Blackadder
4326
226044997
2008-07-16T16:09:03Z
Ged UK
735031
Reverted 1 edit by [[Special:Contributions/70.182.184.162|70.182.184.162]]; It's not a typo, it's British English. ([[WP:TW|TW]])
{{otheruses}}
{{Infobox Television
| show_name = Blackadder
| image = [[Image:Ba4.jpg|250px]]
| caption = Left to right: (Back) [[Tim McInnerny]],<br>[[Stephen Fry]] and [[Hugh Laurie]],<br>(Front) [[Rowan Atkinson]] and [[Tony Robinson]]<br>in ''[[Blackadder Goes Forth]]''
| genre = [[Period piece|Period]], [[Situational comedy]]
| creator = [[Richard Curtis (screenwriter)|Richard Curtis]]<br />Rowan Atkinson<br />[[Ben Elton]]
| developer =
| presenter =
| starring = [[Rowan Atkinson]]<br />[[Tony Robinson]]<br />[[Tim McInnerny]]<br />[[Miranda Richardson]]<br />[[Stephen Fry]]<br/>[[Hugh Laurie]]
| voices =
| narrated =
| theme_music_composer = [[Howard Goodall]]
| opentheme =
| endtheme =
| country = [[UK]]
| language = [[English language|English]]
| num_series = 4
| num_episodes = 24 (plus 3 [[Television special|specials]])
| list_episodes = List of Blackadder episodes
| producer = [[John Lloyd (writer)|John Lloyd]]
| executive_producer =
| location =
| camera = [[Multi-camera]]
| runtime = 30 min. approx
| network = [[BBC One]]
| picture_format = [[PAL]] ([[576i]])
| audio_format = [[Monaural]] sound
| first_run =
| first_aired = [[15 June]] [[1983]]
| last_aired = [[2 November]] [[1989]]
| preceded_by =
| followed_by =
| related =
| website = http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/blackadder/
| imdb_id = 0084988
| tv_com_id = 4747
}}
'''''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 instalments]]. The [[The Black Adder|first series]] was written by [[Richard Curtis (screenwriter)|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]].
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, topped by ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]''. It was also ranked as the 20th Best TV Show of All Time by [[Empire Magazine]].<ref>[http://www.empireonline.com/50greatesttv/default.asp?tv=20 The 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time - Number 20: Blackadder], [[EmpireOnline.com]]</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 decreasing in social status), each Blackadder is similar in that every one is a [[cynicism|cynical]], [[cowardice|cowardly]] [[opportunism|opportunist]] concerned with maintaining and increasing his own status and fortunes, regardless of his surroundings. In each series 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 bloodshed and horror of [[World War I]]).
The lives of each of the four Blackadders are also entwined with his servant, each called Baldrick (played by [[Tony Robinson]]), who in each generation acts as Blackadder's [[dogsbody]] 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 arguably dimmer than even Baldrick) whose presence Blackadder must somehow tolerate. This role was taken in the first two series by [[Lord Percy Percy]] ([[Tim McInnerny]]), in the third series by [[George IV of the United Kingdom|Prince George, Prince Regent]], and in the fourth by Lieutenant George, the latter two played by [[Hugh Laurie]] (see [[George (Blackadder character)]]).
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 ''[[The Black Adder]]''. This was followed by ''[[Blackadder II]]'' in 1985, ''[[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 (charity)|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 recorded 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 have never included the pilot, copies are known to circulate online.
===Developments over the series===<!-- This section is linked from [[Edmund Blackadder]] -->
It is implied in each series that the Blackadder character is a distant descendant of the previous one, although none of the Blackadders is mentioned during their series as having fathered any known children (it was even stated in "[[The Queen of Spain's Beard]]" (1.4) that [[Prince Edmund (Blackadder)|Edmund]] was a [[virgin]], although in a later episode he is alleged to have had relations with an old hag). [[Lord Blackadder]] had relationships with [[Bob (Blackadder character)|Kate]] and Lady Jane Pottle, and often engaged prostitutes, one of whom was even seen in the episode "[[Money (Blackadder)|Money]]", but whether he sired any offspring is never stated.
