What Is Blackadder: Back & Forth About?
The premise of Blackadder: Back & Forth in 347 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the waning minutes of 1999, the polished yet perpetually scheming Lord Edmund Blackadder V gathers his most credulous acquaintances in the ornate confines of Blackadder Hall. Driven by his trademark blend of arrogance and ingenuity, he unveils a contraption he claims is a fully functional time‑machine, built from the sketches of a long‑dead genius. The device is presented as the ultimate ruse—a way to swindle his guests out of a hefty wager—yet the very act of demonstration sets forces in motion that no one could have anticipated.
Alongside him is his long‑suffering servant, Baldrick, whose simple‑minded optimism provides both the foil and the catalyst for Blackadder’s elaborate plans. Their relationship is the film’s comedic engine: the aristocrat’s razor‑sharp sarcasm constantly collides with the servant’s earnest cluelessness, producing a rhythm of banter that defines the story’s tone. The supporting cast of aristocratic guests, each embodying a different shade of British eccentricity, amplifies the sense of a world where hierarchy and absurdity coexist in comfortable proximity.
The premise hinges on a single, delightfully anarchic premise: a fake invention that inexplicably works, thrusting the duo into a whirlwind tour of history’s most iconic epochs. The film treats time travel not as a vehicle for grand drama but as a canvas for irreverent satire, allowing Blackadder’s wit to jab at every era they touch while Baldrick’s naïveté provides endless opportunities for accidental brilliance. The mood swings effortlessly between deadpan British humour, slapstick chaos, and a gleeful celebration of the ridiculous, ensuring that each leap through time feels both fresh and familiar.
At its core, the story is a comic study of two mismatched partners navigating a universe that bends to their quirks. The stakes are less about saving the world and more about preserving their reputation, their winnings, and the fragile balance of their own egos. With every misstep through the ages, the film invites viewers to wonder just how far a brilliant mind can push a simple plan before reality—no matter how malleable—reminds them that history, like a good joke, has a way of turning back on its teller.
What Happens in Blackadder: Back & Forth?
The complete story of Blackadder: Back & Forth, from the first scene to the last, in 708 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 7 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
On New Year’s Eve 1999 at Blackadder Hall, Rowan Atkinson as Lord Blackadder hosts four guests and boasts that he’s built a time machine from Leonardo da Vinci’s plans. The attendees—Archbishop Melchett, Archdeacon Kevin Darling, Major George, and Lady Elizabeth—are played by a stellar lineup: Stephen Fry, Tim McInnerny, Hugh Laurie, and Miranda Richardson. He bets £10,000 that he can fetch back any item from history they desire, prompting them to name a Roman centurion’s helmet, the Wellington boots worn on the day of the Battle of Waterloo, and an ancient pair of 200-year-old underpants. The whole thing turns out to be a ruse: Baldrick, played by Tony Robinson, has actually retrieved the items from storage, and the “time machine” is merely a prop. Still, Blackadder stages a pretend voyage, with Baldrick hiding inside, until the door unexpectedly works and they really do travel through time.
Their first stop is the Cretaceous period, where a towering Tyrannosaurus Rex confronts them. They discard their wager items and eventually manage to defeat the beast using the underpants, a twist that comes to light when Baldrick confesses that he never wrote dates on the dials. With no dates, they realize they cannot return to the present, and the pair must navigate history by improvisation alone.
They return to 1999’s audience only to find a twist: they land in the era of Queen Elizabeth I, with Blackadder again at risk of a beheading unless he can present a suitable gift. He digs into his pockets and pulls out Polo mints, which the Queen adores, rewarding him with her crown and charging him to bring back more “minty things.” During this chaotic excursion, Blackadder meets Colin Firth as William Shakespeare and secures an autograph that he wittily uses later, exclaiming, > “that is for every schoolboy and schoolgirl for the next four hundred years.” The encounter sets the stage for a far-reaching imbalance in history and culture.
Next, the time machine drops them in Sherwood Forest, where they are captured by the Merry Men and face the grim reality of their outlaw lifestyle. Blackadder questions Robin Hood’s ethics—why steal from the rich and share with the poor, who would choose a life with no toilets or comforts—and the Merry Men, outraged by the philosophical challenge, shoot Robin Hood. In a bold turn, Blackadder engages in a dalliance with Maid Marian, before leaving with Robin’s hat as a memento of this strange encounter.
