BBC Marks 15 Years of Horrible Histories

The 15th anniversary of the series Horrible Histories is being marked with a brand-new episode, “Terrifying Tower of London,” which is now available on BBC iPlayer and coming soon to CBBC.

The special episode has been filmed, for the first time ever, at the UNESCO World Heritage Site and follows the adventurous pair Rattus and current Yeoman Warder AJ Clark, a “Beefeater” from the Tower, as they journey through the Tower’s rich history, spanning from its construction by William the Conqueror to the present day.

Based on the world’s best-selling history book series by Terry Deary and illustrated by Martin Brown, published by Scholastic, Horrible Histories debuted in 2009. There have been 162 episodes produced to date. All archived episodes spanning fan favorites across the last 15 years are also available on BBC iPlayer.

“Having celebrated 30 years of the Horrible Histories books in 2023, it is wonderful to reach the landmark of 15 years of the groundbreaking TV series,” Dreary said. “Since the start, I have enjoyed seeing the imaginative songs and sketches bring horrible history to life on screen. I continue to be amazed by the appetite for all things horrible from young and old.”

Patricia Hidalgo, director of BBC Children’s and Education, added, “Horrible Histories is a jewel in the crown of our programming offer for children across CBBC and iPlayer. It’s a success story blending comedic genius and educational excellence with a fan base that spans generations. The multi-award-winning show set a precedent for children’s programming when it first aired and continues to do so today. It’s a shining example of our public-service remit to educate and entertain our young audiences with culturally relevant content—with tons of laughs and great songs along the way!”

“This show is a real labor of love for everyone who is involved in making it (past and present), and the fact that it is still so beloved by our audience after 15 years is incredibly rewarding,” commented Simon Welton, executive producer for Lion Television. “Balancing both the funny and the factual in every sketch and engaging our audience with history whilst also making them (along with any adults who are in the room) laugh as much as possible is something that we don’t take lightly, and hopefully, we can continue doing that with CBBC for many years to come.”