History Videos

History Videos are a collection of short (usually 5-6mins) Videos based on specific periods in History. For example Flea Fu Wars is set near the end of the 14 centaury, during the Black Death, and it talks about how people thought the plague was being spread, the real cause, and how it could have been stopped. History Videos started sometime in November 2002. They grew and grew, over the years, getting better and better, and the team never looked back. And the rest is history.

The theme song for the 2nd Series was composed by Director Matt Grigg, and entitled "The History Videos Theme Tune." Even though it is the theme tune, it cannot be heard in any of the episodes. The only way to hear it is to select “Theme Tune” on the Bonus Disk of the Comic Relief Special DVD. Both of the Walk’s are accompanied by the track The Beginning of the Middle by a hopefully rising US band, Hollywood Ending.

In May 2005 the History Videos Team decided that the last episode of series 2, Who Rocks?, would be the last ever History Video. The Team have announced that a new project is to be produced, entitled only as, "The Series." It is unknown when production will begin.

Series 2 of History Videos was released on a 2-Disk DVD Box-set. The proceeds went directly to 2005.

Cast
The Team

* Matt Grigg: Director (2002-2005)
Grigg has been with History Videos since the start. Grigg, among others, was one of the first people to think of doing a video, instead of a proper project, which could be the reason for his title as the director of History Videos. Matt is mainly a actor/ideas man in the team, although he is up for anything, he isn’t usually on screen as much as some of the other members of the team. Some of his main roles have been: Richard Arkwright, Hippocrates, Galen, Fleming and The Prosecution in The Imperial Court of Justice.

* Tom Craven: Actor - (2002-2005)
Also in it from the start, Craven’s main role is as an actor, who is usually in each episode the most. Usually he has the most parts, wearing various different costumes to symbolise each, such as wig and furry hat for the suffragettes. First person to be in the bin, in his role as the real inventor of Arkwright’s machine – the Spinning Frame. Most famous for playing Guy Fawkes, Billy the Hit Man, Suffragette up a Tree and Tumms.

* James Bedford: Digital Effects - (2002-2005)
In it from the start, mainly just an actor in the 1st series, playing various roles, such as: The Judge in Richard Arkwright and Lord Monteagle in Guy Fawkes. But from the start of series 2 Bedford changed to a new, overdue, profession as Director of Digital Effects. History Videos has never been the same since Bedford took up this post and started his long job of turning almost complete rubbish, into a History Video.

* Ian Almond: Prop Designer/Prop Builder (2002-2005)
Also in it from the beginning, Almond has never been in front of the camera for very long periods of time, with the exception of Jack the Ripper, one of his very few roles. But towards the end of the first series and throughout the second series, his props got bigger and more elaborate. Starting off with the Room 101 box in Rome 101, to the Flea Costume in Flea Fu Wars, to his Golden Dalek in Who Rocks? The Dalek, which took seven weeks with the help of others, was operated by Almond himself, and appeared in almost every scene. It was later borrowed for pantomimes, galas and other performances.

* Simon ‘Dozzy’ Dorrington: Test Subject (2003-2005)
Since his late arrival, in Richard Arkwright, Dozzy has never had it easy. From his first role as a battered to death worker, to a demonstrative guinea pig, it’s never been a simple life. Some of his most famous roles have been, Chain and a Roman Guard. As well as Almond, Dorrington has made various props during his two years, such as the Roman armour used in Rome 101. But his most famous and well remembered role is arguably The Immortal Flea, during which he had to fight Tumms in a Tekken style Fight-Scene.

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Guest Stars

* Anthony Graham: Baum Monster (2003-2004)
Graham first appeared in series 1, Jack the Ripper. He appeared in the bin-tro of that episode, but never returned on screen. He played a much bigger part in the following episode, The Suffragettes, the infamous Baum Monster. After The Suffragettes, Graham and Bedford both went off and made their own Video to end Series 1, Space Invaders.

* Carl Norfolk: Baum Monster #2 (2004)
Carl appeared in only one episode of History Videos, The End of History. He played two roles, the first of which was the controversial second Baum Monster, and a character simply known as the Afro Guy. Norfolk's portrayal of the Baum Monster was followed by a huge legal fiasco involving mistaken copyrights. The creators of the second Baum Monster were never taken to court, as the Baum Monster image was held by History Videos, not Graham. The Afro Guy came on screen and warned Guy Fawkes and Jack the Ripper, about the bomb on the bin, then ran off screen squealing after he found out that the person who’d just walked on screen wasn’t Michael Jackson, as he’d thought, but actually the Grim Reaper.

