Horrible Histories author Terry Deary and the stage-adaptor and actor Neal Foster got together to pick their all time favourite horrible history facts…

The perfectly horrid author of Horrible Histories Terry Dear has got together with the ghastly adaptor of Horrible Histories on stage (for the last 10 years!) Neal Foster to pick out their favourite most horrible, savage, gruesome and gross history facts. And here they are:



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In the savage Stone Age, people would kill a bear and then rip open its stomach to eat the meal the bear had consumed before it was killed



Romans liked watching people killing other people - on one morning alone, 10,000 people were killed in Rome’s Coliseum just for fun



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If you committed treason against the slimy Stuarts, you were hanged until you were nearly dead, your organs removed while you were still alive and then you were cut into four pieces

Over 50,000 people were executed at Marble Arch when it was main place for execution in London



The Countess of Salisbury had her head chopped off - but it took 11 blows of the axe before they got it off



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When Richard the Lionheart captured Cyprus, he made all the men on the island shave off their beards



King Charles I wore two shirts at his execution so people wouldn’t think he was shivering from fear



In Tudor times a cook was boiled to death in a giant cauldron because he poisoned the soup



In Saxon times, half of the population were dead before they were 25

In Georgian times you could be hanged for impersonating a Chelsea Pensioner



Terry Deary’s new book Horrible Histories: Top 50 Kings & Queens is available at the Guardian bookshop.

Horrible Histories – Barmy Britain – Part Three! starring Neil Foster and Anthony Spargo runs at the Garrick Theatre in London until 5 September, Garrick Theatre, you can book tickets here or call 0844 482 9673.

Enter our Horrible Histories Barmy Britain competition!

We have four tickets to see Horrible Histories Barmy Britain Part Three live at the Garrick Theatre to give away. Please read the Ts and Cs and then email us childrens.books@theguardian.com by Thursday 6 August by 5pm with “Horrible Histories Barmy Britain” as your title telling us why you should win. Entrants should be aged between six and 18, or entering on behalf of a child. Please include your name, age, and postal address; if you are under 16 you must also include the name, contact telephone number and email address of your parent or guardian. Winners will be selected by way of a random draw from all entries received before the closing date. Good luck!