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Dish and Dishonesty
- written by Richard Curtis & Ben Elton
- directed by Mandie Fletcher
- music by Howard Goodall
- Story: In the aftermath of a General Election, the Prince Regent is
in danger of being struck from the Civil List, bankrupting him. Edmund
Blackadder, the Prince's butler, attempts to guarantee the bill's failure, but
the MP with the swing vote dies unexpectedly. Edmund's dogsbody, Baldrick, wins
the resulting election (thanks to some "interference") but the vote is
lost anyway. This pushes the bill to the House of Lords, where Edmund hopes to
not only save the Prince's finances, but also elevate his own status as
well...
- Season 3 Regular Cast: Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Edmund Blackadder), Tony
Robinson (Baldrick), Hugh Laurie (Prince George, The Prince Regent), Helen
Atkinson-Wood (Mrs. Miggins)
- Guest Cast: Vincent Hanna (Mr. Vincent Hanna, his own great great
great grandfather), Denis Lill (Sir Talbot Buxomly), Simon Osborne (Pitt the
Younger), Geoffrey McGivern (Ivor "Jest Ye Not Madam" Biggun),
Dominic Martelli (Pitt the even Younger)
- Notes: Helen Atkinson-Wood (no relation to Rowan) has made
many appearances in British comedies such as The Young Ones and The Lenny Henry
Show. She also starred in her own 1992 comedy series, Tales from the Poop Deck,
as pirate Connie Blackheart.
Geoffrey McGivern is perhaps best known for his audio work in The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, where he
portrayed Ford Prefect on radio and on vinyl.
Vincent Hanna, a real-life news commentator, spoofs his own Election Day
coverage in this episode.
Pitt the Younger was actually 24 when he became Prime Minister in 1783, the
youngest to ever hold the post. In contrast to the portrayal here, Pitt was
quite close to the Prince Regent, since they both had dealt with the mental
deterioration of a father.
- Original airdate: September 17, 1987
Ink and Incapability
- written by Richard Curtis & Ben Elton
- directed by Mandie Fletcher
- music by Howard Goodall
- Story: The Prince Regent decides to increase his intellectual profile
by befriending Dr. Samuel Johnson, the author of a new book, The
Dictionary. Edmund, whose book, Edmund: A Butler's Tale, was shunned
by Dr. Johnson, schemes to prevent the Prince from patronizing him. But when
Dr. Johnson lets out the fact that he had, in fact, intended to sponsor Edmund's
book, Edmund must repair the damage he's done. Dr. Johnson, however, is
notoriously hard headed and Baldrick, unfortunately, appears to have burned
The Dictionary....
- Guest Cast: Robbie Coltrane (Dr. Samuel Johnson), Lee Cornes
(Shelley), Steve Steen (Byron), Jim Sweeney (Coleridge)
- Notes: Robbie Coltrane is best known from his dramatic crime
show, Cracker. He has also made appearances in the James Bond and Harry Potter
series of films. His other Blackadder appearance is in
Blackadder's Christmas Carol.
Lee Cornes appeared previously in Blackadder II (Chains) and appears once more in Blackadder Goes
Forth (Corporal Punishment).
- Original airdate: September 24, 1987
Nob and Nobility
- written by Richard Curtis & Ben Elton
- directed by Mandie Fletcher
- music by Howard Goodall
- Story: It's the time of the French Revolution and all of London is
being overrun with French aristocrats, much to the annoyance of Edmund. After
he disparages The Scarlet Pimpernel in front of two noblemen, Edmund claims that
he will go to France and rescue a nobleman. But when the revolution extends to
the French Embassy while Edmund is visiting, he may need rescuing himself...
- Guest Cast: Chris Barrie (Revolutionary Ambassador), Tim McInnerny
(Lord Topper / The Comte d'Frufru / The Scarlet Pimpernel), Nigel Planer (Lord
Smedley / Mme La Guillotine / The Scarlet Pimpernel)
- Notes: Chris Barrie is best known from his UK sitcom roles:
Arnold J. Rimmer in the sci-fi comedy Red Dwarf
and Gordon Brittas in The Brittas Empire. He also portrays Lara Croft's butler
Hilary in the Tomb Raider series of films.
