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Blackadder is a British sitcom made by the BBC. The title does not refer to a specific series, but rather denotes the programmes — four series and several one-off episodes — taken as a whole. The first series was written by Richard Curtis and Rowan Atkinson; subsequent series were written by Richard Curtis and Ben Elton. The show was produced by John Lloyd, and starred Rowan Atkinson as the eponymous protagonist, Edmund Blackadder, and Tony Robinson as his sidekick Baldrick. Blackadder came second in a 2004 BBC poll to find 'Britain's Best Sitcom'.
Four series of six half hour episodes were made, each one set in a different period of British history. The first series was called The Black Adder and was made in 1983; this was followed by Blackadder II in 1986, Blackadder the Third in 1987, and finally Blackadder Goes Forth in 1989. In addition to the series themselves, three specials were also made: "Blackadder: The Cavalier Years" appeared as a 15 minute insert in the 1988 Comic Relief Night; "Blackadder's Christmas Carol" was a 1988 Christmas special which lasted for 45 minutes; and Blackadder: Back & Forth was a 30 minute film originally shown in a special cinema at the Millennium Dome during 2000, and later broadcast by Sky and the BBC. A pilot episode was filmed in 1982, but has never been shown on television.
Spoiler warning: Plot or ending details follow.
It is implied that in each series the Blackadder character is a (distant) descendant of the previous one. With each observed generation, Blackadder's social standing is reduced, from prince, to nobleman, to royal butler, to army captain—and by the end, in the last episode of the last series, nothing more than cannon-fodder. However, he concurrently goes from an incompetent buffoon (in the first series) to an ever more cunning and devious genius.
The Macbeth-esque three witches in the The Foretelling (1.1), thinking that he is someone else, promise Blackadder that one day he will be King and in Bells (2.1) the wise woman says "thou plottest Edmund: 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. In the second series, Blackadder comes very close to marrying Elizabeth I but fails. At the end of the third series, Blackadder assumes the role of Prince Regent after the real prince is killed in a duel, and (presumably, though not definitely) goes on to assume the identity of King George III or IV. After the continual decline in status through the series, Blackadder, or at least the descendent of the original, finally becomes King of England in Blackadder Back and Forth. A Grand Admiral Blackadder of the far future is also seen in the Christmas special, and goes one step further, when he manages to achieve control of the entire universe upon marrying Queen Asphyxia XIX.
Each series also tended to feature the same set of actors in different period settings; thus Stephen Fry played Lord Melchett, an advisor to the Queen in the second series, and General Melchett, a blustering buffoon, in the fourth. Anachronistic references were plentiful and mainly humorous.
It popularised the use of exaggerated simile and similar devices for comic effect in Britain. Examples include:
It also turned the implied wit of wordplay on its head for humorous effect, to wit:
The theme tune is same melody throughout the series, but being played in roughly the style of the period in which it is set (mostly with trumpets in The Black Adder; with a combination of wind instruments and electric guitar in Blackadder II; on harpsichord for Blackadder the Third; by a military band in Blackadder Goes Forth; sung by carol singers in Blackadder's Chirstmas Carol; and by an orchestra in Blackadder: The Cavalier Years and Blackadder Back and Forth).
Set in the Middle Ages, this is in fact a secret history. It opens with the Battle of Bosworth Field (1485) being won by Richard III (played by Peter Cook), instead of Henry Tudor who won in reality. However, Richard III is then accidentally killed by Prince Edmund (Richard tries to borrow Blackadder's horse, but Edmund thinks he is stealing it and cuts his head off). The late King's nephew, Richard, Duke of York is then crowned as Richard IV. Prince Edmund never took part in the battle (he arrived late and went the wrong way, but claimed to have killed four hundred and fifty men, one of whom had already been killed by his brother...).
Richard and his wife Queen Gertrude of Flanders, the Witch Prince of Wales, Prince Regent, Captain of the Guard, Grand Warden of the Northern and Eastern Marches, Chief Lunatic of the Duchy of Gloucester, Viceroy of Wales, Sheriff of Nottingham, Marquess of the Midlands, Lord Hoe-Maker in Ordinary, Harbinger of the Doomed Rat (1460–1498)
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:
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 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.
In this series, the character of the Black Adder is somewhat different from later incarnations, being largely unintelligent, and relying more on the plans of Baldrick.
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. "The Black Adder" is also a title that Edmund adopts during the first episode: presumably one of his descendants adopted it as a surname prior to Blackadder II, where the title character bears the name "Edmund Blackadder".
It is therefore 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, who was presumably dropped for Tony Robinson in the series because he was not as funny as Robinson. The King is played by John Savident (famous for playing Fred Elliot in the TV soap Coronation Street), while 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 changed to a snivelling wretch in the first series.
Richard Curtis admitted in a 2004 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.
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 theme tune also gained lyrics:
The sound of hoof beats '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.
Black: his gloves of finest mole,
Black: his codpiece made of metal,
His horse is blacker than a hole,
His pot is blacker than his kettle.
