Blackadder the Third
Blackadder the Third | |
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BBC 1 | |
Release | 17 September 22 October 1987 | –
Related | |
Blackadder the Third
The successor to
A fourth and final series, Blackadder Goes Forth, aired in 1989.
Plot
Blackadder the Third is vaguely set in the late 18th and early 19th century period known as the
In the series,
Baldrick (Tony Robinson) remains similar to his Blackadder II predecessor, and although his "cunning plans" cease to be even remotely intelligent (except in the last episode), he is the most aware of political, religious and social events. As Blackadder himself is now a servant, Baldrick is labelled as Blackadder's "dogsbody". In this series, Baldrick often displays a more belligerent attitude towards his master, even referring to him once as a "lazy, big-nosed, rubber-faced bastard" or deliberately comparing his face to his cousin, MacAdder, who Blackadder openly believes to be ugly. Blackadder often affectionately calls him "Balders" (and Baldrick sometimes calls Blackadder "Mr. B.").
There are three main sets: the Prince's quarters, which are opulently decorated; the below-stairs kitchen hangout of Blackadder and Baldrick, which is dark and squalid (though, in fairness, very large and with a very high ceiling); and finally
The plots feature
The last episode features Rowan Atkinson as Blackadder's Scottish cousin MacAdder, supposedly a fierce swordsman. This leads to a dialogue in which Atkinson is acting both parts. After this episode, Blackadder finds fortune and ends up (permanently) posing as the Prince Regent after the real prince, disguised as Blackadder, dies after being fatally shot in the chest by the Duke of Wellington.
Episodes
The series aired for six episodes broadcast on Thursdays at 9:30 pm on
No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Recorded date | Original air date | |
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13 | 1 | "Dish and Dishonesty" | Mandie Fletcher | Richard Curtis & Ben Elton | 19 June 1987[5] | 17 September 1987 | |
Edmund attempts to win an by-election in the rotten borough of Dunny-on-the-Wold against the petulant teenager William Pitt the Younger (who plans to bankrupt Blackadder's master, the Prince Regent), using Baldrick (later known as Mr. S Baldrick, the initial letter standing for "Sodoff") as the MP. Unfortunately, after Baldrick wins, he votes for Pitt, pushing Blackadder to meddle with politics even further.
Featuring Vincent Hanna as "his own great-great-grandfather". | |||||||
14 | 2 | "Ink and Incapability" | Mandie Fletcher | Richard Curtis & Ben Elton | 5 June 1987[6] | 24 September 1987 | |
The Prince decides to become patron of Dr. Samuel Johnson and his new dictionary , until they become enemies. When Blackadder discovers that Baldrick has burnt Dr. Johnson's dictionary and Johnson has no copy, Blackadder must rewrite the dictionary.
Guest starring Robbie Coltrane as Dr. Johnson. | |||||||
15 | 3 | "Nob and Nobility" | Mandie Fletcher | Richard Curtis & Ben Elton | 10 July 1987[7] | 1 October 1987 | |
Irritated by the new obsession with all things French, Blackadder makes a bet with Lords Topper and Smedley and goes out to rescue an aristocrat and claim his 1,000 guineas. Guest starring Tim McInnerny, Nigel Planer and Chris Barrie. Note: Despite this being the third episode in the series, this was actually the last one to be filmed. | |||||||
16 | 4 | "Sense and Senility" | Mandie Fletcher | Richard Curtis & Ben Elton | 12 June 1987[8] | 8 October 1987 | |
When an assassination attempt is made on the Prince, Blackadder decides to help him with his image by writing a public speech. Against Blackadder's advice, the Prince employs two over-the-top actors, Enoch Mossop and David Keanrick, to coach him on how to give the speech. Guest starring Hugh Paddick, Kenneth Connor and Ben Elton. | |||||||
17 | 5 | "Amy and Amiability" | Mandie Fletcher | Richard Curtis & Ben Elton | 26 June 1987[9] | 15 October 1987 | |
When the Prince runs out of money, Edmund attempts to marry him off to the daughter of a rich industrialist, but is thwarted at every turn by the mysterious highwayman "The Shadow". Guest appearances by Miranda Richardson as Amy Hardwood and Warren Clarke as Mr Hardwood. | |||||||
18 | 6 | "Duel and Duality" | Mandie Fletcher | Richard Curtis & Ben Elton | 3 July 1987[10] | 22 October 1987 | |
The Duke of Wellington promises to kill the Prince in a duel after the Prince hangs out with the Duke's nieces. Baldrick comes up with a plan involving Blackadder taking the Prince's place in the duel, and Blackadder intends on using his mad Scottish cousin, MacAdder.
