''Robin of Sherwood'' is a British television series, based on the legend of
Robin Hood
Robin Hood is a legendary noble outlaw, heroic outlaw originally depicted in English folklore and subsequently featured in literature, theatre, and cinema. According to legend, he was a highly skilled archer and swordsman. In some versions o ...
Goldcrest
The goldcrest (''Regulus regulus'') is a very small passerine bird in the kinglet family. Its colourful golden Crest (feathers), crest feathers, as well as being called the "king of the birds" in European folklore, gives rise to its Englis ...
, and ran from 28 April 1984 to 28 June 1986 on the ITV network. In the United States it was shown on the premium cable TV channel Showtime and, later, on
PBS
The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcaster and non-commercial, free-to-air television network based in Arlington, Virginia. PBS is a publicly funded nonprofit organization and the most prominent provider of educat ...
. It was also syndicated in the early 1990s under the title ''Robin Hood''.
The show starred
Michael Praed
Michael Praed ( ; born 1 April 1960), birth name Michael David Prince, is a British actor and narrator, best remembered for his role as Robin of Loxley in the British television series '' Robin of Sherwood'', which attained cult status worldw ...
and
Jason Connery
Jason Joseph Connery (born 11 January 1963) is a British actor and director. He is the son of Sean Connery and Diane Cilento. On screen, he is best known for appearing in the third series of the ITV (TV channel), ITV drama series ''Robin of She ...
as two different incarnations of the title character. Unlike previous adaptations of the Robin Hood legend, ''Robin of Sherwood'' combined a gritty, authentic production design with elements of real-life history, 20th-century fiction, and
pagan
Paganism (, later 'civilian') is a term first used in the fourth century by early Christians for people in the Roman Empire who practiced polytheism, or ethnic religions other than Christianity, Judaism, and Samaritanism. In the time of the ...
myth.
Paul Cornell
Paul Douglas Cornell (born 18 July 1967) is a British writer. He has worked in television drama and ''Doctor Who'' fiction, being the creator of one of the Doctor's spin-off companions, Bernice Summerfield.
Other British television dramas f ...
, Martin Day and Keith Topping, ''The Guinness Book of Classic British TV''. Enfield: Guinness Publishing, 1996. (pg. 352–4).
''Robin of Sherwood'' has been described by historian Stephen Knight as "the most innovative and influential version of the myth in recent times". The series is also notable for its musical score by
Clannad
Clannad () were an Irish band formed in 1970 in Gweedore, County Donegal, by siblings , and (Moya) (in English, Brennan) and their twin uncles Noel and (Duggan). They have adopted various musical styles throughout their history. Beginn ...
, which won a
BAFTA
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA, ) is an independent trade association and charity that supports, develops, and promotes the arts of film, television and video games in the United Kingdom. In addition to its annual awa ...
Richard Carpenter had previously worked with producer Paul Knight on two other dramas involving historical adventure, ''
Dick Turpin
Richard Turpin (bapt. 21 September 1705 – 7 April 1739) was an English highwayman whose exploits were romanticised following his execution in York for horse theft. Turpin may have followed his father's trade as a butcher ear ...
'' (1979–1982) and ''Smuggler'' (1981).James Chapman, ''Swashbucklers: The Costume Adventure Series''. Oxford,
Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press (OUP) is the publishing house of the University of Oxford. It is the largest university press in the world. Its first book was printed in Oxford in 1478, with the Press officially granted the legal right to print books ...
, 2015. , (pp. 138, 152–165) For their next project, Carpenter and Knight decided to have their production company Gatetarn do an adaptation of the Robin Hood legend. With the aid of television producer Sidney Cole, Carpenter and Knight were able to create a production deal for the show. Goldcrest Films, the US network Showtime, HTV and Gatetarn agreed to fund the series.Bernstein, Abbie. "Legends of the Hooded Man: Richard Carpenter interview". ''
Starlog
''Starlog'' was an American monthly science fiction magazine that was created in 1976 and focused primarily on ''Star Trek'' at its inception. Kerry O'Quinn and Norman Jacobs were its creators and it was published by Starlog Group, Inc. in Aug ...
'' Magazine, issue 151, February 1990, (pgs.30-33,64). Carpenter drew on the 1950s TV series ''
The Adventures of Robin Hood
''The Adventures of Robin Hood'' is a 1938 American Epic film, epic swashbuckler film from Warner Bros. Pictures. It was produced by Hal B. Wallis and Henry Blanke, directed by Michael Curtiz and William Keighley, and written by Norman Reilly Ra ...
'' and the 1973 film '' Wolfshead: The Legend of Robin Hood'' as inspirations for ''Robin of Sherwood''. Carpenter also used the books ''Robin Hood'' by the historian
J. C. Holt
Sir James Clarke Holt (26 April 1922 – 9 April 2014), also known as J. C. Holt and Jim Holt, was an English Middle Ages, medieval historian, known particularly for his work on Magna Carta. He was the third List of Masters of Fitzwilliam C ...
and ''The God of the Witches'' by the folklorist
Margaret Murray
Margaret Alice Murray (13 July 1863 – 13 November 1963) was an Anglo-Indian Egyptologist, archaeologist, anthropologist, historian, and folklorist. The first woman to be appointed as a lecturer in archaeology in the United Kingdom, sh ...
as sources for the program. ''Robin of Sherwood'' was more expensive than Carpenter and Knight's previous series; each episode of ''Robin of Sherwood'' cost around £500,000 to film. Filming on ''Robin of Sherwood'' began in 1983. The show premiered in 1984, on ITV in the UK and on Showtime in the United States. There were three series, composed of a two-hour opening episode and 24 one-hour long episodes, although the pilot is sometimes screened as two one-hour episodes. The episodes comprising "The Swords of Wayland" were transmitted as one episode in the UK on their original screening, on a bank holiday weekend in 1985. The show was shot on film and almost entirely on location, mostly in the northeast and southwest of England; HTV West in Bristol was the base of operations, and most of the filming was done in and around Bristol and its surrounding counties. Primary locations were the Blaise Castle Estate and Vassells Park. Some of the forest scenes were shot near
Bradford-on-Avon
Bradford-on-Avon (sometimes Bradford on Avon) is a town and civil parishes in England, civil parish in west Wiltshire (district), Wiltshire, England, near the border with Somerset. The town's canal, historic buildings, shops, pubs and restauran ...
