Blackadder
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Blackadder | |
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BBC1 | |
Release | 15 June 1983 2 November 1989 | –
Blackadder is a series of four
).The first series,
Premise
Each series is set in a different period of British history, beginning in 1485 and ending in 1917, and comprises six half-hour episodes. Blackadder follows the misfortunes of Edmund Blackadder (played by Atkinson), who in each series is a member of the same British family dynasty. It is implied in each series that the Blackadder character is a descendant of the previous one (the end theme lyrics of series 2 episode "Head" specify that he is the great-grandson of the previous), although it is never specified how or when any of the Blackadders (who are usually bachelors) managed to father children.[4] In series one, Edmund Blackadder is not particularly bright, and is much the intellectual inferior of his servant, Baldrick (played by
The first series, made in 1983, was called
Episodes
Series | Episodes | Originally aired | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
First aired | Last aired | |||
Pilot | -- | |||
1 | 6 | 15 June 1983 | 20 July 1983 | |
2 | 6 | 9 January 1986 | 20 February 1986 | |
3 | 6 | 17 September 1987 | 22 October 1987 | |
4 | 6 | 28 September 1989 | 2 November 1989 | |
Specials | 3 | 5 February 1988 | 31 December 1999 |
Series 1: The Black Adder
The Black Adder, the first series of Blackadder, was written by
Set in 1485 at the end of the
Conceived while Atkinson and Curtis were working on
Series 2: Blackadder II
Blackadder II is set in
Following the BBC's request for improvements (and a severe budget reduction), several changes were made. The second series was the first to establish the familiar Blackadder character: cunning, shrewd and witty, in sharp contrast to the first series' bumbling
A quote from this series ranked number three in a list of the top 25 television "putdowns" of the last 40 years by the Radio Times magazine: "The eyes are open, the mouth moves, but Mr. Brain has long since departed, hasn't he, Percy?"[5]
Series 3: Blackadder the Third
Blackadder the Third is set in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, a period known as the
As well as Rowan Atkinson and Tony Robinson in their usual roles, this series starred
Series 4: Blackadder Goes Forth
This series is set in 1917, on the
The series' tone is somewhat darker than the other Blackadders; it details the privations of trench warfare as well as the incompetence and life-wasting strategies of the top brass. For example, Baldrick is reduced to cooking rats and making coffee from mud, while General Melchett hatches a plan for the troops to walk very slowly toward the German lines, because "it'll be the last thing Fritz will expect."
The final episode, "
Specials
Pilot episode
The Blackadder pilot was shot but never broadcast on TV in the UK (although some scenes were shown in the 25th anniversary special Blackadder Rides Again). One notable difference in the pilot, as in many pilots, is the casting. Baldrick is played not by Tony Robinson, but by Philip Fox. Another significant difference is that the character of Prince Edmund presented in the pilot is much closer to the intelligent, conniving Blackadder of the later series than the snivelling, weak buffoon of the original. Set in the year 1582, the script of the pilot is roughly the same as the episode "Born to Be King", albeit with some different jokes, with some lines appearing in other episodes of the series.[6]
UKTV Gold broadcast the pilot on 15 June 2023, as part of an 80-minute special hosted by Sir Tony Robinson and featuring interviews with Ben Elton and Richard Curtis.[7]
Blackadder: The Cavalier Years
This special, set in the
Blackadder's Christmas Carol
The second special was broadcast on Friday 23 December 1988. In a twist on
Blackadder: Back & Forth
Blackadder: Back & Forth was originally shown in the
The Big Night In
Broadcast in 2020 as part of
Live stage performances
In 1998, as part of
In 2000, on the BBC's annual Royal Variety Performance, Atkinson portrayed Blackadder as a present-day officer in "Her Majesty's Royal Regiment of Shirkers" and delivered a monologue titled "Blackadder: The Army Years", proposing that Britain regain her former greatness by invading (or at least buying) France.[10]
