Blackadder II second writer, filming in studio sets, rather than on location, the introduction of the more familiar Machiavellian "Blackadder" character and a less intelligent Baldrick. The series is set during the Elizabethan era (1558–1603). The principal character, Edmund, Lord Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson), is the great-grandson of the original Black Adder, and is now a member of the London aristocracy. Unlike his forefather, he is both dashing and intelligent, although he is still scheming and cynical in his outlook. The series follows his attempts to win the favour of the childish Queen Elizabeth I (Miranda Richardson). As before he is aided, and
Performance (UK TV series) Branagh, Elizabeth McGovern, Jeremy Irons, Judi Dench, Hugh Grant, Alec Guinness, Tom Wilkinson, Miranda Richardson, Ian Holm, Bill Nighy, John Gielgud, and Juliet Stevenson. Performance (UK TV series) Performance is a UK television anthology series produced by Simon Curtis for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). Twenty-six episodes aired on the BBC from 1991–98, almost all of which were productions of classic and contemporary plays, including "Uncle Vanya" by Anton Chekhov, "A Doll's House" and "Hedda Gabbler" by Henrik Ibsen, "Six Characters in Search of an Author" by Luigi Pirandello, "King Lear" by William Shakespeare, and "The Deep Blue Sea" by