BBC teams with All3Media’s Lion Television for Horrible Science series
The children’s and education arm of the BBC has re-teamed with All3Media-owned Lion Television for a science-themed addition to its Horrible programme brand.
Patricia Hidalgo
Production on Horrible Science has begun and the brand will launch in 2025. It follows the huge success of comedy sketch show Horrible Histories and will be similarly packed full of humorous sketches and fun facts, the BBC said.
Available on CBBC, BBC iPlayer and educational platform BBC Bitesize, it will delve into the incredible science of the past, the present, and the future, exploring our planet and the universe beyond.
In a first for BBC Children’s & Education, Horrible Science will extend beyond a new TV show with episodes linked directly to the National Curriculum.
Five of the episodes will be themed around key primary science topics: materials and states, forces and motion, light, sound and electricity, earth and space and working scientifically.
BBC Bitesize Primary will feature 25 curriculum-linked sketches of these themes and songs taken from episodes.
These sketches will support BBC Bitesize’s resources across the KS2 curriculum and form part of the Bitesize Primary guides, which include text, illustrations, photos, infographics, interactive games, quizzes and activities to be used in the classroom and at home.
Patricia Hidalgo, director of BBC Children’s & Education, said: “We know children and adults love learning about the past with Horrible Histories and we want to bring that magic formula of comedic excellence and educational value to Horrible Science.
“And for the first time we’re creating education resources for teachers and students to use in classrooms together with a brilliantly entertaining show to enjoy at home – highlighting our commitment to entertaining and educating young audiences beyond what we’ve ever done before.”
The series is inspired by the bestselling and award-winning Horrible Science book series written by Nick Arnold, illustrated by Tony De Saulles, and published by Scholastic, which celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2026.
It was commissioned by Hidalgo and Sarah Muller, senior head of commissioning and acquisitions 7+ with Melissa Hardinge, senior commissioning editor. Education resources were commissioned by Helen Foulkes, head of BBC Education.
Horrible Science comes after the Horrible Histories TV show recently celebrated its 15th anniversary, having totted up 160 episodes over 11 seasons.
