Will Blackadder Return As A Play? Iconic Sitcom Odds-On To Make Stage Comeback

Iconic 1980s sitcom Blackadder could be set to make a comeback, which has sparked UK betting sites into life.

Ben Elton, who co-wrote the BBC show, which ran for four series and three specials, has admitted he would be "interested" in making a stage adaptation of the comedy series.

But it would have to be an "original play", and creator Richard Curtis would have to be on board.

He told The Sun newspaper: "A Blackadder play, if Richard was keen on it, I’d be interested. Not an adaptation of episodes, it would be an original play."

Even if Richard gave Ben the green light, it may not still be enough to bring Blackadder to the stage, as the screenwriter admitted: "With Blackadder, there’s four figures who have a say in it: Me, Richard, Rowan [Atkinson] and John Lloyd, who was the producer.

"So if anything happens, it’s down to us. Who knows if we could ever make it happen."

Ben's Cunning Plan

Following Ben's comments, the show is now 8/11 on new betting sites to be turned into a play, and it's 11/8 the comedy doesn't ever make it to the stage.

If such a production did ever come to light then it wouldn't be a surprise if it did so in a similar vein to how the Only Fools and Horses characters have been treading the boards.

A musical of the iconic BBC sitcom ran at London's Theatre Royal Haymarket from February 2019 until the end of April 2023.

It was created by comedian Paul Whitehouse and Jim Sullivan, the son of late Only Fools creator John Sullivan, and featured music from Chas Hodges, of Chas and Dave fame.

One question on Blackadder fans' lips, if a stage production of their beloved show is confirmed, is will leading man Rowan Atkinson appear in it?

Tony To Be Baldrick Again?

In the TV series, Rowan portrayed main character and antihero Edmund Blackadder, and Sir Tony Robinson appeared as his dogsbody, Baldrick.

Ben has admitted it would be "up to them" if any of the original cast wanted to appear in a stage production, but if the show went down the Only Fools route then the 10/1 on none of the original cast members reprising their roles could look tasty.

That said, Tony returned as Baldrick just last year, when he took part in a Red Nose Day sketch in aid of Comic Relief.

Tony is Evens favourite on specials betting sites to reprise the part for a play, while Rowan is 2/1 second favourite.

Following Ben's comments, if the production does get the green light then Rowan will have had a quarter of the say in it, so there is surely a chance he appears as Blackadder again.

Others who could reprise their roles include Stephen Fry (3/1), who played Lord Melchett in every series and special apart from season one, while Hugh Laurie is a 5/1 chance.

The House actor portrayed several characters in the series and specials, including Prince Ludwig the Indestructible in 1986 episode Chains, while Miranda Richardson (Queenie) is 6/1.

Sadly, the likes of Blackadder stars Rik Mayall, Robbie Coltrane and Warren Clarke have since passed away.

Blackadder's Unlikely TV Return

While a Blackadder play looks like it could be on the cards, could the show ever return for a new TV series?

A fifth series looks unlikely at 3/1 on betting apps, while it is just 1/3 that it doesn't ever materialise.

It comes after Richard admitted in July 2021 that he would've "died" if he had made any more series of the sitcom, because writing, rehearsing and filming the programme was "just too hard" and drove him "mad".

He previously said: "The process - I would've died. Seriously, it was just too hard.

"Also by series four we were writing to match tropes that we had already done. That's a very dangerous thing.

"I think we got out before it became a trope where we were imitating ourselves."

But in March last year, the BBC's comedy boss, Jon Petrie, admitted he would be "happy to talk to Richard" about a potential Blackadder series. Watch this space.