Blackadder was nearly axed after its first season because BBC didn’t realise potential, says producer
Yesterday it was claimed that Blackadder was almost cancelled after its first season because the BBC failed to see its potential.
The show’s producer, John Lloyd, urged TV bosses to give more series a second chance, saying creative programmes rarely “get it right first time”.
Mr Lloyd, who also worked on Spitting Image and Not The Nine O’Clock News, said broadcasters had become too afraid to say ‘try again’, instead throwing programmes that aren’t an instant hit in the bin.
Mr Lloyd, 72, revealed Blackadder’s budget was cut “to the bone” to avoid being axed.
The first series won an International Emmy, but the second was briefly cancelled by Michael Grade, then BBC One chief executive, who said the series was not attracting enough domestic viewers.
Blackadder was nearly cancelled after its first season because the BBC failed to recognise its potential, a study has found
The show’s producer John Lloyd urged TV bosses to give more series a second chance
But the BBC boss was convinced to give the show a second chance after costs were cut. Mr Lloyd said more TV chiefs should give producers the chance to make such changes.
He said, ‘Michael Grade ran the numbers and said, ‘I saw it, I know it won an Emmy and everything, but I didn’t think it was very funny.’ We were way, way over budget. So he canceled it.’
The team then set about removing precious elements from the show – “horses, guards, dogs, a huge castle – so everything was stripped down to the bare bones,” Lloyd told the Rob Brydon podcast.
‘I wish I could convince the broadcasters to do what they used to do and give you another chance.
The first series won an International Emmy Award, but the second was briefly cancelled by then BBC director Michael Grade
‘That’s the thing about creativity: it’s very unlikely that you’ll get it right the first time. But [executives] would look and say ‘you know what, the casting is wrong or you need more music’ or something, and then say ‘go ahead, try again’ and then you would learn from your mistakes.
‘The second series of Blackadder is better than the first, and so is Spitting Image and certainly Not The Nine O’Clock News,’ said Lloyd.
Blackadder, widely regarded as one of the best British TV series, ran for four seasons between 1983 and 1989. The series was revived in the second season when Ben Elton joined as scriptwriter. The series made household names of stars such as Rowan Atkinson, Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry.