Horrible Histories: The Secret Diary of Henry VIII

Terry was born in Sunderland, England, in 1946 and now lives in County Durham, in the North-east of England.

Terry's father (Billy) was a butcher in Hendon, Sunderland, and his mother (Freda) was the manageress of a clothing shop. He worked many years in his father's butcher shop as a boy. It was better than school where he was beaten, bullied and abused by his loathsome teachers.

Terry began his career as a professional actor in 1972 when he joined Theatre Powys in Mid-Wales. He has also worked as a theatre-director, museum manager, drama teacher, television presenter. He first acted on television in 1973 and in 2010 he made his debut in movies with a small part in a British film "Risen"

As an actor with Theatre Powys Terry began writing scripts for some of the shows. One of the most successful was a children's show called "The Custard Kid". The "Custard Kid" tour ended but Terry didn't want to lose the exciting tale so he turned it into a children's novel. That first novel was published by A & C Black who are still publishing his books 35 years later.

In 35 years as an author his writing has included fiction and popular non-fiction. He also writes TV, theatre, radio, audio and new media scripts.

In 2009 CBBC Television launched a major television series of his Horrible Histories which has gone on to win several Children's BAFTA awards. In February 2011 the TV series won a British Comedy Award for best sketch show - the first children's show ever to win a Comedy Award. The same month Terry Deary became the 10th most-borrowed author in British libraries.

In 2010 there was a computer game adaptation for Nintendo Wii, DS and PC. A series of theatre plays, 'Horrible Histories', have been created in collaboration with Birmingham Stage Company touring throughout 2006 - 2012.

His next projects are with film companies to animate a 28-part worldwide television series "Terry Deary's True Time Tales" as well as adapting his "The Fire Thief" trilogy of fiction for movies. In 2011 Terry will scriupt a movie about football called 90 Minutes.

His charity work includes being patron of Single Homeless Action Initiative in Derwentside (SHAID), Grace House Children's Hospice appeal and Integrating Children is a small charity based in North Durham providing children with disabilities the chance to take part in leisure activities and enjoy the same opportunities as the non-disabled .

Terry was awarded a degree as Doctor of Education at Sunderland University in 2000 and is an ambassador for his home city of Sunderland. In 2011 he won the Sheffield Childrten's Book award for his novel "Put out the light" - a book that was also nominated for the prestigious Carnegie Medal in 2012.

Terry has been married to Jenny since 1975 and their daughter Sara is a talented event rider who competes at international level. See her Shivers Event Team website. In June 2011 Sara had twins, Harry and Jessica, Terry and Jenny's first grand-children.

In his spare time Terry is a road runner with Derwentside Athletic Club and takes part in races from 3 miles up to the Great North Run 13.1 miles.