Celebrating 35 years of Robin of Sherwood: Special Guest Interview — Jason Connery

"Nothing’s forgotten. Nothing is ever forgotten." 

Celebrating 35 years of Robin of Sherwood.

Exclusive interview with
Jason Connery

As the sunlight splinters in a thousand pieces upon the forest floor, we once again find ourselves in Sherwood. This is an ancient land, a strange one where the morning mist hints at the myths and legends that this green canvas inspires.

We are continuing with our celebrations of all things Robin of Sherwood today, and it is my very great pleasure to welcome Jason Connery onto the blog. For those who are fans of the show, and for those of you who are checking out the show for the first time, Jason took on the iconic role of Robin Hood in 1986.

Hi Jason, welcome to Myths, Legends, Books & Coffee Pots. It is so fabulous that you could join us today and talk about Robin of Sherwood.

When the credits rolled at the end of The Greatest Enemy, which saw the death of Michael Praed’s beloved character Robin of Loxley, the fans were left with a promise of a new Hooded Man and a continuation of the story.

How did you come by the role of Robert of Huntingdon?

I was called by my agent who said they were re-casting “Robin” for Robin of Sherwood and they were looking for someone quite different from Michael, as they had an idea for a completely different character, that actually Robin was an amalgam of different people and that one of the stories was of an Earl’s son.

Straight away there was a notable difference between your character and Michael’s, and you certainly brought something wonderfully new to the series. Were you a fan of the show before you became a part of it?

I knew of the show, but had been working in the theatre quite a bit and so I was on stage on Saturdays, and recording shows was not big back then!!

What was the first day on set like?

Well there was quite a lead in to the first show, I had been practicing all sorts of fighting with the other Merries, so I had got to know them a bit before starting. The first episode I did was actually Adam Bell and it was lovely to start with a story about a man who used in some ways to be a Robin Hood character back in the day and Bryan Marshall was lovely to work with, so my first day, although scary was so much fun!

"Adam Bell" was a fantastic episode, and Bryan Marshall made a fabulous antagonist. I think we can all agree that you brought something very new to the story in your characterisation of Robin. How much influence did you have on how you portrayed him?

Kip Carpenter the writer was such an amazing man so full of fun and he loved to tell stories obviously, he was very open to us all bringing ideas, and he and I did spend a lot of time with Judi talking about how she and I would get together as it was incredibly important that she had time to get over her lose. We also spoke a lot about how I was to bring the Merries back together and not just round them up and off we go, they needed to really want to follow a new leader.

Which leads me very nicely into the next question. In the opening episodes of Season 3, Robert finds himself in some very sticky situations. Not only does he have to fight Lord Owen of Clun, but he also has to fight several merry men — including Will Scarlet, as he tries to convince them of his worth. The fight scenes were superbly choreographed and very memorable. Of all the weapons that Robin uses, which one was the most challenging to get to grips with? 

Luckily, I had done some sword fighting in past jobs so that was okay, but I did get bashed on the head with Clive’s staff in the fight scene we had in the opening double episode, forgot to cover for the top shot!! Which of course Clive thought was hilarious!! But I think in some ways the hardest was firing the bow and arrow at speed, if you don’t nock the arrow exactly right, it all goes wrong very quickly and if your Robin and it goes wrong, your street cred goes out the window!!!

It would not do for Robin to miss his target! I have had a go at using a longbow and it not easy, you, of course, made it look simple! There are some very memorable villains in Robin of Sherwood. Your character’s nemesis was, with the exception of the Sheriff of Nottingham and Sir Guy of Gisborne, Gulnar — played by the fabulous Richard O'Brien. Who was your favourite villain in the series and why?

There were so many villains in ROS, it’s tough to name one, of course Richard O’Brien came back a number of times so we did get to know him better than the rest of the guest stars and he was great fun to work with always looking for different ways to stir up the magical side of his abilities. Another great Villain was Valentine Pelka who played Sarak, he was the strong silent type and his swordplay did his talking, great fight between him and Mark Ryan. 

The sword fight between Mark and Valentine was amazing. What was your most memorable scene while filming?

