Horrible Histories was a British sketch comedy and musical television series, based on the children's history books of the same name. The show was produced for CBBC by Lion Television with Citrus Television and ran from 2009 to 2013 for five series of thirteen half-hour episodes, with additional one-off seasonal and Olympic specials. The creative team was largely recruited from the UK comedy scene, including the central troupe alongside a large supporting cast headed by Katy Wix, Lawry Lewin, Alice Lowe and Dominique Moore. As well as carrying over the graphic style and much of the content of the Horrible Histories book series, the approach and humour of the show was inspired by past British historical comedies, including Blackadder and the Monty Python films.[3][4]
Each episode covered multiple eras in history, named for their respective book titles. The show combined live-action sketches, which often parody other UK media or celebrities, with music videos, animations and quizzes. The series was a critical and ratings success, winning numerous domestic and international awards. In 2011 the show was the subject of a Live Prom at the Royal Albert Hall, where sketches and songs from the series were performed live. The cast left the series in 2014,[5] after which the series was rebooted with a new creative team.
Following the end of Horrible Histories, the troupe reunited for Yonderland, a sitcom for children that was broadcast on Sky 1 from November 2013 to December 2016. Howe-Douglas starred as 33-year-old Debbie Maddox, who becomes increasingly bored with her life as a suburban stay-at-home mother until an elf (Baynton) appears from a portal in her cupboard, insisting that she's the "chosen one" destined to save the eponymous fantasy world. Reluctantly, Debbie agrees to meet with the Elders of the realm... only to discover that they've lost the scroll that explains what the chosen one is supposed to do. As it turns out, Yonderland is a silly, magical place, threatened by the evil Negatus (Farnaby). It will take all of Debbie's resources to complete each week's quest in time to pick up her children from school.
Ghosts is the troupe's most recent series, a sitcom which has broadcast on BBC One since 2019. It centres on a group of ghosts from different historical periods haunting a country house they share with its new living occupants (played by Kiell Smith-Bynoe and Charlotte Ritchie) . Along with the core members of the group, performers from the wider Horrible Histories cast appear in the ensemble, including Katy Wix.[6] The series is the first post-watershed comedy by the ensemble, although some television critics noted that the series was suitable for adults and children alike.[7][8] Reviews of the series have been positive, with critics appreciating the high joke rate, the premise and the strength of the acting ensemble. The series was made by the production company Monumental Pictures, part of ITV Studios.[6] It is filmed on location at West Horsley Place in Surrey.[9] It has so far run for four series and a Christmas special,[10] and a fifth series has been announced.[11] The show was remade for an American audience, starring Rose McIver and Utkarsh Ambudkar.[12]
The group's first film, Bill, was released on 18 September 2015. Whilst not officially related to the Horrible Histories series, it was produced by the BBC reunited and starred the original core performers of the series, and shared a humour approach to its historical content.[13][14]
References
^. What' s on TV. 20 September 2015. Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
^Earp, Catherine (19 June 2018). . Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 9 November 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
^West, Naomi (25 May 2010). "How Horrible Histories grew up to be a hit comedy show". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
^McLean, Gareth (9 April 2012). "Why did the League of Gentlemen choose to reform on Horrible Histories?". Radio Times. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
^"Horrible Histories Series 6 in planning". British Comedy Guide. 4 July 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
^ ab"Ghosts". BBC Media Centre. 9 April 2019. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
^Midgley, Carol (16 April 2019). "TV review: Ghosts; A House Through Time". The Times.
^Butter, Susannah (15 April 2019). "Ghosts: Things that go bump in the night - a spooktacular house-hunting show". Evening Standard.
^Hogan, Michael (15 April 2019). "Ghosts, episode 1, review: a retro house-share sitcom with some wonderfully goofy supernatural guests". Daily Telegraph.
