The Blackadder Podcast

After four series and three specials we’ve come to the end of our Blackadder odyssey. In this podcast Gerry and Iain look back at the best the show had to offer and consider how well it stands up 30 years on.     Blackadder is presently available on Netflix (which rotates Seasons 1 & 2 with 3 & 4 on a regular basis) and a remastered set of the whole series is available on DVD around the world (Region 1) (Region 2).  The post The Last Podcast – Episode 28 first appeared on Blackadder Podcast.

The Black Seal was the final episode of The Black Adder and saw Prince Edmund take the destiny of the crown into his own hands. In this podcast Gerry and Iain consider team-building strategies and robust recruitment policies.     There were a number of prominent guest performances in this episode. Edmund’s troupe of rogues included John Hallam as Sir Wilfred Death, Roger Sloman as Three-fingered Pete, Paul Brooke as Friar Bellows, Patrick Malahide as Guy of Glastonbury, Ron Cook as Sean, the Irish Bastard and Mick Walter as Jack Large. Rik Mayall appeared relatively briefly as Mad Gerald, while John Barrard and Patrick Allen each played an element of The Hawk, first in disguise and later revealed.   The Black Adder was written by Rowan Atkinson and by Richard Curtis and all six episodes were directed by Martin Shardlow. John Lloyd produced the series and Howard Goodall was responsible for the music.   The Black Seal was released in 1983. It is 30 minutes long and originally aired on the BBC. The Black Adder is presently available on Netflix and a remastered set of the whole series is available on DVD around the world (Region 1) (Region 2).  The post The Black Seal – Episode 26 first appeared on Blackadder Podcast.

The Queen of Spain’s Beard was the fourth episode of The Black Adder and featured a masterclass in the noble art of translation. In this podcast Gerry and Iain consider shotgun weddings and the nutritional value of a glass of water at midnight.     This episode featured a couple of high-profile guests in the shape of Miriam Margolyes and Jim Broadbent as the Spanish Infanta and her translator, the cunningly names Don Speekingleesh. There were also cameos for Howard Lew Lewis and Jane Freeman as Mr & Mrs Applebottom, while David Nunn returned as the portly messenger.   The Black Adder was written by Rowan Atkinson and by Richard Curtis and all six episodes were directed by Martin Shardlow. John Lloyd produced the series and Howard Goodall was responsible for the music.   The Queen of Spain’s Beard was released in 1983. It is 33 minutes long and originally aired on the BBC. The Black Adder is presently available on Netflix and a remastered set of the whole series is available on DVD around the world (Region 1) (Region 2).  The post The Queen of Spain’s Beard – Episode 24 first appeared on Blackadder Podcast.

Born to be King was the second episode of The Black Adder and saw Edmund seek to take advantage of the King’s presumed death in battle to usurp the throne. In this podcast Gerry and Iain consider the importance of getting your dates right.     This episode featured primarily the regular cast introduced in The Foretelling, but with the welcome – if temporary – addition of Alex Norton as McAngus, Duke of Argyll.   The Black Adder was written by Rowan Atkinson and by Richard Curtis and all six episodes were directed by Martin Shardlow. John Lloyd produced the series and Howard Goodall was responsible for the music.   Born to be King was released in 1983. It is 35 minutes long and originally aired on the BBC. The Black Adder is presently available on Netflix and a remastered set of the whole series is available on DVD around the world (Region 1) (Region 2).  The post Born to be King – Episode 22 first appeared on Blackadder Podcast.

Goodbyeee was the final episode of Blackadder Goes Forth and features one last desperate attempt by Edmund to avoid going over the top. In this podcast Gerry and Iain consider the values of comradeship, sacrifice and recognition of the realities of war.     This episode featured a brief cameo from Geoffrey Palmer as Field Marshal Haig, but otherwise focused on the principal cast in their characters’ (presumably) final moments.   Blackadder Goes Forth was written by Ben Elton and by Richard Curtis and all six episodes were directed by Richard Boden, who made his series debut in the previous year’s Blackadder’s Christmas Carol. Once again, John Lloyd produced the series and Howard Goodall was responsible for the music, with the title track performed by The Band of the 3rd Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment (The Pompadour) with bandmaster Tim Parkinson.   Goodbyeee was released in 1989. It is 30 minutes long and originally aired on the BBC. Blackadder Goes Forth is presently available on Netflix and a remastered set of the whole series is available on DVD around the world (Region 1) (Region 2).  The post Goodbyeee – Episode 20 first appeared on Blackadder Podcast.

