The Black Adder
Richard Curtis and Ben Elton Audio Book

Bitter, twisted and hilariously incompetent – welcome to the malevolent world of Edmund Blackadder. In the first outing of Richard Curtis’ iconic comedy creation, Rowan Atkinson brings the illegitimate son of Richard, Duke of York to life with a perfect blend of slimy toadyism and fawning inadequacy. The hapless Edmund has one beady eye on the throne and is relentless in his pursuit of power. Ably assisted by dim-witted manservant Baldrick and the vapid Lord Percy, Edmund is thwarted at every turn by circumstance, poor judgement and a healthy dose of verbal slapstick.

Richard Curtis and Rowan Atkinson present the audio version of the infamous television series, and whether you missed the original series first time around or are a die-hard fan, this audio adaptation is for you. Featuring the entire original cast, including the irrepressible bellowing of Brian Blessed and Tony Robinson’s bewildered babbling, it is still as hilarious and as poignant as it was on its first transmission. Blackadder was rightly hailed as one of the last great sit-coms and, with the combination of Curtis’ exceptional writing and Atkinson’s outstanding comic abilities, it’s easy to see why.

There are six episodes to be enjoyed on this audio package and there are no weak links in the chain. Each episode is stand-alone funny, with memorable lines that you’ll be quoting in the future. Even the signature tune is a work of genius. For fans of quality comedy at its best, this is an absolute must.