.
''Robin of Sherwood'' is one of the most influential treatments of the core Robin Hood legend since the classic film ''
The Adventures of Robin Hood
''The Adventures of Robin Hood'' is a 1938 American Epic film, epic swashbuckler film from Warner Bros. Pictures. It was produced by Hal B. Wallis and Henry Blanke, directed by Michael Curtiz and William Keighley, and written by Norman Reilly Ra ...
''. It featured a realistic period setting and introduced the character of a
Saracen
upright 1.5, Late 15th-century German woodcut depicting Saracens
''Saracen'' ( ) was a term used both in Greek and Latin writings between the 5th and 15th centuries to refer to the people who lived in and near what was designated by the Rom ...
outlaw. Carpenter also added fantasy elements to the story, which had not appeared in previous TV versions of the legend. These included Robin's supernatural mentor
Herne the Hunter
In English folklore, Herne the Hunter is a ghost associated with Windsor Forest and Great Park in the English county of Berkshire. He is said to have antlers growing from his head, ride a horse, torment cattle, and rattle chains. The earliest ...
black magic
Black magic (Middle English: ''nigromancy''), sometimes dark magic, traditionally refers to the use of Magic (paranormal), magic or supernatural powers for evil and selfish purposes.
The links and interaction between black magic and religi ...
ians and demons.Nelson, Jayne. "Robin of Sherwood". ''
SFX Magazine
''SFX'' is a British magazine covering the topics of science fiction and fantasy. Its name is a reference to the abbreviated form of "special effects".
Description
''SFX'' magazine is published every four weeks by Future plc and was founded in 19 ...
'' April 2008. (pp. 76-9)
Michael Praed as Robin
Michael Praed
Michael Praed ( ; born 1 April 1960), birth name Michael David Prince, is a British actor and narrator, best remembered for his role as Robin of Loxley in the British television series '' Robin of Sherwood'', which attained cult status worldw ...
played Robin of Loxley in the first two series. His 'Merry Men' consisted of Will Scarlet (
Ray Winstone
Raymond Andrew Winstone (; born 19 February 1957) is an English television, stage, and film actor with a career spanning five decades. Having worked with many prominent directors, including Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg, Winstone is known ...
),
Little John
Little John is a companion of Robin Hood who serves as his chief lieutenant and second-in-command of the Merry Men. He is one of only a handful of consistently named characters who relate to Robin Hood and one of the two oldest Merry Men, alo ...
Saracen
upright 1.5, Late 15th-century German woodcut depicting Saracens
''Saracen'' ( ) was a term used both in Greek and Latin writings between the 5th and 15th centuries to refer to the people who lived in and near what was designated by the Rom ...
Herne the Hunter
In English folklore, Herne the Hunter is a ghost associated with Windsor Forest and Great Park in the English county of Berkshire. He is said to have antlers growing from his head, ride a horse, torment cattle, and rattle chains. The earliest ...
( John Abineri). As in the legend, Robin is opposed by the Sheriff of Nottingham ( Nickolas Grace) and Guy of Gisburne ( Robert Addie), as well as the Sheriff's brother Abbot Hugo ( Philip Jackson) (representing all the greedy abbots in the legends).
In the opening story, ''Robin Hood and the Sorcerer'', Robin and Much fall foul of the Sheriff's henchman, Sir Guy of Gisburne and are imprisoned in Nottingham Castle. They manage to escape: as a result of this action, Robin is declared a " wolfshead", an outlaw, by the authorities. Robin retreats to the woods and gathers a team of fellow rebels to fight back against the Sheriff's authority.
Jason Connery as Robin
At the end of the second series, Robin of Loxley is killed. Robert of Huntingdon (played by
Jason Connery
Jason Joseph Connery (born 11 January 1963) is a British actor and director. He is the son of Sean Connery and Diane Cilento. On screen, he is best known for appearing in the third series of the ITV (TV channel), ITV drama series ''Robin of She ...
) replaces him as the new Robin Hood. The third series had the same episode count as the first two combined, so each incarnation of Robin featured in the same number of episodes.
At the conclusion of Series Three,
Goldcrest
The goldcrest (''Regulus regulus'') is a very small passerine bird in the kinglet family. Its colourful golden Crest (feathers), crest feathers, as well as being called the "king of the birds" in European folklore, gives rise to its Englis ...
was forced to pull out of the venture, due to a downturn in the fortunes of their film arm. Goldcrest had been responsible for critical and commercial hits such as ''
Chariots of Fire
''Chariots of Fire'' is a 1981 historical drama, historical Sports film, sports drama film directed by Hugh Hudson, written by Colin Welland and produced by David Puttnam. It is based on the true story of two British athletes in the 1924 Summer ...
'' (1981) and ''
Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (2October 186930January 1948) was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist, and political ethicist who employed nonviolent resistance to lead the successful campaign for India's independence from British ...
'' (1982) earlier in the 1980s, but had hit a lean period with such films as ''
Revolution
In political science, a revolution (, 'a turn around') is a rapid, fundamental transformation of a society's class, state, ethnic or religious structures. According to sociologist Jack Goldstone, all revolutions contain "a common set of elements ...
'' (1985) and '' Absolute Beginners'' (1986). The series was expensive to produce; HTV could not afford to finance it alone, and so ''Robin of Sherwood'' came to an unexpected end. Goldcrest invested £1,289,000 in the first six episodes, £1,944,000 in the next seven and £4,035,000 in the next twelve. Despite the huge popularity of the series, Goldcrest's financial difficulties due to its cinematic investments, prevented further production.