Private Plane was the fourth episode of Blackadder Goes Forth and features a cunning effort to escape the front lines by signing up en masse for the Air Corps. In this podcast Gerry and Iain consider good uses of a final twenty minutes, give or take a few seconds.     Besides a brief return for Gabrielle Glaister as Bob, the audience was spoiled in this episode by appearances from both Adrian Edmondson (Baron von Richthoven) and his long-term comedy collaborator Rik Mayall, reprising his Flashheart character for a new generation.   Blackadder Goes Forth was written by Ben Elton and by Richard Curtis and all six episodes were directed by Richard Boden, who made his series debut in the previous year’s Blackadder’s Christmas Carol. Once again, John Lloyd produced the series and Howard Goodall was responsible for the music, with the title track performed by The Band of the 3rd Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment (The Pompadour) with bandmaster Tim Parkinson.   Private Plane was released in 1989. It is 30 minutes long and originally aired on the BBC. Blackadder Goes Forth is presently available on Netflix and a remastered set of the whole series is available on DVD around the world (Region 1) (Region 2).  The post Private Plane – Episode 18 first appeared on Blackadder Podcast.

Major Star was the third episode of Blackadder Goes Forth and features a cabaret extravaganza and a surprising proposal of marriage. In this podcast Gerry and Iain consider the ethics of using live moustache substitutes.     Alongside the series regulars this episode featured a welcome guest appearance from Gabrielle Glaister, who of course portrayed Kate/Bob in the Blackadder II episode Bells (which we covered in Episode 1 of the podcast).   Blackadder Goes Forth was written by Ben Elton and by Richard Curtis and all six episodes were directed by Richard Boden, who made his series debut in the previous year’s Blackadder’s Christmas Carol. Once again, John Lloyd produced the series and Howard Goodall was responsible for the music, with the title track performed by The Band of the 3rd Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment (The Pompadour) with bandmaster Tim Parkinson.   Major Star was released in 1989. It is 30 minutes long and originally aired on the BBC. Blackadder Goes Forth is presently available on Netflix and a remastered set of the whole series is available on DVD around the world (Region 1) (Region 2).  The post Major Star – Episode 16 first appeared on Blackadder Podcast.

Captain Cook was the first episode of Blackadder Goes Forth and features an artistic plan designed to allow Blackadder to leave the trenches of World War I’s Western Front. In this podcast Gerry and Iain consider opportunism, art and fine dining.     A new series meant a traditional cast reshuffle as Tim McInerney and Stephen Fry resumed regular participation (as Captain Darling and General Melchett respectively). Hugh Lawrie remained in a regular role, now as Lieutenant The Honourable George Colthurst St. Barleigh (George), while Rowan Atkinson and Tony Robinson reprised their usual roles as the latest incarnations of Blackadder and Baldrick.   Blackadder Goes Forth was written by Ben Elton and by Richard Curtis and all six episodes were directed by Richard Boden, who made his series debut in the previous year’s Blackadder’s Christmas Carol. Once again, John Lloyd produced the series and Howard Goodall was responsible for the music, with the title track performed by The Band of the 3rd Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment (The Pompadour) with bandmaster Tim Parkinson.   Captain Cook was released in 1989. It is 30 minutes long and originally aired on the BBC. Blackadder Goes Forth is presently available on Netflix and a remastered set of the whole series is available on DVD around the world (Region 1) (Region 2).  The post Captain Cook – Episode 14 first appeared on Blackadder Podcast.

Duel and Duality was the final episode of Blackadder the Third and features a dramatic showdown when the Duke of Wellington discovers George has been getting a little too friendly with his nieces. In this podcast Gerry and Iain consider family honour and the consequences of role-reversal.     In the penultimate episode of Blackadder the Third there was only one major guest – the returning Stephen Fry as the Duke of Wellington. Gertan Klauber made a brief cameo as King George III, the Prince Regent’s father, towards the end of the episode.   Blackadder the Third was written by Ben Elton and by Richard Curtis and all six episodes were directed by the returning Mandie Fletcher. Once again, John Lloyd produced the series and Howard Goodall was responsible for the music.   Duel and Duality was released in 1987. It is 30 minutes long and originally aired on the BBC. Blackadder the Third is sadly not available on Netflix, but a remastered set of the whole series is available on DVD around the world (Region 1) (Region 2).  The post Duel and Duality – Episode 12 first appeared on Blackadder Podcast.

