Robin Hood Starts October 7th 2006...

Although this one's likely to be very familiar, and that's entirely the point of it, and there's been little reason to keep track of it seeing as it's going to be the kind of show you're going to be sat around at the time of broadcast for as a matter of course, it will be something new to some extent so it's worth pointing out to those abroad. So, as part of the recent British obsession with reviving old franchises and popular ideas, some of which seemed completely dead and buried even before their last appearance, and with 'Doctor Who' in mind as a recent example, 'Robin Hood' has been underway for quite some time, shooting elsewhere in Europe, and is almost ready to air now.

It's a long way from the 1980's Clannad-like etherial take on the idea, more connected with how modern shows are made (although clearly nothing like recent American shows with similar settings - Xena or Hercules, that's what I am thinking of) and certainly has that look to it.

There will be clearer differences in how the characters are played, and the sensibilities (violence, action) which have upped a gear or two also, I can imagine. Still, we have to put up with Keith Allen as the Sheriff of Nottingham; at least Ray Winstone isn't making an ironic reappearance in this, that I know of anyway. Just because I've seen the full trailers beginning to play, and because this will appear on R2 UK DVD around here probably before the USA TV appearance as far as I know, you can now take a look at the stuff in the Official Site. Yes, there's footage in there, don't know if they've restricted it though.

'Robin Hood' BBC One, 2006 Official Site.