Blackadder

The Black Adder (Series 1) was co-produced with Australia's Seven Network.

Rik Mayall does not receive a credit for his sole appearanced in the first series; his character, Mad Gerald, is credited as having played himself.

The 1998 special sketch contains a peculiar anomaly: whilst it is set in 1680 and features King Charles II, Lord Blackadder refers to his soon-to-be status "if Cromwell has his way". However, Oliver Cromwell executed King Charles I in 1649 and himself died in 1658, a whole 22 years before the scene is set.

1988's Comic Relief special Blackadder: The Cavalier Years, set in 1648, features Sir Edmund Blackadder, whilst the 1680-set 1998 special features Lord Blackadder. It is never made clear whether the two are the same, but it seems likely. Both feature Stephen Fry as the reigning Charles.

Tim McInnerny's character Captain Darling (Blackadder Goes Forth) was originally called Captain Cartwright. The name 'Darling' was suggested by Stephen Fry relatively late in pre-production.

Robbie Coltrane's role as Dr. Samuel Johnson in Black Adder The Third's Ink And Incapability was inspired by Coltrane's one-man play as Johnson, complete with same accent, wig and mannerisms.

The rotten borough of Dunny-on-the-Wold that appears in Black Adder The Third's Dish And Dishonesty was based on Dunwich, a real-life rotten borough that was under water.

Source: No Such Thing As A Fish: Episode 168 - No Such Thing As Lord Cauldronhead

The Blackadder pilot - featuring Rowan Atkinson and Tim McInnerny, with Philip Fox as Baldrick - was recorded on 20th June 1983. It was eventually shown on television on the sitcom's 40th anniversary, as part of Gold documentary Blackadder: The Lost Pilot.