With each observed generation, his [[social class|social standing]] is reduced, from [[British Royal Family|prince]], to [[Peerage of England|lord]], to royal [[butler]] of the [[George (Blackadder character)#Blackadder the Third|Prince Regent]], and finally a regular [[British Army|army]] [[Captain (UK)|captain]] in the [[trenches]] of [[World War I]] in ''Blackadder Goes 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):
:''His great-grandfather was a king''
:''Although for only thirty seconds''
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]] 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.
===Similarities over the series===
====Theme tune====
[[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 and [[timpani]] in ''The Black Adder'', typical scoring for middle-age renaissance music; with a combination of [[recorder]], [[string quartet]] and [[electric guitar]] in ''Blackadder II''; on [[oboe]], [[cello]] and [[harpsichord]] (in [[Waltz time]]) in the style of a [[Madrigal (music)|madrigal]] 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>
===Popularity and effects on popular culture===
After the first series — which had enjoyed a considerable budget for a sitcom, and had been shot largely on location — 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.
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 (apart from series one), he would sometimes come up with a scheme that went towards saving the day.
''Blackadder'' was referenced in the [[British House of Commons|House of Commons]] on [[November 21]], [[2007]], during the [[2007 UK child benefit data scandal]]. [[Elfyn Llwyd]], a [[Plaid Cymru]] MP, suggested it was "time for Blackadder to say goodbye to Darling", comparing [[Alistair Darling]], the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to his fictional namesake, [[Kevin Darling]].
[[Mark William Bolland|Mark Bolland]], the Deputy Private Secretary to the [[Charles, Prince of Wales|Prince of Wales]] from 1998 until 2002, was reportedly nicknamed "Lord Blackadder" by the young princes [[Prince William of Wales|William]] and [[Prince Henry of Wales|Harry]]. <ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2003/oct/27/mondaymediasection.themonarchy It was me what spun it], ''The Guardian'' [[October 27]], [[2003]]. Accessed on [[May 29]] [[2008]]</ref>
===Origin of Name===
Dr. Eric Blackadder, Chief Medical Officer at the BBC at the time of the first programme, claims that the series is named after him.<ref name="MacGregor">{{cite web
| last = MacGregor
| first = James
| date = [[2 February]] [[2001]]
| url = http://www.netribution.co.uk/news/north/back_news/exposure525/story.html
| title = "Step Forward The Real (Unhappy) Blackadder"
| work = Netribution.co.uk
| accessdate = 2008-02-06
}}</ref>
==Series and specials==
{{seealso|List of Blackadder episodes}}
===Chronological order===
*"([[Prince Edmund (Blackadder Pilot)|Blackadder Unaired Pilot]])" (1982)
*''[[The Black Adder]]'' (1983)
*''[[Blackadder II]]'' (1986)
*"The Shakespeare Sketch" (1989)
*"[[Blackadder: The Cavalier Years]]" (1988)
*''[[Blackadder the Third]]'' (1987)
*"1775" (US series pilot) (1992)
*"[[Blackadder's Christmas Carol]]" (1988)
*''[[Blackadder Goes Forth]]'' (1989)
*"Woman's Hour" Invasion (1988)
*"[[Blackadder and the King's Birthday]]" (1998)
*"[[Blackadder: Back & Forth]]" (2000)
*"Blackadder: The Army Years" (2000)
*"The Royal Gardener" (From the Queen's Jubilee) (2002)
*"Jubilee Girl" (2002)
===Series 1: ''The Black Adder''===
{{Main|The Black Adder}}
''[[The Black Adder]]'' was the first series of ''Blackadder'' and was written by [[Richard Curtis]] and [[Rowan Atkinson]], and produced by [[John Lloyd (writer)|John Lloyd]]. The series was originally aired on [[BBC 2]] 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 a [[secret history]] which contends that [[Richard III of England|King Richard III]] won the [[Battle of Bosworth Field]], only to be accidentally murdered, and is succeeded by [[Richard IV]], one of the [[Princes in the Tower]]. The series follows the exploits of Richard IV's unfavoured second son Edmund (who calls himself "The Black Adder") in his various attempts to increase his standing with his father and his eventual quest to overthrow him.
