Maid Marian and her Merry Men
Encyclopedia
Maid Marian and her Merry Men is a British
children's sitcom created and written by Tony Robinson
and directed by David Bell. It began in 1989 on BBC One
and ran for four series, with the last episode shown in 1994. The show was a partially musical
comic
retelling of the legend of Robin Hood
, placing Maid Marian
in the role of leader of the Merry Men
, and reducing Robin to an incompetent ex-tailor
.
The programme was much appreciated by children and adults alike, and has been likened to Blackadder
, not only for its historical setting and the presence of Tony Robinson
(as well as early, uncredited, script editing work being undertaken by Richard Curtis
), but also for its comic style. It is far more surreal than Blackadder, however, and drops even more (deliberate) anachronism
s. Like many British children's programmes, there is a lot of social commentary sneakily inserted, as well as witty asides about the Royal family, buses running on time, etc.
Many of the plots featured, included or revolved around spoofing particular things, including films such as Jurassic Park
and It Came From Outer Space
, and television programmes, including The Crystal Maze
and the long-running televised fundraiser Comic Relief
. There were also frequent references to other Robin Hood
incarnations, most notably ITV
's Robin of Sherwood
(and in particular that series' Clannad soundtrack is lampooned in the episode "The Whitish Knight") and the contemporary film adaptation Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
. The latter actually features Howard Lew Lewis
(Rabies) among its cast - hence his doubly witty line in the episode "They Came from Outer Space", which episode also passingly satirises the film for casting the lead with an American accent (Kevin Costner
).
The show was such a success, there was an adaptation produced for the stage, a cartoon strip by Paul Cemmick
which was serialised in the Daily Telegraph's children's paper "The Young Telegraph" (also available as a series of collections) and the programme was repeated on BBC One in 2001. Series 1 was released on video in 1990, with three episodes each on two tapes (a couple of slight variations in cover design exist for each), and all four series are available on DVD.
During the summer of 2009, G.O.L.D. repeated the entire 4 series.
. Each episode contained either one or two songs, which were mostly originals but were sometimes parodies. According to commentaries on the DVDs, the actors were frequently dubbed in their singing voices, both by themselves and (more often) by professional singers in post-filming studio sessions. Gary, Graeme, Guy and Barrington almost always sing their own songs, however.
. The programme also won at least one award from the Royal Television Society, as well as the prestigious "Prix Jeunesse Variety Award" at the International Children's Programme Festival in Munich.
town of Worksop
, which, along with Mansfield
, is one of the two closest modern day towns to the Major Oak
, although the whole show was shot in Somerset
. The outside scenes were filmed in woods near Minehead
and the castle scenes in Cleeve Abbey
in Washford
.
Subsequent series were not released on video.
. Published by the BBC and Penguin Character Books Ltd. between 1989 and 1992.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
children's sitcom created and written by Tony Robinson
Tony Robinson
Tony Robinson is an English actor, comedian, author, broadcaster and political campaigner. He is best known for playing Baldrick in the BBC television series Blackadder, and for hosting Channel 4 programmes such as Time Team and The Worst Jobs in History. Robinson is a member of the Labour Party...
and directed by David Bell. It began in 1989 on BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
and ran for four series, with the last episode shown in 1994. The show was a partially musical
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
comic
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
retelling of the legend of Robin Hood
Robin Hood
Robin Hood was a heroic outlaw in English folklore. A highly skilled archer and swordsman, he is known for "robbing from the rich and giving to the poor", assisted by a group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men". Traditionally, Robin Hood and his men are depicted wearing Lincoln green clothes....
, placing Maid Marian
Maid Marian
Maid Marian is the wife of the legendary English outlaw Robin Hood. Stemming from another, older tradition, she became associated with Robin Hood only in the 16th century.-History:The earliest medieval Robin Hood stories gave him no female companion...
in the role of leader of the Merry Men
Merry Men
The Merry Men are the group of outlaws who followed Robin Hood, according to English folklore. An early use of the phrase "merry men" occurs in the oldest known Robin Hood ballad, "Robin Hood and the Monk", which survives in a manuscript completed around 1450. The word "merry" in this and other...
