The BBC’s education brand BBC Bitesize has announced “a major expansion” of its revision content for students and parents ahead of summer exam season.
The new content is spearheaded by YouTube-first revision series, Literally, from the creators behind hit series Horrible Histories and Horrible Science.
According to Bitesize, the comedic series is “built for the platforms young people already use, using humour and storytelling to bring revision to life”.
From mock autocomplete interviews with Frankenstein’s Monster, debunking common misconceptions around the original science fiction novel, to ‘Hog-Ones’, a playful take on the Hot-Ones YouTube challenge reimagined for Animal Farm, analysing the character Napoleon, and a CEO interview with Mrs Bennet, exploring the language used to describe characters in Pride and Prejudice, the series uses formats familiar to teenage viewers to deliver engaging revision content.
Alongside this, BBC Bitesize is expanding its wider revision offer, bringing together video, podcasts and study tools to support students in a way that feels relevant and easy to engage with during one of the most high-pressure times of the year.
The growing podcast offering, jointly produced by BBC Bitesize and BBC Sounds, includes four new exam skills episodes, developed in collaboration with the National Theatre. Hosted by journalist Carl Anka and writer Jean Menzies, the series brings key texts and techniques to life through performance and expert insight.
For stressed parents, a new Bitesize Parenting Teens podcast, hosted by Kerry Godliman, offers practical advice with navigating the challenges of supporting teenagers through revision. More guidance, resources and tips to support families with exam season without adding pressure are available on Bitesize Parenting.
Cerys Griffiths, head of BBC Bitesize, said: “Revision has changed, and students are increasingly turning to video and audio to help things stick. Literally, BBC Bitesize’s new YouTube offering, is about meeting them there, bringing subjects to life in a way that feels engaging, memorable and genuinely useful.”
