black black series bbc sitcom written directed produced series originally aired bbc june july joint production set end british middle ages series written secret history contends king richard iii won unintentionally assassinated nephew succeeded princes tower series follows exploits second son calls black attempts increase standing father final episode quest overthrow conceived curtis working series covers number medieval issues britain humorous manner royal succession european relations conflict crown church filming series highly ambitious large cast location shooting series features dialogue adapted comic effect plot set middle ages series written alternate history opens august eve battle field series won reality played presented good king contrary view monster victory battle unintentionally killed lord richard attempts horse thinks recognizing king thinks richard stealing cuts head late king nephew richard duke york played lord father crowned lord battle arriving late later claims killed peasants nobles actually killed brother battle king england scotland flanders sons harry prince wales younger brother prince harry far father favourite king barely acknowledging second son existence running gag series father remember despite dismissive attitude second son series finale makes clear king loves harry deathbed king best console entire court drink honour episode archbishop canterbury helps father secure land church king acknowledges son mentions queen turned premise series follows fictitious reign experiences prince styles black lord duke northumberland intelligent servant status end series events converge accepted history king entire family poisoned allowing throne king henry vii history presenting monster eliminating reign history books reality richard duke york princes tower years old years dead took place young adult sons notable title duke edinburgh scotland independent kingdom ruled different royal house inception ninth century exception periods turmoil scottish wars independence given alternate history possible history scotland episodes episodes series written originally shown bbc wednesday evenings episode ran roughly minutes series began june episodes based medieval theme wars roses royal succession conflict crown church arranged marriages plague final episode follows planned coup état series broadcast shortly bbc television shakespeare productions shakespeare plays wars roses plays followed shown january actors enhance parody history played shakespeare productions cast villainous sean irish played shakespeare played episode character development series character black somewhat different later incarnations largely naive character evolve series begins showing signs descendants like final episode begins insulting making plans evolution follows naturally character situation black title adopts episode considering black vegetable presumably descendants adopted surname title character production development developed idea sitcom working eager avoid comparisons critically acclaimed proposed idea historical sitcom pilot episode episode series commissioned pilot episode covering basic plot born king speaks dresses generally looks acts like later descendants second series onwards reason given instead changed series stated remember exact reason suggested wanted complicated character implying change driven writing instead lead pilot curtis admitted documentary recording began producer came asked character curtis realised despite writing funny lines idea supposed play 25th anniversary documentary added cameras roll time suddenly realised wasn sure voice use character filming budget series considerable location shooting particularly castle northumberland surrounding countryside february authentic reconstruction medieval monastery church episode archbishop series large casts extras horses expensive medieval style costumes filming castle hindered bad weather snow visible outdoor location shots suffer making programme having trim hair medieval style wearing selection said making series series odd extravagant cost million pounds programmes lot money spend looked great wasn consistently funny liked cast robinson stated radio documentary originally offered later found small actor offered role turned series featured number guest roles featuring noted actors queen spain beard narrated series black seal title sequence music title sequence consisted stock shots riding horse location interspersed different shots silly things usually shot king richard credit closing titles similar sequence riding eventually falling horse chasing credits series included additional dialogue william_shakespeare glorious television series incarnation theme exception pilot featured different arrangement opening theme trumpet solo accompanied orchestra end titles theme gained mock heroic lyrics sung member final episode theme sung reflective style series incidental music unusually performed pipe organ percussion awards criticism series won international emmy award popular arts category series voted second place bbc britain best sitcom votes series advocate complimentary series suggesting confused expensive members cast crew looking documentary rides particularly complimentary series recalls colleague commented time series looks million dollars cost million pounds admits proud result time high cost series controller time second series commissioned reluctant second series major improvements cost cutting leaving gap years broadcast condition remained largely studio bound releases complete series black available region dvd complete box set series earlier vhs release series produced september series available region dvd box set complete series complete collected series specials disc complete set published released selection episodes documentaries appearances featured extra material released audio time vhs releases february released episodes black single videos september episodes released complete double vhs releases episodes released single video release october
The Black Adder