Conceived while Atkinson and Curtis were working on ''[[Not the Nine O'Clock News]]'', the series dealt comically with a number of medieval issues in Britain - [[witchcraft]], Royal succession, European relations, the [[Crusade]]s and the conflict between [[the Crown]] and [[the Church]]. 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.
===Series 2: ''Blackadder II''===
{{Main|Blackadder II}}
''Blackadder II'' is set in [[Kingdom of England|England]] during the reign of [[Queenie|Queen Elizabeth I]] (1558–1603), 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]]).
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.
A quote from this series was placed in third position for the top twenty-five television 'put downs' of the last 40 years by the [[Radio Times]] magazine. It was the following insult directed at Lord Percy by Edmund Blackadder:
"The eyes are open, the mouth moves, but Mr Brain has long since departed, hasn't he, Percy?"
===Series 3: ''Blackadder the Third''===
{{Mainarticle|Blackadder the Third}}
''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|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, apart from his frequently fluctuating wage packet from the Prince, as he says: 'If I'm running short of cash all I have to do is go upstairs and ask Prince Fat-head for a rise'.
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 (or "robber buttons"), [[Samuel Johnson|Dr. Samuel Johnson]] (played by [[Robbie Coltrane]]), [[William Pitt the Younger]], the [[French Revolution]] (featuring [[Chris Barrie]], [[Nigel Planer]] and [[Tim McInnerny]] as [[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).
===Series 4: ''Blackadder Goes Forth''===
{{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 their cook, Private S. [[Baldrick#Blackadder Goes Forth|Baldrick]]. [[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.
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).
The final episode of this series, "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 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: like the poem "[[In Flanders Fields]]". This particular poignant moment illustrates how the series had the capacity to be more than just a sitcom. 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.
===Specials===
*'''The Pilot Episode'''
{{main|The Black Adder (pilot episode)}}
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 lines 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>
*'''Blackadder: The Cavalier Years'''
{{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 (charity)|Comic Relief]]'s [[Comic Relief (charity)|Red Nose Day]] in 1988.
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, with the voice and mannerisms of Charles I's namesake, the [[Charles, Prince of Wales|current Prince of Wales]]). 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 standing.
:BBC One, Friday [[5 February]] [[1988]], 9.45–10pm
*'''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. The Spirit of Christmas shows Blackadder the contrary antics of his ancestors and descendants, and reluctantly informs him that if he turns evil his descendents 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.
:BBC One, Friday [[23 December]] [[1988]], 9.30–10.15pm
*'''Woman's Hour Invasion'''
[[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, in 1988, Blackadder and Baldrick show up, travel back in time and talk to Shakespeare (not for the last time!) and others.
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>
*'''The Shakespeare Sketch'''
This non-canonical sketch was performed on stage at the Sadlers Wells Theatre on [[September 18]], [[1989]]. It was written for, and performed at an AIDS benefit concert directed by [[Stephen Fry]], and features [[Rowan Atkinson]] as a Blackadder-esque character chatting with [[Hugh Laurie]] as [[William Shakespeare|"Bill" Shakespeare]], talking about cutting various sections of [[Hamlet]] – in particular the "[[To be or not to be]]" [[soliloquy]]. Ultimately, Blackadder talks Shakespeare down from an over-long speech to the familiar 'snappy' phrase. From Will's first draft:
:''"To be a victim of all life's earthly woes, or not to be a coward and take Death by his proffered hand"'' via Blackadder's suggestion
:''"To be a victim, or not to be a coward,"'' ultimately condensed to "[[To be or not to be|''To be, or not to be'']]".
To which Shakespeare naturally replies: ''"You can't say that – it's gibberish!"''
