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{{Short description|British TV sitcom (1983–1989)}}
{{otheruses}}
{{Hatnote group|
{{infobox Television |
{{Other uses}}
| show_name = Blackadder
{{Distinguish|Black adder (disambiguation){{!}}Black adder}}
| image = [[Image:Ba4.jpg|200px|center]]
}}
| caption = Left to right: (Back) [[Tim McInnerny]]: [[Stephen Fry]] and [[Hugh Laurie]], (Front) [[Rowan Atkinson]] and [[Tony Robinson]] in ''[[Blackadder Goes Forth]]''
{{More citations needed|date=April 2023}}
| format = [[Situation comedy]]
{{Use British English|date=June 2020}}
| runtime = 30 minutes
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
| creator = [[Richard Curtis]] & [[Rowan Atkinson]]
{{Infobox television
| writers = [[Richard Curtis]] & [[Rowan Atkinson]] (series 1)<br>[[Richard Curtis]] & [[Ben Elton]] (series 2-4)
| image = Ba4.jpg
| starring = [[Rowan Atkinson]]<br>[[Tony Robinson]]<br>[[Tim McInnerny]]<br>[[Hugh Laurie]]<br>[[Brian Blessed]]<br>[[Miranda Richardson]]<br>[[Stephen Fry]]<br>[[Gabrielle Glaister]]<br>[[Patsy Byrne]]<br>[[Rik Mayall]]<br>[[Helen Atkinson-Wood]]
| caption = Left to right: Tim McInnerny, Rowan Atkinson, Stephen Fry, Tony Robinson and Hugh Laurie in ''Blackadder Goes Forth''
| country = [[United Kingdom]]
| genre = [[Period piece|Period]] sitcom
| network = [[BBC One]]
| first_aired = [[15 June]] [[1983]]
| creator = [[Richard Curtis]]<br />[[Rowan Atkinson]]
| writer = Richard Curtis<br />Rowan Atkinson (series 1)<br />[[Ben Elton]] (series 2–4)
| last_aired = [[2 November]] [[1989]]
| director = [[Geoff Posner]] (pilot)<br>Martin Shardlow (series 1)<br>[[Mandie Fletcher]] (series 2 and 3)<br>[[Richard Boden]] (series 4)
| num_episodes = 24
| presenter =
| list_episodes = List of Blackadder episodes
| starring = Rowan Atkinson<br />[[Tony Robinson]]<br/>[[Hugh Laurie]]<br />[[Tim McInnerny]]<br />[[Miranda Richardson]]<br />[[Stephen Fry]]
|}}
| voices =
'''''Blackadder''''' is the generic name that encompasses four series of an acclaimed [[BBC One]] historical [[British sitcom|sitcom]], along with several [[List of Blackadder episodes#See also|one-off installments]]. The [[List of Blackadder episodes#Series 1: The Black Adder (1983)|first series]] was written by [[Richard Curtis]] and [[Rowan Atkinson]], while subsequent episodes were written by Curtis and [[Ben Elton]]. The shows were produced by [[John Lloyd (writer)|John Lloyd]], and starred Rowan Atkinson as the [[eponym]]ous [[anti-hero]], [[Edmund Blackadder]], and [[Tony Robinson]] as his [[sidekick]]/[[dogsbody]], [[Baldrick]].
| narrated =
| theme_music_composer = [[Howard Goodall]]
| opentheme =
| endtheme =
| country = United Kingdom
| company = [[BBC]]
| language = English
| num_series = 4
| num_episodes = 24 (plus 4 [[Television special|specials]])
| list_episodes = List of Blackadder episodes
| producer = [[John Lloyd (producer)|John Lloyd]]
| executive_producer =
| camera = [[Multi-camera]]
| runtime = 30 minutes approx
| network = [[BBC1]]
| first_aired = {{Start date|1983|06|15|df=y}}
| last_aired = {{End date|1989|11|02|df=y}}
| related =
}}


'''''Blackadder''''' is a series of four [[Period piece|period]] [[British sitcom]]s, plus several one-off instalments, which originally aired on [[BBC1]] from 1983 to 1989. All television episodes starred [[Rowan Atkinson]] as the [[antihero]] [[Edmund Blackadder]] and [[Tony Robinson]] as Blackadder's [[dogsbody]], [[Baldrick]]. Each series was set in a different historical period, with the two [[protagonist]]s accompanied by different characters, though several reappear in one series or another, e.g., [[Melchett (Blackadder)|Melchett]] ([[Stephen Fry]]), [[Lord Percy Percy]] / [[Captain Kevin Darling|Captain Darling]] ([[Tim McInnerny]]) and [[George (Blackadder)|George]] ([[Hugh Laurie]]).
In [[2000]], ''[[Blackadder Goes Forth]]'' ranked at #16 in the "[[100 Greatest British Television Programmes]]", a list created by the [[British Film Institute]]. Also in the [[2004]] TV poll to find "[[Britain's Best Sitcom]]", ''Blackadder'' was voted the second best British sitcom of all time, beaten by ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]''.


The first series, ''[[The Black Adder]]'', was written by [[Richard Curtis]] and Rowan Atkinson, while subsequent series were written by Curtis and [[Ben Elton]]. The shows were produced by [[John Lloyd (producer)|John Lloyd]]. In 2000, the fourth series, ''[[Blackadder Goes Forth]]'', ranked at 16 in the [[100 Greatest British Television Programmes]], a list created by the [[British Film Institute]]. In a 2001 poll by [[Channel 4]], Edmund Blackadder was ranked third on their list of the [[100 Greatest (TV series)|100 Greatest TV Characters]].<ref name="GreatestTVcharacters">{{cite web |url=http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/G/greatest/tv_characters/results.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090531160558/http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/G/greatest/tv_characters/results.html |archive-date=31 May 2009 |title=100 Greatest TV Characters |access-date=26 May 2019 |work=[[Channel 4]]}}</ref> In the 2004 TV poll to find [[Britain's Best Sitcom]], ''Blackadder'' was voted the second-best British sitcom of all time, topped by ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]''. It was also ranked as the 9th-best TV show of all time by ''[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]'' magazine.<ref name="empire">{{cite web |url=http://www.empireonline.com/50greatesttv/default.asp?tv=20 |title=The 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time – Number 20: Blackadder |work=Empire |access-date=5 April 2009 |archive-date=19 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170319183729/http://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/best-tv-shows-ever/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Rowan Atkinson said Blackadder is "the thing he found the least stressful" to do.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pingitore |first=Silvia |date=2022-07-05 |title=The shortest interview ever with Mr Bean star Rowan Atkinson |url=https://the-shortlisted.co.uk/rowan-atkinson-interview/ |access-date=2023-07-03 |website= |language=en-GB}}</ref>
==Overview==
Although each series is set in a different time era, all follow the fortunes (or rather, misfortunes) of [[Edmund Blackadder]] (played by Atkinson), who in each is a member of an [[English people|English]] family [[dynasty]] present at many significant periods and places in [[History of the United Kingdom|British history]]. Although his intelligence levels rise over the course of the series (the character starts as being quite unintelligent in the first and gradually becomes smarter and more perceptive through each passing generation while ironically decreasing in social status), each Blackadder is similar in that they are all [[cynicism|cynical]] [[cowardice|cowardly]] [[opportunism|opportunists]] concerned with maintaining and increasing their own status and fortunes in life, regardless of their surroundings. In each series, however, Blackadder is usually a cynical (almost modern) voice puncturing the pretensions and stupidity of those around him, and what might - through modern eyes - be seen as the more ludicrous and insane follies of history (from the cruel and unjust [[Middle Ages|medieval]] religious [[witch-hunt]]s and the petty whims and insanities of various [[British monarchy|British monarchs]] to the pointless bloodshed of [[World War I]]).


==Premise==
The lives of the four Blackadders are also entwined with their servants, all called Baldrick (played by Tony Robinson), who in each generation acts as Blackadder's dogsbody/[[punching bag]] and who decreases in intelligence (and in personal hygiene standards) just as his master's intellect increases. Each Blackadder and Baldrick are also saddled with the company of a dim-witted [[aristocracy|aristocrat]] (who is even dimmer than even the dimmest Baldrick) whose presence Blackadder must somehow tolerate. In the first two seasons, this role was taken by [[Lord Percy Percy]] ([[Tim McInnerny]]), whereas this position was assumed in the third season by Prince George ([[Hugh Laurie]]) and in the fourth by Lieutenant George, again played by Laurie (see [[George (Blackadder character)]]).


Each series is set in a different period of [[History of the British Isles|British history]], beginning in 1485 and ending in 1917, and comprises six half-hour episodes. ''Blackadder'' follows the misfortunes of [[Edmund Blackadder]] (played by Atkinson), who in each series is a member of the same British family. It is implied in each series that the Blackadder character is a descendant of the previous one; the end theme lyrics of series 2 episode "Head" specify that he is the great-grandson of the previous, although it is never specified how or when any of the Blackadders (who are usually bachelors) managed to father children.<ref name=bcg>{{British Comedy Guide|sitcom|blackadder}}. Retrieved 25 July 2010</ref>
Each series was set in a different period of [[History of England|English history]], beginning in 1485 and ending in 1917 (with one special set on [[New Year's Eve]] 1999) comprising six half-hour episodes. The first series, made in 1983, was called ''[[List of Blackadder episodes#Series 1: The Black Adder (1983)|The Black Adder]]''. This was followed by ''[[List of Blackadder episodes#Series 2: Blackadder II (1986)|Blackadder II]]'' in 1986, ''[[List of Blackadder episodes#Series 3: Blackadder the Third (1987)|Blackadder the Third]]'' in 1987, and finally ''[[Blackadder Goes Forth]]'' in 1989. In addition to these, three specials were also made: "[[Blackadder: The Cavalier Years]]" appeared as a 15-minute insert during the 1988 [[Comic Relief]] telethon; ''[[Blackadder's Christmas Carol]]'' was a 45-minute [[Christmas television special|Christmas]] installment, broadcast the same year; and ''[[Blackadder: Back & Forth]]'' was a 30-minute [[film]] originally shown in a special [[movie theater|cinema]] at the [[Millennium Dome]] throughout 2000, and later transmitted by [[British Sky Broadcasting|Sky]] and the BBC. [[Prince Edmund (Blackadder Pilot)|A pilot episode]] was filmed in 1982, but has never been shown on television. In it Baldrick was played by a different actor ([[Philip Fox (actor)|Philip Fox]]), and its plot was re-used for the episode "[[Born To Be King]]" in Series 1. Although DVD releases never include the pilot (Atkinson specifically prevents it from being distributed, because he fears the reputation of the pilot will overshadow his acting skills in it), copies are known to circulate among fans.
In series one, Edmund Blackadder is not particularly bright, and is much the intellectual inferior of his servant, Baldrick (played by [[Tony Robinson]]). However, in subsequent series, the positions are reversed: Blackadder is clever, shrewd, scheming and manipulative while Baldrick is extremely dim. Each incarnation of Blackadder and Baldrick is also saddled with tolerating the presence of a dimwitted [[aristocracy|aristocrat]]. In the first two series, this is [[Lord Percy Percy]], played by [[Tim McInnerny]]. [[Hugh Laurie]] plays the role in the third and fourth series, as [[George (Blackadder)|Prince George, Prince Regent]], and [[George (Blackadder)|Lieutenant George]] respectively, and by [[Stephen Fry]] as Lord Melchett.


The first series, made in 1983, was called ''[[The Black Adder]]'' and was set in the fictional reign of "[[Richard IV of England (Blackadder)|Richard IV]]". The second series, ''[[Blackadder II]]'' (1986), was set during the reign of [[Queenie (Blackadder)|Elizabeth I]]. ''[[Blackadder the Third]]'' (1987) was set during the late 18th and early 19th centuries in the reign of [[George III of the United Kingdom|George III]], and ''[[Blackadder Goes Forth]]'' (1989) was set in 1917 in the trenches of the [[World War I|Great War]].
===Developments over the series===
It is implied in each series that the Blackadder character is a distant descendant of the previous one. This would apparently contradict the fact that the first two Blackadders died without having fathered any children (it was even stated in "[[The Queen of Spain's Beard (Blackadder)|The Queen of Spain's Beard]]" (1.4) that [[Prince Edmund (Blackadder)|Edmund]] was a [[virgin]]), although, as stated in another episode, he may have had relations with an old hag.


==Episodes==
With each observed generation, his [[social class|social standing]] is reduced, from [[British Royal Family|prince]], to [[Peerage of England|lord]], to royal [[butler]], before he moves upward to regular [[British Army|army]] [[Captain (UK)|captain]] in ''Blackadder Goes Forth'' and King of [[United Kingdom|modern Britain]] in "Back and Forth". However, he concurrently goes from being an incompetent fool (in the first series) to an ever more devious strategist in matters that affect him. The [[Macbeth]]-inspired [[Weird Sisters|witches]], in "[[The Foretelling]]" (1.1) (thinking he is, in fact, [[Henry VII of England|Henry Tudor]]), promise that one day Blackadder will be [[List of the monarchs of the Kingdom of England|king]] and, in "[[Bells (Blackadder)|Bells]]" (2.1), the 'wise woman' says "thou plottest Blackadder: thou wouldst be King!" In the first series, Edmund does become king for less than a minute, but then dies after succumbing to some poisoned wine; a fact alluded to in the closing credits song in "[[Head (Blackadder)|Head]]" (2.2):
{{main|List of Blackadder episodes}}


{{:List of Blackadder episodes}}
:''His great-grandfather was a king
:Although for only thirty seconds''


===Series 1: ''The Black Adder''===
In the second series, Blackadder comes very close to marrying [[Queenie|Elizabeth I]] but fails. At the end of ''Blackadder the Third'', the character assumes the role of [[George (Blackadder character)#Blackadder the Third|Prince Regent]] after the real prince is killed in a duel with the [[Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington|Duke of Wellington]] and so presumably ascends the throne as [[George IV of the United Kingdom|George IV]]. After his general decline in status through the series, Blackadder, or at least the descendant of the original, finally becomes [[Absolute monarchy|absolute monarch]] in ''Blackadder: Back & Forth'' through [[Time travel in fiction|manipulation of the timeline]]. A [[Admiral|Grand Admiral]] Blackadder of the far future is also seen in the Christmas special, and his status further rises when he manages to achieve control of the entire [[universe]] upon marrying Queen Asphyxia XIX. However, while [[Prince Edmund (Blackadder)|Prince Edmund Plantagenet]] [[Prince Edmund (Blackadder)#The Black Adder|adopts the title]] "The Black Adder," [[Centurion (Roman army)|Centurion]] Blacaddicus (presumably an ancestor) has it as a name. It may be a [[Roman naming conventions#Cognomen|cognomen]], a [[nickname]] at the end of a Roman man's name.
{{Main|The Black Adder}}
''The Black Adder'', the first series of ''Blackadder'', was written by [[Richard Curtis]] and [[Rowan Atkinson]] and produced by [[John Lloyd (producer)|John Lloyd]]. It originally aired on [[BBC1]] from 15 June 1983 to 20 July 1983, and was a joint production with the Australian [[Seven Network]].


Set in 1485 at the end of the [[Britain in the Middle Ages|British Middle Ages]], the series is written as an [[Counterfactual history|alternative history]] in which [[Richard III of England|Richard III]] won the [[Battle of Bosworth Field]] only to be mistaken for someone else and murdered, and is succeeded by [[Richard IV of England (Blackadder)|Richard IV]] ([[Brian Blessed]]), one of the [[Princes in the Tower]]. The series follows the exploits of Richard IV's unfavoured second son [[Prince Edmund (Blackadder)|Edmund, the Duke of Edinburgh]] (who calls himself "The Black Adder") in his various attempts to increase his standing with his father and his eventual quest to overthrow him. Guest appearances in this series include [[Peter Cook]] as [[Richard III of England|King Richard III]], [[William Russell (English actor)|Russell Enoch]] as the Duke of [[Winchester]], [[Miriam Margolyes]] as the [[List of minor Blackadder characters#Maria Escalosa, Infanta of Spain|Infanta Maria Escalosa of Spain]] (with [[Jim Broadbent]] as her interpreter), [[Frank Finlay]] as the Witchsmeller Pursuivant, [[Valentine Dyall]] as Lord Angus, [[Stephen Frost]] and [[Mark Arden]] as guards, and [[Rik Mayall]] as Mad Gerald.
====Comparison over the series====
The first series, written by Curtis and Atkinson and without the involvement of Ben Elton, is the most different from the three others. It is noticeable that, as Blackadder is more cunning in series two, so Baldrick develops even further into a dimwit. It is clear that in the first series, the latter is smarter than his superior, saving the day on several occasions, whereas Edmund is despised by all and never accomplishes a thing. In the unaired pilot episode these relations were different, more like Series Two, where Blackadder is not completely successful, but not completely ridiculous either.


Conceived while Atkinson and Curtis were working on ''[[Not the Nine O'Clock News]]'', the series dealt comically with a number of aspects of medieval life in Britain: [[witchcraft]], royal succession, European relations, the [[Crusade]]s, and the conflict between the Church and the Crown. Along with the secret history, many historical events portrayed in the series were [[anachronism|anachronistic]] (for example, [[Fall of Constantinople|Constantinople]] had already fallen to the [[Ottoman Empire]] in 1453, predating the events in the episode by 32 years); this dramatic license would continue in the subsequent ''Blackadders''. The filming of the series was highly ambitious, with a large cast and much location shooting. The series also featured [[William Shakespeare|Shakespearean]] dialogue, often adapted for comic effect; the end credits featured the words "Additional Dialogue by William Shakespeare".
The subsequent three series had a smaller budget and the main characters more or less stay at the same level of intelligence. The Back & Forth special hardly changes anything about the cast of Series 4 at all, except of course their time and place. With regard to Blackadder-Baldrick, this means their roles are slightly reversed from series 2 onwards. While at first it was Baldrick who had a cunning plan, later it is Blackadder who is the more sophisticated of the two. This doesn't stop Baldrick from presenting his own 'cunning' plans, however (which are usually more stupidly optimistic than cunning, but sometimes still work).


