 Lord Percy remained similar in character to the original series , as a foolish sidekick in Blackadder 's plots and predicaments . In this respect , McInnerny has stated that the character bears a resemblance to Sir Andrew Aguecheek in Shakespeare 's Twelfth Night . Indeed , as with The Black Adder , the series featured many tongue @-@ in @-@ cheek references to Shakespeare 's plays ; Shakespeare is mentioned a number of times as a contemporary Elizabethan , and many of his famous quotations are twisted for comic effect . In particular the first episode " Bells " , follows a similar plot to Twelfth Night . 
