Blackadder II often hindered, by two less-than-intelligent sidekicks, his servant Baldrick (Tony Robinson), and Lord Percy Percy (Tim McInnerny), heir to the Duchy of Northumberland, with whom Blackadder has a grudging friendship. Throughout the series, Blackadder's chief rival is Lord Melchett (Stephen Fry), the Queen's pretentious and grovelling Lord Chamberlain. Melchett is himself in fear of upsetting the Queen, and thus attempts to outdo Blackadder by supporting the Queen in whatever current fad she is interested in. Comic relief in the Court is provided by the Queen's rather demented former nanny, Nursie (Patsy Byrne). Baldrick, who in the first series was the
Blackadder: Back & Forth guests are impressed by what Blackadder has returned with, but due to his interference with history, Robin Hood is unheard of, Shakespeare is only known as the inventor of the ballpoint pen, and Britain has been ruled by the French since Napoleon's victory at Waterloo. Horrified by this, Blackadder gets back into the time machine to try and fix things. He encourages Shakespeare, flatters Robin Hood, and prevents the death of the Duke of Wellington. They return home to collect Blackadder's winnings from his guests. He tells them to go upstairs and watch the New Year's festivities on television, assuring