| Blackadder | |
|---|---|
 Left to right: Tim McInnerny (as Darling), Rowan Atkinson (as Blackadder), Stephen Fry (as Melchett), Tony Robinson (as Baldrick), and Hugh Laurie (as George) inBlackadder Goes Forth | |
| Genre | Period sitcom |
| Created by | Richard Curtis Rowan Atkinson |
| Written by | Richard Curtis Rowan Atkinson (series 1) Ben Elton (series 2–4) |
| Directed by | Martin Shardlow (series 1) Mandie Fletcher (series 2–3) Richard Boden (series 4) |
| Starring | Rowan Atkinson Tony Robinson Hugh Laurie Stephen Fry Tim McInnerny Miranda Richardson |
| Theme music composer | Howard Goodall |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 4 |
| No. of episodes | 24 (plus 4specials)(list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Producer | John Lloyd |
| Camera setup | Multi-camera |
| Running time | 30 minutes approx |
| Production company | BBC |
| Original release | |
| Network | BBC1 |
| Release | 15 June 1983 (1983-06-15) – 2 November 1989 (1989-11-02) |
Blackadder is a series of fourperiodBritish sitcoms—The Black Adder,Blackadder II,Blackadder the Third andBlackadder Goes Forth—plus several one-off installments, which originally aired onBBC1 from 1983 to 1989. All episodes starredRowan Atkinson as theantiheroEdmund Blackadder andTony Robinson as Blackadder's servantBaldrick. Each series was set in a different historical period, with the twoprotagonists accompanied by different characters, though several reappear in one series or another, includingTim McInnerny asPercy andDarling,Stephen Fry asMelchett, andHugh Laurie asGeorge.
The first series was written by Atkinson andRichard Curtis, while the subsequent three series were written by Curtis andBen Elton. All four series were produced byJohn Lloyd. In 2000,Blackadder Goes Forth ranked at 16 in the100 Greatest British Television Programmes, a list created by theBritish Film Institute.[1] In a 2001 poll byChannel 4, Edmund Blackadder was ranked third on their list of the100 Greatest TV Characters.[2] In the 2004 TV poll to findBritain's Best Sitcom,Blackadder (all four series combined) was voted the second-best British sitcom of all time, topped byOnly Fools and Horses.[3] It was also ranked as the ninth-best TV show of all time byEmpire magazine in 2009.[4] Atkinson has saidBlackadder was "the least stressful" of all his work, due to the "feeling of shared responsibility among a lot of really good actors".[5]
Each series comprises six half-hour episodes and is set in a different period ofBritish history. The first series, made in 1983, was titledThe Black Adder and was set in the fictional reign of "Richard IV". The second series,Blackadder II (1986), was set during the reign ofElizabeth I.Blackadder the Third (1987) was set in the late 18th and early 19th centuries during the reign ofGeorge III.Blackadder Goes Forth (1989) was set in 1917 in the trenches of theGreat War.[6][7]
Blackadder follows the misfortunes ofEdmund Blackadder (played by Atkinson). It is implied in each series that the Blackadder character is a descendant of the previous one. The end theme lyrics of the series 2 episode "Head" specify that he is the great-grandson of the previous incarnation, although it is never specified how or when any of the Blackadders (who are usually bachelors) manage to father children.[8]
In series 1, Edmund Blackadder is not particularly bright, and is much the intellectual inferior of his servant, Baldrick (played byTony Robinson). However, in subsequent series, the positions are reversed: Blackadder is clever, shrewd, scheming and manipulative while Baldrick is extremely dim.[9]
Each incarnation of Blackadder and Baldrick is also saddled with tolerating the presence of a dimwittedaristocrat. In the first two series, this isPercy, played byTim McInnerny.Hugh Laurie plays the role in the third and fourth series, asGeorge. Characters of a higher organisational standing, such asStephen Fry'sMelchett in series 2 and 4, and McInnerny's other character,Darling, in series 4, provide antagonistic figures for Blackadder to deal with.[10]
| Series | Episodes | Originally released | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First released | Last released | |||
| Pilot | — | |||
| 1 | 6 | 15 June 1983 (1983-06-15) | 20 July 1983 (1983-07-20) | |
| 2 | 6 | 9 January 1986 (1986-01-09) | 20 February 1986 (1986-02-20) | |
| 3 | 6 | 17 September 1987 (1987-09-17) | 22 October 1987 (1987-10-22) | |
| 4 | 6 | 28 September 1989 (1989-09-28) | 2 November 1989 (1989-11-02) | |
| Specials | 3 | 5 February 1988 (1988-02-05) | 31 December 1999 (1999-12-31) | |
The Black Adder, the first series ofBlackadder, was written byRichard Curtis andRowan Atkinson and produced byJohn Lloyd, who would also produce the subsequent three series. It originally aired onBBC1 from 15 June to 20 July 1983,[11] and was a joint production with the AustralianSeven Network.
