"the Scarlet Pimpernel), over-the-top theatrical actors (Kenneth Connor and Hugh Paddick), a squirrel-hating cross-dressing highwayman (Miranda Richardson), and a duel with the Duke of Wellington (Stephen Fry). This series is set in 1917, on the Western Front in the trenches of the First World War. Another ""big push"" is planned, and Captain Blackadder's one goal is to avoid being killed, but his schemes always land him back in the trenches. Blackadder is joined by his batman Private S. Baldrick (Tony Robinson) and idealistic Edwardian twit Lieutenant George (Hugh Laurie). General Melchett (Stephen Fry) rallies his troops from a French château"
"Blackadder II Blackadder II is the second series of the BBC sitcom ""Blackadder"", written by Richard Curtis and Ben Elton, which aired from 9 January 1986 to 20 February 1986. The series is set in England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558–1603), and sees the principal character, Edmund, Lord Blackadder, as a Tudor courtier attempting to win the favour of the Queen while avoiding execution by decapitation, a fate that befell many of her suitors. The series saw a number of significant changes from the format of ""The Black Adder"", notably Ben Elton replacing Rowan Atkinson as the"
"Stephen Fry Stephen John Fry (born 24 August 1957) is an English comedian, actor, writer, presenter, and activist. With Hugh Laurie, he is half of the comic double act Fry and Laurie, who starred in ""A Bit of Fry & Laurie"" and ""Jeeves and Wooster"". Fry's acting roles include a Golden Globe Award–nominated lead performance in the film ""Wilde"", Melchett in the BBC television series ""Blackadder"", the title character in the television series ""Kingdom"", a recurring guest role as Dr Gordon Wyatt on the crime series ""Bones"", and as Gordon Deitrich in the dystopian thriller ""V for Vendetta"". He has"
"stupid and unhygienic Private Baldrick (Tony Robinson), and the overly optimistic, upper-class and equally idiotic Lieutenant George St Barleigh (Hugh Laurie)—Blackadder tries constantly to escape his position and avoid the ""big push"", which he fears will result in his death. His efforts are hindered by the loud and intimidating General Melchett (Stephen Fry) and Melchett's strict, sardonic, and jobsworth staff officer, Captain Darling (Tim McInnerny). Captain Blackadder's trench receives a phone call from HQ: a full-scale attack has been ordered for the next day at dawn. Realising that this is likely to mean his death, Blackadder plans to escape by"
"the form of Lord Melchett, for her favour. At the end of his series, this Edmund was murdered by Prince Ludwig the Indestructible of Germany. Blackadder thought he had murdered Ludwig but at the end of the credits, Ludwig came back and murdered Edmund, Queenie and the rest of the court. He then posed as Queenie after the assassination. The character shift from Prince Edmund in the first series to Lord Blackadder in the second is credited to the involvement of Ben Elton, who joined as the show's co-writer alongside Richard Curtis. The latter Edmund became the ""de facto"" archetype;"
"Chains (Blackadder) ""Chains"" is the final episode of the BBC sitcom ""Blackadder II"", the second series of ""Blackadder"", which was set in Elizabethan England from 1558 to 1603. Power-mad and self-professed ""master of disguise"", Prince Ludwig the Indestructible kidnaps Lord Blackadder and Lord Melchett. They escape his clutches but Prince Ludwig infiltrates the palace during a fancy dress ball. The episode opens with Melchett informing Queenie that his former tutor's son has been kidnapped and begs for her to pay the hefty ransom. Queenie consults the Lord Blackadder on the matter - he tells her to tell Melchett's tutor's son"
"a series set in a prisoner of war camp during World War II, but later remarked that ""perhaps it's best to leave these things as a memory."" 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. In August 2015, Tony Robinson said in an interview ""I do think a new series of Blackadder is on the"
"enjoy...if he can ""just get the voice right."" Chains (Blackadder) ""Chains"" is the final episode of the BBC sitcom ""Blackadder II"", the second series of ""Blackadder"", which was set in Elizabethan England from 1558 to 1603. Power-mad and self-professed ""master of disguise"", Prince Ludwig the Indestructible kidnaps Lord Blackadder and Lord Melchett. They escape his clutches but Prince Ludwig infiltrates the palace during a fancy dress ball. The episode opens with Melchett informing Queenie that his former tutor's son has been kidnapped and begs for her to pay the hefty ransom. Queenie consults the Lord Blackadder on the matter -"