I will say one of the most memorable was getting my eyebrows and full fringe burnt off my face when standing over the lake in Cromm Cruac, there was just meant to be a small fire explosion over the lake, but it was a lot bigger than intended, the look on the make-up girls face when she saw me was “Memorable”!! But honestly there was so many, it was such a joy to go to work everyday. I am friends to this day with all the Merries and many of the rest of the cast and crew. It was quite early in my career and I thought all jobs were like that but actually they aren’t and I do feel so blessed to have been part of the show and the people in it.

Oh, my goodness, I can see why that would be memorable! Apart from the singed hair and eyebrows, did Robin of Sherwood change your life in any way?

It did in so many ways. I had never worked with such an array of people and for an extended amount of time. I was on television every Saturday for a while and experienced being a known face, which was very new to me, I had seen it with my Dad but had not experienced it myself, it opened up my career to many other jobs and I traveled all over the world, but best in some ways, it gave me some of the closest friends who I adore to this day.

Moving away from Robin of Sherwood very briefly. What made you decided to come away from working in front of the camera, and become a director?

I really feel it is a natural transition, I love telling stories and to be able to do it from not just one perspective but from many and encompass the whole story is a lot more work and commitment but incredibly rewarding.

You are also very supportive of the next generation of filmmakers, and you are a patron of The Bath School of Acting. How important is it to you, to encourage future filmmakers?

I do think it’s important. Back in LA I started something called “Short Mondays” where film makers could show their shot films and then do a Q and A afterwards. I did a play with Tristan Carter who runs The Bath School of Acting and he asked me to be involved, I think passing on anything that might be of use and connecting people together is the framework for a successful society.

Let’s head back to Sherwood... 

I am sure many of Robin of Sherwood’s loyal fans know that in recent years you and several members of the cast have worked with Barnaby Eaton-Jones and Spiteful Puppet to bring us a Robin of Sherwood audio drama. What was your initial reaction when you were asked if this was something you would like to be a part of?  What was it like to be back almost thirty years later, playing Robin?

I was quite surprised about how protective I felt about the show and also the fans that love it. I didn’t want to do something that was a pale copy of the original, in fact we all talked about that a lot. The script used was an actual “Kip” script that was never made, and we all knew Barnaby from the conferences, so there was a level of trust. The most rewarding part was actually watching the fans faces listening to the 5 minute promo that was played when we all met up, it was very moving to see them all close their eyes and hear new words being spoken for the first time, by characters they knew and loved. 

Thirty-five years on and Robin of Sherwood is still enjoyed by so many people. What kind of legacy do you hope Robin of Sherwood will leave for future generations?

Of course when you make a show, you hope people like it, but you never think “will they like it in 35 years time”!!! If people continue to garner enjoyment from the show, I couldn’t ask for anything more. When we do conventions and fans bring their children, who they have introduced to the show and they also love it, even if they are quite confused about why I don’t look anything like the Robin they have watched on ROS!!

Jason Connery (Robin) , Mark Ryan (Nasir) , Clive Mantle (Little John), Peter Llewellyn Williams Much), Phil Rose (Friar Tuck).

Celebrating 35 years of Robin of Sherwood: Special Guest Interview – Clive Mantle

"Nothing’s forgotten. Nothing is ever forgotten."

Celebrating 35 years of Robin of Sherwood.

Exclusive interview with the fabulous Clive Mantle

There have been many retellings of the story of Robin Hood, but one of the most enduring has to be the 1980’s television series Robin of Sherwood. Today I am joined by the fabulous Clive Mantle, who fans of the show will know played the down-to-earth and extremely memorable, Little John.

Hi Clive, it is such an honour to have you on Myth’s, Legends, Books & Coffee Pots today. Little John was such an integral part of the Robin Hood story. How did the role of Little John first come to your attention?

Esta Charkham, who cast it, knew me from the National Youth Theatre, and got in touch with my agent. As far as I knew it was going to be the normal process of dozens of actors trooping in one by one until they got who they wanted. How wrong was I !!

I walked into a small office at Pinewood and was immediately hugged by Paul Knight, the producer, and more or less welcomed aboard. I was flabberghasted. He and Kip Carpenter had seen me play Little John in a glorious stage production at the Young Vic Theatre in London, completely unbeknownst to me, and had practically decided there and then.

