Just as we were leaving Napoleon’s tomb at Les Invalides in Paris last summer, my 11-year-old daughter, Camille, turned to me and in the hammiest Franglish accent whispered: “They say I’m short and I got little hands. But check out my massive … battle plans.” Well played, my girl. Well played.

As a lecturer in history, I encouraged Camille to watch all the Horrible Histories episodes on iPlayer during lockdown homeschooling. Ever since, one of our in-jokes has been to see who can slip lyrics from the show into conversation at the most opportune (or inopportune) moments. Despite my best efforts, she is far better at it than me.

On Friday November 29, Horrible Histories will receive a special Bafta award in recognition of its “extraordinary cultural and social impact and the joy, enrichment and hilarity it continues to bring to people of all ages since its inception 15 years ago”.

I couldn’t agree more – it has meant my daughter has enthusiastically embraced history as a subject, aided in her understanding of important events by the wittily packaged Horrible Histories sketches and songs. Like many tweenagers, Camille seems to know every last word, every foreign inflection, dance move and eyebrow twitch from the many songs off by heart.

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