Black Adder, Black Adder, with many a cunning plan.
Black Adder, Black Adder, you horrid little man.
Blackadder II is set in England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (reigned 1558–1603). Queenie is played by Miranda Richardson. The principal character is Edmund, Lord Blackadder, a great-grandson of the original Black Adder (according to the title song), and a close servant of the Queen, who likes to chop off people's heads and play jokes on Edmund. Edmund's hopes of marrying her never bear fruit. The Queen is joined by her advisor Lord Melchett (with whom Blackadder has a mutual relationship of hate) and her insane nanny, Nursie. This series establishes the more familiar character of Edmund: cunning, shrewd, entirely and without fail insulting to everyone he doesn't have to suck up to, and witty, following the BBC's request for the show to be made funnier.
The action is generally split between Blackadder's house (or to be more specific his front room) and the Queen's throne room. Each episode also features another location, from Baldrick's bedroom to a German dungeon. This was done after the first series, with large sets and outdoor scenes, proved too expensive.
The opening titles played to a version of the theme on an Elizabethan wind instrument and an electric guitar, over shots of a black adder slithering about on a checkerboard surface. It misbehaves and is eventually removed and replaced with something to do with the title of the episode. The closing titles use a different arrangement of the theme on different instruments, with lyrics reflecting what had happened in the episode, over a shot of Blackadder walking in a palace garden and being annoyed by a minstrel: at the end of the final episode, Blackadder catches the minstrel and dunks him into a fountain numerous times.
Blackadder The Third is set in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, a period known as the Regency period. For much of this period, King George III was incapacitated due to poor mental health, and his son George, the Prince of Wales, acted as regent. From 1811 until his father's death in 1820, he was known as "the Prince Regent".
In the series, E. Blackadder Esquire is the butler to the Prince of Wales (played by Hugh Laurie as a compete 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 breast-feeding (and 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's coffee house (Mrs Miggins' pie shop was a never-seen running gag in Blackadder II, and her character was now finally shown).
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 (no relation to Rowan) as Mrs. Miggins. The series features rotten boroughs, Dr. Johnson (played by Robbie Coltrane), the French Revolution and the Scarlet Pimpernel, bad acting, highwaymen who hate squirrels, and duels.
In this series, the episode titles use alliteration in a humorous parody of the titles of Jane Austen's novels Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice.
The opening theme is this time played on a harpsichord and cello over close-ups of Blackadder searching a book-case, the credits and "Blackadder the Third" appearing on some of the books' spines (along with humorous titles such as "From Black Death to Blackadder" and "The Encyclopaedia Blackaddica"). Hidden inside a hollow book, he finds a romance novel, complete with steamy cover art, bearing the episode's title. The closing credits are presented in the style of a programme from a Regency-era play, and with an entirely new closing theme.
This series is set in the trenches of the First World War. Another "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, gung-ho Lieutenant George (Hugh Laurie), and the world's worst cook, Private S. Baldrick. Loony General Melchett rallies his troops from a French mansion, where he is aided and abetted by Captain Darling (Tim McInnerny), pencil-pusher supreme, whose name is played on for maximum comedy value. 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.
Note: Captain Darling's name was originally intended to be Captain Cartwright, until Stephen Fry chirped in with the name 'Darling', and the name, along with 'Bob' became one of the funniest words to be said in the series.
In this series, the episode titles are, with the exception of the final one, puns on military ranks.
The final episode of the last series, "Goodbyeee...", is known for being extraordinarily moving 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 to die in the fog and smoke of no man's land (Melchett remained at his office but gave permission for a reluctant Darling to meet the others) . His final line, said before this scene, offered after Baldrick claims to have one last plan to stop them going over the top: "Well, whatever it is, it's too late. It must have been better than my plan to get out by pretending to be mad. I mean, who would have noticed another madman around here?" is particularly poignant and memorable. "Goodbyeee..." also had no closing titles, simply fading from Blackadder, Baldrick, George and Darling dying in No-Man's Land to a field of poppies in the sunlight. See Lost Generation.
(1988) - taking place at the time of the English Civil War. It is a short episode, shown as part of Comic Relief's Red Nose Day.
The Episode begins in November, 1648. King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland has already lost the Civil War. Only two men remain loyal to him. Sir Edmund Blackadder, the sole descendant of the Blackadder dynasty at the time and his servant Baldrick, the only son of a pig farmer and a bearded lady (both according to the introduction). They have given refuge to the King in Blackadder Hall. Edmund remains loyal because as a known royalist he sees the King as his own hope of survival and also because of his fear of a hideous age of Puritanism, full of moral prohibitions (as he describes it). During a short absence of Edmund, Oliver Cromwell himself arrives at Blackadder Hall, accompanied by a number of his Roundheads. He is personally investigating the King's whereabouts. Baldrick fails to convince him that he has no idea. Between this and the following scene Cromwell discovers and arrests the King.
