Robin Hood (2006 TV series)

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Robin Hood
Title sequence for series 2 and 3
GenreDrama, adventure, folklore
Created byDominic Minghella & Foz Allan
based on traditional legends
Starring
Composer
Tiger Aspect Productions
BBC Studios
Original release
NetworkBBC One
Release7 October 2006 (2006-10-07) –
27 June 2009 (2009-06-27)
Related
Robin Hood (1953)

Robin Hood is a British television programme, produced by independent production company

Tiger Aspect Productions for BBC One, with co-funding from the BBC America cable television channel in the United States.[1] Based on the traditional stories of legendary English folk hero Robin Hood, the programme started on 7 October 2006. Series two commenced broadcasting on 6 October 2007 with the final two episodes on 29 December 2007. Series three began airing on 28 March 2009[2] for a thirteen-episode run. The series was cancelled by the BBC after series three following the departure of multiple actors, including lead Jonas Armstrong.[3]

Production

Comprising thirteen 45-minute episodes per series, Robin Hood was created by Dominic Minghella and Foz Allan, who serve as executive producers on the series, with Minghella the chief writer. Minghella was previously responsible for the successful ITV network comedy-drama series Doc Martin. Richard Burrell is the producer, and the other writers involved on the first series were Paul Cornell, Mark Wadlow, Debbie Oates, Kurti & Doyle and Joe Turner.[4]

The first series had a reported budget of £8 million.[1] The programme was specifically designed to run in the same Saturday evening family drama slot as the successful revival of Doctor Who, filling the slot in Doctor Who's absence between series. Shot in the high definition format, the programme was also broadcast on the BBC's BBC HD service.

Robin Hood was announced as a possible commission by BBC One Controller Peter Fincham in July 2005,[5] but not officially confirmed by Head of Drama Jane Tranter until 24 October that year.[6] On 18 February 2006, the Daily Mirror newspaper announced that actor Jonas Armstrong had been cast in the lead role in the series.[7] This was confirmed by the BBC in a press release on 3 April 2006, which announced that filming on the series had begun in Hungary and also announced further casting.[8]

On Thursday 23 November 2006, the BBC confirmed that the programme had been renewed for a second series, to be shown in 2007.[9] Filming began in March 2007, and the first episode of the second series aired at 7:30pm on Saturday 6 October 2007.

Lucy Griffiths, who played Marian, left at the end of the show's second series,[10] although she made a brief appearance at the conclusion of the third series. Harry Lloyd and Anjali Jay also departed at the end of the second series.

Joining the cast for the third series were

Prince John,[13] and Clive Standen as Archer, Robin's half brother. On 7 August 2008 it was announced that Jonas Armstrong would be leaving the programme at the conclusion of the third series, in "an explosive and nail-biting finale."[14]

In January 2009, the writer Sally Wainwright told The Stage entertainment industry newspaper that she had been asked to oversee a creative revamp of the programme for its fourth series. The BBC confirmed to the paper that she had been asked to work on ideas for the show,[15] but despite this, the fourth series was not commissioned.[16][17]

Characters

Further information: List of Robin Hood (2006 TV series) characters

The majority of the main characters in Robin Hood are based on the English folk tale of the same name. The title character (

Prince John
on the throne. The Sheriff constantly tries to capture or kill Robin and the outlaws for continuously interfering in his scheme to take over England. The second series sees the Sheriff step up his plans to take control, finally culminating in a battle in the Holy Land. As the outlaws foil the Sheriff's attack on King Richard with aid from Marian who is killed by Guy of Gisborne whilst she is protecting the injured King. Robin and Marian are married as she lies dying, with the outlaw gang as witnesses. Djaq and Will, now together, decide to stay in the Holy Land after they encounter a friend of Djaq's uncle.