Sense and Senility was the fourth episode of Blackadder the Third and features some lessons in posture, presentation and diction for the Prince Regent from a pair of popular thespians. In this podcast Gerry and Iain consider whether there are some things that simply cannot be taught and reveal the content of the Macbeth anti-jinx.     In the fourth episode of Blackadder the Third there were two principal guests – Hugh Paddick and Kenneth Connor as the Regent’s tutors, Keanrick and Mossop. Ben Elton also had a brief cameo as an anarchist who tries to assassinate Prince George in the early part of the episode.   Blackadder the Third was written by the said Ben Elton and by Richard Curtis and all six episodes were directed by the returning Mandie Fletcher. Once again, John Lloyd produced the series and Howard Goodall was responsible for the music.   Sense and Senility was released in 1987. It is 30 minutes long and originally aired on the BBC. Blackadder the Third is sadly not available on Netflix, but a remastered set of the whole series is available on DVD around the world (Region 1) (Region 2).  The post Sense and Senility – Episode 10 first appeared on Blackadder Podcast.

Ink and Incapability was the second episode of Blackadder the Third and features an expedited rewrite of an historical tome. In this podcast Gerry and Iain consider a searing indictment of domestic servitude in the eighteenth century with some hot gypsies thrown in.     In the second episode of Blackadder the Third the principal guest was Scottish actor Robbie Coltrane as Dr Samuel Johnson, famed compiler of the first dictionary. His contemporaries (for the purposes of the story!) Shelley, Byron and Coleridge, romantic junkie poets all, were portrayed by Lee Cornes, Steve Steen and Jim Sweeney respectively.   Blackadder the Third was written by Ben Elton and Richard Curtis and all six episodes were directed by the returning Mandie Fletcher. Once again, John Lloyd produced the series and Howard Goodall was responsible for the music.   Ink and Incapability was released in 1987. It is 30 minutes long and originally aired on the BBC. Blackadder the Third is sadly not available on Netflix, but a remastered set of the whole series is available on DVD around the world (Region 1) (Region 2).  The post Ink and Incapability – Episode 8 first appeared on Blackadder Podcast.

Chains was the final episode of Blackadder II and features a dramatic escape from the clutches of a ruthless villain. In this podcast Gerry and Iain consider an unfortunate incident with a sheep in the nighttime and look back on the series.     The Blackadder II finale featured appearances from Max Harvey as a torturer and Mark Arden and Lee Cornes as soldiers, but it was ultimately about the return of Hugh Lawrie as the master of disguise, Prince Ludwig, along with an expanded role from the wonderful Stephen Fry as series regular Lord Melchett. Melchy and Blackadder are kidnapped by Ludwig and with the Queen unable to choose which to random, must escape from captivity on their own wits.   Blackadder II was written by Ben Elton and Richard Curtis and all six episodes were directed by Mandie Fletcher. John Lloyd produced the series and Howard Goodall was responsible for the music.   Chains was released in 1986. It is 29 minutes long and originally aired on the BBC. Blackadder II can be viewed on Netflix in the UK and Ireland and a remastered set of the whole series is available on DVD around the world (Region 1) (Region 2).  The post Chains – Episode 6 first appeared on Blackadder Podcast.

Money was the fourth episode of Blackadder II and features Edmund’s increasingly desperate endeavours to raise enough cash to settle a debt owed to the Bank of the Black Monks. In this podcast Gerry and Iain take a look at a delicious piece of blackmail.     Stealing every scene and chewing every piece of scenery available in this episode was Ronald Lacey as the Bishop of Bath and Wells, while there were supporting roles for Cassie Stuart as Molly, a prostitute familiar with both Blackadder and the Bishop; John Pierce Jones as Arthur the horny sailor; and Barry Craine and Lesley Nicol as Mr & Mrs Pants, who purchase Blackadder’s home.   Blackadder II was written by Ben Elton and Richard Curtis and all six episodes were directed by Mandie Fletcher. John Lloyd produced the series and Howard Goodall was responsible for the music.   Money was released in 1986. It is 29 minutes long and originally aired on the BBC. Blackadder II can be viewed on Netflix in the UK and Ireland and a remastered set of the whole series is available on DVD around the world (Region 1) (Region 2).  The post Money – Episode 4 first appeared on Blackadder Podcast.