BBC edits to Horrible Histories episodes draw censorship criticism
The article reports that the BBC has removed or edited episodes of *Horrible Histories* on iPlayer, prompting criticism from the author, who argues the changes amount to unnecessary censorship. The affected sketches use comic exaggeration to satirise Victorian child labour, Roman galley ships and chimney sweeps, and the article says their historical subject matter and humour are central to the programme.
The BBC said edits are made case by case to meet its editorial guidelines and reflect current audience expectations, adding that the practice is common across the industry. The article says the process is reportedly discussed with programme makers, but it is unclear whether complaints prompted the changes; author Terry Deary declined to comment. The passage provided also compares the edits with earlier BBC decisions concerning *The League of Gentlemen*, *Little Britain* and *Fawlty Towers*.
- BBC has edited or removed *Horrible Histories* sketches from iPlayer.
- The sketches satirise historical practices including child labour.
- The BBC cites editorial guidelines and present-day audience expectations.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “History WAS horrible, so what gives the BBC’s cultural commissars the right to censor Horrible Histories?”.