"Bells" is the first episode of the BBC sitcom Blackadder II, the second series of Blackadder, which was set in Elizabethan England from 1558 to 1603. Blackadder is the generic name that encompasses four series of an acclaimed BBC One historical sitcom, along with several one-off installments. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Gabrielle Glaister (born 27 July in 1961, England) is a British actress. ... Benjamin Charles Elton (born 3 May 1959) is an English comedian, writer and director. ... Richard Curtis in London, 1999 Richard Curtis CBE, (born 8 November 1956), is a New Zealand-born British screenwriter, best known for the TV programmes Blackadder and The Vicar of Dibley as well as movies such as Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, and Love Actually. ... is the 9th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ... Head is the second episode of the BBC period comedy Blackadder II, the second series of Blackadder, which was set in Elizabethan England from 1558 to 1603. ... This is an episode list of the British sitcom Blackadder. ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, which is usually known as the BBC, is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GB£4 billion. ... Blackadder II was the second series of the BBC situation comedy Blackadder, written by Richard Curtis and Ben Elton, which aired from 9 January 1986 to 20 February 1986. ... Blackadder is the generic name that encompasses four series of an acclaimed BBC One historical sitcom, along with several one-off installments. ... The Elizabethan Era is the period associated with the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558–1603) and is often considered to be a golden age in English history. ...

Plot

Kate, an attractive young woman, is attempting to comfort her father for her mother's death. Her father replies that Kate's mother is not dead but has run off with her uncle, and that it's their poverty that has him so upset. He suggests that Kate become a prostitute to solve their money troubles. Kate refuses indignantly and decides to go to London to seek her fortune, over her father's objections ("Why walk all the way to London when you can make a fortune lying on your back?!") Bob is a pseudonym used by two characters in the sitcom Blackadder, both female and played by Gabrielle Glaister. ... Whore redirects here. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ...

Lord Blackadder is at home, target practicing with his bow and arrow (his servant, Baldrick, is holding the target). Hanger-on Lord Percy enters and announces that he is in love with Jane Harrington. Blackadder asks, "Jane 'Bury Me in a Y-Shaped Coffin' Harrington?" and then remarks casually that he and Baldrick had both slept with her, which throws Percy's aim off and he shoots Baldrick in the groin. Edmund, Lord Blackadder (1531-1566) was the main character in the second series of the popular BBC sit-com Blackadder. ... This image depicts a typical bow, as made by the Huns, lying against a tree. ... Baldrick is a fictional character featured in the television series Blackadder. ... Lord Percy Percy (series 2) Lord Percy Percy was a fictional character, played by Tim McInnerny, in the popular British sitcom Blackadder, deriving his name from the factual Percy family. ...

Kate enters, disguised as a boy, introduces herself as "Bob," and asks to be accepted into Blackadder's service. Blackadder hires her on the spot.

Over the next few weeks Lord Blackadder finds himself strangely attracted to his new servant and spends a great deal of time with "Bob". Lord Melchett and the Queen are concerned by this, and even Blackadder himself begins to worry after he nearly kisses "Bob" during a friendly tussle. He seeks advice from a doctor, who prescribes leeches, and (on Baldrick's advice) consults the Wise Woman, who gives him three options: 1) kill Bob; 2) commit suicide; or 3) go ahead and sleep with Bob but to ensure no one ever finds out, kill everyone in the entire world. Melchett is a fictional character in the British television sitcom series Blackadder, played by Stephen Fry. ... Queenie was a caricature of the historical figure Queen Elizabeth I of England, played by Miranda Richardson in the second series of the BBC sitcom Blackadder, which was set in Elizabethan England. ... For other uses, see Leech (disambiguation). ... Rather than surrender to US soldiers, the Mayor (Bürgermeister) of Leipzig Germany, committed suicide along with his wife and daughter on April 20, 1945. ...

With no other options Blackadder orders Bob out of his service, but the truth is revealed (along with "Bob's" breasts) and after a very brief sexual encounter Blackadder asks Bob/Kate to marry him. She accepts, and the Queen consents, after being reassured that Kate's nose isn't prettier than hers. Baldrick is chosen as Kate's bridesmaid (Lord Percy, unable to recognize Baldrick in a dress, kisses him). Edmund's choice for best man is his school chum, Lord Flashheart, "the best sword, the best shot, the best sailor and the best kisser in the Kingdom," much to Percy's disappointment. Lord Flashheart is the name of two characters (the first presumably an ancestor of the second) who appeared in two episodes of the popular BBC sitcom Blackadder. ...

