10 Secrets We Learned From Doctor Who Season 17 Boxed Set
9. Rowan Atkinson Sabotaged Tom Baker
Tom Baker turned in a memorable guest performance as Captain Redbeard Rum in 'Potato', the third episode of Blackadder II. It was so memorable in fact, that it got the back up of Rowan Atkinson. In a new interview entitled Tom Talks, Baker tells the story of how Atkinson attempted to sabotage his interpretation of Captain Redbeard.
Having reduced cast and crew alike to fits of laughter in rehearsals, Tom arrived for the final dress rehearsal in good spirits. That was until Rowan Atkinson popped his head round the door of Tom's dressing room to give some pointers on comedy. Explaining that it would be funnier if this bombastic seaman's tall tales were told as if they were the most boring stories in the world, Atkinson left to prepare for the scene.
In an uncharacteristic act of deference to another actor, Tom decided to follow his leading man's advice. Immediately, the director and crew though their guest star was horribly unwell, when Tom explained he was following Atkinson's advice, they told him to ignore that and do what he was doing in rehearsals. He did so, and Tom and Rowan have never spoken to each other again.