second series bbc sitcom written aired january february series set england reign sees principal character lord tudor attempting win favour queen avoiding execution fate series saw number significant changes format black notably replacing second writer filming studio sets location introduction familiar character intelligent plot series set era principal character lord great grandson original member london aristocracy unlike intelligent cynical outlook series follows attempts win favour queen elizabeth aided hindered intelligent servant lord heir friendship series chief rival lord queen lord chamberlain fear queen attempts supporting queen current interested comic relief court provided queen series intelligent main trio stupid idea proposed person history human beings act foil new found intelligence series obsession apparently arose botanical error confused vegetable shaped lord remained similar character original series sidekick plots respect stated character bears resemblance sir shakespeare twelfth night black series featured tongue cheek references shakespeare plays shakespeare mentioned number times contemporary famous quotations twisted comic effect particular episode bells follows similar plot twelfth night episodes series aired episodes broadcast bbc january february head originally intended episode filmed resulted small continuity error lord having beard head bells addition early scenes head principal characters introduced audience highlighted production development high cost series controller programming bbc reluctant sign second series major improvements cost cutting leaving gap years series wish continue writing second series writer stand comedian chosen replace according producer particularly keen choice age series sexy age kids relate stand comic acted studio warm comic audience filming began scripts principal rehearsals actors according script murder mystery style episode dropped writers felt work filming cost effective principally filmed specially designed small sets created designer sets constructed rebuilt period studio filming normal studio series particular queen throne room room featured episode unique sets episode including execution chamber head spanish dungeon chains outside location shoot series took place principal filming thursday wiltshire outdoor scenes scene bells end title sequences studio recordings shot live audience began sunday june recording head subsequent episodes filmed weekly basis sequence bells potato money beer chains director keen action shot spontaneously complex costume changes special effects required recording halted reputed said filming bit like shakespeare audience like sitcom cast size principal cast reduced compared previous series fixed number characters appearing episode quoted saying familiar cast series work comparing friendly bunch school lord lord heir england stephen lord lord chamberlain series featured significant cameo role episode notable appearances playing lord bells figures famous roles science fiction series potato appeared previous series comedy partner appearing twice drunken beer final episode evil prince later given larger role george series bob played classmate appearance characters seen similar later series music titles opening titles accompanied mock arrangement theme played recorder electric guitar feature black snake marble table snake wishes eventually removed replaced related episode title series single opening ominous string imagery parody opening credits bbc television adaptation closing titles use different arrangement theme sung lyrics usually insulting reflect events preceding episode song played shot formal garden annoyed wielding sequence incorporated separate subplot constantly attempting musician time limited success end final episode catches repeatedly fountain releases complete series available region dvd complete box set series recently remastered edition including commentary selected episodes earlier vhs release series produced series available region dvd box set complete series addition audio recording taken television episodes available cassette compact disc vhs releases october released episodes single videos september episodes released complete double vhs releases episodes released single video release october dvd releases
Blackadder II