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.
• The director (Martin Shardlow) was not listed in the credits of this episode.  No idea why.
• The concept of lyrics in the closing credits start here in the first episode.  The first series has nearly all the same, though.  The lyrics here are repeated in Episodes 2-5, and are changed in the season finale.  Episodes in the second series change very episode.

Closing Credits Lyrics

The sound of hoofbeats cross the glade
Good folk lock up your son and daughter
Beware the deadly flashing blade
Unless you want to end up shorter

Black Adder Black Adder
He rides a pitch black steed
Black Adder Black Adder
He’s very bad indeed

Black his gloves of finest mole
Black his codpiece made of metal
His horse is blacker than a vole
His pot is blacker than his kettle

Black Adder Black Adder
With many a cunning plan
Black Adder Black Adder
You horrid little man

Links

[ Wikipedia | Blackadder Wiki | IMDB | BBC Website | BBC Alternate | Amazon US DVD | Amazon UK Blu-Ray ]