, and reducing Robin to an incompetent ex-tailor
Tailor
A tailor is a person who makes, repairs, or alters clothing professionally, especially suits and men's clothing.Although the term dates to the thirteenth century, tailor took on its modern sense in the late eighteenth century, and now refers to makers of men's and women's suits, coats, trousers,...
.
The programme was much appreciated by children and adults alike, and has been likened to Blackadder
Blackadder
Blackadder is the name that encompassed four series of a BBC1 historical sitcom, along with several one-off instalments. All television programme episodes starred Rowan Atkinson as anti-hero Edmund Blackadder and Tony Robinson as Blackadder's dogsbody, Baldrick...
, not only for its historical setting and the presence of Tony Robinson
Tony Robinson
Tony Robinson is an English actor, comedian, author, broadcaster and political campaigner. He is best known for playing Baldrick in the BBC television series Blackadder, and for hosting Channel 4 programmes such as Time Team and The Worst Jobs in History. Robinson is a member of the Labour Party...
(as well as early, uncredited, script editing work being undertaken by Richard Curtis
Richard Curtis
Richard Whalley Anthony Curtis, CBE is a New Zealand-born British screenwriter, music producer, actor and film director, known primarily for romantic comedy films such as Four Weddings and a Funeral, Bridget Jones's Diary, Notting Hill, Love Actually and The Girl in the Café, as well as the hit...
), but also for its comic style. It is far more surreal than Blackadder, however, and drops even more (deliberate) anachronism
Anachronism
An anachronism—from the Greek ανά and χρόνος — is an inconsistency in some chronological arrangement, especially a chronological misplacing of persons, events, objects, or customs in regard to each other...
s. Like many British children's programmes, there is a lot of social commentary sneakily inserted, as well as witty asides about the Royal family, buses running on time, etc.
Many of the plots featured, included or revolved around spoofing particular things, including films such as Jurassic Park
Jurassic Park (film)
Jurassic Park is a 1993 American science fiction adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Michael Crichton. It stars Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough, Martin Ferrero, and Bob Peck...
and It Came From Outer Space
It Came from Outer Space
It Came from Outer Space is a 1953 science fiction 3-D film directed by Jack Arnold, and starring Richard Carlson, Barbara Rush, and Charles Drake. It was Universal's first film to be filmed in 3-D.- Plot :...
, and television programmes, including The Crystal Maze
The Crystal Maze
The Crystal Maze was a British game show, produced by Chatsworth Television and shown on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom between 15 February 1990 and 10 August 1995. There was one series per year, with the first four series presented by Richard O'Brien and the final two by Ed Tudor-Pole, who made...
and the long-running televised fundraiser Comic Relief
Comic Relief
Comic Relief is an operating British charity, founded in 1985 by the comedy scriptwriter Richard Curtis and comedian Lenny Henry in response to famine in Ethiopia. The highlight of Comic Relief's appeal is Red Nose Day, a biennial telethon held in March, alternating with sister project Sport Relief...
. There were also frequent references to other Robin Hood
Robin Hood
Robin Hood was a heroic outlaw in English folklore. A highly skilled archer and swordsman, he is known for "robbing from the rich and giving to the poor", assisted by a group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men". Traditionally, Robin Hood and his men are depicted wearing Lincoln green clothes....
incarnations, most notably ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
's Robin of Sherwood
Robin of Sherwood
Robin of Sherwood , was a British television series, based on the legend of Robin Hood. Created by Richard Carpenter, it was produced by HTV in association with Goldcrest, and ran from 1984 to 1986 on the ITV network. In America it was retitled Robin Hood and shown on the premium cable TV channel...