The wedding however does not go as smoothly as planned. Edmund bribes Kate's father to leave before anyone sees him, and Lord Flashheart doesn't show up. With no best man Blackadder reluctantly asks Percy to fill in. At that moment Flashheart crashes through the roof, throws Percy out, and begins chatting up every woman in the room, including Nursie ("Nursie! I like it firm and fruity!") and Baldrick ("Hey, Bridesmaid, like the beard!"). He is quite taken with "Bob" and proceeds to steal her from Blackadder. The two of them appear wearing each others clothing, announce they are running away together, set off a bomb, and disappear. Melchett reminds Edmund that it is customary in these situations for the groom to marry the bridesmaid; a suggestion positively received by Baldrick.

Trivia

• When Lord Melchett announces that Blackadder is engaged to a girl called Bob, the Queen replies, "Bob seems an odd name for a girl. Girls are generally called Elizabeth." Then in a distinctly dismissive tone, she adds, "or Mary." This is a clear reference to the historical Queen Elizabeth's sister Mary Tudor and possibly also to her cousin Mary, Queen of Scots, with both of whom Elizabeth was on less-than-friendly terms.

• At one point, Blackadder and Bob are shown strolling through park-like countryside (filmed at Wilton House). There is no dialogue but excerpts from songs play and writing scrolls across the bottom similar to a televised advertisement for a music collection. Two of the songs listed are Greensleeves and My Love Is a Prick (On a Tudor Rose). This is also the only on location scene in any episode of the later series, (not including the closing credits of Blackadder II or the opening sequence of Blackadder Goes Forth).

• Several times in the wedding ceremony actors Rik Mayall and Miranda Richardson say their lines directly to the camera, thereby breaking the fourth wall.

• During Mayall's appearance in the final scene, his false moustache can visibly be seen coming off. All the characters, including Mayall, are visibly trying to restrain their laughter.

• In the first scene Kate's father tells her, "Your mother's alive and well and living in Droitwich!" Droitwich is Rik Mayall's home town.

• Bells was the first of two appearances of the charismatic Lord Flashheart (the second was in the fourth series episode Private Plane. This was also the first appearance of Gabrielle Glaister as the girl called Bob; the second was in the fourth series episode Major Star.

• The unique locations of this episode were "Bob's" house and the countryside featured during the musical montage. This is the only time during the Season when filming was done outdoors (the cemetery scene in Money" was shot on a soundstage).

Elizabeth I redirects here. ... Mary I (18 February 1516 – 17 November 1558), also known as Mary Tudor, was Queen of England and Queen of Ireland from 6 July 1553 (de facto) or 19 July 1553 (de jure) until her death on 17 November 1558. ... Mary, Queen of Scots is the name of: Mary I of Scotland, the former queen of France and Scotland executed by her cousin Elizabeth I of England Mary, Queen of Scots (movie), a 1971 film about that queen starring Vanessa Redgrave Mary, Queen of Scots (1969 book), a 1969 book... Jones and de Causs South Front and the Palladian Bridge (1736/7), in a view of circa 1820 Wilton House is an English country house situated at Wilton near Salisbury in Wiltshire. ... My Lady Greensleeves as depicted in an 1864 painting by Dante Gabriel Rossetti. ... Richard Michael Rik Mayall (born on March 7, 1958 in Harlow, Essex) is an English comedian and actor. ... Miranda Jane Richardson (born 3 March 1958) is an Academy Award nominated English actress. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Map sources for Droitwich Spa at grid reference SO894628 Droitwich Spa is a town in northern Worcestershire, England, on the River Salwarpe. ... Lord Flashheart is the name of two characters (the first presumably an ancestor of the second) who appeared in two episodes of the popular BBC sitcom Blackadder. ... Private Plane is the fourth episode in the fourth series of the BBC sitcom Blackadder (Blackadder Goes Forth) // German machine guns in front, British firing squads behind. ... Gabrielle Glaister (born 27 July in 1961, England) is a British actress. ... Major Star is the third episode in the fourth series of the BBC sitcom Blackadder (Blackadder Goes Forth) // The Russian Revolution produces two more appalling results: an offensive by Germany and a really offensive Charlie Chaplin impression by Baldrick. ... Money is an episode of the BBC sitcom Blackadder. ...

Music

• As with all the episodes in this season, there is a distinct song sung describing the story in that particular episode. In this episode, it goes:

Lord Flashheart tweaked the Adder's beard.

From now he always shall be single.

To fall in love with boys is weird,

Especially boys without a dingle.

Black Adder, Black Adder. His taste is rather odd.

Black Adder, Black Adder, the randy little sod.

Lord Flashheart, Lord Flashheart, I wish you were the star.

Lord Flashheart, Lord Flashheart, you're sexier by far.