Blackadder set to be made into 'original play' despite writer Ben Elton's fears: 'Don't want to f**k it up'

Blackadder set to be made into 'original play' despite writer Ben Elton's fears: 'Don't want to f**k it up'

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Lauren Williams

By Lauren Williams


Published: 30/04/2024

- 12:06

Blackadder was a popular BBC comedy series which ran from 1983 to 1989

Blackadder could be undergoing some new writing as writer Ben Elton is interested in turning the successful series into an original play - but insists it won't be an adaptation.

The series followed Edmund Blackadder (played by Rowan Atkinson), a conniving but dim-witted prince, who schemed to take over the throne from his father King Richard IV.


However, through the series he ended up making things worse for himself, getting caught in some sticky situations and making enemies along the way.

Elton recently reunited with fellow Blackadder writer Richard Curtis and told The Sun: "A Blackadder play, if Richard was keen on it, I’d be interested.

"Not an adaptation of episodes, it would be an original play. When I wrote Upstart Crow I did three series and three Christmas specials for TV, which was a load of writing.

"But I’m proud of the fact I then did an original play. If we were to do that with Adder it would be the same."

Ben Elton

Ben admitted he was keen for an original play but not to mess with its legacy

ITV

Elton was also asked if there was a possibility to tempt original actors Atkinson, Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie and Tony Robinson back to the show, which left Elton to quip: "If they want to be in it, that’s up to them.

"But with Blackadder, there are four figures who have a say in it: Me, Richard, Rowan and John Lloyd, who was the producer. So if anything happens, it’s down to us."

Despite his eagerness to get the show on stage and bring it back to life, he insisted that he did not want to harm Blackadder's legacy, insisting he doesn't "want to f*** up something as loved as Blackadder by going back to it".

The 64-year-old's comments come after Robinson recently spoke out on the twist of fate which saw him cast as Baldrick after he nearly missed out on the role.

Blackadder

Ben Elton expressed the original members could return if they wished

BBC

In the original pilot of the show, Baldrick was meant to be portrayed by Philip Fox, but Robinson was later cast three days before the cameras were set to roll.

He told Radio Times: "In a way, series one was itself a pilot. In the first week’s rehearsal, immediately we knew what was wrong and what was right, but it was already on the production line and we couldn’t really change it that much.

"Throughout the first series, we were trying to polish it, all the while knowing that if we could just throw away some bits and start again, we could do something with a different dynamic."

Sir Tony was delighted to see the pilot has "flashes that are really, really good' but admits the first scene is 'tedious'."

Ben Elton

Ben Elton shared his concerns about redoing Blackadder

GETTY/BBC

He said: "There’s a desperate attempt to explain the whole concept and, like any first scene ever, it gets a blue pencil through it very quickly. It just shows you how inspiration travels – you can start off with something ghastly and then you make the leap, and suddenly you’ve got something interesting."

Blackadder's fourth anniversary milestone was given two special documentaries on Gold last year, with Robinson uncovering the never-before-seen 1982 pilot.

Ahead of the anniversary, Robinson previously said: "Blackadder holds a special place in the nation's heart and in mine too. I'm delighted to be part of its 40th Birthday celebrations on Gold.

"It's been wonderful to journey back to where it all began and chat with some of the biggest names in comedy who made it all happen."

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