(and in particular that series' Clannad soundtrack is lampooned in the episode "The Whitish Knight") and the contemporary film adaptation Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves is a 1991 American adventure film directed by Kevin Reynolds. Kevin Costner heads the cast list as Robin Hood...
. The latter actually features Howard Lew Lewis
Howard Lew Lewis
Howard Lew Lewis is an English comedian and actor, best known for his roles in comedy series including Maid Marian and her Merry Men and Brush Strokes.-Biography:Lewis' grandmother Dame Ethel Gomer-Lewis was an opera singer...
(Rabies) among its cast - hence his doubly witty line in the episode "They Came from Outer Space", which episode also passingly satirises the film for casting the lead with an American accent (Kevin Costner
Kevin Costner
Kevin Michael Costner is an American actor, singer, musician, producer, director, and businessman. He has been nominated for three BAFTA Awards, won two Academy Awards, and two Golden Globe Awards. Costner's roles include Lt. John J...
).
The show was such a success, there was an adaptation produced for the stage, a cartoon strip by Paul Cemmick
Paul Cemmick
Paul Cemmick is a cartoonist and caricaturist whose designs and work have been seen in many different media, most prominently animation, comics and book covers...
which was serialised in the Daily Telegraph's children's paper "The Young Telegraph" (also available as a series of collections) and the programme was repeated on BBC One in 2001. Series 1 was released on video in 1990, with three episodes each on two tapes (a couple of slight variations in cover design exist for each), and all four series are available on DVD.
During the summer of 2009, G.O.L.D. repeated the entire 4 series.
Characters
- Maid MarianMaid MarianMaid Marian is the wife of the legendary English outlaw Robin Hood. Stemming from another, older tradition, she became associated with Robin Hood only in the 16th century.-History:The earliest medieval Robin Hood stories gave him no female companion...
(Kate LonerganKate LonerganKate Lonergan is a British actress who began her screen career with her best known role—Marian in the 1989–94 BBC One children's television series Maid Marian and her Merry Men.-Career:...
): a passionate and idealistic freedom fighter. Although the most intelligent of the gang, she often lets her idealism blind her to the realities of situations, most notably the rest of the gang's incompetence. She also isn't very patient, but she will always defend anyone who she feels is wronged. She often has mud in her hair. - The Sheriff of NottinghamSheriff of NottinghamThe Sheriff of Nottingham was historically the office responsible for enforcing law and order in Nottingham and bringing criminals to justice. For years the post has been directly appointed by the Lord Mayor of Nottingham and in modern times, with the existence of the police force, the position is...
(Tony RobinsonTony RobinsonTony Robinson is an English actor, comedian, author, broadcaster and political campaigner. He is best known for playing Baldrick in the BBC television series Blackadder, and for hosting Channel 4 programmes such as Time Team and The Worst Jobs in History. Robinson is a member of the Labour Party...
): a devious plotter obsessed with collecting taxes. Given the first name 'Arnold' in the episode "Keeping Mum", ostensibly only to produce a later pun. While he is dedicated to stopping Marian, they sometimes find themselves in sympathy with each other regarding the complete stupidity of everyone else. - Robin of KensingtonKensingtonKensington is a district of west and central London, England within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. An affluent and densely-populated area, its commercial heart is Kensington High Street, and it contains the well-known museum district of South Kensington.To the north, Kensington is...
(Wayne MorrisWayne Morris (actor)Wayne Morris is a stage and screen actor whose most notable roles have been Robin Hood in the television comedy series Maid Marian and Her Merry Men, and, more recently, Philip Norton in Genie in the House...
): an extremely vain tailor and a yuppieYuppieYuppie is a term that refers to a member of the upper middle class or upper class in their 20s or 30s. It first came into use in the early-1980s and largely faded from American popular culture in the late-1980s, due to the 1987 stock market crash and the early 1990s recession...
