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Blackadder the Third

  • TV Series
  • 1987
  • TV-PG
  • 30m
IMDb RATING
8.6/10
50K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,689
1,382
Rowan Atkinson and Tony Robinson in Blackadder the Third (1987)
SatireComedy

In the Regency era, Mr E. Blackadder serves as butler to the foppish numskull Prince George amidst the fads and crazes of the time.In the Regency era, Mr E. Blackadder serves as butler to the foppish numskull Prince George amidst the fads and crazes of the time.In the Regency era, Mr E. Blackadder serves as butler to the foppish numskull Prince George amidst the fads and crazes of the time.

  • Stars
    • Rowan Atkinson
    • Tony Robinson
    • Hugh Laurie
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.6/10
    50K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    4,689
    1,382
    • Stars
      • Rowan Atkinson
      • Tony Robinson
      • Hugh Laurie
    • 51User reviews
    • 9Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Top rated TV #166
    • Won 1 BAFTA Award
      • 3 wins & 6 nominations total

    Episodes6

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated1 season1987

    Photos31

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    Top cast25

    Edit
    Rowan Atkinson
    Rowan Atkinson
    • Edmund Blackadder, butler to the Prince…
    • 1987
    Tony Robinson
    Tony Robinson
    • Baldrick, a dogsbody…
    • 1987
    Hugh Laurie
    Hugh Laurie
    • The Prince Regent, their master…
    • 1987
    Helen Atkinson Wood
    Helen Atkinson Wood
    • Mrs. Miggins, a coffee shoppekeeper…
    • 1987
    Robbie Coltrane
    Robbie Coltrane
    • Dr. Samuel Johnson, noted for his fat dictionary
    • 1987
    Hugh Paddick
    • Keanrick, thespian
    • 1987
    Miranda Richardson
    Miranda Richardson
    • Amy Hardwood, the elusive Shadow
    • 1987
    Stephen Fry
    Stephen Fry
    • The Duke of Wellington, a famous soldier
    • 1987
    Tim McInnerny
    Tim McInnerny
    • Lord Topper -Fop
    • 1987
    Kenneth Connor
    Kenneth Connor
    • Mossop, thespian
    • 1987
    Vincent Hanna
    • Mr. Vincent Hanna, his own great great great grandfather
    • 1987
    Warren Clarke
    Warren Clarke
    • Mr. Hardwood, her father
    • 1987
    Nigel Planer
    Nigel Planer
    • Lord Smedley - Fop
    • 1987
    Denis Lill
    Denis Lill
    • Sir Talbot Buxomly, a member of Parliament
    • 1987
    Lee Cornes
    Lee Cornes
    • Shelley, romantic junkie poet
    • 1987
    Gertan Klauber
    Gertan Klauber
    • King George III, a mad Monarch
    • 1987
    Chris Barrie
    Chris Barrie
    • Ambassador - a Fearsome Revolutionary
    • 1987
    Ben Elton
    • Anarchist
    • 1987
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews51

    8.649.5K
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    Summary

    Reviewers say 'Blackadder the Third' is acclaimed for its sharp wit, clever writing, and standout performances by Rowan Atkinson, Hugh Laurie, and Tony Robinson. Many find it comparable or superior to other series, highlighting memorable jokes and inventive plots. The chemistry between main characters is celebrated, though some critics note a weaker supporting cast compared to other series. Despite this, its unique blend of historical satire and comedic brilliance makes it a fan favorite.
    AI-generated from the text of user reviews

    Featured reviews

    9general-melchett

    A forgotten yet great series!

    Blackadder 3 is probably the Blackadder series that people have least heard of - it has basically the same principles as the second and fourth ones and has nothing revolutionary in it. But it is still great - a fiery Duke of Wellington and a fat foolish Dr Johnson (writer of the first dictionary in England) make this series one to be reckoned with. There are still more hilarious one-liners to be delivered in this series, and it brings out the humour in a lesser-known era - in historically accurate and enjoyable episodes. Blackadder's third outing is not the most famous and well-known of the lot, but Rowan Atkinson's role as a butler to a stupid prince is a funny and effectively done one, and Hugh Laurie is at his best in this series. Very good! 9/10
    10VictorianCushionCat

    Absolute Class

    The 3rd and in my view the best of the Blackadder series.

