Horrible Histories, the hit BAFTA and British Comedy Award winning CBBC sketch show, is to get a game show spin-off.

The BBC has announced today that it has commissioned two series of Gory Games for the CBBC channel (26 half-hour episodes in total) from the creators of Horrible Histories.

Gory Games will be hosted by Dave Lamb, a comedy actor probably now best known as the narrator of Come Dine With Me, alongside the sketch show's puppet host Rattus Rattus.

The format will see three 'horrible historians' (child contestants) compete in four 'rotten rounds' to win a 'putrid prize'. The BBC says: "The victor will not just enjoy the honour of being the Gory Games champion but will also pick up a fitting, if fetid, prize such as an Egyptian Mummy's hand, a Georgian Navy maggoty biscuit or the cut-off ear of a Tudor thief. Set to disgust and delight CBBC viewers in equal measure, each episode of Gory Games will see young competitors answer quiz questions on toe-curling topics like the Gorgeous Georgians and Vicious Vikings. The winners of the quiz round will then progress to a physical game relating to a specific era - such as Henry VIII's pie-eating game - in the hope of winning Year Spheres."

CBBC Controller Damian Kavanagh says: "We are delighted to welcome Gory Games to CBBC. The series is being made by the revoltingly talented team behind Horrible Histories and we're sure that Gory Games will be a hideous hit too! Featuring an inimitable mixture of foul facts, putrid props and scary sketches, it is hoped that Gory Games, like Horrible Histories, will entertain and inform its audience about historical facts in equal measure."

It is believed that the cast of Horrible Histories will appear on the spin-off show in character as some of the popular historical stars from the sketch series to ask contestants questions. Terry Deary, the author of the best-selling Horrible Histories books on which the sketch show is based, will also be asking questions in historical guise.

Horrible Histories has received much praise for teaching young viewers history in a fun and interesting way, and for creating sketches that adults can enjoy alongside their children in equal measure. In fact, the show now has a growing fan base that features many adult viewers who don't have children.

TV ratings show that nearly half of all 6 to 12-year-olds in the country watch Horrible Histories, and its website has attracted 11 million hits since launch.

The cast of Horrible Histories is made up of established sketch show actors who will already be familiar to adult audiences, including Sarah Hadland, Jim Howick, Simon Farnaby, Ben Willbond, Mathew Baynton, Martha Howe-Douglas and Laurence Rickard. Last month, the team won the British Comedy Award for best sketch show, beating established 'prime-time' programmes such as Armstrong & Miller and Harry & Paul.

It was announced in December that Horrible Histories was also to be re-made for an adult audience, featuring Stephen Fry as the host. Full Story

Here is a sketch from the show featuring guest star Steve Punt...

And here is one of the show's most famous musical numbers