The series is the successor to The Black Adder, and differed significantly from its predecessor, notably with Ben Elton replacing Rowan Atkinson as the second writer, filming in studio sets, rather than on location, the introduction of a Machiavellian Blackadder and a less intelligent Baldrick.

The principal character, Edmund, Lord Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson), is the great-grandson of the original Black Adder and is now a member of the London aristocracy.

Comic relief in the Court is provided by the Queen's demented former nanny, Nursie (Patsy Byrne) who often reveals embarrassing stories about Queenie's past.

Upon being exposed, Ludwig attempts to flee while vowing he will return and get his revenge, but is presumably killed or wounded off-screen by a dagger that Blackadder throws at him, ending his threat.

[3] The series was also the originator of Baldrick's obsession with the turnip, although this apparently arose from a botanical error on the part of Elton, who confused the vegetable with the "amusingly shaped" parsnip.

Attempting to impress the Queen in the wake of Sir Walter Raleigh's return from his round-the-world voyage, Blackadder announces his plan to sail to the dangerous Cape of Good Hope and enlists the services of the insane Captain Redbeard Rum to help him do so.

Blackadder owes £1,000 to the Bank of the Black Monks, and the baby-eating Bishop of Bath and Wells threatens to shove a hot poker into his bowels if he does not repay the money.

Blackadder discovers that his ludicrously Puritan, but very wealthy, Aunt and Uncle Whiteadder are coming to visit him on the same night he is hosting a party and high stakes drinking contest with Lord Melchett.

[2] Rowan Atkinson did not wish to continue writing for the second series, so writer and stand-up comedian Ben Elton was chosen to replace him.

Richard Curtis has been quoted as saying that due to the familiar cast, the series was the happiest for him to work on, comparing it to a "friendly bunch of school chums".

Notable appearances include Rik Mayall as the debonair Lord Flashheart in "Bells"; Tom Baker and Simon Jones as Captain Redbeard Rum and Sir Walter Raleigh respectively, in "Potato"; Ronald Lacey as the baby-eating Bishop of Bath and Wells in "Money"; Miriam Margolyes, who had appeared in the previous series, as the puritanical Lady Whiteadder in "Beer"; and Stephen Fry's comedy partner Hugh Laurie, who appears twice, first as the drunken Simon Partridge in "Beer" and in the final episode as the evil Prince Ludwig.

The opening titles are accompanied by a mock-Elizabethan arrangement of Howard Goodall's Blackadder theme played on a recorder and an electric guitar, and feature a black snake slithering about on a marble table.

[12] The closing titles use a different arrangement of the theme, sung by countertenor Jeremy Jackman,[13] with lyrics (usually insulting Blackadder) that reflect the events of the preceding episode.