
The Royal Mail has announced the release of 12 unique stamps commemorating Blackadder’s 40th anniversary.
The legendary 1980s sitcom lasted from 1983 to 1989, covering different periods of history over four seasons, with specials appearing in subsequent years, including one for Comic Relief only months ago.
The programme, which was created by writer and Comic Relief co-founder Richard Curtis and Mr Bean actor Rowan Atkinson, as well as BBC producer John Lloyd and co-author Ben Elton, went on to win an International Emmy Award.
The stamps pay respect to one of the cornerstones of British comedy, extending from the mists of mediaeval England through the court of Queen Elizabeth I, the glamorous Georgian era, and the dismal trenches of World War I.
The eight stamps in the main set depict scenes from four series of the classic British sitcom and feature some of the show’s most beloved characters, played by well-known actors such as Sir Tony Robinson, Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry, Tim McInnerny, Miranda Richardson, Brian Blessed, and the late Patsy Byrne.
A additional four stamps, printed in a tiny sheet, commemorate the main character, Edmund Blackadder, as he appeared in each of the four seasons of the popular sitcom.


Richard said: ‘We’re very amused and delighted. It’s a great relief for Blackadder to have his head on a stamp, instead of on a stake.”
Producer John added: ‘The entire team behind Britain’s leading situation tragedy is deeply honoured by Royal Mail’s magnificent stamps of approval.
‘In the words of General Sir Anthony Cecil Hogmanay Melchett, VC KCB: “Let’s give them a damn good licking!”‘
The early episodes of the programme were set in the 15th century under the fictitious reign of King Richard IV, and were written by university pals Curtis and Atkinson.
Blackadder II raced ahead in time to follow the changing fortunes of Lord Edmund Blackadder, an ambitious courtier to the giddy young Queen Elizabeth I, while the third installment took place in the early nineteenth century during the Regency of the impressively-trousered royal heir, Prince George.

It chronicled the exploits of smart butler Mr E Blackadder, who spends his days torturing his lice-infested butler Baldrick and devising clever schemes to increase his social position.
The third series, Blackadder Goes Forth, was set in the First World War, with Captain Blackadder and his fellow troops in the trenches trying every trick in the book to avoid the inevitable order to go “over the top.”
David Gold, director of external affairs and policy at Royal Mail, said: ‘The epic saga of Blackadder spans six centuries of British history and four decades of British television and is still loved and revered by audiences old and new.
‘We are delighted to mark the 40th anniversary of Blackadder with a set of special stamps.’



This comes after Sir Tony hinted at a Blackadder 40th anniversary special.
Speaking on ITVs Lorraine earlier this month, he told stand-in host Christine Lampard: ‘All I’m gonna say is…everybody likes to celebrate a 40th anniversary, so there must be some fresh way we can celebrate our 40th birthday, wouldn’t you think?’
Sir Tony went on to recollect a time when Prince William told him he wanted to go on the show, and he said he will never get tired of hearing about it since it ‘changed his life’ and made him a star in his late 30s.
‘This is absolutely true. You know how showbiz people make up stories? This is really true.
‘When I was being knighted by Prince William, almost 10 years ago, I was down on my knees, he brings the old sword down and he said: “I am such a fan of Blackadder” and I said to him: “Would you be on it?”
‘He said: “Yeah, if you asked me”. So in other words, I was casting whilst I was knighting!’
The star continued: ‘It’s lovely really, it never palls because it just transformed my life.’
While whispers of a fifth series have surfaced from time to time, they have never materialised, despite Rowan’s assertion last year that a return to Blackadder “certainly wasn’t impossible.”
Keep your fingers crossed!
The stamps are available to pre-order at http://www.royalmail.com/blackadder, by telephone on 03457 641 641, and at 7,000 Post Office branches across the UK.
The stamps go on general sale on May 17.