Blackadder 'to return for final one-off special' as Richard Curtis teases 'gorgeous' Rowan Atkinson and Tony Robinson reunion

By JOANNA CRAWLEY, DEPUTY SHOWBIZ EDITOR (NEWS)

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It's been 19 years since fans were last treated to a Blackadder special.

But the show's creator Richard Curtis has teased he'd love to revive his comedy classic and reunite stars Rowan Atkinson and Tony Robinson. 

Speaking to the new issue of the Radio Times, the filmmaker said he'd loved to see the show's title character, played by Atkinson, become a grumpy old man in a twist on the original series' portrayal of the anti-authoritarian character.  

Comeback? It's been 19 years since fans were last treated to a Blackadder special. But the show's creator Richard Curtis has teased he'd love to revive his comedy classic and reunite stars Rowan Atkinson and Tony Robinson (pictured)

Comeback? It's been 19 years since fans were last treated to a Blackadder special. But the show's creator Richard Curtis has teased he'd love to revive his comedy classic and reunite stars Rowan Atkinson and Tony Robinson (pictured)

Curtis said: 'The thing about Blackadder was, it was a young man's show criticising older people, saying how stupid those in authority were.

'So I did once think: 'If we ever did anything again, it should be Blackadder as a teacher in a university, about how much we hate young people!''

Curtis said he's keen to put Blackadder on stage, admitting 'I'm always hoping Rowan and I will do one last live show and bring on Blackadder for a 10-minute bit. Getting Rowan and Tony Robinson on stage together again would be gorgeous.'

All-star: The comedy spoof aired from 1983 until 1989 and also starred Patsy Byrne, Stephen Fry, Tim McInnemy and Miranda Richardson

All-star: The comedy spoof aired from 1983 until 1989 and also starred Patsy Byrne, Stephen Fry, Tim McInnemy and Miranda Richardson

The comedy spoof aired from 1983 until 1989 and also starred comedy giants Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry, Miranda Richardson, Tim McInnemy, Tom Baker and the late Rik Mayall.    

The final scene of the 1989 series set during World War One saw Edmund Blackadder, Baldrick (Robinson), Lieutenant George (Laurie) and Captain Kevin Darling (McInnemy) charge into No Man's Land. 

Since that series, there has been a Comic Relief skit, a Christmas special and Blackadder: Back & Forth which was shown at the Millennium Dome in 2000. 

More to come: Richard Curtis said he'd loved to see the show's title character, played by Atkinson, become a grumpy old man in a twist on the original series

More to come: Richard Curtis said he'd loved to see the show's title character, played by Atkinson, become a grumpy old man in a twist on the original series

Iconic: Curtis said he's keen to put Blackadder in stage, admitting 'I'm always hoping Rowan and I will do one last live show and bring on Blackadder for a 10-minute bit

Iconic: Curtis said he's keen to put Blackadder in stage, admitting 'I'm always hoping Rowan and I will do one last live show and bring on Blackadder for a 10-minute bit

Back in 2013 the show's writer Ben Elton declared that 'Blackadder is not finished.'

Speaking alongside the show's producer, John Lloyd, to Event Magazine, he added 'We'll never officially close it down…ever.' 

Lloyd added: 'It was always the idea that the last episode would be this tragic thing, but I don't think we ever decided that it would be the last series.

'And I suppose in many ways we still haven't decided.'

New issue: Richard made the confessions in the issue of the Radio Times, out now

New issue: Richard made the confessions in the issue of the Radio Times, out now

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