In 2012, as part of the Prince's Trust charity show We Are Most Amused, Atkinson and Robinson reprised their roles as Blackadder and Baldrick in a comedy sketch featuring Miranda Hart as leader of a government inquiry into the recent banking crisis. Blackadder, chief executive of a fictional British bank, appearing with Baldrick as his gardener, convinces the panel to publicly blame the entire crisis on Baldrick, to the latter's consternation.[11]
Red Nose Day 2023
Baldrick (Tony Robinson) returned in 2023 for a
Chronological order
Title | Type | Production / air date | Set in century |
---|---|---|---|
The Black Adder (pilot) |
Pilot | 1982 (unaired) | 16th |
The Black Adder | Series | 1983 | 15th |
Blackadder II | Series | 1986 | 16th |
Blackadder the Third | Series | 1987 | 18th–19th |
Blackadder: The Cavalier Years | Comic Relief Special | 1988 | 17th |
Children in Need[13] | Special | 1988 | Unclear (anachronistic) |
Clown Court[14] |
Special | 1988 | Unclear (anachronistic) |
Blackadder's Christmas Carol | Christmas Special | 1988 | 19th |
Woman's Hour Invasion[15] | Radio | 1988 | 20th, Various |
Blackadder Goes Forth | Series | 1989 | 20th |
Blackadder and the King's Birthday[16] |
Sketch | 1998 | 17th |
Blackadder: Back & Forth | Millennium Special | 1999 | 20th, Various |
Blackadder: The Army Years[17] |
Theatre | 2000 | 21st |
The Royal Gardener/The Jubilee Girl (for the Party at the Palace ) |
Sketch | 2002 | 21st |
Blackadder Exclusive: The Whole Rotten Saga |
Documentary | 2008 | n/a |
Blackadder Rides Again |
Documentary | 2008 | n/a |
CEO of Melchett, Melchett and Darling Inquiry[18]
|
Theatre | 2012 | 21st |
The Big Night In | Sketch | 2020 | 21st |
Production
Series development
Rowan Atkinson and Richard Curtis developed the idea for the sitcom while working on
The first series was odd, it was very extravagant. It cost a million pounds for the six programmes ... [which] was a lot of money to spend ... It looked great, but it wasn't as consistently funny as we would have liked.[19]
Due to the high cost of the first series, the then-controller of programming of
A chance meeting between Richard Curtis and comedian
Only in the Back & Forth millennium special was the shooting once again on location, because this was a production with a budget estimated at £3 million, and was a joint venture between Tiger Aspect, Sky Television, the New Millennium Experience Company and the BBC, rather than the BBC alone.[25][26][27]
Casting
Each series tended to feature the same set of regular actors in different period settings, although throughout the four series and specials, only Blackadder and Baldrick were constant characters. Several regular cast members recurred as characters with similar names, implying, like Blackadder, that they were descendants.
Recurring cast
Various actors have appeared in more than one of the Blackadder series and/or specials. These are:
Main cast
- Rowan Atkinson as Edmund Blackadder, the series' protagonist.
- Tony Robinson as S. Baldrick, his servant.
- General Melchett, a blustering buffoon and presumed descendant in series four. Fry also appeared as Arthur Wellesley, The Duke of Wellington in series three and as various characters in Blackadder Back & Forth.
- Le Comte de Frou Frou) for one episode in the third series, and reprised his role as Darling in Blackadder: Back & Forth.
- The Prince Regent, and later Lieutenant George in series four. Laurie also appeared twice in series two; firstly as Simon "Farters Parters" Partridge or "Mr. Ostrich" in the episode, "Beer", and then as Prince Ludwig the Indestructible in "Chains", the final instalment episode of Blackadder II. He reprised his role as George in Blackadder: Back & Forth.
- Amy and Amiability" in the third series and Mary Fletcher-Brown, a dutiful nurse in "General Hospital" from the fourth. She reappeared as Queenie and additional characters in Christmas Carol and Back and Forth.
Non-recurring cast
- Brian Blessed, Elspet Gray and Robert East appeared in all six episodes of the first series as the Black Adder's father, mother and brother respectively. Gray had also appeared in the non-broadcast pilot.
- Patsy Byrne played Nursie in all six episodes of Blackadder II, but never featured in either of the subsequent series, either as a regular character or one-off. She briefly reprised the character in Blackadder: Back & Forth and Blackadder's Christmas Carol.
- Mrs. Miggins in all six episodes of Blackadder the Third, but did not appear again in the series, although the character was mentioned several times in Blackadder II and in the final episode of Blackadder Goes Forth.
