The Black Adder (1983– )

In the Middle Ages, Prince Edmund the Black Adder constantly schemes and endeavors to seize the crown from his father and brother.

Stars:

Rowan Atkinson, Elspet Gray, Tim McInnerny

Cast

Series cast summary:
Rowan Atkinson	...	Edmund, Duke of Edinburgh (7 episodes, 1982-1983)
Elspet Gray	...	The Queen (7 episodes, 1982-1983)
Tim McInnerny	...	Percy (7 episodes, 1982-1983)
Robert East	...	Harry, Prince of Wales (6 episodes, 1983)
Brian Blessed	...	King Richard IV (6 episodes, 1983)
Tony Robinson	...	Baldrick (6 episodes, 1983)
Bert Parnaby	...	Cain, A Blind Beggar (3 episodes, 1983)
Roy Evans	...	Abel, A Blind Beggar (3 episodes, 1983)
David Nunn	...	Messenger (3 episodes, 1983)

Storyline

Set in England at the end of the War of the Roses, we soon find out that the history we know is a Tudor fiction. In fact, Henry VII did not actually win the battle of Bosworth Field; he lost and though Richard III died in the battle, his nephew King Richard IV (who certainly was not smothered while still a boy in the Tower of London) reigned on for some years. The story focuses on Richard IV's younger son Prince Edmund, a sniveling coward who calls himself the 'Black Adder'. Assisted by his grungy servant Baldrick and the moronic Lord Percy, Edmund plots his rise to greatness.

---

Plot Keywords:

black adder | king | battle | england | dark ages | 

---

Taglines:

The most gripping sitcom since 1380.

---

Genres:

Comedy | History

---

Details

Country:

UK Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 June 1983 (UK)

Also Known As:

Blackadder

Filming Locations:

Alnwick Castle, Alnwick, Northumberland, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

7 Network, BBC Worldwide, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

35 min 35 min (6 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The "Blackadder" theme is played with a trumpet solo backed by an orchestra.

---

Goofs

Blackadder is throughout the series referred to as the Duke of Edinburgh, a title that was first bestowed by King George I in 1726, on his grandson, Prince Frederick Lewis, in the Peerage of Great Britain. Thus, the title didn't exist in the late 1480s.

---

Quotes

Opening tune singer: 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 vole / His pot is blacker than his kettle / Black Adder, Black Adder, with many a cunning plan / Black Adder, Black Adder, you horrid ...

---

Crazy Credits

A ballad in mock praise of Blackadder plays over the closing credits.

---

Connections

Referenced in Comic Relief 2003: The Big Hair Do (2003)

User Reviews

Why not Sir Rowan?

I love Rowan Atkinson. I think he's the best contemporary British comedian around. Rowan has a great talent especially playing Edmund Black Adder. Edmund, the Black Adder, begins the series in the Black Plague or Black Death. The second series is a lot better with Queen Elizabeth I played by the wonderful Miranda Richardson (I wondered what happened to her). This role was before her Oscar nominating role in Damage. She is hysterical as the Virgin Queen which I bet is the funniest Queen Elizabeth I in history. I love the costumes, the language. The series got better as it went along. I loved Hugh Laurie as the dumb prince. Tony Robinson as Baldrick always made me laugh. The Black Adder kept moving on until World War II. Don't you think it's time that Rowan Atkinson became knighted.