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The cast and crew of Horrible Histories answer some questions...

Steve Punt – writer/performer

What was it like working on Horrible Histories?

Not as horrible as the title would suggest. The writers were given nice biscuits and coffee at meetings, and (to my knowledge) none of them was boiled in oil or beheaded if they finished a sketch a bit late.

Did you enjoy history at school?

I actually did History A-Level, and by that time, some of it was quite hard going. To be absolutely honest, I can't remember that much about the Thirty Years War or the Repeal of the Corn Laws. But history is brilliant for helping you understand why the world is how it is; everything you see on the news, from Parliament to the Middle East, or the banking system to the Oscars, is clearer if you have a rough idea where they come from, and how things got the way they are.

Which historical characters did you write about/play in the series?

Witch-finders, Saxons, Romans, Elizabethans, grave-diggers, singing knights and I got to dress up as Merlin. I then got vaporised, because the whole point, of course, is that Merlin didn't really exist. Separating myth from reality is partly what history is about.

Which was your favourite sketch to write and why?

My favourite sketch to write was a group of generals explaining why the First World War was starting. It was carefully researched and all true, and yet comes out sounding absurd. I also liked a sketch about trying to cure the plague by using this untested new thing called "science", instead of the herbal therapies used by the doctors. It's a complete reversal of the modern controversy, and again, it's factually correct.

Has working on the series improved your historical knowledge?

Yes, and it's made me even more glad I live in the 21st century. When you read about what life was like for people 3,000, 1,000, 500 or even 100 years ago, you really appreciate antibiotics, central heating and iPods!

Meera Syal – reader of the Twisted Fairy Tales

What was it like working on Horrible Histories?

Great fun, I'd been a huge fan of the books which I discovered when my daughter, now 16, was in primary school. She particularly enjoyed the Roman HH, and has never forgotten the communal, ahem, "wiping stick" that the soldiers used on marches! I had the easiest job really, I did all the narrator sections in one mad day and got to sit down for all of it too, what more could you want?

Did you enjoy history at school?

I loved history, but stopped at O-level as I decided to do languages at A-level. But if you get good teaching for the subject, you never stop being fascinated by the past. Every great story is buried there, just open a book and you will discover all the twists of unpredictable fate, feats of human endeavour, outrageous acts and rebellions, heroes and villains, epic events that shape the way we live now, it's all there. And appreciating the past also makes you realise that you are creating your own history as you live from day to day, leaving your mark on the world, so try and make it a good one!

Has working on the series improved your historical knowledge?

Undoubtedly, because HH tends to bring out the quirky facts that you wouldn't necessarily have been taught at school, but presents them in such an entertaining way, that you remember the history along with the gags and the fun.

What do you think children will like about the series?

That, like the books, it makes history fun and fascinating through its tongue-in-cheek approach and imaginative humour. History is a fun subject, it's just so seldom taught that way, and it's great to have a series that blows away the cobwebs and gets back to basics, to entertain and inform.

Sarah Hadland – Performer

What was it like working on Horrible Histories?

Working on HH was a real challenge as we jumped from different periods of history quite a few times during a filming day so you might start as a plague victim with no hair and covered in boils doing a song-and-dance routine and end the day as queen of the Egyptians with a spray tan, heavy make-up, elaborate wig and weird props!

Did you enjoy history at school?

We had an awful history teacher who could make any subject unbelievably dull and was more keen on dragging you to the front to spell "Boudicia" on the board (please note deliberate bad spelling – she left me scarred historical spelling wise). So I just wished history had been this fun when I was at school. HH is funny (hopefully) and a lot of the facts are really interesting and surprising.

Which historical characters do you play in the series?

Helen of Troy, Florence Nightingale, Queen Victoria and Nefertiti. I think they were my only "celebs".

Which was your favourite character to play and why?

I loved playing "old crone" in an advert for Roman soldiers going to battle and taking her with them to keep their togas clean instead of soap! The make-up took forever but was brilliant (Christine Cant was in charge of the make-up and normally works with French and Saunders. She is a genius and we were very lucky to have her). Again, for Georgian Wife Swap I had the biggest wig that took three make-up ladies to hold it up – although it was literally a pain in the neck it did look incredibly funny! Also I liked being the modern-day TV presenter for the cooking programmes – I based her on those horrid nasal, plastic girls whose shrill tones ring in your ears long after they have stopped talking. It worked as it drove people mad and even gave one cast member nightmares. I was very flattered.

Has working on the series improved your historical knowledge?

I hope so – it was pretty poor before but I think I’ve got a few facts in there now...

Matthew Baynton – Performer

What was it like working on Horrible Histories?

It was really hard work because we had so many sketches to film in such a short amount of time but it was always fun: the writing was great, the costumes and make-up were amazing and the cast were all hilarious. I laughed my head off at least three times every day, I can't think of a better way of spending my time.

Did you enjoy history at school?

I'm ashamed to say I didn't. I was badly behaved at school and a lot of lessons like history just involved copying pages out of books so I got jittery and spent my energy trying to make my friends laugh instead. I think you have to try pretty hard to make history boring, it's such a naturally interesting subject, I'm fascinated by it now.

Which historical characters do you play in the series?

Here goes... Shakespeare, King Charles I, King George II, King Alfred the Great, King Ethelred, Thomas Farriner (the baker who reputedly started the Great Fire of London), Leonidas (Spartan ruler), Doctor Robert Knox, Robert Falson Scott (Scott of the Antarctic), Guy Fawkes, and probably a few I've forgotten. Phew!

Which was your favourite character to play and why?

I loved a lot of the little silly ones like cavemen, or the nurse who keeps falling over, or the bishop in Mike Peabody's plague report. I also really enjoyed King Alfred, I never thought playing someone boring would be so much fun.

Has working on the series improved your historical knowledge?

Yes, loads. The It's Not True song was an eye-opener. Did you know the Vikings' horned helmets were made up? I didn't.

Martha Howe-Douglas – Performer

What was it like working on Horrible Histories?

It was a real challenge to have to play so many characters from history in one day – for example, playing a cavewoman for one sketch, then being transformed into Queen Elizabeth I for the next! I really enjoyed that aspect of it though, especially getting the opportunity to play characters I wouldn't normally be cast as. The make-up and costume departments were incredible, and filming in the London Dungeon and various Historical houses really bought the sketches to life.

Did you enjoy history at school?

I hated it! It might have had more to do with the teacher though. It just wasn't a subject I cared about when I was younger – there were too many facts and figures to remember!

Which historical characters do you play in the series?

Queen Elizabeth I, Cleopatra, plague victims, Forties ladies, Neanderthals, Victorians, too many to remember!

Which was your favourite character to play and why?

I loved Queen Elizabeth I because she was such a tyrant, and I've never had the opportunity to play that sort of character before. Also, the make-up for her was fantastic. I was in the make-up chair for nearly two hours and the end result was amazing.

Has working on the series improved your historical knowledge?

Definitely! My historical knowledge was pretty poor from all of those years of not listening in history lessons, so working on the series has been like going back to school, and I can say now that I do enjoy history!