. Became seen as the leader of Marian's gang by accident, and remains because he sees it as a cool image to cultivate. His most significant contribution to the outlaws was nevertheless to insist they all wear green to "co-ordinate with the trees". - Barrington (Danny John-JulesDanny John-JulesDaniel "Danny" John-Jules is a British actor, singer and dancer. John-Jules attended Rutherford Comprehensive School, Penfold Street, Marylebone, from 1972 to 1977. He is best known for portraying Cat in the television programme Red Dwarf.-Dance and song:John-Jules is a baritone...
): the resident RastaRastafari movementThe Rastafari movement or Rasta is a new religious movement that arose in the 1930s in Jamaica, which at the time was a country with a predominantly Christian culture where 98% of the people were the black descendants of slaves. Its adherents worship Haile Selassie I, Emperor of Ethiopia , as God...
Merry Man, who would often rap during the episodes' songs. He often acts as a kind of semi omniscient narrator (in a similar manner to Alan-a-DaleAlan-a-DaleAlan-a-Dale is a figure in the Robin Hood legend...
in more traditional versions). - Little Ron (Mike EdmondsMike EdmondsMike Edmonds is an English actor with dwarfism, well-known for his role as Little Ron in the children's television show Maid Marian and Her Merry Men.Edmonds can also be seen dancing in the Men Without Hats music video "The Safety Dance"....
): a very very short, insanely angry and violent Merry Man. Known to face the wrong way in ambushes. A parody of Little JohnLittle JohnLittle John was a legendary fellow outlaw of Robin Hood, and was said to be Robin's chief lieutenant and second-in-command of the Merry Men.-Folklore:He appears in the earliest recorded Robin Hood ballads and stories...
. - Rabies (Howard Lew LewisHoward Lew LewisHoward Lew Lewis is an English comedian and actor, best known for his roles in comedy series including Maid Marian and her Merry Men and Brush Strokes.-Biography:Lewis' grandmother Dame Ethel Gomer-Lewis was an opera singer...
): another Merry Man, very strong, and very stupid, although with his heart in the right place. - King JohnJohn of EnglandJohn , also known as John Lackland , was King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death...
(Forbes CollinsForbes CollinsForbes Collins is a British actor, best known for his role as King John in the popular comedy Maid Marian and Her Merry Men. He also starred in the episode All About Scoring, Innit? in the critically acclaimed drama, Minder, playing Arklow, as well as appearing in episodes of the first series of...
, who also played John's brother, Richard the LionheartRichard I of EnglandRichard I was King of England from 6 July 1189 until his death. He also ruled as Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Lord of Cyprus, Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Count of Nantes, and Overlord of Brittany at various times during the same period...
, in the episode "The Whitish Knight", and Queen Eleanor, Guy of Gisbourne's mother, the joke being that all Royals look alike): a violent and unstable monarch. He is narcissistic and insecure, and becomes very angry at the thought of being unpopular with the peasants. His brother, who was thought to be a wise ruler who would bring England back to a Golden Age, is identical. - Gary and Graeme (Mark BillinghamMark BillinghamMark Philip David Billingham is an English novelist whose series of "Tom Thorne" crime novels are best-sellers in that particular genre. He is also a television screenwriter and has become a familiar face as an actor and comic....
and David LloydDavid Lloyd (actor)David Lloyd is an English actor and screenwriter, perhaps best known from his role in Maid Marian and her Merry Men, where he played Graeme, one of the two guards .-Biography:...
): guards of the King's castle, and the Sheriff's henchmen. They're "bestest mates" and extremely affable, but in the tradition of clever villains with idiot sidekicks, not very clever most of the time. They are often very friendly with the Merry Men, who tend to return the sentiment - except when Gary and Graeme are doing what they're paid for. Graeme has a brother called Kevin. Graeme tends to enjoy things like torture and teasing the villagers more than Gary does, though Gary will challenge Graeme for the chance to do executions. - Guy of GisbourneGuy of GisbourneSir Guy of Gisbourne is a character from the Robin Hood legends of English folklore. In The Ballad of Robin Hood and Guy of Gisborne , he hunts Robin for the Sheriff of Nottingham, but Robin kills him and cuts off his head...
