Among the books that Blackadder peruses during the opening credits are:
- (Morte D'Edmund?)
- The Blackadder's Progress
- Rise and Fall
- Bath on 5p a Day
- Encyclopaedia Blackaddica Vol XIX FUN to HUG
- Chelsea Arts Club (...)
- Blackadder Unbound
- Landscape Gardening by Capability Brownadder
- From Black Death to Blackadder
- Blackadder's Bedside Cockfighting Companion
- The Blackadder of Calcutta
- (...)
- Blackadder Book of Martyrs
- The Blackobite Rebellion
- Old Blackamore's Almanac Second Edition
- Sir Francis Blackadder (Letters?)
The episode titles are spoofs of Jane Austen's novel 'Sense and Sensibility'. The covers of the books, painted by Warwickshire artist Stan Kaminski, are meant to spoof the covers of popular bodice-ripper novels, with scantily clad women being grabbed by the hero of the story.
In the opening credits, Blackadder roams amongst bookcases. He pulls out books from time to time, upon the spines of which the opening credits are written. Finally, he pulls out a book (upon which the series title is inscribed)... then with a sly wink, he reveals the book is hollow and contains a dirty romance novel.
The closing credits are presented in the style of a theatre programme from a Regency-era play. The last scene of the episode forms a poster image, and below it run the following credits: For the BENEFIT of SEVERAL VIEWERS MR CURTIS & MR ELTON'S Much admir'd Comedy BLACKADDER The THIRD or (EPISODE NAME) was performed with appropriate Scenery Dresses etc. by EDMUND BLACKADDER, butler to the Prince, Mr. ROWAN ATKINSON Baldrick, a dogsbody, Mr. TONY ROBINSON The Prince Regent, their master, Mr. HUGH LAURIE Mrs. Miggins, a coffee shoppekeeper, Miss. HELEN ATKINSON-WOOD (Cast for that particular episode) MUSIC, (never performed before), Mr. HOWARD GOODALL (List of the Crew) the director, Mifs. MANDIE FLETCHER the producer, Mr. LLOYD To conclude with Rule Britannia in full chorus NO MONEY RETURN'D (C) BBC MCMLXXXVII
The spines of the books detailing the three main cast actors in the opening credits reflect their character's social standing. Rowan Atkinson's book spine is a little faded but still neat and tidy; Tony Robinson's book spine is tattered and ripped; and Hugh Laurie's book spine is in pristine condition.