Blackadder II size of the principal cast was reduced compared to the previous series, with a fixed number of characters appearing in every episode. Richard Curtis has been quoted as saying that due to the familiar cast, the series was the happiest for him to work on, comparing it to a "friendly bunch of school chums". The series also featured at least one significant cameo role per episode. Notable appearances include Rik Mayall as the debonair Lord Flashheart in "Bells"; Tom Baker and Simon Jones as Captain Redbeard Rum and Sir Walter Raleigh, respectively, in "Potato"; Miriam Margolyes, who had appeared in
TSS Sir Walter Raleigh (1908) TSS Sir Walter Raleigh (1908) TSS "Sir Walter Raleigh" was a passenger tender vessel built for the Great Western Railway in 1908. TSS "Sir Walter Raleigh" was built by Cammell Laird as one of a pair of vessels, with TSS "Sir Francis Drake". She was on trial in the Mersey during April 1908. She was hired to the Admiralty as a tug from 1914 to 1919. In August 1939 she was again taken on by the Admiralty but operated from Plymouth. She was damaged during an air raid on 15 December 1940 when 8 crew were injured. In 1942 alterations