Scripted series · BBC One
Blackadder
The most gripping sitcom since 1380.
Who's in it
Cast
The principal ensemble across the run of the series.
Rowan Atkinson
Edmund Blackadder
24 eps
Tony Robinson
Baldrick
24 eps
Brian Blessed
King Richard IV
6 eps
Elspet Gray
The Queen
6 eps
Robert East
Harry Prince of Wales
6 eps
Patsy Byrne
Nursie
6 eps
Helen Atkinson-Wood
Mrs. Miggins
6 eps
Frank Finlay
The Witchsmeller Pursuivant
1 eps
Patrick Malahide
Guy of Glastonbury
1 eps
Alex Norton
McAngus, Duke of Argyll
1 eps
Paul Brooke
Friar Bellows
1 eps
Peter Cook
Richard III
1 eps
Jim Broadbent
Don Speekingleesh, an Interpreter
1 eps
Tim McInnerny
Lord Percy
19 eps
Stephen Fry
Lord Melchett
13 eps
Hugh Laurie
The Prince Regent
14 eps
Tony Aitken
Minstrel
7 eps
Patrick Allen
Narrator
7 eps
Miriam Margolyes
Infanta Maria Escalosa of Spain
2 eps
Miranda Richardson
Queen Elizabeth I
8 eps
Ron Cook
Sean, the Irish
1 eps
Tom Baker
Captain Rum
1 eps
Ronald Lacey
Bishop of Bath & Wells
1 eps
Simon Jones
Sir Walter Raleigh
1 eps
Lesley Nicol
Mrs. Pants
1 eps
Robbie Coltrane
Dr. Samuel Johnson
1 eps
Stephen Frost
Soft, a Guard
3 eps
Nigel Planer
Lord Smedley
1 eps
Hugh Paddick
Keanrick
1 eps
Kenneth Connor
Mossup
1 eps
Ben Elton
Anarchist
1 eps
Warren Clarke
Mr. Hardwood
1 eps
Rik Mayall
Squadron Commander Lord Flasheart
3 eps
Barbara Horne
Sally Cheapside
1 eps
Roger Avon
The Duke of Cheapside
1 eps
Jeremy Hardy
Corporal Perkins
1 eps
Jeremy Gittins
Private Tipplewick
1 eps
Adrian Edmondson
Baron von Richtoven
1 eps
Hugo Blick
Lieutenant von Gerhardt
1 eps
Gabrielle Glaister
Driver Parkhurst
3 eps
The Nutevio profile
TV DNA
How Blackadder actually feels to watch, measured on the traits our editors track across every series.
Signature profile
Blackadder reads strongest on Bingeability, Humour and Character Depth.
How hard it is to stop after one episode.
How often the series is genuinely funny, by design.
How fully written and psychologically layered the ensemble is.
How much each hour depends on the one before it.
How often an episode ends on a hook you can't ignore.
The sustained pressure the series keeps you under.
How much the series is designed to affect you.
Visual ambition — scale, craft and set-piece filmmaking.
The scale, internal logic and texture of the world.
The story
What it's about
Blackadder traces the deeply cynical and self-serving lineage of various Edmund Blackadders throughout British history, from the muck of the Middle Ages to the frontline of The Great War.
The run
Seasons
4 seasons · 24 episodes.
Season 0 · Unannounced
Specials
33 episodes
Best episode · S00E02 Blackadder's Christmas Carol
Season 1 · Complete
The Black Adder
19836 episodes
7.1IMDbSet in 1485, King Richard III has won the Battle of Bosworth Field, only to be unintentionally assassinated, and is succeeded by Richard IV, one of the Princes in the Tower. The series follows the exploits of Richard IV's unfavoured second son Edmund in his various attempts to increase his standing with his father and in the final episode his quest to overthrow him.
Best episode · S01E04 The Queen of Spain's Beard
Season 2 · Complete
Blackadder II
19866 episodes
7.4IMDbIn the Tudor court of Elizabeth I, Lord Edmund Blackadder strives to win Her Majesty's favour while attempting to avoid a grisly fate should he offend her.
Best episode · S02E06 Chains
Season 3 · Complete
Blackadder the Third
19876 episodes
7.6IMDbIn the 19th century Regency era, Mr E. Blackadder serves as butler to the foppish numskull Prince George amidst the fads and crazes of the time.
Best episode · S03E06 Duel and Duality
Season 4 · Complete
Blackadder Goes Forth
19896 episodes
8.1IMDbBlackadder, Baldrick and George, in a trench in Flanders during World War I, attempt to escape from the trenches to avoid certain death under the misguided command of General Melchett.
Best episode · S04E06 Goodbyeee
Where the series peaks
Best Episodes
The hours that define the show, ranked by audience response and editorial signal.
S04E06
Goodbyeee
Blackadder tries everything he can think of to get sent back to England when orders come in to go over the top in the first charge against the Germans since 1914.
- Directed by Richard Boden
S04E02
Corporal Punishment
Edmund is sentenced to death by firing squad for shooting and eating the General's favourite carrier pigeon.
- Directed by Richard Boden
S04E04
Private Plane
Blackadder and the boys join the Royal Air Corps, where they are promptly shot down behind enemy lines.
- Directed by Richard Boden
S04E05
General Hospital
Blackadder is assigned to find the spy working out of the hospital.
- Directed by Richard Boden
S04E03
Major Star
Blackadder grabs yet another opportunity to return to England by organising a morale-raising music hall show, including Baldrick's Charlie Chaplin impersonation and George's appearance as a lady songstress who captures the General's heart.
- Directed by Richard Boden
S03E06
Duel and Duality
The Duke of Wellington has challenged the Prince to a duel for seducing his daughters and the Prince offers Blackadder anything he wants to take his place.
Recently aired
Latest Episodes
S00E21
Blackadder: A Cunning Story
S00E20
Blackadder: The Lost Pilot
S00E19
Red Nose Day Sketch
S00E31
Banker Sketch
S00E30
Blackadder & The Banking Crisis
S00E07
Tony Robinson in London
Behind the series
Created by
Showrunners, creators, executive producers and the writers who set the voice of the series.
The craft
Key Crew
Directing, writing, production, camera, music and editing.
Executive production
- John LloydProducer
Writing
- Richard CurtisWriter
- Ben EltonWriter
- Rowan AtkinsonWriter
Direction
- Mandie FletcherDirector
- Richard BodenDirector
- Martin ShardlowDirector
Music
- Howard GoodallOriginal Music Composer
Where to watch
Streaming
Availability verified against regional listings.
- Amazon Prime VideoStreaming
- Amazon VideoBuy
- Apple TV StoreBuy
- Peacock PremiumStreaming
- Britbox Apple TV Channel Streaming
- Fandango At HomeBuy
- BritBoxStreaming
- BritBox Amazon ChannelStreaming
- Amazon Prime Video with AdsStreaming
- Peacock Premium PlusStreaming
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Where to go from here
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Never stop watching
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