*Chris Cook: Extra Cameraman (2004 and 2005)
Cook did the camera work in the Benny Hill style chase in Flea Fu Wars, because the rest of the Team were busy chasing the Flea, or being the Flea. Cook also appeared for about a second in The Suffragettes, during the Stupid Video News interview.

Episodes

Series 1

The first series of History Videos began production mid-late 2002, with the first broadcast in November of that year. The theme throughout the series was that of major historical events such as; the the Dissolution of the Monastries by Henry VIII and Cromwell and the mystery surrounding Jack the Ripper.

* Monastery Inspection Agency, MIA:
First ever History Video. MIA was made because the team were set a project, on the disillusion of the monasteries. It was thought, by the team, that it would be more fun, and easier, to do a video instead. This video has been lost, and will probably never be found again.

* Fair Trade:
The first of two Geography Videos made. It includes some facts about fair and unfair trade, and then moves on to the more interesting part, Bejoulias’ Diary, A Day in the Life of a Worker. Bejoulias has a hard day, he gets hit by rakes, has to eat slop, and to top it all, he gets shot.

* Gunpowder Plot:
The first proper History Video. Set in the Imperial Court Of Justice, Guy Fawkes’ fate is decided. With accounts from Guy himself, Thomas Wintor and Robin Banks the Guard. Ending with the Verdict, of GUITLY.

* Richard Arkwright: (Recorded June 22nd 2003)
The Team is complete, as Simon ‘Dozzy’ Dorrington joins the group. Set once more in the Imperial Court Of Justice, Richard Arkwright is put under question. Billy the Hit Man is deployed to find and bring back Arkwright from his safe house. Arkwright is also found GUILTY. Features the first ever Bin-tro.

* Jack the Ripper:
Anthony Graham joins the Team for a short stay. History Videos tries to discover the identity of the infamous Jack the Ripper. Once his identity has been discovered, a Step-By-Step How to do ‘em in like the Ripper ensues. The first Stupid Video News broadcast talks about Jack’s most recent letter to the police, which is cut short by a message from Jack the Kipper. Features Out-Takes.

* The Suffragettes:
The Baum Monster is thrown into the mix. History Videos shows some of the many means the Suffragettes used to try and get votes for women, such as protests, egging politicians, vandalism, and even burning down churches.

* The End of History: (First Aired July 2004)
The team split into two for the final episode, Matt, Ian, Tom and Simon produced The End of History. A bomb has been planted somewhere in time and space, which will destroy all of history when it goes off.

* Space Invaders: (First Aired July 2004)
The end of Series 1. A technology filled video, during which Aliens demand for their leader back, or they will invade our "puny little planet." Once they find out they're not getting her back, they do invade. But little do they know we know their Achilles heel...

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Series 2

The new series began production in mid-late 2004, with the first airing in October of that year. This series was centred around the progression of medicine throughout time, from The Ancient Greeks and Hippocrates, up to the near-present with the discovery of Penacillin.

* The Four Humours: (First Aired October 2004)
This is the first episode of the new 2nd Series, which focuses on Hippocrates and his theory of the Four Humours. This episode features the first of two Walks. No. 7 goes through and demonstrates the four humours and how to balance them with Dozzy, the more than willing (?) volunteer. Features Out-Takes.

* Rome 101: (First Aired October 2004)
Rome 101 is a take on the popular TV show, Room 101, In which celebrities get the chance to rid the world of their worst nightmares. The guest in this episode is Roman Doctor Superstar, Mr Galen. Galen opts to drop pointless interludes and rubbish pop bands into the abyss.

* Flea Fu Wars: (First Aired November 2004)
Voted one of the best History Videos ever. Flea Fu wars opens with the familiar sound of I’ll Be There For You by the Rembrandts, AKA Friends. The team run through all the various means that people of the 14th centaury thought the plague was being spread. The real cause of the Black Death is then discovered, fleas. A Benny Hill style chase ensues, until the flea is caught. A fight between the immortal flea and the world’s toughest fighter, Tumms, then begins.

* The Rebirth: (First Aired January 2005)
Winner of the Thirsk School, Nobel Prize for History. Episode XI, The Rebirth, is a Star Wars based video, including a battle of the doctors, in a game of Jenga, and an interview with Vesalius, on Chat With Matt. Featuring, at the end, an amazing Lighsabre fight between good guy Andreas Vesalius, and bad guy Darth Parè. Who do you think wins?

* Alienpox: (First Aired February 2005)
A partly serious video, made because OFSTED were inspecting the school at the time. Based on the work of Edward Jenner, and re-enacted by the famous Alien, from the Alien Quadrillogy.