Guest cast
Ben Elton's arrival after the first series heralded the more frequent recruitment of comic actors from the alternative comedy era for guest appearances, including Robbie Coltrane, Rik Mayall (who had appeared in the final episode of the first series as "Mad Gerald"), Adrian Edmondson, Nigel Planer, Mark Arden, Stephen Frost, Chris Barrie and Jeremy Hardy. Elton himself played an anarchist in Blackadder the Third.
More established actors, some at the veteran stage of their careers, were also recruited for roles. These included
Unusually for a sitcom based loosely on factual events and in the historical past, a man was recruited for one episode essentially to play himself. Political commentator
Theme tune
Howard Goodall's theme tune has the same melody throughout all the series, but is played in roughly the style of the period in which it is set. It is performed mostly with trumpets and timpani in The Black Adder, the fanfares used suggesting typical medieval court fanfares; with a combination of recorder, string quartet and electric guitar in Blackadder II (the end theme, with different lyrics each time reflecting on the episode's events, was sung by a countertenor); on oboe, cello and harpsichord (in the style of a minuet) for Blackadder the Third; by The Band of the 3rd Battalion, Royal Anglian Regiment in Blackadder Goes Forth; sung by carol singers in Blackadder's Christmas Carol; and by an orchestra in Blackadder: The Cavalier Years and Blackadder: Back & Forth.[28]
Awards
In 2000, the fourth series,
Future
Despite regular statements denying any plans for a fifth series, cast members are regularly asked about the possibility of a new series.
In January 2005, Tony Robinson told ITV's This Morning that Rowan Atkinson was more keen than he has been in the past to do a fifth series, set in the 1960s (centred on a rock band called the "Black Adder Five", with Baldrick – a.k.a. 'Bald Rick' – as the drummer). In the documentary Blackadder Rides Again, Robinson stated that the series would present Blackadder as the bastard son of Queen Elizabeth II and running a Beatles-like rock band. Rowan Atkinson, Tony Robinson, Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry, Tim McInnerny and Miranda Richardson would have reprised their roles, and reportedly, Brian Blessed, Elspet Gray and Robert East would have returned from the first series to play Blackadder's biological family. Robinson in a stage performance 1 June 2007, again mentioned this idea, but in the context of a movie.[30]
One idea mentioned by Curtis was that it was Baldrick who had accidentally
there have been no further announcements from the BBC that a new series is being planned. Furthermore, in November 2005, Rowan Atkinson told BBC Breakfast that, although he would very much like to do a new series set in Colditz or another prisoner-of-war camp during World War II, something which both he and Stephen Fry reiterated at the end of Blackadder Rides Again, the chances of it happening are extremely slim.[33]There were a couple of ideas that had previously floated for the fifth series. Batadder was intended to be a parody of
On 10 April 2007, Hello! reported that Atkinson was moving forward with his ideas for a fifth series. He said, "I like the idea of him being a prisoner of war in Colditz. That would have the right level of authority and hierarchy which is apparent in all the Blackadders."[35]
A post on BlackAdderHall.com by Ben Elton in early 2007 said that Blackadder would return in some form, whether it be a TV series or film. Elton has since not given any more information on the putative Blackadder 5.[citation needed]
During an interview in August 2007 about his film Mr. Bean's Holiday, Atkinson was asked about the possibility of a further Blackadder series, to which the simple reply "No, no chance" was given:
There was a plan for a film set in the
Russian revolution, a very interesting one called The Red Adder. He would have been a lieutenant in the Secret Police. Then the revolution happened and at the end he is in the same office doing the same job but just the colours on his uniform have changed. It was quite a sweet idea and we got quite a long way with it but in the end it died a death.[citation needed]
Stephen Fry has expressed the view that, since the series went out on such a good "high", a film might not be a good idea.[36]
During his June 2007 stage performance, chronicled on the Tony Robinson's Cunning Night Out DVD, Robinson states that, after filming the Back & Forth special, the general idea was to reunite for another special in 2010. Robinson jokingly remarked that Hugh Laurie's success on House may make that difficult.[citation needed]
On 28 November 2012, Rowan Atkinson reprised the role at the "We are most amused" comedy gala for the Prince's Trust at the Royal Albert Hall. He was joined by Tony Robinson as Baldrick. The sketch involved Blackadder as CEO of Melchett, Melchett and Darling bank facing an enquiry over the banking crisis.[37]
In August 2015, Tony Robinson said in an interview "I do think a new series of Blackadder is on the cards. I have spoken to virtually all the cast about this now. The only problem is Hugh [Laurie]'s fee. He's a huge star now."[38] However, in October 2018, Richard Curtis "dashed hopes" that the show would return for a fifth series.[39]
In December 2020, Rowan Atkinson told the Radio Times:
I don't actually like the process of making anything – with the possible exception of Blackadder. Because the responsibility for making that series funny was on many shoulders, not just mine. Blackadder represented the creative energy we all had in the '80s. To try to replicate that 30 years on wouldn't be easy.[40]
Home media
All series and many of the specials are available on VHS tapes, DVD & BluRay. Many are also available on BBC audio cassette. As of 2008, a "Best of BBC" edition box set is available containing all four major series together with Blackadder's Christmas Carol and Back & Forth. All four series and the Christmas special are also available for download on iTunes.
