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    Blackadder the Third

    Sense and Senility

    • Episode aired Oct 8, 1987
    • TV-PGTV-PG
    • 24min
    IMDb RATING
    8.2/10
    782
    YOUR RATING
    S1.E4
    • S1
    • E4
    All episodes
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    • Cast & crew
    • User reviews
    • Trivia
    • IMDbPro
    Hugh Laurie in Blackadder the Third (1987)
    Comedy

    Following a failed assassination attempt, the Prince Regent hires two actors to tutor him in public speaking.Following a failed assassination attempt, the Prince Regent hires two actors to tutor him in public speaking.Following a failed assassination attempt, the Prince Regent hires two actors to tutor him in public speaking.

    IMDb RATING
    8.2/10
    782
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Mandie Fletcher
    • Writers
      • Richard Curtis(by)
      • Ben Elton(by)
    • Stars
      • Rowan Atkinson
      • Tony Robinson
      • Hugh Laurie
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Mandie Fletcher
    • Writers
      • Richard Curtis(by)
      • Ben Elton(by)
    • Stars
      • Rowan Atkinson
      • Tony Robinson
      • Hugh Laurie
    • See more at IMDbPro
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 8User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See production, box office & company info
  • Photos4

    Rowan Atkinson in Blackadder the Third (1987)
    Rowan Atkinson, Kenneth Connor, and Hugh Paddick in Blackadder the Third (1987)
    Hugh Laurie in Blackadder the Third (1987)
    Add image

    Top cast

    Edit
    Rowan Atkinson
    Rowan Atkinson
    • Edmund Blackadder, butler to the Princeas Edmund Blackadder, butler to the Prince
    Tony Robinson
    Tony Robinson
    • Baldrick, a dogsbodyas Baldrick, a dogsbody
    Hugh Laurie
    Hugh Laurie
    • The Prince Regent, their masteras The Prince Regent, their master
    Hugh Paddick
    • Keanrick, thespianas Keanrick, thespian
    Kenneth Connor
    Kenneth Connor
    • Mossop, thespianas Mossop, thespian
    • (as Mr. Kenneth Connor)
    Helen Atkinson Wood
    Helen Atkinson Wood
    • Mrs. Miggins, a coffee shoppekeeperas Mrs. Miggins, a coffee shoppekeeper
    • (as Mifs. Helen Atkinson-Wood)
    Ben Elton
    • Anarchistas Anarchist
    • (as Mr. Ben Elton)
    • Director
      • Mandie Fletcher
    • Writers
      • Richard Curtis(by)
      • Ben Elton(by)
    • All cast & crew
    See production, box office, & company info

    Storyline

    Edit
    The Prince Recent attends the theater, where he narrowly survives an assassination attempt. Shocked to learn that he is not loved by everyone in the country, he dispatches Edmund Blackadder to hire actors to educate him in speech and deportment. Blackadder is rightly worried about the consequences of this meeting, as the Prince seems incapable of understanding the concept of acting. —Murray Chapman
    assassination attemptrehearsaltied uphiding under a tablefoil14 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genre
      • Comedy
    • Certificate
      • TV-PG
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The character names of Mossop and Keanrick refer to three famous thespians of the 18th and 19th century: the Irish actor Henry Mossop (1729-1773), the English actor Edmund Kean (1789-1833), and the English actor David Garrick (1717-1779).
    • Goofs
      When Blackadder and George are at the theatre watching "Julius Caesar", electric lights can clearly be seen along the floor at the front of the stage.
    • Quotes

      Mossop: ...lest you continue in your quotations and mention the name of the "Scottish Play".

      Keanrick: Oh-ho... never fear, I shan't do that.

      Blackadder: By the "Scottish Play", I assume you mean *Macbeth*.

      Mossop, Keanrick: Aahhhhh. Hot potato, orchestra stalls, Puck will make amends.

      [They tweak each others nose]

      Mossop, Keanrick: Aaahh.

      Blackadder: What was that?

      Keanrick: We were exorcising evil spirits. Being but a mere butler, you will not know the great theatre tradition that one does *never* speak the name of the "Scottish Play".

      Blackadder: What, *Macbeth*?

      Mossop, Keanrick: Aahhhhh. Hot potato, orchestra stalls, Puck will make amends.

      [They tweak each others nose]

      Mossop, Keanrick: Ohhh.

      Blackadder: Good lord, you mean you have to do *that* every time I say *Macbeth*?

      Mossop, Keanrick: Aahhhhh. Hot potato, orchestra stalls, Puck will make amends.

      [They tweak each others nose]

      Mossop, Keanrick: Owwww.

      Mossop: Will you please stop saying *that*. Always call it the "Scottish Play".

      Blackadder: So you want me to say the "Scottish Play"?

      Mossop, Keanrick: [shout] Yes.

      Blackadder: Rather than *Macbeth*?

      Mossop, Keanrick: Aahhhhh. Hot potato, orchestra stalls, Puck will make amends.

      [They tweak each others nose]

      Mossop, Keanrick: Owwwwww.

      Prince George: For heaven's sake, what is all this hullabaloo, all this shouting and screaming and yelling blue murder? Why... it's like that play we saw the other day, what was it called... umm...

      Blackadder: *Macbeth*, sir?

      Mossop, Keanrick: Aahhhhh. Hot potato, orchestra stalls, Puck will make amends.

      [They are bowing toward the Prince, and must tweak their own noses]

      Mossop, Keanrick: Owwwwww.

      Prince George: No, no, it was called Julius Caesar.

      Blackadder: Ah, yes, of course. Julius Caesar... not *Macbeth*.

      Mossop, Keanrick: Aahhhhh. Hot potato, orchestra stalls, Puck will make amends.

      [They tweak each others nose]

      Mossop, Keanrick: Owwwwww.

    • Connections
      Featured in Blackadder Exclusive: The Whole Rotten Saga (2008)

    User reviews8

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Sense and Senility
    All the world's a stage for Blackadder. Unfortunately for the Prince Regent, an anarchist played Ben Elton tries to kill him.

    This is an arena that Ben Elton would revisit three decades later in Upstart Crow. The world of thespians.

    Blackadder hires two hammy actors to give the Prince some elocution lessons so he can give a sincere speech to the masses.

    It is notable that Blackadder is stressed out with being butler to a stupid Prince. He even looks for alternative job opportunities.

    It is also a bridging of a generation. Kenneth Connor and Hugh Paddick play the stage actors who find themselves wound up by Blackadder who keeps mentioning Macbeth.

    It is a funny episode, sharply satirical.
    helpful•0
    0
    • Prismark10
    • May 17, 2021

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 8, 1987 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Production company
      • British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      • 24min
    • Color
      • Color

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