The Bald truth

SIR Tony Robinson says nine people turned down the part of Baldrick before him, as the Daily Star revealed yesterday. He claims no one wanted to play sidekick to Rowan Atkinson's Blackadder in the legendary BBC sitcom. Luckily, we have a cunning plan to raise a glass to the dim-witted peas-ant. Here MEG JORSH gives you the bald(rick) facts...

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The name Baldrick is Germanic in origin, meaning “brave ruler”, and has been around in Britain since 1066.

But Baldrick’s first name - “Sodoff” is unique. He tells Blackadder: "When I was growing up in the gutter I'd say to the other snipes, ‘Hello, my name’s Baldrick. And they'd say, ‘Yes, we know - sod off Baldrick."

The very first Baldrick, in a 1982 pilot, was played by Philip Fox - who later appeared in Midsomer Murders.

Baldrick in The Black Adder (1983) is cleverer than his medieval boss - and some of his “cunning plans” actually work.

But by Blackadder II (1986) he's a gormless peasant who can’t get the hang of counting beans.