funny and fast as their printed counterparts. "Horrible Histories" are guaranteed to bring you history with the nasty bits left in! The Rotten Romans features beastly battles, deadly doctoring and marvellous myths—and you can even find out how to tell the future using a dead chicken! It's packed with quizzes, sketches, music and jokes, as well as mini-dramas and real life re-enactments—telling you the kind of foul facts which just aren't available from a classroom education!
Games and toys.
Virtual world.
Scholastic went into partnership with agency Yomego to create an online world using the HuzuVirtual virtual world framework from software company HuzuTech. Visitors to the virtual world will be able to create an avatar dressed in historical costume, explore, look in a virtual world shop, chat, and subscribe to events where the children may meet the author, Terry Deary. The idea is that users will be able to explore areas with names like "Rotten Rome", "Awesome Egypt", and "Terrible Tudor London".
The virtual world went live in August 2011.
Battle Arena.
In 2013, an action figure battle toy was released. A YouTube channel releasing videos explaining battle techniques and strategies was set up. A series of Horrible Histories toys have been released. One of the main ones, released in 2013, is the Battle Arena, which features action figures based on the book illustrations by Martin Brown.
Video game.
In 2009, a video game based on the books Rotten Romans and Ruthless Romans, entitled "Horrible Histories: Ruthless Romans", a video game based on the book, was released in 2009. It received "generally unfavorable" reviews according to review aggregator Metacritic.
Sophisticated Games board games.
Sophisticated Games has the board game license for "Horrible Histories" board games. A board game edition of the Rotten Roman book and videogame was released in 2008. Terry Deary and Mike Siggins are the designers, the artwork was done by Martin Brown and Dave Smith, and the text was by Simon Breed. The game was published by Sophisticated Games. The game is for 2-4 players and is of the "roll and move" genre. Awful Egyptians was published in 2013.
Brainbox board games.
The Brainbox series of "Horrible Histories" board games has also been released. They are quiz-based games, which involve the answering of questions on the back of cards. The series includes "Awful Ancients" and "Vile Villains". It was reviewed at The Dice Tower.
Fancy dress costumes.
In partnership with Smiffy's, a range of "Horrible Histories" costumes was released in 2014.
"Horrible Histories Interactive".
"Horrible Histories Interactive" is an online experience for children, available via the CBBC website or by the Red Button platform. The content, which was designed and developed by Red Bee Media, was commissioned by "Horrible Histories" to work in tandem with the 2009 CBBC TV series. The online experience includes 12 exclusive Behind the Scenes clips, sing-along versions of the show's songs, and the online gaming experiences: Terrible Treasures, Time Sewer Adventures, and AD/BC Time Tour.
The aim of the multi-platform promotion was to shift perceptions about the series and to increase online participation. A beauty spoof campaign was devised, promos were run on BBC, countdown web banners were created, and an interactive promo for the site ran during the trailers for ahead of Shrek Forever. An interactive spoof talent show campaign was also launched, in which various historical characters vied for the title "Horrible Hero". Horrible Histories Interactive's work led to an increase of unique users to the "Horrible Histories" microsite, and an increase in the percentage of people who associated Horrible Histories with the CBBC.
Terrible Treasures is a point-and-click computer game available for free on the CBBC website. It was co-produced by Littleloud Studios, and written and co-directed by Will Jewell. The premise, which involves some of the same writers and actors as the TV series, involves Rattus Rattus recovering pieces of map from the Time Sewers in order to find treasure. Since being launched in August 2009, it became the top rated game for CBBC. There were various internet reminder from Rattus Rattus about the Horrible Histories 'Terrible Treasures' game at the end of each episode (starting in series 2).
Jim Hall worked on Time Sewer Adventures and AD/BC Time Tour. Regarding the latter project, LionTV said "For season four [we] wanted to create an experience based on the hugely popular songs." OverDigital described AD/BC Time Tour as "A very fun game with obvious similarities to Guitar Hero. It takes advantage of Stage3D in an appealing and engaging live music stage environment. What is amazing though is the combination of actually really fun music with an increasing level of difficulty, and simple, but fun action."
Theme park.
Author Terry Deary stated in March 2003 that he had plans for a £130 million theme park "...on an enormous scale, something that will really put this region on the map the way Disney World has done for Florida." Terry Deary's History Experience was to be built on South Tyneside, close to where Deary was born. These original plans fell through, but new talks are underway about a second proposal, based in County Durham, which would include the Horrible Histories name.
Terry Deary said of "The Terry Deary History Experience Park": "What I hope to build is a History Experience where I recreate authentic villages from various periods — Tudor, Roman, Victorian perhaps — with nothing of the 20th century in them...They'll be enclosed in domes like the Eden Project in Cornwall so they'll be all-weather attractions and they will not be museums or theme parks; they will be peopled by actors and the visitors can join in the never-ending re-enactments of the past — with all its horrible history flavour — over there is a pickpocket on trial for stealing ... is he guilty, do we hang him? "You", the visitor, must decide." He wanted the audience to be fully immersed into the culture of the period, "Over there is Mr Shakespeare rehearsing a play and having trouble with the Puritans ... over here are the preparations for Queen Elizabeth's visit...in that house is a craftsman turning wooden bowls, and in that one a woman selling roast thrushes to take away while there is a house being built using genuine tools and skills and over there a Tudor ship. (When the ship is completed it will sail on the river and a new one built — when we have two we'll have a sea battle!)". The proposed park, to be set up in South Tyneside, was a £130m project. "The original plans included an all-weather attraction where recreated villages from the Roman times to Tudor and Victorian England were to be encased in domes similar to the Eden Project in Cornwall."
In 2016, a "Horrible Histories" maze opened at Warwick Castle. It is an interactive hedge maze featuring zones based on various historical time periods. Activity at Warwick Castle also included interactive exhibitions and a bespoke theater production ‘Wicked Warwick’.