When Does Horrible Histories Season 12 Come Out? Is It Renewed?
“The history they don't teach you in school.”
Horrible Histories Season 12 doesn't have an official release date yet. Based on the roughly 21-month gap between previous seasons, expect it around November 2026.
IMDb
8.7/10
Seasons
11
Episodes
154
Predictive Logic Analysis
Horrible Histories has been a cornerstone of CBBC for over fifteen years, accumulating five BAFTA wins and maintaining a robust 8.7 IMDb rating across 154 episodes. Season 5's rising episode trajectory (averaging 8.0, up from 7.7) and strong search interest at peak levels indicate the show retains viewer momentum. The CBBC, a public broadcaster's children's service, typically behaves differently from commercial networks and streamers. It tends toward longer renewal windows and deeper loyalty to established franchises that deliver reliable education-entertainment value and stable audiences. The show's proven formula, established fan base, and recent quality metrics all align with CBBC's incentives to sustain the franchise.
The absence of any formal renewal announcement six months after the last episode is not unusual for a children's program on a broadcaster of this type, which often manages its slate more quietly than commercial platforms. The TMDB status showing "Returning Series" reflects prior renewal patterns rather than a current official announcement. Without a hard cancellation signal or production-related disruption, and given the show's consistent performance and cultural footprint, the most likely scenario is that a twelfth season is in development or already greenlit but not yet publicized. The steady Trakt active-watcher count and the absence of any negative critical or audience reception suggest no material headwind toward cancellation.
What is Horrible Histories about?
Horrible Histories transforms the study of the past into gleeful pandemonium, proving that history lessons don't have to be dull when they're liberally seasoned with bodily functions, creative violence, and the kind of irreverent humor that makes adults groan while children howl with laughter. Drawing from Terry Deary's wildly popular book series, the show takes viewers on a riotous tour through humanity's most consequential—and messiest—epochs, from ancient Rome to medieval times, treating historical facts as the setup to elaborate comedy sketches rather than dry recitation. What hooks audiences is the simple promise of permission: here, learning about the past means gleefully embracing all the grotesque, violent, and decidedly un-sanitized realities that textbooks quietly omit.
The show's distinctive charm lies in its rejection of reverence. Rather than treating history as a solemn cathedral of achievement, Horrible Histories gleefully demolishes the pretense that the past was anything other than chaotic, brutal, and often ridiculous. A rotating cast of British comedians inhabit various historical figures and scenarios through rapid-fire sketches, songs, and theatrical vignettes that prioritize comedy and engagement over educational completeness. The tone is deliberately juvenile in its humor while surprisingly intelligent in its factual foundation—the grotesqueness is never just decoration but serves as the emotional hook that makes historical information actually stick in viewers' minds.
With an impressive IMDb rating of 8.7 and sustained viewership across eleven seasons and over 150 episodes, Horrible Histories has proven remarkably durable for a children's program that might easily have been dismissed as a one-note gimmick. The show resonates equally with kids discovering history as entertainment and with parents and teachers who recognize its effectiveness at making young audiences genuinely curious about the past. Its critical success stems not from breaking new ground but from executing a simple formula with consistent quality and evident joy.
The series occupies a unique space in children's educational entertainment—irreverent enough to feel genuinely subversive to its young audience, substantive enough to satisfy parents and educators, and funny enough to work as pure comedy regardless of one's interest in history. It's become a cultural touchstone in British children's television, demonstrating that the best approach to teaching kids about the past isn't sanitizing it, but rather inviting them to laugh at the fact that history was every bit as messy and weird as they suspected.
Created by Terry Deary
Themes
Is Horrible Histories renewed or cancelled?
