Black Adder, The (BBC-1 1983, Rowan Atkinson, Tony Robinson)

Period sitcom and the first in the Blackadder saga.

Following the death of Richard III, the little known Richard IV, father of the weasally Edmund the Blackadder, takes the throne. Edmund Blackadder in this incarnation was not the quick witted type we came to know and love but was a cowardly, sniveling loser and both Baldrick and Percy were more intelligent in this series.

This series flopped badly and because it was very expensive to make there were to be no more episodes, but thanks to a bit of reworking the series came back as the all conquering Blackadder II.

There had been an in-house pilot made for the BBC in 1982, this was called Born To Be King, the title of the second episode broadcast, but it was quite different to the series that emerged the following year.

production details
UK / BBC One / 6×30 minute episodes / Broadcast 15 June – 20 July 1983 Wednesdays 9.25pm

Writers: Rowan Atkinson, Richard Curtis / Additional dialogue by William Shakespeare / Production Design: Nigel Curzon, Chris Hull / Music: Howard Goodall / Producer: John Lloyd / Director: Martin Shardlow

cast
Rowan Atkinson as Edmund
Tony Robinson as Baldrick
Tim McInnerny as Lord Percy
Elspet Gray as The Queen
Brian Blessed as The King, Richard IV
Robert East as Prince Harry

THE EPISODES
1. THE FORETELLING (15 Jun 83)
2. BORN TO BE KING (22 Jun 83)
3. THE ARCHBISHOP (29 Jun 83)
4. THE QUEEN OF SPAIN’S BEARD (6 Jul 83)
5. WITCHSMELLER PURSUIVANT (13 Jul 83)
6. THE BLACK SEAL (20 Jul 83)