Hey, I just saw some great news for anyone who loves a good drama! BBC iPlayer added The History Boys, and it’s seriously good. It came out in 2006, but it’s based on a really popular play that won a bunch of awards. It’s set in the 80s and follows these students in Sheffield who are prepping for a big exam – they’re all trying to get into Cambridge or Oxford. Plus, Penelope Wilton from Downton Abbey is in it, so you know it’s going to be well-acted!
Directed by Nicholas Hytner, the film is written by Alan Bennett, who adapted his own 2004 play.
You can now watch The History Boys on BBC iPlayer. It originally aired last night on BBC Two and features the original stage cast, including familiar faces like Samuel Anderson (known from Doctor Who), Russell Tovey, Sacha Dhawan, Dominic West (Mamma Mia!), James Corden and Andrew Knott (Gavin and Stacey), Samuel Barnett (Dirk Gently), and Jamie Parker (The Crown). The show follows a group of eight sixth-form students.
Having done well on their A-level exams, these students are now studying hard for the History entrance exam, hoping to be accepted to Cambridge or Oxford University.
The film also features Wilton as Mrs. Bibby, the art teacher, Richard Griffiths as the beloved English teacher known as ‘Hector,’ Frances de la Tour as history teacher Mrs. Lintott, and Stephen Campbell Moore as Irwin, a temporary history instructor who challenges students to think for themselves despite having a somewhat unclear educational history.
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The film The History Boys has been well-received by critics, currently holding a 66% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Based on 103 reviews, the overall response is generally positive. New York Magazine/Vulture praised the film, calling it “brilliant and infectious, much like Bennett’s voice: English-deadpan but never snide, and generous to a fault.”
According to the Austin Chronicle, if you enjoy British films that are fast-paced, edgy, thoughtful, and emotionally complex, The History Boys is a great choice. The Boston Globe specifically highlighted Bennett’s writing as being deeply insightful and moving.
The History Boys is streaming on BBC iPlayer.
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2026-07-22 14:20