===Similarities over the series===
===Series 2: ''Blackadder II''===
{{Main|Blackadder II}}
====Theme tune====
''Blackadder II'' is set in [[Kingdom of England|England]] during the reign of [[Queenie (Blackadder)|Queen Elizabeth I]] (1558–1603), who is portrayed by [[Miranda Richardson]]. The principal character is [[Lord Blackadder|Edmund, Lord Blackadder]], the great-grandson of the original Black Adder. During the series, he regularly deals with the [[British monarchy|Queen]], her obsequious [[Lord Chamberlain]] [[List of Blackadder characters#Melchett|Lord Melchett]] ([[Stephen Fry]]; his rival for the Queen's affections), his friend [[Lord Percy Percy#Blackadder II|Lord Percy Percy]] (played by [[Tim McInnerny]]) and the Queen's demented former nanny [[Nursie]] ([[Patsy Byrne]]). Guest appearances in the series include [[Tom Baker]] as Captain Redbeard Rum, [[Simon Jones (actor)|Simon Jones]] as [[Walter Raleigh|Sir Walter Raleigh]], [[Ronald Lacey]] as the [[Bishop of Bath and Wells]], and [[Miriam Margolyes|Miriam Margoyles]] as Blackadder's aunt, Lady Whiteadder. The series also features two appearances by [[Hugh Laurie]] (as Simon Partridge, a friend of Blackadder's, in the episode "Beer"; and as Prince Ludwig the Indestructible in the series' finale "Chains"), as well as the first appearance of [[Gabrielle Glaister]] as "Bob", and of [[Rik Mayall]] as [[Lord Flashheart]].
[[Howard Goodall]]'s [[theme music|theme tune]] has the same [[melody]] throughout all the series, but is played in roughly the [[History of music|style of the period]] in which it is set. It is performed mostly with [[trumpet]]s in ''The Black Adder''; with a combination of [[recorder]], [[string quartet]] and [[electric guitar]] in ''Blackadder II''; on [[oboe]], [[cello]] and [[harpsichord]] for ''Blackadder the Third''; by a [[military band]] in ''Blackadder Goes Forth''; sung by [[Carol (music)|carol singers]] in ''Blackadder's Christmas Carol''; and by an [[orchestra]] in ''Blackadder: The Cavalier Years'' and ''Blackadder: Back & Forth''.<ref>[http://www.howardgoodall.co.uk/tvthemes/tv.htm#adderpersonnel "List of Musicians and Singers who Played or Sang on Blackadder and Red Dwarf Themes"]</ref>


Following the BBC's request for improvements (and a severe budget reduction), several changes were made. The second series was the first to establish the familiar Blackadder character: cunning, shrewd and witty, in sharp contrast to the first series' bumbling [[Prince Edmund (Blackadder)|Prince Edmund]]. To reduce the cost of production, it was shot with virtually no outdoor scenes (the first series was shot largely on location) and several frequently used indoor sets, such as the Queen's [[throne room]] and Blackadder's front room.
===Popularity and effects on popular culture===
After the first series &mdash; which had enjoyed a considerable budget for a sitcom, and had been shot largely on location &mdash; the BBC decided not to take up the option of a follow-up. However, in 1984, [[Michael Grade]] took over as the controller of [[BBC One]] and, after talks with the ''Blackadder'' team, finally agreed that a second series could be made as long as the cost was dramatically cut. ''Blackadder II'' was therefore to be a studio-only production, with Ben Elton joining the writing team. Besides adding more jokes, Elton suggested a major change in character emphasis: Baldrick would become the stupid sidekick, while Edmund Blackadder evolved into a cunning [[sycophant]]. This led to the now familiar set-up that was maintained over all the following series. Only in the Back & Forth millennium special was the shooting once again on location, due to the fact that this was a production with a budget estimated at £3 million, and was a joint venture between [[Tiger Aspect Productions|Tiger Aspect]], [[Sky Television plc|Sky Television]], the New Millennium Experience Company and the BBC, rather than the BBC alone.


A quote from this series ranked number three in a list of the top 25 television "putdowns" of the last 40 years by the ''[[Radio Times]]'' magazine: "The eyes are open, the mouth moves, but Mr. Brain has long since departed, hasn't he, Percy?"<ref>{{Cite news |date=2008-02-26 |title=TV's top 25 put-downs published |language=en-GB |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7264321.stm |access-date=2023-04-09}}</ref>
While each episode was plot-driven, they were still formulaic to a degree. For example, whenever Blackadder found himself in a difficult situation (as was the case most of the time), Baldrick would invariably suggest a solution, starting with the words, "I have a cunning plan". This became the character's [[catch phrase]] and, while his ideas were usually totally unhelpful, he would sometimes come up with a scheme that went towards saving the day.


==Series and specials==
===Series 3: ''Blackadder the Third''===
{{Main|Blackadder the Third}}
{{seealso|List of Blackadder episodes}}
===Chronological order===
*''([[Prince Edmund (Blackadder Pilot)|Blackadder Unaired Pilot]])''
*''[[List of Blackadder episodes#Series 1: The Black Adder (1983)|The Black Adder]]''
*''[[List of Blackadder episodes#Series 2: Blackadder II (1986)|Blackadder II]]''
*''[[Blackadder: The Cavalier Years]]''
*''[[List of Blackadder episodes#Series 3: Blackadder the Third (1987)|Blackadder the Third]]''
*''[[Blackadder's Christmas Carol]]''
*"Woman's Hour Invasion" (chronological position uncertain)
*The "Shakespeare Sketch"
*''[[Blackadder Goes Forth]]''
*''[[Blackadder and the King's Birthday]]''
*"Blackadder: The Army Years"
*''[[Blackadder: Back & Forth]]''
*"Jubilee Girl"


''Blackadder the Third'' is set in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, a period known as the [[English Regency|Regency]]. In the series, [[Mr. E. Blackadder|Edmund Blackadder]] Esquire is the butler to the [[Prince Regent]], the [[George (Blackadder)|Prince of Wales]]. (The prince is played by [[Hugh Laurie]] as a complete [[fop]] and idiot.) Despite Edmund's respected intelligence and abilities, he has no personal fortune to speak of, apart from his frequently fluctuating wage packet (as well, it seems, from stealing and selling off the Prince's socks) from the Prince: "If I'm running short of cash, all I have to do is go upstairs and ask Prince Fathead for a rise." The episode titles were puns on [[Jane Austen]] novels.
{{spoiler}}


As well as Rowan Atkinson and Tony Robinson in their usual roles, this series starred [[Hugh Laurie]] as the [[George (Blackadder)|Prince Regent]] and [[Helen Atkinson-Wood]] as [[Mrs. Miggins]]. The series features [[Samuel Johnson|Dr. Samuel Johnson]] ([[Robbie Coltrane]]); [[William Pitt the Younger]] (Simon Osborne); the [[French Revolution]] (with [[Chris Barrie]], [[Tim McInnerny]] as [[the Scarlet Pimpernel]], and [[Nigel Planer]]); hammy [[English Renaissance theatre|theatrical actors]] ([[Kenneth Connor]] and [[Hugh Paddick]]); a squirrel-hating [[cross-dressing]] [[highwayman]] ([[Miranda Richardson]]); and a [[duel]] with the [[Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington|Duke of Wellington]] ([[Stephen Fry]]).
===Series 1: ''The Black Adder''===
{{seealso|List of Blackadder episodes#Series 1: The Black Adder (1983)}}
Set in the [[Britain in the Middle Ages|Middle Ages]], this series is written as a [[secret history]]. It opens on [[21 August]], [[1485]], eve of the [[Battle of Bosworth Field]], which is represented as being won by [[Richard III of England|Richard III]] (played by [[Peter Cook]] as being a rather nice man who doted on his nephews, contrary to the traditional and highly debatable view of him as a hunchbacked, [[Princes in the Tower|infanticidal]] monster), instead of [[Henry VII of England|Henry Tudor]] who won in reality. After his victory, Richard III is then accidentally killed by [[Prince Edmund (Blackadder)|Lord Edmund Plantagenet]] (Richard takes Blackadder's horse, which he thinks is a stray, but Edmund thinks he is stealing it, does not realise he is the king, and cuts his head off). The late King's nephew, [[Richard IV of England|Richard, Duke of York]] (played by [[Brian Blessed]]) who is Lord Edmund [[Angevin#Plantagenet|Plantagenet]]'s (The Black Adder) father, is then crowned as Richard IV. Lord Edmund never took part in the battle (he arrived late and went the wrong way, but claimed to have killed four hundred and fifty peasants and several nobles, one of whom had actually been killed by [[Harry, Prince of Wales (Blackadder)|his brother]] in the battle). This logical but very silly historical premise, combined with interwoven bits of [[William Shakespeare|Shakespeare]], lends real intellectual delight and challenge to the humour.


===Series 4: ''Blackadder Goes Forth''===
[[Richard of Shrewsbury, 1st Duke of York|Richard, Duke of York]] (one of the '[[Princes in the Tower]]') was in reality only 12 years old (and perhaps two years dead) when the [[Battle of Bosworth Field]] took place in 1485, and so far too young to have had two grown up sons. This and other historical discrepancies don't detract from the comedy, though.
{{Main|Blackadder Goes Forth}}
This series is set in 1917, on the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]] in the trenches of the First World War. Another "big push" is planned, and [[Captain Blackadder]]'s one goal is to avoid being killed, but his schemes always land him back in the trenches. Blackadder is joined by his [[batman (military)|batman]] [[Baldrick#Blackadder Goes Forth|Private S. Baldrick]] (Tony Robinson) and idealistic [[Edwardian period|Edwardian]] twit [[George (Blackadder)#Blackadder Goes Forth|Lieutenant George]] ([[Hugh Laurie]]). [[General Melchett]] (Stephen Fry) rallies his troops from a French [[château]] {{convert|35|mi}} from the front, where he is aided and abetted by his assistant, [[Kevin Darling|Captain Kevin Darling]] (Tim McInnerny), pencil-pusher supreme and Blackadder's nemesis, whose name is played on for maximum comedic value. Guest appearances in this series include [[Stephen Frost]] as the leader of a firing squad detail, [[Miranda Richardson]] as Nurse Mary Fletcher-Brown, two further appearances of [[Gabrielle Glaister]] as "Bob" (in this series, a young woman who pretended to be a boy in order to join the army), [[Rik Mayall]] appearing as [[Royal Flying Corps]] Squadron Commander The [[Lord Flashheart|Lord Flasheart]], [[Ade Edmondson|Adrian Edmondson]] as [[Baron Manfred von Richthofen]] (aka "The Red Baron"), and [[Geoffrey Palmer (actor)|Geoffrey Palmer]] as [[Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig|Field Marshal Douglas Haig]].


The series' tone is somewhat darker than the other ''Blackadder''s; it details the privations of trench warfare as well as the incompetence and life-wasting strategies of the top brass. For example, Baldrick is reduced to cooking rats and making coffee from mud, while General Melchett hatches a plan for the troops to walk very slowly toward the German lines, because "it'll be the last thing Fritz will expect."
The series follows the fictitious reign of Richard IV (1485&ndash;98). Richard and his Queen [[Gertrude of Flanders]], the [[European witchcraft|Witch]] [[Queen consort|Queen]], have two sons:
* [[Harry, Prince of Wales (Blackadder)|Harry, Prince of Wales]], Captain of the Guard, [[Lord Warden of the Marches|Grand Warden of the Northern and Eastern Marches]], Chief [[Lunatic]] of the [[Duke of Gloucester|Duchy of Gloucester]], [[Viceroy]] of [[Wales]], [[Sheriff of Nottingham]], [[Marquess|Marquis]] of the [[Midlands]], [[Lord]] Po-Maker-In-Wardenry, Harbinger of the Doomed Rat (1460–1498)
* [[Prince Edmund (Blackadder)|Prince Edmund]], "the [[Black]] [[Adder]]", [[Duke of Edinburgh]], [[Lord Warden of the Marches|Lord Warden]] of the [[Privy Council of the United Kingdom|Royal Privies]], the Laird of [[Roxburgh]], [[Selkirk]], and [[Peebles]], [[Archbishop of Canterbury]] (1461&ndash;98)
It is later revealed in the episode "[[Born to be King]]" that after Harry's birth and before Edmund's, Queen Gertrude had an affair with Donald McAngus, Third [[Duke of Argyll]]. There is a possibility that Edmund was this affair's result. If so, then Edmund is Harry's half-brother and also has another half-brother:
*[[Dougal McAngus]], Fourth [[Duke of Argyll]], [[Commander-in-Chief|Supreme Commander]] of the [[British Army|King's Army]] (c. 1462&ndash;1487).


The final episode, "[[Goodbyeee]]", is known for being extraordinarily poignant for a comedy – especially the final scene, which sees the main characters (Blackadder, Baldrick, George, and Darling) finally going "[[Trench warfare|over the top]]" and charging off into the fog and smoke of [[no man's land]], presumably to die. In a list of the [[100 Greatest British Television Programmes]], drawn up by the [[British Film Institute]] in 2000 and voted for by industry professionals, ''Blackadder Goes Forth'' was placed 16th.
By the end of the series, events converge with our timeline, when King Richard IV and his entire family are poisoned, allowing Henry Tudor to take the throne as [[Henry VII of England|King Henry VII]]. He then proceeds to rewrite history, presenting Richard III as a monster, and eliminating Richard IV's reign from the history books.


===Specials===
In this series, the character of the Black Adder is somewhat different from later incarnations, being largely unintelligent and sniveling. The title of Laird of Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles may have been inspired by the then leader of the [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal Party]], [[David Steel]], who was [[Member of Parliament|MP]] for [[Roxburghshire (UK Parliament constituency)|that constituency]] when the series was written.


====Pilot episode====
The character does evolve through the series, however, and he begins showing signs of what his descendants will be like by the final episode, where he begins insulting everyone around him and making his own plans. This evolution follows naturally from the character's situation. "The Black Adder" is the title that Edmund adopts during the first episode (after first considering "The Black Vegetable"). Presumably one of his descendants adopted it as a surname prior to ''Blackadder II'', where the title character becomes "[[Edmund Blackadder]]". Edmund's father the king can never remember his name at all (usually forgetting that he even has a second son), calling him "Edwin", "Osmond" or "Edna". As Edmund lies injured and near death in the final episode, his father finally addresses him by his actual name. "Father, you called me Edmund," says an astonished Edmund. "Sorry," replies the king, "Edgar". The king then toasts Edmund, shouting out to all those assembled, "My lords, I give you Edgar. . . " Edmund then motions the king close and whispers "The Black Adder" in his ear. The king then steps back and shouts, "The Black Dagger! May his name last as long as our dynasty's". All assembled then drink poisoned wine and die.
{{Main|The Black Adder (Blackadder)}}
The ''Blackadder'' pilot was shot but never broadcast on TV in the UK (although some scenes were shown in the 25th anniversary special ''Blackadder Rides Again''). One notable difference in the pilot, as in many pilots, is the casting. Baldrick is played not by Tony Robinson, but by [[Philip Fox (actor)|Philip Fox]]. Another significant difference is that the character of Prince Edmund presented in the pilot is much closer to the intelligent, conniving Blackadder of the later series than the snivelling, weak buffoon of the original. Set in the year 1582, the script of the pilot is roughly the same as the episode "[[Born to Be King (Blackadder)|Born to Be King]]", albeit with some different jokes, with some lines appearing in other episodes of the series.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blackadderhall.com/?page_id=276 |title=The Pilot Episode |publisher=Blackadderhall.com |date=20 June 1982 |access-date=8 June 2014}}</ref>


[[UKTV]] [[Gold (British TV channel)|Gold]] broadcast the pilot on 15 June 2023, as part of an 80-minute special hosted by Sir Tony Robinson and featuring interviews with Ben Elton and Richard Curtis.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 April 2023 |title=Blackadder pilot to be broadcast for the first time |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/news/7301/blackadder-pilot-to-be-broadcast/ |website=[[British Comedy Guide]]}}</ref>
It is interesting to note that the unaired pilot episode, covering the basic plot of "Born to be King", has some differences to the first series. Baldrick was played by [[Philip Fox (actor)|Philip Fox]], who was replaced by Tony Robinson. The King is played by [[John Savident]] (famous for playing [[Fred Elliott]] in the TV [[soap opera|soap]] ''[[Coronation Street]]''), while [[Lord Percy Percy|Percy]] was still played by Tim McInnerny. Rowan Atkinson speaks, dresses and generally looks and acts like the later Blackadder descendants of the second series onwards, but no reason is given as to why he was changed to a snivelling wretch for the first series. One assumes that the change was driven by the writing, which would not have worked with a swaggering character in the lead.


====''Blackadder: The Cavalier Years''====
Richard Curtis admitted in a 2004 [[documentary film|documentary]] on the show that just before filming began, producer John Lloyd came up to him with Atkinson and asked what Edmund's character was. Curtis then realised that, despite writing some funny lines, he had no idea how Rowan Atkinson was supposed to play his part. This is typical of the slighting and dismissive remarks Curtis makes about this first series. One supposes that Atkinson, who co-wrote this series but not the later ones, came up with his characterization himself.
{{Main|Blackadder: The Cavalier Years}}
This special, set in the [[English Civil War]], was shown as part of [[Comic Relief (charity)|Comic Relief]]'s [[Comic Relief (charity)|Red Nose Day]] on Friday 5 February 1988.{{cn|date=March 2024}} The 15-minute episode is set in November 1648, during the last days of the Civil War. Sir Edmund Blackadder and his servant, Baldrick, are the last two men loyal to the defeated King [[Charles I of England]] (played by Stephen Fry), portrayed as a soft-spoken, ineffective, naive character, with the voice and mannerisms of Charles I's namesake, the then Prince of Wales (now [[Charles III]]). However, due to a misunderstanding between [[Oliver Cromwell]] (guest-star [[Warren Clarke]]) and Baldrick, the King is arrested and sent to the [[Tower of London]]. The rest of the episode revolves around Blackadder's attempts to save the King as well as improve his own standing.


====''Blackadder's Christmas Carol''====
All the credits of this first series included "with additional dialogue by [[William Shakespeare]]" as famous quotes were worked in wherever possible.
{{Main|Blackadder's Christmas Carol}}
The second special was broadcast on Friday 23 December 1988. In a twist on [[Charles Dickens]]' ''[[A Christmas Carol]]'', [[Ebenezer Blackadder]] is the "kindest and loveliest" man in England. The Spirit of Christmas shows Blackadder the contrary antics of his ancestors and descendants, and reluctantly informs him that if he turns evil his descendants will enjoy power and fortune, while if he remains the same a future Blackadder will live shamefully subjugated to a future incompetent Baldrick. This remarkable encounter causes him to proclaim, "Bad guys have all the fun", and adopt the personality with which viewers are more familiar.


