BBC series Sherwood will introduce a new character for season two who has already riled up internet trolls – although creator James Graham has swooped in to correct the record.
The first season of the real-life inspired drama, set in the Nottinghamshire mining district of Ashfield, centered around two shocking murders that took place in 2004 (although it is 2014 in the show) with flashbacks to the 1984 Miners’ Strikes.
Helmed by an impressive cast including Lesley Manville, David Morrissey and Joanne Froggatt, the BAFTA-winning show painted an intimate portrait of this rich community and their deep-rooted history including the local drug-dealing family, The Sparrows.
The acclaimed show is now returning for a second inning, this time set in the present day – with the return of the Sparrows as two new families ‘enter a complex web of local gangs, old rivalries, revenge, and betrayal.
Meanwhile, a newly-appointed Sheriff of Nottingham will be played by Three Girls star Ria Zmitrowicz.
Her character will ‘passionately fight against a proposed new coal mine for the area, which brings the promise of much-needed jobs and prosperity but also unwelcome reminders of the legacy that has mired the community for so long.’
The Sheriff of Nottingham is a well-known role in British history and mythology, dating as far back as the 13th century and is a title for the central antagonist in the stories of Robin Hood.
In times gone by, the late Alan Rickman played a version of the mythologically-inspired character in The Prince of Thieves in 1991 while Keith Allen starred as the grump in BBC’s family series Robin Hood in the mid-2000s.
Outside of literature, however, there is also a real-life Sheriff of Nottingham position still around today (currently held by Liaqat Ali).
James recently explained his decision to make his Sheriff of Nottingham ‘young, queer, and female’ was ‘modern and important’ when it came to representation.
He added to the BBC: ‘Whenever I tell people we still have a Sheriff of Nottingham they don’t believe it.
‘I feel like mythology and folklore [were] a big part of the first series, the stories that we carry forward through generations or even just the associations that we make [with] certain titles are so important in general.’
Even though countless women have occupied the office various times since the early 20th century the news has caused certain contingents of the internet to decry the show for ‘wokeism’.
TalkTV presenter Kevin O’Sullivan posted: ‘When woeful wokery becomes pure comedy. In the BBC’s new Robin Hood series Sherwood, the Sheriff of Nottingham will be a lesbian.
‘Apparently, this is to “modernise” the famous old story. Britain’s ludicrous state broadcaster… where sanity goes to die.’
‘I see the BBC’s latest attempt at “modernising” Sherwood, and let me tell you, it’s not just a leap into the absurd; it’s a full-on belly flop into the depths of woke lunacy,’ @davidcrabbuk complained.
Naturally, several fans have come to the defence of the decision and undermined the naysayers by pointing out that the show is not actually a Robin Hood retelling.
Not least creator James himself who directly responded to Kevin on X, saying: ‘Really good point, apart from a couple of things [Kevin], Sherwood is a drama set in the modern day.
‘It is nothing to do with the old story of Robin Hood. The role of Sheriff is a real civic position in Nottingham taken up by rotating councillors. It has been occupied by women several times.’
Leader of Nottingham City Council, Neghat Khan, echoed him, adding: ‘Our Sheriff changes annually and the role has been held by people of colour, LGBT people and many other representatives of the diverse communities of our city of Nottingham.’
‘This is a police drama set in Nottingham, called SHERWOOD. It is nothing to do with Robin Hood. The Sheriff of Nottingham is a real council role, currently held IRL by an Asian man,’ @neilmurray7126 explained.
‘They’re going to be livid when they find out seven of the last ten Sheriffs of Nottingham have been women,’ @imshanereaction added.
The local government role is a year-long tenure which is seen as ‘symbolic and ceremonial’.
Filming took place in the actual Sheriff’s office in City Hall ‘and we got to meet the real Sheriff at the time, she was brilliant and lovely,’ James added to the BBC.
In an interview with the Metro, the showrunner reflected on how the themes in Sherwood paralleled real life – from the RMT strikes to protests against policing in the wake of Black Lives Matter and the Sarah Everard case.
‘It was just a complete breakdown in people’s faith in that institution,’ James shared.
‘I think that unfortunately, it only got worse since then, and I don’t know whether the new government will change that dialogue, but it feels like we are in conversation about that social contract with the police, and what is a healthy version of that.
‘In our show some of that is really historic, I was quite pleased to be able to show particularly to a younger audience who would never have understood that that goes back for mining communities, for 40 years, that toxic relationship with the police because of how they behaved in that strike.’
Sherwood series two launches at 9pm on Sunday, August 25, on BBC iPlayer and BBC One, with new episodes premiering on Sunday and Monday nights across three weeks.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
MORE : BBC viewers floored by ‘excellent’ new comedy as they say ‘it’s been a while’
MORE : Strictly star Amy Dowden had to be ‘put into menopause’ during cancer treatment
MORE : BBC gameshow viewers ‘screaming at TV’ after team fails 80s question
