British Comedy Guide
Blackadder. Mr. Edmund Blackadder, Esquire (Rowan Atkinson)
Blackadder

Blackadder

  • 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.

  • JustWatch Streaming rank this week: 108

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1988 Specials - Blackadder's Christmas Carol

Blackadder. Image shows left to right: Ebenezer Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson), Baldrick (Tony Robinson). Credit: BBC
Ebenezer Blackadder is the kindest man in England, until a visit from the Spirit of Christmas helps him to see the error of his ways.

Further details

It is Christmas Eve, and the kindest man in England, Ebenezer Blackadder, has just given away his last penny - literally.

An appearance by the Spirit of Christmas educates the kindly gent of his ancestors' lives, and of his own future prospects. Ebenezer decides that a few changes need to be made...

The first ever Blackadder with a pleasant personality gets his comeuppance pretty damn fast.

Broadcast details

Date
Friday 23rd December 1988
Time
9:30pm
Channel
BBC One
Length
45 minutes

Cast & crew

Cast
Rowan Atkinson Lord Edmund Blackadder
Rowan Atkinson Mr. Edmund Blackadder, Esquire
Tony Robinson Baldrick
Hugh Laurie Prince Regent
Miranda Richardson Queen Elizabeth I
Stephen Fry Lord Melchett
Patsy Byrne Nursie
Guest cast
Rowan Atkinson Ebenezer Blackadder
Miranda Richardson Asphyxia XIX
Stephen Fry Frondo
Hugh Laurie Pigmot
Robbie Coltrane Spirit of Christmas
Miriam Margolyes Queen Victoria
Jim Broadbent Prince Albert
Denis Lill Beadle
Pauline Melville Mrs Scratchit
Philip Pope Lord Nelson
Nicola Bryant Millicent
Ramsay Gilderdale Ralph
David Barber Enormous Orphan
Erkan Mustafa Enormous Orphan
David Nunn Enormous Orphan
Writing team
Richard Curtis Writer
Ben Elton Writer
Production team
Richard Boden Director
John Lloyd Producer
Chris Wadsworth Editor
Antony Thorpe Production Designer
Howard Goodall Composer

Press

12 Days of Christmas Specials 4: Blackadder

Blackadder's Christmas Carol was a feature-length special, made in-between Blackadder The Third and Blackadder Goes Forth. It tells of the story of Ebenezer Blackadder, who against type, is the nicest man in the whole of England...

Rhianna Evans, The Comedy Blog, 17th December 2019

Blackadder's Christmas Carol at 30

Thirty years ago, Blackadder brought us a brilliantly subversive take on the Charles Dickens classic - and it's still inspired.

Mark Butler, i Newspaper, 13th December 2018

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