Blackadder: The Cavalier Years – Watch The Hilarious Blackadder Special Set in the English Civil War

Ask anyone of a certain age and disposition in the UK about Blackadder, and they will be able to trot off several facts. It was spread over four series, each in a different time, culminating in Blackadder Goes Forth, set at the height of the First World War.  They might also add – although opinion on this is somewhat divided - that contrary to the law of diminishing return, each series was better than the last (and the first was bloody good to start with). What they sometimes overlook, of course, is that there were two short specials made for charity, with Blackadder – The Cavalier Years being the one this little post is about.

Now, chronologically it nestles between seasons 2 (Elizabethan) and 3 (Georgian), being set at the time of the English Civil War – and you can watch it in full below.  However, it was filmed after the third series had aired. Created for the Comic Relief charity in 1988 (good grief, has it really been almost forty years?), it tells the story of how Edmund Blackadder and his “trusty” manservant Sodoff Baldrick shelter King Charles I, who has been defeated in the civil war.  Unfortunately, the shelter is shortlived and King Charles is sentenced to death by Oliver Cromwell (here played by Warrem Clarke) and his roundheads.    

So, of course, Blackadder and Baldrick hatch a cunning plan to replace the head of the monarch with a pumpkin during the process of his execution by beheading.  What happens, you will have to watch the video below. However, as well as the usual brilliant turns by Rowan Atkinson and Tony Robinson, Blackadder The Cavalier Years has a great supporting cast, notably Stephen Fry as the beleaguered soon-to-be ex-monarch.  He based his performance on the characteristics of the (then) Prince Charles, who in 2022 would become King Charles III.  For example, when he is asked "Are you ready to meet your maker?"  he replies with "Well, I'm always absolutely fascinated to meet people from all walks of life... yes, particularly manufacturing industries."  Perfect.  

The cast is rounded off by Harry Enfield, who serves as narrator.

Watch the full minisode of Blackadder The Cavalier Years below.