BBC axes Robin Hood
Friday, July 3rd, 2009
The BBC has announced that it will not be broadcasting another series of the Saturday Night drama show Robin Hood.
Despite beating ITV1’s Primeval in the ratings when the show returned to television screens in March, fewer than 2 million people tuned in to watch the final of the BBC2 series on Saturday evening, which saw Robin Hood murdered by a poison-tipped sword after disposing of his arch rival, the Sheriff of Nottingham.
Now BBC executives have decided scrap the series altogether. The drama, which was made my independent production company Tiger Aspect, starred Jonas Armstrong in the title role and Keith Allan as the Sheriff of Nottingham.
A BBC spokesperson confirmed the news: “Viewers have enjoyed three fantastic series of Robin Hood but with the death of Robin in last week’s finale, we feel that the show has reached its natural conclusion.”
Greg Brenman, head of drama at Tiger Aspect, said: “We have been immensely proud to be the most recent custodians of the Robin Hood legend. From the outset it was our ambition to find an exciting and modern way of interpreting our version of the hero and his legendary life.
“We have had a fantastic time creating and producing Robin Hood, working with some of the most talented actors, writers and directors in our industry. We are sad to be saying goodbye to this much-loved project.”
The decision to axe the series signals the end of a brief renaissance in Saturday evening television made for a family audience, which began with the BBC’s revival of Dr Who four years ago.
The lack of drama on British television has met with criticism from some of the most well-known actors and producers in the industry.
James Nesbitt, who starred in last month’s three-part BBC Iraq war drama Occupation, has said he might have to move to the US because of the lack of work in the UK.