During the course of the third series, the new Robin discovers that he is the half-brother of his nemesis Guy of Gisburne (an idea suggested to Carpenter by the fact that both actors had blond hair). Carpenter had planned to have Guy discover this. This particular story arc was never resolved, as the show's intended fourth (and final) series was never made. Series 4 would have also featured the return of Baron de Belleme. The sudden cancellation also broke off Robin and Marion's intended marriage and left Marion at Halstead Abbey as a novice. Carpenter later said that, if he had known the third season would be last, he would have married Robin and Marion.
Attempts at a revival
After the series ended, Carpenter and Knight tried several times to revive the show. First, Knight attempted to gain funding from US producers for a fourth season, but was unsuccessful. Carpenter then wrote a script for a feature film adaptation of the series, and attempted to gather funding. Carpenter said in a 1990 interview that the film was intended to star the TV series' regular cast, with a new actor playing Robin if Connery was unavailable. Carpenter also said that the film would not be an adaptation of the unmade fourth season, but "a story on its own". The appearance of two Robin Hood films in 1991 (''
Robin Hood
Robin Hood is a legendary noble outlaw, heroic outlaw originally depicted in English folklore and subsequently featured in literature, theatre, and cinema. According to legend, he was a highly skilled archer and swordsman. In some versions o ...
'' and '' Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves'') meant that Carpenter and Knight could not interest potential producers in a third Robin Hood film. Coincidently, Jason Connery's father
Sean Connery
Sir Thomas Sean Connery (25 August 1930 – 31 October 2020) was a Scottish actor. He was the first actor to Portrayal of James Bond in film, portray the fictional British secret agent James Bond (literary character), James Bond in motion pic ...
''Robin of Sherwood'' takes place in England in the late 12th and early 13th centuries, during the reigns of the Angevin kings
Richard I
Richard I (8 September 1157 – 6 April 1199), known as Richard the Lionheart or Richard Cœur de Lion () because of his reputation as a great military leader and warrior, was King of England from 1189 until his death in 1199. He also ru ...
and
John
John is a common English name and surname:
* John (given name)
* John (surname)
John may also refer to:
New Testament
Works
* Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John
* First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John
* Second E ...
, the usual setting of Robin Hood stories. ''Robin Hood and the Sorcerer'', which opens Series One, begins in 1180, then flashes forward fifteen years. In the final episode of Series One, however, King Richard's return to England following his capture and ransom is depicted, which in actuality occurred in
1194
Year 1194 ( MCXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.
Events
By place
England
* February 4 – King Richard I of England ("the Lionheart") is ransomed for an amount of 150,000 marks (demanded by Emper ...
. The Series Two episode "The Prophecy" is set in the year
1199
Year 1199 (Roman numerals, MCXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.
Events
By place
Europe
* January 13 – A short-lived truce is declared, between the Kings Richard I of England, Richard I (the Lionh ...
, when Prince John becomes King of England. In the Series Three episode "The Time of the Wolf", the Sheriff dictates a legal document dated for the year
1211
Year 1211 ( MCCXI) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.
Events
By place
Byzantine Empire
* June 17 – Battle of Antioch on the Meander: Seljuk forces led by Sultan Kaykhusraw I are initially victoriou ...
, and the plot of the episode involves King John raising an army to fight Llywelyn of
Wales
Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...
, an event which, in actual history, took place that same year.
Michael Praed
Michael Praed ( ; born 1 April 1960), birth name Michael David Prince, is a British actor and narrator, best remembered for his role as Robin of Loxley in the British television series '' Robin of Sherwood'', which attained cult status worldw ...
) Born the son of Anglo-Saxon nobleman Ailric of Loxley, Robin was raised by his uncle, the local miller, after Ailric was murdered. As an adult, Robin accepts the charge of
Herne the Hunter
In English folklore, Herne the Hunter is a ghost associated with Windsor Forest and Great Park in the English county of Berkshire. He is said to have antlers growing from his head, ride a horse, torment cattle, and rattle chains. The earliest ...
and becomes the prophesied "Hooded Man", champion of the oppressed. Hiding in Sherwood Forest, he assembles a number of friends (who become famous as the 'Merry Men') and fights for freedom and justice. He is an exceptional archer and a
swordsman
Swordsmanship or sword fighting refers to the skills and techniques used in combat and training with any type of sword. The term is modern, and as such was mainly used to refer to smallsword fencing, but by extension it can also be applied to a ...
and often makes his decisions under the guidance of Herne, who bestows the sword Albion upon him. He falls in love with Lady Marion of Leaford and marries her. He is killed at the end of series two by Norman crossbowmen, on the orders of the Sheriff of Nottingham, the same manner in which his father died.
* Lady Marion of Leaford ( Judi Trott) The beautiful and vivacious daughter of Richard of Leaford, a Saxon nobleman, Marion lives as a ward of Abbot Hugo, who is keen on gaining her inheritance. She first enters a nunnery and enjoys her
beekeeping
Beekeeping (or apiculture, from ) is the maintenance of bee colonies, commonly in artificial beehives. Honey bees in the genus '' Apis'' are the most commonly kept species but other honey producing bees such as '' Melipona'' stingless bees are ...
, but when Simon de Belleme desires her as his bride (actually intending to sacrifice her), she is rescued by Robin of Loxley and they escape into Sherwood Forest, where they fall in love and marry. She loves Robin unconditionally and is heartbroken upon his death. She's later rescued from another unwanted marriage, by Robert of Huntingdon, before falling in love with him towards the end of Season Three.
* Much ( Peter Llewellyn Williams) Son of the miller who raised Robin, he admires Robin as his big brother. He is dubbed "the half-wit" by Guy of Gisburne, but he is more uneducated and naive than intellectually impaired. Skilled in his portable
catapult
A catapult is a ballistics, ballistic device used to launch a projectile at a great distance without the aid of gunpowder or other propellants – particularly various types of ancient and medieval siege engines. A catapult uses the sudden rel ...
