Get hands-on with over thirty interactive experiences including touch-screen games, roleplaying opportunities and mechanical exhibits to entertain even the most hardened old salt. If you haven’t come across ‘Horrible Histories’ before you’ve missed a true publishing phenomenon – Terry Deary seems to have invented a whole new genre with his series of books looking at history in an entirely different way.” Books Magazine, July 96

Horrible Histories is one of the best shows on children's television; with catchy songs and entertaining jokes, this show really is the best way to learn about history. Grab your grog and sing along in the quayside tavern, design your own pirate flag and battle it out with different weapons including cutlasses and cannons. Take command of your very own pirate ship as you pretend to be a daring pirate commander on the high seas. Popular family exhibition Horrible Histories® exhibition to open at National Museum of the Royal Navy Hartlepool. The hugely popular family exhibition that proved such a hit in Portsmouth will be unveiled in time for the Easter holidays.The Horrible Histories exhibition is up and running in museums around Britain until 2003. He has also just set up a television production company and is negotiating to make a series of audio tapes and writing radio scripts for BBC World Service. Terry’s district council have awarded Terry an “oscar” as one of their top citizens and Sunderland University have awarded Terry an Honorary Doctorate in Education (HonDEd) which was awarded in July 2000. I do not like reading very much and my Mum is pleased that I have found some books I like so much that I read them without being asked!”

He’s been writing stories since he was five, but Mortal Engines was the first to be published. Mortal Engines defies easy categorisation. It is a gripping adventure story set in an inspired fantasy world, where moving cities trawl the globe. A magical and unique read, it immediately caught the attention of readers and reviewers and won several major awards. Three more Hungry Cities novels followed, and Philip’s latest project are the Fever Crumb books, prequels set centuries before the events of Mortal Engines.

Follow Visit Hampshire

Terry’s latest additions to the Horrible Histories series are the Horrible Histories Special: France and Cruel Crimes and Painful Punishment. And if Horrible Histories wasn’t keeping him busy enough Terry has also contributed a range of titles to the True Stories series including True Mystery Stories and True Horror Stories. In early 1998, the Top Ten series was launched with two titles written by Terry, Top Ten Shakespeare Stories and Top Ten Greek Legends. When this show first aired I was starting high school and hated history, I couldn't remember anything and was getting bottom marks in every test. This show saved my grades, every episode meant that a large amount of information became lodged in my head. From Vikings to King Charles II to the Civil Rights Movement, this show covers a lot with coherence and clarity even being clever enough to make spoofs of popular shows and TV adverts ('we buy any monk.com!') that ring true to modern British culture. This should not, however, restrict its audience though since it is an easily accessible show that has something for everyone.