The third series staggered the entry of new characters and only Robin appeared in all thirteen episodes. As the series opens,

Paul Hilton, and Ian Reddington as Robin's father, Gisborne's parents, and another past Locksley villager respectively, and reveals the existence of Archer (played by Clive Standen from episode 11), the illegitimate child of Robin's father and Gisborne's mother, who Robin's dying father begs them to find. Archer is Robin's equal with a bow and arrow. (This, coupled with his biological ties to Robin, Gisborne and Isabella, led to speculation that he was set to take over the programme's lead role following Jonas Armstrong's departure.[17][18][19]
) The two-part finale sees Vaisey return, and the deaths of Robin, Gisborne and Allan.

Episode guide

Main article: List of Robin Hood (2006 TV series) episodes

Media coverage

On Saturday 8 July 2006, the BBC showed the first teaser trailer for the series – a shot of a flaming arrow flying into the BBC One logo in the corner of the screen as the Robin Hood logo and "Coming Soon" were displayed above. This teaser ran either side of the Doctor Who series finale on BBC One, and was shown on several other occasions on various BBC channels over the following weeks. A longer trailer with actual dialogue from many of the characters was previewed in the Video Room of the Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre during the first week of August 2006, as part of the community's Robin Hood Festival.

The BBC's Radio Times listings magazine ran a short preview article for the series, as part of a feature showcasing the best of the autumn series television line-up, in its 2–8 September 2006 edition, published on 29 August 2006, the day after the tape theft story was publicised in the press (see above). Wrote the magazine's correspondent Benji Wilson: "Why watch it? You can't beat a good ruckus – Armstrong and his merry co-stars all enrolled at a specially-commissioned 'Hood academy' before filming in Hungary, where they were drilled in horse riding, sword skills and archery."[20] The article was accompanied by a large publicity photo of Armstrong in costume.

The first full reviews for the programme began appearing on 7 September 2006, after a preview of the opening episode had been shown at the press launch the previous evening. The website of The Guardian said that: "The challenge for the new Robin Hood is to appeal to younger viewers while pulling in their parents as well. It will be no easy task. About as difficult, in fact, as simultaneously firing two arrows from the same bow, and both hitting the target. But as Robin showed in the opening episode, it can be done."[21] In The Times, critic Paul Hoggart backed the series to be a success: "Armstrong as the rather understated Robin Hood should still be moodily cheeky enough to find his way on to the bedroom walls of a few hundred thousand pubertal girls, and Lucy Griffiths as Marian is inevitably feisty. But the villains steal the show, with Richard Armitage's Guy of Gisborne off-setting Keith Allen's gags as the mocking, heavily sarcastic Sheriff. The audience including cast, crew and their friends cheered at the end but this remake should go down well with families at home, too."[22]

The BBC began running longer trailers for the programme on Saturday 16 September 2006, with the first being shown following the final episode of

Billboard
advertisements were also taken out by the BBC and the Radio Times devoted the cover of its 7–13 October 2006 edition, published on 3 October, to the series, with a photo of Armstrong and Armitage in character.

Reviewers have had mixed opinions as to the effectiveness of the show's use of modern styles and current political references.

mocked Robin Hood
for its anachronistic approach. Since its broadcast, it has gained a significant cult following along with similar BBC shows including Merlin and Atlantis.[25]

International sales

As a co-producer on the series,

Rupavahini
; last episode was aired on 18 April 2010.

The first series became available on iTunes in May 2008. However, since the second series was just beginning in the United States, the Series two episodes are released on iTunes on a weekly basis, corresponding with the public releases. The series was previously available on Netflix, but has been discontinued. As of September 2018, the entire series is available to watch on Hulu and Amazon Prime.