VHS releases
On 5 February 1990, BBC Enterprises Ltd released the first series on two single VHS tapes.
VHS video title | Year of release | Episodes | BBFC rating |
---|---|---|---|
The Blackadder: The Foretelling (BBCV 4293) | 5 February 1990 | The Foretelling, Born to Be King, the Archbishop | PG |
The Blackadder: The Queen of Spain's Beard (BBCV 4296) | 5 February 1990 | The Queen of Spain's Beard, Witchsmeller Pursuivant, The Black Seal | 15 |
On 2 October 1989, BBC Enterprises Ltd released the second series on two single VHS tapes.
VHS video title | Year of release | Episodes | BBFC rating |
---|---|---|---|
Blackadder II: Parte the Firste (BBCV 4298) | 2 October 1989 | Bells, Head, Potato | PG |
Blackadder II: Parte the Seconde (BBCV 4299) | 2 October 1989 | Money, Beer, Chains | 15 |
On 6 March 1989, BBC Enterprises Ltd released the third series on two single VHS tapes.
VHS video title | Year of release | Episodes | BBFC rating |
---|---|---|---|
Blackadder The Third: Dish and Dishonesty (BBCV 4142) | 6 March 1989 | Dish and Dishonesty, Ink and Incapability, Nob and Nobility | PG |
Blackadder The Third: Sense and Senility (BBCV 4143) | 6 March 1989 | Sense and Senility, Amy and Amibility, Duel and Duality | 15 |
On 10 September 1990, BBC Enterprises Ltd released the fourth and final series on two single VHS tapes.
VHS video title | Year of release | Episodes | BBFC rating |
---|---|---|---|
Blackadder Goes Forth: Captain Cook (BBCV 4349) | 10 September 1990 | Captain Cook, Corporal Punishment, Major Star | PG |
Blackadder Goes Forth: Private Plane (BBCV 4350) | 10 September 1990 | Private Plane, General Hospital, Goodbyeee | 15 |
On 7 September 1992, all eight single Blackadder video releases were re-released as four "complete" double VHS releases. The four entire series videos were re-released as single VHS tape releases on 2 October 1995.
VHS video title | Year of release/Cat No. (Double Video) | Year of release/Cat No. (Single Video) | Episodes | BBFC rating |
---|---|---|---|---|
The Blackadder- The Complete Entire Historic First Series | 7 September 1992 (BBCV 4782) | 2 October 1995 (BBCV 5711) | The Foretelling, Born to Be King, the Archbishop, The Queen of Spain's Beard, Witchsmeller Pursuivant, The Black Seal | 15 |
Blackadder II- The Complete Entire Historic Second Series | 7 September 1992 (BBCV 4785) | 2 October 1995 (BBCV 5712) | Bells, Head, Potato, Money, Beer, Chains | 15 |
Blackadder the Third- The Complete Entire Historic Third Series | 7 September 1992 (BBCV 4786) | 2 October 1995 (BBCV 5713) | Dish and Dishonesty, Ink and Incapability, Nob and Nobility, Sense and Senility, Amy and Amibility, Duel and Duality | 15 |
Blackadder Goes Forth- The Complete Entire Historic Fourth Series | 7 September 1992 (BBCV 4787) | 2 October 1995 (BBCV 5714) | Captain Cook, Corporal Punishment, Major Star, Private Plane, General Hospital, Goodbyeee | 15 |
On 5 January 1998, five episodes of the first two series were released on a 15-rated VHS tape compilation by BBC Worldwide Ltd.
