Jonas Armstrong Talks About Robin Hood

Jonas Armstrong as the legendary Robin Hood. Photo copyright of Tiger Aspect

In the last of a series of three BBC America Q & A’s with the cast of Robin Hood, the show’s leading man, Jonas Armstrong, takes a few minutes out from stealing from the rich and giving to the poor to answer a few questions. Enjoy! 

How has Robin changed since the death of Marian? 

Jonas Armstrong – Although Robin is totally devastated losing his wife, it takes him in a new direction for fans. I’ve always tried to find the darker aspects of the character because the good sides are clearly there for all to see. But now that Robin has lost Marian, the heartbeat of his life, I’ve been able to darken and deepen him. The beginning of season three is explosive – it’s really strong. Robin has just gone mad because he’s obsessed with revenge. He must kill Gisborne (Richard Armitage) whatever the cost to himself and others. So he doesn’t care about his men and being the champion of the people. All that is gone. 

What are your feelings about Kate becoming a love interest for Robin? 

JA – There is potential, but you’ll just have to wait and see! Kate (Joanne Froggatt) has her own quest. She’s like a mini-vigilante all by herself – her family have suffered a terrible loss at the hands of Gisborne. Robin and the gang have to calm her down, otherwise she’ll be killed, too. Eventually she joins the lads and become indispensible to them. Joanne’s performance as Kate is fantastic. 

What are your thoughts about this series being your last? 

JA – I wouldn’t swap the experience for anything. I feel immensely lucky to have played Robin Hood for three years and I’ve had the time of my life in the role. But the show has to keep changing and evolving – we’ve done about 30 hours now of Robin Hood, so it needs to go in different directions. It’s the greatest experience I’ve had in my career so far, but you can’t do one thing for too long. It’s a brilliant finale to the three years. We all got quite emotional watching it and were trying to hold the tears back. We’ve been racing around those forests for three seasons and we’ve been through a lot together and become true comrades at arms. 

As noted above, photo is copyright of Tiger Aspect Productions, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

This Week on Robin Hood – 11 – 07 – 09

Kate (Joanne Froggatt) and Robin (Jonas Armstrong) plan their next move. Photo copyright of Tiger Aspect

SPOILER ALERT!! – Robin (Jonas Armstrong) breaks into Isabella’s (Lara Pulver) chamber at night to strike a deal. If she will keep him informed about Prince John’s (Toby Stephens) plans, he’ll protect her when the King returns. She calls for her guards but Robin escapes. Isabella presides over the trial of Meg (Holliday Grainger), a young woman charged with disobeying her father and refusing marriage-suitors. Isabella likes Meg’s attitude and frees her. Isabella is determined to win the peoples’ respect. Robin is hopeful for Nottingham’s future but her rule is brought to an abrupt end when her husband, Squire Thornton (Nicholas Gleaves), arrives and announces he’s taking over as Sheriff. Isabella orders her guards to arrest Thornton, but he tells her if his men don’t receive word of his safety, they’ll ride to Prince John to inform him she is a deserting wife, a criminal. Isabella would lose everything. Robin and Kate (Joanne Froggatt) surreptitiously watch Thornton dig up a Danish burial mound – the gold coins in the ground. Robin finds Isabella and agrees to get rid of Thornton if she agrees to give up the hoard and accept his deal to secretly share her power. But can he trust a Gisborne, male or female? Episode nine of season three airs Saturday, November 7th @ 9 p.m. EST/PST on BBC America.

Sir Guy of Gisborne (Richard Armitage) has suddenly fallen from someone's grace. Photo copyright of Tiger Aspect

Hoping to keep his head on his shoulders, Sir Guy awaits his fate. Photo copyright of Tiger Aspect

As noted above, all photos copyright of Tiger Aspect Productions, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

This Week On Robin Hood – 10 – 31 – 09

Robin (Jonas Armstrong) takes aim as Kate (Joanne Froggatt) looks on. Photo copyright of Tiger Aspect Productions

SPOILER ALERT!! – Prince John (Toby Stephens) announces that King Richard has been killed in the Holy Land and that he is to be crowned king. The outlaws are devastated by the news, but Robin (Jonas Armstrong) suspects that something doesn’t add up. He investigates the claim and realizes the truth – that King Richard is not dead and that Prince John plans to steal England from under him. At the coronation, Robin and the outlaws launch an elaborate scheme to successfully expose Prince John’s lie and save England. Isabella (Lara Pulver) saves Prince John’s life and he rewards her by appointing her sheriff before leaving Nottingham. Episode eight of season three airs Saturday, October 31st at 9 p.m. EST/PST on BBC America.