====''Blackadder: Back & Forth''====
The opening titles consisted of several stock shots of Edmund riding his horse on location, interspersed with different shots of him doing various silly things (and, usually, a shot of King Richard IV to go with Brian Blessed's credit). The closing titles were the same sequence of Edmund riding around, eventually falling off his horse, and then chasing after it. The [http://www.howardgoodall.co.uk/tvthemes/Blackadder.htm theme tune] also gained lyrics:
{{Main|Blackadder: Back & Forth}}
''Blackadder: Back & Forth'' was originally shown in the [[Millennium Dome]] in 2000, followed by a screening on [[Sky1|Sky One]] in the same year (and later on BBC1). It is set on the turn of the [[millennium]], and features Lord Blackadder placing a bet with his friends&nbsp;– modern versions of Queenie (Miranda Richardson), Melchett (Stephen Fry), George (Hugh Laurie) and Darling (Tim McInnerny)&nbsp;– that he has built a working [[Time travel in fiction|time machine]]. While this is intended as a clever [[confidence trick|con trick]], the machine surprisingly works, sending Blackadder and Baldrick back to the [[Cretaceous period]], where they manage to cause [[Cretaceous extinction event|the extinction]] of the dinosaurs through the use of Baldrick's best-worst-and-only pair of underpants as a weapon against a hungry [[Tyrannosaurus|T. Rex]]. Finding that Baldrick has forgotten to write dates on the machine's dials, the rest of the film follows their attempts to find their way back to 1999, often creating huge historical anomalies in the process that must be corrected before the end. The film includes [[cameo appearance]]s from [[Kate Moss]] and [[Colin Firth]].


====''The Big Night In''====
:''The sound of hoofbeats 'cross the glade,''
:''Good folk, lock up your son and daughter,''
:''Beware the deadly flashing blade,''
:''Unless you want to end up shorter.''
:''Black Adder, Black Adder, he rides a pitch black steed.''
:''Black Adder, Black Adder, he's very bad indeed.''


Broadcast in 2020 as part of [[Children in Need]] and [[Comic Relief]]'s joint special ''[[The Big Night In]]'' during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], Fry resumed the role of Lord Melchett (an intellectually-brilliant version), Head of the Royal Household, under lockdown at Melchett Manor, to help [[Prince William]] deal with educating his children via [[Zoom (software)|Zoom]] and discussing [[Tiger King]], before they both step outside to clap for the [[National Health Service]]. Melchett is said to be isolating with Lord Blackadder, both grandsons to their First World War counterparts.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/bbc-big-night-in-live-stream-channel-best-bits-peter-kay-little-britain-catch-up-watch-a9474766.html |title=BBC Big Night In: All the talking points, from Little Britain's controversial comeback to Prince William's comedy sketch |date=24 April 2020 |work=[[The Independent]]|access-date=24 April 2020}}</ref>
:''Black: his gloves of finest mole,''
:''Black: his [[codpiece]] made of metal,''
:''His horse is blacker than a vole,'' [often misquoted as "hole"]
:''His pot is blacker than his kettle.''


===Live stage performances===
:''Black Adder, Black Adder, with many a cunning plan.''
:''Black Adder, Black Adder, you horrid little man.''


In 1998, as part of [[Prince Charles]]' 50th Birthday Gala televised on ITV, Atkinson returned to the Cavalier incarnation of Blackadder reading aloud a letter to the Privy Council of King Charles I. He colourfully refuses their invitation to stage a royal gala, calling such occasions "very, very, very dull" and asserting that there was "more musical talent on display when my servant Baldrick breaks wind."<ref>{{cite web |title=The King's Birthday |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lp07YFH1Op0 | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211123/lp07YFH1Op0| archive-date=2021-11-23 | url-status=live|via=YouTube |access-date=18 February 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
At the end of the last episode, the lyrics are changed, and the theme is sung by a boy soprano at a slower pace in the style of a funeral ode:


In 2000, on the BBC's annual [[Royal Variety Performance]], Atkinson portrayed Blackadder as a present-day officer in "Her Majesty's Royal Regiment of Shirkers" and delivered a monologue titled "Blackadder: The Army Years", proposing that Britain regain her former greatness by invading (or at least buying) France.<ref>{{cite web |title=BIackadder, The Army Years. Royal Variety Performance 2000 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQCQDvAnbGI&list=PLE7AED796B480E86B&index=61&t=0s | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211123/ZQCQDvAnbGI| archive-date=2021-11-23 | url-status=live|via=YouTube |access-date=18 February 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
:''So now, the wage of sin is paid:
:''The blade is still, the black horse grazes.
:''The only sound across the glade
:''Is Edmund pushing up the daisies.
:''Black Adder, Black Adder, a shame about the plan:
:''Black Adder, Black Adder: Farewell, you horrid man.


In 2012, as part of the [[Prince's Trust]] charity show ''We Are Most Amused'', Atkinson and Robinson reprised their roles as Blackadder and Baldrick in a comedy sketch featuring [[Miranda Hart]] as leader of a government inquiry into the recent banking crisis. Blackadder, chief executive of a fictional British bank, appearing with Baldrick as his gardener, convinces the panel to publicly blame the entire crisis on Baldrick, to the latter's consternation.<ref>{{cite web |title=Blackadder 2012 (subs) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2jQ7jJSZoY&list=PLE7AED796B480E86B&index=60&t=0s | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211123/a2jQ7jJSZoY| archive-date=2021-11-23 | url-status=live|via=YouTube |access-date=18 February 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
===Series 2: ''Blackadder II''===
{{Seealso|List of Blackadder episodes#Series 2: Blackadder II (1986)}}
<!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:Blackadder.jpg|thumb|175px|right|Some of the cast of ''Blackadder II'']] -->
''Blackadder II'' is set in [[Kingdom of England|England]] during the reign of [[Queenie|Queen Elizabeth I]] (1558&ndash;1603), played by [[Miranda Richardson]]. The principal character is [[Lord Blackadder|Edmund, Lord Blackadder]], the great-grandson of the original Black Adder. During the series, he often comes into contact with the [[British monarchy|Queen]], her pretentious [[Lord Chamberlain]] [[Melchett|Lord Melchett]] ([[Stephen Fry]]) and her demented former nanny [[Nursie]] ([[Patsy Byrne]]).


===Red Nose Day 2023===
Following the BBC's request for improvements to be made to the show, several changes were made. The second series was the first to establish the familiar character of Blackadder: cunning, shrewd and witty, in sharp contrast with [[Prince Edmund (Blackadder)|Prince Edmund]] of the first series. To make the show more cost effective, it was also shot with far fewer outdoor scenes than the first series and several, frequently used, indoor scenes, such as the Queen's [[throne room]] and Blackadder's front room. Each episode in the series also features another unique location, from [[Bob (Blackadder character)|Bob's]] father's front room to a [[Spain|Spanish]] [[dungeon]].
Baldrick (Tony Robinson) returned in 2023 for a [[Red Nose Day]] sketch for the BBC. There was no involvement of Rowan Atkinson or a subsequent reboot, amid speculation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Guide |first=British Comedy |date=2023-02-14 |title=Blackadder revival for Comic Relief |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/news/7195/comic-relief-blackadder-2023/ |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=British Comedy Guide |language=en}}</ref>


===Chronological order===
The opening titles are accompanied by a version of the Blackadder theme played on a [[recorder]] and an [[electric guitar]], and feature a black snake (not actually an [[adder]]{{Fact|date=February 2007}}) slithering about on a [[chessboard]]. The snake is eventually removed and replaced with something related to the episode title, which in this series is always a single noun. The opening ominous violin music and imagery are a parody of the opening credits of the 1976 BBC television adaptation of [[Robert Graves]]' ''[[I, Claudius (TV series)|I, Claudius]]''.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Title !! Type !! Production / air date !! Set in century
|-
| ''[[The Black Adder (pilot episode)|The Black Adder (pilot)]]'' || Pilot || 1982 (unaired) || 16th
|-
| ''[[The Black Adder]]'' || Series || 1983 || 15th
|-
| ''[[Blackadder II]]'' || Series || 1986 || 16th
|-
| ''[[Blackadder the Third]]'' || Series || 1987 || 18th–19th
|-
| ''[[Blackadder: The Cavalier Years]]'' || [[Comic Relief]] Special || 1988 || 17th
|-
| ''[[Children in Need]]''<ref>J.F. Roberts, The True History of the Black Adder: The Unadulterated Tale of the Creation of a Comedy Legend (Preface publishing, 2000) 253–254.</ref> || Special || 1988 || Unclear (anachronistic)
|-
| ''[[Blackadder Rides Again|Clown Court]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blackadderhall.com/?p=370 |title=Clown Court on Blackadder Hall|date=13 October 2011}}</ref> || Special || 1988 || Unclear (anachronistic)
|-
| ''[[Blackadder's Christmas Carol]]'' || Christmas Special || 1988 || 19th
|-
| ''[[Woman's Hour]] Invasion''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blackadderhall.com/?page_id=261 |title=The ''Woman's Hour'' invasion on Blackadder Hall|date=12 October 2011}}</ref> || Radio || 1988 || 20th, Various
|-
| ''[[Blackadder Goes Forth]]'' || Series || 1989 || 20th
|-
| ''[[Blackadder Rides Again|Blackadder and the King's Birthday]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blackadderhall.com/?p=252 |title=The King's Birthday on Blackadder Hall|date=12 October 2011}}</ref> || Sketch || 1998 || 17th
|-
| ''[[Blackadder: Back & Forth]]'' || Millennium Special || 1999 || 20th, Various
|-
| ''[[Blackadder Rides Again|Blackadder: The Army Years]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blackadderhall.com/?p=245 |title=The Army Years on Blackadder Hall|date=12 October 2011}}</ref> || Theatre || 2000 || 21st
|-
| ''[[Blackadder Rides Again|The Royal Gardener/The Jubilee Girl]]'' (for the [[Party at the Palace]])|| Sketch || 2002 || 21st
|-
| ''[[Blackadder Rides Again|Blackadder Exclusive: The Whole Rotten Saga]]'' || Documentary || 2008 || n/a
|-
| ''[[Blackadder Rides Again]]'' || Documentary || 2008 || n/a
|-
| ''[[Blackadder Rides Again|CEO of Melchett, Melchett and Darling Inquiry]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blackadderhall.com/?p=884 |title=The 2012 sketch on Blackadder Hall|date=29 November 2012}}</ref>
|| Theatre || 2012 || 21st
|-
| ''[[The Big Night In]]'' || Sketch || 2020 || 21st
|}


==Production==
The closing titles use a different arrangement of the theme on various instruments, accompanied by a [[countertenor]] who sings lyrics reflecting the events of the preceding episode, over a shot of Blackadder strolling through a [[formal garden]] and being annoyed by a [[lute]]-wielding [[minstrel]], presumably the singer. As each episode elapses, this sequence becomes a mini-series in its own right in which Blackadder constantly tries to apprehend the musician. At the end of the final episode, Blackadder catches the minstrel and repeatedly dunks him in a fountain.


===Series 3: ''Blackadder the Third''===
===Series development===
Rowan Atkinson and Richard Curtis developed the idea for the sitcom while working on ''[[Not the Nine O'Clock News]]''. Eager to avoid comparisons to the critically acclaimed ''[[Fawlty Towers]]'', they proposed the idea of a historical sitcom.<ref name="Interviews">''I Have a Cunning Plan – 20th Anniversary of Blackadder'', [[BBC Radio 4]] documentary broadcast 23 August 2003. Excerpts available at [https://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/blackadder/interviews/ bbc.co.uk]. Retrieved 17 April 2008</ref><ref name="Curtis interview">[http://www.blackadderhall.com/library/richard_interview.html Interview] at Blackadder Hall. Retrieved 17 April 2008 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927024255/http://www.blackadderhall.com/library/richard_interview.html |date=27 September 2011 }}</ref> An [[The Black Adder (unaired pilot)|unaired pilot episode]] was made in 1982, and a six-episode series was commissioned. The budget for the series was considerable, with much location shooting particularly at [[Alnwick Castle]] in Northumberland and the surrounding countryside in February 1983.<ref>[http://www.alnwickcastle.com/television.php Alnwick Castle official website]. Retrieved 2 June 2008 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081228031113/http://www.alnwickcastle.com/television.php |date=28 December 2008 }}</ref><ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084988/locations Locations] at the [[Internet Movie Database]]. Retrieved 17 April 2008</ref> The series also used large casts of extras, horses and expensive medieval-style costumes. Atkinson has said about the making of the first series:
{{Seealso|List of Blackadder episodes#Series 3: Blackadder the Third (1987)}}


<blockquote>The first series was odd, it was very extravagant. It cost a million pounds for the six programmes&nbsp;... [which] was a lot of money to spend&nbsp;... It looked great, but it wasn't as consistently funny as we would have liked.<ref name="Interviews"/></blockquote>
''Blackadder the Third'' is set in the late [[18th century|18th]] and early [[19th century|19th centuries]], a period known as the [[English Regency|Regency]]. For much of this time, [[George III of the United Kingdom|King George III]] was [[Regent|incapacitated]] due to poor mental health, and his son [[George IV of the United Kingdom|George]], the [[Prince of Wales]], acted as [[regent]]. From 1811 until his father's death in 1820, he was known as "the [[Prince Regent]]".


Due to the high cost of the first series, the then-controller of programming of [[BBC1]], [[Michael Grade]], was reluctant to sign off a second series without major improvements to the show and drastic cost-cutting, leaving a gap of three years between the two series.<ref name="Lewisohn">Lewisohn, Mark, [https://web.archive.org/web/20050408071319/http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/b/blackadderthe_7770760.shtml ''The Black Adder''] at the former [[BBC Guide to Comedy]]. Retrieved 17 April 2008</ref> Atkinson did not wish to continue writing for the second series.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}}
In the series, [[Mr. E. Blackadder|E. Blackadder]] Esquire is the butler to the [[George (Blackadder character)|Prince of Wales]] (the prince is played by [[Hugh Laurie]] as a complete [[fop]] and idiot). Despite Edmund's respected intelligence and abilities, he has no personal fortune to speak of. According to Edmund he has been serving the Prince Regent all their lives, since they were both [[breastfeeding]] (when he had to show the Prince which part of his mother was serving the drinks). There are three main sets: the Prince's quarters, which are large and lavish, the below-stairs kitchen hangout of Blackadder and Baldrick, which is dark and squalid, and finally [[Mrs. Miggins]]' [[coffeehouse]] (Mrs. Miggins' pie shop was a never-seen [[running gag]] in ''Blackadder II''; she &mdash; or at least, a descendant of hers &mdash; is now finally shown).


A chance meeting between Richard Curtis and comedian [[Ben Elton]] led to the decision to collaborate on a new series of Blackadder. Recognising the main faults of the first series, Curtis and Elton agreed that ''Blackadder II'' would be a studio-only production (along with the inclusion of a live audience during recording, instead of showing the episodes to an audience after taping). Besides adding a greater comedy focus, Elton suggested a major change in character emphasis: Baldrick would become the stupid [[sidekick]], while Edmund Blackadder evolved into a cunning [[sycophant]]. This led to the familiar set-up that was maintained in the following series.<ref name="Britain's Best Sitcom">''[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sitcom/advocate_blackadder.shtml Britain's Best Sitcom – Blackadder]'', 2004 BBC Television documentary, presented by [[John Sergeant (journalist)|John Sergeant]]</ref>
As well as Rowan Atkinson and Tony Robinson in their usual roles, this series starred Hugh Laurie as the [[Prince Regent]], and [[Helen Atkinson-Wood]] as Mrs. Miggins. The series features [[rotten borough]]s, [[Samuel Johnson|Dr. Samuel Johnson]] (played by [[Robbie Coltrane]]), the [[French Revolution]] (featuring [[Chris Barrie]]) and [[the Scarlet Pimpernel]], over-the-top [[English Renaissance theatre|theatrical actors]], squirrel-hating [[highwayman|highwaymen]], and a [[duel]] with the [[Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington|Duke of Wellington]] (played by Stephen Fry).


Only in the ''Back & Forth'' millennium special was the shooting once again on location, because this was a production with a budget estimated at £3&nbsp;million, and was a joint venture between [[Tiger Aspect Productions|Tiger Aspect]], [[Sky UK|Sky Television]], the New Millennium Experience Company and the BBC, rather than the BBC alone.<ref>''[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/419247.stm Blackadder's millennium duel]'', [[BBC News]], Friday, 13 August 1999</ref><ref>'[http://www.blackadderhall.com/library/skyview.html Black to the Future – Interview with Tony Robinson]' in ''Skyview'', January 2000 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927024303/http://www.blackadderhall.com/library/skyview.html |date=27 September 2011 }}</ref><ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0212579/trivia Trivia] at the Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 20 April 2008</ref>
The last episode of the series also features Rowan Atkinson in the role of Blackadder's [[Scottish people|Scottish]] cousin MacAdder, supposedly a fierce [[Swordsmanship|swordsman]]. Interesting enough, this leads to a dialogue in which Atkinson is acting both parts. The special effects required for this dialogue far surpassed the budget of an ordinary episode, but Richard Curtis and Ben Elton excused that given that it was the season finale.


===Casting===
In one of the episodes, [[Caroline of Brunswick]], the real life Prince George's future wife, is mentioned while Blackadder is searching for a possible bride of the prince. She is dismissed however, due to her terrible personality. (Quote describing her- "She has the worst personality in Germany, which, you can imagine, puts up against some very stiff competition")


{{Main|List of Blackadder characters}}
The opening theme is this time played on a [[harpsichord]], [[oboe]] and [[cello]] over close-ups of Blackadder searching a [[bookcase|book-case]]. The credits and title appear on some of the books' spines (along with humorous titles such as ''From [[Black Death]] to Blackadder'', ''The Blackobite Rebellion of 1745'', ''The Encyclopædia Blackaddica'' and, strangely, ''Landscape Gardening''...). Hidden inside a [[Concealing something in a book|hollow book]], he finds a [[romance novel]] (complete with steamy [[cover art]]) bearing the episode's title, which is always a noun paired with another, derived from a cognate adjective. Example: "Sense and Senility" (based on the [[Jane Austen]] novel ''[[Sense and Sensibility]]''). The closing credits are presented in the style of a [[Event programme|theatre programme]] from a [[English drama|Regency-era play]], and with an entirely new closing theme.
Each series tended to feature the same set of regular actors in different period settings, although throughout the four series and specials, only Blackadder and Baldrick were constant characters. Several regular cast members recurred as characters with similar names, implying, like Blackadder, that they were descendants.
Finally Blackadder finds fortune and ends up (permanently) posing as the Prince Regent after the real prince regent is shot by the Duke of Wellington, while disguised as Blackadder.