* Have I Got News For You: (First released on the Comic Relief DVD, March 15, 2005)
A take on the popular BBC’s Have I Got News For You, but with school news. Such as, the missing words round features school punishments, The odd one out round has teachers as the four odd-balls, and school headlines. It features all the team as panellists, and James Bedford as host. This Special Episode is so far only available on the Comic Relief Bonus Disk, and therefore isn’t available anywhere else.

* Who Rocks? : (First Aired June 23, 2005)
The last ever History Video, which charts the antics of Fleming, Florey and Chain. The opening introduction sees Florey and Chain making a deal with a Dalek that they would let it go if it killed Fleming, so they could invent penicillin first. The Doctor therefore shows up, as he does, to save Fleming, and the world, from destruction from the Daleks. Featuring a massive gunfight between Florey & Chain and the Dalek, then another Lightsabre duel with Fleming and the Dalek. With Out Takes.

* The Comic Relief DVD Box-Set : (First Released March 13, 2005)
This Double Disk DVD Box-Set features all the episodes from series 2s, except Who Rocks? which was released after the DVDs were sold. It also features The History Videos Music Video, Have I got News For You Exclusive Video and a documentary. The documentary features interviews with part of the team, Matt Grigg, Ian Almond and James Bedford, behind-the-scene film, such as how Darth Parè’s force power over the Jenga tower was brought to life. Also on the DVD there are bonus, never-before-seen, footage, added into Rome 101, Flea Fu Wars, The Rebirth and Alienpox.

History Videos on the Net

The creators of History Videos are currently uploading as many History Videos as possible onto the net, so fans out there can watch them whenever they so desire.
Here are the links to the webpages hosting them -

Series 2
* The Four Humours - Not Yet Available
* Rome 101 - Not Yet Available
* Flea Fu Wars - http://youtube.com/watch?v=BN0Y-XysuEIs
* The Rebirth - http://youtube.com/watch?v=o9hJdjwgx9U
* Alienpox - Not Yet Available
* Who Rocks? - http://youtube.com/watch?v=hz4sSusAD_A

Recurring Themes

History Videos had many recurring themes throughout the span of its two series’. Some of the most famous include:

* The Green Wheelie Bin: The wheelie bin was first introduced in series 1 episode 3, Richard Arkwright. It was introduced as the real inventor of Arkwright’s machine, the Spinning Frame. It was used latter on in that episode to explain where everyone lives between making History Videos. At the end the whole team, starting with Simon, climbed out of the bin and walked off screen. It was so popular when it was shown, that it was brought back at the start of every episode to follow in that series, a process that became know as a Bin-tro. The use of the Green Wheelie Bin disappeared after the first series because it was believed that anyone that hadn’t seen the first series wouldn’t understand it significance. But if series 2 is watched close enough the bin can be seen in almost all of the episodes. The Green Bin was resurrected for the final episode, Who Rocks?, as the Doctor’s TARDIS, Time And Relative Dustbins In Space.

* The Baum Monster: The Baum Monster first appeared on the Suffragettes, played by Anthony Graham. The Baum Monster wore a blue shirt, usually Hawaiian, and jeans. But its most distinguishing feature was that it had an Afro for a head. It also had a very limited vocabulary of just one word, “Baum!” The Baum Monster was later seen in The End of History, but this time played by Carl Norfolk. This Baum Monster was a wild Baum, which promptly got eaten by a Muab Retsnom, a killer of Baum Monsters.

* ‘Dozzy’ as a Test Subject: It started in Series 2, episode 1, where Dozzy was absolutely drenched with water, to symbolise the element water. And ever since it’s only got worse. In Rome 101 he had to eat a chilli, in Flea Fu Wars he was covered in leaves and struck by lightening, in the Rebirth he was pelted with Jenga blocks. It is mainly because audiences love it, but partly because deep down, he likes it.

* Lightsabres: First appearing in the Rebirth, Lightsabres have always been something History Videos wanted to have, and after hours of hard labour, it got them. The first Lightsabres are used by Darth Parè - “Red,” and Andreas Vesalius – “Green.” They were used to decide who was better, Vesalius or Parè. A pink one is used in Who Rocks? by Fleming. Even though it isn’t a true Lightsabre, but really a sword that the doctor shone his Sonic Screwdriver over, it works just as well to disable and weaken a Dalek.

* Mocking well known Films/TV Shows: History Videos have mocked many TV shows and films during series 1 & 2. Some of the most famous include Room 101 in Rome 101, Friends, Predator and Benny Hill in Flea Fu Wars, Star Wars in The Rebirth, Only Fools and Horses and Alien in Alienpox and Doctor Who in Who Rocks? As well as Have I Got News For You in the Have I Got News For You Exclusive Video.

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See Also

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