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Topics: TV and Film, BBC, Celebrity, UK News
Tom Wood
Blackadder is set to return to screens in the UK after a long time out, one of the creators has confirmed.
Yes, the hugely popular sitcom has been away from our televisions for around 20 years, but now it seems that some of our favourite characters might be returning for a special Comic Relief spot.
Blackadder started back in 1983 and had four seasons, including Blackadder Goes Forth, which produced one of the most poignant scenes that a comedy series has ever provided.
Then, there was a special edition for the millennium, as well as a few other appearances in the years, since the show was broadcast regularly.
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Still, it holds a special place in the hearts of the British viewing public, and they’ll no doubt be excited to see what is to come.
At the minute, we’ve only got the word of co-creator Richard Curtis, who is also known for his work on British rom-coms – usually starring Hugh Grant – such as Four Weddings and a Funeral, Love Actually, and – more recently – Yesterday.
Curtis confirmed the exciting news for Blackadder fans during an appearance on BBC Radio 2’s Breakfast show with Gary Davies.
The host asked about the plans for Red Nose Day - organised by Comic Relief – enquiring: “What’s happening with the telly show?
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“You were telling me something about Blackadder…”
Curtis teased fans: “God, I’m really nervous about saying this but….”
He then revealed: “I think for the first time in 20 years, Baldrick is going to be giving some kind of performance.
“We’re just conspiring about it now, so I think there is going to be a marvellous, turnip-based thing with Tony Robinson now back in action, so I’m kind of excited about that.”
OK, so we’ve got Baldrick on board, that’s a start.
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That said, he’s keeping his cards close to his chest about the rest of the cast.
When asked about Rowan Atkinson – who played the titular Edmund Blackadder – he said: “No, Rowan’s far too serious to do any of that.”
He did laugh that off, so there’s no telling whether he’s being serious or not.
As well as Robinson and Atkinson, the show also featured performances from Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry, Tim McInnerny, and Miranda Richardson.
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Whether they decide to make an appearance or not, we can’t be sure.
Fry most recently returned as Lord Melchett for a Children in Need and Comic Relief spot in 2020, so he might be coaxed back out again.
It’s been a big week for old British sitcoms, with John Cleese announcing that a reboot of Fawlty Towers is in the works with his daughter Camilla Cleese.
However, that show won’t be taking place on the BBC, with Cleese – who now has a presenting role on GB News – and revealed that it won’t be an ‘anti-woke nightmare’, referencing a Guardian headline about the show.
Cleese said: “They obviously know better than I do what’s going to be in it,
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“Maybe they should write an episode for me that they would find acceptable.
“Might not be very funny, but I’m sure it would really please some of their readers.”
He added: “The idea that it’s all going to be about wokery hadn’t particularly occurred to me.”
We’ll just have to see what forms of Blackadder and Fawlty Towers turn up in the end.
People will be watching anyway, if only out of morbid curiosity.
If you want to watch some of the older Blackadder episodes, they’re on BBC iPlayer now.