The sketch was available on video as part of ''Hysteria 2 – The Second Coming'', released by Palace Video on [[21 May]] [[1990]].<ref>[http://blackadderhall.com/specials/7.html Shakespeare Sketch at Blackadder Hall]. Accessed on [[January 12]], [[2008]]</ref>
*'''1775 (US series pilot)'''
This was the pilot for a prospective US Blackadder series. It was shot in 1992 and aired once, but failed to be picked up. Its cast was completely different and it was set in colonial Philadelphia.<ref>http://www.thelogbook.com/logbook/blackadder/1775-us-series-pilot/</ref>
*'''Blackadder and the King's Birthday'''
A short sketch performed at the [[Charles, Prince of Wales|Prince of Wales']] 50th Birthday Gala. It featured Rowan Atkinson as Lord Blackadder and Stephen Fry as King [[Charles II of England|Charles II]], and was televised on [[ITV]] (in the UK) on [[14 November]] [[1998]].<ref>[http://blackadderhall.com/specials/4.html ''The King's Birthday'' at Blackadder Hall]. Accessed on [[January 12]], [[2008]]</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 – modern versions of Queenie (Miranda Richardson), Melchett (Stephen Fry), George (Hugh Laurie) and Darling (Tim McInnerny) – 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 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]]. 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 which must be corrected before the end. The film was notable for featuring [[cameo role]]s from all the main ''Blackadder'' actors, as well as a number of famous stars of stage and screen.
*'''Blackadder: The Army Years'''
A short monologue performed at the Dominion Theatre for the [[Royal Variety Performance]] 2000. It features 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, who was the compère of the evening.<ref>[http://blackadderhall.com/specials/1.html ''The Army Years'' at Blackadder Hall]. Accessed on January 12, 2008</ref>
*'''The Jubilee Girl'''
''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:
:''We don't want thousands of people wandering around here willy-nilly, leaving orange peel on the petunias and frightening the corgies.''
:''I said to her, I said, you're the Queen, not [[Fatboy Slim]].''<ref>[http://blackadderhall.com/specials/6.html ''The Royal Gardner'' at Blackadder Hall]. Accessed on [[January 12]], [[2008]]</ref>
== Potential fifth series or film ==
In January 2005, Tony Robinson told [[ITV]]'s ''[[This Morning (TV series)|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 around a [[rock music|rock]] band called the "Black Adder Five", with [[Baldrick]] – aka 'Bald Rick' – as the drummer).{{fact|date=February 2008}} Robinson in a stage performance [[June 1]], [[2007]], again mentioned this idea, but in the context of a movie. However, aside from a brief mention in June 2005,<ref name="bbc-faces">{{cite news
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/4606743.stm
| title = Faces of the week: Richard Curtis
| work = News. BBC.co.uk
| publisher = [[BBC News]]
| date = [[3 June]] [[2005]]
| accessdate = 2008-02-06
| quote = … 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]], the chances of it happening are extremely low.{{fact|date=February 2008}}
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]]). 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|Jane Mary]]. ''Star Adder'' was to be set in space in the future (suggested by Atkinson)<ref>[http://filmtv.eserver.org/black-adder.txt "Black Adder Program Guide"]</ref>, though this too was touched upon in ''Blackadder's Christmas Carol''.
On [[April 10]], [[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."<ref name="Hello-Colditz">{{cite news
| url = http://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/2007/04/10/blackadder-return/
| title = Rowan toys with idea of 'Blackadder' return
| work = HelloMagazine.co.uk
| publisher = ''[[Hello!]]''
| date = [[10 April]] [[2007]]
| accessdate = 2008-02-06
}}</ref>
A post on [http://www.BlackAdderHall.com www.BlackAdderHall.com] from Ben Elton in early 2007 states that Blackadder will return in some form, whether it be a TV series or movie. Elton has since not given any more information on the putative ''Blackadder 5''.
During an interview in August 2007 regarding his latest movie, ''[[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 (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."
[[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>
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.
==Anachronism==
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. The series suggests repeatedly that Scotland and England were united at the time, which did not in fact happen until much later (they had the [[James I of England|same monarch]] starting in 1603, and were [[Acts of Union 1707|formally united]] only in 1707).