So I was the only person seen for the part amazingly. It was my luckliest break. Great men both, with the brilliant Esta championing my cause. I owe them all a great debt of gratitude.

You had the part before you even auditioned, that must have been an amazing feeling, but I am not surprised. No one could have played Little John as you did.  Did you do any background research into your character?

I had been a part of a superb stage version directed by David Toguri, and written by Dave and Toni Arthur. It bore very little resemblance to the TV series, but the voice and the headstrong emotional side of the character I’d worked on already.

You were born to play Little John, then! How much influence did you have on how Little John was portrayed?

Kip listened to us and wrote to our strengths as he got to know us. We had regular meetings in various hotel bars and suggested things to him, most of which emerged in one form or another.

What was the atmosphere like on set?

Never before or since have I had such a wonderful time at work. A constant joy and a pleasure from beginning to end. I wish we were still making them today. The cast and crew were very special and an unbreakable bond united us all from in front and behind the camera. It was set up by the great Ian Sharp, who laid down the way things would be done, and with our social secretary, Ray Winstone, in charge of japes and wind-ups, life was never dull.

There is a real sense of Good vs Evil in Robin of Sherwood, and there were some very memorable villains. Who was your favourite villain and why?

Anthony Valentine I think, although they were all wonderful. Anthony was the stillest and most frightening and the greatest pleasure to work with, as I had quite a lot to do with him.

As a child I was terrified of Anthony Valentine’s character, ‘Baron Simon de Belleme,’ but not enough to stop me from watching! He was the most deplorable villain — very sinister.

Little John’s choice of weapon was the quarterstaff. How long did it take you to learn to use a quarterstaff and were they any accidents?

Terry Walsh, our supreme stunt coordinator altered my approach from the word go, and said I should use it like a rifle and bayonet and not let people with swords near me. It was a great thing to say and I responded well to it. It sparked my imagination and many Norman soldiers got a taste of the sharp end.

Always little knicks and cuts, and I put my back out once, but we escaped largely unharmed.

You certainly looked very impressive on the television with your quarterstaff. My siblings and myself used to play Robin Hood in the woods, and we always ended up making quarterstaffs out of small branches we found on the floor. We all came away with bruises too!

Who was the best shot with a bow and arrow? Who was the worst?

Praedy was pretty good I seem to remember, or maybe he just tells me that a lot, and the mists of time have obscured the truth.

Ray actually broke a lens by loosing an arrow at an automatic camera set up alongside a target, but I wouldn’t call him the worse shot to his face I can tell you that for nothing.

Ray Winstone (Will Scarlet), Clive Mantle (Little John), Mark Ryan (Nasir).

I am sure Michael doesn’t exaggerate his prowess with a bow and arrow, at all, and I am sure Ray meant to hit the camera lens!! What was your most memorable scene while filming?

It’s so long ago now, I enjoyed every minute, but ‘The King’s Fool” and the argument with Robin probably stands out for me.

The King’s Fool was such a great episode. Did Robin of Sherwood change your life in any way?

Completely and utterly changed my life and my standing in the business. It was a remarkable show to be part of and I’m the luckiest actor alive to have been part of it.

Do you still keep in touch with any of the cast?

No, as you can tell, I hate them all !!!

We all still see a lot of each other even though some of our number spend great chunks of time abroad. We see each other at events like conventions and sadly now funerals, but the last time we were all in the same room, apart from Phil who was sorely missed, was at my 60^th Birthday party 2 years ago.

Jason Connery (Robin) , Mark Ryan (Nasir) , Clive Mantle (Little John), Peter Llewellyn Williams Much), Phil Rose (Friar Tuck).

Mark Ryan, Clive Mantle, Jason Connery.

Thirty-Five years on and Robin of Sherwood is still enjoyed by so many people. What kind of legacy do you hope Robin of Sherwood will leave for future generations?

It’s a heartfelt telling of the tales of Robin, told with love and passion, and the absolute need for justice running like a spine throughout.

Other people have tried since and have offered pale imitations of what we all achieved. Sooner or later a new version will eclipse ours, but only when a writer of Kip’s compassion, moral strength, drama and vision tackles the sagas. Not many of them about.

Happy Days all of you.

Thank you so much Clive for the special insight into Robin of Sherwood.