Sir Tony Robinson is in talks with a producer to bring back his TV series ‘Maid Marian and her Merry Men’ as a West End musical.
The 73-year-old actor – who created the hit 80s children’s show which rewrites the English folk tale of Robin Hood – says negotiations are ongoing to get the production onto the stage and he remaining optimistic that it could happen in the "next five to six years", as that’s how long it took Broadway hit ‘Hamilton’ to be made.
Tony exclusively told BANG Showbiz: "I’m talking to a London producer at the moment about the possibility to be a ‘Maid Marian’ show. These things take an awfully long time to get off the ground. ‘Hamilton’ took five years to get off the ground. You want these things to move much faster than they do but I’m fairly optimistic that we’ll see a ‘Maid Marian’ show within the next five to six years."
The original BBC TV series aired between 1989 to 1994 and subverted the legend of Robin Hood, re-casting Maid Marian as the leader of the Merry Men and Robin as an incompetent, albeit handsome, idiot.
As well as creating the programme, Tony also played the sharp-tongued and evil Sheriff of Nottingham – a contrast to his most famous role as dim-witted servant Baldrick from ‘Blackadder’.
Kate Lonergan starred as Maid Marian in the TV series, however, Tony has no idea who is new leading lady will be.
He said: "No, it’s far too early to say. Musicals cost so much to put on. Even a small musical costs about half a million to put on in the West End. Every decision is scrutinised by about 20 different people and made at the last possible moment."
Although the BBC One series was a huge hit with both children and adults, Tony fears that the show wouldn’t have the same effect on viewers today, despite it’s gender switch being well ahead of its time.
He admitted: "I don’t think it would be quite as shocking as ‘Maid Marian’ was in some quarters when it first came out because people are used to viewing gender with fluidity now, which they simply weren’t some years ago."
But it wouldn’t stop Tony from writing more stories with a woman in the main role.
He added: "I’m absolutely sure that that kind of vocabulary will be high up on the list of things that I want to include in anything that I wrote, simply because it is something that is discussed so much today. People like reading about things that they talk about in real life."
Tony was speaking to celebrate the National Lottery’s 25th anniversary.
The beloved star has appeared in a comedy sketch to mark the occasion entitled ‘What Has The National Lottery Ever Done For Us?’ – inspired by the famous scene from ‘Monty Python’s ‘Life of Brian’ in which the People’s Front of Judea ask "What have the Romans ever done for us?" when discussing the ruling Roman Empire.
The short film features an all-star cast, which also includes Jimmy Carr, Rio Ferdinand, Big Narstie, Sir Chris Hoy, Jane Horrocks, Scarlett Moffatt and Blake Harrison, highlighting how The National Lottery has transformed life in Britain over the past 25 years.
Watch Tony join the star-studded cast by searching for the sketch on YouTube.
For more information, visit www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk
Tony Robinson to bring Maid Marian to the West End