Home releases

Series DVD Title Episodes Release Date
UK U.S. AU
1 Volume One 5 13 November 2006 – –
Volume Two 4 22 January 2007 – –
Volume Three 4 26 February 2007 – –
Complete Series One 13 26 February 2007 5 June 2007 February 2007
2 Complete Series Two 13 3 November 2008 28 July 2008 2 April 2008
3 Complete Series Three 13 29 June 2009 12 Jan 2010 29 June 2010

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Robin Hood returns to British TV". BBC News Online. 3 April 2006. Retrieved 1 September 2006.
  2. ^ "Robin Hood returns to BBC One on Saturday nights from 28 March 2009". BBC Press Office. 18 February 2009. Retrieved 19 March 2009.
  3. ^ "Robin Hood axed by BBC". The Daily Telegraph. London. 3 July 2009.
  4. ^ "Robin Hood". Tiger Aspect. Archived from the original on 29 September 2006. Retrieved 6 April 2006.
  5. ^ Thomas, Liz (14 July 2005). "Hood the new Who?". The Stage. Retrieved 19 July 2006.
  6. ^ Deans, Jason (24 October 2005). "BBC starts search for a new Robin Hood (subscription link)". London: The Guardia]. Retrieved 19 July 2006.
  7. ^ Robertson, Cameron (14 July 2005). "ROBIN WHO? EXCLUSIVE – BBC picks unknown for £8 million Robin Hood series". The Stage. Retrieved 19 July 2006.
  8. ^ "Robin Hood revealed". bbc.co.uk. 3 April 2006. Retrieved 19 July 2006.
  9. ^ "Robin returns for second series". BBC News Online. 23 November 2006. Retrieved 23 November 2006."Robin Hood returns for second series in 2007". bbc.co.uk. 23 November 2006. Retrieved 30 April 2007.
  10. ^ "They've killed Maid Marian". BBC Nottingham. 31 December 2007. Retrieved 10 January 2008.
  11. ^ "Joanne Froggatt to star in Robin Hood". Whitby Gazette. Retrieved 1 August 2008.
  12. ^ "Bits and Bobs (Vol. 5 1/2): Exclusive 'Robin Hood' scoop from Richard Armitage!". Popwatch. Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 4 December 2008. Retrieved 1 August 2008.
  13. ^ "Toby Stephens to play Prince John in new Robin Hood". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 26 June 2008.
  14. ^ "Robin Hood star quits BBC remake". BBC News Online. 6 August 2008. Retrieved 7 August 2008.
  15. ^ Hemley, Matthew (7 January 2009). "Exclusive: Wainwright to 'reinvent' BBC's Robin Hood". The Stage. Retrieved 8 January 2009.
  16. ^ "BBC kills off Robin Hood series". BBC News. 3 July 2009. Retrieved 25 July 2009.
  17. ^ a b Hodgkinson, Will (16 June 2009). "Robin Hood: easily replaced by another Archer". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
  18. ^ "The new Robin Hood?". BBC Nottingham. 10 June 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
  19. ^ "Robin Hood - Clive Standen, New Lead?". tvthrong.co.uk. 26 June 2009. Archived from the original on 2 July 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
  20. ^ Wilson, Benji (2 September 2006). "Stories to Stay in For". Radio Times. 330 (4300). BBC Worldwide: 12.
  21. Guardian Unlimited
    . Retrieved 7 September 2006.
  22. ^ Hoggart, Paul (7 September 2006). "Old villains steal new show". The Times. London. Retrieved 7 September 2006.
  23. ^ Osborn, Michael (8 September 2006). "Robin Hood given modern makeover". BBC News. Retrieved 9 December 2007.
  24. ^ Johanson, MaryAnn (4 June 2007). "the BBC goes WB with 'Robin Hood,' 'Hex'". The Flick Filosopher. Retrieved 9 December 2007.
  25. ^ https://movieweb.com/shows-like-merlin-to-watch/#medici
  26. ^ Sheppard, Fergus (9 October 2006). "Merry men Ant and Dec bow to latest incarnation of Robin Hood". Edinburgh: The Scotsman. Retrieved 13 October 2006.
  27. ^ "Inspiration Network: Family Friendly Fun". The Largest Online Jewish Business Directory. 23 August 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  28. ^ "S1 E1 - Will You Tolerate This?". Ovation. 8 March 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  29. ^ Serije na TV B92
  30. ^ Akyuz, Gün (11 October 2006). "BBC's Robin Hood rides into action". C21 Media. Retrieved 13 October 2006.

Notes

External links

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