Blackadder II

Blackadder II
Title screen of Blackadder II
Created by	Richard Curtis & Ben Elton
Starring	Rowan Atkinson Tim McInnerny Tony Robinson Miranda Richardson Stephen Fry Patsy Byrne
Theme music composer	Howard Goodall
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language(s)	English
No. of episodes	6
Production
Producer(s)	John Lloyd
Running time	30 minutes
Release
Original network	BBC One
Picture format	4:3
Audio format	Mono
Original release	9 January – 20 February 1986
Chronology
Preceded by	The Black Adder
Followed by	Blackadder the Third
External links
Website

Blackadder II is the second series of the BBC sitcom Blackadder, written by Richard Curtis and Ben Elton, which aired from 9 January 1986 to 20 February 1986. The series is set in England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558–1603), and sees the principal character, Edmund, Lord Blackadder, as a Tudor courtier attempting to win the favour of the Queen while avoiding execution by decapitation, a fate that befell many of her suitors.

The series saw a number of significant changes from the format of The Black Adder, notably Ben Elton replacing Rowan Atkinson as the second writer, filming in studio sets, rather than on location, the introduction of the more familiar Machiavellian "Blackadder" character and a less intelligent Baldrick.

The series is set during the Elizabethan era (1558–1603). The principal character, Edmund, Lord Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson), is the great-grandson of the original Black Adder, and is now a member of the London aristocracy. Unlike his forefather, he is both dashing and intelligent, although he is still scheming and cynical in his outlook. The series follows his attempts to win the favour of the childish Queen Elizabeth I (Miranda Richardson). As before he is aided, and often hindered, by two less-than-intelligent sidekicks, his servant Baldrick (Tony Robinson), and Lord Percy Percy (Tim McInnerny), heir to the Duchy of Northumberland, with whom Blackadder has a grudging friendship.