| Blackadder the Third | |
|---|---|
 Title screen ofBlackadder the Third | |
| Written by | |
| Directed by | Mandie Fletcher |
| Starring | |
| Theme music composer | Howard Goodall |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| No. of episodes | 6 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Producer | John Lloyd |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | BBC1 |
| Release | 17 September (1987-09-17) – 22 October 1987 (1987-10-22) |
| Related | |
Blackadder the Third [1] is the third series of theBBC sitcomBlackadder, written byRichard Curtis andBen Elton, which aired on BBC1 from 17 September to 22 October 1987.[2] The series is set during theGeorgian Era, and sees the principal character,Mr. E. Blackadder, serve as butler to thePrince Regent and have to contend with, or cash in on, thefads of the age embraced by his master.
The successor toBlackadder II, the series reduced the number of principal characters again compared with the previous series, but instead included a number of significantcameo roles by well-known comic actors.[3] The programme won aBAFTA award for Best Comedy Series in 1988 and received three further nominations.[4]
A fourth and final series,Blackadder Goes Forth, aired in 1989.
Blackadder the Third is vaguely set in the late 18th and early 19th century period known as theRegency, although it is not possible to precisely date any episode as the historical events and persons depicted and referenced are (perhaps intentionally)anachronistic. For example, the formal Regency (during whichKing George III was incapacitated due to poor mental health and his son,George, Prince of Wales, served as regent) was in place between 1811 and 1820, and the series repeatedly refers to George as "Prince Regent". However, thesecond episode depictsSamuel Johnson (who died in 1784) working on his groundbreaking dictionary (which was published in 1755). Likewise, thefinal episode is set just before theBattle of Trafalgar (1805), but refers to George as Prince Regent, depicts George III as suffering from mental illness, and refers to Arthur Wellesley, who was not created "Viscount Wellington" until 1809, as "Wellington".
In the series,Mr. E. Blackadder Esquire (Rowan Atkinson) is the head butler to thePrince of Wales (Hugh Laurie), who is a spoiled, foppish idiot. Despite Edmund's respected intelligence and abilities, he has no personal fortune to speak of. On the other hand, given the ease with which he is able to manipulate the prince, he is generally financially comfortable. According to Edmund he has been serving the Prince Regent all of his life, ever since the prince wasbreastfed (when he had to show the prince which part ofhis mother was "serving the drinks").
Baldrick (Tony Robinson) remains similar to hisBlackadder IIpredecessor, and although his "cunning plans" cease to be even remotely intelligent (except in the last episode), he is the most aware of political, religious and social events. As Blackadder himself is now a servant, Baldrick is labelled as Blackadder's "dogsbody". In this series, Baldrick often displays a more belligerent attitude towards his master, even referring to him once as a "lazy, big-nosed, rubber-faced bastard" or deliberately comparing his face to his Scottish cousin, MacAdder, who Blackadder openly believes to be ugly. Blackadder often affectionately calls him "Balders" (and Baldrick sometimes calls Blackadder "Mr. B.").
There are three main sets: the prince's quarters, which are opulently decorated; the below-stairs kitchen hangout of Blackadder and Baldrick, which is dark and squalid (though very large and with a very high ceiling); and finallyMrs. Miggins'coffeehouse. Mrs. Miggins' pie shop was a never-seenrunning gag inBlackadder II; a descendant of hers is now finally shown, played byHelen Atkinson-Wood.
The plots featurerotten boroughs, Dr.Samuel Johnson (played byRobbie Coltrane), theFrench Revolution (featuringChris Barrie as a revolutionary) andthe Scarlet Pimpernel, over-the-toptheatrical actors, squirrel-hating femalehighwaymen, the practice of settling quarrels with aduel, and the discussion of tactics with theDuke of Wellington (played byStephen Fry).
The last episode features Rowan Atkinson as Blackadder's Scottish cousinMacAdder, supposedly a fierceswordsman. This leads to a dialogue in which Atkinson is acting both parts. After this episode, Blackadder finds fortune and ends up permanently posing as the Prince Regent after the real prince, disguised as Blackadder, dies after being fatally shot in the chest by the Duke of Wellington.
