Contents:
 
    1. What is the Blackadder?
    2. How many series are there?
 
    3. What is the chant that the actors perform in BA III when they hear
       "MacBeth"?
    4. Where can I find the scripts?
    5. What is the name of the Baby Eating Bishop in BA II?
    6. Is Helen Atkinson-Wood any relation to Rowan? Is Rowan married?
    7. What are the multiple characters played by the actors in the
       series?
    8. Why isn't Nob and Nobility shown in the US?
    9. Why can't I buy The Cavalier Years?
   10. Was that Rowan in The Lion King?
   11. What are some of the great quotes from the series?
   12. Will there be a Blackadder the Fifth Series?
   13. What are some of the anachronisms in the series?
   14. Where can I write Rowan Atkinson?
   15. How can I subscribe to the Blackadder mailing list?
 

1. What is the Blackadder?
   
   The Blackadder is a British Comedy Series starring Rowan Atkinson as
   the title role. The series spans from the 15th century all the way up
   to World War I, with some stops in between, and one stop in the
   future.
   
   One of the most notable things about the series is the acidic tongue,
   and quick wit, of Edmund Blackadder, and the uncanny way in which he
   seems to have a hand in important situations of Europe's history--and
   in the slick way he gets himself into and out of trouble.
   
   He is accompanied through the series by one faithful bondsman,
   Baldrick, whose intelligence is comparable to that of a cabbage. Their
   families are interwined in a centuries old relationship of servant and
   master. You can't help but wonder how the two families managed to
   reproduce.
   
   Other familiar faces continually pop up over the centuries--such as
   Lord Flasheart, and Lord Percy Percy. One viewer noted that BlackAdder
   is to ordinary TV what being a millionaire aristocrat with the sexual
   capacity of a rutting rhino is to standing in the middle of a pond
   with a small painted wooden duck on your head.
   
   I think that sums it up beautifully.
   
2. How many series are there?
 
   There are four series of six episodes each. There is a Christmas
   Special and a fifteen minute sketch done for charity.  According to
   someone who works at the BBC, there is also a pilot which is similar 
   in plot to 'Born to Be King', further information is available via email.
   
 
  
   
3. What is the chant that the actors say when they hear "MacBeth"?
 
   Personally, I hear "Hot potato, orchestra scores, Puck will make
   amends." However, in the ftp script, it reads "Hot potato, off his
   drawers, Puck will make amends."
   
   This is still the subject of debate.
   
4. Where can I get the transcripts?
 
   
   Soon I will put them on my site so you will have to look no further! 
   For now you can see my episode guide by clicking here.
   
   It has been pointed out, on several occasions, that are numerous
   errors in the archive transcripts. This should be kept in mind when
   reading them.
 
 
   
5. What is the name of the Baby Eating Bishop in BA II?
   
   He is the Bishop of Bath and Wells, a bishop of a diocese in England
   which contains Wells, a city with a huge remarkable cathedral, and
   Bath, which has an equally impressive Abbey. It sounds on the tape as 
   if it is the bishop of Barton Wells, but this is not the case. 
 
 
   
6. Is Helen Atkinson-Wood related to Rowan? Is Rowan married?
   
   Helen Atkinson-Wood plays Mrs. Miggins in BA III. There is no proof so
   far which says she is any relation to Rowan, nor is she his wife.
   
   Rowan Atkinson is married to a woman named Sunetra, and they have had
   two children.
 
   
7. What are the multiple characters played by the actors?
   
   (Note: only those who appeared more than once.)
   
   Rowan Atkinson
     * Lord Edmund Blackadder. BA I, II, III, IV, Cavalier Years.
     * Ebenezer Blackadder. Xmas Carol.
     * McAdder. BA III.
     * Grand Admiral of the Dark Segment. Xmas Carol.
   
   Patsy Byrne
     * Nursie/Bernard. BA II, Xmas Carol.
   
   Robbie Coltrane
     * Samuel Johnson. BA III.
     * Spirit of Xmas. Xmas Carol.
 
   Stephen Fry
     * Melchitt, BA II, Xmas Carol.
     * Duke of Wellington, BA III.
     * General Sir Antony Cecil Hogmany Melchitt, BA IV.
     * Frondo. Xmas Carol.
   
   Gabrielle Glaister
     * "Bob" Kate. BA II.
     * "Bob" Parkhurst. BA IV.
   
