The BBC has faced a backlash after editing episodes of the sketch comedy series Horrible Histories to align with its guidelines for children’s programmes. The broadcaster has also removed an entire episode from BBC iPlayer, which featured themes of slavery, Victorian child workers and chimney sweeps.
Horrible Histories, based on the bestselling book series by Terry Deary, was created to spark children’s interest in history. The CBBC production first aired in 2009 and has since run for 11 series.
Removed sketches and scenes
At least seven sketches or scenes have been cut from the show, including one depicting Madame Tussaud making wax masks from severed heads, according to The Times. Another sketch no longer available on iPlayer showed white actors wearing darker makeup to portray ancient Egyptians or Incas.
The decision comes days after the BBC was criticised for removing sketches from That Mitchell and Webb Look because they no longer “work today.”
Actor Mathew Baynton, who played characters including William Shakespeare and Guy Fawkes on the programme, previously acknowledged that the show could be seen as using “blackface” in its depiction of Egyptians. In 2022, he told The Telegraph: “We didn’t do blackface, for example, but you could argue that we did. Because I played Egyptians, you know, for example, where you’d get a spray tan, essentially, and stand in your pants.”
Viewer and author reactions
The removed episode reportedly included a sketch teaching children about slavery in ancient Rome, depicting a Roman galley as an airline flight with enslaved rowers chained to their oars and told they would not be allowed to escape if the ship sank. Another sketch showed Victorian children being sent into dangerous, narrow chimneys, with a young boy told: “Try not to die.”
Viewers reacted angrily to the changes. One user, @rangothegrump, wrote on X: “History in Horrible Histories is apparently too horrible, therefore it must be deleted. Now THAT is a horrible history of the Orwellian direction our country is going.”
Historian and author Guy Walters also criticised the move, saying: “This is an insane decision and it obviously follows hot on the heels of sanitising Mitchell and Webb sketches.”
BBC statement
A BBC spokesperson said: “The edits to Horrible Histories were made seven years ago, in consultation with the programme makers, to ensure the series meets our editorial guidelines for children’s programmes.”
Horrible Histories author Terry Deary has been contacted for comment.
