The Foretelling
Joe Siegler
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The Foretelling
This Episode: Season 1, Episode 1
Black Adder Overall: Episode 1
Airdate: 15 Jun 1983
Written by Rowan Atkinson & Richard Curtis
Directed by Martin Shardlow
Notes
- The famed British comedian Peter Cook guest stars in this episode as King Richard III.
- William Shakespeare is credited for “additional dialogue” due to the direct lifting of speeches from some of his most famous characters.
- Elspet Gray played the Queen in this episode (and most of the series). She was also Chancellor Thalia in the four episodes of the Doctor Who serial “Arc of Infinity“.
- The castle scenes were filmed at the real life location “Alnwick Castle“. The same castle appeared in Downton Abbey as Brancaster Castle.
- The first appearance of “a cunning plan”, which shows up repeatedly on screen in later seasons – here it’s part of the lyrics sung over the closing credits.
Links
[ Wikipedia | Blackadder Wiki | IMDB | BBC Website | Amazon US DVD | Amazon UK Blu-Ray ]The Black Adder Ep 1 - "The Foretelling" - 15 Jun 1983 1/2 #BlackAdder The first ep of Black Adder is probably my fav one of the first series. I don't find Black Adder himself to be as annoying as he is the rest of the series. Overall this first series has way different vibe than the other three.
— Joe Siegler (@joesiegler.blog) November 11, 2025 at 10:19 PM
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The Black Adder Ep 1 - "The Foretelling" - 15 Jun 1983 2/2 #BlackAdder Still, a lot to like starting with Brian Blessed, who is just as shouty here as he is everywhere - a joy. I also liked Peter Cook's cameo as he taunts Blackadder who increasingly panics over what he did. Enjoyable if a tad dry.
— Joe Siegler (@joesiegler.blog) November 11, 2025 at 10:19 PM
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The Black Adder Ep 1 - "The Foretelling" - 15 Jun 1983 3/2 #BlackAdder To those who follow my marathons, I originally said I was going to wait a week before doing Black Adder, but as the day wore on it felt weird to not do a TV marathon episode, so I started in earlier than I planned. :)
— Joe Siegler (@joesiegler.blog) November 11, 2025 at 10:19 PM
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