, he often acts as the groups' messenger and signaller. He loves to play his
flute
The flute is a member of a family of musical instruments in the woodwind group. Like all woodwinds, flutes are aerophones, producing sound with a vibrating column of air. Flutes produce sound when the player's air flows across an opening. In th ...
in his leisure time. He matures more after the first Robin's death.
* Will Scarlet (
Ray Winstone
Raymond Andrew Winstone (; born 19 February 1957) is an English television, stage, and film actor with a career spanning five decades. Having worked with many prominent directors, including Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg, Winstone is known ...
) Originally called Will Scathlock. When his wife, Elena, is raped, beaten and trampled to death with horses by mercenaries, he changes his name after slaying several of her killers. Hot-headed and filled with hatred of all things Norman, he is contrasted with the more collected Robin, which frequently leads to conflicts. He is a brave fighter and a skillful swordsman and archer. He has a brother who owns an inn in
Lichfield
Lichfield () is a city status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and Civil parishes in England, civil parish in Staffordshire, England. Lichfield is situated south-east of the county town of Stafford, north-east of Walsall, north-west of ...
Hathersage
Hathersage ( ) is a village and civil parish in the Peak District in Derbyshire, England. It lies slightly to the north of the River Derwent, approximately south-west of Sheffield.
Toponymy
The origin of its name is disputed, although it is ...
, this giant of a man who stands seven feet tall was placed under a spell by the Baron de Belleme. When Robin defeats the Baron and frees John from the spell, John becomes a loyal friend to Robin (and later, to Robert of Huntington). He often fights with his long wooden pole made out of a tree branch but mainly relies on his superhuman strength to dominate over the soldiers of Sheriff. His great stature and strength are contrasted by his soft heart.
* Friar Tuck ( Phil Rose) Chaplain to the Sheriff of Nottingham, he helps Lady Marion escape into Sherwood and joins the merry men, forming a fast friendship with Little John. The fattest member among the merry men, he often uses his sheer bodyweight to his advantage when fighting the soldiers of Sheriff. He prefers not to kill, but to immobilize his enemies. Carpenter said that Tuck "represents the better side of Christianity".
* Nasir ( Mark Ryan) A
Saracen
upright 1.5, Late 15th-century German woodcut depicting Saracens
''Saracen'' ( ) was a term used both in Greek and Latin writings between the 5th and 15th centuries to refer to the people who lived in and near what was designated by the Rom ...
assassin, he was captured in
Palestine
Palestine, officially the State of Palestine, is a country in West Asia. Recognized by International recognition of Palestine, 147 of the UN's 193 member states, it encompasses the Israeli-occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and th ...
by the Baron de Belleme and brought back to England to work as his henchman. After the Baron is killed by Robin, Nasir, having found respect for Robin during a crucial sword fight decides to join the merry men. Throughout the series, he speaks very little. The only archer who can match Robin, he fights with double swords and is noted for his tracking skills. Initially, he was intended to be killed in episode two, but he proved so popular with the show's cast and crew, that Carpenter decided to make him a regular instead.
* Robert of Huntingdon (
Jason Connery
Jason Joseph Connery (born 11 January 1963) is a British actor and director. He is the son of Sean Connery and Diane Cilento. On screen, he is best known for appearing in the third series of the ITV (TV channel), ITV drama series ''Robin of She ...
) Chosen as Robin's successor by Herne, Robert frees the merry men, but thinks himself inadequate to take up the mantle of the Hooded Man, despite his sympathies towards the downtrodden. He changes his mind after Lady Marion is taken by Lord Owen of Clun, and sets out to rescue her, valiantly reassembling the scattered merry men in the process. Though slightly insecure about taking over, in light of his predecessor, Robert proves to be an excellent leader. He later discovers that he is the half-brother of Guy of Gisburne.
*
Herne the Hunter
In English folklore, Herne the Hunter is a ghost associated with Windsor Forest and Great Park in the English county of Berkshire. He is said to have antlers growing from his head, ride a horse, torment cattle, and rattle chains. The earliest ...
( John Abineri) A shamanic figure who often incarnates a forest spirit wearing his
Sambar deer
The sambar (''Rusa unicolor'') is a large deer native to the Indian subcontinent, South China and Southeast Asia that is listed as a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List since 2008. Populations have declined substantially due to severe huntin ...
's
taxidermy
Taxidermy is the art of preserving an animal's body by mounting (over an armature) or stuffing, for the purpose of display or study. Animals are often, but not always, portrayed in a lifelike state. The word ''taxidermy'' describes the proces ...
, he represents the powers of light and goodness, and often inspires and protects the Hooded Man from the most perilous situations. Carpenter stated that Herne was based on the
Pagan
Paganism (, later 'civilian') is a term first used in the fourth century by early Christians for people in the Roman Empire who practiced polytheism, or ethnic religions other than Christianity, Judaism, and Samaritanism. In the time of the ...
idea of the
Horned God
The Horned God is one of the two primary deities found in Wicca and some related forms of Neopaganism.
The term ''Horned God'' itself predates Wicca, and is an early 20th-century syncretism, syncretic term for a horned or antlered anthropomorp ...
.
* Tom (Paul Duggan) – One of the initial outlaws who formed the merry men and who was killed in battle at Castle Belleme.
* Dickon (Mark Audley) – One of the initial outlaws who formed the merry men and who was killed in battle at Castle Belleme.
* Martin (Martin West) – An outlaw who joined the merry men off-screen between the events of ''Robin and the Sorcerer'' and ''The Witch of Elsdon''. He is not seen or heard of after ''The King's Fool''. It isn't known if he left the outlaws or was killed.
* James (Steven Osborne) – An outlaw who joined the merry men off-screen after ''Robin and the Sorcerer''. He dies in the following episode ''Seven Poor Knights from Acre'' after being trampled to death by the Knights Templar.