(Ramsay GilderdaleRamsay GilderdaleRamsay Gilderdale is an English actor, who played Guy of Gisbourne in BBC comedy Maid Marian and Her Merry Men. He also appeared in Rumpole of the Bailey and Blackadder's Christmas Carol....
): the king's wet-behind-the-ears nephew, village idiot, and mummy's boy. Aged 27 but acts like a 4-year-old, has an imaginary friend and occasionally dresses in a tutuTutuTutu may refer to:* Ballet tutu, a type of costume for ballet performances* Tutu , poisonous New Zealand plants of the genus Coriaria* Tutu , a 1986 album by Miles Davis* Tūtū, a composition by Liliuokalani of Hawaii...
. - "Rotten" Rose Scargill (Siobhan Fogarty): rival to Maid Marian and both Marian's best friend and worst enemy. She's Robin Hood's biggest fan.
Secondary characters
- Gladys and Snooker (Hilary MasonHilary MasonHilary Mason was an English character actress who appeared in a wide variety of roles, mainly on UK television....
and Robin Chandler): two villagers of Worksop. Gladys is an elderly (and extremely stupid) peasant, fond of telling stories and legends, and hanging out with Barrington. She is Worksop's "wise old woman", but admits to being underqualified. Snooker (who also gets called "Stinker") is another extremely stupid peasant, who appears to be about 40. Named ostensibly for a single joke, his greatest claim to fame is apparently inventing a gameSnookerSnooker is a cue sport that is played on a green baize-covered table with pockets in each of the four corners and in the middle of each of the long side cushions. A regular table is . It is played using a cue and snooker balls: one white , 15 worth one point each, and six balls of different :...
involving a long stick, a table, and a number of coloured balls. Together, they serve as the mouthpieces of the village, but are generally no more intelligent than the peasants they speak for. - Nettle (Kerry Potter): a young female villager, who is definitely the equal of Marian in intelligence.
- Chickweed (Karen Salt): a very young peasant girl.
- Hayley (Carly Britnell), another young intelligent female villager. She had a comet named after her after she vomited as it shot across the sky. ("Hayley's Vomit".)
- The Beast of Bolsover: a reference to the nickname of Dennis SkinnerDennis SkinnerDennis Edward Skinner is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Bolsover since 1970, the Chairman of the Labour Party from 1988 to 1989, and has sat on the National Executive Committee numerous times since 1978.Born in Clay Cross, Derbyshire, Skinner is the...
, then - and still - the Labour PartyLabour Party (UK)The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
Member of ParliamentMember of ParliamentA Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for BolsoverBolsoverBolsover is a town near Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England. It is 145 miles from London, 18 miles from Sheffield, 26 miles from Nottingham and 54 miles from Manchester. It is the main town in the Bolsover district.The civil parish for the town is called...
and member of the Socialist Campaign GroupSocialist Campaign GroupThe Socialist Campaign Group is a left-wing democratic socialist grouping of Labour Party Members of Parliament in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. It was formed in December 1982 as an alternative Parliamentary left-wing group to the Tribune Group...
. (Tony Robinson is a well-known Labour Party supporter, and was elected to the Labour Party's National Executive CommitteeNational Executive CommitteeThe National Executive Committee or NEC is the chief administrative body of the UK Labour Party. Its composition has changed over the years, and includes representatives of affiliated trade unions, the Parliamentary Labour Party and European Parliamentary Labour Party, Constituency Labour Parties,...
in 2000. - Eric "The Newt" Teasel: an archer, appearing in the episode "Robert The Incredible Chicken". From Epping Forest.
- Cowpat: a pretty young village woman. She is a friend of Rose, and one of Robin's many fans. She appeared in "Rotten Rose (Part One)".