Set in 1485 at the end of theBritish Middle Ages, the series is written as analternative history in whichRichard III won theBattle of Bosworth Field only to be mistaken for someone else and assassinated, and is succeeded byRichard IV (Brian Blessed), one of thePrinces in the Tower. The series follows the exploits of Richard IV's unfavoured second sonPrince Edmund, the Duke of Edinburgh (who calls himself "The Black Adder") (played by Atkinson) in his various attempts to increase his standing with his father and his eventual quest to overthrow him. Other regular characters in this series are Edmund's motherGertrude, Queen of Flanders (Elspet Gray), his brotherHarry, Prince of Wales (Robert East), his sidekickLord Percy Percy, the Duke of Northumberland (Tim McInnerny), and hissquireBaldrick (Tony Robinson). Guest appearances in this series includePeter Cook asKing Richard III,Russell Enoch as the Duke ofWinchester,Miriam Margolyes as theInfanta Maria Escalosa of Spain (withJim Broadbent as her interpreter),Frank Finlay as the Witchsmeller Pursuivant,Valentine Dyall as Lord Angus,Stephen Frost andMark Arden as guards, andRik Mayall as Mad Gerald.
Conceived while Atkinson and Curtis were working onNot the Nine O'Clock News, the series dealt comically with a number of aspects of medieval life in Britain:witchcraft, royal succession, European relations, theCrusades, and the conflict between the Church and the Crown. Along with the secret history, many historical events portrayed in the series wereanachronistic (for example,Constantinople had already fallen to theOttoman Empire in 1453, predating the events in the episode by 32 years); this dramatic license would continue in the subsequent threeBlackadder series. The filming of the series was highly ambitious, with a large cast and much location shooting. The series also featuredShakespearean dialogue, often adapted for comic effect; the end credits featured the words "Additional Dialogue by William Shakespeare".
Blackadder II, the second series ofBlackadder, was written by Richard Curtis andBen Elton, the team who would also write the subsequent two series, and originally aired on BBC1 from 9 January to 20 February 1986.[12] The series is set inEngland during the reign ofQueen Elizabeth I (1558–1603), often referred to as "Queenie", who is portrayed byMiranda Richardson. The principal character isEdmund, Lord Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson), the great-grandson of the original Black Adder. During the series, he regularly deals with theQueen, her obsequiousLord ChamberlainLord Melchett (Stephen Fry; his rival for the Queen's affections), his friendLord Percy Percy (Tim McInnerny) and the Queen's demented former nannyNursie (Patsy Byrne). Tony Robinson returned as Blackadder's servantBaldrick. Guest appearances in the series includeTom Baker as Captain Redbeard Rum,Simon Jones asSir Walter Raleigh,Ronald Lacey as theBishop of Bath and Wells, andMiriam Margoyles as Blackadder's aunt, Lady Whiteadder. The series also features two appearances byHugh Laurie (as Simon Partridge, a friend of Blackadder's, in the episode "Beer", and as Prince Ludwig the Indestructible in the series' finale "Chains"), a returningRik Mayall, this time asLord Flashheart, and the first appearance ofGabrielle Glaister asKate/"Bob" (a young woman who pretends to be a boy in order to achieve a well-paying job).