====Recurring cast====
===Series 4: ''Blackadder Goes Forth''===
Various actors have appeared in more than one of the Blackadder series and/or specials. These are:
{{Main|Blackadder Goes Forth}}
This series is set in 1917, on the [[Western Front]] in the trenches of the [[World War I|First World War]]. Another "[[Passchendaele|big push]]" is planned, and [[Captain Blackadder]]'s one goal is to avoid getting shot, so he plots ways to get out of it. Blackadder is joined by the idealistic [[Edwardian period|Edwardian]] twit [[George (Blackadder character)#Blackadder Goes Forth|Lieutenant George]] (Hugh Laurie), and the world's worst cook, Private S. [[Baldrick#Blackadder Goes Forth|Baldrick]]. Loony [[Melchett#Blackadder Goes Forth (General Sir Anthony Cecil Hogmanay Melchett)|General Melchett]] (Stephen Fry) rallies his troops from a French mansion thirty-five miles from the front, where he is aided and abetted by his assistant, [[Kevin Darling|Captain Darling]] (Tim McInnerny), pencil-pusher supreme and Blackadder's nemesis, whose name is played on for maximum comedy value.


{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
Except for the final episode, the episode titles are all plays on words involving military titles, e.g., "Captain Cook" (about food), "Private Plane" (involving Rik Mayall as a pilot).
|-
! style="width:140px;"|
! style="width:120px;"|''[[The Black Adder]]''
! style="width:120px;"|''[[Blackadder II]]''
! style="width:120px;"|''[[Blackadder the Third]]''
! style="width:120px;"|''[[Blackadder Goes Forth]]''
! style="width:120px;"|''[[Blackadder: The Cavalier Years]]''
! style="width:120px;"|''[[Blackadder's Christmas Carol]]''
! style="width:120px;"|''[[Blackadder: Back & Forth]]''
|-
| align=left|[[Rowan Atkinson]]
| {{ya}}
| {{ya}}
| {{ya}}
| {{ya}}
| {{ya}}
| {{ya}}
| {{ya}}
|-
| align=left|[[Tony Robinson]]
| {{ya}}
| {{ya}}
| {{ya}}
| {{ya}}
| {{ya}}
| {{ya}}
| {{ya}}
|-
| align=left|[[Tim McInnerny]]
| {{ya}}
| {{ya}}
| {{ya}}
| {{ya}}
|
|
| {{ya}}
|-
| align=left|[[Hugh Laurie]]
|
| {{ya}}
| {{ya}}
| {{ya}}
|
| {{ya}}
| {{ya}}
|-
| align=left|[[Stephen Fry]]
|
| {{ya}}
| {{ya}}
| {{ya}}
| {{ya}}
| {{ya}}
| {{ya}}
|-
| align=left|[[Miranda Richardson]]
|
| {{ya}}
| {{ya}}
| {{ya}}
|
| {{ya}}
| {{ya}}
|-
| align=left|[[Rik Mayall]]
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====Main cast====
The final episode of this series, "Goodbyeee...", is known for being extraordinarily poignant for a comedy &mdash; especially the final scene, which sees the main characters (Blackadder, Baldrick, George, and Darling) finally venturing forward and charging off to die in the fog and smoke of [[no man's land]]. Melchett remains at his office but blithely orders a reluctant Darling to fight with the others. "Goodbyeee..." had no closing titles, simply fading from the protagonists charging across no man's land under fire, to a field of [[poppy|poppies]] in the sunlight: an obvious reference to the poem "[[In Flanders Fields]]". In a list of the [[100 Greatest British Television Programmes]] drawn up by the [[British Film Institute]] in 2000, voted for by industry professionals, ''Blackadder Goes Forth'' was placed 16th.
*[[Rowan Atkinson]] as [[Edmund Blackadder]], the series' protagonist.
*[[Tony Robinson]] as [[Baldrick|S. Baldrick]], his servant.
*[[Stephen Fry]] as Melchett in two series, first as [[List of Blackadder characters#Melchett|Lord Melchett]], the sycophantic adviser to [[Queenie (Blackadder)|Queen Elizabeth I]] in series two and secondly as [[General Melchett]], a blustering buffoon and presumed descendant in series four. Fry also appeared as [[Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington|Arthur Wellesley]], The Duke of Wellington in series three and as various characters in ''Blackadder Back & Forth''.
*[[Tim McInnerny]] as [[Lord Percy Percy]], Blackadder's dimwitted sidekick in series one and two before a change of character to antagonistic rival Captain [[Kevin Darling]] in series four. He also appeared as [[The Scarlet Pimpernel]] (alias Lord Topper and [[Le Comte de Frou Frou]]) for one episode in the third series, and reprised his role as Darling in ''Blackadder: Back & Forth''.
*[[Hugh Laurie]] played [[George (Blackadder)|George]] in series three and four, first as [[George IV of the United Kingdom|The Prince Regent]], and later Lieutenant George in series four. Laurie also appeared twice in series two; firstly as Simon "Farters Parters" Partridge or "Mr. Ostrich" in the episode, "Beer", and then as Prince Ludwig the Indestructible in "Chains", the final instalment episode of ''Blackadder II''. He reprised his role as George in ''Blackadder: Back & Forth''.
*[[Miranda Richardson]] was only a regular cast member for series two, in which she played [[Queenie (Blackadder)#Blackadder II|Queen Elizabeth I]], reprising the role in ''Blackadder's Christmas Carol'' and ''Back & Forth''. However, she also played significant one-off roles as [[Amy Hardwood]] (a.k.a. The Shadow) in "[[Amy and Amiability (Blackadder)|Amy and Amiability]]" in the third series and Mary Fletcher-Brown, a dutiful nurse in "[[General Hospital (Blackadder)|General Hospital]]" from the fourth. She reappeared as Queenie and additional characters in Christmas Carol and Back and Forth.


===Specials===
====Non-recurring cast====
*[[Brian Blessed]], [[Elspet Gray]] and [[Robert East (actor)|Robert East]] appeared in all six episodes of the first series as the Black Adder's father, mother and brother respectively. Gray had also appeared in the non-broadcast pilot.
'''The Pilot Episode'''
*[[Patsy Byrne]] played Nursie in all six episodes of ''[[Blackadder II]]'', but never featured in either of the subsequent series, either as a regular character or one-off. She briefly reprised the character in ''[[Blackadder: Back & Forth]]'' and ''[[Blackadder's Christmas Carol]]''.
{{main|Prince Edmund (Blackadder Pilot)}}
*[[Helen Atkinson-Wood]] played the role of [[Mrs. Miggins]] in all six episodes of ''[[Blackadder the Third]]'', but did not appear again in the series, although the character was mentioned several times in ''Blackadder II'' and in the final episode of ''[[Blackadder Goes Forth]]''.
The Blackadder pilot was shot but never aired in the UK. One notable difference in the pilot, as in many pilots, is the casting. Baldrick is played not by Tony Robinson, but by [[Philip Fox (actor)|Philip Fox]]. The script of the pilot is roughly the same as the episode ''[[Born to be King]]'', albeit with some different jokes, with some jokes appearing in other episodes of the series.<ref>[http://www.blackadderhall.com/specials/pilot_episode.shtml "The Pilot Episode"], [http://www.blackadderhall.com/ BlackadderHall.com]</ref>


====Guest cast====
'''Blackadder: The Cavalier Years'''
[[Ben Elton]]'s arrival after the first series heralded the more frequent recruitment of comic actors from the [[alternative comedy]] era for guest appearances, including [[Robbie Coltrane]], [[Rik Mayall]] (who had appeared in the final episode of the first series as "Mad Gerald"), [[Adrian Edmondson]], [[Nigel Planer]], [[Mark Arden]], [[Stephen Frost]], [[Chris Barrie]] and [[Jeremy Hardy]]. Elton himself played an anarchist in ''Blackadder the Third''.
{{main|Blackadder: The Cavalier Years}}
This takes place at the time of the [[English Civil War]]. It is a short episode, shown as part of [[Comic Relief]]'s [[Comic Relief#Red Nose Day|Red Nose Day]] in 1988.


[[Gabrielle Glaister]] played [[Bob (Blackadder character)|Bob]], an attractive girl who poses as a man, in both series 2 and 4. [[Rik Mayall]] plays [[Lord Flashheart]], a vulgar friend in his first appearance and then a successful rival of Blackadder in later episodes of series 2 and 4. He also played a decidedly Flashheart-like [[Robin Hood]] in ''Back & Forth''. [[Lee Cornes]] also appeared in an episode of all three Curtis-Elton series. He appeared as a guard in the episode "Chains" of ''Blackadder II''; as the poet [[Percy Bysshe Shelley|Shelley]] in the episode "Ink and Incapability' of ''Blackadder the Third''; and as firing squad soldier [[Private (rank)|Private]] Fraser in the episode "Corporal Punishment" of ''Blackadder Goes Forth''.
The 15-minute episode was set in November 1648, during the last days of the Civil War. Sir Edmund Blackadder and his servant, Baldrick, are the last two men loyal to the defeated King [[Charles I of England]] (played by Stephen Fry, portrayed as a soft-spoken, ineffective, slightly dim character very obviously based on Charles I's namesake, the current Prince of Wales). They have given refuge to the King in [[Blackadder Hall]]. Edmund remains loyal because as a known royalist he sees the King as his only hope of survival and also because of his fear of a hideous age of [[Puritanism]], full of moral prohibitions (as he describes it). However, due to a misunderstanding between [[Oliver Cromwell]] and Baldrick, the King is arrested and sent to the [[Tower of London]]. The rest of the episode revolves around Blackadder's attempts to save the king, as well as improve his standing.
:BBC One, Friday [[5 February]] [[1988]], 9.45–10pm


More established actors, some at the veteran stage of their careers, were also recruited for roles. These included [[Peter Cook]], [[John Grillo]], [[Simon Jones (actor)|Simon Jones]], [[Tom Baker]], [[Jim Broadbent]], [[Hugh Paddick]], [[Frank Finlay]], [[Kenneth Connor]], [[Bill Wallis]], [[Ronald Lacey]], Roger Blake, [[Denis Lill]], [[Warren Clarke]] and [[Geoffrey Palmer (actor)|Geoffrey Palmer]], who played [[Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig|Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig]] in "[[Goodbyeee]]", the final episode of ''Blackadder Goes Forth''. [[Miriam Margolyes]] played three different guest roles: The Spanish Infanta in [[The Queen of Spain's Beard (Blackadder)|The Queen of Spain's Beard]], Lady Whiteadder in [[Beer (Blackadder)|Beer]], and [[Queen Victoria]] in [[Blackadder's Christmas Carol]].
'''Blackadder's Christmas Carol'''
{{main|Blackadder's Christmas Carol}}
The second special was broadcast in 1988. In a twist on [[Charles Dickens]]' ''[[A Christmas Carol]]'', [[Ebenezer Blackadder]] is the "kindest and loveliest" man in England, and could be considered to be the '[[Black sheep (term)|white sheep]]' of the Blackadder Family. One of the ghosts that so effectively convinced Ebenezer Scrooge to change his miserly ways reluctantly displays for this Blackadder the contrary antics of his ancestors and descendants, causing him to proclaim, "Bad guys have all the fun" and adopt the personality viewers are more familiar with.
:BBC One, Friday [[23 December]] [[1988]], 9.30–10.15pm


Unusually for a sitcom based loosely on factual events and in the historical past, a man was recruited for one episode essentially to play himself. Political commentator [[Vincent Hanna]] played a character billed as "his own great-great-great grandfather" in the episode "[[Dish and Dishonesty (Blackadder)|Dish and Dishonesty]]" of ''Blackadder the Third''. Hanna was asked to take part because the scene was of a by-election in which Baldrick was a candidate and, in the style of modern television, Hanna gave a long-running "live" commentary of events at the count (and interviewed candidates and election agents) to a crowd through the [[town hall]] window.
'''The Shakespeare Sketch'''<br/>
A short sketch made in 1989 with Hugh Laurie as [[William Shakespeare]] and Rowan Atkinson as Blackadder (currently Shakespeare's [[Agent (law)|agent]]). Blackadder complains that at five hours [[Hamlet]] is too long and that they need to cut out "some of the dead wood".


===Theme tune===
'''Blackadder and the King's Birthday'''<br/>
[[Howard Goodall]]'s [[theme music|theme tune]] has the same [[melody]] throughout all the series, but is played in roughly the [[History of music|style of the period]] in which it is set. It is performed mostly with trumpets and [[timpani]] in ''The Black Adder'', the fanfares used suggesting typical medieval court fanfares; with a combination of [[Recorder (musical instrument)|recorder]], [[string quartet]] and electric guitar in ''Blackadder II'' (the end theme, with different lyrics each time reflecting on the episode's events, was sung by a [[countertenor]]); on [[oboe]], cello and [[harpsichord]] (in the style of a [[minuet]]) for ''Blackadder the Third''; by The Band of the [[3rd Battalion, Royal Anglian Regiment]] in ''Blackadder Goes Forth''; sung by [[Carol (music)|carol singers]] in ''Blackadder's Christmas Carol''; and by an orchestra in ''Blackadder: The Cavalier Years'' and ''Blackadder: Back & Forth''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.howardgoodall.co.uk/works/tv-and-film/blackadder |title=List of Musicians and Singers who Played or Sang on Blackadder and Red Dwarf Themes |publisher=Howardgoodall.co.uk |access-date=8 June 2014}}</ref>
A short sketch with Rowan Atkinson as Lord Blackadder and Stephen Fry as King [[Charles II of England|Charles II]] was performed at the [[Charles, Prince of Wales|Prince of Wales']] 50th Birthday Gala. It was televised on [[ITV]] (in the UK) on [[14 November]] [[1998]].


==Awards==
'''Woman's Hour Invasion'''<br/>
In 2000, the fourth series, ''[[Blackadder Goes Forth]]'', ranked at 16 in the "[[100 Greatest British Television Programmes]]", a list created by the [[British Film Institute]]. In 2004, a BBC TV poll for "[[Britain's Best Sitcom]]", ''Blackadder'' was voted the second best British sitcom of all time, topped by ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]''.<ref>{{cite news|title=The Final Top 10 Sitcoms|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sitcom/winner.shtml|publisher=BBC|date=March 2004}}</ref> It was also ranked as the 20th Best TV Show of All Time by ''[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]'' magazine.<ref name="empire"/>
[[Woman's Hour]] is a show on [[BBC Radio 4]] consisting of reports, interviews and debates aimed at women, and also includes short serials during the last quarter of the show. On one instance of the show, Blackadder and Baldrick show up, travel back in time and talk to Shakespeare and others.


==Future==
The purpose of the "invasion" was to raise money for ''[[Children In Need]]''. <ref>[http://www.blackadderhall.com/specials/womans_hour.shtml "Woman's Hour Invasion"], BlackadderHall.com</ref>


Despite regular statements denying any plans for a fifth series, cast members are regularly asked about the possibility of a new series.
'''Blackadder: The Army Years'''<br/>
The [[Royal Variety Performance]] 2000. A short sketch with Rowan Atkinson as the modern-day Lord Edmund Blackadder of Her Royal Highness's regiment of shirkers. The sketch was written and introduced by Ben Elton.


In January 2005, Tony Robinson told [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]'s ''[[This Morning (TV programme)|This Morning]]'' that Rowan Atkinson was more keen than he has been in the past to do a fifth series, set in the 1960s (centred on a rock band called the "Black Adder Five", with [[Baldrick]]&nbsp;– a.k.a. 'Bald Rick'&nbsp;– as the drummer). In the documentary ''Blackadder Rides Again'', Robinson stated that the series would present Blackadder as the bastard son of Queen Elizabeth II and running a Beatles-like rock band. Rowan Atkinson, Tony Robinson, Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry, Tim McInnerny and Miranda Richardson would have reprised their roles, and reportedly, Brian Blessed, Elspet Gray and Robert East would have returned from the first series to play Blackadder's biological family. Robinson in a stage performance 1 June 2007, again mentioned this idea, but in the context of a movie.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rowan Atkinson reveals details of "Redadder" - the Russian Revolution-themed Blackadder that never was |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/comedy/rowan-atkinson-reveals-details-of-redadder-the-russian-revolution-themed-blackadder-that-never-was/ |access-date=2022-06-29 |website=Radio Times |language=en}}</ref>
'''Blackadder: Back & Forth'''
{{main|Blackadder: Back & Forth}}
''Blackadder: Back & Forth'' was originally shown in the [[Millennium Dome]] in 2000, followed by a screening on [[Sky One]] in the same year (and later on BBC1). It is set on the turn of the [[millennium]], and features Lord Blackadder placing a bet with his friends &mdash; modern versions of Queenie (Miranda Richardson), Melchett (Stephen Fry), George (Hugh Laurie) and Darling (Tim McInnerny) &mdash; that he has built a working [[Time travel in fiction|time machine]]. While this is intended as a clever [[confidence trick|con trick]], the machine, surprisingly, does work, sending Blackadder and Baldrick back to the time of the [[dinosaur]]s, where they manage to cause the extinction of the dinosaurs, through the use of Baldrick's best, worst and only pair of underpants as a weapon against a hungry [[T.Rex]].


