Blackadder
Cast & Key People
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Our Review
Cast & Key People
▶
Our Review
Blackadder (1983) is a comedy and history series from BBC One. It has built a run of 24 episodes at roughly 30 minutes each. It premiered on June 15, 1983. Viewers rate it 8.4 out of 10. It is currently ended. It runs 4 seasons.
What Blackadder Is About
Comedy set in different historical periods that features the ill-fated exploits of the mean-spirited Edmund Blackadder and his dim sidekick Baldrick.
What to Expect When You Watch
Episodes run about 30 minutes, which keeps the pace tight, the full run covers 24 episodes, spread across 4 seasons and it leans into its comedy/history roots while leaving room for the quieter character beats.
Performance-wise the series leans on Stephen Fry, Patsy Byrne and Hugh Laurie to carry the emotional weight, with the rest of the ensemble filling out the world around them.
Cast and Creative Team
Stephen Fry, Patsy Byrne, Hugh Laurie, Miranda Richardson, Rowan Atkinson and Tony Robinson lead the cast.
Why It Stands Out
Fans of comedy and history have a clear reason to give this one a shot. It sits comfortably alongside BBC One’s other originals, a 8.4/10 audience score puts it in steady company and it commits to its premise instead of hedging between tones.
Released in 1983 and carried by BBC One with the series still ended, it lands hardest with comedy and history viewers.
How Blackadder Compares
If Blackadder lands for you, the next stops are Nathan for You, Taskmaster and Seinfeld, which share its comedy/history lean.
Each of those sits at a different point on the same spectrum, so they make a natural follow-up once you finish the run here.
Where to Stream
Blackadder comes from BBC One. Check your preferred platform for current availability, since regional rights move around.
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On the whole Blackadder is the kind of series that rewards a patient watch, with Stephen Fry and Patsy Byrne doing the heaviest lifting, a tone that stays true to its comedy/history roots, It has held up since 1983 and so if the premise sounds like your lane, the execution holds up.
The Bottom Line
Blackadder is a safe bet for anyone already inside the comedy and history lane, at 24 episodes it is an easy run to work through, the audience score holds around 8.4/10 and so there is little risk in starting it tonight.
Verdict: 8.4/10. Watch it if you want comedy/history you can settle into.
