The UK’s Royal Mail is celebrating the 40th anniversary of Blackadder with a set of special stamps.

The 12 stamps cover all four series of the show, from medieval England through to World War I.

The eight stamps in the main set feature some of the show’s best-loved characters, played by Tony Robinson, Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry, Tim McInnerny, Miranda Richardson, Brian Blessed, and the late Patsy Byrne.

In addition, a further four stamps, presented in a miniature sheet, celebrate the main character, Edmund Blackadder, played by Rowan Atkinson.

Blackadder co-creator, Richard Curtis, said: “We’re very amused and delighted. It’s a great relief for Blackadder to have his head on a stamp, instead of on a stake.”

The stamps go on general sale on 17th May.