The journey continues to the Battle of Waterloo, where Blackadder arrives to steal the Duke of Wellington’s boots, hoping to win the wager once and for all. The odyssey then moves to Hadrian’s Wall in Roman Britain, where they glimpse their Roman ancestors and snatch a helmet, narrowly escaping a charge from Picts.
Baldrick offers a macabre memento about life flashing before dying, and Blackadder seizes the chance to learn how the dials were set by shoving Baldrick’s head into the time machine’s toilet. The plan works, and Baldrick remembers the crucial settings needed to return home. As they reflect on their travels, Baldrick quips that anyone might change the world for the better, while Blackadder contends that most people can only improve their own fortune.
Back in 1999, the guests marvel at Blackadder’s haul, but history has been altered: Robin Hood is now unknown, Shakespeare is remembered only as the inventor of the ballpoint pen (a detail he left with them after their encounter), and Britain has fallen under French rule since Waterloo. Realizing his meddling has destabilized the timeline, Blackadder races back into the machine to set things right. He renews his praise for Shakespeare, charms Robin Hood, and restores the Duke of Wellington to his rightful place, aiming to fix the broken history he created.
When they finally return, Blackadder and Baldrick secure the winnings and usher everyone upstairs to watch the Millennium Dome celebrations. He hints at a new, audacious plan, whispering to Baldrick that there is a “very, very, very cunning plan” as they vanish once more into time. In the final tableau, Blackadder reappears as an absolute monarch, King Edmund III, married to Queen Marian of Sherwood [Kate Moss], flanked by a figurehead Prime Minister Baldrick, and the royal procession marks a new, if precarious, reign.
Blackadder: Back & Forth Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
12 key events in the order they happen, from “New Year's Eve at Blackadder Hall” to “Millennium Eve Return and New Status”. 12 events name a place, across 10 locations.
- 1
New Year's Eve at Blackadder Hall
Lord Blackadder hosts four guests on New Year's Eve and reveals he has built a time machine from Leonardo da Vinci's plans. He wagers each guest £10,000 that he can fetch any item from history they request. The group challenges him to bring back a Roman centurion's helmet, Wellington's boots, and a 200-year-old pair of underpants.
When:1999-12-31 Where:Blackadder Hall
- 2
The Scam Is Revealed
The guests learn the voyage is a sham, as Baldrick has actually retrieved the items and the machine is only a prop. Blackadder stages the travel, with Baldrick and himself hidden inside to fool the others. When the door is opened, to everyone's surprise, the journey has truly begun.
When:1999 Where:Blackadder Hall
- 3
Into the Cretaceous
The machine lands in the Cretaceous period and the travellers face a Tyrannosaurus. They discard the wager items to avoid trouble, and ultimately defeat the beast using the underpants. Baldrick notes they cannot return yet because the dials have not been properly set.
When:Cretaceous period Where:Cretaceous period
- 4
Elizabethan England Encounter
The journey lands during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. The Queen orders Blackadder's beheading unless he brings a present. He drops Polo mints on the floor, which the Queen loves, and she rewards him with her crown and commands him to fetch more minty things.
When:Elizabethan era Where:Elizabethan England
- 5
Shakespeare Autograph
On the return leg, Blackadder meets William Shakespeare and secures his autograph, joking that it will be used for schoolchildren for centuries to come. He delivers a quip and leaves, continuing the journey.
When:Elizabethan era Where:Elizabethan England
- 6
Sherwood Forest with Robin Hood
The machine lands in Sherwood Forest where they are captured by Robin Hood's Merry Men. Blackadder questions their ethics about stealing from the rich to give to the poor. After a confrontation, the Merry Men shoot Robin Hood, and Blackadder, after a night with Maid Marian, leaves with Robin's hat as a souvenir.
When:Medieval England (Robin Hood era) Where:Sherwood Forest, England
- 7
Duke of Wellington at Waterloo
The time machine next lands at the Battle of Waterloo where Blackadder attempts to steal the Duke of Wellington's boots to win the wager. The audacious plan adds another layer to their grand tour of history.
When:1815 Where:Waterloo, Belgium
- 8
Hadrian's Wall Escape
The journey then drops them at Hadrian's Wall in Roman Britain. They spy their Roman ancestors, steal a helmet, and narrowly escape a charging group of Picts.