One idea mentioned by Curtis was that it was Baldrick who had accidentally [[John F. Kennedy assassination|assassinated]] [[John F. Kennedy]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/3178382/Richard-Curtis-Blackadder-was-lined-up-to-be-Sixties-entrepreneur.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081015022348/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/3178382/Richard-Curtis-Blackadder-was-lined-up-to-be-Sixties-entrepreneur.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 October 2008|title=Richard Curtis: Blackadder was lined up to be Sixties entrepreneur|work=[[The Sunday Telegraph]]|date=12 October 2008|access-date=12 October 2008}}</ref> However, aside from a brief mention in June 2005,<ref name="bbc-faces">{{cite news
Attempting to find their way home, they find themselves unable to (as Baldrick did not complete the machine's controls) and instead land at the court of Elizabeth I, where they are mistaken for the contemporary versions, and Blackadder takes the opportunity to assault [[William Shakespeare]] ([[Colin Firth]]) "on behalf of every schoolboy and schoolgirl for the next 400 years". They next arrive in [[Sherwood Forest]] where Blackadder, held hostage by [[Robin Hood]] (Rik Mayall, portrayed here as a generation of another Blackadder character, Lord Flashheart), talks the Merry Men into revolt. They eventually kill Robin and, after spending some time in the forest — in Edmund's case, with [[Maid Marian]] ([[Kate Moss]]) and in Baldrick's, with [[Will Scarlet]] — they return to the machine.
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/4606743.stm
| title = Faces of the week: Richard Curtis
| publisher=BBC News
| date = 3 June 2005
| access-date = 6 February 2008
| quote =...&nbsp;Rowan Atkinson, whose collaborations with Curtis include television and cinema's Mr Bean and TV's Blackadder, which is to enjoy a fifth series next year.
}}</ref>
there have been no further announcements from the BBC that a new series is being planned. Furthermore, in November 2005, Rowan Atkinson told ''[[BBC Breakfast]]'' that, although he would very much like to do a new series set in [[Colditz]] or another [[prisoner-of-war camp]] during World War II, something which both he and Stephen Fry reiterated at the end of ''Blackadder Rides Again'', the chances of it happening are extremely slim.<ref>{{Citation|last=theoldonearethebest|title=Blackadder Rides Again Documentary pt 6 6|date=5 September 2011|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjOoncjwXgg&list=PL398BAFDB3C5E2009&index=7| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180117202847/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjOoncjwXgg| archive-date=2018-01-17 | url-status=dead|access-date=18 January 2017}}</ref>


There were a couple of ideas that had previously floated for the fifth series. ''Batadder'' was intended to be a parody of ''[[Batman (TV series)|Batman]]'' with Baldrick as the counterpart of [[Robin (comics)|Robin]] (suggested by [[John Lloyd (producer)|John Lloyd]]). This idea eventually came to surface as part of the ''[[Comic Relief (charity)|Comic Relief]]'' sketch "[[Spider-Plant Man]]" in 2005, with Atkinson as [[Spider-Man|the title hero]], Robinson as Robin, [[Jim Broadbent]] as Batman and [[Rachel Stevens]] as [[Mary Jane Watson|Mary Jane]]. ''Star Adder'' was to be set in space in the future (suggested by Atkinson),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://filmtv.eserver.org/black-adder.txt |title=Black Adder Program Guide |access-date=29 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121120155502/http://filmtv.eserver.org/black-adder.txt |archive-date=20 November 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> though this too was touched upon in ''Blackadder's Christmas Carol''.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}}
The duo have brief stopovers at the [[Battle of Waterloo]], where they accidentally kill [[Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington|Wellington]] (Stephen Fry), and in [[Roman Britain]], where [[Centurion (Roman army)|Centurion]] Blacaddicus and [[Roman legion|Legionary]] Baldricus face the [[Gaels|Scots]], before they finally find their way home, thanks to Baldrick's cunning plan of sticking his head into the toilet and seeing where the switches were when his life flashes before his eyes.


On 10 April 2007, ''[[Hello! (magazine)|Hello!]]'' reported that Atkinson was moving forward with his ideas for a fifth series. He said, "I like the idea of him being a prisoner of war in Colditz. That would have the right level of authority and hierarchy which is apparent in all the Blackadders."<ref name="Hello-Colditz">{{cite news
After returning home to a French-ruled Britain where no-one's heard of Shakespeare or Robin Hood, Blackadder quickly returns to the machine and restores history. Upon his second return, the others comment that a machine like that could be dangerous in the wrong hands. This gives Blackadder a very cunning plan indeed, and he excuses himself while the others watch the Millennium celebrations on television.
| url = http://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/2007/04/10/blackadder-return/
| title = Rowan toys with idea of 'Blackadder' return
| work=HelloMagazine.co.uk
| date = 10 April 2007
| access-date = 6 February 2008
}}</ref>


A post on BlackAdderHall.com by Ben Elton in early 2007 said that ''Blackadder'' would return in some form, whether it be a TV series or film. Elton has since not given any more information on the putative ''Blackadder 5''.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}}
The television shows King Edmund III and Queen Marian of Sherwood arriving at the Millennium Dome to be greeted by [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] Baldrick. The Blackadders have finally achieved their destiny.


During an interview in August 2007 about his film ''[[Mr. Bean's Holiday]]'', Atkinson was asked about the possibility of a further ''Blackadder'' series, to which the simple reply "No, no chance" was given:
:''"Let joy fill every Briton's heart;
:For now our country's going to make it;
:At last a King who looks the part;
:At last a Queen who looks good naked."''


<blockquote>There was a plan for a film set in the [[Russian Revolution (1917)|Russian revolution]], a very interesting one called ''The Red Adder''. He would have been a lieutenant in the Secret Police. Then the revolution happened and at the end he is in the same office doing the same job but just the colours on his uniform have changed. It was quite a sweet idea and we got quite a long way with it but in the end it died a death.{{Citation needed|date=August 2018}}</blockquote>
:''"Blackadder, Blackadder;
: A monarch with panache!;
:Blackadder, Blackadder;
: He's got a nice moustache!"''


Stephen Fry has expressed the view that, since the series went out on such a good "high", a film might not be a good idea.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120529151802/http://www.darkhorizons.com/news06/060620k.php "Atkinson Developing "Black Adder" Film"], Darkhorizons.com</ref>
:''"Everything he wants, he'll get;
:The world is now Blackadder's oyster;
:Most prime ministers are wet;
:But Baldrick, he is even moister!"''


During his June 2007 stage performance, chronicled on the Tony Robinson's Cunning Night Out DVD, Robinson states that, after filming the ''Back & Forth special'', the general idea was to reunite for another special in 2010. Robinson jokingly remarked that Hugh Laurie's success on ''[[House (TV series)|House]]'' may make that difficult.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}}
:''"Blackadder, Blackadder;
:A dog who's got his bone!;
:Blackadder, Blackadder;
:A bastard on the throne!"''


On 28 November 2012, Rowan Atkinson reprised the role at the "We are most amused" comedy gala for the [[Prince's Trust]] at the Royal Albert Hall. He was joined by Tony Robinson as Baldrick. The sketch involved Blackadder as CEO of Melchett, Melchett and Darling bank facing an enquiry over the banking crisis.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2012/nov/29/we-are-most-amused-review|title=We Are Most Amused – review|last=Logan|first=Brian|date=29 November 2012|website=The Guardian|language=en|access-date=29 September 2018}}</ref>
:''"Blackadder, Blackadder;
:His beard is neatly curled!;
:Blackadder, Blackadder;
:He's going to rule the world!"''


In August 2015, Tony Robinson said in an interview "I do think a new series of Blackadder is on the cards. I have spoken to virtually all the cast about this now. The only problem is Hugh [Laurie]'s fee. He's a huge star now."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2015/aug/23/blackadder-new-series-on-the-cards-tony-robinson|title=Blackadder new series on the cards, says Tony Robinson|newspaper=The Guardian|date=24 August 2015}}</ref> However, in October 2018, Richard Curtis "dashed hopes" that the show would return for a fifth series.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.herald.ie/news/curtis-reveals-why-blackadder-will-not-return-37419169.html|title=Curtis reveals why Blackadder will not return|date=16 October 2018}}</ref>
'''The Jubilee Girl'''<br/>
''The Jubilee Girl'' was a [[29 December]] [[2002]] BBC special about [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth II]]'s [[Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II|Golden Jubilee]] Concert. The concert was hosted by Sir Osmond Darling-Blackadder (Keeper of Her Majesty's Lawn Sprinklers) and [[Dame Edna Everage]]. Earlier, a BBC "advertisement" for the celebrations also featured this incarnation of Blackadder, in which Sir Osmond is told to announce the event, even though he thinks it is a terrible idea:


In December 2020, Rowan Atkinson told the ''Radio Times'':
:''We don't want thousands of people wandering around here willy-nilly, leaving orange peel on the petunias and frightening the corgies.''


<blockquote>I don't actually like the process of making anything – with the possible exception of ''Blackadder''. Because the responsibility for making that series funny was on many shoulders, not just mine. ''Blackadder'' represented the creative energy we all had in the '80s. To try to replicate that 30 years on wouldn't be easy.<ref>{{Cite web|last=McGeorge|first=Alistair|date=2021-01-05|title=Rowan Atkinson doesn't enjoy playing Mr Bean but he's still returning for film|url=https://metro.co.uk/2021/01/05/rowan-atkinson-doesnt-enjoy-playing-mr-bean-but-hes-still-returning-for-a-new-movie-13844675/|access-date=2021-01-05|website=Metro|language=en}}</ref></blockquote>
:''I said to her, I said, you're the Queen, not [[Fatboy Slim]].''


==Home media==
{{endspoiler}}


All series and many of the specials are available on VHS tapes, DVD & BluRay. Many are also available on BBC audio cassette. As of 2008, a "Best of BBC" edition box set is available containing all four major series together with ''Blackadder's Christmas Carol'' and ''Back & Forth''. All four series and the Christmas special are also available for download on [[iTunes]].
== A fifth series? ==
In [[January 2005]], Tony Robinson told [[ITV]]'s ''[[This Morning (TV series)|This Morning]]'' that Rowan Atkinson is more keen than he has been in the past to do a fifth series, set in the [[1960s]] (centered around a [[rock band]] called the "Black Adder Five", with [[Baldrick]] — aka 'Bald Rick' — as the drummer) <ref name=blackadder5>http://www.thelogbook.com/log/blackadder/</ref>. However, aside from a brief mention in [[June 2005]] <ref name=curtis>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4606743.stm</ref> there have been no further announcements from the BBC that a new series is being planned. Furthermore, in [[November 2005]], Rowan Atkinson told ''[[BBC Breakfast]]'' that although he would very much like to do a new series set in [[Colditz]] or another [[prisoner-of-war camp]] during [[World War II|World War Two]], the chances of it happening are extremely low <ref name=blackadder5 />. There were a couple of ideas that had previously floated for the fifth series. ''Batadder'' was intended to be a parody of ''[[Batman]]'' with Baldrick as the counterpart of [[Robin (comics)|Robin]] (suggested by [[John Lloyd]]). This idea eventually came to surface as part of the ''[[Comic Relief]]'' sketch "[[Spider-Plant Man]]" in [[2005]], with Atkinson as [[Spider-Man|the title hero]], Robinson as Robin, [[Jim Broadbent]] as Batman and [[Rachel Stevens]] as [[Mary Jane Watson|Jane Mary]]. ''Star Adder'' was to be [[Science fiction|set in space]] [[speculative fiction|in the future]] (suggested by Atkinson).<ref>[http://filmtv.eserver.org/black-adder.txt "Black Adder Program Guide"]</ref>


==Film==
===VHS releases===
On 5 February 1990, BBC Enterprises Ltd released the first series on two single VHS tapes.
In [[June 2006]], [[Rowan Atkinson]] (while filming ''[[Mr. Bean's Holiday]]'' in [[France]]) mentioned the possibility of a feature length version set during the [[Russian Revolution of 1917|Russian Revolution]]. [[Stephen Fry]] has expressed the view that, since the series went out on such a good "high", a film might not be a good idea.<ref>[http://www.darkhorizons.com/news06/060620k.php "Atkinson Developing "Black Adder" Film"], [[Darkhorizons.com]]</ref>


{| class="wikitable" style="width:99%;"
==Anachronism==
|-
{{main|Historical anomalies in Blackadder}}
!VHS video title
!Year of release
!Episodes
!BBFC rating
|- style="text-align:center;"
||''The Blackadder: The Foretelling'' (BBCV 4293)
||5 February 1990
||The Foretelling, Born to Be King, the Archbishop
||PG
|- style="text-align:center;"
||''The Blackadder: The Queen of Spain's Beard'' (BBCV 4296)
||5 February 1990
||The Queen of Spain's Beard, Witchsmeller Pursuivant, The Black Seal
||15
|}


On 2 October 1989, BBC Enterprises Ltd released the second series on two single VHS tapes.
The Blackadder series contain many instances of anachronism or anachronistic references. For example:
*In ''The Black Adder'', the [[Duke of Edinburgh]] is one of Edmund's titles. However, [[Kingdom of Scotland|Scotland]] had a separate monarchy at this point, and this title had not yet been created.
* In several episodes of ''Blackadder II'', Blackadder and others use the term [[dago]] to refer to the Spanish, even though this term did not come into being until the [[1800s]].
*''Blackadder the Third'' encompasses many historical persons and events from throughout the reign of [[George III of the United Kingdom|George III]] ([[1760]]&ndash;[[1820]]) and even beyond, despite the appearance of taking place over a relatively short period of time. For example, [[Samuel Johnson]] completed [[A Dictionary of the English Language|his dictionary]] in [[1755]], which is the premise for the second episode. In the same installment, Dr Johnson is seen with [[George Byron, 6th Baron Byron|Lord Byron]], despite the fact that in real life, the latter was born four years after the former died. The most common setting appears to be during the [[English Regency]] ([[1811]]&ndash;[[1820|20]]) despite the fact that Prince George is portrayed as thin and young, when actually he was in his early fifties and very, very fat. (Despite this disparity, jokes are made about Prince George's great weight.) There are also a number of references to [[Napoleon I of France|Napoleon Bonaparte]] throughout the series, yet the [[French Revolution]] only takes place in the third episode.
Blackadder also refers to the [[Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington|Duke of Wellington]] as the Iron Duke even though that the Duke of Wellington had not been given that nickname at that time.


{| class="wikitable" style="width:99%;"
==Cast==
|-
[[Ben Elton]]'s arrival after the first series heralded the more frequent recruitment of comic actors from the famed "[[alternative comedy|alternative]]" era for guest appearances, including [[Robbie Coltrane]], [[Rik Mayall]] (who had actually appeared in the final episode of the first series as Mad Gerald), [[Adrian Edmondson]], [[Nigel Planer]], [[Mark Arden]], [[Stephen Frost]], [[Chris Barrie]] and [[Jeremy Hardy]]. Elton himself played an anarchist in ''Blackadder the Third''.
!VHS video title
!Year of release
!Episodes
!BBFC rating
|- style="text-align:center;"
||''Blackadder II: Parte the Firste'' (BBCV 4298)
||2 October 1989
||Bells, Head, Potato
||PG
|- style="text-align:center;"
||''Blackadder II: Parte the Seconde'' (BBCV 4299)
||2 October 1989
||Money, Beer, Chains
||15
|}


On 6 February 1989, BBC Enterprises Ltd released the third series on two single VHS tapes.
However, aside from the regular cast listed above, only one actor — [[Lee Cornes]] — appeared in an episode of all three Curtis-Elton series. He appeared as a guard in the episode ''Chains'' of ''Blackadder II''; as the poet [[Percy Bysshe Shelley|Shelley]] in the episode ''Ink and Incapability'' of ''Blackadder the Third''; and as firing squad soldier [[Private (rank)|Private]] Fraser in the episode ''Corporal Punishment'' of ''Blackadder Goes Forth''.


{| class="wikitable" style="width:99%;"
More 'establishment'-style actors, some at the veteran stage of their careers, were also recruited for roles. These included [[Brian Blessed]], [[John Grillo]], [[Tom Baker]], [[Jim Broadbent]], [[Hugh Paddick]], [[Frank Finlay]], [[Kenneth Connor]], [[Bill Wallis]], [[Ronald Lacey]], [[Roger Blake]], [[Denis Lill]], [[Warren Clarke]], [[Miriam Margolyes]] and [[Geoffrey Palmer (actor)|Geoffrey Palmer]] who played [[Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig|Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig]] in ''[[Goodbyeee... (Blackadder)|Goodbyeee...]]'', the final, fatal episode of ''Blackadder Goes Forth''.
|-
!VHS video title
!Year of release
!Episodes
!BBFC rating
|- style="text-align:center;"
||''Blackadder The Third: Dish and Dishonesty'' (BBCV 4142)
||6 February 1989
||Dish and Dishonesty, Ink and Incapability, Nob and Nobility
||PG
|- style="text-align:center;"
||''Blackadder The Third: Sense and Senility'' (BBCV 4143)
||6 February 1989
||Sense and Senility, Amy and Amibility, Duel and Duality
||15
|}


On 10 September 1990, BBC Enterprises Ltd released the fourth and final series on two single VHS tapes.
Unusually for a sitcom based loosely on factual events and in the historical past, a man was recruited for one episode essentially to play himself. Political commentator [[Vincent Hanna]] played a character billed as "his own great-great-great grandfather" in the episode ''[[Dish and Dishonesty (Blackadder)|Dish and Dishonesty]]'' of ''Blackadder the Third''. Hanna was asked to take part because the scene was of a [[by-election]] in which Baldrick was a candidate and, in the style of modern television, Hanna gave a long-running "live" commentary of events at the count (and interviewed candidates and election agents) to a crowd through the [[town hall]] window.