Working toward renewal
Five BAFTA wins and sustained critical acclaim across 11 seasons
Strong IMDb rating of 8.7 with 6263 votes
TMDB status shows Returning Series
Rising episode ratings within Season 5 (8.0 avg vs 7.7 prior season)
Rising Google search interest at peak levels
Steady Trakt active watcher count (2006)
CBBC's historical renewal patterns favor long-running educational-entertainment franchises
Working against it
Only 6 months since last season aired, with no formal renewal announcement
Horrible Histories Season 12 Release Date
If renewed, a twelfth season would likely air in late 2025 or early 2026, maintaining the show's traditional annual or near-annual cadence on CBBC. CBBC orders and schedules its programming on a longer lead time than streaming services, so decisions made by mid-2024 would typically result in content arriving 12 to 18 months later. The recent season aired in December 2024, suggesting the broadcaster is still actively slotting new content. An official announcement may come closer to the planned broadcast date, which is common practice for the channel. Production timelines for a sketch-comedy show of this scale are relatively modest, so a 2025 or early 2026 return is feasible.
Best & worst episodes
Horrible Histories seasons
Series 12009 · 13 ep
- 1. Episode 12009-04-16 · ★ 6.5
- 2. Episode 22009-04-23 · ★ 6.0
- 3. Episode 32009-04-30 · ★ 5.5
- 4. Episode 42009-05-07 · ★ 6.3
- 5. Episode 52009-05-14 · ★ 7.0
- 6. Episode 62009-05-21 · ★ 7.0
- 7. Episode 72009-05-28 · ★ 8.0
- 8. Episode 82009-06-04 · ★ 6.0
- 9. Episode 92009-06-11 · ★ 7.0
- 10. Episode 102009-06-18 · ★ 7.0
- 11. Episode 112009-06-25 · ★ 8.0
- 12. Episode 122009-07-02 · ★ 7.0
- 13. Episode 132009-07-09 · ★ 7.0
Series 22010 · 12 ep
- 1. Episode 12010-05-31 · ★ 8.0
- 2. Episode 22010-06-01 · ★ 7.0
- 3. Episode 32010-06-02 · ★ 7.0
- 4. Episode 42010-06-03 · ★ 8.0
- 5. Episode 52010-06-04 · ★ 7.0
- 6. Episode 62010-06-08 · ★ 8.0
- 7. Episode 72010-06-15 · ★ 8.0
- 8. Episode 82010-06-22 · ★ 7.0
- 9. Episode 92010-06-29 · ★ 7.0
- 10. Episode 102010-07-06 · ★ 7.0
- 11. Episode 112010-07-13 · ★ 8.0
- 12. Episode 122010-07-20 · ★ 7.0
Series 32011 · 13 ep
- 1. Aztec Home Cooking and Victorian Manners2011-05-30 · ★ 9.0
- 2. Episode 22011-05-31 · ★ 7.0
- 3. Episode 32011-06-01 · ★ 7.0
- 4. Episode 42011-06-02 · ★ 8.0
- 5. Episode 52011-06-03 · ★ 7.0
- 6. Episode 62011-06-07 · ★ 7.0
- 7. Episode 72011-06-14 · ★ 8.0
- 8. Episode 82011-06-21 · ★ 7.0
- 9. Episode 92011-06-28 · ★ 7.0
- 10. Episode 102011-07-12 · ★ 8.0
- 11. Episode 112011-07-05 · ★ 6.0
- 12. Episode 122011-07-19 · ★ 8.0
- 13. Savage Songs Special2011-07-26 · ★ 9.0
Series 42012 · 13 ep
- 1. Episode 12012-04-09 · ★ 9.0
- 2. Episode 22012-04-10 · ★ 8.0
- 3. Episode 32012-04-11 · ★ 8.0
- 4. Episode 42012-04-12 · ★ 7.0
- 5. Episode 52012-04-13 · ★ 7.0
- 6. Episode 62012-04-20 · ★ 8.0
- 7. Episode 72012-04-27 · ★ 8.0
- 8. Episode 82012-05-04 · ★ 7.0
- 9. Episode 92012-05-11 · ★ 8.0
- 10. Episode 102012-05-18 · ★ 7.0
- 11. Episode 112012-05-25 · ★ 7.0
- 12. Episode 122012-06-01 · ★ 7.0
- 13. Savage Songs Special2012-06-04 · ★ 9.0
