Terry Deary's Biography

Terry was born in Sunderland, England, on 3 January 1946 (aged 77) 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.

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 and (his favourite job) Country Music singer. He still acts on stage and appears in 'The Terry Deary History Roadshow' around Britain - an entertainment with songs and stories for family audiences.

In 2009 CBBC Television launched a major television series of his Horrible Histories which has gone on to win many awards.

Terry's latest theatre work includes productions with Birmingham Stage Company on 'Horrible Histories - Terrible Thames' plays that are performed aboard cruise vessels on the River Thames.

'Horrible Histories - Rotten Romans: The Movie' was released in Summer 2019 with Terry appearing in a small role.

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, which he's done 25 times. See the videos he made HERE. He has written the script for a Documentary Feature Film to commemorate the 40th running of the Great North Run in 2021, "The Great North - a run, a river, a region". 

In 2024 he will branch out into a new career of writing murder-mystery stories for adults and non-fiction for adults.

Latest News

August - December 2024

This second half-year of 2024 I'll be writing two new books and a play.

1. 'Actually I'm a murderer' a murder-mystery will be published 12 June 2025 but I'll be starting...
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