{| class="wikitable" style="width:99%;"
===List===
|-
{{main|List of characters in Blackadder}}
!VHS video title
Each series tended to feature the same set of regular actors in different period settings.
!Year of release
!Episodes
!BBFC rating
|- style="text-align:center;"
||''Blackadder Goes Forth: Captain Cook'' (BBCV 4349)
||10 September 1990
||Captain Cook, Corporal Punishment, Major Star
||PG
|- style="text-align:center;"
||''Blackadder Goes Forth: Private Plane'' (BBCV 4350)
||10 September 1990
||Private Plane, General Hospital, Goodbyeee
||15
|}


On 7 September 1992, all eight single Blackadder video releases were re-released as four "complete" double VHS releases. The four entire series videos were re-released as single VHS tape releases on 2 October 1995.
The only character types to retain the same name throughout were:
* '''[[Edmund Blackadder]]''': ([[Rowan Atkinson]]) (although "The Black Adder" was an adopted name of Prince Edmund [[Angevin#Plantagenet|Plantagenet]], who was significantly different from the other Blackadders)
* [[Baldrick|S. Baldrick]]: ([[Tony Robinson]])


{| class="wikitable" style="width:99%;"
Some characters recurred as their own presumed descendents:
|-
*[[Melchett]] - [[Stephen Fry]]
!VHS video title
**Sycophantic Lord Melchett (a sort of [[William Cecil]] character), an advisor to [[Queenie|Queen Elizabeth I]], series 2
!Year of release/Cat No. (Double Video)
**General Sir Anthony Cecil Hogmanay Melchett, a blustering buffoon and presumed descendant of Lord Melchett, series 4
!Year of release/Cat No. (Single Video)
**General Melchecus - ''Blackadder Back & Forth''
!Episodes
**The Duke Of Wellington, not a Melchett, but definitely a precursor to the series 4 Melchett character (e.g. his use of Melchett's eventual catchphrase "Behh!"), series 3
!BBFC rating
*'''[[Lord Percy Percy]]''' ([[Tim McInnerny]]) (who only appeared in Series 1 and 2)
*'''Darling''' (Tim McInnerny)
**[[Kevin Darling]], series 4
**Archdeacon Darling and Duke of Darling / Duc de Darling - ''Blackadder Back and Forth''
*'''[[George (Blackadder character)|George]]''' - [[Hugh Laurie]]
**HRH The Prince George Augustus Frederick Hanover, Series 3
**Lieutenant The Honourable George Colthurst St. Bartleigh, Series 4
*[[Bob (Blackadder character)|Bob]] - [[Gabrielle Glaister]] - an attractive girl who poses as a man called Bob, before revealing her true gender and becoming romantically involved with Flashheart (2 and 4)
*[[Lord Flashheart]] - [[Rik Mayall]], a vulgar yet successful rival of Blackadder (2 and 4)
**a decidedly Flashheart-like [[Robin Hood]] in ''Back and Forth''.


|- style="text-align:center;"
Character types played by the same actor:
||''The Blackadder- The Complete Entire Historic First Series''
*Stephen Fry played Lord Frondo; [[Charles I of England|King Charles I]]; Bishop Flavius [[Melchett]]; and the [[Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington|Duke of Wellington]].
||7 September 1992 (BBCV 4782)
*Tim McInnerny played [[The Scarlet Pimpernel]] (alias Lord Topper and [[Le Comte De Frou Frou]]) for one episode in the third.
||2 October 1995 (BBCV 5711)
*Hugh Laurie also played Simon "Farters Parters" Partridge (also known as Mr [[Ostrich]]) in episode five, and Prince Ludwig the Indestructible in the final installment of ''Blackadder II'', and Lord Pigmot.
||The Foretelling, Born to Be King, the Archbishop, The Queen of Spain's Beard, Witchsmeller Pursuivant, The Black Seal
*Miranda Richardson played [[Queenie|Queen Elizabeth I]] in the second series, Miss [[Amy Hardwood]] (aka The Shadow) in "[[Amy and Amiability (Blackadder)|Amy and Amiability]]" in the third, dutiful Nurse Mary Fletcher-Brown in "[[General Hospital (Blackadder)|General Hospital]]" from the fourth; Queen Asphyxia (''Christmas Carol''); and Lady Elizabeth in ''Back & Forth''.
||15
*[[Rik Mayall]] plays 'Mad Gerald' in the first series and the dashing [[Lord Flashheart]], a vulgar yet successful rival of Blackadder in both the second and fourth series; he also plays [[Robin Hood]] in ''Back & Forth''.
|- style="text-align:center;"
*[[Gabrielle Glaister]] plays an attractive girl who poses as a man and calls herself [[Bob (Blackadder character)|Bob]] in both the second and fourth series.
||''Blackadder II- The Complete Entire Historic Second Series''
||7 September 1992 (BBCV 4785)
||2 October 1995 (BBCV 5712)
||Bells, Head, Potato, Money, Beer, Chains
||15
|- style="text-align:center;"
||''Blackadder the Third- The Complete Entire Historic Third Series''
||7 September 1992 (BBCV 4786)
||2 October 1995 (BBCV 5713)
||Dish and Dishonesty, Ink and Incapability, Nob and Nobility, Sense and Senility, Amy and Amibility, Duel and Duality
||15
|- style="text-align:center;"
||''Blackadder Goes Forth- The Complete Entire Historic Fourth Series''
||7 September 1992 (BBCV 4787)
||2 October 1995 (BBCV 5714)
||Captain Cook, Corporal Punishment, Major Star, Private Plane, General Hospital, Goodbyeee
||15
|}


On 5 January 1998, five episodes of the first two series were released on a 15-rated VHS tape compilation by BBC Worldwide Ltd.
Non-recurring:
*[[Patsy Byrne]] received plaudits for her crucial role as Nursie in all six episodes of ''Blackadder II'' but never featured in either of the subsequent series, either as a regular character or one-off. Her only future roles in Blackadder were in ''Blackadder Back & Forth'' and ''Blackadder's Christmas Carol'', when she briefly reprised Nursie during scenes set in the ''Blackadder II'' era and then in ''Carol's'' Christmas future scenes, also playing a member of the "triple husbandoid" to Queen Asphyxia.
*Similarly, [[Helen Atkinson-Wood]] played the role of [[Mrs. Miggins]] in all six episodes of ''Blackadder the Third'', but did not appear again in the programme, although she was mentioned in "Goodbyeee", the final episode of ''Blackadder Goes Forth'' and a Mrs. Miggins had been mentioned several times in ''Blackadder II''


{| class="wikitable" style="width:99%;"
==Precursors==
|-
The plot device of a 'modern' man in ancient times is not new, and has a venerable history in fiction.
!VHS video title
!Year of release
!Episodes
|- style="text-align:center;"
||''The Very Best of Blackadder'' (BBCV 6360)
||5 January 1998
||Series 1, Episode 3: "The Archbishop"<br>Series 1, Episode 4: "The Queen of Spain's Beard"<br>Series 2, Episode 1: "Bells"<br>Series 2, Episode 2: "Head"<br> Series 2, Episode 6: "Chains"
|}


On 4 November 1991, ''Blackadder's Christmas Carol'' was released on a single VHS tape release rated PG (Cat. No. BBCV 4646).
In TV comedies, perhaps the most obvious 'ancestor' of the ''Blackadder'' series is ''[[Up Pompeii]]''. The series, starring [[Frankie Howerd]] as Lurcio, was set in ancient Rome and made similar play with historical characters. Even the apparent '[[reincarnation]]' device found in ''Blackadder'' <ref>[http://members.aol.com/trogrann/blackadder.htm "The Blackadder Guide to Reincarnation"]</ref> is also used. The TV series inspired three feature films, the first of which, ''Up Pompeii!'', was also set in [[Roman Empire|Imperial Rome]] with Howerd as Lurcio. The film ended with the eruption of [[Mount Vesuvius|Vesuvius]] and had a final scene set in the present day, in which the actors all played tourists closely resembling their ancient roles, with Howerd being a [[tour guide]], showing them around the ruins of Pompeii. The second was set in [[Middle Ages|medieval times]] and called ''Up the Chastity Belt'', with Howerd's character as 'Lurkalot' (cf '''''The Black Adder'''''). In this, Howerd's character is discovered to be a [[political decoy|double]] of [[Richard I of England|Richard Lionheart]], and later assumes the throne under his identity while the real king leads a bawdy life as Lurkalot (cf '''''Blackadder the Third'''''). Most strikingly, the third and final ''Up ...'' film, ''Up the Front'', sees Howerd's character reborn as 'Private Lurk' and fighting in the [[World War I|First World War]] (cf '''''Blackadder Goes Forth''''').


== Notes ==
===Single DVD releases===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:80%;text-align:center;"
<div class="references-small>
|-
<references />
!DVD title !! Region 1 !! Region 2 !! Region 4
</div>
|-
|style="text-align:left"|Series 1<br /><sup>''[[The Black Adder]]''</sup><br />|| 26 June 2001 || 1 November 1999 || 29 November 1999
|-
|style="text-align:left"|Series 2<br /><sup>''[[Blackadder II]]''</sup> || 26 June 2001 || 6 November 2000 || 11 July 2001
|-
|style="text-align:left"|Series 3<br /><sup>''[[Blackadder the Third]]''</sup>|| 26 June 2001 || 5 February 2001 || 3 October 2001
|-
|style="text-align:left"|Series 4<br /><sup>''[[Blackadder Goes Forth]]''</sup> || 26 June 2001 || 22 October 2001 || 28 February 2002
|-
|style="text-align:left"|Special 1 <br /><sup>"[[Blackadder's Christmas Carol]]"</sup> || 26 June 2001 || 18 November 2002 || 4 November 2002
|-
|style="text-align:left"|Special 2<br /><sup>"[[Blackadder: Back & Forth]]"</sup> || 26 June 2001 || 15 September 2003 || 11 November 2004
|}


===Box set DVD releases===
==References==
{| class="wikitable" style="width:90%;"
*All series and many of the specials are available on [[DVD]] and [[VHS|video]], as well as many available on BBC Audio Cassette.
|-
* Curtis, Richard, Elton, and Atkinson. ''Blackadder: The Whole Damn Dynasty 1485–1917''. Penguin Books, 2000. ISBN 0-14-029608-5. Being the—almost—complete scripts of the four regular series.
!DVD title !! DVD content !! Region 1 !! Region 2 !! Region 4
* Howarth, Chris, and Steve Lyons. ''Cunning: The Blackadder Programme Guide''. Virgin Publishing, 2002. ISBN 0-7535-0447-2. An unofficial guide to the series, with asides, anecdotes and observations.
|-
* Curtis, Richard, Ben Elton. ''Blackadder: Back & Forth''. Penguin Books, 2000. ISBN 0-14-029135-0. A script book with copious photographs from the most recent outing.
| The Complete Blackadder – All Four Series ||[[The Black Adder]]<br />[[Blackadder II]]<br />[[Blackadder The Third]]<br />[[Blackadder Goes Forth]]<br />|| {{n/a}} || 12 November 2001 || 3 October 2002
|-
| Blackadder – The Complete Series ||[[The Black Adder]]<br />[[Blackadder II]]<br />[[Blackadder The Third]]<br />[[Blackadder Goes Forth]]<br />[[Blackadder's Christmas Carol]]<br />[[Blackadder: Back & Forth]]<br />[[Blackadder: The Cavalier Years]]<br />|| 26 June 2001 || 3 October 2005 || {{n/a}}
|-
| Blackadder Remastered – The Ultimate Edition ||[[The Black Adder]] (Remastered)<br />[[Blackadder II]] (Remastered)<br />[[Blackadder the Third]] (Remastered)<br />[[Blackadder Goes Forth]] (Remastered)<br />[[Blackadder's Christmas Carol]] (Remastered)<br />[[Blackadder: Back & Forth]] (Remastered)<br />[[Blackadder: The Cavalier Years]] (Remastered)<br />Blackadder Rides Again<br />+Audio Commentary<br />+Interviews<br />|| 20 October 2009 || 15 June 2009 || 1 October 2009
|}


==External links==
==LP box set==
On 19 Oktober 2022 there was an announcement that there will be a LP box set release and collects the Blackadder soundtracks on vinyl for the first time.
{{wikiquote}}
The deluxe 12-disc LP collection with the title ''Blackadder's Historical Record'' was pressed on gold-couloured 140g vinyl, and released on 10 February 2023 by [[Demon Records]]. It also includes a frameable print of Baldrick, each hand signed by Sir Tony Robinson himself and a comprehensive full-colour booklet detailing the comedy series, the "leather-look rigid box"
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/blackadder/ BBC Comedy: Black Adder 1485–1917]
*'''[[Internet Movie Database]]''':
** {{imdb title|id=0084988|title=The Black Adder (1983)}}
** {{imdb title|id=0088484|title=Blackadder II (1986)}}
** {{imdb title|id=0092324|title=Blackadder the Third (1987)}}
** {{imdb title|id=0137390|title=Blackadder: The Cavalier Years (1988)}}
** {{imdb title|id=0094754|title=Blackadder's Christmas Carol (1988)}}
** {{imdb title|id=0096548|title=Blackadder Goes Forth (1989)}}
** {{imdb title|id=0212579|title=Blackadder: Back & Forth (1999)}}
* {{dmoz|Regional/Europe/United_Kingdom/Arts_and_Entertainment/Television/Programmes/Comedy/Blackadder/|Blackadder}}


==Stamps==
[[Royal Mail]] issued a set of special stamps celebrating ''Blackadder'' on 17 May 2023.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-65560306|title=Blackadder's 40th anniversary celebrated with new stamps| publisher=BBC News. 12 May 2023 | accessdate=3 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.collectgbstamps.co.uk/explore/issues/?issue=23129|title=Blackadder| publisher=CollectGBStamps.| accessdate=3 February 2024}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Literature==
* Richard Curtis, Ben Elton, and Rowan Atkinson, ''Blackadder: The Whole Damn Dynasty 1485–1917'' (Michael Joseph, 1998). {{ISBN|0-7181-4372-8}}. Being the – almost – complete scripts of the four regular series.
* Chris Howarth, and Steve Lyons, ''Cunning: The Blackadder Programme Guide'' (Virgin Publishing, 2002). {{ISBN|0-7535-0447-2}}. A cheap unofficial episode guide.
* Richard Curtis and Ben Elton, ''Blackadder: Back & Forth'' (Penguin Books, 2000). {{ISBN|0-14-029135-0}}. A script book with copious photographs from the most recent outing, and additional material from Kevin Cecil & Andy Riley.
* J.F. Roberts, ''The True History of the Black Adder: The Unadulterated Tale of the Creation of a Comedy Legend'' (Preface publishing, 2012). {{ISBN|978-1-84809-346-1}}. A 420-page officially endorsed full history of the Blackadder episodes and characters, as well as its birth, its writers and actors, and all the specials – plus Curtis' script for unproduced Christmas special 'Blackadder In Bethlehem'.

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
*{{BBC programme}}
*{{British Comedy Guide|tv|blackadder}}
{{Blackadder}}
{{Blackadder}}
{{Rowan Atkinson}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:1980s British sitcoms]]
[[Category:1983 British television series debuts]]
[[Category:Alternate history television series]]
[[Category:BBC black comedy television shows]]
[[Category:BBC television sitcoms]]
[[Category:BBC television sitcoms]]
[[Category:Blackadder]]
[[Category:Blackadder]]
[[Category:Shakespeare on film]]
[[Category:British parody television series]]
[[Category:Period piece TV series]]
[[Category:British English-language television shows]]
[[Category:1983 television program debuts]]
[[Category:Period television series]]
[[Category:1980s TV shows in the United Kingdom|Blackadder]]
[[Category:Television series by BBC Studios]]
[[Category:Television series created by Rowan Atkinson]]

[[Category:Television series created by Richard Curtis]]
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Latest revision as of 17:17, 17 May 2024

For other uses, see Blackadder (disambiguation). Not to be confused with Black adder.

Blackadder
Left to right: Tim McInnerny, Rowan Atkinson, Stephen Fry, Tony Robinson and Hugh Laurie in Blackadder Goes Forth
GenrePeriod sitcom
Created byRichard Curtis
Rowan Atkinson
Written byRichard Curtis
Rowan Atkinson (series 1)
Ben Elton (series 2–4)
Directed byGeoff Posner (pilot)
Martin Shardlow (series 1)
Mandie Fletcher (series 2 and 3)
Richard Boden (series 4)
StarringRowan Atkinson
Tony Robinson
Hugh Laurie
Tim McInnerny
Miranda Richardson
Stephen Fry
Theme music composerHoward Goodall
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series4
No. of episodes24 (plus 4 specials) (list of episodes)
Production
ProducerJohn Lloyd
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time30 minutes approx
Production companyBBC
Original release
NetworkBBC1
Release15 June 1983 (1983-06-15) –
2 November 1989 (1989-11-02)

Blackadder is a series of four period British sitcoms, plus several one-off instalments, which originally aired on BBC1 from 1983 to 1989. All television episodes starred Rowan Atkinson as the antihero Edmund Blackadder and Tony Robinson as Blackadder's dogsbody, Baldrick. Each series was set in a different historical period, with the two protagonists accompanied by different characters, though several reappear in one series or another, e.g., Melchett (Stephen Fry), Lord Percy Percy / Captain Darling (Tim McInnerny) and George (Hugh Laurie).

The first series, The Black Adder, was written by Richard Curtis and Rowan Atkinson, while subsequent series were written by Curtis and Ben Elton. The shows were produced by John Lloyd. In 2000, the fourth series, Blackadder Goes Forth, ranked at 16 in the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes, a list created by the British Film Institute. In a 2001 poll by Channel 4, Edmund Blackadder was ranked third on their list of the 100 Greatest TV Characters.[1] In the 2004 TV poll to find Britain's Best Sitcom, Blackadder was voted the second-best British sitcom of all time, topped by Only Fools and Horses. It was also ranked as the 9th-best TV show of all time by Empire magazine.[2] Rowan Atkinson said Blackadder is "the thing he found the least stressful" to do.[3]

Premise[edit]

Each series is set in a different period of British history, beginning in 1485 and ending in 1917, and comprises six half-hour episodes. Blackadder follows the misfortunes of Edmund Blackadder (played by Atkinson), who in each series is a member of the same British family. It is implied in each series that the Blackadder character is a descendant of the previous one; the end theme lyrics of series 2 episode "Head" specify that he is the great-grandson of the previous, although it is never specified how or when any of the Blackadders (who are usually bachelors) managed to father children.[4] In series one, Edmund Blackadder is not particularly bright, and is much the intellectual inferior of his servant, Baldrick (played by Tony Robinson). However, in subsequent series, the positions are reversed: Blackadder is clever, shrewd, scheming and manipulative while Baldrick is extremely dim. Each incarnation of Blackadder and Baldrick is also saddled with tolerating the presence of a dimwitted aristocrat. In the first two series, this is Lord Percy Percy, played by Tim McInnerny. Hugh Laurie plays the role in the third and fourth series, as Prince George, Prince Regent, and Lieutenant George respectively, and by Stephen Fry as Lord Melchett.

The first series, made in 1983, was called The Black Adder and was set in the fictional reign of "Richard IV". The second series, Blackadder II (1986), was set during the reign of Elizabeth I. Blackadder the Third (1987) was set during the late 18th and early 19th centuries in the reign of George III, and Blackadder Goes Forth (1989) was set in 1917 in the trenches of the Great War.

