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| Blackadder the Third | |
|---|---|
 Title screen of Blackadder the Third |
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| Format | Situation comedy |
| Created by | Richard Curtis & Ben Elton |
| Starring | Rowan Atkinson Tony Robinson Hugh Laurie Helen Atkinson-Wood |
| Theme music composer | Howard Goodall |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Language(s) | English |
| No. of episodes | 6 |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | John Lloyd |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | BBC One |
| Picture format | 4:3 |
| Audio format | Monaural sound |
| Original run | 17 September 1987 – 22 October 1987 |
| Chronology | |
| Preceded by | Blackadder II |
| Followed by | Blackadder's Christmas Carol |
| External links | |
| Official website | |
| IMDb profile | |
Blackadder the Third1 is the third series of the BBC situation comedy Blackadder, written by Richard Curtis and Ben Elton, which aired from 17 September to 22 October 1987.
The series was set during the English Regency, and saw the principal character, Mr. E. Blackadder serve as butler to the Prince Regent and have to contend with, or cash in on, the fads of the age embraced by his master.
The third series reduced the number of principal characters again compared to the previous series, but instead included a number of significant cameo roles by well-known comic actors.2
The programme won a BAFTA award for Best Comedy Series in 1988 and received three further nominations.3
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Plot
Blackadder the Third is set in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, a period known as the Regency. For much of this time, King George III was incapacitated due to poor mental health, and his son George, the Prince of Wales, acted as regent. From 1811 until his father's death in 1820, he was known as "the Prince Regent".
In the series, E. Blackadder Esquire (Rowan Atkinson) is the head butler to the Prince of Wales (Hugh Laurie), a complete fop and idiot. Despite Edmund's respected intelligence and abilities, he has no personal fortune to speak of. According to Edmund he has been serving the Prince Regent all their lives, since they were both breastfeeding (when he had to show the Prince which part of his mother was "serving the drinks").
Baldrick (Tony Robinson) remains similar to his Blackadder II predecessor, although his "cunning plans" cease to be even remotely intelligent. As Blackadder himself is now a servant, he 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".
There are three main sets: the Prince's quarters, which are large and lavish, 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 Mrs. Miggins' coffeehouse. Mrs. Miggins' pie shop was a never-seen running gag in Blackadder II; she — or at least, a descendant of hers — is now finally shown, played by Helen Atkinson-Wood.
The plots of the series feature a number of then-contemporary issues and personalities, such as rotten boroughs, Dr. Samuel Johnson (played by Robbie Coltrane), the French Revolution (featuring Chris Barrie) and the Scarlet Pimpernel, over-the-top theatrical actors, squirrel-hating highwaymen, and a duel with the Duke of Wellington (played by Stephen Fry).
The last episode of the series also features Rowan Atkinson in the role of Blackadder's Scottish cousin McAdder, supposedly a fierce swordsman. Interesting enough, this leads to a dialogue in which Atkinson is acting both parts. Following the aftermath of this episode, Blackadder finds fortune and ends up (permanently) posing as the Prince Regent after the real Prince Regent, disguised as Blackadder, is shot by the Duke of Wellington.
Episodes
The series aired for six episodes broadcast on Thursdays on BBC One at 9.30pm between the 17 September 1987 to 22 October 1987. The titles of the episodes are always a noun paired with another, derived from an alliterative cognate adjective. Example: "Sense and Senility" (based on the Jane Austen novel Sense and Sensibility).
| Title/Airdate | Plot outline |
|---|---|
| Dish and Dishonesty 17 September 1987 |
Edmund attempts to rig an election to gain the prince some support against Pitt the Younger who plans to bankrupt him. This episode lampoons British parliamentary politics, BBC election coverage and a corrupt British honours system. |
| Ink and Incapability 24 September 1987 |
To increase his intellectual standing, the prince decides to become patron of Dr. Johnson's new dictionary, much to Blackadder's disgust. Also appearing at Mrs Miggins' literary salon are the romantic poets Percy Bysshe Shelley, Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Lord Byron. Guest starring Robbie Coltrane. |
| Nob and Nobility 1 October 1987 |
The Scarlet Pimpernel is the hero of his age. Blackadder, irritated by the new obsession with all things French, decides to cash in on the new craze. Guest starring Tim McInnerny and Nigel Planer as fops, and Chris Barrie as an under-endowed French revolutionary. |
| Sense and Senility 8 October 1987 |
When an assassination attempt is made on the prince, against Blackadder's wishes, the prince hires two actors to help him improve his image, by means of elocution lessons. Guest starring writer and comic Ben Elton as the Anarchist, and Kenneth Connor and Hugh Paddick as the actors Mossop and Keanrick. |
| Amy and Amiability 15 October 1987 |
When the prince runs out of money, Edmund attempts to marry him off to Amy Hardwood: the daughter of a rich industrialist. Guest starring Miranda Richardson as Miss Hardwood and Warren Clarke as Josiah Hardwood, her father. |
| Duel and Duality 22 October 1987 |
The Duke of Wellington vows to kill the prince in a duel, leaving Blackadder to formulate a cunning plan. Guest starring Stephen Fry as the Iron Duke. |
Cast
- Rowan Atkinson as Edmund Blackadder
- Tony Robinson as Baldrick
- Hugh Laurie as the Prince Regent
- Helen Atkinson-Wood as Mrs. Miggins
Although this series reduced the size of the show's cast, the programme featured a number of guest appearances in each episode. Tim McInnerny decided not to continue playing the character of Lord Percy for fear of being typecast. although he appeared in a guest role in episode three.4 In addition to McInnerny, Stephen Fry and Miranda Richardson, who had played major parts in Blackadder II appeared in guest roles. Fry and McInnerny would return as regular performers for the fourth series of Blackadder.
Music and titles
The opening theme is this time played on a harpsichord, oboe and cello over close-ups of Blackadder searching a book-case.5 The credits and title appear on the books' spines, and each has a condition and script to match each character, for example Baldrick's is plain and in poor condition. Other amusing interspersed titles include From Black Death to Blackadder, The Blackobite Rebellion of 1745, The Encyclopædia Blackaddica and Landscape Gardening by Capability Brownadder.4 Hidden inside a hollow book, he finds a romance novel (complete with steamy cover art) bearing the episode's title. The closing credits are presented in the style of a theatre programme from a Regency-era play, and with an entirely new closing theme.
Awards
The programme won a BAFTA award for Best Comedy Series in 1988. In addition the series was nominated for three further awards; Rowan Atkinson for "Best Light Entertainment Performance", Antony Thorpe for "Best Design" and Victoria Pocock for "Best Make Up".6 The four series of Blackadder were voted into second place in the BBC's Britain's Best Sitcom in 2004.7
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, URL accessed 3 June 2007
- ^ Awards at IMDb, URL accessed 4 April 2008
- ^ a b Trivia at IMDb.com, URL accessed 3 June 2007
- ^ Official Howard Goodall website, URL accessed 17 March 2007
- ^ Awards at IMDb, URL accessed 4 April 2008
- ^ The final top-ten of Britain’s Best Sitcom, URL accessed 4 April 2008
External links
- Blackadder the Third (1987) at the Internet Movie Database
- Blackadder the Third at the former BBC Guide to Comedy (archive)
- Blackadder the Third at the new BBC Comedy Guide
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