Witchsmeller Pursuivant

This Episode: Season 1, Episode 5
Black Adder Overall: Episode 5
Airdate: 13 Jul 1983
Written by Rowan Atkinson & Richard Curtis
Directed by Martin Shardlow

Notes

• The castle scenes were filmed at the real life location “Alnwick Castle“.  The same castle appeared in Downton Abbey as Brancaster Castle.
• The title card for this episode is only one of two of all 24 episodes of Black Adder where a guest star’s name appears in the titles. The other time that happened was in the final episode “Goodbyeee“.
• While the line was used in two episodes before this one, this is where Tony Robinson feels the traditional Baldric line “I have a cunning plan” originated.
• The titular “Witchsmeller” is played by Frank Finlay.  He’s one of those actors who looks like he’s been in everything, but oddly not Doctor Who. Only appearance there was in a Big Finish audio titled “100“.
• Lord Angus is played by Valentine Dyall.  He’s been in a handful of Doctor Who stories as “The Black Guardian” (“The Armageddon Factor“, “Mawdryn Undead“, “Terminus“, “Enlightenment“.)
• One of the prison guards is played by “Stephen Frost”.  I know Frost well from 30 or so episodes of the UK version of “Whose Line is it Anyway”.  He was also in the Series IV episode “Corporal Punishment“.  He also appeared (uncredited) in the fourth episode of the Doctor Who serial “Warrior’s Gate“.
• The Child bride of Black Adder appears again from the last 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

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