Following the BBC's request for improvements (and a severe budget reduction), several changes were made. In addition to Ben Elton joining Richard Curtis as co-writer, this 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.[9] 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'sthrone 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 theRadio Times magazine: "The eyes are open, the mouth moves, but Mr. Brain has long since departed, hasn't he, Percy?"[13]
Blackadder the Third, the third series ofBlackadder, originally aired on BBC1 from 17 September to 22 October 1987.[14] The series is set in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, a period known as theRegency. In the series,Mr. Edmund Blackadder Esquire (Rowan Atkinson) is a butler toGeorge IV, who at this time is the Prince Regent, played byHugh Laurie as a buffoonishfop. Despite Edmund's respected intelligence and abilities, he has no personal fortune to speak of, apart from his frequently fluctuating wage packet from the Prince (“If I’m running short of cash, all I have to do is go upstairs and ask Prince Fathead for a raise”), and from (it seems) stealing the Prince's socks and selling them off. As usual, Blackadder also has his own servantBaldrick (Tony Robinson). The episode titles were puns onJane Austen’s novelsSense and Sensibility andPride and Prejudice.
Along with Atkinson, Robinson, and Laurie, this series also starredHelen Atkinson-Wood asMrs. Miggins. The series featuresDr. Samuel Johnson (Robbie Coltrane);William Pitt the Younger (Simon Osborne); theFrench Revolution (withChris Barrie, Tim McInnerny asthe Scarlet Pimpernel, andNigel Planer); hammy theatrical actors (Kenneth Connor andHugh Paddick);Samuel Taylor Coleridge (Jim Sweeney);Shelley (Lee Cornes);Lord Byron (Steve Steen); Amy Hardwood (aka "The Shadow") (Miranda Richardson); and theDuke of Wellington (Stephen Fry).
Blackadder Goes Forth, the fourth and final series ofBlackadder, originally aired on BBC1 from 28 September to 2 November 1989.[15] This series is set in 1917, on theWestern Front of the First World War. Another "big push" is planned, andCaptain Edmund Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson) has one goal—to avoid being killed—but his schemes always land him back in the trenches. Blackadder is joined by hisbatmanPrivate S. Baldrick (Tony Robinson) and idealisticEdwardian twitLieutenant George (Hugh Laurie).General Melchett (Stephen Fry) rallies his troops from a Frenchchâteau 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 last name is played on for maximum comedic value. Guest appearances in this series includeStephen Frost as the leader of a firing squad detail, Miranda Richardson as Nurse Mary Fletcher-Brown, two further appearances ofGabrielle Glaister as"Bob" (in this series, a young woman who pretends to be a boy in order to join the army),Rik Mayall asRoyal Flying Corps Squadron Commander TheLord Flasheart,Adrian Edmondson asBaron Manfred von Richthofen (aka "The Red Baron"), andGeoffrey Palmer asField Marshal Douglas Haig.
The series' tone is somewhat darker than the previous three series; 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 four of the five main characters (Blackadder, Baldrick, George, and Darling) finally going "over the top" and charging off into the fog and smoke ofno man's land, presumably to die. In a list of the100 Greatest British Television Programmes, drawn up by theBritish Film Institute in 2000 and voted for by industry professionals,Blackadder Goes Forth was placed 16th.
A pilot episode ofThe Black Adder was shot in 1982, but was never broadcast on TV until 15 June 2023, when it was shown as part of an 80-minuteUKTVGold documentary titledBlackadder: The Lost Pilot, hosted by Sir Tony Robinson and featuring interviews with Ben Elton and Richard Curtis.[16] Prior to this, only brief clips had been seen in the 2008 25th anniversary documentaryBlackadder Rides Again, shown on BBC1. One notable difference in the pilot, as in many pilots, is the casting. Baldrick is played not by Tony Robinson, but byPhilip 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 and some lines appearing in other episodes of the series.[17]
This special, set in theEnglish Civil War, was shown as part ofComic Relief'sRed Nose Day on Friday 5 February 1988.[18] 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 KingCharles 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 (nowCharles III). However, owing to a misunderstanding betweenOliver Cromwell (guest-starWarren Clarke) and Baldrick, the King is arrested and sent to theTower of London. The rest of the episode revolves around Blackadder's attempts to save the King as well as improve his own standing.
The second special was broadcast on Friday 23 December 1988.[19] In a twist onCharles 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 was originally shown in theMillennium Dome in 1999, followed by a screening onSky One in 2000, and later on BBC1 in 2002. It is set on New Year’s Eve 1999, 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 workingtime machine. While this is intended as a clevercon trick, the machine surprisingly works, sending Blackadder and Baldrick back to theCretaceous period, where they manage to causethe extinction of the dinosaurs through the use of Baldrick's best-worst-and-only pair of underpants as a weapon against a hungryT. 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.Rik Mayall appears asRobin Hood, and the film also includescameo appearances fromKate Moss asMaid Marian andColin Firth asWilliam Shakespeare.
