The first episode of the new series of Sherwood will air on BBC One on Sunday
Cast and crew walked the red carpet ahead of an exclusive screening of the first episode
Laura Hammond
BBC News, Nottingham
We are bringing our live coverage of tonight's event to a close with this picture from the red carpet - thank you for joining us as we went behind the scenes of the series premiere.
The new series of Sherwood will air on BBC One at 21:00 BST on Sunday.
Matt Taylor
BBC News, Nottingham
Monica Dolan joins the cast of Sherwood as Ann Branson, fresh from her portrayal of Jo Hamilton in the ITV drama Mr Bates vs the Post Office.
When asked about what she liked about playing Ann, she said: "I suppose I really like her because she’s got so much self-confidence.
"It’s quite unusual particularly to play a female character who is that confident."
She said that shows like Sherwood and Mr Bates vs the Post Office "give people a greater understanding of the context" of the stories they are based on.
She added: "[Sherwood is] really specific.
"I think the best drama is set in really specific places, because all of the human element is relatable.
"People from the other side of the world can relate to the human element, but they can get a bit nosy about is all the specifics and how people live their lives."
Matt Taylor
BBC News, Nottingham
Christine Bottomley is another new cast member. She portays Rachel Sparrow.
She said: “If you get offered a James Graham script and a six-parter of a belting series it’s a bit of a no brainer really.
"I love James’ plays and screen work. As a writer, what he does is political but he can still write with heart."
Matt Taylor
BBC News, Nottingham
Oliver Huntingdon has joined the cast of Sherwood for the second series and plays the role of Ryan Bottomley.
Originally from Derby, he trained at The Television Workshop in Nottingham from the age of 13 and has lived in the city since he was 18.
When asked about his character in the show, he said: "You kind of get thrown straight into Ryan’s life from the get-go. Into a very dark phase of his life.
"He’s one of the reasons why a lot of people are angry and he makes a very bad decision."
Mr Huntingdon said although he did not have personal connections with the story of Sherwood, he did connect with the people and the community sense of the show.
Matt Taylor
BBC News, Nottingham
Perry Fitzpatrick, who is from Nottingham, returns to his role as Rory Sparrow in the second series of Sherwood.
He said it was "great" to be back in the Sparrow family and described it as "a dream role".
When asked about James Graham's writing, Fitzpatrick said: "He’s definitely in touch and you can tell he loves the Nottingham area.
"There’s a lot of history there good and bad. Those stories do need telling and he does it perfectly.
"It’s very tastefully done and it’s not caricatured and it’s a good representation of an area of the country that a lot of people can resonate with."
He added that there were "some wicked actors" joining the show for series two, which he described as "bigger and better".
Matt Taylor
BBC News, Nottingham
Sherwood received glowing reviews in 2022 after the first series aired, with one critic describing it as "the best BBC drama of the year".
The series, starring Lesley Manville and David Morrissey, centres around the hunt for a killer.
It follows two police officers in a mining village still scarred by the divisions laid down during the miners' strike decades earlier.
Matt Taylor
BBC News, Nottingham
James Graham, creator of the show, said it was the first time as a writer that he had returned to a series.
He said: "I’ve always done self-contained dramas or plays, so it was a joy to come back into a world I’d already built and write brand new characters and work with new people.
"The first series was quite personal as it was loosely inspired by things that happened in my village, streets away from where I was."
Graham explained that the second series was "even looser" and brought a lot of the mood and feelings from "the dark days of Nottingham" into the modern day using brand new characters.
"I did feel a bit more free to invent and create new stories and worlds and just use my imagination a bit more," he added.
Matt Taylor
BBC News, Nottingham
The new series was filmed at multiple locations across Nottinghamshire, including at some well-known landmarks.
They include:
Matt Taylor
BBC News, Nottingham
Ria Zmitrowicz, another new cast member, plays Lisa Waters in the new series.
She said she "felt the love in the script".
"James is clearly from this area," she added.
"He’s written such juicy and detailed characters, especially the women.
"He’s made some amazing female roles that are like nothing you’ve seen before on the BBC."
Ms Zmitrowicz said her character was the Sheriff of Nottingham, a county councillor and worked in therapy.
"She’s also just had a baby and is exhausted and run off her feet," she added.
Laura Hammond
BBC News, Nottingham
Actor Robert Lindsay has taken to the red carpet.
Matt Taylor
BBC News, Nottingham
Robert Lindsay was born and bred in Ilkeston but, speaking before the event, said Nottingham "has always been my home really".
He said the storyline of Sherwood was "very personal" to him and that the first series had an impact on his family and friends.
Lindsay, who plays Franklin Warner, joked that he was "horrified" not to have been in the first series, but was "really excited" when he was offered the role.
Matt Taylor
BBC News, Nottingham
The first episode of the new series will air on BBC One at 21:00 BST on Sunday, swiftly followed by a second episode airing at the same time the following day.
There will be a total of six episodes, which will be screened on Sunday and Monday nights over a period of three weeks.
Set in the present day, the new series introduces two new families to the drama.
Meanwhile, a newly-appointed Sheriff of Nottingham is passionately fighting against a proposed new mine for the area, which brings the promise of much-needed jobs, but also unwelcome reminders of past problems.
Image source, BBC/House ProductionsAmong the new cast members are Monica Dolan, Sharlene Whyte, David Harewood and Robert Lindsay.
They join the existing cast, which includes David Morrissey and Lesley Manville.
Matt Taylor
BBC News, Nottingham
The show's creator, playwright and screenwriter James Graham, grew up in Sutton-in-Ashfield.
His work includes TV shows and films, such as Brexit: The Uncivil War, and stage works like Dear England, which tells the story of the nation’s men’s football team under the management of Gareth Southgate.
Image source, PA MediaSherwood's first series was inspired by the events around the killing of former miner Keith Frogson, which led to a large-scale manhunt for Robert Boyer in 2004.
However, Mr Graham stressed the drama itself was fictional.
Matt Taylor
BBC News, Nottingham
We are at the Broadway Cinema in Nottingham where there will be an exclusive screening of the first episode of the second series of the BBC drama Sherwood.
We will bring you updates from the red carpet, including interviews with the cast and crew, as well as background information on the show.
