Historyonics

BBC1 prime time series which went out on successive Sunday evenings beginning April 4th 2004 for family viewing, created, written and presented by Nick Knowles.

The series was something really new, not new like people say on TV and it turns out to be just some rehash of some other idea - this was really weird and wacky. People either loved it or hated it.

Six beautifully shot dramas on factual characters' lives that are written for laughs, factually and historically correct and move at the speed of a sitcom. Add to this Nick walking into shot to clarify points or ask questions of the main characters and a modern musical score and you have possibly the most original TV programme for some time.

'I just realised how lazy TV has been with history. It's always some pompous crusty sort who looks like your school history teacher droning on in a condescending way while a few re-enactors wave swords around in slow motion in the background. I realised they were making some of the most amazing stories you could ever hear so dull you'd fall asleep. There is also some strange view that History is all fact. Plainly some is but some is just what the winners wrote down so you have to look around the event or read other view points and judge what might have been the truth. It's like suggesting that everything recent Governments have said is the truth - spin has been around a long time - Julius Caesar was a prime example - the Max Clifford of the Ancient world.'

Nick has targeted iconic figures in history for the first series: 'If I had started with some remote figure no-one had heard of, people wouldn't watch and I want everyone to give it a go, even if you don't like History. Everyone knows at least one thing of 1066 and the Battle of Hastings or Dick Turpin or Robin Hood, I just decided to tell the true stories and they are really funny. I'll give you an example. William the Conqueror waited days to cross the channel with his invasion fleet because his soothsayer was waiting for all the omens to be right for the safest crossing. He finally announced today was their lucky day and off they sailed. When they arrived William called for his Soothsayer only to be told he had drowned on the way across! Now that's funny isn't it? And it's fact. The whole battle happened because there was no real heir to the throne, only it turns out there was and nobody has ever heard of him!'

There are six titles in the series and the highly successful (almost seven million viewers) already broadcast Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder plot is likely to be added to make seven. So here they are:

DICK TURPIN

Was he really a dashing hero fighting against the establishment and a popular hero amongst the lower classes or a dodgy butcher from Essex who couldn't hit a barn door with a pistol who ended up believing his own press releases!

ROBIN HOOD

Hollywood hero and now available in action figure. Did he exist at all? And if he did who was he, was he more than one person? Did his merry men exist and were they that merry? and why am I asking you these questions when I know the answer? Some shocking revelations about Richard the Lionheart too! All will be revealed.

MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS

Heroine of Scotland or run out of town by her own countrymen. Waif or witch? Or maybe like most of us a bit of each. Her life was a rollercoaster ride and we buy a family all day ticket with free candy floss and ride it into the ground. What does this mean? Well just watch the programme and find out exactly who she was.

1066 Battle of Hastings

So there was a battle and William won and Harold died with an arrow in his eye - er, maybe not actually. But William was next in line - er, actually no. But after the battle was the first time the Normans arrived in Britain and took over - erm, sorry but no again. Is any of this funny? Flat packed Castles, warriors singing 'Do you think I'm sexy' and a full pitched battle in a Supermarket car park, what do you think?

RICHARD III

Defeated by Henry VIII's Dad and murdered the Princes in the Tower, but wasn't he just made to look bad by the Tudors? Yes and No. His family were pretty much the Corleones of their day and he was Michael. But these weren't touchy feely times and sometimes you just have to murder family members to protect the family. Don't worry - I'm in counselling.

JULIUS CAESAR'S INVASIONS OF BRITAIN

Brilliant commander, politician, strategist, writer - and how do we know all this - 'cos he told us. He was a spin doctor extraordinaire and his invasions may not have been quite the success he suggested. His motives for coming here might have been a bit dodgy. Certain political parallels to be drawn on recent world events too. A top Brittany Spears joke in here too - don't miss it.

'I hope this gets up a lot of Historians' noses and we can prick the bubble of pomposity on this subject so everyone can enjoy these true and amazing stories'

Nick went to Key West and Cuba to write the scripts and filming went on throughout 2003. A band of players emerged so you'll see many of the same actors in various roles throughout the series.

'It was amazing to see the scripts come to life. The actors were universally wonderful and the days, although long and arduous, were the most fun I've ever had standing up. We only got a week to shoot each one but you'd never know that to look at them. Thank you Iain May for the original inspiration and working out with me what was possible. Annie Heather for rescuing the series when in crisis and everyone who worked on it for your sense of work, fun and the epic evenings

We would gather in a hotel, have dinner then my brother John would play and sing and everyone would go berserk.

'Finally this series would not have been made but for the support of my brother John. Simply the best brother a man could have - you kept me standing up and shone a torch when it was needed, it's nice to be back. As the crew said 'He's just like you only much nicer''