CBBC’s ‘Horrible Histories’ to receive special BAFTA award

Historical sketch show for children Horrible stories will receive a special BAFTA award next month in recognition of its “extraordinary cultural and social impact and the joy, enrichment and hilarity it continues to bring to national screens on CBBC since its inception there is 15 years old,” revealed the British Academy on Thursday.

The BAFTA Board of Directors awards a number of special awards each year as part of the organization’s mission to showcase excellence in film, games and television.

Lion Television, part of All3Media and the production company behind the children’s series, will receive the honor at a special presentation at BAFTA’s London headquarters next month.

“The event will highlight Horrible stories“Remarkable longevity, innovation and relevance, from tackling important, diverse and underrepresented areas of history, to its legacy as a springboard for British comedic talent and its impact on the school curriculum “, said BAFTA.

Based on the bestselling books written by Terry Deary and published by Scholastic, Horrible stories mix of educational story and comedy. The show first launched in 2009 on children’s channel CBBC. “Taking audiences through passages of history, from the rotten Romans to the groovy Greeks, the Terrible Tudors and the Vile Victorians, the program is loved by children, parents and retirees alike,” boasted the BAFTAs .

Sara Putt, President of BAFTA, said: “Horrible stories transformed traditional ideas of what educational television should be. It has captured the hearts and minds of people of all ages across the country for 15 years and, most importantly, it made us laugh.

Richard Bradley, executive producer and co-founder of Lion Television, added: “Ensuring that Horrible stories the series over 15 years has been a total joy. Creating television for young audiences is incredibly rewarding. Through comedy, hideous historical facts and some catchy tunes, we hope we have brought joy, laughter and – perhaps – inspired new generations of young historians.

And fellow executive producer Simon Welton said: “It’s such an honor for us. It’s a beautiful testament to all the incredible industry and creativity that everyone who worked on the series, behind and in front of the cameras, put into making it from day one to this day. What horrible pleasure?!”

Over the years, the series has assembled a large cast, some of whose members have made names for themselves elsewhere. Current cast members include Tom Stourton, Jessica Ransom, Richard David-Caine, James McNicholas, Emily Lloyd-Saini Timmika Ramsay, Harrie Hayes, Inel Tomlinson, Ethan Lawrence and Paul G Raymond. The original cast included Mathew Baynton, Simon Farnaby, Jim Howick, Martha Howe-Douglas and Ben Willbond.

“Horrible stories also attracted an impressive list of celebrity guests, including Rowan Atkinson, Gemma Whelan, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Rob Delaney, Meera Syal, Rose Ayling-Ellis, The League of Gentlemen, Rosie Jones, David Baddiel, Rob Rinder and Fred Sirieix,” BAFTA pointed out.