Blackadder co-writer Ben Elton says the iconic British sitcom could come back in another form.
The comedian, 64, insists the popular show, which ran for four series from 1983 to 1989 could be turned into a play.
It would follow the likes of Fawlty Towers which was adapted for a stage show by its creator John Cleese and Only Fools And Horses, which has been turned into a musical.
Actor Ben has reunited with fellow Blackadder writer Richard Curtis for a live version of historical sitcom Blackadder.
Ben told The Sun: ‘A Blackadder play, if Richard was keen on it, I’d be interested. Not an adaptation of episodes, it would be an original play.
Blackadder co-writer Ben Elton says the iconic British sitcom could come back in another form (L-R: Rowan Atkinson seen as Blackadder’s Edmund Blackadder and Tony Robinson seen as Baldrick)
The comedian, 64, insists the popular show, which ran for four series from 1983 to 1989 could be turned into a play (Ben Elton pictured last week)
‘When I wrote Upstart Crow I did three series and three Christmas specials for TV, which was a load of writing, but I’m proud of the fact I then did an original play.
‘If we were to do that with Adder it would be the same.’
When asked if he could tempt Edmund Blackadder actor Rowan Atkinson and original cast members Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie and Tony Robinson, he added: ‘If they want to be in it, that’s up to them.
‘But with Blackadder, there’s four figures who have a say in it: Me, Richard, Rowan and John Lloyd, who was the producer. So if anything happens, it’s down to us.’
However, Ben does not want to harm Blackadder’s legacy, insisting he doesn’t want to f**k up something as loved as Blackadder by going back to it’.
It comes after Sir Tony Robinson spoke of the lucky twist of fate that saw him cast as Baldrick in Blackadder after he nearly missed out on the role.
The actor, 76, came to prominence as as Edmund Blackadder’s dogsbody Baldrick in the British historical sitcom in 1983 and he stayed in the role until 1989.
But it was actor Philip Fox who portrayed Baldrick in the original pilot of the show, which was called The Black Adder and was filmed on 20 June 1982.
Actor Ben has reunited with fellow Blackadder writer Richard Curtis (pictured) for a live version of historical sitcom Blackadder
It comes after Sir Tony Robinson spoke of the lucky twist of fate that saw him cast as Baldrick in Blackadder after he nearly missed out on the role (pictured in 2022)
Sir Tony had been cast just three days before cameras were set to roll but a BBC strike at the time put it on the back burner before it was commissioned a year later when he once again got the call leading to his rise to fame.
He told the Radio Times how the show came to be and how it was perfected throughout the first series.
Sir Tony explained: ‘In a way, series one was itself a pilot. In the first week’s rehearsal, immediately we knew what was wrong and what was right, but it was already on the production line and we couldn’t really change it that much.
‘Throughout the first series, we were trying to polish it, all the while knowing that if we could just throw away some bits and start again, we could do something with a different dynamic.’
Sir Tony was delighted to see the pilot has ‘flashes that are really, really good’ but admits the first scene is ‘tedious’.
‘There’s a desperate attempt to explain the whole concept and, like any first scene ever, it gets a blue pencil through it very quickly,’ he said. ‘It just shows you how inspiration travels – you can start off with something ghastly and then you make the leap, and suddenly you’ve got something interesting.’
The actor came to prominence as as Edmund Blackadder’s dogsbody Baldrick in the British historical sitcom in 1983 and he stayed in the role until 1989 (Sir Tony pictured as Baldrick in 1989)
Sir Tony was cast three days before cameras were set to roll but a BBC strike put it on pause before it was commissioned a year later when he once again got the call to appear (Sir Tony, left, pictured as Baldrick alongside Rowan Atkinson as Edmund Blackadder in 1989)
Blackadder’s 40th anniversary milestone was marked with two documentaries on Gold last year, while Sir Tony uncovered the never before broadcast 1982 pilot.
Sir Tony said previously in a statement: ‘Blackadder holds a special place in the nation’s heart and in mine too.
‘I’m delighted to be part of its 40th Birthday celebrations on Gold. It’s been wonderful to journey back to where it all began and chat to some of the biggest names in comedy who made it all happen.’
Meanwhile UKTV channel Gold said: ‘Tony’s journey takes him back in time to find out where Blackadder really began, and to uncover the story of the never-before-broadcast 1982 Blackadder pilot episode.
‘It’s a personal story for Tony – Baldrick has defined his career and playing the character transformed his life. But Tony didn’t play Baldrick in the pilot [Philip Fox did]. And there’s so much about Blackadder’s beginnings he doesn’t know.
It was actor Philip Fox (pictured) who portrayed Baldrick in the original pilot of the show, which was called The Black Adder and was filmed on 20 June 1982
The first episodes of the show, written by university friends Richard and Rowan, were set in the 15th century during the fictional reign of King Richard IV.
Blackadder II jumped forward in time to follow the shifting fortunes of Lord Edmund Blackadder, an ambitious courtier to the giddy young Queen Elizabeth I, while the third instalment was set in the early 19th century during the Regency of the impressively-trousered royal heir, Prince George.
It followed the adventures of crafty butler Mr E Blackadder, who spends his days tormenting his lice-infested minion Baldrick and cooking up cunning plans to improve his social standing.
The final series, Blackadder Goes Forth, was set in the First World War, where Captain Blackadder and his fellow soldiers in the trenches try every trick in the book to evade the inevitable order to go ‘over the top’.
