"Robin Hood" (1984) "Robin of Sherwood" (original title), TV series 1984-1986

Creator:

Richard Carpenter
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Release Date:

28 April 1984 (UK)

Genre:

Action | Fantasy | Drama

Plot:

A forest mystical being appoints two men in succession as the legendary outlaw defender of the oppressed.

Plot Keywords:

Magic | Outlaw | Cult Figure | Fencing | Swashbuckler

Awards:

2 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Peter Llewellyn Williams	...	Much (24 episodes, 1984-1986)
Ray Winstone	...	Will Scarlet (24 episodes, 1984-1986)
Mark Ryan	...	Nasir (24 episodes, 1984-1986)
Clive Mantle	...	Little John (24 episodes, 1984-1986)
Judi Trott	...	Lady Marion / ... (24 episodes, 1984-1986)
Phil Rose	...	Friar Tuck / ... (24 episodes, 1984-1986)
Robert Addie	...	Sir Guy of Gisburne (21 episodes, 1984-1986)
John Abineri	...	Herne the Hunter (18 episodes, 1984-1986)
Nickolas Grace	...	Robert de Rainault / ... (17 episodes, 1984-1986)
Jason Connery	...	Robert of Huntingdon / ... (13 episodes, 1986)
Michael Praed	...	Robin of Loxley (11 episodes, 1984-1985)

Series Directed by
Robert Young		(6 episodes, 1984-1986)
Ian Sharp		(5 episodes, 1984)
Gerry Mill		(4 episodes, 1986)
James Allen		(3 episodes, 1984-1986)
Sid Roberson		(2 episodes, 1986)

Series Writing credits
Richard Carpenter		(24 episodes, 1984-1986)
Anthony Horowitz		(5 episodes, 1986)

Series Produced by
Patrick Dromgoole	....	executive producer (24 episodes, 1984-1986)
Paul Knight	....	producer / executive producer (24 episodes, 1984-1986)
Esta Charkham	....	producer / associate producer / ... (19 episodes, 1984-1986)

Series Original Music by
Pol Brennan		(24 episodes, 1984-1986)
Clannad		(24 episodes, 1984-1986)

Series Cinematography by
Brian Morgan		(9 episodes, 1984-1986)
Bob Edwards		(5 episodes, 1984-1986)
David Hillier		(2 episodes, 1986)

Series Film Editing by
Andrew Findlay		(9 episodes, 1984-1986)
Lyndon Matthews		(4 episodes, 1984-1986)
Nigel Bell		(4 episodes, 1985-1986)
Terry Maisey		(2 episodes, 1984)

Series Casting by
Beth Charkham		(18 episodes, 1984-1986)
Esta Charkham		(6 episodes, 1984-1986)

Series Production Design by
John Biggs		(19 episodes, 1984-1986)
Ken Sharp		(5 episodes, 1986)

Series Art Direction by
Diane Dancklefsen		(7 episodes, 1986)
Kate Barnett		(6 episodes, 1984-1985)
David McHenry		(6 episodes, 1986)

Series Costume Design by
Lynnette Cummin		(24 episodes, 1984-1986)

Series Makeup Department
Cherry West	....	makeup supervisor (23 episodes, 1984-1986)
Sue Bide	....	makeup artist (13 episodes, 1986)
Ros Wilkins	....	makeup supervisor (4 episodes, 1986)

Series Production Management
Keith Webber	....	production supervisor / production manager / ... (24 episodes, 1984-1986)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jon Older	....	second assistant director (12 episodes, 1984-1986)
Robert Champion	....	assistant director (7 episodes, 1986)
Harold Messias	....	assistant director (7 episodes, 1986)
Richard Hoult	....	first assistant director (6 episodes, 1986)
Michael Murray	....	first assistant director (5 episodes, 1984)
John Parris	....	second assistant director (5 episodes, 1984)
John Watson	....	first assistant director (4 episodes, 1984-1986)
Anthony Boyle	....	first assistant director (3 episodes, 1986)
Tim Dowd	....	first assistant director (3 episodes, 1986)
Paddy Carpenter	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 1984-1985)

Series Art Department
Steve Pugh	....	stagehand (24 episodes, 1984-1986)
Gwenda Foord	....	properties buyer / props buyer / ... (19 episodes, 1984-1986)
Alan Burnham	....	carpenter (17 episodes, 1984-1986)
Gordon Brewer	....	construction manager / construction coordinator (16 episodes, 1984-1986)
Christopher Morris	....	assistant designer / assistant production designer (14 episodes, 1984-1986)
Charles Long	....	graphic artist / graphics (13 episodes, 1986)
John Maher	....	construction manager / construction coordinator (9 episodes, 1986)
Fred Rawnsley	....	carpenter (8 episodes, 1986)
Peter Smith	....	props buyer (5 episodes, 1984)
Pilar Foy	....	assistant production designer / assistant designer / ... (5 episodes, 1986)
Derek Nice	....	assistant designer (3 episodes, 1984)
Ken Bridgeman	....	assistant production designer (2 episodes, 1984)