Series 52013 · 13 ep
- 1. Episode 12013-05-27 · ★ 8.0
- 2. Episode 22013-05-28 · ★ 9.0
- 3. Episode 32013-05-29 · ★ 7.0
- 4. Episode 42013-05-30 · ★ 7.0
- 5. Episode 52013-05-31 · ★ 8.0
- 6. Episode 62013-06-04 · ★ 8.0
- 7. Episode 72013-06-11 · ★ 8.0
- 8. Episode 82013-06-18 · ★ 8.0
- 9. Episode 92013-06-25 · ★ 7.0
- 10. Episode 102013-07-02 · ★ 8.0
- 11. Episode 112013-07-09 · ★ 7.0
- 12. Episode 122013-07-16 · ★ 10.0
- 13. Song Special2013-07-23 · ★ 9.0
Series 62015 · 15 ep
- 1. Magna Carta Special: Crooked King John and Magna Carta2015-02-13
- 2. Awesome Alfred the Great Special2015-05-25
- 3. Wicked William the Conqueror Special2015-06-01
- 4. Mardy Mary Queen of Scots Special2015-06-08
- 5. Naughty Napoleon Special2015-06-15
- 6. Horrid Henry VIII Special2015-06-22
- 7. Crafty Cleopatra Special2015-06-29
- 8. Gorgeous George III Special2015-07-06
- 9. Bolshy Boudica Special2015-07-13
- 10. Wily Winston Churchill Special2015-07-20
- 11. Tricky Queen Vicky Special2015-07-27
- 12. 'Orrible Oliver Cromwell Special2015-08-03
- 13. Rotten Rulers Special2015-08-10
- 14. It's a Wicked World Special2015-08-17
- 15. Savage Songs Special2015-08-24
Series 72017 · 15 ep
- 1. Monstrous Musicians2017-06-15
- 2. Exceptional Explorers2017-07-26
- 3. Ridiculous Romantics2017-07-31
- 4. Atrocious Artists2017-08-07
- 5. Heroic Heroes And Villainous Villains2017-08-14
- 6. Ingenious Inventors2017-08-21
- 7. Preposterous US Presidents2017-08-28
- 8. Ruthless Rulers2017-09-04
- 9. Revolting Russian Revolutions2017-09-11
- 10. Horrid Health2017-09-18
- 11. Formidable Florence Nightingale2017-03-08
- 12. Deadly Dynasties2018-05-07
- 13. Savage Songs2018-05-07
- 14. Awesome Ancient Civilisations2018-05-07
- 15. Terrible Tudors2018-05-07
Season 82019 · 15 ep
- 1. Queen Vic's Home Vids2019-06-03
- 2. Fashion Faux Pas2019-06-10
- 3. Chaotic Collabs2019-06-17
- 4. Mind Your Manners!2019-06-24
- 5. Fearsome Families2019-07-01
- 6. Bizarre Beasts2019-07-08
- 7. Moon Mayhem2019-07-15
- 8. Putrid Politics2019-07-22
- 9. Heroic Home Front2019-09-09
- 10. Fierce Females2020-03-08
- 11. Outrageous Olympics2020-07-17
- 12. Mayflower Malarkey2020-09-14
- 13. Holly H Song Special2020-07-17
- 14. Fantastic Firsts Special2020-07-27
- 15. Beastly Bodily Functions Special2020-08-03
Season 92021 · 15 ep
- 1. British Black History2021-04-30
- 2. Gruesome Guide To Growing Up2021-07-07
- 3. Protesting With Pankhurst2021-08-20
- 4. Precious Planet2021-11-01
- 5. Dastardly Dance2021-11-26
- 6. Cracking Christmas2021-12-10
- 7. Foul Feasting2022-01-07
- 8. Infectious Influencers2022-01-14
- 9. Banging Bling2022-01-21
- 10. Diabolical Daily Life2022-01-28
- 11. Monstrous Myths2022-02-04
- 12. Henry and Liz's Family Face-Off2022-02-11
- 13. Cursed Careers2022-02-18
- 14. Smash Hit Songs2022-02-25
- 15. Big BBC Birthday Bonanza2022-10-15
Season 102023 · 15 ep
- 1. Daft Dads2023-06-16
- 2. NHS 75th Birthday Special2023-07-05
- 3. Foul Football2023-07-19
- 4. Gruesome Gunpowder Plot2023-11-03
- 5. Hideous Homes2024-02-02
- 6. Ruinous Rivals2024-02-09
- 7. Radical Renaissance2024-02-16