"1987 Fry and Laurie performed sketches on the LWT/Channel 4 show ""Saturday Live"". Forgiving Fry and Laurie for ""The Crystal Cube"", the BBC commissioned, in 1986, a sketch show that was to become ""A Bit of Fry & Laurie"". The programme ran for 26 episodes spanning four series between 1986 and 1995, and was very successful. During this time, Fry starred in ""Blackadder II"" as Lord Melchett, made a guest appearance in """" as the Duke of Wellington, then returned to a starring role in ""Blackadder Goes Forth"", as General Melchett. In a 1988 television special, ""Blackadder's Christmas Carol"", he"
"repeated as part of an otherwise wholly serious BBC2 Armistice Day programme without anyone batting an eyelid."" The series won the British Academy Television Award for Best Comedy Series in 1989. In addition, for his performance as Captain Blackadder, Rowan Atkinson won Best Light Entertainment Performance. In 2000, the series was placed 16th by industry professionals in a list of the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes compiled by the British Film Institute. In 2004, championed by John Sergeant, the whole ""Blackadder"" series came second in the BBC poll to find Britain's Best Sitcom with 282,106 votes. Journalists and historians have"
"release of the series was also produced in 1996. The series is also available in Region 1 DVD in a box-set of the complete series. In addition, an audio recording taken from the television episodes is available on cassette and compact disc. Blackadder II Blackadder II is the second series of the BBC sitcom ""Blackadder"", written by Richard Curtis and Ben Elton, which aired from 9 January 1986 to 20 February 1986. The series is set in England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558–1603), and sees the principal character, Edmund, Lord Blackadder, as a Tudor courtier attempting to"
"the Queen, her obsequious Lord Chamberlain Lord Melchett (Stephen Fry)—his rival—and the Queen's demented former nanny Nursie (Patsy Byrne). 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 Prince Edmund. To reduce the cost of production, it was shot with virtually no outdoor scenes (the first series was shot largely on location) and several frequently used indoor sets, such as the Queen's throne room and Blackadder's front room. A quote"
"Fagin. His portrayal and singing of Fagin at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London garnered favourable reviews and he was nominated for an Olivier Award for best actor in a musical or entertainment. On 28 November 2012, Rowan Atkinson reprised the role of Blackadder at the ""We are Most Amused"" comedy gala for The Prince's Trust at the Royal Albert Hall in London. He was joined by Tony Robinson as Baldrick. The sketch involved the first new Blackadder material for 10 years, with Blackadder as CEO of Melchett, Melchett and Darling bank facing an enquiry over the banking crisis."
"chronicles Blackadder's attempts to escape the trenches through various schemes, most of which fail due to bad fortune, misunderstandings and the general incompetence of his comrades. The aforementioned comrades are his second-in-command, idealistic upper-class Edwardian twit Lieutenant George St Barleigh (Hugh Laurie) and their profoundly stupid but dogged batman Private S. Baldrick (Tony Robinson). Rather than the Germans, who remain generally unseen (with the exception of ""Private Plane"", where they are a means to escape the trenches), Blackadder's nemeses come in the form of his superior, the eccentric General Melchett (Stephen Fry) who rallies his troops from a French château"
"Brian Blessed Brian Blessed, (; born 9 October 1936) is an English actor, writer, presenter, and comedian. He is known for his booming voice and his roles in ""Z-Cars"", ""I, Claudius"", ""Blackadder"", and ""Flash Gordon"". Brian Blessed was born on 9 October 1936 at Montagu Hospital in Mexborough, Yorkshire, the son of William Blessed (1906–2005), a socialist coal miner at Hickleton Main Colliery (and himself the son of a coal miner), and Hilda Wall (1909–1997). Blessed's great-great-grandfather, Jabez Blessed, was the father of 13 children and worked as a china and glass dealer in Brigg, Lincolnshire; many of Blessed's relatives"
"Melchett and Tim McInnerny as Captain Kevin Darling, who had both appeared in guest roles in ""Blackadder the Third"" and had appeared regularly in ""Blackadder II"". This cast appeared together in every episode of the fourth series, although the only episode to feature no guest appearances was ""Captain Cook"". Miranda Richardson, who had played Elizabeth I in the second series, appeared in a guest role in one episode (as she had in the third series). In their guest performances, actors such as Rik Mayall and Gabrielle Glaister reprised characters they had played in earlier series. Other performers, such as Bill"
"kind and hopeful individual, and shortly before the big push at the end of the final episode George finally expresses some genuine fear and sadness that he may indeed die. In the 1989 sketch Shakespeare Sketch Laurie portrays a very George-like William Shakespeare. Lord Blackadder is his agent and manages to persuade him to condense his new play Hamlet. In the series, Lieutenant George is seen wearing the following ribbons: Tim McInnerny, who had starred in ""The Black Adder"" and ""Blackadder II"" as Lord Percy Percy, was afraid to be typecast in comedic roles and decided not to appear in"
