How a BBC sitcom reinvented itself by turning a genius into a total fool

Cultures · Published 10 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: After a costly first series, Blackadder II transformed its predecessor's premise into a sharp, cynical Elizabethan satire. By replacing Rowan Atkinson as writer with Ben Elton, the show introduced a Machiavellian lead and a sidekick redefined as the stupidest person in history, setting a new standard for British comedy.

Following the expensive production of the original series, BBC1 controller Michael Grade demanded significant cost-cutting, leading to a three-year hiatus. When the show returned in 1986, it underwent a radical overhaul. Rowan Atkinson, who had co-written the first series, stepped back from writing duties, allowing Ben Elton to join Richard Curtis. Elton was instrumental in shifting the setting to the Elizabethan era, which he viewed as a period that would resonate with younger audiences. To manage the budget, the production moved from location shoots to small, modular studio sets at the BBC Television Centre, with only one outdoor sequence filmed at Wilton House in May 1985.

The character dynamics were fundamentally altered to create a more focused comedic structure. Edmund, Lord Blackadder, evolved from his forefather into a dashing, intelligent, yet deeply cynical courtier navigating the treacherous Tudor court. Conversely, his servant Baldrick was reimagined as a dim-witted foil, a change Elton proposed to make him the most unintelligent character in human history. This dynamic was bolstered by the inclusion of Lord Percy, a foolish aristocrat, and the childish Queen Elizabeth I, played by Miranda Richardson. The series also leaned heavily into parody, with opening credits that mimicked the 1976 adaptation of I, Claudius and scripts that frequently twisted Shakespearean tropes for comedic effect.

The production process was notably spontaneous, with director Mandie Fletcher treating the studio recordings like live theater rather than traditional sitcom filming. This approach fostered a tight-knit environment that Richard Curtis described as working with a group of school chums. Despite the show's success and its iconic status, the series finale, 'Chains', offered a dark, surreal twist: after Prince Ludwig the Indestructible is seemingly defeated, the final moments reveal he survived, murdered the entire cast, and assumed the identity of the Queen to rule England. This blend of sharp wit, historical absurdity, and unexpected darkness cemented the series as a landmark in television history.

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