Broadcast in 2020 as part ofChildren in Need andComic Relief's joint specialThe Big Night In during theCOVID-19 pandemic, Fry resumed the role of Lord Melchett (an intellectually-brilliant version), Head of the Royal Household, under lockdown at Melchett Manor, to helpPrince William deal with educating his children viaZoom and discussingTiger King, before they both step outside to clap for theNational Health Service. Melchett is said to be isolating with Lord Blackadder, both grandsons to their First World War counterparts.[20]
In 1998, as part ofPrince Charles' 50th Birthday Gala televised on ITV, Atkinson appeared as aRestoration Blackadder reading aloud a letter to the Privy Council ofKing Charles II. 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."[21]
In 2000, on the BBC's annualRoyal 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.[22]
In 2012, as part of thePrince's Trust charity showWe Are Most Amused, Atkinson and Robinson reprised their roles as Blackadder and Baldrick in a comedy sketch featuringMiranda 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.[23]
Baldrick (Tony Robinson) returned in 2023 for aRed Nose Day sketch for the BBC. There was no involvement of Rowan Atkinson or a subsequent reboot, amid speculation.[24]
| 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[25] | Special | 1988 | Unclear (anachronistic) |
| Clown Court[26] | Special | 1988 | Unclear (anachronistic) |
| Blackadder's Christmas Carol | Christmas Special | 1988 | 19th |
| Woman's Hour Invasion[27] | Radio | 1988 | 20th, Various |
| Blackadder Goes Forth | Series | 1989 | 20th |
| Blackadder and the King's Birthday[21] | Sketch | 1998 | 17th |
| Blackadder: Back & Forth | Millennium Special | 1999 | 20th, Various |
| Blackadder: The Army Years[22] | Theatre | 2000 | 21st |
| The Royal Gardener/The Jubilee Girl (for theParty 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[28] | Theatre | 2012 | 21st |
| The Big Night In | Sketch | 2020 | 21st |
Rowan Atkinson and Richard Curtis developed the idea for the sitcom while working onNot the Nine O'Clock News. Eager to avoid comparisons to the critically acclaimedFawlty Towers, they proposed the idea of a historical sitcom.[29][30] Apilot episode was made in 1982, and a six-episode series was commissioned. The budget for the series was considerable, with much location shooting particularly atAlnwick Castle in Northumberland and the surrounding countryside in February 1983.[31] 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.[29]
Owing to the high cost of the first series, the then-controller of programming ofBBC1,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.[32]
A chance meeting between Richard Curtis and comedianBen Elton led to the decision to collaborate on a new series ofBlackadder. Recognising the main faults of the first series, Curtis and Elton agreed thatBlackadder 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 stupidsidekick, while Edmund Blackadder evolved into a cunningsycophant. This led to the familiar set-up that was maintained in the following series.[33]
Only in theBack & 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 betweenTiger Aspect,Sky Television, the New Millennium Experience Company and the BBC, rather than the BBC alone.[34][35][36]
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.