Main antagonists
* Robert de Rainault, Sheriff of Nottingham ( Nickolas Grace) The king's chief representative in Nottingham and Sherwood, he is mainly interested in increasing his own power and wealth, competing with his younger brother, the Abbot. He considers his serfs mere chattels and hates women. He frequently relies on the brawn of Guy of Gisburne, whom he nonetheless disrespects and ridicules for his failures. His ambition results in strained relations with fellow noblemen (who consider him a "dreadful little man"), and with a succession of kings.
* Sir Guy of Gisburne ( Robert Addie) Steward over the abbot's lands and gamekeeper of Sherwood, he is the chief military commander in the area. Self-identifying "a warrior and not a courtier", he is prone to disregard diplomacy and tact in favour of brute force but he is sometimes also able to use cunning. He resents the Sheriff for frequently taunting him and Robin for being the cause of these taunts. After a rocky start he gained the (limited) respect of Prince John. Later, it is revealed that he is the Earl of Huntingdon's illegitimate son and thus the second Robin's half-brother.
* Hugo de Rainault, Abbot of St. Mary's ( Philip Jackson) The sheriff's younger brother and highest-ranking church man in Nottingham, his main interest lies in acquiring land, especially that of his temporary ward, Lady Marion, and her father.
* Baron Simon de Belleme (
Anthony Valentine
Anthony Valentine (17 August 1939 – 2 December 2015) was an English actor best known for his television roles: the ruthless Toby Meres in '' Callan'' (1967–72), the sadistic Major Horst Mohn in '' Colditz'' (1972–74), the suave titular g ...
) A nobleman and also a devil worshipper. As master of the black arts, he controlled both Little John and Nasir, having captured the latter during the Crusades. He desires Lady Marion to sacrifice her to his demons. He is killed by Robin in Series One but his remaining disciples still work towards and actually succeed in his resurrection in Series Two, although he is not heard of or seen in Series Three.
* Prince John, later King of England ( Phil Davis) John is first mentioned in ''The King's Fool'', where it is stated that the Sheriff and Abbot Hugo supported him against King Richard. King John appears in the episode ''The Prophecy'', where he is depicted as manipulative, bullying and lecherous. John becomes King in ''The Prophecy'' after Richard's death.
* Gulnar (
Richard O'Brien
Richard O'Brien (born Richard Timothy Smith; 25 March 1942) is a British-New Zealand actor, writer, musician, and television presenter. He wrote the musical stage show ''The Rocky Horror Show'' in 1973, which has since remained in continuous p ...
) A pagan sorcerer in the entourage of Lord Owen of Clun, he bewitches Lady Marion. After Owen is killed, he sets out to avenge Owen's death and his own disgrace on Robin and the merry men in two different episodes.
John Rhys-Davies
John Rhys-Davies (born 5 May 1944) is a Welsh actor known for portraying Gimli (Middle-earth), Gimli in The Lord of the Rings (film series), ''The Lord of the Rings'' trilogy and Sallah in the ''Indiana Jones'' franchise. He has received three ...
) Richard is first encountered by Robin's band in Sherwood while returning to Nottingham from the German crusades in disguise. The merry men rescue him from a band of cutthroats and wins his trust. He initially appears to be an ally and says he heard tales about Robin and all the merry men deserved to be hanged many times over. But for saving his life, he pardons them and tries to get Robin to join his army. He subsequently returns to Normandy and is killed by an enemy arrow; the news of his death reaches Nottingham while Prince John is visiting, and Gisburne is the first to declare John the new king.
* The Old Prisoner (Stuart Linden) – The mainstay of the Nottingham dungeon for over 30 years, he repeatedly refuses to flee, as he will not part with his pet rat 'Arthur', and advises all prisoners that the only way out is "feet first".
* Walter Flambard ( Thomas Henty) – The official archer of Sheriff of Nottingham who is almost as good as Robin and Nasir.
* Jennet of Elsdon ( Angharad Rees) – Accused of witchcraft and imprisoned in the dungeons with her husband. The Sheriff makes a pact with her to poison Robin and the merry men.
* Edward of Wickham (
Jeremy Bulloch
Jeremy Andrew Bulloch (16 February 1945 – 17 December 2020) was an English actor. In a career that spanned six decades, he gained recognition for originating the physical portrayal of Boba Fett in the '' Star Wars'' franchise, appearing as ...
) The headman of the village of Wickham, he and all of the villagers are sympathetic to Robin Hood's band and assist them occasionally throughout several episodes. His wife and children also appear in the final two episodes of Season three.
* Reynald de Villaret ( Yves Beneyton) – Leader of seven knights returning from Palestine, whose holy emblem was stolen.
* Richard of Leaford ( George Baker) The father of Lady Marion, important Anglo-Saxon landowner and loyal follower of King Richard, he was captured during the Crusades and presumed dead. Later released by Saladin, he is captured and secretly brought to Nottingham by Prince John, but freed by Robin. Later, he is reconciled to King John (by paying a large sum of money, which also bought a pardon for Marion) and returns to his estates, which are still coveted by the de Rainault brothers.
* Earl of Huntingdon ( Michael Craig) An important nobleman and a careful politician, he is a father to the second Robin Hood and (unknown to him) also to Guy of Gisburne. When Robert becomes the new Robin Hood, the Earl disinherits him; the two later reconcile emotionally.
* Lord Owen of Clun ( Oliver Cotton) A half-Welsh nobleman holding strategically important lands on the Welsh border, he is courted by the Earl of Huntingdon on behalf of King John. Desiring Lady Marion as his wife, he has her kidnapped and bewitched, but he is outsmarted by the merry men and killed during their escape.
* Meg of Wickham (Claire Toeman) – Little John's girlfriend who lives in the outlaw-friendly village of Wickham.
