The Black Adder 

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, Brian Blessed, Elspet Gray

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
Patrick Allen	...	Narrator / ... 7 episodes, 1982-1983
Brian Blessed	...	King Richard IV / ... 6 episodes, 1983
Tony Robinson	...	Baldrick / ... 6 episodes, 1983
Robert East	...	Harry, Prince of Wales 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
Perry Benson	...	Daft Ned, A Peasant / ... 3 episodes, 1983
Alex Norton	...	McAngus / ... 2 episodes, 1982-1983
Forbes Collins	...	Dopey Jack, A Peasant / ... 2 episodes, 1983
Barbara Miller	...	Jane Firkettle / ... 2 episodes, 1983
Howard Lew Lewis	...	Mr. Applebottom / ... 2 episodes, 1983
Natasha King	...	Princess Leia of Hungary 2 episodes, 1983
Stephen Frost	...	Soft, A Guard 2 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 and the moronic Lord Percy, Edmund plots his rise to greatness.

---

Plot Keywords:

middle ages | british humour | civil war | late middle ages | prince | 

---

Taglines:

The most gripping sitcom since 1380.

---

Genres:

Comedy

---

Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Country:

UK Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 June 1982 (UK)

Also Known As:

Blackadder

Filming Locations:

BBC Television Centre, Wood Lane, Shepherd's Bush, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

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

Technical Specs

Runtime:

195 min 35 min (6 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

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.

---

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. In the 1480s, the King of England had no jurisdiction over Scotland, where Edinburgh is. Giving Edmund an anachronistic, geographically useless title is a joke, as explained in the DVD special features.

---

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

There is a statement in the closing credits: "Made in glorious television."

---

Connections

Referenced in The Graham Norton Show: Matthew Perry/Miriam Margolyes/Gemma Arterton/Jack Savoretti (2016)

User Reviews

A flawed precursor to better things

The first series of Black Adder reminds me a lot of Monty Python films - full of hilarious moments but somehow not quite all there as a whole. I'm not a huge Bean fan and there's too much Bean here for my liking.

On the other hand, the second, third and fourth Blackadder series represent some of the best British comedy around (different script writer) and so the first series is worth watching just to introduce the characters. Watch this, but don't be put off the others if you don't like it!