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, but also for its comic style. It is more surreal than Blackadder, however, and drops even more anachronisms. Many of the show's cast such as Howard Lew Lewis, Forbes Collins, Ramsay Gilderdale and Patsy Byrne had previously appeared in various episodes of Blackadder alongside Robinson. 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 spoofed or referenced film and television shows including other incarnations of Robin Hood in those mediums.
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, but also for its comic style. It is more surreal than Blackadder, however, and drops even more anachronisms. Many of the show's cast such as Howard Lew Lewis, Forbes Collins, Ramsay Gilderdale and Patsy Byrne had previously appeared in various episodes of Blackadder alongside Robinson. 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 spoofed or referenced film and television shows including other incarnations of Robin Hood in those mediums.
Season 2 episodes
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A rival gang arrives in Worksop, led by the Australian Beast of Bolsover and his nephew the Nuisance of Nuneaton. They refuse to leave unless they are paid twenty five gold pieces or someone defeats the Beast in a fight. The merry men capture the sheriff, who is suffering from amnesia, and when John refuses the ransom, Marian persuades the sheriff that he is one of her gang and gets him to fight the Beast.When Rabies accidentally knocks Robin's wardrobe out of a tree it falls on the sheriff,who remembers who he is as a result and arrests the Beast and his mob.
Episode credits
Guest stars John Dallimore, Kerry Potter, Marcus Eyre
Rabies falls in love with the strongest woman he's ever seen, and it's up to the Merry Men to ensure he gets his dream girl. Unfortunately, she's also the target of the Sheriff's scheme to get rid of King John's annoying nephew, Guy.
Episode credits
Guest stars Robin Chandler, Ramsay Gilderdale, Kerry Potter
Marian is unsettled to see her sneaky ex-schoolmate 'Rotten' Rose Scargill cosying up to Robin and tells Rose the reality of their situation as outlaws. Rose then betrays both Marian and Robin to the sheriff and they are caught and imprisoned. From the window of the torture chamber Robin sees Marian appearing to be friendly with Guy. In fact Guy has a crush on her and is trying to force himself on her but Robin misunderstands the situation and believes Marian has betrayed him.
Episode credits
Guest stars Robin Chandler, Ramsay Gilderdale, Siobhan Fogerty, Kerry Potter
Due to be executed with Marian, Robin realises that she did not betray him when Rose reveals that she wants his body stuffed for her Robin Hood Museum. Fortunately the other merry men attack, under cover of the rubbish bins, and save Robin and Marian, who leaves Rose to the tender mercies of the lecherous Guy, tied up in the torture chamber. Robin is ashamed for what happened but Marian persuades him to stay with the merry men.
Episode credits
Guest stars Ramsay Gilderdale, Siobhan Fogerty, Kerry Potter
