BLACKADDER is back, but will it prove a cunning plan?
Richard Curtis delighted fans yesterday as he let slip that Tony Robinson will be reprising his role as bumbling dogsbody Baldrick for Comic Relief 2023.
Blackadder is back… or at least Tony Robinson’s Baldrick is
Speaking to Radio 2, the creator of the classic historical comedy told Zoe Ball: “God I’m really nervous about saying this but… For the first time in 20 years, Baldrick is going to be giving some kind of performance.
However, one man who won’t be making a comeback is Edmund Blackadder himself, with Curtis admitting that Rowan Atkinson is “far too serious” to appear.
The hit BBC show, which ran over four series from 1983 to 1989, has previously returned for a number of specials, but the Comic Relief show marks Baldrick’s first appearance for over two decades.
But what has happened to the rest of the cast since?
Rowan Atkinson – Edmund Blackadder
Rowan Atkinson caused a stir by striking up a romance with comedian Louise Ford
Rowan Atkinson will forever be remembered for his portrayal of Edmund Blackadder, the grumpy, sarcastic anti-hero constantly scheming for power.
Away from the show, he’s starred in films like Johnny English and Love Actually, though one of his most iconic roles remains Mr Bean, who even stole the show at the London 2012 Olympics.
Ten years ago, Rowan, 68, caused a stir by beginning a relationship with comedian Louise Ford, 42, after they met while performing in a play together.
Louise ended her relationship with comedian James Acaster to be with Rowan, while he separated from his wife Sunestra Sastry in 2015.
Louise and Rowan had a daughter, Isla Atkinson, together in 2017.
Last year, he took a stand against cancel culture in an interview with the Irish Times, saying: “It does seem to me that the job of comedy is to offend, or have the potential to offend, and it cannot be drained of that potential.”
Sir Tony Robinson – Baldrick
Sir Tony is married to Louise Hobbs
Sir Tony was ever-present across the generations in Blackadder as Edmund’s long-suffering servant Baldrick.
Away from acting, he is best known for presenting Time Team for 20 years.
In 2011, the star, 76, married his third wife, Louise Hobbs, 41, who is two years younger than his daughter Laura.
Quizzed about how his daughter took the age gap on Loose Women, he insisted: “She was absolutely cool about it.”
He added: “We’ve been married a long time. It is just not an issue for us.”
In 2013, he was knighted in the 2013 Birthday Honours for public and political service.
He recounted meeting the Queen and Prince Philip during a Time Team dig at Buckingham Palace in 2006.
He explained: “I said to the Duke of Edinburgh, ‘What do you think we will find?’ And he said, ‘B****r all’ and he was right.”
Stephen Fry – Melchett
Stephen Fry said early intervention saved his life after a cancer diagnosis
Stephen, who played Melchett, is a national treasure thanks to his work with comedy partner Hugh Laurie, and for presenting quiz show QI from 2003 until 2016.
The 65-year-old has also enjoyed success in Hollywood, winning a Golden Globe for his lead performance in the 1997 film Wilde.
He’s written and starred in a number of documentary series, including his Emmy-Award winnning Stephen Fry: The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive, which followed his battle with bipolar disorder.
His private life hit the headlines in 2015 when he married the aspiring comedian and writer Elliott Spencer, 30 years his junior.
The star had his prostate removed after being diagnosed with cancer in December 2017 and has said that the early intervention saved his life.
Hugh Laurie – Prince George
Hugh has had a blockbuster acting career
Hugh, who had a hilarious turn as the dim-witted Prince George, has enjoyed one of the most successful acting careers of the whole Blackadder cast.
He broke America as the leading star in medical drama House between 2004 and 2012, as well as his roles in 101 Dalmatians, The Man in the Iron Mask and Stuart Little.
Hugh, 63, won Golden Globes in 2006 and 2007 for his performance as Dr Gregory House.
He also starred in BBC’s The Night Manager, the US comedy Veep and in the BBC’s 2020 political drama Roadkill.
Patsy Byrne – Nursie
Patsy was hilarious as Nursie in series two
Patsy stole the show as Nursie (whose real name was Bernard) alongside Miranda Richardson’s Queen Elizabeth I in the second series.