* In several episodes of ''Blackadder II'', Blackadder and others use the term [[wikt:dago|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]] (1760–1820) 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]] (1811–20) 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, beginning as early as the first episode, 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 the Duke of Wellington had not been given that nickname at that time.
==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''.
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''.
More 'establishment'-style actors, some at the veteran stage of their careers, were also recruited for roles. These included [[Brian Blessed]], [[John Grillo]], [[Simon Jones]], [[Tom Baker]], [[Jim Broadbent]], [[Hugh Paddick]], [[Frank Finlay]], [[Miriam Margolyes]], [[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... (Blackadder)|Goodbyeee...]]'', the final, fatal episode of ''Blackadder Goes Forth''.
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.
===List===
{{main|List of characters in Blackadder}}
Each series tended to feature the same set of regular actors in different period settings.
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 [[House of Plantagenet|Plantagenet]], who was significantly different from the other Blackadders)
* [[Baldrick|S. Baldrick]]: ([[Tony Robinson]])
Some characters recurred as their own presumed descendants:
*[[Melchett]] – [[Stephen Fry]]
**Sycophantic Lord Melchett (a sort of [[William Cecil]] character), an advisor to [[Queenie|Queen Elizabeth I]], series 2
**General Sir Anthony Cecil Hogmanay Melchett, a blustering buffoon and presumed descendant of Lord Melchett, series 4
**General Melchecus – ''Blackadder Back & Forth''
**[[Charles I of England|King Charles I]]
**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
**Bishop Flavius Melchett – ''Blackadder: Back & Forth''
**Lord Frondo
*Percy / Darling
**[[Lord Percy Percy]] – [[Tim McInnerny]], Series 1 and 2
**Captain [[Kevin Darling]], Series 4. A somewhat smarter than Percy character but also an antagonist to Blackadder instead of a sidekick.
**[[The Scarlet Pimpernel]] (alias Lord Topper and [[Le Comte De Frou Frou]]) for one episode in the third series.
**Archdeacon Darling and Duke of Darling / Duc de Darling – ''Blackadder: Back & Forth''.
*[[George (Blackadder character)|George]] – [[Hugh Laurie]]
**HRH The Prince George Augustus Frederick, Series 3
**Lieutenant The Honourable George Colthurst St. Bartleigh, Series 4
**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.
*[[Queenie|Elizabeth]] – [[Miranda Richardson]]
**[[Queenie#Blackadder II|Queen Elizabeth I]] in Series 2, ''Christmas Carol'', and ''Back & Forth''
**Lady Elizabeth in ''Back & Forth''.
**Queen Asphyxia in the ''Christmas Carol''.
**[[Amy Hardwood]] (aka The Shadow) in "[[Amy and Amiability (Blackadder)|Amy and Amiability]]" in the third series
**Mary Fletcher-Brown, a dutiful Nurse in "[[General Hospital (Blackadder)|General Hospital]]" from the fourth.
*[[Bob (Blackadder character)|Bob]] – [[Gabrielle Glaister]] – an attractive girl who poses as a man called Bob, before revealing her true sex and becoming romantically involved with Flashheart (2 and 4)
*[[Lord Flashheart]] – [[Rik Mayall]], a vulgar yet successful rival of Blackadder (2 and 4)
**Mayall also plays Mad Gerald in ''The Black Adder'' series finale and a decidedly Flashheart-like [[Robin Hood]] in ''Back & Forth''.
Non-recurring:
*[[Elspet Gray]] played the queen (Blackadder's) mother in all six episodes of ''The Black Adder'' and the Blackadder pilot. As [[Brian Blessed]] and [[Robert East]], who also appeared in all six episodes of the first series (as the black adder's father and brother respectively), Gray never appears again in another related show.
*[[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, credited as 'Bernard' (though not named in the special this was the name Nursie claimed to have been born under in Series II).
