CBBC sketch show gets a reprieve

Horrible Histories could be on its way back, CBBC boss Cheryl Taylor has revealed.

It had been thought that last year's fifth series was the last of the British Comedy Award-winning sketch show – with producers saying it was becoming increasingly difficult to find juicy historical material to work with.

But speaking at the Children’s Media Conference in Sheffield, Taylor said she was in advanced talks about a sixth series..

Trade magazine Broadcast reports her saying: 'It seemed too good an opportunity to say "that’s it". It’s a brand that the audience adores and possibly more than any other show on the channel.'

The show, based on a bestselling series of books, has been running on CBBC since 2009.

But speaking last year, producer Caroline Norris said: 'It’s a massive commitment. Researcher Greg Jenner spends three to four months looking for new facts.

'Fifty per cent of the sketches written this time went in the bin because you were working with much thinner facts. Greg’s job has become more and more difficult because he can’t find historical facts that will work.'

Many of those involved in Horrible Histories now work on the Sky 1 comedy Yonderland – which has just been commissioned for a second series – as well as working on a Shakespeare movie called Bill.

Published: 4 Jul 2014