"Ritchie Coster Ritchie Coster (born 1 July 1967) is an English actor. He is best known for playing the roles of Dietrich Banning in ""The Tuxedo"" (2002), Chechen in ""The Dark Knight"" (2008), Elias Kassar in ""Blackhat"" (2015), Mayor Austin Chessani on the second season of the HBO anthology television series ""True Detective"" and Francisco Scaramucci / Mr. Blue on the SyFy television series ""Happy!"". Coster was born in London, England. He attended the Latymer School, Edmonton and later trained in acting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Coster has played varies roles throughout his career, in the"
"England with his Queen, the fictional Gertrude of Flanders, during a rewritten period of history. The character of Queen Elizabeth I was later revisited in ""Blackadder II"", when Miranda Richardson played the role of Queenie, a skittish caricature of the Virgin Queen. Another major difference to the first series is the cast – most notably, comic actor Philip Fox plays the character Baldrick, rather than Tony Robinson, who was to play the role in all subsequent series. John Savident plays the role of the King, who was replaced by Brian Blessed for the first series. Prince Harry is played by"
"Ronald Lacey Ronald William Lacey (28 September 1935 – 15 May 1991) was an English actor. He made numerous television and film appearances over a 30-year period and is perhaps best remembered for his roles as Harris in ""Porridge"", Gestapo agent Major Arnold Ernst Toht in ""Raiders of the Lost Ark"" and the Bishop of Bath and Wells in ""Blackadder II"". Lacey attended Harrow Weald Grammar School. After a brief stint of national service and at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, he began his acting career in 1961 in a TV play, ""The Secret Agent"". His first"
"55. Ronald Lacey Ronald William Lacey (28 September 1935 – 15 May 1991) was an English actor. He made numerous television and film appearances over a 30-year period and is perhaps best remembered for his roles as Harris in ""Porridge"", Gestapo agent Major Arnold Ernst Toht in ""Raiders of the Lost Ark"" and the Bishop of Bath and Wells in ""Blackadder II"". Lacey attended Harrow Weald Grammar School. After a brief stint of national service and at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, he began his acting career in 1961 in a TV play, ""The Secret Agent"". His"
"second writer, filming in studio sets, rather than on location, the introduction of the more familiar Machiavellian ""Blackadder"" character and a less intelligent Baldrick. The series is set during the Elizabethan era (1558–1603). The principal character, Edmund, Lord Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson), is the great-grandson of the original Black Adder, and is now a member of the London aristocracy. Unlike his forefather, he is both dashing and intelligent, although he is still scheming and cynical in his outlook. The series follows his attempts to win the favour of the childish Queen Elizabeth I (Miranda Richardson). As before he is aided, and"
"appeared in more than one of the Blackadder series and/or specials. These are: 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"". Gabrielle Glaister played Bob, an attractive girl who poses as a man, in both series 2 and 4. Rik Mayall plays Lord Flashheart,"
"mud of the trenches of the Western Front, this Blackadder's sole goal is to escape his inevitable fate. Blackadder's attempts to escape are thwarted by General Melchett, who does not realize the futility of the war, and Melchett's assistant Captain Darling, his sycophantic right-hand man. Blackadder shares his trench with Private S. Baldrick, and Lt. The Hon. George Colthurst St Barleigh. In the series finale, ""Goodbyeee"", Captain Blackadder and his company go over the top in 1917 to their implied deaths. In the series, Captain Blackadder is seen wearing the following ribbons: Lord Edmund Blackadder is the modern representative of"
"from the front, and Melchett's bureaucratic assistant, Captain Kevin Darling (Tim McInnerny). Despite the two being of equal rank, Blackadder treats Darling with contempt—while the former is on the front line, the latter is ""folding the general's pyjamas"". Their animosity is mutual, largely as a result of Blackadder exploiting the comic potential of Darling's surname at every opportunity. ""Blackadder Goes Forth"" is more satirical in tone than the previous three ""Blackadder"" series and most sitcoms, taking the opportunity to present an anti-war message. The dialogue is marked throughout by satirical musings about the nature of the war, its origins and"
