Blackadder
This series, starring Rowan Atkinson and written by Richard
Curtis and Ben Elton, was a critical and popular favorite which still
has a large following. Each series of six episodes follows the fortunes
of the Edmund Blackadder of that historical period. The regular
cast for most of the run included Stephen Fry, Tony Robinson, and Tim
McInnerney, with memorable turns by Miranda Richardson as Queenie
(Series II) and Rik Mayall (Series II and IV).
Hugh joined the cast
for the last two episodes of Blackadder II, playing one of Blackadder's
drinking buddies in
"Beer," and Prince Ludwig in "Chains." He became a regular with Series
Three, playing the thick-as-a-whale-omelette Prince George. And in Blackadder
Goes Forth, he was the gung-ho but dim Lt. the Honourable George
Colthurst St. Barleigh. Both of these series were winners of the award
for Best Comedy Series from the British Academy of Film and Television
Arts (for 1987 and 1989).
Blackadder was first seen in the U.S. on the Arts
& Entertainment cable channel in 1986 where it won a Cable Ace
award for comedy series. Since then it's also been shown on Comedy
Central, and for some lucky viewers, by their local PBS affiliates.
A one-off special titled Blackadder
Back and Forth was made for the
1999 Millennium Dome celebrations in Greenwich, outside London. It's a
comical look at 2000 years of British history, courtesy of a time
machine that Baldrick constructs from da Vinci's blueprints. It's meant
as a ruse to bilk Blackadder's chums out of some cash at a New Year's
Eve party, but wouldn't you know, it works. This was
truly a Blackadder
reunion, with the script by Richard Curtis and Ben Elton, and the cast
including regulars Rowan Atkinson, Tony Robinson, Stephen Fry, Hugh
Laurie, Tim McInnerney, Miranda Richardson, Patsy Byrne, Nigel Planer,
and Rik Mayall (as Robin Hood), plus newcomers Kate Moss (as Maid
Marian) and Colin Firth (as Shakespeare). Hugh's character is Viscount
George Tufton-Bufton, and Stephen Fry plays Bishop Flavius Melchett.
The film premiered at the Dome on January 1, 2000. Sky broadcast it in
October 2000, several months ahead of their original schedule. A
spokesperson for the production told the press, "It is the best
of British comedy to show to the world. Our sense of humour and our
comedy
is one of our greatest exports." - Daily Telegraph,
4-24-99
You can read more about Blackadder at Blackadder Hall.
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