online source

LITTLEBECK actress Joanne Froggatt is to star in the new series of the BBC's big budget version of Robin Hood.

The 27-year-old, who attended Sleights Primary School and Eskdale School, saw off fierce competition for a coveted role in the Saturday night prime time family drama.

Joanne, whose parents Ann and Keith still live in Littlebeck, has been filming in Hungary for the past three months for her role as village girl Kate who lives in Loxley.

Her character will be seen for the first time in the second episode of series three which should hit our screens later this year.

Robin Hood was last on our screens for the New Year special when Robin Hood's sweetheart Maid Marian, played by actor Lucy Griffiths, was tragically killed in the Holy Land.

Although Jo was playing her cards close to her chest with regards to plotlines for series three she did say her character Kate leaves the village of Loxley and joins up with Robin Hood and his outlaws in the forest after falling foul of the Sheriff of Nottingham and Sir Guy of Gisborne.

Since arriving in the 'Sherwood Forest' set, in Budapest, Hungary, she has been rubbing shoulders with the show's stars Jonas Armstrong (Robin Hood), Richard Armitage (Sir Guy of Gisborne) and Keith Allen (The Sheriff of Nottingham).

Joanne, who still has another three months' work in Hungary, took a break from filming to tell the Gazette: "Everyone has been really fantastic since I started filming.

"I've got to know them really well in the three months I have been here and they have made me feel welcome.

"Being out here for so long I have not been able to get home too much which I miss but although it can be hard work out here it is so much fun.

"I get to wear amazing period costumes and I've been doing some fighting in the forest.

"I felt so bad I nearly cried but he was really good about it!

"Apart from that everything is brilliant – the location is beautiful and the weather has been amazing – the temperatures have been reaching 37 degrees."

Her role is a far cry from some of her previous work – last year she appeared at the Old Vic Theatre alongside stage greats such as Diana Rigg, Eleanor Bron and Lesley Manville in the first English language adaption of a Pedro Almodovar film, All About My Mother, in London's West End.

That followed performances as Joanna Lees in the television adaption of the true life murder of Peter Falconio and as Myra Hindley's sister in a TV drama about the moors murders.

She also played the role of Danielle Cable, whose fiance Stephen Cameron was murdered in a road-rage incident in 1996, for which she was nominated for a Royal Television Society Award for best female actor.

Joanne, who is now based in London, added: "This role in Robin Hood is more commerical than a lot of the other work I have done since I left Coronation Street.

“I wanted to do something a little bit different and this opportunity came up.

“The viewing figures are really good and it will be nice to be involved in something the whole family can watch.”

l While we will have to wait to see Joanne in Robin Hood, you can catch her soon in a brand-new BBC Three drama Spooks: Code 9.

In the Spooks spin-off, Joanne plays Hannah – one of six new MI5 recruits brought in to protect Britain’s future in 2013 – and you can see the first part of the new six-episode series next Sunday at 9pm.

 online source

Lara's set to turn heads among the Merrie Men of Sherwood Forest

Lara Pulver has done everything from kicking her heels up to kicking butt on stage, and now she's about to kick some shins, among other things, on TV.

The actress has been through a fight training course (including how to handle a lion!) and swordplay for her role as Isabella, sister of Guy of Gisborne, in the third series of the BBC action drama Robin Hood, which has just started filming in Budapest.

Lara will emerge as the major female lead when Robin Hood screens in the New Year.

The Isabella role is no girlie damsel-in-distress sort of part.


She'll be called upon to make life extremely un-merrie for Robin and his men in green tights.

Lara, who won plaudits for her performance in the musical Parade at the Donmar last year, was also in A Chorus Line at the Sheffield Crucible and several other theatre productions, but I was surprised to learn Robin Hood marks her first TV drama.


She'll be on location in Hungary with stars Jonas Armstrong and Richard Armitage for several months.

 online source

Bond baddie Toby Stephens is taking on Robin Hood in the BBC drama.

Toby, 39 - Gustav Graves in Die Another Day - plays King John in the third series now filming in Hungary. A source said: "Toby's character is an egocentric maniac."

Keith Allen will play the Sheriff of Nottingham and Jonas Armstrong, Robin. It is set to start in January.

online source

THE Sheriff of Nottingham is to be killed off in the new series of Robin Hood.

Keith Allen’s best-loved baddie will finally be defeated by Robin and his Merry Men in the third series of the BBC show.

The father of songstress Lily is currently in Budapest filming the bloody scenes.

A show source said: "It will be a huge shock to fans when he comes unstuck."

The show is known for its daring plot lines — Maid Marion was killed at the end of the last series.

A source said: "Keith loves playing the Sheriff. The new series is the most grisly yet and he’s delighted to be going out of the show with such a huge bang."

The new Robin Hood will hit screens this autumn.

 Taken from Broadcast News

Robin Hood series 3 - Broadcast mazaine reports that the writers for the third series of Robin Hood will include Simon Ashford, who wrote three episodes for the first two series, Michael Chaplin (Foyles War, Monarch of the Glen), Holly Phillips (Nearly Famous), and Ryan Craig (Saddam's Tribe). The producers for Tiger Aspect will be Jane Hudson, who produced six episodes of series 2, and Tom Mullens (EastEnders, The Bill).

As with eht first two series, there will be 13 episodes, and it will be broadcast in the UK in the autumn of 2008. To date, Robin Hood has been sold to over 50 countries, making it one of the BBC's most successful exports.

The producers for Tiger Aspect will be Jane Hudson, who produced six episodes of series 2

 online source

ACTOR Keith Allen may have been at a family fun day in the Cotswolds but it's clear he has not abandoned his naughty streak altogether.

Keith, who has made the Stroud area his home, over the past few years, was guest of honour at Painswick Rugby Club's charity event on Sunday.

But when asked why he liked the area so much, the comedian replied: "It's because of the drugs."

The 55-year-old dad of singer Lily Allen and actor Alfie Allen lives in the area with his partner, actress Tamzin Malleson.

And he said he plans on staying here for much longer.

Keith said: "I live in Lypiatt at the moment but I am just about to move to Minchinhampton, well not Minchinhampton but near the common. I love it here, I have been here for about three years now."

Keith, who is rumoured to have eight children including a two-year-old daughter Teddie with Tamzin, starred in cult movies like Shallow Grave and Trainspotting, is now gaining a new fan base in the BBC version of Robin Hood.

But during his guest of honour role at Painswick, he said he would not give anything away about the show. However he said viewers are in for an exciting new series which should be starting soon.

"If I told you they wouldn't be secrets. But there is lots. You are in for a terrifying shock," he said.
"I am not sure when it will be but pretty soon I hope."

For his next project he will be staring in Treasure Island in London's West End later this year.

Despite his busy schedule, he still had time to attend event for the Gloucestershire-based children's charity, the Pied Piper Appeal.

He said: "It is always the case that friends ask you to come along and do this sort of thing and it was a friend of mine, Griff, from the rugby club that asked me to come along and I said yes and I am glad that I did. It's great."

Keith joined in with all the afternoon's entertainment and was seen tucking into a hot dog from the barbecue while watching the car boot sales, It's a Knockout competition and all the other entertainment.

He also said that Teddie, two, might be a future Olympic star. Keith even congratulated the county's athletes such as Nailsworth rower Peter Reed on their Olympic performance in Beijing.

Keith added: "I think they have done brilliantly. They have all done a great job."