BBC plots Blackadder's return

The persistent rumours that Blackadder is to return for another series have surfaced once again.

A Sunday newspaper report claims the BBC is making plans to return the sitcom to screens as early as this autumn – 16 years after Blackadders Goes Forth left our screens.

However, the cunning plan appears to have the drawback that neither the cast nor the writers have yet been approached.

The Sunday Times claims that senior executives at the corporation — including Jana Bennett, director of television, and Jane Lush, head of entertainment commissioning — discussed the idea at a meeting last month.

Quoting unnamed sources, it says that the fifth series will continue the anti-war message of the fourth, although traditionally there is nothing that links the previous series through history apart from the central characters of Blackadder and Baldrick.

Previously, the most likely idea for any revival was thought to be the Black Adder Five – based around a Sixties pop band with a slap-headed drummer, Bald Rick.

The Sunday Times source said: “Executives have been told to focus on making high-quality comedy. There have been rumours of a return, but this is the first time it has been discussed at high level.”

Plans for the return have been boosted by the appointment of new BBC1 controller Peter Fincham, whose background is in comedy.

 Tony Robinson said he would be happy to revive Baldrick:  “I would be happy to do it and I have heard Rowan would be too. It would be lovely, like a reunion of mates. But it’s not really down to me.”

But he added: “There would need to be some pretty heavy negotiations with Channel 4 [over Time Team] to get me in time for autumn.”

Published: 3 Apr 2005