Each week, we will be taking an in depth look at some of the best sitcoms and comedy shows from both the UK and the USA.
Today we will be looking at a show that has had four seasons all looking at different areas of history. We will be looking at the first season – The Black Adder
Opening Titles / Theme Tune
About the Show
Summary of Plot
In the Middle Ages, Prince Edmund the Black Adder constantly schemes and endeavors to seize the crown from his father and brother. -IMDb
Number of Seasons / Episodes
1 season under this specific name
Characters:
Rowan Atkinson – Edmund, Duke of Edinburgh
Elspet Gray – The Queen
Tim McInnerny – Percy
Patrick Allen – Narrator
Brian Blessed – Kind Richard IV
Tony Robinson – Baldrick
Trivia
+According to Tony Robinson, he was flattered at being offered the role of Baldrick, and only later learned that the role had been turned down by nearly every bit-part actor.
+ Rowan Atkinson has a stutter, which causes him to struggle with the letter ‘B.’ He has to visualise the letter before he says it – which is why he puts extra emphasis on words containing that letter. Eg Bob. Later he created the character Mr. Bean (1990) for this reason.
+ Blackadder is based on Edmund, the antagonist of William Shakespeare’s play “King Lear”: a scheming illegitimate son of a king who plots to take the crown for himself.
+ This is the only show in the Blackadder saga which was scripted by Rowan Atkinson; Ben Elton took over from Black-Adder II (1986).
+ The series was primarily shot at Alnwick Castle, Northumberland.
+ Rowan Atkinson admits that he disliked this season of the show.
+ Rowan Atkinson and Richard Curtis came up with the idea of a historical sitcom during work on Not the Nine O’Clock News (1979).
Classic Clips
Blackadder is born
