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Blackadder was nearly axed after its first season because BBC didn't realise potential, says producer
Mr Lloyd, who also worked on Spitting Image and Not The Nine O'Clock News, said broadcasters had become too afraid to say 'have another go' - instead binning shows that aren't an immediate hit.
The show's producer John Lloyd urged TV bosses to give more series a second chance, arguing creative programmes rarely 'get it right first time'. The team then set about removing costly elements of the show – 'horses, guards, dogs, a huge castle – so everything was cut down to the bones,' Mr Lloyd told the Rob Brydon podcast. It was revitalised in the second series when Ben Elton joined as a script-writer, and made household names of its stars including Rowan Atkinson, Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry.
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