{"id":50517,"date":"2024-04-30T15:51:11","date_gmt":"2024-04-30T13:51:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=2033557"},"modified":"2024-04-30T16:59:56","modified_gmt":"2024-04-30T14:59:56","slug":"blackadder-writer-interested-in-bringing-it-back-with-original-play","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/blackadder-writer-interested-in-bringing-it-back-with-original-play\/","title":{"rendered":"Blackadder writer \u201cinterested\u201d in bringing it back with original play"},"content":{"rendered":"

“Who knows if we could ever make it happen?” <\/p>

By David Craig\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 30 April 2024 at 13:51 PM<\/p>

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Blackadder writer Ben Elton has expressed interest in revisiting the popular BBC sitcom in the form of a stage show, following recent live productions of Only Fools and Horses, Fawlty Towers and his own Upstart Crow.<\/p>\n

The legendary programme starred Rowan Atkinson and Tony Robinson as Edmund Blackadder and his dim-witted accomplice Baldrick<\/a>, reimagining the characters for several different historical eras across its four seasons.<\/p>\n

The show formally ended with the moving First World War-set Blackadder Goes Forth, but has returned several times in the years that followed \u2013 most recently in 2023, for a Red Nose Day sketch<\/a> starring Robinson.<\/p>\n

Now, Elton has told The Sun<\/a> that one potential route for Blackadder to return would be an original story on the stage, but added that it\u2019s not a decision he could make alone.<\/p>

He explained: \u201cA Blackadder play, if Richard [Curtis, co-creator] was keen on it, I\u2019d be interested. Not an adaptation of episodes, it would be an original play.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I wrote Upstart Crow, I did three series and three Christmas specials for TV, which was a load of writing, but I\u2019m proud of the fact I then did an original play. If we were to do that with Adder, it would be the same.\u201d<\/p>\n

The prolific writer went on to say that the Blackadder team is wary that they don\u2019t wish to \u201cf**k up\u201d the show\u2019s legacy with a less-than-stellar revival, so careful planning would be needed for any potential follow-up.<\/p>\n

\"Rowan\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Rowan Atkinson as Captain Blackadder and Tony Robinson as Private Baldrick in Blackadder Goes Forth.<\/span><\/figcaption> Avalon\/Getty Images<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Asked whether Atkinson, Robinson and their co-stars Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie would return for the stage production, Elton simply said it was \u201cup to them\u201d.<\/p>\n

He added: \u201cBut with Blackadder, there\u2019s four figures who have a say in it: Me, Richard, Rowan and John Lloyd, who was the producer. So, if anything happens, it\u2019s down to us. Who knows if we could ever make it happen?\u201d<\/p>\n

Last year, Blackadder reached its 40th anniversary<\/a> and was voted the funniest sitcom of all time<\/a> in a poll by UKTV channel Gold.<\/p>\n