New boy in the hood

11/ 9/2006

TAKE a bow Jonas Armstrong, riding to the rescue as folk hero Robin Hood in a new '8m drama series.

There are no green tights in sight when the Lancashire-raised actor arrives on screen next month in one of the biggest TV roles of the year.

Robin's aim is true as he returns home from war to find his people terrorised by a new Sheriff of Nottingham in the first episode of the 13-part BBC1 Saturday night series. TV bosses hope Robin Hood will repeat the success of Doctor Who, score a bullseye in the ratings and draw a new generation into the "pastoral fantasy" of Sherwood Forest.

Although Jonas, 25, has appeared in Ghost Squad and Teachers, he's a relative unknown and accepts the pressure that comes with the high profile part.

"Of course there's pressure," he smiles. "It's the first lead role I've had. To be given an opportunity like this, it was a big deal. But you just take it on wholeheartedly."

Born in Dublin, Jonas moved to Lytham St Annes with his Irish parents at the age of six and is now based in north London, when he's not filming Robin Hood on location in Budapest.

Is he prepared for the fame and female attention the role will bring him?

"No," he laughs. "If and when it happens, then I suppose I'll see what it's like then. But for a red-blooded male of 25 years, I can't complain about it.

"I have thought about it. You know when you accept a role like this - I was told that they were going to push it as a big show for the BBC, and you realise that your face is going to be known and things are going to be different.

"But you just try and take it as it comes."

The series has been filmed in high definition over the past six months but hit trouble when thieves stole tapes vital to the production.

Police in Hungary recovered the tapes on Friday. The theft meant that the cast and crew had to re-shoot a number of scenes and missed the series launch in London last week because they were still working in Hungary.

Jonas was on a flying trip home and had to be back on set within hours of talking to the press. Despite all the action and stunts, he's so far escaped unscathed.

"I've been very lucky. I've had bumps and bruises and when I woke up today my body was very sore. We had a big fight scene in the forest yesterday where the gang made their last stand against the Sheriff in episode 13, so it was very physical."

Although this is a family show, the scripts do draw parallels, for those who want to find them, between Robin returning home from the Crusades in the Middle East and the war in Iraq, as well as the more general war on terror.

"Robin is a trained killer. He was part of the King's personal protection. So he's a very able fighter. And he has got a temper and can lose it. So he has got menace and a dark side.

"He's gone against the Sheriff and Prince John. So he's cast out as an outlaw and has to totally re-adjust to this life in the forest."

Our first sight of Jonas is as Robin Hoodie - but that doesn't last.

"I have got a hoodie but I wear it maybe three times in the whole series because they say you can't see my face."

As well as the bow and arrows, the new series also features stylised, slow motion, sword-fighting sequences.

How was Jonas with the swashbuckling? "I was OK. I've got a certificate for stage combat. I trained when I was at drama school. We had to have examinations and it was quite thorough. So I didn't go in as a novice. I think that paid off."

The jury is, of course, still out on this new version of Robin Hood but Jonas is signed up to star in two more series over the next two years if it's a success.

Filming for series two would begin next March. He's following in the forest steps of actors like Errol Flynn, Richard Greene, Michael Praed, Jason Connery and Kevin Costner, who have all played Robin in the past.

"It's exciting and at the same time nerve-wracking," confesses Jonas."