*
Alan-a-Dale
Alan-a-Dale (first recorded as Allen a Dale; variously spelled ''Allen-a-Dale'', ''Allan-a-Dale'', ''Allin-a-Dale'', ''Allan A'Dayle'' etc.) is a figure in the Robin Hood legend. According to the stories, he was a wandering minstrel who became ...
(Peter Hutchinson) – The former minstrel to the Baron de Bracy, who is in love with the Baron's daughter Mildred.
* Mildred de Bracy ( Stephanie Tague) – The object of an arranged marriage to Sheriff of Nottingham, but in love with Alan-a-Dale.
* Joshua de Talmont ( David de Keyser) A rich Jew, who makes his living as a money-lender and often lends money to the Sheriff. He is also a keeper of ancient Jewish chronicles and one of his books, upon its gaze, turns the Sheriff crazy.
* Sarah de Talmont ( Katharine Levy) – Daughter of Joshua de Talmont and elder sister of Esther and Samuel.
* Morgwyn of Ravenscar (
Rula Lenska
Rula Lenska (born Roza Maria Leopoldyna Lubienski 30 September 1947) is an English actress. She mainly appears in British stage and television productions and is known in the United States for a series of television advertisements in the 1970s ...
) Outwardly the Abbess in charge of Ravenscar Abbey near the village of Uffcombe, she is secretly an evil witch and the leader of the Cauldron of Lucifer, a powerful
coven
A coven () is a group or gathering of Witchcraft, witches. The word "coven" (from Anglo-Norman language, Anglo-Norman ''covent, cuvent'', from Old French ''covent'', from Latin ''conventum'' = convention) remained largely unused in English lan ...
dedicated to the raising of Lucifer. She seeks the Seven Swords of Wayland to use their power, but one of them (Albion) is in Robin Hood's possession. She succeeds in bewitching the merry men and turning them against Robin and Marion for a time, but Robin foils her plans, and she is ultimately destroyed by her own demon riders.
* Bertrand de Nivelles ( Oliver Tobias) – Leader of a band of mercenaries called in by Gisburne to kill Robin and his men.
* Lilith ( Gemma Craven) – A witch who put Robin under a spell to make him steal Herne's Arrow to resurrect her dead master, Baron Simon de Belleme from the dead.
* Ralph of Huntingdon (Trevor Clarke) – A captain who becomes the Sheriff's new favourite. Killed by Gisburne out of jealousy.
* Isadora ( Cathryn Harrison) – The daughter of Lord Agravaine and privy to the secret of
Caerleon
Caerleon ( ; ) is a town and Community (Wales), community in Newport, Wales. Situated on the River Usk, it lies northeast of Newport city centre, and southeast of Cwmbran. Caerleon is of archaeological importance, being the site of a notable ...
.
* Lord Agravaine ( Cyril Cusack) – Robert of Huntington's godfather and guardian of a secret treasure in the castle of Caerleon.
* Lady Margaret ( Dorothy Tutin) – Gisburne's mother who is in charge of the healing relic of the Saint Ciricus.
* Philip Mark ( Lewis Collins) The brutal former Head Forester of Lincolnshire (who is known as the Butcher of Lincolnshire) who is appointed by King John to take Robert de Rainault's place as Sheriff of Nottingham; his tenure as Sheriff is extremely brief.
* Sarak ( Valentine Pelka) A Saracen with a scarred face hidden by a mask, he is the right-hand man of Philip Mark and a former hashashin who betrayed the brotherhood's secrets for money. He bears a grudge against Nasir, who was sent after him to kill him, but only scarred him.
* Roger de Carnac (
Matt Frewer
Matthew George Frewer (born January 4, 1958) is an American-Canadian actor and comedian. He portrayed the 1980s icon Max Headroom in the 1985 TV film and 1987 Max Headroom (TV series), television series of the same name.
He became prominent when ...
) – On King John's orders, he and his men impersonate the second Robin and the merry men in a plan to discredit them with the people.
* Adam Bell (
Bryan Marshall
Bryan Marshall (19 May 1938 – 25 June 2019) was a British actor, with a number of major credits in film and television to his name, in both Britain and Australia.
Early life
Marshall was born in Battersea, south London. He was educated at th ...
) – A famous outlaw who returns to Nottingham from the North after many years.
* Arthur ( Reece Dinsdale) – An impostor from Brittainy who conspires a plot to depose King John.
* Queen Hadwisa (
Patricia Hodge
Patricia Ann Hodge (born 29 September 1946) is an English actress. She is known on-screen for playing Phyllida Erskine-Brown in '' Rumpole of the Bailey'' (1978–1992), Jemima Shore in '' Jemima Shore Investigates'' (1983), Penny in '' Miranda ...
) King John's first wife who is unceremoniously cast aside when King John chooses the 12-year-old Isabella as his new wife and who hatches a complex plot to depose John.
* Queen Isabella of Angoulême (Cory Pulman) – The object of the arranged marriage to King John.
* Edgar of Huntingdon (
Ian Ogilvy
Ian Raymond Ogilvy (born 30 September 1943) is an English actor, playwright and novelist.
Early life
Ogilvy was born in Woking, Surrey, England, to Francis Fairfield Ogilvy, brother of advertising executive David Ogilvy, and actress Aileen R ...
) – The second Robin's uncle, who has a hidden agenda against his brother, the Earl.
* Mad Mab (Annabelle Lee) – A madwoman, who breeds pigs, accused of witchcraft, and defended by the merry men. Ultimately it is revealed that she is indeed a witch.
* Grendel ( James Coombes) – Gulnar's right-hand man, who later becomes the fanatical leader of the Sons of Fenris.
Series overview
Episodes
Season 1 (1984)
Season 2 (1985)
Season 3 (1986)
In repeats, episodes have frequently been broadcast out of order, and alternative orders have been suggested. The original running order creates a number of continuity errors, the most notable being Marian's father being referred to as being dead in "The Swords of Wayland" even though he was discovered to be alive in "The Prophecy" and appears in later episodes.
