Horrible Histories, children's historical sketch comedy show from BBC

February 10, 2010 8:34 PM

Horrible Histories is a sketch comedy show made by the BBC for children. It's subject is history. Here are twenty-five sketches, including the stupid death of Edmund II, the pirate's rulebook, witchfinders direct, the song about Henry VIII's wives, Christians vs. Lions and crazy Caligula. [via Kate Beaton's twitterfeed]
posted by Kattullus (26 comments total)

Upon beginning to read the post: Heh, y'know, this sort of thing seems right up Ka--

Upon finishing reading the post: Oh. Yeah, her.

Thanks for this, and for informing me that Ms. Beaton has a twitter!
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 8:40 PM on February 10, 2010

Upon finishing reading the post: Oh. Yeah, her.

It's a he, and a viking. Get it right.
posted by Burhanistan at 8:54 PM on February 10, 2010

You is well fit, yeh?
posted by boo_radley at 8:58 PM on February 10, 2010 [1 favorite]

Burhanistan: It's a he, and a viking. Get it right.

And don't cross a viking. If the world should learn anything from this show, it's that if you cross a viking, s/he'll hide inside your toilet with a dagger and stab you in the bum.
posted by Kattullus at 9:01 PM on February 10, 2010

Horrible Histories!? This must be inspired by the British Scholastic's 'Horrible Histories' series! (all great things come originally in book form). Nothing like reading about the Terrible Tudors or the Rotten Romans or the Slimy Stuarts to get you psyched about history! Man, I loved those.

Also, I love Kate Beaton a truckload.
posted by missmary6 at 9:04 PM on February 10, 2010 [1 favorite]

This is going to make the Latin teacher I know very happy! Thanks a lot!
posted by mmmbacon at 9:08 PM on February 10, 2010

This is pure awesome. Scott in the Antarctic is my favorite so far.
posted by lilac girl at 9:13 PM on February 10, 2010

These are delightful!
posted by Solon and Thanks at 9:31 PM on February 10, 2010

An expert on Cnut once told me about Edumnd II. He said that the most likely accurate source said that he wasn't stabbed with a dagger up the bum, but with a hook. Up the bum. Don't think that through... you don't want that image.
posted by Dreadnought at 9:36 PM on February 10, 2010

And I love that so much of British Historical Humuour is saying "Christ, look at what complete idiots we were! How did we ever survive! Whoops! We didn't! We died in the (jungle/barren ice fields/ trenches)!"
posted by boo_radley at 9:42 PM on February 10, 2010

Thank you. I love this. A Kattullus post on Metafilter is like a stamp of quality.
posted by Locative at 11:12 PM on February 10, 2010 [1 favorite]

I really love the "witchfinder direct" spoof ad; wouldn't be out of place in the Fast Show. (Or maybe even The Day Today, for that matter.) And also, glad to see that (some) British kids' TV is at least as anarchic/sarcastic/devious as it was when I was of the age to be watching it.

Question for those who were weaned on American kids' TV: would anything this irreverent/odd be tolerated/promoted as an American kid's show?
posted by Len at 11:33 PM on February 10, 2010

Wow, this is superb. Thanks! I feel like the heartwarming message behind the show is:

Whenever you think the world is going to hell, step back and remember that no, things have always been completely terrible.
posted by aubilenon at 12:54 AM on February 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

I was sort of put off these when I caught part of one my daughters were watching and it seemed to be saying that among the things the Crusaders brought back to Europe was the idea of living in cities. No towns in England before that.
posted by Phanx at 1:39 AM on February 11, 2010

This has, at 11:30 p.m., turned a fairly blechy day into a fabulous one. I love it. Thank you, bum-stabbing viking Katullus!
posted by po at 4:43 AM on February 11, 2010

The Norwegians are BIG GIRLS!

Take that, Henrik Ibsen!
posted by Major Tom at 5:04 AM on February 11, 2010

As Joyce might have said "History is a nightmare web site from which I am trying to awake get back to work."
posted by GenjiandProust at 6:50 AM on February 11, 2010 [4 favorites]

It's a he, and a viking. Get it right.

Kate Beaton is a male viking?
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 6:53 AM on February 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

Question for those who were weaned on American kids' TV: would anything this irreverent/odd be tolerated/promoted as an American kid's show?

Encylopedia, which ran on HBO in the late 80's, came close. It's never been released on DVD, but a lot of sketches are on YouTube. The Leif Ericson reggae number was one of my favorites at the time.
posted by thivaia at 7:38 AM on February 11, 2010

That should be Encyclopedia. I cannot spell today.
posted by thivaia at 7:39 AM on February 11, 2010

Kate Beaton is a male viking?

I fully support Kate Beaton's right to be a male viking, if she so desires. I think we should encourage her in any way we can.
posted by GenjiandProust at 7:46 AM on February 11, 2010

Sleep: That's where I'm Kate Beaton as a male viking!
posted by steef at 8:02 AM on February 11, 2010

"The 4 Georges: 'Born 2 Rule'" is the best.
posted by ColdChef at 9:10 AM on February 11, 2010

I am not bound for bedlam, sir!
posted by Dreamcast at 5:37 PM on February 11, 2010

Oh man, I loved Encyclopedia as a kid. There was some song about King Louis XIV that I still get stuck in my head sometimes, though I think the Henry VIII number has won out for now.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 6:49 PM on February 11, 2010

All these guys sound like Ali-G. Is that a common accent/affect in England? I don't know that I have heard it before apart from Ali-G
posted by jpdoane at 3:08 PM on February 12, 2010