Blackadder comes to Blu-ray with host of new features

Blackadder fans can enjoy their favourite comedy series on Blu-ray for the very first time.

This 40th anniversary special will contain all four series as well as newly upscaled special episodes. The seven-disc box set will be released on the 4th of December and is available to order from multiple retailers including Amazon, HMV, Rarewaves and Zavvi.

Blackadder: The Complete Collection is a triumph of stupidity over common sense! Throughout the ages men of flair, facility and outstanding courage have emerged from the dust of dodgy documents and film from the cutting room floor to create the most cunning of special features. Whilst Baldrick, of course, the man you can rely on has managed to gather rooms full of deeply horrid people to create a huge pie of new and exclusive entertainment.

The first series, The Blackadder, 1983 / BBC

This popular British series was first made in 1983 and was set in the fictional reign of Richard IV. Each series is set in a different time period of British history exploring the reigns of Elizabeth I, George III and, finally, The Great War. Blackadder contains an all-star cast including some of the nation’s favourite comedians including Rowan Atkinson, Stephen Fry, Tony Robinson, Hugh Laurie and Tim McInnerny.

Fans can expect all four series including The Black Adder, Blackadder II, Blackadder the Third and Blackadder Goes Forth. This special edition also comes with brand-new audio commentaries from The Archbishop with Brian Blessed, The Foretelling with John Lloyd, Beer with Miranda Richardson, Dish and Dishonesty with Mandie Fletcher, Captain Cook with Richard Bodenand Corporal Punishment with Chris Wadsworth.

This brand-new Blackadder release will also feature both existing and new added material including never-before-seen deleted scenes from series one presented in HD. Unedited studio footage from the second and fourth series.

Blackadder II, 1986, BBC

Blackadder III, series three, 1987, BBC

From previous releases, there is Baldrick’s Video Diary, interviews and audio commentaries, a long montage of interviews and clips from the archives as well as trailers and promos as broadcast on the BBC.

There is also a photo gallery – a mix of BBC publicity images and behind-the-scenes photos from the production team.

Remastered specials included on the release include The Cavalier Years, Back and Forth, Blackadder’s Christmas Carol as well as the 25th year anniversary documentary Blackadder Rides Again. These episodes have been restored and remastered using the existing film where available, with any standard definition content upscaled during this process. The special features in this release are a mixture of standard and high definition. Due to the age of the original materials, the technical quality of the extras may vary in places.

Blackadder Goes Forth, fourth series, 1989, BBC

Blackadder: The Complete Collection Blu-Ray on sale from December 4th.