- Clough: a tall, red haired and bearded village man, from Nottingham forest and sometimes seen about Worksop. Participated in the archery contest. The character name is a clear reference to Brian CloughBrian CloughBrian Howard Clough, OBE was an English footballer and football manager. He is most notable for his success with Derby County and Nottingham Forest. His achievement of winning back-to-back European Cups with Nottingham Forest, a traditionally moderate provincial English club, is considered to be...
, manager of English football team Nottingham ForestNottingham Forest F.C.Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
at the time. - Nigel Pargetter: semi-regularly appearing but uncredited peasant (actually Martin [Wills] O'Toole) who fell victim to a number of misfortunes, including being punched in the head several times, being crushed by a radiator during Bloopy, and having a large cucumber lodged in his head by Robin's lookalike. Named after a well-known character in long-running BBC Radio 4BBC Radio 4BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
soap opera, The ArchersThe ArchersThe Archers is a long-running British soap opera broadcast on the BBC's main spoken-word channel, Radio 4. It was originally billed as "an everyday story of country folk", but is now described on its Radio 4 web site as "contemporary drama in a rural setting"...
. - "Little Girl" (Kellie BrightKellie BrightKellie Bright is an actress who is known for her roles as a child actress on British television in the late 1980s and the 1990s, and later in Bad Girls and The Archers.-Early career:...
): often found close to Gladys in the first series. - "Mad Prisoner" Christopher Nichol
Music
The memorable music and songs for Maid Marian and Her Merry Men series were composed by Nick Russell-Pavier and David ChiltonDavid Chilton
David Harold Chilton was a Reformed pastor, Christian Reconstructionist, speaker, and author of several books on economics, eschatology and Christian Worldview from Placerville, California...
. Each episode contained either one or two songs, which were mostly originals but were sometimes parodies. According to commentaries on the DVDs, the actors were frequently dubbed in their singing voices, both by themselves and (more often) by professional singers in post-filming studio sessions. Gary, Graeme, Guy and Barrington almost always sing their own songs, however.
Series One: 1989
- How The Band Got Together: Mud (sung by Barrington)
- Robert The Incredible Chicken: The Story So Far (sung by Barrington)
- A Game Called John: Pancake Day (sung by Barrington)
- The Miracle Of Saint Charlene: Gotta Get Across (sung by Barrington, Marian, Robin, Rabies and Little Ron)
- The Sharp End of a Cow: Popular (sung by the Peasants)
- The Whitish Knight: The White Knight / The Whitish Knight
Series Two: 1990
- The Beast of Bolsover: Ambush! (sung by Barrington)
- The Worksop Egg Fairy: What Is Happening Here? (sung by Barrington); Bop For An Egg (sung by Barrington)
- Little Brown Noses: Against The Law (sung by Barrington); Colin's Release Song (sung by Marian, Robin, Barrington and Rabies)
- Rabies In Love: Rabies In Love; Wedding Today (sung by Nettle and the Peasants)
- Rotten Rose (Part One): Robin Hood (sung by Rose, Gladys and Cowpat)
- Rotten Rose (Part Two): Rotten Rose (sung by Barrington)
Series Three: 1993
- The Big Baby: Father Bloopy (sung by The Sheriff, Gary, Graeme and the Peasants); Don't Worry 'Bout The Pain (sung by Barrington, Marian, Robin and the Peasants)
- Driving Ambition: Take Action (sung by Barrington, Robin and Rabies. Note line by Marian "Stop Miming"); A Friend Like Rose (sung by Marian and Barrington)
- Keeping Mum: Pierced (sung by The Sheriff and the Peasants), Call The Dentist (sung by Barrington and the Peasants), Hurrah for the State of Luxemburg (sung a cappellaA cappellaA cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
by Gary and Graeme) - They Came From Outer Space Only Child (sung by Marian, Barrington, Rabies and Little Ron); Naked To The Visible Eye (sung by Barrington and the Peasants)
- Robin and the Beansprout: I Wish They'd Put Their Heads Outside (sung by Barrington, Marian and Little Ron); Chop Suey (sung by Robin)
- The Great Mud Harvest: White Suit (sung by Robin and the Peasants)
Christmas Special: 1993
- Maid Marian and Much the Mini-Mart Manager's Son: Much The Mini-Mart Manager's Son (sung by Barrington); Deception (sung by Barrington and Much - note the line 'It's not him that's singing...')
