Sherwood to ‘modernise Sheriff of Nottingham as young, queer and female’

Sherwood creator James Graham is hoping that a “young, queer and female” Sheriff of Nottingham appearing in season two of the series will help modernise the idea of the position.

The title, a historical role that is currently held by a councillor to promote the city, has long been associated with the Robin Hood villain, the Sheriff of Nottingham.

Graham’s BBC drama Sherwood, which is inspired by real events and set in the Nottinghamshire mining village where he grew up, stars David Morrissey and Lesley Manville with Three Girls actress Ria Zmitrowicz joining as the Sheriff.

He said: “Whenever I tell people we still have a Sheriff of Nottingham they don’t believe it.

“I feel like mythology and folklore was a big part of the first series, the stories that we carry forward through generations or even just the associations that we make to certain titles are so important in general.

“Obviously the first series had outlaws hiding out in Sherwood Forest and people drew that line to Robin Hood, and the Sheriff is a character people mostly know from that.

“In our series we have a young, queer female Sheriff of Nottingham. I just thought that felt modern and important to include that representation, and to make that character and that title fully drawn.”

It will see the Sheriff fighting against a proposed new coal mine that is set to bring new jobs, but is an “unwelcome” reminder of community issues.

This is a first returning series for Graham, who won an Olivier award for his play Dear England and wrote Channel 4 film Brexit: The Uncivil War and ITV drama Quiz.

Graham hopes that the “curiosity about the people and communities inside the red wall” is extended in the next instalment of Sherwood.

He adds: “I guess the first series gave the impression that some of these wounds were linked and tied to the past and are perhaps unique to these communities, but I think there are more universal and social themes to this series which shows what happens to any community that is neglected.

“I think it examines the trauma and the violence and the issues that can come from taking your eye off the ball and ignoring people.

“I think it’s a broader and wider story that extends beyond Nottingham, and I would like people to see that.”

The first season dealt with how a manhunt inflamed historic divisions sparked during the miners’ strike three decades before, and the next instalment will explore other issues in the community.

Graham also says he does not think the new Labour government “changes the relevance of a series that is looking back” at what he calls “an incredibly divisive time and during which the social fabric has frayed”.

“I think we all recognise and are quite exhausted by that, and whatever happens in the future we always lived through this moment,” he added.

“I think drama is about trying to help us make sense of the moment that we’ve just lived through and, dare I say, maybe even contribute answers to how we might move forward in a healthier society.”

The Walking Dead star Morrissey sees his character Ian St Clair leave behind his job as Detective Chief Superintendent to head up the council’s Violence Intervention Team, which connects community services.

Morrissey says: “One of the issues that resonates a lot is around a breakdown of social services and the cracks that young people – particularly young men – can fall down. Particularly in regard to gang culture.

“I think a lot of the other themes explore the dissociation between talk and action for the rejuvenation and investment into local communities. Broken promises and superficial political rhetoric which have let down people and their communities for too long.”

Homeland actor David Harewood and Mr Bates Vs The Post Office star Monica Dolan have been added to the cast for the new season.

Dolan plays Ann Branson, whose family run a drug operation in Ashfield, and Harewood will plat Dennis Bottomley, whose family is impacted by narcotics.

Sherwood’s second season will begin airing on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Sunday at 9pm.