Various actors have appeared in more than one of the Blackadder series and/or specials. These are:
Ben Elton's arrival, fromBlackadder II onwards, heralded the more frequent recruitment of comic actors from thealternative comedy era for guest appearances, includingRobbie Coltrane,Rik Mayall (who had appeared in the final episode ofThe Black Adder as "Mad Gerald"),[37]Adrian Edmondson,Nigel Planer,Mark Arden,Stephen Frost,Chris Barrie,Jim Sweeney,Steve Steen andJeremy Hardy.[38] Elton himself played an anarchist inBlackadder the Third.[39]
Gabrielle Glaister playedBob, an attractive girl who poses as a man, in bothBlackadder II andBlackadder Goes Forth, where in the latter her official title is Driver Parkhurst.[40] One episode each ofBlackadder II andBlackadder Goes Forth featureRik Mayall asLord Flashheart, a vulgar friend in his first appearance and then a successful rival of Blackadder in his second. He also played a decidedly Flashheart-likeRobin Hood inBack & Forth.[41]Lee Cornes appeared in one episode each of the Curtis/Elton-written series; as a guard in theBlackadder II episode "Chains"; as the poetShelley in theBlackadder the Third episode "Ink and Incapability"; and as firing squad soldierPrivate Fraser in theBlackadder Goes Forth episode "Corporal Punishment".[42]
More established actors, some at the veteran stage of their careers, were also recruited for roles. These includedPeter Cook,Alex Norton,Jim Broadbent,Frank Finlay,Valentine Dyall,John Grillo,Simon Jones,Tom Baker,Ronald Lacey, Roger Blake,Denis Lill,Hugh Paddick,Kenneth Connor,Warren Clarke andGeoffrey Palmer, who playedField Marshal Sir Douglas Haig in "Goodbyeee", the final episode ofBlackadder Goes Forth.Bill Wallis andMiriam Margolyes each played three different guest roles: Wallis played Sir Justin de Boinod in "The Archbishop" (The Black Adder), Mr. Ploppy in "Head" (Blackadder II), and Brigadier Sir Bernard Proudfoot Smith in "General Hospital" (Blackadder Goes Forth), while Margolyes played The Spanish Infanta in "The Queen of Spain's Beard" (The Black Adder), Lady Whiteadder in "Beer" (Blackadder II), andQueen Victoria inBlackadder's Christmas Carol.[38]Patrick Allen provided narration for all six episodes ofThe Black Adder, and appeared as "The Hawk" in the last episode, "The Black Seal". Two episodes ofThe Black Adder feature Natasha King as Princess Leia of Hungary, while the second episode, "Born to Be King", features a brief, early screen appearance ofAngus Deayton.
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 commentatorVincent Hanna played a character billed as "his own great-great-great grandfather" in theBlackadder the Third episode "Dish and Dishonesty".[43] 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 thetown hall window.[44]
Howard Goodall'stheme tune has the samemelody throughout all the series, but is played in roughly thestyle of the period in which it is set. It is performed mostly with trumpets andtimpani inThe Black Adder, the fanfares used suggesting typical medieval court fanfares; with a combination ofrecorder,string quartet and electric guitar inBlackadder II (the end theme, with different lyrics each time reflecting on the episode's events, was sung by acountertenor); onoboe, cello andharpsichord (in the style of aminuet) forBlackadder the Third; by The Band of the3rd Battalion, Royal Anglian Regiment inBlackadder Goes Forth; sung bycarol singers inBlackadder's Christmas Carol; and by an orchestra inBlackadder: The Cavalier Years andBlackadder: Back & Forth.[45]
In 2000, the fourth series,Blackadder Goes Forth, ranked at 16 in the "100 Greatest British Television Programmes", a list created by theBritish Film Institute.[1] In 2004, a BBC TV poll for "Britain's Best Sitcom",Blackadder was voted the second best British sitcom of all time, topped byOnly Fools and Horses.[46] It was also ranked as the 20th Best TV Show of All Time byEmpire magazine.[4]
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 toldITV'sThis 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", withBaldrick – a.k.a. 'Bald Rick' – as the drummer). In the documentaryBlackadder 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 film.[47]
One idea mentioned by Curtis was that it was Baldrick who had accidentallyassassinatedJohn F. Kennedy.[48] However, aside from a brief mention in June 2005,[49]there have been no further announcements from the BBC that a new series is being planned. Furthermore, in November 2005, Rowan Atkinson toldBBC Breakfast that, although he would very much like to do a new series set inColditz or anotherprisoner-of-war camp during World War II, something which both he and Stephen Fry reiterated at the end ofBlackadder Rides Again, the chances of it happening are extremely slim.[50]
There were a couple of ideas that had previously floated for the fifth series.Batadder was intended to be a parody ofBatman with Baldrick as the counterpart ofRobin (suggested byJohn Lloyd). This idea eventually came to surface as part of theComic Relief sketch "Spider-Plant Man" in 2005, with Atkinson asthe title hero, Robinson as Robin,Jim Broadbent as Batman andRachel Stevens asMary Jane.[51]Star Adder was to be set in space in the future (suggested by Atkinson).[52]
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."[53]
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.[54]