She died in 2014 at the age of 80 a week after Rik Mayall, who also starred in Blackadder as Lord Flashheart.
Over her successful career, Patsy appeared in hits including Kevin and Perry Go Large, Heartbeat, Inspector Morse, Les Miserables and David Copperfield – as well as a number of theatre productions.
She also starred alongside co-star Tony Robinson in an episode of the children’s sitcom Maid Marian And Her Merry Men.
Patsy was married to Patrick John Seccombe from 1967, until his death in 2000 – and was stepmother to six children.
It was later revealed that she had left them a £1.5million fortune, with stepdaughter Monica Seccombe explaining she had underestimated how much her estate was actually worth.
Miranda Richardson – Queen Elizabeth
Miranda also popped up in Harry Potter
Miranda Richardson, famous for her role as ditzy Queen Elizabeth I, went on to act in major blockbusters.
She played annoying reporter Rita Skeeter in the Harry Potter franchise and has been nominated for two Oscars in her career – Best Leading actress in Tom & Viv and Best Supporting actress in Damage.
The actress, 64, went on to star in films including Sleepy Hollow, Chicken Run, and The Hours.
She also appeared alongside Brian Cox as Winston Churchill’s wife in the biopic Churchill.
Miriam Margolyes – Lady Whiteadder
Miriam Margolyes is beloved for her Harry Potter role
Aside from her role as Lady Whiteadder, Miriam Margolyes is famed for her role as Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter franchise.
The award-winning actress, 81, scooped up a Bafta for her role in Martin Scorsese’s The Age of Innocence in 1993.
Her TV work includes Call The Midwife, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries and Trollied.
Miriam is in a civil partnership with Heather Sutherland, who likes to keep out of the public eye.
The couple don’t live together but they spend time together in London, Tuscany and Australia.
Miriam has said the beauty of the pair’s long-lasting relationship is “not living together”.
The famously outspoken star was once told to “be quiet” by the Queen when she met her as part of British Book Week.
She also sparked nearly 500 Ofcom complaints after saying she “wanted Boris Johnson to die” on Channel 4’s The Last Leg during the pandemic.
Gabrielle Glaister – Bob
Gabrielle became a legend on the Cobbles
After playing Bob in Blackadder, Gabrielle went on to star as Patricia Farnham in Brookside and Debs Brownlow in Coronation Street.
The Cobbles legend delighted fans last year by making a shock comeback 22 years on – playing Fern Lindon, the doppelganger of Bernie Winter.
Bernie star Jane Hazlegrove came up with the storyline idea after years of being mistaken for pal Gabrielle.
Gabrielle, 62, explained: “Jane and I have been mistaken for each other for years and years .
“Me constantly denying that I was in Casualty, Jane insisting that she wasn’t in Brookside!”
After leaving the soap for a second time last November, she joked that “somebody needs to give me a job” in an interview with TV Times.
She said: “I love doing telly and I love soaps. I’ve done Family Affairs and Emmerdale, as well as Corrie and Brookside, but I haven’t done EastEnders yet – I’d definitely consider it. It sounds dull, but I just love working.”
Tim McInnerny – Lord Percy Percy and Captain Darling
Tim regrets not trying to break America
Tim McInnerny has done a lot since he featured in Blackadder as Lord Percy Percy and The Scarlet Pimpernel.
He’s stuck close by his co-stars, acting with Hugh Laurie in 101 Dalmatians and Rowan Atkinson in Johnny English Reborn.
The actor, 66, has also appeared in Notting Hill and Game Of Thrones.
Tim previously admitted his biggest business mistake was “not trying to make it in America after my first film appearance in Wetherby.
He said: “I was a little naive in those days and didn’t push myself like Tim Roth and Daniel Day-Lewis did around that time.”
He starred in Channel 4 drama National Treasure about a Jimmy Saville type character, but said in real life that he had comforted his pal Paul Gambaccini over false abuse accusations.
He said: “I would see him every now and again during that period. What he went through was medieval. It was just shocking what the police put him through.”
He lives in London with his long-term partner, the costume designer Annie Gosney.
