The Queen of Spain's Beard
| "The Queen of Spain's Beard" | |
|---|---|
| Blackadder episode | |
Prince Edmund (Rowan Atkinson) meets the Spanish Infanta Maria Escalosa (Miriam Margolyes) for the first time | |
| Episode no. | Series 1 Episode 4 |
| Written by | Rowan Atkinson Richard Curtis |
| Original air date | 6 July 1983 |
| Guest appearances | |
| Miriam Margolyes Jim Broadbent | |
"The Queen of Spain's Beard" is the fourth episode of season one in The Black Adder, a BBC's historical comedy franchise. Set in England, during a fictional historical era of the late 15th-century, the episode parodies the practice of intermarriage between the royal houses of European powers - which was a genuine and significant characteristic of European politics at that time. Its bawdy humour also deals with taboos surrounding premarital sex, gay stereotypes and the practice of child marriage.
The title of the episode may allude to the words attributed to Sir Francis Drake who "singed the beard of the King of Spain" when he attacked the country in 1587. It may also be a reference to the term "Beard," which in specific circumstances, is associated with insincere or expedient personal relationships.
As with other episodes in this series, the end credits include an acknowledgement of "additional dialogue by William Shakespeare". One scene includes a parody of Richard III in which the third messenger announces in deadpan style the death of Lord Wessex. The fictitious King Richard IV retorts, "I like not this news! Bring me some other news!" echoing Richard III's rebuke to a messenger, "There, take thou that till thou bring better news." (Act 4, scene 4)
The episode introduces a recurring guest star to the Blackadder series, Miriam Margolyes, who plays the part of the Spanish Infanta betrothed to Prince Edmund. Margolyes would later return to play Edmund's Puritan aunt, Lady Whiteadder, in the 1986 episode "Beer" and the part of Queen Victoria in Blackadder's Christmas Carol (1988). Margolyes's Infanta is accompanied in "The Queen of Spain's Beard" by an interpreter, played by Jim Broadbent, who would go on to play Albert, Prince Consort opposite her in Blackadder's Christmas Carol. Broadbent was also intended to play Lord Whiteadder in "Beer", but was unavailable for recording.
Although "The Queen of Spain's Beard" was originally broadcast as episode 4 of the series, on later broadcasts and DVD releases it has been switched with episode 2, "Born to Be King".