"Jonas Armstrong William Jonas Armstrong (born 1 January 1981) is an Irish-born English actor known for playing the title role in the BBC One drama series ""Robin Hood"". Born in Dublin, Ireland, his family moved to Lytham St. Annes when he was six years old. He attended Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, graduating in 2003 with a BA in acting. After graduating, he appeared in ""Quartermaine's Terms"" at the Royal Theatre in Northampton as Derek Meadle. In 2004, he appeared in seven episodes of the fourth series of the British television comedy-drama, ""Teachers"" on Channel 4, as Anthony Millington. In"
"that she changed his life ""beyond recognition"" by improving his health and his career. Helen Atkinson-Wood Helen Atkinson-Wood (born 14 March 1955) is an English actress and comedian born in Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire. She studied fine art at the Ruskin School, Oxford University, where she performed with Rowan Atkinson. She also performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where she met Ben Elton. Whilst at Oxford, she took part in an OUDS production of 'Richard II'. Also in this production was Tim McInnerney, who played the lead. She later appeared with McInnerney in 'Blackadder the Third'. Atkinson-Wood was a regular presenter"
"Bernard Gallagher Bernard Gallagher (26 September 1929 – 27 November 2016) was an English actor, known for appearances in television soap operas and dramas. He was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire. Gallagher played the lead role of compassionate consultant Ewart Plimmer in the first three years of BBC TV's long-running medical drama series ""Casualty"". In ITV's daytime legal drama series ""Crown Court"", he played Barrister Jonathan Fry. Gallagher's numerous other credits include that of a Desk Sergeant in the second episode of the hard-hitting 1970s British police drama ""The Sweeney"" (episode entitled: ""Jackpot""), ""Heartbeat"" and its sister programme ""The Royal"""
"exile; and in a later scene, two drunk knights overhear King Richard IV exclaiming ""Who will rid me of this turbulent priest?"", the words attributed to King Henry II which led to Becket's death in 1170, and embark on a mission to murder Edmund. ""The Archbishop"" won an International Emmy Award in 1983 in the Popular Arts category. The Catholic Church was to be satirized again in the second series, ""Blackadder II"", in the 1986 episode ""Money"". In November 1487, the Duke of Winchester, the greatest landowner in the kingdom, is on his deathbed, with King Richard and Godfrey, Archbishop"
"lived together for nearly 20 years before marrying in March 2004 in Antigua; she died of cancer a year later (9 March 2005). He married Karen Prentice in Italy in the summer of 2017. Denis Lawson Denis Stamper Lawson (born 27 September 1947) is a Scottish actor and director. He is known for his roles as John Jarndyce in the BBC's adaptation of ""Bleak House"", as Gordon Urquhart in the film ""Local Hero"", as DI Steve McAndrew in BBC One's ""New Tricks"", and as Wedge Antilles in the original ""Star Wars"" trilogy. He is the uncle of actor Ewan McGregor."
"1998 remake of ""Rear Window"", he played the sculptor who was married to the bottle loving woman Ilene played by Allison Mackie. In television roles he has appeared in at least seven episodes of the television series ""Law & Order"" from 1999 to 2009 in a range of roles. Ritchie Coster Ritchie Coster (born 1 July 1967) is an English actor. He is best known for playing the roles of Dietrich Banning in ""The Tuxedo"" (2002), Chechen in ""The Dark Knight"" (2008), Elias Kassar in ""Blackhat"" (2015), Mayor Austin Chessani on the second season of the HBO anthology television series"
"Edward Brayshaw Edward Brayshaw (18 October 1933 – 28 December 1990) was a British actor. His television roles include the part of Rochefort in the 1966 serial ""The Three Musketeers"" and 1967's ""The Further Adventures of the Three Musketeers"". He is probably most recognised for playing Harold Meaker in the children's series ""Rentaghost"", throughout its eight-year run on BBC1. He often appeared in TV adventure series, taking roles in several ITC series including ""The Saint"", ""The Baron"" (in two episodes but in different roles), ""The Champions"" and ""Return of the Saint"", often in villainous roles. In ""The Champions"", for example,"
"Richard Rycroft Richard Rycroft (born 28 June 1960) is an English actor and comedian, best known for his role as Maester Wolkan on the HBO series ""Game of Thrones"". Rycroft first started his acting career in 2001. He has appeared in several British drama television series, including: ""EastEnders"", ""Casualty"", ""Holby City"" and ""Doctors"". He also featured in the films ""The Turn"" and ""Bridget Jones's Baby"". In August 2007, he started stand-up comedy, and was a finalist in the 2010 Laughing Horse new act of the year competition. In 2016, he joined the cast of ""Game of Thrones"", appearing in the"