The True History of the Blackadder (70 page)

Good Queen Bess and her saucy Ned. Atkinson’s expression would surely have been even sourer if Brian Blessed had worn the red wig and the dress, as he threatened.

Camera rehearsals in the miniscule royal court. ‘Someone once said this lovely thing about series two,’ Curtis says. ‘They were talking about the other series, and they said “I miss the ‘ee’s!”

And Ben said to them, “What d’you mean you miss the ease?” And they said, “Well in series two it was Percy, Nursie, Melchy, Queenie…” they were like a friendly bunch of schoolchums.’

Love with young Bob came only fleetingly for Lord Blackadder, ‘which is a bit sad really,’ Gabrielle Glaister says, ‘because I think Blackadder and Kate would have made rather a nice couple!’

‘You have a woman’s… beard, my lord?’ Everyone’s favourite Doctor was a welcome presence on set in June 1985 – though he still insists that he should have had his Equity card revoked for his celebrated scenery-chewing.

The combustible cream of a comic generation. ‘There was a sort of gang feel and it was fun,’ Elton says. ‘For heaven’s sake let’s not say it was cliquey, but it was people who liked being together and working together, and I think perhaps the fact that everybody is still friends might be unique.’

Edinburgh, August 1981:
An Oxbridge convergence like no other, as the final ingredients of the
Blackadder
chilli are located. Fry: ‘Hugh nudged me; a man had walked on stage from the wings behind us and was coming forward, holding his hand up for silence. His presence only encouraged more cheering. It was Rowan Atkinson. For a moment or two I thought he had gone insane…’