VHS video title | Year of release | Episodes |
---|---|---|
The Very Best of Blackadder (BBCV 6360) | 5 January 1998 | Series 1, Episode 3: "The Archbishop" Series 1, Episode 4: "The Queen of Spain's Beard" Series 2, Episode 1: "Bells" Series 2, Episode 2: "Head" Series 2, Episode 6: "Chains" |
On 4 November 1991, Blackadder's Christmas Carol was released on a single VHS tape release rated PG (Cat. No. BBCV 4646).
Single DVD releases
DVD title | Region 1 | Region 2 | Region 4 |
---|---|---|---|
Series 1 The Black Adder |
26 June 2001 | 1 November 1999 | 29 November 1999 |
Series 2 Blackadder II |
26 June 2001 | 6 November 2000 | 11 July 2001 |
Series 3 Blackadder the Third |
26 June 2001 | 5 February 2001 | 3 October 2001 |
Series 4 Blackadder Goes Forth |
26 June 2001 | 22 October 2001 | 28 February 2002 |
Special 1 "Blackadder's Christmas Carol" |
26 June 2001 | 18 November 2002 | 4 November 2002 |
Special 2 "Blackadder: Back & Forth" |
26 June 2001 | 15 September 2003 | 11 November 2004 |
Box set DVD releases
DVD title | DVD content | Region 1 | Region 2 | Region 4 |
---|---|---|---|---|
The Complete Blackadder – All Four Series | Blackadder The Third Blackadder Goes Forth |
— | 12 November 2001 | 3 October 2002 |
Blackadder – The Complete Series | Blackadder The Third Blackadder Goes Forth Blackadder's Christmas Carol Blackadder: Back & Forth Blackadder: The Cavalier Years |
26 June 2001 | 3 October 2005 | — |
Blackadder Remastered – The Ultimate Edition | The Black Adder (Remastered) Blackadder II (Remastered) Blackadder the Third (Remastered) Blackadder Goes Forth (Remastered) Blackadder's Christmas Carol (Remastered) Blackadder: Back & Forth (Remastered) Blackadder: The Cavalier Years (Remastered) Blackadder Rides Again +Audio Commentary +Interviews |
20 October 2009 | 15 June 2009 | 1 October 2009 |
LP box set
On 19 Oktober 2022 there was an announcement that there will be a LP box set release and collects the Blackadder soundtracks on vinyl for the first time. The deluxe 12-disc LP collection with the title Blackadder's Historical Record was pressed on gold-couloured 140g vinyl, and released on 10 February 2023 by
Stamps
Royal Mail issued a set of special stamps celebrating Blackadder on 17 May 2023.[41][42]
References
- ^ "100 Greatest TV Characters". Channel 4. Archived from the original on 31 May 2009. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
- ^ a b "The 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time – Number 20: Blackadder". Empire. Archived from the original on 19 March 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2009.
- ^ Pingitore, Silvia (5 July 2022). "The shortest interview ever with Mr Bean star Rowan Atkinson". Retrieved 3 July 2023.
- ^ Blackadder at British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 25 July 2010
- ^ "TV's top 25 put-downs published". 26 February 2008. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ^ "The Pilot Episode". Blackadderhall.com. 20 June 1982. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
- ^ "Blackadder pilot to be broadcast for the first time". British Comedy Guide. 21 April 2023.
- ^ "BBC Big Night In: All the talking points, from Little Britain's controversial comeback to Prince William's comedy sketch". The Independent. 24 April 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
- ^ "The King's Birthday". Archived from the original on 23 November 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2020 – via YouTube.
- ^ "BIackadder, The Army Years. Royal Variety Performance 2000". Archived from the original on 23 November 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2020 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Blackadder 2012 (subs)". Archived from the original on 23 November 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2020 – via YouTube.
- ^ Guide, British Comedy (14 February 2023). "Blackadder revival for Comic Relief". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- ^ J.F. Roberts, The True History of the Black Adder: The Unadulterated Tale of the Creation of a Comedy Legend (Preface publishing, 2000) 253–254.