*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''
A few actors have made multiple guest appearances playing different characters, notably:
*[[Robbie Coltrane]] appeared in the Season Three episode ''[[Ink and Incapability]]'' as [[Samuel Johnson]], and would cameo in the Christmas Carol as the Ghost of Christmas Past.
*[[Jim Broadbent]] portrayed the interpreter, Don Speekenglish, in ''[[The Queen of Spain's Beard]]'', and later reappeared as [[Prince Albert]] in the Christmas special.
*[[Miriam Margolyes]] made appearances as ''three'' distinct characters: as the Spanish Infanta in ''Queen of Spain's Beard'', as Blackadder's Puritan aunt in ''[[Beer (Blackadder)|Beer]]'', and as ''[[Queen Victoria]]'' in the Christmas episode.
*[[Denis Lill]] played an [[Member of Parliament|MP]] in ''[[Dish and Dishonesty]]'' and portrayed Beadle in the Christmas Carol.
*[[Lee Cornes]] also portrayed three characters: one of Prince Ludwig's guards in ''Chains'', [[Percy Shelley]] in ''Ink and Incapability'', and Private Fraser, a member of the firing squad in ''[[Corporal Punishment (Blackadder)|Corporal Punishment]]''.
==Precursors==
The plot device of a 'modern' man in ancient times is not new, and has a venerable history in fiction.
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''''').
The shows draw on a variety of literary, historical, and film backgrounds for its story and characters. The first two series draw heavily upon the works of [[William Shakespeare]]. The first episode of ''The Black Adder'', ''The Foretelling'', references ''[[Richard III (play)|Richard III]]'' (the characters and setting), ''[[Macbeth]]'' (the three witches predicting Blackadder's rise to power and the appearance of King Richard's ghost at the dinner), and ''[[King Lear]]'' (the witches are named Goneril, Regan, and Cordelia). ''Bells'', the first episode of the second series, draws on ''[[Twelfth Night]]'' with its cross-dressing "Bob" character. The third series parodies at various points classic novels such as ''[[The Scarlet Pimpernel]]'' (''Nob and Nobility''), ''[[Cyrano de Bergerac]]'' (''Amy and Amiability''), and ''[[The Prince and the Pauper]]'' (''Duel and Duality''), and the titles themselves parody ''[[Sense and Sensibility]]''. There are also many references to classic films, for instance Blackadder's forming of his dark army in ''The Black Seal'' is parodic of ''[[The Magnificent Seven]]'' (down to Blackadder holding up fingers to indicate the number of men he has), the Season 1 episode ''The Archbishop'' explicitly parodies ''[[Becket (film)|Becket]]''.
== Notes ==
{{reflist}}
==References==
*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.
* 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.
==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
*{{bbc.co.uk|id=blackadder|title=''Black Adder 1485–1917''}}
*{{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}}
{{Blackadder}}
[[Category:BBC television sitcoms]]
[[Category:Blackadder]]
[[Category:Shakespeare on film]]
[[Category:Period television series]]
[[Category:1983 television series debuts]]
[[Category:1980s British television series]]
[[bg:Черното влечуго]]
[[ca:L'Escurçó Negre]]
[[cs:Černá zmije]]
[[de:Blackadder]]
[[el:Μαύρη Οχιά]]
[[es:La Víbora Negra]]
[[eu:Blackadder]]
[[fr:La Vipère noire]]
[[gl:A víbora negra]]
[[hr:Crna Guja]]
[[id:Blackadder]]
[[it:Blackadder]]
[[he:הפתן השחור]]
[[hu:Fekete Vipera]]
[[nl:Blackadder]]
[[ja:ブラックアダー]]
[[no:Sorte Orm]]
[[nn:Blackadder]]
[[pl:Czarna Żmija]]
[[pt:Blackadder]]
[[ro:Blackadder]]
[[ru:Чёрная Гадюка (телесериал)]]
[[sl:Črni gad (televizijska nadaljevanka)]]
[[sr:Црна Гуја]]
[[fi:Musta Kyy]]
[[sv:Svarte Orm]]
[[uk:Чорна Гадюка (телесеріал)]]