    The only downside is that there is no Lord Percy who was the funniest character from the previous series but Hugh Laurie's Prince Regent is suitably madcap laugh a line.

    As a package it's quality through and through with convincing regency sets, superb cutting sarcasm and little bits of the wacky, the 'macbeth' actors standing out and Prince Georges 'lucky us' chicken impression, and the missing words from Dr Johnson's dictionary.

    Few comedies have been quite as both clever as they are funny, okay the odd lame observation or line gets in but mostly it's a scream.
    book addict

    Macbeth!

    I love this series. No, scratch that, I ADORE this series! Rowan Atkinson is fantastic as Blackadder (Macbeth!), Tony Robinson is perfect as Baldrick (I'd buy a little turnip of my own), and Hugh Laurie is wonderful as the Prince Regent (Why is it, that however many socks I buy, I never seem to have enough)! It was a shame that Tim McInnery and Stephen Fry could only be in it for one episode - but hey, they made the most of that one episode! Dr. Johnson is a brilliant character (EVERY word), like Pitt the Younger (What kind of jelly?) and those actors! Hot potato, orchestra stalls, Puck will make amends!
    10Sylviastel

    Too Good for Television!

    We could still use Black Adder even today. Imagine Rowan Atkinson resuming the role of assistant to the prime minister played by the wonderful Hugh Laurie. Hugh is sensational as the dimwit Prince George and Edmund as his brilliant assistant. I love the episode which Kenneth Connor guest stars as a British thespian. Every time, Edmund says Macbeth. The two thespians do a silly little act to ward off evil spirits. It's the funniest things that you will see. Of course, none of this brilliance and comedic genius could be without Ben Elton and Richard Curtis who are also behind the films like Love Actually, The Thin Blue Line, Four Weddings and A Funeral. Black Adder is funny and almost too good for television. Humor can be smart, sexy, and funny all at one. I was hoping last night on Saturday Night Live that Hugh Laurie would pay homage to his background in British humor. If the gang at SNL did some research, they would know what a treasure it was to have Hugh Laurie grace their stage.
    9arvie88

    Edmund Blackadder, A Butler's Tale

    I think 'Blackadder the Third' is the best one of the series.

    Actuelly all the episodes are funny, personally i really like the episode with the 'French invasion', but the one with the superstitious actors, in 'MACBETH' is also really funny, the way Rowan keeps playing on with them is really (English) Humor at the highest level.

    Actors: 'Never say that again, always call it the Scottish Play; Blackadder: Oh, So you want me to say the Scottish Play? Actors: YES Blackadder: Rather than MACBETH...!

    I am a big fan of Rowan and i have the majority of his work, but i think he did the series of Blackadder especially good.

    I Hope Rowan is going to continue his great style, but i think we can count on him, because he is already working on a Bean 2 Movie, that will be out this year, i can't wait...

    I Give this 3rd Blackadder a 9 out of 10 Rating.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Blackadder does not sport a beard in this season of the show because Rowan Atkinson's then-girlfriend hated it.
    • Goofs
      Although purportedly set during the British Regency (1811-1820), there are appearances by, and contemporary references to, historical figures who were dead before that time, such as Samuel Johnson and Admiral Nelson. Characters use expressions not developed until later, such as "prince and the pauper" or "roller coaster."
    • Quotes

      Baldrick: [Blackadder slams the door] Something wrong, Mr. B?

      Blackadder: Oh, something's *always* wrong, Balders... the fact that I'm not a millionaire aristocrat, with the sexual capacity of a rutting rhino, is a constant niggle.

    • Crazy credits
      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?)
    • Connections
      Featured in Laughter in the House: The Story of British Sitcom (1999)

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    FAQ

    • How many seasons does Blackadder the Third have?Powered by Alexa
    • What are some interesting facts about dictionaries?
    • Is the series historically accurate?
    • Are "aardvark" and "sausage" really missing from Samuel Johnson's dictionary?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 17, 1987 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Blackadder III
    • Filming locations
      • BBC Television Centre, Wood Lane, Shepherd's Bush, London, England, UK(Studio)
    • Production company
      • British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      30 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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