Series Four: 1994
- Tunnel Vision: Double Trouble (sung by Barrington and Robin)
- Bouncy Sheriff: Friends Or Foes? (sung by Rose, Marian, The Sheriff, Gary, Graeme and the Peasants)
- Raining Forks: Vacation (sung by The Sheriff, King John, Robin, Barrington, Gary, Graeme and the Peasants); High Forks Night (sung by Barrington, Robin and Guy)
- The Wise Woman of Worksop: Here Comes Pixie Paul (sung by Rabies, Barrington and Little Ron)
- Robin The Bad: Thicky Stupid (sung by Robin); A Selection Of Amusing Things (sung by The Sheriff and the Peasants)
- The Nice Sumatran: The King Of England Is A Pig (sung by the coronation choir); Party People Party (sung by Barrington); Take My Heart (sung by Snooker)
- Voyage to the Bottom of the Forest: You're So Lazy (sung by Marian, Robin, Barrington and Little Ron); The Story Of Workflop (sung by The Sheriff, Gary and Graeme)
Awards
Maid Marian and her Merry Men won several awards, including the 1990 BAFTA for Best Children's Programme (Entertainment/Drama). It was also nominated for the same award in 1991, losing to Press GangPress Gang
Press Gang is a British children's television comedy-drama consisting of forty-three episodes across five series that were broadcast from 1989 to 1993...
. The programme also won at least one award from the Royal Television Society, as well as the prestigious "Prix Jeunesse Variety Award" at the International Children's Programme Festival in Munich.
Locations
The programme was set in the very real NottinghamshireNottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
town of Worksop
Worksop
Worksop is the largest town in the Bassetlaw district of Nottinghamshire, England on the River Ryton at the northern edge of Sherwood Forest. It is about east-south-east of the City of Sheffield and its population is estimated to be 39,800...
, which, along with Mansfield
Mansfield
Mansfield is a town in Nottinghamshire, England. It is the main town in the Mansfield local government district. Mansfield is a part of the Mansfield Urban Area....
, is one of the two closest modern day towns to the Major Oak
Major Oak
The Major Oak is a huge oak tree near the village of Edwinstowe in the heart of Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire, England. According to local folklore, it was Robin Hood's shelter where he and his merry men slept. It weighs an estimated 23 tons, has a girth of 33 feet , and is about 800–1000 years...
, although the whole show was shot in Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
. The outside scenes were filmed in woods near Minehead
Minehead
Minehead is a coastal town and civil parish in Somerset, England. It lies on the south bank of the Bristol Channel, north-west of the county town of Taunton, from the border with the county of Devon and in proximity of the Exmoor National Park...
and the castle scenes in Cleeve Abbey
Cleeve Abbey
Cleeve Abbey is a medieval monastery located near the village of Washford, in Somerset, England. The abbey was founded in the late twelfth century as a house for monks of the austere Cistercian order. Over its 350-year monastic history Cleeve was undistinguished amongst the abbeys of its order,...
in Washford
Washford
Washford is a small village on the Washford River in the English county of Somerset. It is within the civil parish of Old Cleeve and is best known as the site of Cleeve Abbey, one of the best-preserved medieval monasteries in England...
.
Video
- Series 1 was released in two volumes of 3 episodes each. In keeping with other BBC video releases of the time, such as BlackadderBlackadderBlackadder is the name that encompassed four series of a BBC1 historical sitcom, along with several one-off instalments. All television programme episodes starred Rowan Atkinson as anti-hero Edmund Blackadder and Tony Robinson as Blackadder's dogsbody, Baldrick...