When:Roman Britain era Where:Hadrian's Wall, Roman Britain
- 9
Dial Recall and Return Plan
Baldrick explains that dying people have their lives flash before them, and Blackadder considers the idea of testing the memory trick. He forcefully shoves Baldrick's head into the time machine toilet, and Baldrick remembers how to set the dials to return home.
When:During voyage Where:Inside the time machine
- 10
Back to 1999 – Timeline Distortion
They return to 1999 only to discover their interference has altered history: Robin Hood is unknown, Shakespeare is remembered only as the inventor of the ballpoint pen, and Britain has fallen under French rule after Waterloo.
When:1999 Where:1999 (altered timeline)
- 11
Fixing History
Realising the damage, Blackadder jumps back into the time machine to try to save Britain. He charms Robin Hood, furthers Shakespeare’s legacy, and ensures the Wellington episode is corrected, aiming to restore the original timeline.
When:Timeline restoration attempt Where:Various historical settings
- 12
Millennium Eve Return and New Status
They return home to witness the Millennium Dome festivities. Blackadder reveals he is now the absolute monarch, King Edmund III, married to Queen Marian of Sherwood, with Baldrick as Prime Minister, hinting at another cunning plan and more adventures ahead.
When:Millennium Eve 1999/2000 Where:Millennium Dome, London
Who Are the Main Characters in Blackadder: Back & Forth?
10 characters, among them Blackadder – Rowan Atkinson, Baldrick – Tony Robinson and Queenie (Queen Elizabeth I) – Miranda Richardson: who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
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Blackadder – Rowan Atkinson
Played by Rowan Atkinson
A wily, self-serving aristocrat who orchestrates the fake time-travel scheme and wagers his guests. He thrives on wit and manipulation, but his meddling with history creates chaos and unintended consequences. Throughout the voyage, he teeters between bravado and self-preservation, revealing a fixation on status and money.
- 🎭 Cunning
- 🧠 Schemer
- 🏰 Aristocrat
- B–
Baldrick – Tony Robinson
Played by Tony Robinson
Blackadder's loyal yet dim-witted servant who retrieves historic items for the wager and unwittingly helps set the dials. He embodies simple practicality and blunt honesty, providing a counterpoint to Blackadder’s scheming. His mix of loyalty and cunning-amidst-clumsiness keeps the plot moving.
- 🤝 Loyal
- 🧠 Simple-minded
- 🧭 Resourceful
-
Queenie (Queen Elizabeth I) – Miranda Richardson
Played by Miranda Richardson
The powerful monarch who mistakes Blackadder for an ancestor and threatens beheading unless she’s given a present. Regal and sharp-witted, she wields authority with a barber’s precision and a taste for minty gifts. Her presence drives a key twist that shifts the timeline and adds royal satire to the misadventure.
- 👑 Royalty
- 🧠 Witty
- 💫 Capricious
-
William Shakespeare – Colin Firth
Played by Colin Firth
The renowned playwright encountered during the journey, offering a poised, literary presence amid the chaos. He becomes a humorous casualty of the time-travel prank, leaving an autograph that outlives him. His cameo underscores history’s celebrity culture and adds a meta-commentary on schoolboy lore.
- 🎭 Playwright
- 🧠 Intellectual
- 🗺️ Time-displaced
-
Duke of Wellington – Simon Russell Beale
Played by Simon Russell Beale
A formidable Napoleonic-era commander whose era anchors the journey near the Battle of Waterloo. The plunder for the boots becomes a catalyst for a chase through the battlefield and a satirical riff on symbols of power. His presence helps ground the comic shifts in a recognizable moment of history.
- 🏰 Military
- 🧠 Strategic
- 🥾 Iconic
- RH
Robin Hood – Rik Mayall
Played by Rik Mayall
The legendary outlaw encountered in Sherwood Forest who questions the moral basis of stealing from the rich. His clash with Blackadder’s motives and the Merry Men culminates in a dramatic twist that reframes heroism. The encounter parodies heroic legend while advancing the story’s social commentary.
