Blackadder The Black Adder, Episode 2 - Born To Be King

TV sitcom
BBC One
1983 - 2000
26 episodes (4 series)

The Blackadder dynasty has run through English history since time immemorial, seemingly always hampered by a Baldrick, and often a Percy and Melchett. Stars Rowan Atkinson, Tony Robinson, Tim McInnerny, Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry and more.

Streaming rank this week: 140

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The Black Adder, Episode 2 - Born To Be King

Blackadder. Image shows left to right: Harry, Prince of Wales (Robert East), The Queen (Elspet Gray), McAngus, Duke of Argyll (Alex Norton). Credit: BBC

Having left Harry as ruling Prince Regent, King Richard is away killing Turks. Edmund is instructed to arrange entertainment for the upcoming feast of St Leonard's Day, and in the process believes he has found letters pertaining to his brother's legitimacy...

Further details

With the King off to the Crusades, Edmund attempts to discredit Prince Harry's claim to be next in line for the crown. He and Baldrick nearly succeed in casting doubt on his own legitimacy instead.

Notes

This episode was originally shown out of order, as episode 4. However, as the series is chronological, this was noticeable and it was broadcast 2nd in repeats, and issued as episode 2 on video and DVD since. We have reflected this intended 'correct' order rather than the initial broadcast.

Broadcast details

Date: Wednesday 6^th July 1983
Time: 9:25pm
Channel: BBC One
Length: 35 minutes

Cast & crew

Cast
Rowan Atkinson	Edmund, Duke of Edinburgh
Tony Robinson	Baldrick
Tim McInnerny	Percy
Brian Blessed	King Richard IV
Robert East	Harry, Prince of Wales
Elspet Gray	The Queen
Patrick Allen	Narrator

Guest cast
Alex Norton	McAngus, Duke of Argyll
Angus Deayton	Jumping Jew of Jerusalem
Joolia Cappleman	Celia, Countess of Cheltenham
Martin Clarke	Sir Dominick Prique of Stratford
Martin Soan	2nd Wooferoonie
Malcolm Hardee	3rd Wooferoonie
David Nunn	Messenger

Writing team
Richard Curtis	Writer
Rowan Atkinson	Writer
William Shakespeare	Writer (Additional Material)

Production team
Martin Shardlow	Director
John Lloyd	Producer
Mike Jackson	Editor
Mykola Pawluk	Editor
Chris Hull	Production Designer
Howard Goodall	Composer

Press

Blackadder gets an 'offensive language' warning

Fans watching the second episode of the first series on iPlayer are now greeted with the disclaimer: 'Contains discriminatory language and content that some viewers may find offensive.'

Chortle, 14th January 2021

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