This is the unscreened 1982 pilot of The Black Adder. The cast is quite different, with John Savident (Jumbo from Yes Minister, and lately Fred Elliot from Coronation Street) and a different Baldrick, yet fans of the show will recognise much of the season one episode "Born To Be King". Many of the gags from the final version are here, including the jumping Jews (jumping Jesuits, here) and the gags around Edmund's parentage. The Scotsman in both versions meets the same messy end! On the negative side this looks like many sitcoms of the 1970s, and though the script is still strong, it would have been hard to have foreseen in 1982 that this pilot could lead to one of the UK's finest comedy shows.
The arrival of Brian Blessed, Tony Robinson and Robert East, plus Peter Cook, in the filmed first season, transformed the show.
Alex Norton, lately in Taggart, is superb as McAngus both here and in "Born To be King".
The arrival of Brian Blessed, Tony Robinson and Robert East, plus Peter Cook, in the filmed first season, transformed the show.
Alex Norton, lately in Taggart, is superb as McAngus both here and in "Born To be King".