Places of action
Villages
* Loxley, burned childhood village of the first Robin – filmed at Mells Park.
* Wickham, an important village in the series where the lover (Meg) of Little John lived.
* Cromm Cruac, phantom village created by Gulnar (named after the Irish deity Cromm Cruac and seen only in the episode of the same name).
* Elsdon, mentioned in the episode ''The Witch of Elsdon''.
* Uffcombe, village attacked by ''Hounds of Lucifer''.
Castles and cities
*
Nottingham Castle
Nottingham Castle is a Stuart Restoration-era ducal mansion in Nottingham, England, built on the site of a Normans, Norman castle built starting in 1068, and added to extensively through the medieval period, when it was an important royal fortr ...
– filmed at several other locations.
* Castle of Belleme
* Castle of Lord Owen (''
Clun Castle
Clun Castle is a medieval ruined castle in Clun, Shropshire, England. Clun Castle was established by the Norman lord Robert de Say after the Norman invasion of England and went on to become an important Marcher lord castle in the 12th century, ...
'') – filmed at Kidwelly Castle (outside).
* Castle of Gwydion – filmed at several other locations.
* Castle of
Huntingdon
Huntingdon is a market town in the Huntingdonshire district of Cambridgeshire, England. The town was given its town charter by John, King of England, King John in 1205. It was the county town of the historic county of Huntingdonshire. Oliver C ...
, childhood home of the second Robin – filmed at several other locations.
* Leaford
*
Caerleon
Caerleon ( ; ) is a town and Community (Wales), community in Newport, Wales. Situated on the River Usk, it lies northeast of Newport city centre, and southeast of Cwmbran. Caerleon is of archaeological importance, being the site of a notable ...
– filmed at several other locations.
Abbeys
* Warren – filmed at several other locations.
* Thornton – filmed at several other locations.
* Ravenscar – filmed at several other locations.
* Croxden – filmed at several other locations.
*
Kirklees
Kirklees is a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, England. The borough comprises the ten towns of Batley, Birstall, West Yorkshire, Birstall, Cleckheaton, Dewsbury, Heckmondwike, Holmfirth, Huddersfield, Meltham, Mirfield and Slaithwaite. It ...
– filmed at several other locations.
* Grimstone – filmed at several other locations.
*
Halstead
Halstead is a town and civil parish in the Braintree District of Essex, England. Its population of 11,906 in 2011Sherwood Forest
Sherwood Forest is the remnants of an ancient royal forest, Royal Forest in Nottinghamshire, within the East Midlands region in England. It has association with the legend of Robin Hood. The forest was proclaimed by William the Conqueror and ...
– filmed at several other locations, Greyfield Woods were used for scenes by the famous waterfall with lots of dry ice.
* Tor of last stand of first Robin – filmed near Burrington Camp.
Music
The music for ''Robin of Sherwood'' was composed and performed by Irish folk group
Clannad
Clannad () were an Irish band formed in 1970 in Gweedore, County Donegal, by siblings , and (Moya) (in English, Brennan) and their twin uncles Noel and (Duggan). They have adopted various musical styles throughout their history. Beginn ...
. The show's original soundtrack, ''
Legend
A legend is a genre of folklore that consists of a narrative featuring human actions, believed or perceived to have taken place in human history. Narratives in this genre may demonstrate human values, and possess certain qualities that give the ...
'', was released in 1984 and won the
BAFTA
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA, ) is an independent trade association and charity that supports, develops, and promotes the arts of film, television and video games in the United Kingdom. In addition to its annual awa ...
award for Best Original Television Music.
Three singles were released from the album: the theme-tune " Robin (The Hooded Man)", " Now is Here" and " Scarlet Inside". An EP contained a remix of " Robin (The Hooded Man)" from the third series.
While not all of the show's music is found on the ''Legend'' album, some additional pieces can be found on Clannad's albums '' Macalla'' (released in 1986) and '' Clannad: Live in Concert, 1996'' (released in 2005). In November 2003, Clannad revealed on their official web site that "there were several other pieces of music recorded for the third series of ''Robin of Sherwood'' that were not included on the ''Legend'' album". On 25 October 2024 Clannad released the Legend Extended 40th Anniversary edition includes eleven previously unreleased tracks taken from the classic TV series. It features eleven previously unreleased tracks. This hopefully completes all the missing tracks.
Crew
* Directed by: Ian Sharp and others
* Written by: Richard Carpenter and others
* Cinematography: Roger Pearce, Howard Rockliffe, Gary Breckon and Bob Edwards
* Music:
Clannad
Clannad () were an Irish band formed in 1970 in Gweedore, County Donegal, by siblings , and (Moya) (in English, Brennan) and their twin uncles Noel and (Duggan). They have adopted various musical styles throughout their history. Beginn ...
* Production design: John Biggs and Ken Sharp
* Costume design: Lynette Cummin
* Scenic artist: Peter Gray
* Editing: David McCormick, Andy Findlay, Robin Inger, and others.
* Casting: Esta Charkham and Beth Charkham
* Special effects: Ken Lailey
* Stunt co-ordination: Terry Walsh
* Horse Master: Steve Dent
Reception
A review at rpg.net, written in 2003, opines:
Reviewing ''Robin of Sherwood'' for '' SFX'' magazine, Jayne Nelson stated that "this incarnation of England's most famous outlaw will probably never be bettered". Nelson praised the show's "excellent writing, moody cinematography and haunting score". Nelson called "The Greatest Enemy" the best episode of the show, followed by "The Swords of Wayland" and "The Sheriff of Nottingham".
Richard Marcus, writing on blogcritics.org, wrote in 2008:
Controversy
ITV aired ''Robin of Sherwood'' during an early-evening television slot, and promoted the programme as being for a family audience.""Robin Hood" Slammed", in L. Has Taylor and Bob Mullan, ''Uninvited Guests: The Intimate Secrets of Television and Radio''. London, Chatto & Windus, 1986. (p. 176)
Mary Whitehouse
Constance Mary Whitehouse (; 13 June 1910 – 23 November 2001) was a British teacher and conservative activist. She campaigned against social liberalism and the mainstream British media, both of which she accused of encouraging a more permis ...