The Second scene takes place in the Tower of London, two weeks later. King Charles' praying is interrupted by two subsequent visits. The first by Cromwell who warns him of his doom and the second by Edmund, disguised as a priest. He informs the King that he is planning his escape. While Edmund is still there the King receives a notice that he has been sentenced to death. (Despite its placement in late November or early December, 1648 within the context of this episode, historically King Charles' sentence to death came on January 27, 1649).
As January 29, 1649 arrives and his execution approaches, King Charles is again visited by Edmund. Though his plans for an escape haven't materialised he informs the King that there is still some hope. The Parliament has yet to find a man willing to be the King's executioner. Charles, rather philosophically, proclaims that he isn't looking forward to his execution but "It's a question of balance, isn't it? Like so many other things" (Charles, played by Stephen Fry is very much a pastiche of his modern day namesake Prince Charles). Edmund proceeds in assuring Charles that no one would dare to become the King's executioner. Just as he says that, the King receives a notice that they found his executioner.
Back at Blackadder Hall Baldrick is singing as Edmund proclaims his life to be in ruins. While Baldrick informs he has accepted a job, Edmund wonders who could be so utterly without heart and soul, so low and degraded as to behead the King of England. As his own words sink in, he proceeds in interrogating Baldrick who admits he accepted the job. Baldrick explains to the reasonably enraged Edmund that he has a plan to save the King. He presents Edmund with a huge pumpkin, painted to represent a human face. He plans to place it on the King's head and chop it instead. Edmund dismisses the plan as unconvincing as Baldrick will have to hold it in front of the crowd, which is sure to notice. Baldrick, though saddened, says that at least the money, £1000, is good. Edmund's greed awakes at this and he proceeds in taking the money from Baldrick and announcing that he would replace him as the executioner. (Historically King Charles' executioner was Richard Brandon).
January 30, 1649, King Charles' day of execution. King Charles is left alone for a few minutes with his executioner, Edmund in a hood and with a false voice. Edmund takes advantage of these minutes to relieve the King of his money bag. But the King finally recognizes him. He congratulates him for trying to save him even in the last minute and gives him custody of his infant son, the later King Charles II of England, Scotland and Ireland. (Historically he was 19 years old at the time of his father's death). For lack of a better plan Edmund uses the one Baldrick had suggested. The camera then focuses to Baldrick who is listening at the sounds of the execution. Edmund chops the pumpkin and proclaims that "This is the head of a traitor". Predictably the crowd answers "No, it's not; it's a huge pumpkin with a pathetic moustache drawn on it". Edmund apologises and says he will try again. Baldrick still listens as Edmund beheads Charles and the crowd cheers.
As the last scene begins Edmund and Baldrick have returned to Blackadder Hall. A disgusted Edmund cradles the infant Charles in his hands. Baldrick tries to console him by saying that at least he tried and that now the future of the British monarchy lies fast asleep in his arms in the person of this infant prince. He suggests to his master that he should be ready to escape to France, because as a known loyalist he is in danger of being arrested by the Roundheads and beheaded. Edmund, who apparently had forgotten that he is in a position of danger, immediately rises from his seat, ready to take action. But before he can do anything. Roundheads are already at the Hall's doors demanding his surrender. Edmund explains to Baldrick that there is no choice for a man of honour but to stand and fight, and die in defence of his future sovereign. Fortunately for him, he was never a man of honour. Passing the prince to Baldrick, Edmund proceeds in removing his long black hair, apparently a wig, his false moustache and beard to reveal short blond hair and a clean-shaven face. Thus unrecognizable, when a Roundhead enters the room he denounces Baldrick as a "royalist scum". The episode ends with Baldrick, still holding the Prince in his arms, being approached by the Roundhead, sword drawn.
Main article: Blackadder's Christmas Carol
The second special was broadcast in 1988. In a twist on Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Blackadder is the the most generous man in England. 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."
Main article: Blackadder: Back & Forth
Blackadder Back and Forth was originally shown in the Millennium Dome. It's 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, does work, sending Blackadder and Baldrick back to the time of the dinosaurs.
Attempting to find their way home, they find themselves 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 generations of schoolchildren". They next arrive in Sherwood Forest, where Blackadder, held hostage by Robin Hood (Rik Mayall) talks the Merry Men into revolt. They eventually kill him and, after spending some time in the forest - in Edmund's case, with Maid Marian (Kate Moss), in Baldrick's, with Will Scarlett) they return to the machine.
The duo have brief stopovers at the Battle of Waterloo, where they accidentally kill Wellington (Stephen Fry), and in Roman Britain, where Centurion Blackaddecus and Legionary Baldrickus face the Scots, before they finally find their way home, thanks to Baldrick's cunning plan of sticking his head in a bucket of water and seeing where the switches were when his life flashes before his eyes.
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.
The television shows King Edmund III and Queen Marian of Sherwood arriving at the Millennium Dome to be greeted by Prime Minister Baldrick. The Blackadders have finally achieved their destiny.
See historical anomalies in Blackadder.
All series and many of the specials are available on DVD and Video, as well as many available on BBC Audio Cassette.
The only books of particular note, are:
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