- 8. Gory Greek Myths2024-02-23
- 9. The Chaotic Civil War2024-03-01
- 10. Bewitching Books2024-03-06
- 11. Terrifying Tower of London2024-03-08
- 12. Rotten Romans in Britain2024-03-13
- 13. Loo Man's Gross Guide2024-03-15
- 14. Songtastic Musical Special2024-03-20
- 15. Kings and Queens - A Right Royal Special2024-06-14
Season 112025 · 15 ep
- 1. Brilliant Brains2025-02-07
- 2. Ridiculous Rules2025-02-14
- 3. Ludicrous Landmarks2025-02-21
- 4. Terrible Transport2025-02-28
- 5. Twisted Technology2025-03-07
- 6. Enormous Empires2025-03-14
- 7. Monstrous Mothers2025-03-28
- 8. Rat-o-Vision Song Contest2025-05-16
- 9. Putrid Pirates and Salty Seadogs2025-11-07
- 10. The Roaring 1920s!2025-11-14
- 11. Hair-Raising Holiday2025-11-21
- 12. Barmy Battles Special2025-11-28
- 13. Phiendish Pharaohs2025-12-05
- 14. Top Ten Naughtiest People2025-12-12
- 15. Pitiful Princes and Princesses2025-12-19
Horrible Histories trailer
Where to watch Horrible Histories
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Fandango At HomebuyAI Verdict
Horrible Histories is a long-running, critically acclaimed children's comedy with sustained audience engagement and a track record of consistent CBBC support. The most recent season aired just six months ago with rising episode ratings and strong audience metrics. CBBC typically orders shows well ahead of public announcements, and this show's durability, awards pedigree, and stable viewership point toward continuation, though no formal renewal signal has surfaced.
Live signals
2K watching on Traktsteady
Interest steady
Verdict updated 1 month ago
Updated 2026-07-01 · AI-generated analysis
How we predict →Our verdicts have proved right for 136 of 192 decided shows →Horrible Histories latest news
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Frequently asked
- When does Horrible Histories Season 12 come out?
- Horrible Histories Season 12 doesn't have an official release date yet. Based on the roughly 21-month gap between previous seasons, expect it around November 2026.
- Is Horrible Histories renewed or cancelled?
- Horrible Histories is a long-running, critically acclaimed children's comedy with sustained audience engagement and a track record of consistent CBBC support. The most recent season aired just six months ago with rising episode ratings and strong audience metrics. CBBC typically orders shows well ahead of public announcements, and this show's durability, awards pedigree, and stable viewership point toward continuation, though no formal renewal signal has surfaced.
- How many seasons of Horrible Histories are there?
- Horrible Histories has aired 11 seasons so far.
- How many episodes of Horrible Histories are there?
- There are 154 episodes of Horrible Histories across 11 seasons.
- Who created Horrible Histories?
- Horrible Histories was created by Terry Deary.
- Where can I watch Horrible Histories?
- Horrible Histories is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies and Fandango At Home.
- What is Horrible Histories's IMDb rating?
- Horrible Histories holds an IMDb rating of 8.7/10 from 6,263 votes.