Blackadder is the name that encompassed four seasons of a BBC1 historical sitcom created by Richard Curtis and Rowan Atkinson, along with several one-off instalments. All television program episodes starred Rowan Atkinson as anti-hero Edmund Blackadder and Tony Robinson as Blackadder's dogsbody, Baldrick.
Each season was set in a different historical period with the two protagonists accompanied by different characters, though several reappear in one series or another, for example Melchett and Lord Flashheart.
The series aired in the UK on BBC One from 15 June, 1983 to 2 November, 1989. There are 24 half-hour episodes in four seasons, as well as three specials.
Blackadder aired in South Africa on M-Net. Broadcast dates are not available.
Season 1
The first of the Blackadder series' is set in the Middle Ages (roughly 1485). The premise of the series is a slight but significant deviation from our version of history, where, by many flukes and great silliness, Edmund Blackadder is somehow in line for the throne of England.
His father is King, and he desperately wants to rule in his stead.
To aid him, he has the loyal but dim servant Baldrick at his side, as well as the possibly-more-dim Lord Percy.
It does not end well for the over-ambitious and under-resourced Lord Blackadder.
The Black Adder was first aired in 1983 (6 episodes).
Season 2
The second Blackadder series is set in England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth the First (the late 1500's).
Edmund Lord Blackadder is a descendant of the original Black Adder (series 1). Instead of his great-grandfather's original plans to kill off the king in order to become king himself, Edmund is trying to become king by marrying the husbandless queen.
Unfortunately, he's just as lucky as his great-grandfather: he still has Lord Percy and Baldrick to help him out.
Blackadder II aired in 1986 in the UK (6 episodes).
Season 3
Blackadder the Third takes place in late 18th century England, where the descendant of the original Blackadder, E. Blackadder Esquire, is now no more than a lowly butler, serving the reigning Prince of Wales.
Edmund is slightly more intelligent than his forefathers, yet has no wealth of his own.
Edmund has no ambitions for the throne this time, preferring to be bitter about the fact that he is far more deserving of the title than anyone else.
Blackadder the Third consisted of 6 episodes and aired in 1987.
Season 4
The final series in the Blackadder series is set in the trenches of World War I. Edmund Blackadder is a Captain in the British Army, intent on not dying. He shares a dugout with Lieutenant George and the world's worst cook, Private Baldrick.
Once again, the end cannot be good for Edmund Blackadder.
The final Blackadder series was aired in 1989 (6 episodes).