My Cart - Exciting news… nooo, it’s not about our super-dooper cheap TV deals… it’s regarding the potential future of the British comedy classic, Blackadder. Recent news reports have it that one of the stars of the show, Sir Tony Robinson – who played Baldrick, Blackadder’s bumbling sidekick – has said that a sequel is not out of the question.
Blackadder Goes… Fifth?
Having apparently spoken to the rest of the cast, he joked, “The only problem is Hugh’s fee. He’s a huge star now – or so he’d like to think.” Referring to Hugh Laurie’s successful career in America as curmudgeon protagonist in House, Robinson suggests that the rest of the cast are all available and willing to partake in a long awaited sequel; the last episode of which was a one off special in 1999.
To celebrate the news, we at Electronic World would like to take a look back at some of the reasons why we love the cast of Blackadder. Join us as we take a peek at some of the best shows written by or starring those heavily involved in the British classic:
A Bit of Fry & Laurie
A Bit of Fry & Laurie is arguably the most under-appreciated British sketch show ever to grace the small screen. Boasting the verbosity of Fry and the outstanding tomfoolery of Laurie, the show offers a fantastic platform for the two veterans of British comedy to do what they do best… to combine absurdity and pomposity in one ludicrous and concisely perfect package.
Spanning 4 seasons, A Bit of Fry & Laurie still boasts several of both Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie’s best performances, albeit some of the most ridiculous. If you haven’t seen any full Fry & Laurie episodes, we suggest having a little search on YouTube; you won’t be disappointed!
Mr. Bean
As British as the Queen’s face, Mr. Bean is possibly one of Britain’s most famous international exports, with Rowan Atkinson’s creation being celebrated worldwide. With numerous classic episodes, from his diving board shenanigans to trying to get changed at the beach whilst maintaining his modesty, Mr. Bean is the source of much silliness and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. With consistently innocent intentions, Mr. Bean finds himself in many-a-daft scrape often coming out on top; particularly when it comes to his arch-nemesis, the blue three wheeler.
The Young Ones
The Young Ones features former-Blackadderers, Rik Mayall and Ade Edmondson. Ade Edmondson actually only features in one Blackadder episode, as Baron Manfred von Richthofen (obviously…), but Rik Mayall plays one of the most obnoxious, cocky and hilarious characters ever to grace the small screen, Lord Flasheart. The Young Ones is set in a run-down student accommodation and features a mismatched group of left-wing students. Mayall plays Rick – a poet who strives to be pretentious but his intelligence sees that he fails – and Edmondson plays the anarchistic punk, Vyvyan, who is the sort to think nothing of eating a TV to hide it from the TV licence man.
When compiling this list it almost seemed unfair to emit QI (Stephen Fry), Vicar of Dibley (written by Blackadder writer, Tony Curtis), Time Team (Oh come on! Tony Robinson was great in it!) and House, but the cult following The Young Ones has garnered, the sheer brilliance of Mr. Bean and the absolute ludicrousness displayed in Fry & Laurie, makes them hard to ignore.
So in case your housemate has eaten your TV or if you would simply like to give the potential new Blackadder series the picture perfect platform it deserves, contact us on 0121 327 3273 where one of friendly team of television specialists will be awaiting your call.
