Blackadder appeared in more than one of the Blackadder series and/or specials. These are: Ben Elton's arrival after the first series heralded the more frequent recruitment of comic actors from the alternative comedy era for guest appearances, including Robbie Coltrane, Rik Mayall (who had appeared in the final episode of the first series as "Mad Gerald"), Adrian Edmondson, Nigel Planer, Mark Arden, Stephen Frost, Chris Barrie and Jeremy Hardy. Elton himself played an anarchist in "Blackadder the Third". Gabrielle Glaister played Bob, an attractive girl who poses as a man, in both series 2 and 4. Rik Mayall plays Lord Flashheart,
Blackadder: Back & Forth programme, with the exception of the original series producer, John Lloyd. Due to the increased budget, it is the only "Blackadder" story to be shot entirely on film and with no laugh track, although one was added for the BBC One broadcast in 2002. It is also the only "Blackadder" to be filmed in widescreen; 2.20:1 aspect ratio for cinema showings, and (1.77:1) for the DVD and television screenings. The film was co-financed by Sky and the BBC, with sponsorship from, among others, Tesco, with Blackadder trying to offer his loyalty card to Queenie. The opening sequence features various depictions