Doctor Who
''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series, created by Sydney Newman, C. E. Webber and Donald Wilson (writer and producer), Donald Wilson, depicts the adventures of an extraterre ...
''). Whitehouse claimed that the show depicted "extensive violence", objected to the depiction of Satanic villains in "The Swords of Wayland", and also criticised the apparent "resurrection" of Robin in "The Greatest Enemy" as being disrespectful to Christianity. Carpenter later met Whitehouse for a public debate, and introduced himself to her and the audience by saying "I'm Richard Carpenter, and I'm a professional writer. And you're a professional... what?" ''The Guinness Book of Classic British TV'' defended ''Robin of Sherwood'', stating that the show's "swordplay was strictly zero blood" and that the supernatural elements were the result of Carpenter's "love for the subject matter".
Comic strip
A comic strip based on ''Robin of Sherwood'' ran in ''
Look-in
''Look-in'' was a children's magazine centred on ITV's television programmes in the United Kingdom, and subtitled "The Junior '' TVTimes''". It ran from 9 January 1971 to 12 March 1994. to September 1986 (issue 39) It was written by Angus Allan, and illustrated mainly by Mike Noble, with some issues illustrated by Arthur Ranson and Phil Gascoine; colours were by Arthur Ranson. The first 6 stories (32 issues) were in full colour, and the remainder were in black and white, with the exception of the 19th story which marked the change of character from Michael Praed's Robin to Jason Connery's.
In 2022,
Rebellion
Rebellion is an uprising that resists and is organized against one's government. A rebel is a person who engages in a rebellion. A rebel group is a consciously coordinated group that seeks to gain political control over an entire state or a ...
, Chinbeard Books and Spiteful Puppet jointly published "Robin of Sherwood: The Complete Look-In Comics", which collected all of the strips. This was a limited-edition run.
DVD and Blu-ray releases
* "Series 1 – Part 1 – Episodes 1 To 3 DVD".
* "Series 1 – Part 2 – Episodes 4 To 6 DVD".
* "Series 2 – Part 1 – Episodes 1 To 4 DVD".
* "Series 2 – Part 2 – Episodes 5 To 7 DVD".
* "Series 3 – Part 1 – Episodes 1 To 6 DVD".
* "Series 3 – Part 2 – Episodes 7 To 13 DVD".
* "The Complete Series 1 DVD" ,
* "The Complete Series 2 DVD"
* "The Complete Series" (DVD)
* "The Complete Series" (Blu Ray)
* "The Complete Series (NTSC)"
In the US and Canada, the first and second series have been released by Acorn Media in a five DVD set. A second set, containing the complete third series was released on 9 October 2007.
Network DVD released the series in a single Region B Blu-ray set, entitled ''Robin of Sherwood: Michael Praed'' (the 3-Disc Blu-ray and DVD bonus disc), on 15 November 2010. In the US and Canada, the first and second series were released on 7 June 2011 by Acorn Media as ''Robin of Sherwood: Set 1''.
Network DVD released Blu-ray set, entitled ''Robin of Sherwood: Jason Connery'', on 31 October 2011.
Bonus features
On ''The Complete Collection'' DVD set, there are "seventeen hours of special features", including fourteen commentary tracks, a documentary on the folk group Clannad creating the score for the series, outtakes, bonus footage, a behind the scenes documentary, four documentaries that look back on the making of the show with former cast and crew, and other behind the scenes footage too.
Audio plays and audio books
By July 2015, Bafflegab Productions, the producers of the audio play/comic book series '' The Scarifyers'', and co-producer Barnaby Eaton-Jones were adapting a feature-length script entitled '' Robin of Sherwood: The Knights Of The Apocalypse'', written by Richard Carpenter before his death in 2012. Jason Connery, Judi Trott, Ray Winstone, Clive Mantle, Mark Ryan, Phil Rose, Philip Jackson, and Nickolas Grace (Robert of Huntingdon, Lady Marion, Will Scarlet, Little John, Nasir, Friar Tuck, Abbot Hugo, and the Sheriff of Nottingham, respectively) all agreed to reprise their roles for the project, with Daniel Abineri taking the role of Herne in place of his father, John Abineri, who died in 2000. That December, Barnaby Eaton-Jones took over as sole producer of the audio play, with Spiteful Puppet (the award-winning audio company who produced 'Hood') as executive producers, as approved by ITV Studios and Carpenter's estate. After beginning its crowdfunding campaign on
Indiegogo
Indiegogo is an American crowdfunding website founded in 2008 by Danae Ringelmann, Slava Rubin, and Eric Schell. Its headquarters are in San Francisco, California. The site is one of the first sites to offer crowd funding. Indiegogo allows peo ...
in September, the production set a goal of £10,000 within 30 days to cover production costs; due to enthusiastic fan support, however, the goal was reached in just under 24 hours. The audio play was released in 2016, with proceeds going to the Sherwood Forest Trust and the
British Red Cross
The British Red Cross Society () is the United Kingdom body of the worldwide neutral and impartial humanitarian network the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The society was formed in 1870, and is a registered charity with 1 ...
.
The success of the play led to Spiteful Puppet sporadically producing and releasing more full-cast dramas and single-narrator audiobooks, starting in December 2017. Some of these have also been made available through
Audible
Audible may refer to:
* Audible (service), an online audiobook store
* Audible (American football), a tactic used by quarterbacks
* ''Audible'' (film), a short documentary film featuring a deaf high school football player
* Audible finish or ru ...
. From 2024 the series has continued with CD releases from AUK Studios (which had purchased Spiteful Puppet), Chinbeard Books and Oak Tree Books."Robin of Sherwood:Tales Untold" AUK Studios, 5 April 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.