Lord Sheridan (Robert Pugh) confers with Isabella (Lara Pulver). Photo copyright of Tiger Aspect Productions

As noted above, all photos copyright of Tiger Aspect Productions, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

This Week On Robin Hood – 10 – 24 – 09

Robin (Jonas Armstrong) and Kate (Joanne Froggatt) share a secret. Photo copyright of Tiger Aspect

SPOILER ALERT!! – There is a heat wave in Nottingham and the villages are short of water. Prince John (Toby Stephens) hatches a plan to block the castle’s underground stream in order to control the local water resources. Isabella (Lara Pulver) and Robin (Jonas Armstrong) can no longer deny their feelings for each other and secretly meet. Without Robin, the gang launches a mission to retrieve water for the dehydrated villagers. Meanwhile, Gisborne (Richard Armitage) is furious to see his sister kissing his mortal enemy and, under instructions from Prince John, lures Robin and Isabella to the underground spring, trapping them inside as the water rises. Episode seven of season three airs Saturday, October 24th @ 9 p.m. EST/PST on BBC America.

Robin must think quick if he is to save himself and Isabella. Photo copyright of Tiger Aspect

As noted above, all photos copyright of Tiger Aspect Productions, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

This Week On Robin Hood – 10 – 03 – 09

Keith Allen as the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood. Photo copyright of Tiger Aspect

SPOILER ALERT!! – The Sheriff (Keith Allen), ever greedy, hires a new tax collector, Ruthless Rufus (Bill Ward, Coronation Street), who arrives with his son, Edmund (Liam Boyle, Drop Dead Gorgeous), just in time to watch the outlaws attack the Sheriff’s guards with bees in order to steal the castle’s winter food store. In response, Rufus storms into Locksley village. When he smashes Kate’s family’s pottery and kiln, Kate fights back and is forced to accompany Rufus to Locksley Manor, his new home. Robin (Jonas Armstrong) saves Kate from the lecherous new tax collector, but gets her outlawed in the process. It turns out, though, that Rufus is not as loyal to the Sheriff as he seems. He forces the Sheriff’s treasurer, Scrope (Kevin Eldon, Hot Fuzz), to persuade the Sheriff to loan his troops to the Earl of Northumberland, allowing Rufus to raid the treasury. A final confrontation ensues between Robin and his gang, the Sheriff, Rufus and Edmund, and terrible truths are revealed. Episode four of season three airs Saturday, October 3rd @ 9 p.m. on BBC America.

Kate (Joanne Froggatt) is not at all enamored of Rufus (Bill Ward). Photo copyright of Tiger Aspect

Robin (Jonas Armstrong) prepares to do battle. Photo copyright of Tiger Aspect

As noted above, all photos courtesy of and copyright of Tiger Aspect Productions, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

This Week On Robin Hood – 09 – 19 – 2009

(L-R): Kate (Joanne Froggatt), Robin (Jonas Armstrong) and Tuck (David Harewood). Photo by Tiger Aspect Productions

SPOILER ALERT!! –  The Sheriff of Nottingham (Keith Allen) agrees to sell all local men to Finn (William Houston, Elizabeth: The Golden Age), the rightful King of Ireland, who needs them to help liberate Ireland. A village girl, Kate, fights to save her younger brother, Matthew, from consumption, but Sir Guy of Gisborne (Richard Armitage) and his henchmen catch him. She has endangered herself, but she escapes and Robin manages to save her. Kate (Joanne Froggatt) joins the outlaws as they try – and fail – to save the conscripts. Robin is caught, shackled and taken to the Castle, though his identity remains unknown. Kate sneaks inside the Castle and is recognized by Gisborne, who says that her brother will hang as punishment. To save him, Kate tells Gisborne that Robin is with the conscripts. In the ensuing battle, Gisborne kills Kate’s brother and goes for Robin. He is thwarted by the Sheriff, who wants Robin to suffer a slow death and locks him in the vault. While imprisoned, Finn suggests they join forces to destroy Prince John (Toby Stephens). Episode two of season three airs on Saturday, September 19th @ 9 p.m. EST/PST on BBC America.