Episodes[edit]

Main article: List of Blackadder episodes
SeriesEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
Pilot--
1615 June 1983 (1983-06-15)20 July 1983 (1983-07-20)
269 January 1986 (1986-01-09)20 February 1986 (1986-02-20)
3617 September 1987 (1987-09-17)22 October 1987 (1987-10-22)
4628 September 1989 (1989-09-28)2 November 1989 (1989-11-02)
Specials35 February 1988 (1988-02-05)31 December 1999 (1999-12-31)

Series 1: The Black Adder[edit]

Main article: The Black Adder

The Black Adder, the first series of Blackadder, was written by Richard Curtis and Rowan Atkinson and produced by John Lloyd. It originally aired on BBC1 from 15 June 1983 to 20 July 1983, and was a joint production with the Australian Seven Network.

Set in 1485 at the end of the British Middle Ages, the series is written as an alternative history in which Richard III won the Battle of Bosworth Field only to be mistaken for someone else and murdered, and is succeeded by Richard IV (Brian Blessed), one of the Princes in the Tower. The series follows the exploits of Richard IV's unfavoured second son Edmund, the Duke of Edinburgh (who calls himself "The Black Adder") in his various attempts to increase his standing with his father and his eventual quest to overthrow him. Guest appearances in this series include Peter Cook as King Richard III, Russell Enoch as the Duke of Winchester, Miriam Margolyes as the Infanta Maria Escalosa of Spain (with Jim Broadbent as her interpreter), Frank Finlay as the Witchsmeller Pursuivant, Valentine Dyall as Lord Angus, Stephen Frost and Mark Arden as guards, and Rik Mayall as Mad Gerald.

Conceived while Atkinson and Curtis were working on Not the Nine O'Clock News, the series dealt comically with a number of aspects of medieval life in Britain: witchcraft, royal succession, European relations, the Crusades, and the conflict between the Church and the Crown. Along with the secret history, many historical events portrayed in the series were anachronistic (for example, Constantinople had already fallen to the Ottoman Empire in 1453, predating the events in the episode by 32 years); this dramatic license would continue in the subsequent Blackadders. The filming of the series was highly ambitious, with a large cast and much location shooting. The series also featured Shakespearean dialogue, often adapted for comic effect; the end credits featured the words "Additional Dialogue by William Shakespeare".

Series 2: Blackadder II[edit]

Main article: Blackadder II

Blackadder II is set in England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558–1603), who is portrayed by Miranda Richardson. The principal character is Edmund, Lord Blackadder, the great-grandson of the original Black Adder. During the series, he regularly deals with the Queen, her obsequious Lord Chamberlain Lord Melchett (Stephen Fry; his rival for the Queen's affections), his friend Lord Percy Percy (played by Tim McInnerny) and the Queen's demented former nanny Nursie (Patsy Byrne). Guest appearances in the series include Tom Baker as Captain Redbeard Rum, Simon Jones as Sir Walter Raleigh, Ronald Lacey as the Bishop of Bath and Wells, and Miriam Margoyles as Blackadder's aunt, Lady Whiteadder. The series also features two appearances by Hugh Laurie (as Simon Partridge, a friend of Blackadder's, in the episode "Beer"; and as Prince Ludwig the Indestructible in the series' finale "Chains"), as well as the first appearance of Gabrielle Glaister as "Bob", and of Rik Mayall as Lord Flashheart.

Following the BBC's request for improvements (and a severe budget reduction), several changes were made. The second series was the first to establish the familiar Blackadder character: cunning, shrewd and witty, in sharp contrast to the first series' bumbling Prince Edmund. To reduce the cost of production, it was shot with virtually no outdoor scenes (the first series was shot largely on location) and several frequently used indoor sets, such as the Queen's throne room and Blackadder's front room.

A quote from this series ranked number three in a list of the top 25 television "putdowns" of the last 40 years by the Radio Times magazine: "The eyes are open, the mouth moves, but Mr. Brain has long since departed, hasn't he, Percy?"[5]

Series 3: Blackadder the Third[edit]

Main article: Blackadder the Third

Blackadder the Third is set in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, a period known as the Regency. In the series, Edmund Blackadder Esquire is the butler to the Prince Regent, the Prince of Wales. (The prince is played by Hugh Laurie as a complete fop and idiot.) Despite Edmund's respected intelligence and abilities, he has no personal fortune to speak of, apart from his frequently fluctuating wage packet (as well, it seems, from stealing and selling off the Prince's socks) from the Prince: "If I'm running short of cash, all I have to do is go upstairs and ask Prince Fathead for a rise." The episode titles were puns on Jane Austen novels.

As well as Rowan Atkinson and Tony Robinson in their usual roles, this series starred Hugh Laurie as the Prince Regent and Helen Atkinson-Wood as Mrs. Miggins. The series features Dr. Samuel Johnson (Robbie Coltrane); William Pitt the Younger (Simon Osborne); the French Revolution (with Chris Barrie, Tim McInnerny as the Scarlet Pimpernel, and Nigel Planer); hammy theatrical actors (Kenneth Connor and Hugh Paddick); a squirrel-hating cross-dressing highwayman (Miranda Richardson); and a duel with the Duke of Wellington (Stephen Fry).

Series 4: Blackadder Goes Forth[edit]

Main article: Blackadder Goes Forth

This series is set in 1917, on the Western Front in the trenches of the First World War. Another "big push" is planned, and Captain Blackadder's one goal is to avoid being killed, but his schemes always land him back in the trenches. Blackadder is joined by his batman Private S. Baldrick (Tony Robinson) and idealistic Edwardian twit Lieutenant George (Hugh Laurie). General Melchett (Stephen Fry) rallies his troops from a French château 35 miles (56 km) from the front, where he is aided and abetted by his assistant, Captain Kevin Darling (Tim McInnerny), pencil-pusher supreme and Blackadder's nemesis, whose name is played on for maximum comedic value. Guest appearances in this series include Stephen Frost as the leader of a firing squad detail, Miranda Richardson as Nurse Mary Fletcher-Brown, two further appearances of Gabrielle Glaister as "Bob" (in this series, a young woman who pretended to be a boy in order to join the army), Rik Mayall appearing as Royal Flying Corps Squadron Commander The Lord Flasheart, Adrian Edmondson as Baron Manfred von Richthofen (aka "The Red Baron"), and Geoffrey Palmer as Field Marshal Douglas Haig.

The series' tone is somewhat darker than the other Blackadders; it details the privations of trench warfare as well as the incompetence and life-wasting strategies of the top brass. For example, Baldrick is reduced to cooking rats and making coffee from mud, while General Melchett hatches a plan for the troops to walk very slowly toward the German lines, because "it'll be the last thing Fritz will expect."

The final episode, "Goodbyeee", is known for being extraordinarily poignant for a comedy – especially the final scene, which sees the main characters (Blackadder, Baldrick, George, and Darling) finally going "over the top" and charging off into the fog and smoke of no man's land, presumably to die. In a list of the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes, drawn up by the British Film Institute in 2000 and voted for by industry professionals, Blackadder Goes Forth was placed 16th.

Specials[edit]

Pilot episode[edit]

Main article: The Black Adder (Blackadder)

The Blackadder pilot was shot but never broadcast on TV in the UK (although some scenes were shown in the 25th anniversary special Blackadder Rides Again). One notable difference in the pilot, as in many pilots, is the casting. Baldrick is played not by Tony Robinson, but by Philip Fox. Another significant difference is that the character of Prince Edmund presented in the pilot is much closer to the intelligent, conniving Blackadder of the later series than the snivelling, weak buffoon of the original. Set in the year 1582, the script of the pilot is roughly the same as the episode "Born to Be King", albeit with some different jokes, with some lines appearing in other episodes of the series.[6]

UKTV Gold broadcast the pilot on 15 June 2023, as part of an 80-minute special hosted by Sir Tony Robinson and featuring interviews with Ben Elton and Richard Curtis.[7]

Blackadder: The Cavalier Years[edit]

Main article: Blackadder: The Cavalier Years

This special, set in the English Civil War, was shown as part of Comic Relief's Red Nose Day on Friday 5 February 1988.[citation needed] The 15-minute episode is set in November 1648, during the last days of the Civil War. Sir Edmund Blackadder and his servant, Baldrick, are the last two men loyal to the defeated King Charles I of England (played by Stephen Fry), portrayed as a soft-spoken, ineffective, naive character, with the voice and mannerisms of Charles I's namesake, the then Prince of Wales (now Charles III). However, due to a misunderstanding between Oliver Cromwell (guest-star Warren Clarke) and Baldrick, the King is arrested and sent to the Tower of London. The rest of the episode revolves around Blackadder's attempts to save the King as well as improve his own standing.

Blackadder's Christmas Carol[edit]

Main article: Blackadder's Christmas Carol

The second special was broadcast on Friday 23 December 1988. In a twist on Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Blackadder is the "kindest and loveliest" man in England. The Spirit of Christmas shows Blackadder the contrary antics of his ancestors and descendants, and reluctantly informs him that if he turns evil his descendants will enjoy power and fortune, while if he remains the same a future Blackadder will live shamefully subjugated to a future incompetent Baldrick. This remarkable encounter causes him to proclaim, "Bad guys have all the fun", and adopt the personality with which viewers are more familiar.

Blackadder: Back & Forth[edit]

Main article: Blackadder: Back & Forth

Blackadder: Back & Forth was originally shown in the Millennium Dome in 2000, followed by a screening on Sky One in the same year (and later on BBC1). It is set on the turn of the millennium, and features Lord Blackadder placing a bet with his friends – modern versions of Queenie (Miranda Richardson), Melchett (Stephen Fry), George (Hugh Laurie) and Darling (Tim McInnerny) – that he has built a working time machine. While this is intended as a clever con trick, the machine surprisingly works, sending Blackadder and Baldrick back to the Cretaceous period, where they manage to cause the extinction of the dinosaurs through the use of Baldrick's best-worst-and-only pair of underpants as a weapon against a hungry T. Rex. Finding that Baldrick has forgotten to write dates on the machine's dials, the rest of the film follows their attempts to find their way back to 1999, often creating huge historical anomalies in the process that must be corrected before the end. The film includes cameo appearances from Kate Moss and Colin Firth.

The Big Night In[edit]

Broadcast in 2020 as part of Children in Need and Comic Relief's joint special The Big Night In during the COVID-19 pandemic, Fry resumed the role of Lord Melchett (an intellectually-brilliant version), Head of the Royal Household, under lockdown at Melchett Manor, to help Prince William deal with educating his children via Zoom and discussing Tiger King, before they both step outside to clap for the National Health Service. Melchett is said to be isolating with Lord Blackadder, both grandsons to their First World War counterparts.[8]

Live stage performances[edit]

In 1998, as part of Prince Charles' 50th Birthday Gala televised on ITV, Atkinson returned to the Cavalier incarnation of Blackadder reading aloud a letter to the Privy Council of King Charles I. He colourfully refuses their invitation to stage a royal gala, calling such occasions "very, very, very dull" and asserting that there was "more musical talent on display when my servant Baldrick breaks wind."[9]

In 2000, on the BBC's annual Royal Variety Performance, Atkinson portrayed Blackadder as a present-day officer in "Her Majesty's Royal Regiment of Shirkers" and delivered a monologue titled "Blackadder: The Army Years", proposing that Britain regain her former greatness by invading (or at least buying) France.[10]

In 2012, as part of the Prince's Trust charity show We Are Most Amused, Atkinson and Robinson reprised their roles as Blackadder and Baldrick in a comedy sketch featuring Miranda Hart as leader of a government inquiry into the recent banking crisis. Blackadder, chief executive of a fictional British bank, appearing with Baldrick as his gardener, convinces the panel to publicly blame the entire crisis on Baldrick, to the latter's consternation.[11]

Red Nose Day 2023[edit]

Baldrick (Tony Robinson) returned in 2023 for a Red Nose Day sketch for the BBC. There was no involvement of Rowan Atkinson or a subsequent reboot, amid speculation.[12]

Chronological order[edit]

Title Type Production / air date Set in century
The Black Adder (pilot) Pilot 1982 (unaired) 16th
The Black Adder Series 1983 15th
Blackadder II Series 1986 16th
Blackadder the Third Series 1987 18th–19th
Blackadder: The Cavalier Years Comic Relief Special 1988 17th
Children in Need[13] Special 1988 Unclear (anachronistic)
Clown Court[14] Special 1988 Unclear (anachronistic)
Blackadder's Christmas Carol Christmas Special 1988 19th
Woman's Hour Invasion[15] Radio 1988 20th, Various
Blackadder Goes Forth Series 1989 20th
Blackadder and the King's Birthday[16] Sketch 1998 17th
Blackadder: Back & Forth Millennium Special 1999 20th, Various
Blackadder: The Army Years[17] Theatre 2000 21st
The Royal Gardener/The Jubilee Girl (for the Party at the Palace) Sketch 2002 21st
Blackadder Exclusive: The Whole Rotten Saga Documentary 2008 n/a
Blackadder Rides Again Documentary 2008 n/a
CEO of Melchett, Melchett and Darling Inquiry[18] Theatre 2012 21st
The Big Night In Sketch 2020 21st

Production[edit]

Series development[edit]

Rowan Atkinson and Richard Curtis developed the idea for the sitcom while working on Not the Nine O'Clock News. Eager to avoid comparisons to the critically acclaimed Fawlty Towers, they proposed the idea of a historical sitcom.[19][20] An unaired pilot episode was made in 1982, and a six-episode series was commissioned. The budget for the series was considerable, with much location shooting particularly at Alnwick Castle in Northumberland and the surrounding countryside in February 1983.[21][22] The series also used large casts of extras, horses and expensive medieval-style costumes. Atkinson has said about the making of the first series:

The first series was odd, it was very extravagant. It cost a million pounds for the six programmes ... [which] was a lot of money to spend ... It looked great, but it wasn't as consistently funny as we would have liked.[19]

Due to the high cost of the first series, the then-controller of programming of BBC1, Michael Grade, was reluctant to sign off a second series without major improvements to the show and drastic cost-cutting, leaving a gap of three years between the two series.[23] Atkinson did not wish to continue writing for the second series.[citation needed]

A chance meeting between Richard Curtis and comedian Ben Elton led to the decision to collaborate on a new series of Blackadder. Recognising the main faults of the first series, Curtis and Elton agreed that Blackadder II would be a studio-only production (along with the inclusion of a live audience during recording, instead of showing the episodes to an audience after taping). Besides adding a greater comedy focus, Elton suggested a major change in character emphasis: Baldrick would become the stupid sidekick, while Edmund Blackadder evolved into a cunning sycophant. This led to the familiar set-up that was maintained in the following series.[24]

Only in the Back & Forth millennium special was the shooting once again on location, because this was a production with a budget estimated at £3 million, and was a joint venture between Tiger Aspect, Sky Television, the New Millennium Experience Company and the BBC, rather than the BBC alone.[25][26][27]

Casting[edit]

Main article: List of Blackadder characters

Each series tended to feature the same set of regular actors in different period settings, although throughout the four series and specials, only Blackadder and Baldrick were constant characters. Several regular cast members recurred as characters with similar names, implying, like Blackadder, that they were descendants.

Recurring cast[edit]

Various actors have appeared in more than one of the Blackadder series and/or specials. These are:

The Black Adder Blackadder II Blackadder the Third Blackadder Goes Forth Blackadder: The Cavalier Years Blackadder's Christmas Carol Blackadder: Back & Forth
Rowan Atkinson Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Tony Robinson Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Tim McInnerny Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Hugh Laurie Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Stephen Fry Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Miranda Richardson Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Rik Mayall Yes Yes Yes Yes
Miriam Margolyes Yes Yes Yes
Gabrielle Glaister Yes Yes
Bill Wallis Yes Yes Yes
Robbie Coltrane Yes Yes
Jim Broadbent Yes Yes
Stephen Frost Yes Yes
Mark Arden Yes Yes
Lee Cornes Yes Yes Yes
Patsy Byrne Yes Yes Yes
Warren Clarke Yes Yes
Philip Pope Yes Yes
Barbara Miller Yes Yes
David Nunn Yes Yes
Denis Lill Yes Yes

Main cast[edit]

  • Rowan Atkinson as Edmund Blackadder, the series' protagonist.
  • Tony Robinson as S. Baldrick, his servant.
  • Stephen Fry as Melchett in two series, first as Lord Melchett, the sycophantic adviser to Queen Elizabeth I in series two and secondly as General Melchett, a blustering buffoon and presumed descendant in series four. Fry also appeared as Arthur Wellesley, The Duke of Wellington in series three and as various characters in Blackadder Back & Forth.
  • Tim McInnerny as Lord Percy Percy, Blackadder's dimwitted sidekick in series one and two before a change of character to antagonistic rival Captain Kevin Darling in series four. He also appeared as The Scarlet Pimpernel (alias Lord Topper and Le Comte de Frou Frou) for one episode in the third series, and reprised his role as Darling in Blackadder: Back & Forth.
  • Hugh Laurie played George in series three and four, first as The Prince Regent, and later Lieutenant George in series four. Laurie also appeared twice in series two; firstly as Simon "Farters Parters" Partridge or "Mr. Ostrich" in the episode, "Beer", and then as Prince Ludwig the Indestructible in "Chains", the final instalment episode of Blackadder II. He reprised his role as George in Blackadder: Back & Forth.
  • Miranda Richardson was only a regular cast member for series two, in which she played Queen Elizabeth I, reprising the role in Blackadder's Christmas Carol and Back & Forth. However, she also played significant one-off roles as Amy Hardwood (a.k.a. The Shadow) in "Amy and Amiability" in the third series and Mary Fletcher-Brown, a dutiful nurse in "General Hospital" from the fourth. She reappeared as Queenie and additional characters in Christmas Carol and Back and Forth.

Non-recurring cast[edit]

Guest cast[edit]

Ben Elton's arrival after the first series heralded the more frequent recruitment of comic actors from the alternative comedy era for guest appearances, including Robbie Coltrane, Rik Mayall (who had appeared in the final episode of the first series as "Mad Gerald"), Adrian Edmondson, Nigel Planer, Mark Arden, Stephen Frost, Chris Barrie and Jeremy Hardy. Elton himself played an anarchist in Blackadder the Third.

Gabrielle Glaister played Bob, an attractive girl who poses as a man, in both series 2 and 4. Rik Mayall plays Lord Flashheart, a vulgar friend in his first appearance and then a successful rival of Blackadder in later episodes of series 2 and 4. He also played a decidedly Flashheart-like Robin Hood in Back & Forth. Lee Cornes also appeared in an episode of all three Curtis-Elton series. He appeared as a guard in the episode "Chains" of Blackadder II; as the poet Shelley in the episode "Ink and Incapability' of Blackadder the Third; and as firing squad soldier Private Fraser in the episode "Corporal Punishment" of Blackadder Goes Forth.