   Hugh Laurie
     * Simon Partridge, BA II.
     * Prince Ludwig, BA II.
     * Prince Regent George, BA III.
     * Lt. George St. Barleigh, BA IV.
     * Lord Pigmot. Xmas Carol.
   
   Miriam Margolyes
     * Infanta Maria of Spain. BA I.
     * Lady Whiteadder. BA II.
     * Queen Victoria. Xmas Special.
   
   Rik Mayall
     * Mad Gerald. BA I.
     * Lord Flasheart. BA II, BA IV.
       
   Tim McInnerny
     * Lord Percy Percy. BA I, II.
     * Lord Topper, BA III.
     * Scarlet Pimpernel. BA III.
     * Cpt. Kevin Darling, BA IV.
   
   Miranda Richardson
     * Queenie. BA II, Xmas Carol.
     * Amy Hardwood. BA III.
     * Nurse Mary. BA IV.
     * Queen Asphyxia XIX. Xmas Carol
       
   Tony Robinson
     * S. Baldrick. BA I, II, III, IV, Xmas Carol, Cavalier Years.
       
   Bill Wallis
     * Avenging Knight. BA I.
     * Ploppie, the jailer. BA II.
     * Brigadier Proudfoot-Smith. BA IV.
 
 
       
8. Why isn't Nob and Nobility shown in the US?
   
   There are legal complications due to a trademark law involving the
   Scarlet Pimpernel. 
 
 
   
9. Why can't I buy The Cavalier Years?
   
   The fifteen minute sketch, done orginally for the UK Comic Relief, for
   Third World aid. It was released on a Comic Relief video; however, it
   is very difficult to find this tape. I am trying to get the transcript.
   
   
10. Is that Rowan in The Lion King?
   
   Yes, Rowan was the voice of Zazu, the King's Major Domo. Rowan also
   made an appearance in Four Weddings and a Funeral and Hot Shots: Part
   Deux. He has made many more appearances, in films, comedy specials and
   commercials. A complete listing of Atkinson appearances is available by cl; 
   clicking here.
 
 
   
11. What are some of the great quotes from the series?
   
   If this section were a complete list of all of the great quotes, it
   would be many Ks long. So, in an effort to not waste bandwidth, I'll
   just direct your attention to yet more files in the cathouse.org
   archive.
   
 
   
12. Will there be a Blackadder the Fifth Series?
   
   No.
   
   Blackadder Goes Forth Article (posted by Lee Whiteside)
   [From the Times (London) October 22, 1989]
     
     '...When the fourth series comes to what its co-writer, Richard
     Curtis, darkly describes as its "very definitive last episode" on
     BBC1 in two weeks, it is almost certainly the last we will see of
     the most slippery dynasty since - as Captain Blackadder might have
     said to Private Baldrick - the incredibly mean Emperor Ting covered
     his grandchildren in yak grease, pushed them down the Great Wall of
     China and said he'd bought them a roller coaster for Christmas...
     
     '...Curtis says: "It's possible that we'll all work together again,
     but we're not likely to meet up two years from now and decide to do
     something we've already done four times. There were only four
     gospels, for God's sake."'....
     
   
13. What are some of the anachronisms in the series?
 
    Blackadder I   
    
    "Archbishop of Cantebury" The series takes place in the 15th century,
    and chocolate is mentioned, which isn't introduced to Europe until the
    1500's.
 
    Blackadder II
 
    "Chains"  The last quote of that episode concerns pencils, which are a
    relatively recent invention.
 
    Blackadder III
 
    "Ink and Incapabilty"  Samuel Johnson could not have asked George IV
    for patronage for his dictionary as George didn't become regent until
    1811, and Samuel Johnson died in 1784.  His dictionary was published in
    1755.
 
    Byron, Shelley and Johnson gathering together is also impossible. The
    men lived and died in different times.
 
14. Where can I write Rowan Atkinson?
 
    From "Who's Who"
 
    c/o PBJ Management Ltd.
    5 Soho Square
    London WIV 5DE
    England
 
    Tel: 0171-287-1112
 
15. How can I subscribe to the Rowan Atkinson mailing list?
 
    Send mail to: rowan@etoncomp.demon.co.uk
 
 
     
     My thanks to:
      Polly Esther Fabrique
      Rowan Atkinson 
      Richard Curtis
 
     
     And all the others, whom I have forgotten unintentionally, or left
     out, due to my mistakes.