Richard Curtis’ and Ben Elton’s award-winning comedy in which Rowan Atkinson as the ubiquitous Blackadder, ably hampered by Tony Robinson as the loyal Baldrick, wreaks havoc throughout the centuries. Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry, Robbie Coltrane, Rik Mayall and Miranda Richardson are some of the guest stars joining in the fun.

In Blackadder the Third, the fortunes of the family have plummeted rather with Blackadder employed as butler to the Prince Regent. With such an imbecilic Lord and master, however, there’s plenty of scope for deviousness and manipulation.