- ^ "Clown Court on Blackadder Hall". 13 October 2011.
- ^ "The Woman's Hour invasion on Blackadder Hall". 12 October 2011.
- ^ "The King's Birthday on Blackadder Hall". 12 October 2011.
- ^ "The Army Years on Blackadder Hall". 12 October 2011.
- ^ "The 2012 sketch on Blackadder Hall". 29 November 2012.
- ^ a b I Have a Cunning Plan – 20th Anniversary of Blackadder, BBC Radio 4 documentary broadcast 23 August 2003. Excerpts available at bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 17 April 2008
- ^ Interview at Blackadder Hall. Retrieved 17 April 2008 Archived 27 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Alnwick Castle official website. Retrieved 2 June 2008 Archived 28 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 17 April 2008
- BBC Guide to Comedy. Retrieved 17 April 2008
- ^ Britain's Best Sitcom – Blackadder, 2004 BBC Television documentary, presented by John Sergeant
- ^ Blackadder's millennium duel, BBC News, Friday, 13 August 1999
- ^ 'Black to the Future – Interview with Tony Robinson' in Skyview, January 2000 Archived 27 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Trivia at the Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 20 April 2008
- ^ "List of Musicians and Singers who Played or Sang on Blackadder and Red Dwarf Themes". Howardgoodall.co.uk. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
- ^ "The Final Top 10 Sitcoms". BBC. March 2004.
- ^ "Rowan Atkinson reveals details of "Redadder" - the Russian Revolution-themed Blackadder that never was". Radio Times. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
- ^ "Richard Curtis: Blackadder was lined up to be Sixties entrepreneur". The Sunday Telegraph. 12 October 2008. Archived from the original on 15 October 2008. Retrieved 12 October 2008.
- ^ "Faces of the week: Richard Curtis". BBC News. 3 June 2005. Retrieved 6 February 2008.
... Rowan Atkinson, whose collaborations with Curtis include television and cinema's Mr Bean and TV's Blackadder, which is to enjoy a fifth series next year.
- ^ theoldonearethebest (5 September 2011), Blackadder Rides Again Documentary pt 6 6, archived from the original on 17 January 2018, retrieved 18 January 2017
- ^ "Black Adder Program Guide". Archived from the original on 20 November 2012. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
- ^ "Rowan toys with idea of 'Blackadder' return". HelloMagazine.co.uk. 10 April 2007. Retrieved 6 February 2008.
- ^ "Atkinson Developing "Black Adder" Film", Darkhorizons.com
- ^ Logan, Brian (29 November 2012). "We Are Most Amused – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
- ^ "Blackadder new series on the cards, says Tony Robinson". The Guardian. 24 August 2015.
- ^ "Curtis reveals why Blackadder will not return". 16 October 2018.
- ^ McGeorge, Alistair (5 January 2021). "Rowan Atkinson doesn't enjoy playing Mr Bean but he's still returning for film". Metro. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
- ^ "Blackadder's 40th anniversary celebrated with new stamps". BBC News. 12 May 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
- ^ "Blackadder". CollectGBStamps. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
Literature
- Richard Curtis, Ben Elton, and Rowan Atkinson, Blackadder: The Whole Damn Dynasty 1485–1917 (Michael Joseph, 1998). ISBN 0-7181-4372-8. Being the – almost – complete scripts of the four regular series.
- Chris Howarth, and Steve Lyons, Cunning: The Blackadder Programme Guide (Virgin Publishing, 2002). ISBN 0-7535-0447-2. A cheap unofficial episode guide.
- Richard Curtis and Ben Elton, Blackadder: Back & Forth (Penguin Books, 2000). ISBN 0-14-029135-0. A script book with copious photographs from the most recent outing, and additional material from Kevin Cecil & Andy Riley.
- J.F. Roberts, The True History of the Black Adder: The Unadulterated Tale of the Creation of a Comedy Legend (Preface publishing, 2012). ISBN 978-1-84809-346-1. A 420-page officially endorsed full history of the Blackadder episodes and characters, as well as its birth, its writers and actors, and all the specials – plus Curtis' script for unproduced Christmas special 'Blackadder In Bethlehem'.