The “lost” pilot episode of Blackadder is to be screened, with a different actor as Baldrick.
Philip Fox, who later had roles in Midsomer Murders and Waking the Dead, replaced Tony Robinson after he pulled out to take a year-long role with the National Theatre.
But Robinson returned once the series was commissioned. Now the star, who is 76, along with writer Richard Curtis and producer John Lloyd, tell the full story of the legendary comedy’s origins in Gold’s documentary Blackadder: The Lost Pilot on June 15 at 9pm.
He said the earliest version of the show, which featured Rowan Atkinson wielding a sword as Blackadder, has “flashes that are really, really good”.
He old Radio Times: “It just shows you how inspiration travels. You can start off with something ghastly and then make the leap and suddenly you’ve got something interesting.”
Viewers will be able to watch it the Blackadder pilot on Thursday at 9pm.
