Baldrick

Baldrick is a fictional character from the British historical sitcoms Blackadder, created by Rowan Atkinson and Richard Curtis. The character is primarily portrayed by Tony Robinson. Baldrick serves as the loyal, if dim-witted, servant and dogsbody to the protagonist, Edmund Blackadder, across various historical periods.

Throughout the series, Baldrick's defining characteristic is his profound lack of intelligence. He is consistently shown to be inept at even the simplest tasks, often misunderstanding instructions or misinterpreting situations with disastrous consequences. His intelligence is often described as being "as sharp as a marble" or even less so. Despite his intellectual deficiencies, Baldrick possesses a peculiar, often misguided, cunning, which he believes to be genuine cleverness. This is typically expressed through his infamous "cunning plans," which are almost invariably flawed and lead to the downfall of their instigator, usually himself or Edmund.

Baldrick is recognizable by his appearance, often depicted with a dirty apron, stubble, and a general air of dishevelment. He is also known for his distinctive, often nonsensical, sayings and his deep-seated loyalty to Edmund, even when subjected to constant abuse and humiliation. While Edmund frequently belittles and exploits Baldrick, there are rare instances that hint at a grudging affection or at least a dependence on his servant's unwavering, albeit foolish, devotion. The character of Baldrick provides much of the slapstick and verbal comedy within the Blackadder series, serving as a foil to Edmund's cynical wit and intellectual arrogance.