, each volume was named after an episode:- "How The Band Got Together" featured episodes 1-3.
- "The Miracle of St Charlene" featured episodes 4-6.
Subsequent series were not released on video.
DVD (Region 2)
- Series 1 - Released on 20 March 2006.
- Series 2 - Released on 24 July 2006.
- Series 3 - Released on 23 October 2006. (Includes the 1993 Christmas special "Much, the Mini-Mart Manager's Son".)
- Series 4 - Released on 19 February 2007.
- Series 1-4 Box Set - Released on 22 September 2008.
Comic books
Written (and adapted) by Tony Robinson, illustrated by Paul CemmickPaul Cemmick
Paul Cemmick is a cartoonist and caricaturist whose designs and work have been seen in many different media, most prominently animation, comics and book covers...
. Published by the BBC and Penguin Character Books Ltd. between 1989 and 1992.
- How the Band got Together (Penguin Character Books (Nov 1989) ISBN 0-563-20808-2
- Robert the Incredible Chicken (Penguin Character Books (Nov 1989) ISBN 0-563-20809-0
- The Whitish Knight (Penguin Character Books (Oct 1990) ISBN 0-563-36040-2
- The Beast of Bolsover (BBC Books (Oct 1990) ISBN 0-563-36041-0
- The Worksop Egg Fairy (Penguin Character Books (Oct 1991) ISBN 0-563-36220-0
- Rabies in Love (BBC Books (Oct 1991) ISBN 0-563-36219-7
- It Came From Outer Space (Penguin Character Books (Nov 1992) ISBN 0-563-36709-1
- Driving Ambition and Keeping Mum (Penguin Character Books (Nov 1992) ISBN 0-563-36710-5
Other materials
The programme was adapted for a stage musical (by Tony Robinson, Mark Billingham and David Lloyd) which toured several British theatres. The theatre programme (for the production at the Bristol Old Vic) featured new artwork by Paul Cemmick, showing Tony Robinson dreaming the production after being hit in the head by a football. The script for this production was later published in book format by Longman literature in 1992, as part of a series of BBC TV (and radio) plays to be used in classrooms at Key Stage 3 level (roughly ages 11–14). The book includes support material and activities for this purpose.- Maid Marian and Her Merry Men (BBC/Longman (Aug 1992) ISBN 0-582-09554-9
See also
- When Things Were RottenWhen Things Were RottenWhen Things Were Rotten was an American situation comedy television series created in 1975 by Mel Brooks and aired for half a season by ABC....
- 1975 sitcomSituation comedyA situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
based upon Robin Hood, created by Mel BrooksMel BrooksMel Brooks is an American film director, screenwriter, composer, lyricist, comedian, actor and producer. He is best known as a creator of broad film farces and comic parodies. He began his career as a stand-up comic and as a writer for the early TV variety show Your Show of Shows... - BlackadderBlackadderBlackadder is the name that encompassed four series of a BBC1 historical sitcom, along with several one-off instalments. All television programme episodes starred Rowan Atkinson as anti-hero Edmund Blackadder and Tony Robinson as Blackadder's dogsbody, Baldrick...
- 1983 - 1989 historical BBC sitcomSituation comedyA situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
featuring Tony RobinsonTony RobinsonTony Robinson is an English actor, comedian, author, broadcaster and political campaigner. He is best known for playing Baldrick in the BBC television series Blackadder, and for hosting Channel 4 programmes such as Time Team and The Worst Jobs in History. Robinson is a member of the Labour Party...
as BaldrickBaldrickBaldrick is the name of several fictional characters featured in the long-running BBC historic comedy television series Blackadder. Each one serves as Edmund Blackadder's servant and sidekick and acts as a foil to the lead character...
External links
- Maid Marian and her Merry Men at ClassicKidsTV.co.uk
- Tony Robinson - Interviews in Sherwood - about the Maid Marian series