The not-so-nice Sir Guy of Gisborne (Richard Armitage). Photo copyright of Tiger Aspect Productions

As noted above, photos copyright of Tiger Aspect Productions, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

This Week On Robin Hood – 09 – 12 – 2009

Robin and His Merry Band (L-R) - Much (Sam Troughton), Tuck (David Harewood), Kate (Joanne Froggatt), Robin (Jonas Armstrong), Little John (Gordon Kennedy) and Allan A Dale (Joe Armstrong), Photo copyright of Tiger Aspect Productions

SPOILER ALERT!! – The outlaws return from the Holy Land and are thrown into disarray when Robin (Jonas Armstrong) announces he doesn’t want to be Robin Hood, the hero, any more. He breaks up the gang and goes on a solo mission to kill Sir Guy of Gisborne (Richard Armitage) in order to avenge Marian’s death. The outlaws arrive to see Robin and Gisborne in the heat of battle, and watch as Gisborne throws Robin into the river, far below. Meanwhile, Sir Jasper (Lee Ross, The English Patient) arrives at the castle with a message from Prince John (Toby Stephens). He blames the Sheriff of Nottingham (Keith Allen) for the bungled assassination and demands 1,000 crowns a month and the body of Robin Hood – just as Gisborne enters to announce he was finally killed Hood. But, unknown to Gisborne, a travelling monk, Tuck (David Harewood), has pulled Robin from the river. He knows Robin Hood is the only hope the people of England have left, but all Robin cares about is revenge – even if it means getting killed in the process. But Tuck has a plan to get Robin reunited with his gang and resurrected as England’s protector. Episode one of season three airs Saturday, September 12th @ 9 p.m. EST/PST on BBC America.

Robin is on the hunt for Sir Guy of Gisborne. Photo copyright of Tiger Aspect Productions

Sir Guy of Gisborne (Richard Armitage) in action! Photo copyright of Tiger Aspect Productions

Sir Guy and Robin Hood battle as the crowd looks on. Photo copyright of Tiger Aspect Productions

Little John (Gordon Kennedy) and Allan A Dale (Joe Armstrong) search for Robin. Photo copyright of Tiger Aspect Productions

Tuck (David Harewood) attempts to nurse Robin back to health. Photo copyright of Tiger Aspect Productions

Allan A Dale, Much and Little John find themselves in a tight spot. Photo copyright of Tiger Aspect Productions

As noted above, all photos copyright of Tiger Aspect Productions, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

Robin Hood Returns To BBC America

Jonas Armstrong takes aim at the bad guys as Robin Hood. Photo copyright of Tiger Aspect Productions and the BBC

BBC America’s hit revival of Robin Hood returns for a bigger, bolder third season of action adventure. Toby Stephens (Die Another Day, Jane Eyre) and David Harewood (The Vice, The Palace) join the cast of Jonas Armstrong (Teachers, The Ghost Squad), Richard Armitage (MI-5, North & South) and Keith Allen (Bodies, The Others) as Robin continues to outwit the dastardly Sheriff and his forces – but Robin is not the same crusader as he once was. Since the death of Marian, Robin is in a downward spiral fueled by anger and grief – he can think of nothing but revenge. Meanwhile, a wave of corruption and evil has been sweeping the land. Luckily, a mysterious new ally in the form of a traveling monk, Tuck (Harewood) arrives just in time to get the hooded hero back on track. This season holds incredible twists and turns – take nothing for granted!

Season three kicks off when Robin and his gang of outlaws return from the Holy land. But now that he’s back, Robin wastes no time – Marian’s murderer, Guy of Gisborne (Armitage), is a marked man. Robin immediately breaks with his followers and races to Locksley Manor to avenge her death. Once there, he confronts Gisborne, but does Gisborne care if he lives or dies? After all, Marian was the only woman he loved and his only hope.

Jonas Armstrong comments on the darker, tougher Robin Hood, hell bent on avenging his wife’s tragic end, “Robin is back from the Holy Land but without Marian, the beat of his life. He’s questioning everything he ever lived for. Now it’s payback time, and he’s become obsessed with killing Gisborne. It’s great to bring Robin back as a darker, more mature hero, and fans will see that once he’s come to terms with his personal loss, he’s a stronger, more powerful force than ever before.”

Meanwhile, the wickedness of the Sheriff (Allen) continues unabated – he’s sold the local men to fight a foreign war. When a feisty Locksley girl, Kate (Joanne Froggatt, Life on Mars) objects to her brother’s forced conscription, she inadvertently gets caught up in the cause of Robin Hood and becomes an indispensable member of his gang.

The third season also brings an unexpected addition when Gisborne’s little sister Isabella (Lara Pulver) unexpectedly arrives to further complicate the lives of both Robin and Gisborne. And, as the threat of Prince John (Stephens) looms larger, Robin and Gisborne reach an uneasy truce. They soon realize they may have more in common than they thought.

Season three of Robin Hood premieres Saturday, September 12th @ 9 p.m. EST/PST on BBC America. SciFiAndTvTalk will have more coverage of the series closer to that time, along with weekly episode previews, so keep checking back!

As noted above, photo is copyright of Tiger Aspect Productions and the BBC, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any form. Thanks!