The series aired for six episodes broadcast on Thursdays at 9:30 pm onBBC1.[2] The titles of the episodes are always a noun paired with another, derived from an adjectivebeginning with the same letters, in the manner of theJane Austen novels,Sense and Sensibility andPride and Prejudice. On the first broadcast, fifth episode "Amy and Amiability" was billed in theRadio Times under its working title of "Cape and Capability".[5]
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Recorded date | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 1 | "Dish and Dishonesty" | Mandie Fletcher | Richard Curtis &Ben Elton | 19 June 1987 (1987-06-19)[6] | 17 September 1987 (1987-09-17) | |
Blackadder attempts to win a by-election in therotten borough of Dunny-on-the-Wold against the petulant teenage Prime MinisterWilliam Pitt the Younger (who plans to bankrupt Blackadder's master, the Prince Regent, by removing him from theCivil list), using Baldrick (later known as Mr. S Baldrick, the initial letter standing for "Sodoff") as the MP. Unfortunately, after Baldrick wins, he is manipulated into voting for Pitt, pushing Blackadder to meddle with politics even further. FeaturingVincent Hanna as "his own great-great-great-grandfather". | |||||||
| 14 | 2 | "Ink and Incapability" | Mandie Fletcher | Richard Curtis & Ben Elton | 5 June 1987 (1987-06-05)[7] | 24 September 1987 (1987-09-24) | |
The Prince decides to become patron of Dr.Samuel Johnson and his newdictionary, until they become enemies after the prince offends Dr. Johnson. When Blackadder discovers that Baldrick has burnt the only copy of Dr. Johnson's dictionary, Blackadder must rewrite the dictionary. Guest starringRobbie Coltrane as Dr. Johnson. | |||||||
| 15 | 3 | "Nob and Nobility" | Mandie Fletcher | Richard Curtis & Ben Elton | 10 July 1987 (1987-07-10)[8] | 1 October 1987 (1987-10-01) | |
Irritated by the new obsession with all things French, Blackadder makes a bet with Lords Topper and Smedley and goes out to rescue an aristocrat and claim his 1,000 guineas. Guest starringTim McInnerny,Nigel Planer andChris Barrie. Note: Despite this being the third episode in the series, this was actually the last one to be filmed. | |||||||
| 16 | 4 | "Sense and Senility" | Mandie Fletcher | Richard Curtis & Ben Elton | 12 June 1987 (1987-06-12)[9] | 8 October 1987 (1987-10-08) | |
When an assassination attempt is made on the Prince, Blackadder decides to help him with his image by writing a public speech. Against Blackadder's advice, the Prince employs two over-the-top actors, Enoch Mossop and David Keanrick, to coach him on how to give the speech. Guest starringHugh Paddick,Kenneth Connor andBen Elton. | |||||||
| 17 | 5 | "Amy and Amiability" | Mandie Fletcher | Richard Curtis & Ben Elton | 26 June 1987 (1987-06-26)[10] | 15 October 1987 (1987-10-15) | |
When the Prince runs out of money, Edmund attempts to marry him off to the daughter of a rich industrialist, but is thwarted at every turn by the mysterious highwayman "The Shadow". Guest appearances byMiranda Richardson as Amy Hardwood andWarren Clarke as Mr Hardwood. | |||||||
| 18 | 6 | "Duel and Duality" | Mandie Fletcher | Richard Curtis & Ben Elton | 3 July 1987 (1987-07-03)[11] | 22 October 1987 (1987-10-22) | |
The Duke of Wellington promises to kill the prince in a duel after the prince has an affair with two of the duke's nieces. Baldrick comes up with a plan involving Blackadder taking the prince's place in the duel, and Blackadder intends on using his mad Scottish cousin, MacAdder. Guest starringStephen Fry as the Duke of Wellington. | |||||||
Although this series reduced the size of the show's cast, the programme featured guest appearances in each episode.Tim McInnerny decided not to continue playing the character of Lord Percy for fear of beingtypecast, although he appeared in a guest role as Lord Topper in episode three.[citation needed]Stephen Fry andMiranda Richardson, who had played major parts inBlackadder II, also appeared in guest roles as the Duke of Wellington and a disguised highwayman, respectively. Fry and McInnerny would return as regular performers for thefourth series ofBlackadder. Other notable guest stars includedDenis Lill as Sir Talbot Buxomley MP,Robbie Coltrane as Dr. Samuel Johnson, andHugh Paddick andKenneth Connor as stage actors Keanrick and Mossop, respectively.