Tim McInnerny here makes his only appearance in Blackadder The Third. He chose
not to portray a new version of Percy (for fear of being typecast), making this
the only Blackadder series in which he was not a
regular.
Nigel Planer is best known from his portrayal of hippie Neal on groundbreaking
UK sitcom The Young Ones.
Nob and Nobility did not originally air in the United States, due to
copyright issues concerning the character of The Scarlet Pimpernel.
- Original airdate: October 1, 1987
Sense and Senility
- written by Richard Curtis & Ben Elton
- directed by Mandie Fletcher
- music by Howard Goodall
- Story: The Prince is suffering from poor public relations, which
coincides with an outbreak of anarchistic attacks. He decides to have two
actors, Mossop & Keanrick, teach him how to effectively deliver a speech
that Edmund has written. The palpable disdain that Edmund shows the actors
drives a wedge between him and the Prince. Pushed too far, Edmund decides to
leave for Sardinia, but the actors have plans that may change things...
- Guest Cast: Kenneth Connor (Mossop), Hugh Paddick (Keanrick), Ben
Elton (Anarchist)
- Notes: Mossop and Keanrick's anti-Macbeth
"hex" chant goes: "Hot Potato / Orchestra Stalls / Puck
Will Make Amends," followed by the squeezing of the other's nose.
("Ahhh!")
Kenneth Connor is best known for his many appearances in the Carry On series of
films and the France-set sitcom 'Allo 'Allo.
Ben Elton, co-writer of all Blackadder except the first series, makes his only acting appearance in
Blackadder here, despite being an experienced performer in his own right.
- Original airdate: October 8, 1987
Amy and Amiability
- written by Richard Curtis & Ben Elton
- directed by Mandie Fletcher
- music by Howard Goodall
- Story: When both Edmund and the Prince find themselves in financial
difficulties, the only solution is for the Prince to marry into some money.
With no viable prospects amongst the aristocracy, Edmund chooses the beautiful
daughter of an industrialist. But Amy Hardwood seems to be even thicker than
George and also seems to be hiding something...
- Guest Cast: Roger Avon (The Duke of Cheapside), Warren Clarke (Josiah
Hardwood), Barbara Horne (Sally Cheapside), Miranda Richardson (Amy Hardwood)
- Notes: Miranda Richardson makes her first guest appearance
here. The part of Amy Hardwood provided Richardson with the opportunity to both
hearken back to her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth in Blackadder II and also show off her comic range. She would
return again for Blackadder's Christmas
Carol, Blackadder Goes Forth (General
Hospital) and Blackadder: Back &
Forth.
Roger Avon has had a long career in television including appearances on Benny
Hill, Doctor Who, and Upstairs, Downstairs. His
films include A Hard Day's Night (1964), Daleks: Invasion Earth 2150 A.D.
(1966) and Quartermass and the Pit (1967).
Warren Clarke is best known as Detective Superintendent Andrew Dalziel in the
long running Dalziel And Pascoe series of TV movies. He also appears in the
Blackadder mini-episode The Cavalier Years
as Oliver Cromwell.
- Original airdate: October 15, 1987
Duel and Duality
- written by Richard Curtis & Ben Elton
- directed by Mandie Fletcher
- music by Howard Goodall
- Story: The Prince Regent is in trouble for having had a sexual
dalliance with the nieces of the Duke of Wellington. When the Duke challenges
the Prince to a duel, Edmund agrees to take his place. As the time of the duel
approaches, each of Edmund's plans for survival fall short...
- Guest Cast: Stephen Fry (Duke of Wellington), Rowan Atkinson
(McAdder), Gertan Klauber (King George III)
- Notes: Fry returns to Blackadder after
having been a regular in Blackadder II. He would return
as a regular in Blackadder Goes Forth and for the specials. He again portrays the Duke of Wellington
(among others) in Blackadder: Back &
Forth.
Rowan Atkinson get a chance here to play opposite himself, in the dual roles of
Edmund and his Scottish cousin, McAdder.
- Original airdate: October 22, 1987
 
Blackadder III
Available On DVD!The entire third season of Black Adder is now available on DVD,
complete with historical notes and other bonus features. The third season is
available by itself, or as part of the Complete Black Adder DVD Box Set.
Complete Season 3
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Complete Series
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