TellyCast Digital Video Awards 2026 has named History Crush, entered by Hearst Networks, as the winner of the DIGITAL ORIGINAL FORMAT – FACTUAL category.
The award recognises excellence in digital-first factual storytelling, with judges highlighting originality of format, clarity of execution and strong alignment with social-native audience behaviour across platforms.
Commissioned as a digital-first series for Sky History, History Crush reimagines historical storytelling through a contemporary, social-first lens. Fronted by TikTok-native historian and creator Katie Kennedy (aka The History Gossip), the series brings together academic insight and creator-led performance to deliver history in a format designed for modern digital consumption.
Each episode pairs Katie with a historian to evaluate iconic historical figures through a deliberately playful premise: would they be a “crush” or an immediate “burn”? The dating-profile framework provides a structured but flexible way into complex historical narratives, turning figures such as Cleopatra, Napoleon and Henry VIII into accessible, humanised case studies.
Katie Kennedy’s role is central to the show’s tone, combining academic credibility with a distinctly creator-led delivery style that aligns with TikTok and Instagram storytelling norms. Her presence provides both authority and personality, helping bridge educational content with entertainment-led pacing.
Judges called History Crush “a sharp, well-executed format that shows how factual content can be reimagined for social audiences. The series exhibited strong use of personality-led storytelling and a clear understanding of platform behaviour, delivering education and entertainment in equal measure.”
