Blackadder

Blackadder
source
Title	Blackadder
Creator	Richard Curtis and Rowan Atkinson
Starring	Rowan Atkinson, Tony Robinson, Tim McInnerny, Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry, Miranda Richardson
Country	United Kingdom
Network	BBC One
First aired	1983
Last aired	1989

Blackadder is a celebrated British historical sitcom, created by Richard Curtis and Rowan Atkinson, that originally aired on BBC One between 1983 and 1989. The series is renowned for its sharp, cynical wit, clever wordplay, and satirical take on various periods of British history. Each of its four series features a different ancestor of the cunning, self-serving Edmund Blackadder, played by Atkinson, navigating the corridors of power from the Middle Ages to World War I. The show has been lauded as a landmark in British comedy, winning a BAFTA TV Award and influencing a generation of writers and performers.

Overview

The premise of the show revolves around the various incarnations of the Blackadder family, each situated in a distinct historical epoch, with the central character typically being a scheming, intelligent man trapped in a demeaning position. The first series, *The Black Adder*, is set in a fictionalized version of the Wars of the Roses and follows the inept Prince Edmund. Subsequent series, beginning with *Blackadder II*, refined the format, placing a more cunning Edmund in the courts of Elizabeth I and the Prince Regent, and finally in the trenches of the Western Front. This structure allowed the show to satirize British institutions, class systems, and historical figures, from Samuel Johnson to King George IV, with consistent comedic archetypes, most notably the dim-witted servant Baldrick.

Characters and cast

The core dynamic across the series features Rowan Atkinson as the increasingly sardonic Edmund Blackadder, whose intelligence and sarcasm contrast with his perpetually hopeless circumstances. Tony Robinson portrays his loyal, simple-minded, and hygiene-challenged manservant Baldrick in every incarnation, whose "cunning plans" are a recurring joke. Key supporting roles evolved with each series: Tim McInnerny appeared as the foppish Lord Percy Percy and the paranoid Captain Darling, while Hugh Laurie played the stupid Prince George and Lieutenant George. Stephen Fry was the bombastic General Melchett and the absurdly verbose Lord Flashheart, and Miranda Richardson delivered a memorable performance as the childish, violent Queen Elizabeth I. Other notable guest stars included Rik Mayall, Nigel Planer, and Patsy Byrne.

Series synopses

*The Black Adder* (1983), set in 1485, follows the cowardly Prince Edmund who accidentally becomes king after the Battle of Bosworth Field and concocts various plots to secure his throne. *Blackadder II* (1986) moves to the Elizabethan era, where Lord Blackadder serves as a courtier to Queen Elizabeth, navigating her whims and the schemes of Lord Burghley. *Blackadder the Third* (1987) is set in the late 18th century, where Blackadder serves as the butler to the idiotic Prince Regent, exploiting his position for personal gain during the Georgian era. Finally, *Blackadder Goes Forth* (1989) is set in 1917 on the Western Front, where Captain Blackadder desperately tries to avoid a suicidal frontline order, providing a poignant and satirical critique of World War I military leadership.

Production and development

The series was conceived by Richard Curtis and Rowan Atkinson, with the first series co-written by Atkinson. After the expensive and stylistically broad first series, producer John Lloyd oversaw a significant creative shift, moving production to studio sets and emphasizing wordplay over slapstick, a change that defined the show's classic tone. Key writers included Ben Elton, who co-wrote the later three series with Curtis, contributing greatly to the sharper, more satirical edge. The show was produced by BBC Scotland and filmed at the BBC Television Centre and other locations, with the final series notably drawing on historical research about the Somme to enhance its tragicomic power.

Reception and legacy

Upon broadcast, the later series were met with widespread critical acclaim, with *Blackadder Goes Forth* in particular being praised for its daring blend of comedy and tragedy. The show won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Comedy Series in 1989 and has consistently been voted among the greatest British television programmes in polls by BBC and the British Film Institute. Its scripts are studied for their linguistic creativity, and the series is credited with launching or significantly boosting the careers of much of the Cambridge Footlights generation, including Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry. It remains a staple of UKTV Gold and BritBox programming.

Cultural impact

The show has left a substantial imprint on British culture, with numerous catchphrases such as "I have a cunning plan" and "Baldrick, you wouldn't see a subtle plan if it painted itself purple and danced naked on a harpsichord" entering common parlance. It has been referenced across media, from The Simpsons to parliamentary debates, and its satirical portrayal of incompetent authority figures is seen as a precursor to shows like The Thick of It. The poignant finale of *Blackadder Goes Forth*, depicting the characters going "over the top," is annually referenced in the United Kingdom during Remembrance Sunday commemorations, highlighting its powerful and enduring commentary on the futility of war.