Guest starring Stephen Fry as the Duke. |
Cast
- Edmund Blackadder
- Tony Robinson as Baldrick
- George, Prince Regent
- Mrs Miggins
Although this series reduced the size of the show's cast, the programme featured guest appearances in each episode.
Music and titles
The opening theme is this time a
Awards
The programme won a
Media releases
Blackadder The Third is available on
VHS releases
- In March 1989, BBC Enterprises Ltd released all six episodes of Blackadder the Third on two videos (the tapes were copyrighted 1988). They were re-released on 7 September 1992 as a double VHS, and on 2 October 1995 as a single video.
VHS video title | Year of release/BBFC rating | Episodes |
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Blackadder The Third- Dish and Dishonesty (BBCV 4142) | 6 March 1989 (PG) | Dish and Dishonesty, Ink and Incapability, Nob and Nobility |
Blackadder The Third- Sense and Senility (BBCV 4143) | 6 March 1989 (15) | Sense and Senility, Amy and Amibility, Duel and Duality |
The Complete Blackadder the Third (Double Pack) (BBCV 4786) | 7 September 1992 (15) | TAPE 1: Dish and Dishonesty, Ink and Incapability, Nob and Nobility, TAPE 2: Sense and Senility, Amy and Amibility, Duel and Duality |
Blackadder the Third- The Entire Historic Third Series (BBCV 5713) | 2 October 1995 (15) | Same as 'The Complete Blackadder the Third' but with all 6 episodes on a single video: Dish and Dishonesty, Ink and Incapability, Nob and Nobility, Sense and Senility, Amy and Amiability, Duel and Duality |
DVD releases
DVD Title | DVD Content | Region 1 | Region 2 | Region 4 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Blackadder 3 |
Complete third series, no extras. | 26 June 2001 |
5 February 2001 |
28 February 2002
|
The Complete Blackadder | All four series, no extras. |
N/A |
12 November 2001 |
3 October 2002
|
Blackadder – The Complete Collection | All four series and specials, no extras. |
26 June 2001 |
3 October 2005 |
N/A
|
Blackadder Remastered – The Ultimate Edition | All four series and specials remastered, plus Blackadder Rides Again documentary, audio commentaries on selected episodes and interviews with cast. | 20 October 2009 |
15 June 2009 |
1 October 2009
|
References
- ^ Presented as "Black Adder The Third" on the title screen, but referred to as one word by the BBC
- ^ Lewisohn, Mark, Blackadder the Third at the former BBC Guide to Comedy. Retrieved 3 June 2007
- ^ a b c "Television Nominations 1988". British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Archived from the original on 17 February 2008. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
- ^ BBC Genome listing, 15 October 1987
- ^ https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/photos/blackadder-the-third-dish-and-dishonesty Filming date included with description(s).
- ^ https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/photos/blackadder-the-third-ink-and-incapability Filming date included with description(s).
- ^ https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/photos/blackadder-the-third-nob-and-nobility Filming date included with description(s).
- ^ https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/photos/blackadder-the-third-sense-and-senility Filming date included with description(s).
- ^ https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/photos/blackadder-the-third-amy-and-amiability Filming date included with description(s).
- ^ https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/photos/blackadder-the-third-duel-and-duality Filming date included with description(s).
- ^ a b Trivia at IMDb.com. Retrieved 3 June 2007
- ^ Official Howard Goodall website Archived 5 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 17 March 2007
- ^ Awards at IMDb. Retrieved 4 April 2008
- ^ The final top-ten of Britain’s Best Sitcom. Retrieved 4 April 2008
- ^ BBC Radio Collection (7 July 2003). Blackadder Goes Forth (CD). London: BBC Audiobooks Ltd.
- ^ Apple iTunes Store (2010). Blackadder Goes Forth. BBC Worldwide (aac codec). London.
- ISBN 978-0-7181-4372-5.
External links
- Blackadder the Third (1987) at IMDb
- Blackadder the Third at the former BBC Guide to Comedy (archive)
- Blackadder the Third at the new BBC Comedy Guide