- 🗺️ Legend
- 🏹 Outlaw
- 🌀 Mischief
- MM
Maid Marian / Queen Marian of Sherwood – Kate Moss
Played by Kate Moss
Maid Marian appears as a bold Sherwood figure and later as Queen Marian in the evolving timeline. She shares a romantic moment with Blackadder and becomes an emblem of alliance between outlaw and crown. Her role blends romance with political nuance as the tale unfolds.
- 👑 Royalty
- 💘 Romance
- 🗡️ Outlaw Ally
-
Archbishop Melchett – Stephen Fry
Played by Stephen Fry
A pompous observer in the New Year’s Eve party whose theatrical authority amplifies the mock-serious tone of the time-travel scheme. His presence adds a layer of satirical weight to the ensemble cast.
- 🏛️ Clergy
- 🎭 Satire
- 🗣️ Authority
-
Archdeacon Darling – Tim McInnerny
Played by Tim McInnerny
The sharp-witted adviser who serves as a foil to Blackadder’s deception. He alternates between politeness and sarcasm, highlighting the absurdity of the situation and fueling the ensemble dynamic.
- 🎭 Clergy
- 🧠 Witty
- 🕰️ Time travel foil
-
Major George – Hugh Laurie
Played by Hugh Laurie
A brash military guest whose presence contributes to the party’s chaotic energy. He provides a straightforward counterpoint to time-travel antics and helps mirror the shifting contexts across eras.
- 🎖️ Military
- 🧠 Brash
- 🧭 Comedic foil
Where and When Is Blackadder: Back & Forth Set?
Blackadder: Back & Forth is set in Blackadder Hall, Cretaceous Period, Sherwood Forest, Battle of Waterloo… (1999; Cretaceous period; Elizabethan era; Napoleonic era…). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
1999; Cretaceous period; Elizabethan era; Napoleonic era; Roman Britain
The story begins in 1999 with a New Year’s Eve gathering at Blackadder Hall and then unfolds across multiple historical periods. The time-travel swirl takes the characters from prehistoric landscapes to Renaissance drama, legendary Sherwood Forest, a Napoleonic battlefield, and ancient Roman Britain. These shifts are used for comedic effect and as a critique of how history might be rewritten.
Where
Blackadder Hall, Cretaceous Period, Sherwood Forest, Battle of Waterloo vicinity, Hadrian's Wall, Roman Britain
The film opens at Blackadder Hall on New Year’s Eve 1999, then zips between eras as the faux time machine is activated. It transports the party to the dinosaur-filled Cretaceous period, Elizabethan England, and the Robin Hood-era Sherwood Forest, before jumping to the Napoleonic battlefield near Waterloo and to Roman Britain. The rapid changes in locale serve as the backdrop for satire of different eras while keeping the core setting anchored to a single present-day event.
- 🎭 Comedy
- ⏳ Time Travel
- 🗺️ Historical Satire
What Are the Themes of Blackadder: Back & Forth?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Time Travel, History Satire and Identity & Cunning.
-
01
Time Travel
Time travel is the engine of the film, used more for comedy and spectacle than scientific accuracy. The gang’s pretend machine becomes real in an instant, forcing them to confront the consequences of meddling with history. Each jump reveals how fragile timelines can be when vanity and greed drive the characters. Ultimately, the narrative comments on the unpredictability of altering the past.
-
02
History Satire
The story lampoons famous figures and periods, from Shakespeare to Wellington, by placing them in absurd, anachronistic situations. It plays on fame, power, and the cult of personality, showing how legends can be warped by modern whims. The humor relies on clashes between eras and the ridiculousness of heroic personas in mundane moments. It’s a satire that treats history as a playground for wit and parody.
-
03
Identity & Cunning
Blackadder’s cunning plans constantly collide with the chaos of time travel, exposing the limits of intellect when history itself can be rewritten. The characters’ identities shift with each era, blurring lines between ancestor and current self. The film probes what remains constant when the past is up for grabs and who benefits from such meddling.
What Kind of Film Is Blackadder: Back & Forth?
Whimsical in tone, with fast pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Whimsical
- Pacing
- Fast
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Happy
A rapid-fire, absurdist comedy that catapults its cynical protagonist through chaotic historical encounters, delivering sharp-witted satire and farcical situations with minimal emotional consequence.
- witty
- chaotic
- satirical
- farce
- absurdist
- cynical
- time travel
- historical parody
- con game
- social commentary
Quiz
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Where to Watch Blackadder: Back & Forth
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