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- This show had the largest budget in the series, with a multitude of extras and props (horses, armour, etc) and on-location shooting at actual medieval locations. Rowan Atkinson has described shooting as being extravagant: "It cost a million pounds for the six episodes, a lot of money to spend... it looked great, but it wasn't as consistently funny as we would have liked." In partial consequence, the later shows had their budgets, casts and sets scaled down.
- This is the only Blackadder series not to feature Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie or Miranda Richardson.
- The first episode was aired in Sweden on February 22, 1986. The second episode was supposed to have been aired one week later (March 1), but was postponed for a week, because most of the air time of Swedish television on that day was occupied by the news of the murder of Swedish prime minister Olof Palme on the night before.
- For the original transmission both 'Born To Be King' and 'The Queen Of Spain's Beard' were swapped in place so 'The Queen Of Spain's Beard' was shown directly after 'The Fortelling' mainly because 'Born To Be King' wasn't ready in time. The correct order has been restored for the video and DVD releases.
- According to Rowan Atkinson, he had no idea how to play Blackadder right up to the point where the cameras were rolling for the first time; he didn't even know what voice to use for the character.
- According to the opening credits, King Richard III was succeeded by his nephew, Richard, Duke of York (Harry and Edmund's father) in 1495. In fact, young Richard was only 12 when and his brother Edward disappeared under suspicious circumstances in 1483, with no children of their own. From this, it can be ascertained that all of the Blackadder canon takes place in an alternate historical timeline.
- The series was primarily shot at Alnwick Castle, Northumberland.
- The "Blackadder" theme is played with a trumpet solo backed by an orchestra.
- Edmund Blackadder is portrayed in this show as unintelligent and sniveling, a marked difference from his classically devious and cynical persona. According to Richard Curtis, he thought it would make the character more complicated and interesting rather than present him as a swaggering hero. However, in the final episode he begins to show signs of his scheming self.
- Blackadder is based on Edmund, the antagonist of William Shakespeare's play "King Lear": a scheming illegitimate son of a king who plots to take the crown for himself.
- According to Tony Robinson, he was flattered at being offered the role of Baldrick, and only later learned that the role had been turned down by nearly every bit-part actor.
- This is the only show in the Blackadder saga which was scripted by Rowan Atkinson; Ben Elton took over from "Black-Adder II" (1986).
- Rowan Atkinson and Richard Curtis came up with the idea of a historical sitcom during work on Not the Nine O'Clock News (UK).
- While in the first series Edmund (Black Adder) was more the idiot and comic relief than Baldrick (who in the first series comes up with ridiculous ideas but manages to somehow contribute to get Edmund out of trouble on many occasions), the roles of the characters of Black Adder and Baldrick were switched in the series that followed due to the influence of new writer Ben Elton. Actually, the pilot episode of the first series showed Blackadder with his later-to-be persona, rather than the dimwit that was actually shown here. While Baldrick kept many of the same mannerisms, catchphrases ("I have a cunning plan"), and actor portraying the character (Tony Robinson), he became the idiot and comic foil that Blackadder was in the first series. Blackadder, on the other hand, became a more intelligent and insulting character with each subsequent series.
- There were a few cast changes between this unaired pilot episode and the series as transmitted (which included a remake of this script as "Born to be King"). Brian Blessed replaced John Savident as King Richard XII of Scotland, Robert East took over as Prince Henry (aka Harry) from Robert Bathurst, whilst Philip Fox's rôle as Baldrick was inherited by Tony Robinson.
- "The Black Adder" (1983) {Born to Be King (#1.2)} is a remake of the original unaired pilot, with the following differences: - The King is not at the crusades, but at home. - Edmond's plot to kill McAngus involves a hanging with a fake rope, not a staged stabbing with a real dagger. The plan backfires in much the same way. - The King, Prince Henry and Baldrick are played by different actors, respectively John Savident, Robert Bathurst and Philip Fox. - Edmund's personality is much more like his decadents in the other series, much more sarcastic and intelligent.
- SPOILER: Edmund's arranged marriage to Princess Leia of Hungary at the end of episode 4 ("The Queen of Spain's Beard") is a reference to the arranged marriage of England's King Richard II to Princess Isabella of France when she was just six years old. It being a strictly political move, the marriage was of course non-sexual, and there was an option for her to dissolve the marriage when she turned 12. This never happened, as she was widowed at age 10.
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