During his June 2007 stage performance, chronicled on the Tony Robinson's Cunning Night Out DVD, Robinson states that, after filming theBack & Forth special, the general idea was to reunite for another special in 2010. Robinson jokingly remarked that Hugh Laurie's success onHouse may make that difficult.[55]
On 28 November 2012, Rowan Atkinson reprised the role at the "We are most amused" comedy gala for thePrince'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.[56]
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."[57] However, in October 2018, Richard Curtis "dashed hopes" that the show would return for a fifth series.[58]
In April 2017 at the BFI & Radio Times Television Festival, Atkinson stated "There are no plans to do anything" and revealed a potentialRussian Revolution themed series that never materialised:
"There was a plan twenty years ago that got nowhere which was calledRedadder which I quite liked. It was set in Russia in 1917 andBlackadder and Baldrick were working for the Tsar. They had blue stripes around their caps and then the Revolution happened and Rik Mayall unsurprisingly was playing Rasputin."[59]
In December 2020, Rowan Atkinson told theRadio Times:
"I don't actually like the process of making anything – with the possible exception ofBlackadder. 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."[60]
Most recently, in December 2024, Ben Elton poured doubt on a fifth series ofBlackadder:
"But there will not be a fifth series ofBlackadder, I think that’s pretty much a certainty. I have no interest in doing it. I don’t think any of us do, with the possible exception of Tony [Robinson]. But if we did, the world would be our oyster. We could have fun with any period."[61]
All series and many of the specials are available on VHS tapes, DVDs & Blu-rays. Many are also available on BBC audio cassette. As of 2008, a "Best of BBC" edition box set is available containing all four series together withBlackadder's Christmas Carol andBack & Forth. All four series and the Christmas special are also available for download oniTunes.
On 5 February 1990, BBC Enterprises Ltd released the first series on two single VHS tapes.
| VHS video title | Date of release | Episodes | BBFC rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Blackadder: The Foretelling (BBCV 4300) | 5 February 1990 | The Foretelling, Born to Be King, the Archbishop | PG |
| The Blackadder: The Queen of Spain's Beard (BBCV 4301) | 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 | Date of release | Episodes | BBFC rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackadder II: Parte the Firste (BBCV 4288) | 2 October 1989 | Bells, Head, Potato | PG |
| Blackadder II: Parte the Seconde (BBCV 4289) | 2 October 1989 | Money, Beer, Chains | 15 |
On 6 June 1988, 7 November 1988, and 6 February 1989, BBC Enterprises Ltd released the third series on two single VHS tapes.
| VHS video title | Date of release | Episodes | BBFC rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackadder The Third: Sense and Senility (BBCV 4143) | 6 June 1988 | Sense and Senility, Amy and Amibility, Duel and Duality | 15 |
| Blackadder The Third: Dish and Dishonesty (BBCV 4175) | 7 November 1988, and 6 February 1989 | Dish and Dishonesty, Ink and Incapability, Nob and Nobility | PG |
| Blackadder The Third: Sense and Senility (BBCV 4176) | 7 November 1988, and 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 | Date 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 VHS tapes were re-released as four double VHS sets. These four double sets were re-released as single VHS tapes on 2 October 1995 and again as double sets on 2 November 1998.
| VHS video title | Date of release/Cat No. (Double VHS) | Date of release/Cat No. (Single VHS) | Episodes | BBFC rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Blackadder – The Complete Entire Historic First Series | 7 September 1992 and 2 November 1998 (both 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 and 2 November 1998 (both 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 and 2 November 1998 (both 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 and 2 November 1998 (both 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 by BBC Worldwide Ltd.
| VHS video title | Date of release | Episodes |
|---|---|---|
| The Very Best of Blackadder (BBCV 6360) | 5 January 1998 | The Archbishop, The Queen of Spain's Beard, Bells, Head, Chains |
On 4 November 1991,Blackadder's Christmas Carol was released on a single VHS tape release rated PG (Cat. No. BBCV 4646).
| 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 |
| Blackadder's Christmas Carol | 26 June 2001 | 18 November 2002 | 4 November 2002 |
| Blackadder: Back & Forth | 26 June 2001 | 15 September 2003 | 11 November 2004 |
| 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 | N/a | 12 November 2001 | 3 October 2002 |
| Blackadder – The Complete Collection | 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 | N/a |
| 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 (Documentary) +Audio Commentaries +Interviews | 20 October 2009 | 15 June 2009 | 1 October 2009 |
On 19 October 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 titleBlackadder's Historical Record was pressed on gold-coloured 140g vinyl, and released on 10 February 2023 byDemon 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"
Royal Mail issued a set of special stamps celebratingBlackadder on 17 May 2023.[62][63]
... 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.
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