© Royal Mail 'It's great Blackadder's head is on a stamp, not on a stake'
Royal Mail releases new designs to mark comedy's 40th anniversary
The Royal Mail has announced that 12 special stamps are being issued to mark the 40th anniversary of Blackadder.
Eight stamps in the main set capture moments spanning four series of the sitcom, while four more depict Rowan Atkinson’s title character in his various guises over each of the four series.
Blackadder co-creator Richard Curtis 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 Lloyd 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 Black Adder was first broadcast on June 15, 1983, set during the fictional 15th Century reign of King Richard IV, and the new stamps go on sale next Wednesday.
They feature Tony Robinson, Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry, Tim McInnerny, Miranda Richardson, Brian Blessed, and the late Patsy Byrne, all in character.
David Gold, director of external affairs and policy at the Royal Mail, added: ‘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.’
The stamps are available to pre-order from today at www.royalmail.com/blackadder. A presentation pack including all 12 stamps in the set is priced at £19.60.
Published: 12 May 2023