More established actors, some at the veteran stage of their careers, were also recruited for roles. These included Peter Cook, John Grillo, Simon Jones, Tom Baker, Jim Broadbent, Hugh Paddick, Frank Finlay, Kenneth Connor, Bill Wallis, Ronald Lacey, Roger Blake, Denis Lill, Warren Clarke and Geoffrey Palmer, who played Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig in "Goodbyeee", the final episode of Blackadder Goes Forth. Miriam Margolyes played three different guest roles: The Spanish Infanta in The Queen of Spain's Beard, Lady Whiteadder in Beer, and Queen Victoria in Blackadder's Christmas Carol.

Unusually for a sitcom based loosely on factual events and in the historical past, a man was recruited for one episode essentially to play himself. Political commentator Vincent Hanna played a character billed as "his own great-great-great grandfather" in the episode "Dish and Dishonesty" of Blackadder the Third. Hanna was asked to take part because the scene was of a by-election in which Baldrick was a candidate and, in the style of modern television, Hanna gave a long-running "live" commentary of events at the count (and interviewed candidates and election agents) to a crowd through the town hall window.

Theme tune[edit]

Howard Goodall's theme tune has the same melody throughout all the series, but is played in roughly the style of the period in which it is set. It is performed mostly with trumpets and timpani in The Black Adder, the fanfares used suggesting typical medieval court fanfares; with a combination of recorder, string quartet and electric guitar in Blackadder II (the end theme, with different lyrics each time reflecting on the episode's events, was sung by a countertenor); on oboe, cello and harpsichord (in the style of a minuet) for Blackadder the Third; by The Band of the 3rd Battalion, Royal Anglian Regiment in Blackadder Goes Forth; sung by carol singers in Blackadder's Christmas Carol; and by an orchestra in Blackadder: The Cavalier Years and Blackadder: Back & Forth.[28]

Awards[edit]

In 2000, the fourth series, Blackadder Goes Forth, ranked at 16 in the "100 Greatest British Television Programmes", a list created by the British Film Institute. In 2004, a BBC TV poll for "Britain's Best Sitcom", Blackadder was voted the second best British sitcom of all time, topped by Only Fools and Horses.[29] It was also ranked as the 20th Best TV Show of All Time by Empire magazine.[2]

Future[edit]

Despite regular statements denying any plans for a fifth series, cast members are regularly asked about the possibility of a new series.

In January 2005, Tony Robinson told ITV's This Morning that Rowan Atkinson was more keen than he has been in the past to do a fifth series, set in the 1960s (centred on a rock band called the "Black Adder Five", with Baldrick – a.k.a. 'Bald Rick' – as the drummer). In the documentary Blackadder Rides Again, Robinson stated that the series would present Blackadder as the bastard son of Queen Elizabeth II and running a Beatles-like rock band. Rowan Atkinson, Tony Robinson, Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry, Tim McInnerny and Miranda Richardson would have reprised their roles, and reportedly, Brian Blessed, Elspet Gray and Robert East would have returned from the first series to play Blackadder's biological family. Robinson in a stage performance 1 June 2007, again mentioned this idea, but in the context of a movie.[30]

One idea mentioned by Curtis was that it was Baldrick who had accidentally assassinated John F. Kennedy.[31] However, aside from a brief mention in June 2005,[32] there have been no further announcements from the BBC that a new series is being planned. Furthermore, in November 2005, Rowan Atkinson told BBC Breakfast that, although he would very much like to do a new series set in Colditz or another prisoner-of-war camp during World War II, something which both he and Stephen Fry reiterated at the end of Blackadder Rides Again, the chances of it happening are extremely slim.[33]

There were a couple of ideas that had previously floated for the fifth series. Batadder was intended to be a parody of Batman with Baldrick as the counterpart of Robin (suggested by John Lloyd). This idea eventually came to surface as part of the Comic Relief sketch "Spider-Plant Man" in 2005, with Atkinson as the title hero, Robinson as Robin, Jim Broadbent as Batman and Rachel Stevens as Mary Jane. Star Adder was to be set in space in the future (suggested by Atkinson),[34] though this too was touched upon in Blackadder's Christmas Carol.[citation needed]

On 10 April 2007, Hello! reported that Atkinson was moving forward with his ideas for a fifth series. He said, "I like the idea of him being a prisoner of war in Colditz. That would have the right level of authority and hierarchy which is apparent in all the Blackadders."[35]

A post on BlackAdderHall.com by Ben Elton in early 2007 said that Blackadder would return in some form, whether it be a TV series or film. Elton has since not given any more information on the putative Blackadder 5.[citation needed]

During an interview in August 2007 about his film Mr. Bean's Holiday, Atkinson was asked about the possibility of a further Blackadder series, to which the simple reply "No, no chance" was given:

There was a plan for a film set in the Russian revolution, a very interesting one called The Red Adder. He would have been a lieutenant in the Secret Police. Then the revolution happened and at the end he is in the same office doing the same job but just the colours on his uniform have changed. It was quite a sweet idea and we got quite a long way with it but in the end it died a death.[citation needed]

Stephen Fry has expressed the view that, since the series went out on such a good "high", a film might not be a good idea.[36]

During his June 2007 stage performance, chronicled on the Tony Robinson's Cunning Night Out DVD, Robinson states that, after filming the Back & Forth special, the general idea was to reunite for another special in 2010. Robinson jokingly remarked that Hugh Laurie's success on House may make that difficult.[citation needed]

On 28 November 2012, Rowan Atkinson reprised the role at the "We are most amused" comedy gala for the Prince's Trust at the Royal Albert Hall. He was joined by Tony Robinson as Baldrick. The sketch involved Blackadder as CEO of Melchett, Melchett and Darling bank facing an enquiry over the banking crisis.[37]

In August 2015, Tony Robinson said in an interview "I do think a new series of Blackadder is on the cards. I have spoken to virtually all the cast about this now. The only problem is Hugh [Laurie]'s fee. He's a huge star now."[38] However, in October 2018, Richard Curtis "dashed hopes" that the show would return for a fifth series.[39]

In December 2020, Rowan Atkinson told the Radio Times:

I don't actually like the process of making anything – with the possible exception of Blackadder. Because the responsibility for making that series funny was on many shoulders, not just mine. Blackadder represented the creative energy we all had in the '80s. To try to replicate that 30 years on wouldn't be easy.[40]

Home media[edit]

All series and many of the specials are available on VHS tapes, DVD & BluRay. Many are also available on BBC audio cassette. As of 2008, a "Best of BBC" edition box set is available containing all four major series together with Blackadder's Christmas Carol and Back & Forth. All four series and the Christmas special are also available for download on iTunes.

VHS releases[edit]

On 5 February 1990, BBC Enterprises Ltd released the first series on two single VHS tapes.

VHS video title Year of release Episodes BBFC rating
The Blackadder: The Foretelling (BBCV 4293) 5 February 1990 The Foretelling, Born to Be King, the Archbishop PG
The Blackadder: The Queen of Spain's Beard (BBCV 4296) 5 February 1990 The Queen of Spain's Beard, Witchsmeller Pursuivant, The Black Seal 15

On 2 October 1989, BBC Enterprises Ltd released the second series on two single VHS tapes.

VHS video title Year of release Episodes BBFC rating
Blackadder II: Parte the Firste (BBCV 4298) 2 October 1989 Bells, Head, Potato PG
Blackadder II: Parte the Seconde (BBCV 4299) 2 October 1989 Money, Beer, Chains 15

On 6 February 1989, BBC Enterprises Ltd released the third series on two single VHS tapes.

VHS video title Year of release Episodes BBFC rating
Blackadder The Third: Dish and Dishonesty (BBCV 4142) 6 February 1989 Dish and Dishonesty, Ink and Incapability, Nob and Nobility PG
Blackadder The Third: Sense and Senility (BBCV 4143) 6 February 1989 Sense and Senility, Amy and Amibility, Duel and Duality 15

On 10 September 1990, BBC Enterprises Ltd released the fourth and final series on two single VHS tapes.

VHS video title Year of release Episodes BBFC rating
Blackadder Goes Forth: Captain Cook (BBCV 4349) 10 September 1990 Captain Cook, Corporal Punishment, Major Star PG
Blackadder Goes Forth: Private Plane (BBCV 4350) 10 September 1990 Private Plane, General Hospital, Goodbyeee 15

On 7 September 1992, all eight single Blackadder video releases were re-released as four "complete" double VHS releases. The four entire series videos were re-released as single VHS tape releases on 2 October 1995.

VHS video title Year of release/Cat No. (Double Video) Year of release/Cat No. (Single Video) Episodes BBFC rating
The Blackadder- The Complete Entire Historic First Series 7 September 1992 (BBCV 4782) 2 October 1995 (BBCV 5711) The Foretelling, Born to Be King, the Archbishop, The Queen of Spain's Beard, Witchsmeller Pursuivant, The Black Seal 15
Blackadder II- The Complete Entire Historic Second Series 7 September 1992 (BBCV 4785) 2 October 1995 (BBCV 5712) Bells, Head, Potato, Money, Beer, Chains 15
Blackadder the Third- The Complete Entire Historic Third Series 7 September 1992 (BBCV 4786) 2 October 1995 (BBCV 5713) Dish and Dishonesty, Ink and Incapability, Nob and Nobility, Sense and Senility, Amy and Amibility, Duel and Duality 15
Blackadder Goes Forth- The Complete Entire Historic Fourth Series 7 September 1992 (BBCV 4787) 2 October 1995 (BBCV 5714) Captain Cook, Corporal Punishment, Major Star, Private Plane, General Hospital, Goodbyeee 15

On 5 January 1998, five episodes of the first two series were released on a 15-rated VHS tape compilation by BBC Worldwide Ltd.

VHS video title Year of release Episodes
The Very Best of Blackadder (BBCV 6360) 5 January 1998 Series 1, Episode 3: "The Archbishop"
Series 1, Episode 4: "The Queen of Spain's Beard"
Series 2, Episode 1: "Bells"
Series 2, Episode 2: "Head"
Series 2, Episode 6: "Chains"

On 4 November 1991, Blackadder's Christmas Carol was released on a single VHS tape release rated PG (Cat. No. BBCV 4646).

Single DVD releases[edit]

DVD title Region 1 Region 2 Region 4
Series 1
The Black Adder
 26 June 2001 1 November 1999 29 November 1999
Series 2
Blackadder II		 26 June 2001 6 November 2000 11 July 2001
Series 3
Blackadder the Third		 26 June 2001 5 February 2001 3 October 2001
Series 4
Blackadder Goes Forth		 26 June 2001 22 October 2001 28 February 2002
Special 1
"Blackadder's Christmas Carol"		 26 June 2001 18 November 2002 4 November 2002
Special 2
"Blackadder: Back & Forth"		 26 June 2001 15 September 2003 11 November 2004

Box set DVD releases[edit]

DVD title DVD content Region 1 Region 2 Region 4
The Complete Blackadder – All Four Series The Black Adder
Blackadder II
Blackadder The Third
Blackadder Goes Forth
 — 12 November 2001 3 October 2002
Blackadder – The Complete Series The Black Adder
Blackadder II
Blackadder The Third
Blackadder Goes Forth
Blackadder's Christmas Carol
Blackadder: Back & Forth
Blackadder: The Cavalier Years
 26 June 2001 3 October 2005 —
Blackadder Remastered – The Ultimate Edition The Black Adder (Remastered)
Blackadder II (Remastered)
Blackadder the Third (Remastered)
Blackadder Goes Forth (Remastered)
Blackadder's Christmas Carol (Remastered)
Blackadder: Back & Forth (Remastered)
Blackadder: The Cavalier Years (Remastered)
Blackadder Rides Again
+Audio Commentary
+Interviews
 20 October 2009 15 June 2009 1 October 2009

LP box set[edit]

On 19 Oktober 2022 there was an announcement that there will be a LP box set release and collects the Blackadder soundtracks on vinyl for the first time. The deluxe 12-disc LP collection with the title Blackadder's Historical Record was pressed on gold-couloured 140g vinyl, and released on 10 February 2023 by Demon Records. It also includes a frameable print of Baldrick, each hand signed by Sir Tony Robinson himself and a comprehensive full-colour booklet detailing the comedy series, the "leather-look rigid box"

Stamps[edit]

Royal Mail issued a set of special stamps celebrating Blackadder on 17 May 2023.[41][42]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "100 Greatest TV Characters". Channel 4. Archived from the original on 31 May 2009. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  2. ^ a b "The 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time – Number 20: Blackadder". Empire. Archived from the original on 19 March 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2009.
  3. ^ Pingitore, Silvia (5 July 2022). "The shortest interview ever with Mr Bean star Rowan Atkinson". Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  4. ^ Blackadder at British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 25 July 2010
  5. ^ "TV's top 25 put-downs published". 26 February 2008. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  6. ^ "The Pilot Episode". Blackadderhall.com. 20 June 1982. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  7. ^ "Blackadder pilot to be broadcast for the first time". British Comedy Guide. 21 April 2023.
  8. ^ "BBC Big Night In: All the talking points, from Little Britain's controversial comeback to Prince William's comedy sketch". The Independent. 24 April 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  9. ^ "The King's Birthday". Archived from the original on 23 November 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2020 – via YouTube.
  10. ^ "BIackadder, The Army Years. Royal Variety Performance 2000". Archived from the original on 23 November 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2020 – via YouTube.
  11. ^ "Blackadder 2012 (subs)". Archived from the original on 23 November 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2020 – via YouTube.
  12. ^ Guide, British Comedy (14 February 2023). "Blackadder revival for Comic Relief". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  13. ^ J.F. Roberts, The True History of the Black Adder: The Unadulterated Tale of the Creation of a Comedy Legend (Preface publishing, 2000) 253–254.
  14. ^ "Clown Court on Blackadder Hall". 13 October 2011.
  15. ^ "The Woman's Hour invasion on Blackadder Hall". 12 October 2011.
  16. ^ "The King's Birthday on Blackadder Hall". 12 October 2011.
  17. ^ "The Army Years on Blackadder Hall". 12 October 2011.
  18. ^ "The 2012 sketch on Blackadder Hall". 29 November 2012.
  19. ^ a b I Have a Cunning Plan – 20th Anniversary of Blackadder, BBC Radio 4 documentary broadcast 23 August 2003. Excerpts available at bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 17 April 2008
  20. ^ Interview at Blackadder Hall. Retrieved 17 April 2008 Archived 27 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  21. ^ Alnwick Castle official website. Retrieved 2 June 2008 Archived 28 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  22. ^ Locations at the Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 17 April 2008
  23. ^ Lewisohn, Mark, The Black Adder at the former BBC Guide to Comedy. Retrieved 17 April 2008
  24. ^ Britain's Best Sitcom – Blackadder, 2004 BBC Television documentary, presented by John Sergeant
  25. ^ Blackadder's millennium duel, BBC News, Friday, 13 August 1999
  26. ^ 'Black to the Future – Interview with Tony Robinson' in Skyview, January 2000 Archived 27 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  27. ^ Trivia at the Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 20 April 2008
  28. ^ "List of Musicians and Singers who Played or Sang on Blackadder and Red Dwarf Themes". Howardgoodall.co.uk. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  29. ^ "The Final Top 10 Sitcoms". BBC. March 2004.
  30. ^ "Rowan Atkinson reveals details of "Redadder" - the Russian Revolution-themed Blackadder that never was". Radio Times. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  31. ^ "Richard Curtis: Blackadder was lined up to be Sixties entrepreneur". The Sunday Telegraph. 12 October 2008. Archived from the original on 15 October 2008. Retrieved 12 October 2008.
  32. ^ "Faces of the week: Richard Curtis". BBC News. 3 June 2005. Retrieved 6 February 2008. ... Rowan Atkinson, whose collaborations with Curtis include television and cinema's Mr Bean and TV's Blackadder, which is to enjoy a fifth series next year.
  33. ^ theoldonearethebest (5 September 2011), Blackadder Rides Again Documentary pt 6 6, archived from the original on 17 January 2018, retrieved 18 January 2017
  34. ^ "Black Adder Program Guide". Archived from the original on 20 November 2012. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  35. ^ "Rowan toys with idea of 'Blackadder' return". HelloMagazine.co.uk. 10 April 2007. Retrieved 6 February 2008.
  36. ^ "Atkinson Developing "Black Adder" Film", Darkhorizons.com
  37. ^ Logan, Brian (29 November 2012). "We Are Most Amused – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  38. ^ "Blackadder new series on the cards, says Tony Robinson". The Guardian. 24 August 2015.
  39. ^ "Curtis reveals why Blackadder will not return". 16 October 2018.
  40. ^ McGeorge, Alistair (5 January 2021). "Rowan Atkinson doesn't enjoy playing Mr Bean but he's still returning for film". Metro. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  41. ^ "Blackadder's 40th anniversary celebrated with new stamps". BBC News. 12 May 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
  42. ^ "Blackadder". CollectGBStamps. Retrieved 3 February 2024.

Literature[edit]

  • Richard Curtis, Ben Elton, and Rowan Atkinson, Blackadder: The Whole Damn Dynasty 1485–1917 (Michael Joseph, 1998). ISBN 0-7181-4372-8. Being the – almost – complete scripts of the four regular series.
  • Chris Howarth, and Steve Lyons, Cunning: The Blackadder Programme Guide (Virgin Publishing, 2002). ISBN 0-7535-0447-2. A cheap unofficial episode guide.
  • Richard Curtis and Ben Elton, Blackadder: Back & Forth (Penguin Books, 2000). ISBN 0-14-029135-0. A script book with copious photographs from the most recent outing, and additional material from Kevin Cecil & Andy Riley.
  • J.F. Roberts, The True History of the Black Adder: The Unadulterated Tale of the Creation of a Comedy Legend (Preface publishing, 2012). ISBN 978-1-84809-346-1. A 420-page officially endorsed full history of the Blackadder episodes and characters, as well as its birth, its writers and actors, and all the specials – plus Curtis' script for unproduced Christmas special 'Blackadder In Bethlehem'.

External links[edit]

Wikiquote has quotations related to Blackadder.
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