Series Sound Department
Alan Eagling	....	dubbing mixer / sound mixer (20 episodes, 1984-1986)
Jonathan Hays	....	sound editor / assistant sound editor (15 episodes, 1984-1986)
Gus Lloyd	....	boom operator (11 episodes, 1984-1985)
Gordon Kethro	....	sound mixer (10 episodes, 1984-1986)
Graham Pearson	....	boom operator (10 episodes, 1986)
Pat Boxshall	....	sound editor / assistant sound editor (9 episodes, 1984-1986)
Mike Davey	....	sound mixer (9 episodes, 1984-1986)
David Holloway	....	sound editor / assistant sound editor (7 episodes, 1984-1986)
Andy Kennedy	....	sound editor (5 episodes, 1986)
Ken Alderman	....	sound mixer (4 episodes, 1984-1986)
Jim Roddan	....	sound editor (3 episodes, 1984)
John Biddlecombe	....	boom operator (3 episodes, 1986)
Ken Scrivener	....	dubbing mixer (2 episodes, 1984)
Hugh Strain	....	dubbing mixer (2 episodes, 1984)
Martin Pearce	....	sound associate (2 episodes, 1986)
James Mather	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Malcolm King	....	special effects (2 episodes, 1986)
Ken Lailey	....	special effects supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Terry Walsh	....	stunt coordinator / stunt arranger (24 episodes, 1984-1986)
Steve Dent	....	stunts (12 episodes, 1984-1986)
Wayne Michaels	....	stunts / stunt double: Michael Praed (8 episodes, 1984-1986)
Max Faulkner	....	stunts (5 episodes, 1984-1986)
Graeme Crowther	....	stunts (5 episodes, 1985-1986)
Brian Bowes	....	stunts (3 episodes, 1984-1986)
Tom Delmar	....	stunt double (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Des Coles	....	gaffer (19 episodes, 1984-1986)
Roger Pearce	....	camera operator (17 episodes, 1984-1986)
Tony Shearn	....	first assistant camera / second assistant camera (9 episodes, 1984-1986)
Gary Breckon	....	camera operator (5 episodes, 1984-1986)
Bob Edwards	....	lighting cameraman (5 episodes, 1984-1986)
Alan Gibbs	....	gaffer (5 episodes, 1986)
Michael Spiller	....	focus puller / camera operator (5 episodes, 1986)
Howard Rockliffe	....	camera operator / focus puller (4 episodes, 1986)
Brian Morgan	....	lighting cameraman (3 episodes, 1985-1986)
Robin Carlyle	....	focus puller (3 episodes, 1986)
Ray Gallard	....	focus puller (3 episodes, 1986)

Series Animation Department
Chris Lyons	....	animator (1 episode, 1986)

Series Casting Department
Elizabeth Jeffreys	....	casting assistant / casting associate (15 episodes, 1984-1986)
Laura Cairns	....	casting assistant (11 episodes, 1984-1985)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Anne Crawford	....	costume supervisor (19 episodes, 1984-1986)
Yvonne Hellin	....	wardrobe mistress (9 episodes, 1985-1986)
Ken Lawton	....	wardrobe master (5 episodes, 1984-1985)

Series Editorial Department
Jacky Norrie	....	assistant editor (2 episodes, 1984-1986)
Hedley England	....	assistant editor (2 episodes, 1984)
David Holloway	....	assistant editor (2 episodes, 1984)
Danny Longhurst	....	assistant editor (2 episodes, 1986)

Series Transportation Department
John Sparks	....	unit driver (24 episodes, 1984-1986)

