BBC journalist Andrew Marr has criticised the poor standard of history education across the country.

Marr claimed the quantity of people that leave school without an understanding of Britain’s recent history was "shameful".

Speaking at the BAFTAs, Marr said: "I think it’s absolutely shameful how little of our own recent history is taught in many schools."

The BBC journalist won the 'Specialist Factual' BAFTA yesterday for his documentary series Andrew Marr’s History of Modern Britain.

Marr commented: "A vast percentage of people leave school and have no idea what’s happened in this country over the last 100 years.

"If you don’t know what happened before, how can you know who you are?"

The news broadcaster also defended himself from accusations of dumbing down factual programming.

He commented: "There’s no point in making some very clever, clever history programme that nobody watches. It’s got to be watchable, it’s got to be entertaining."

Marr also revealed that he is currently working on a follow up series focusing on the history of Britain between 1900 and 1945.