SEVERAL weeks ago I opened my emails to discover a surprising note of admission from someone I had never met.
The email in question had come from acclaimed writer and dramatist James Graham. He was keen to draw my attention to the second series of his Nottinghamshire-based drama Sherwood, which will air on the BBC this weekend. (August 25th)
James pointed out that he had read “Hoods” and that experience, along with his own personal research with Nottingham’s Violence Reduction unit, had inspired some of the plot lines for Sherwood.
He also revealed that a number of the cast had read “Hoods”, including David Morrissey, “to help develop a sense and an understanding of the city, its history and its gang culture,” as James put it.
Actor David Morrissey reprising his role of Detective Ian St Clair in the upcoming drama Sherwood 2
After replying, somewhat awestruck by these revelations, we organised a zoom call and had a engaging 45 minute chat during which we covered all the topics that Sherwood 2 would raise including the darkness of those early noughties when Nottingham became known, unfairly in my opinion, as “Shottingham”.
That monicker had spread far and wide and to the highest authorities in the land. Only a few months earlier a former senior detective from Nottinghamshire had told me a surprising anecdote arising from a trip down to London to receive his Queen’s Police Medal from the then HRH Prince Charles. While receiving his honour, my source had a brief conversation with the future King.
“He asked me about my work and where I was from,” my source said.
“When I told him, ‘Sir, I am from Nottinghamshire CID,’ Charles replied much to my surprise. ‘Ah I see. Shottingham eh’.”
I was privileged to get a sneak preview of the first episode of Sherwood 2 at the Broadway cinema in Nottingham and, based on that experience, I can confirm that James has, as he did with season one, created a special drama which will resonate with those who lived through the dark days of “Shottingham”. It will also resonate with communities across the UK. In the same way that everything that I wrote about in Hoods was a microcosm of what other communities have faced up and down the UK.
More than that the drama raises lots of talking points about community, how it manifests itself and what happens when communities are ignored or let down by the institutions which are supposed to support it. The lessons I think to be drawn are that serious divisions in society bring nothing but harm and pain. The recent riots in a number of English towns and cities are a case in point.
Like every other viewer I don’t know how Sherwood 2 will play out in it’s plot line but expect a rollercoster ride and a final episode which may offer future hope that from the little acorns of positive work being carried out behind the scenes to reduce despair, anger and violence in these communities, some major oaks will grow and thrive, and offer hope.