^"Stars of Horrible Histories to make Shakespeare film". BBC Media Centre. 22 March 2013. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
^"Bill: production details". British Comedy Guide. comedy.co.uk. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
February 23, 2023
horrible, histories, troupe, unofficial, name, given, group, comedy, writers, performers, consisting, mathew, baynton, simon, farnaby, martha, howe, douglas, howick, laurence, rickard, willbond, they, called, their, initially, collaborating, children, show, ho. The Horrible Histories troupe 1 2 is an unofficial name given to a group of comedy writers and performers consisting of Mathew Baynton Simon Farnaby Martha Howe Douglas Jim Howick Laurence Rickard and Ben Willbond They are so called due to their initially collaborating for the children s TV show Horrible Histories but have since worked together on the 2015 film Bill and the adult comedy series Yonderland and Ghosts Horrible Histories troupeThe group at the 2011 Children s BAFTAs L R Simon Farnaby Martha Howe Douglas Mathew Baynton Laurence Rickard Ben Willbond and Jim HowickMediumTelevision filmNationalityBritishYears active2009 presentGenresSatire surreal humour black comedyNotable works and rolesHorrible Histories 2009 15 Yonderland 2013 16 Bill 2015 Ghosts 2019 present MembersMathew Baynton Simon Farnaby Martha Howe Douglas Jim Howick Laurence Rickard Ben Willbond Contents 1 Television 1 1 Horrible Histories 2009 13 1 2 Yonderland 2013 16 1 3 Ghosts 2019 present 2 Films 2 1 Bill 2015 3 ReferencesTelevision EditHorrible Histories 2009 13 Edit Main article Horrible Histories 2009 TV series Horrible Histories was a British sketch comedy and musical television series based on the children s history books of the same name The show was produced for CBBC by Lion Television with Citrus Television and ran from 2009 to 2013 for five series of thirteen half hour episodes with additional one off seasonal and Olympic specials The creative team was largely recruited from the UK comedy scene including the central troupe alongside a large supporting cast headed by Katy Wix Lawry Lewin Alice Lowe and Dominique Moore As well as carrying over the graphic style and much of the content of the Horrible Histories book series the approach and humour of the show was inspired by past British historical comedies including Blackadder and the Monty Python films 3 4 Each episode covered multiple eras in history named for their respective book titles The show combined live action sketches which often parody other UK media or celebrities with music videos animations and quizzes The series was a critical and ratings success winning numerous domestic and international awards In 2011 the show was the subject of a Live Prom at the Royal Albert Hall where sketches and songs from the series were performed live The cast left the series in 2014 5 after which the series was rebooted with a new creative team Yonderland 2013 16 Edit Main article Yonderland Following the end of Horrible Histories the troupe reunited for Yonderland a sitcom for children that was broadcast on Sky 1 from November 2013 to December 2016 Howe Douglas starred as 33 year old Debbie Maddox who becomes increasingly bored with her life as a suburban stay at home mother until an elf Baynton appears from a portal in her cupboard insisting that she s the chosen one destined to save the eponymous fantasy world Reluctantly Debbie agrees to meet with the Elders of the realm only to discover that they ve lost the scroll that explains what the chosen one is supposed to do As it turns out Yonderland is a silly magical place threatened by the evil Negatus Farnaby It will take all of Debbie s resources to complete each week s quest in time to pick up her children from school Ghosts 2019 present Edit Main article Ghosts 2019 TV series Ghosts is the troupe s most recent series a sitcom which has broadcast on BBC One since 2019 It centres on a group of ghosts from different historical periods haunting a country house they share with its new living occupants played by Kiell Smith Bynoe and Charlotte Ritchie Along with the core members of the group performers from the wider Horrible Histories cast appear in the ensemble including Katy Wix 6 The series is the first post watershed comedy by the ensemble although some television critics noted that the series was suitable for adults and children alike 7 8 Reviews of the series have been positive with critics appreciating the high joke rate the premise and the strength of the acting ensemble The series was made by the production company Monumental Pictures part of ITV Studios 6 It is filmed on location at West Horsley Place in Surrey 9 It has so far run for four series and a Christmas special 10 and a fifth series has been announced 11 The show was remade for an American audience starring Rose McIver and Utkarsh Ambudkar 12 Films EditBill 2015 Edit Main article Bill 2015 film The group s first film Bill was released on 18 September 2015 Whilst not officially related to the Horrible Histories series it was produced by the BBC reunited and starred the original core performers of the series and shared a humour approach to its historical content 13 14 References Edit Bill Film review Horrible Histories troupe turn Shakespeare s lost years into knockabout farce Movie Talk What s on TV What s on TV 20 September 2015 Archived from the original on 7 August 2020 Retrieved 17 May 2019 Earp Catherine 19 June 2018 Horrible Histories team reuniting for new sitcom Ghosts Digital Spy Archived from the original on 9 November 2021 Retrieved 17 May 2019 West Naomi 25 May 2010 How Horrible Histories grew up to be a hit comedy show The Daily Telegraph Retrieved 17 July 2010 McLean Gareth 9 April 2012 Why did the League of Gentlemen choose to reform on Horrible Histories Radio Times Retrieved 31 July 2013 Horrible Histories Series 6 in planning British Comedy Guide 4 July 2014 Retrieved 6 January 2023 a b Ghosts BBC Media Centre 9 April 2019 Retrieved 20 April 2019 Midgley Carol 16 April 2019 TV review Ghosts A House Through Time The Times Butter Susannah 15 April 2019 Ghosts Things that go bump in the night a spooktacular house hunting show Evening Standard Hogan Michael 15 April 2019 Ghosts episode 1 review a retro house share sitcom with some wonderfully goofy supernatural guests Daily Telegraph Ghosts Series 4 air date revealed Richardson Jay 24 November 2022 Ghosts returning for a fifth series on BBC One British Comedy Guide Fienberg Daniel 7 October 2021 CBS Ghosts TV Review The Hollywood Reporter Stars of Horrible Histories to make Shakespeare film BBC Media Centre 22 March 2013 Retrieved 26 July 2013 Bill production details British Comedy Guide comedy co uk Retrieved 12 February 2014 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Horrible Histories troupe amp oldid 1137043470, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
