BBC removes entire Horrible Histories episode featuring slavery and child workers

The BBC has edited scenes of Horrible Histories and removed an entire episode to meet its guidelines for children’s programmes.

Horrible Histories is based on the bestselling book series of the same name by Terry Deary, and aired on CBBC from 2009 to 2014.

At least seven sketches or scenes have been removed from the show, including one showing Madame Tussaud making wax masks from severed heads, according to The Times.

The broadcaster has also removed an entire episode of the show featuring slavery, Victorian child workers, and chimney sweeps.

Another sketch no longer available on BBC iPlayer depicted white actors using darker makeup to portray ancient Egyptians or Incas.

Actor Mathew Baynton, who played characters including William Shakespeare and Guy Fawkes on the programme, previously said it could be argued the show did ‘blackface’ in its depiction of Egyptians.

He told The Telegraph in 2022: ‘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.’

The removed episode reportedly featured a sketch teaching children about slavery in ancient Rome by depicting a Roman galley as an airline flight, with enslaved rowers chained to their oars and told they will not be allowed to escape if the ship sinks.

Another sketch showed how Victorian children were sent into dangerous, narrow chimneys, with a young boy sent into a chimney and told: ‘Try not to die.’

A spokesperson for the BBC 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.’

It comes weeks after the BBC removed several Mitchell and Webb Look sketches when the show came to iPlayer.

Starring David Mitchell and Robert Webb, the Bafta-winning series ran for four seasons between 2006 and 2010.

To mark its 20th anniversary the show was added to the streaming service, but with 11 sketches missing.

One of the scenes removed reportedly showed the pair satirising racism while in blackface.

Other sketches are said to include a makeover show contestant wearing a burka and a ‘tribe’ who lived in a garden centre.

A spokesperson for the BBC said at the time: ‘This is a 20-year-old sketch show; in consultation with the programme makers, we have included the ones that still work today and not the ones that don’t.’

Representatives at the BBC have been contacted for comment.

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