Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Rowan Atkinson | ... | Blackadders | |
Tony Robinson | ... | Baldricks | |
Miranda Richardson | ... | Queens Elizabeth I / Asphyxia XIX | |
Stephen Fry | ... | Lords Melchett / Frondo | |
Hugh Laurie | ... | Princes Regent / Pigmot | |
Robbie Coltrane | ... | Spirit of Christmas | |
Miriam Margolyes | ... | Queen Victoria | |
Jim Broadbent | ... | Prince Albert | |
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Patsy Byrne | ... | Nursie / Bernard |
Denis Lill | ... | Beadle | |
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Pauline Melville | ... | Mrs Scratchit |
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Philip Pope | ... | Lord Nelson |
Nicola Bryant | ... | Millicent | |
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Ramsay Gilderdale | ... | Ralph |
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David Barber | ... | Enormous Orphan |
In Victorian England, merchant Ebenezer Blackadder is a kind and generous man. He enjoys Christmas-time and is generous with friends and freely gives whatever he can to the poor. That night, he is visited by the Spirit of Christmas who shows him some of his less likeable ancestors. When shown the options for the future, he decides that being bad is the best way forward. Written by garykmcd
A fantastic idea, this one. Take the old chestnut 'A Christmas Carol', give it a shake-up, and turn it on its head.
Ebenezer Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson in fine form as ever) is a good guy, who gives away anything to anyone, and is truly chock-full of the Christmas spirit. Time for the Spirit of Christmas (a rip-roaring turn from Robbie Coltrane) to work his magic, invoke the spirits of Ebenezer's ancestors and descendants, and inform him of the errors of his ways.
We're reminded of Blackadder's former incarnations, in Tudor and Regency times, and of the cunning plans and twists of the long-gone relatives. We meet again with the likes of Queenie (Miranda Richardson), Melchett (Stephen Fry), Nursie (Patsy Byrne), and Prince George (Hugh Laurie). And of course the Cratchit character - Baldrick, who else! - suffers more and more as the story unfolds.
A scary turn from Miriam Margoyles and Jim Broadbent (Victoria and Albert), and a mind-boggling look into the distant future completes the transformation.
Not shown often enough, this is a real plum-pudding of a piece.