The opening theme is this time aminuet played on aharpsichord,oboe and cello over close-ups of Blackadder searching abookcase.[12] The credits and title appear on the books' spines, and each has a condition and script to match each character, for example Baldrick's is plain and in poor condition. Other amusing interspersed titles includeFromBlack Death to Blackadder,TheBlackobite Rebellion of 1745,The Encyclopædia Blackaddica andLandscape Gardening byCapability Brownadder.[citation needed] Hidden inside ahollow book, he finds a romance novel (complete withcover art) bearing the title of the particular episode. Theclosing credits are presented in the style of atheatre programme from aRegency-era play, and with anaccordion closing theme thatsamples the melody of the original theme.
The programme won aBAFTA award for Best Comedy Series in 1988.[4] It was also nominated for three more awards; Rowan Atkinson for "Best Light Entertainment Performance", Antony Thorpe for "Best Design" and Victoria Pocock for "Best Make Up".[4][citation needed] The four series ofBlackadder were voted second in the BBC'sBritain's Best Sitcom in 2004.[13]
Blackadder The Third is available onBBC Worldwide-distributed DVD andVHS video as an individual series or as part of a boxset with the other series ofBlackadder. ABBC Radio Collection audio version created from the TV soundtrack is available on cassette and CD.[14] All four seasons and the Christmas special are available oniTunes.[15] The complete scripts of the four television series were released in 1998 asBlackadder: The Whole Damn Dynasty 1485–1917, and by Penguin Books in 2009.[16]
| VHS video title | Year of release/BBFC rating | Episodes |
|---|---|---|
| Blackadder The Third: Sense and Senility (BBCV 4143) | 6 June 1988 (15) | Sense and Senility, Amy and Amibility, Duel and Duality |
| Blackadder The Third- Dish and Dishonesty (BBCV 4176) | 7 November 1988, and 6 February 1989 (PG) | Dish and Dishonesty, Ink and Incapability, Nob and Nobility |
| Blackadder The Third- Sense and Senility (BBCV 4177) | 7 November 1988, and 6 February 1989 (15) | Sense and Senility, Amy and Amibility, Duel and Duality |
| The Complete Blackadder the Third (Double Pack) (BBCV 4786) | 7 September 1992 (15) | TAPE 1: Dish and Dishonesty, Ink and Incapability, Nob and Nobility, TAPE 2: Sense and Senility, Amy and Amibility, Duel and Duality |
| Blackadder the Third- The Entire Historic Third Series (BBCV 5713) | 2 October 1995 (15) | Same as 'The Complete Blackadder the Third' but with all 6 episodes on a single video: Dish and Dishonesty, Ink and Incapability, Nob and Nobility, Sense and Senility, Amy and Amiability, Duel and Duality |
| DVD title | DVD Content | Region 1 | Region 2 | Region 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackadder 3 | Complete third series, no extras. | 26 June 2001 | 5 February 2001 | 28 February 2002 |
| The Complete Blackadder | All four series, no extras. | N/A | 12 November 2001 | 3 October 2002 |
| Blackadder – The Complete Collection | All four series and specials, no extras. | 26 June 2001 | 3 October 2005 | N/A |
| Blackadder Remastered – The Ultimate Edition | All four series and specials remastered, plusBlackadder Rides Again documentary, audio commentaries on selected episodes and interviews with cast. | 20 October 2009 | 15 June 2009 | 1 October 2009 |
Blackadder The Third was released on a doubleLaserDisc set by Encore Entertainment in May 1997. The episodes were spread over three of the four sides.
