Blackadder meeting between Richard Curtis and comedian Ben Elton led to the decision to collaborate on a new series of Blackadder. Recognising the main faults of the first series, Curtis and Elton agreed that "Blackadder II" would be a studio-only production (along with the inclusion of a live audience during recording, instead of showing the episodes to an audience after taping). Besides adding a greater comedy focus, Elton suggested a major change in character emphasis: Baldrick would become the stupid sidekick, while Edmund Blackadder evolved into a cunning sycophant. This led to the familiar set-up that was maintained in the following
Edward Blackadder to 1920. Blackadder was also an editorial writer for the "Acadian Recorder" in Halifax from 1907 to 1922 and published a book of sonnets in 1895. Before being elected, he was an unsuccessful candidate in the 1911 election. Blackadder died in office having served just 321 days. Edward Blackadder Edward Blackadder (April 18, 1874 in Wolfville, Nova Scotia – October 22, 1922) was a Canadian politician, lecturer, physician and professor in Nova Scotia, Canada. He was elected to the House of Commons of Canada in 1921 as a Member of the Liberal Party to represent the riding of Halifax. He