Series Other crew
Steve Dent	....	horse master (24 episodes, 1984-1986)
Laura Woolford	....	production secretary (18 episodes, 1984-1986)
Dave Aubrey	....	production accountant (16 episodes, 1984-1986)
Alan Pinniger	....	location manager (13 episodes, 1984-1986)
Sue Binding	....	secretary to producer / assistant to producer / ... (13 episodes, 1986)
Paul Knight	....	story consultant (13 episodes, 1986)
Patsy Lightfoot	....	liaison: Goldcrest / liason: Goldcrest (13 episodes, 1986)
Jan Lovell	....	production assistant / assistant to producer (13 episodes, 1986)
Douglas Thorpe	....	location manager (13 episodes, 1986)
Ann Simpson	....	continuity (10 episodes, 1984-1986)
Elaine Matthews	....	continuity (7 episodes, 1984)
Richard Carpenter	....	script editor (7 episodes, 1986)
Val Demeter	....	production assistant / production accountant (6 episodes, 1984-1985)
Barry Beckett	....	location manager (6 episodes, 1986)
Julie Baines	....	production assistant / assistant to producer (5 episodes, 1984)
Moira Brenard	....	production secretary (5 episodes, 1984)
Christopher Dando	....	location manager (5 episodes, 1984)
Ralph Tobert	....	choreographer (4 episodes, 1984-1986)
John Parris	....	location manager (4 episodes, 1984)
Steve Cronick	....	production accountant (4 episodes, 1986)
David Jenkins	....	production accountant (4 episodes, 1986)
Grainne Ferris	....	continuity (2 episodes, 1986)
Lesley Morgan	....	continuity (2 episodes, 1986)

Production Companies

• Goldcrest Films International
• Harlech Television (HTV)

Distributors

• Independent Television (ITV) (1984-1986) (UK) (TV) (original airing)
• Nederlandse Omroepstichting (NOS) (1989-1991) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Just Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD) (seasons 1-3)
• Playhouse Home Video (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Anvil Post Production  sound re-recording
• Brian Terry Productions  titles

Also Known As:

"Robin of Sherwood" - UK (original title)

Runtime:

60 min (24 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

UK:PG | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Alnwick Castle, Alnwick, Northumberland, England, UK

Company:

Goldcrest Films International

Trivia:

First series director 'Ian Sharp' used an effect during a zoom by freezing and skipping frames for one shot in the opening credits. His successor Robert Young loved it so much he started to use it all the time.

Quotes:

Robin of Loxley:Nothing is forgotten. Nothing is ever forgotten.

Movie Connections:

Featured in 30 Years of CITV (2012) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Ancient Forest

The Definitive Robin Hood

There is nothing more I can add to what has already been said about the entire series. As well as taking me back to a time in my life when the words "mortgage" and "bills" meant anything to me - and when Saturday night prime-time entertainment didn't involve reality TV, people wanting to be pop stars and hour-long programmes to pick lottery numbers when I could do it myself in ten minutes at the most) - there is no other TV show or movie about Robin Hood that even comes close to being on a par with "Robin Of Sherwood."

Every member of this young cast brings their character to life, and the Merry Men are perfectly written and acted. The Sheriff Of Nottingham breaks away from the usual mustache-twirling, scenery-eating bad guy, and has more in common with a corrupt politician than his previous incarnations.

Michael Praed's Robin Of Loxley was certainly a better Robin than Jason Connery's, but that isn't to take anything away from Connery. Praed's swansong in "The Greatest Enemy" is one of the best episodes of any TV show I have seen in such a long time.

Richard Carpenter's knowledge of both the legend of Robin Hood and beliefs in England at that time clearly show here - and it goes without saying that if the people behind "Prince Of Thieves" had this much insight and knowledge of the source material, their "Raw-bin Hood" would not have been so dismal. Blatantly stealing elements from RoS, and yet ignoring others make this film merely a pale imitation of RoS.

Without wanting to sound harsh, Connery seems to have been chosen to garner a little publicity for this often under-rated show; the son of a former incarnation of Robin Hood playing a modern-day Robin Hood. Connery handles the part extremely well, but isn't the actor Praed was. That said, I do prefer the third season episodes and stories to the first two series'. No one would envy having to follow in the footsteps of a role made famous by someone else for two series, and there is - as in all the series' - an excellent camaraderie and relationships - between Robin, his Merry Men and his Merry Woman.

The addition of the "old religion" trying to continue, while the new religion of Christianty tries its hardest to stamp it out. It's ironic that this reminds me of "Prince Of Thieves" in relation to RoS: borrowing a lot of elements from the original, and tweaking them a little. Still, though, the old version prevails over time.

Clannad's soundtrack works excellently alongside the programme - and I doubt RoS would have been the success it was without it. If you don't already have Clannad's "Legend", go out this weekend and treat yourself.

All of the stars appear on the DVD boxsets and everybody has good memories and making this show. Now a huge star, Ray Winstone seems genuinely pleased to take time out to talk about his experiences and love of the show.

Whoever suggested in this discussion that Carpenter should bring all of the Merry Men back together as older, wiser outlaws is 100% right. Do it now.

"Nothing's Forgotten. Nothing Is Ever Forgotten."