Sherwood creator James Graham admits cast and crew ‘got upset’ filming dramatic scenes in series 2

Virgin Radio

5 Sep 2024, 11:36

Sherwood creator James Graham has revealed how filming the second series of the hit BBC drama often became upsetting for those on and off screen. 

While completely fictional, Sherwood is inspired by real events that rocked Nottingham during James’ childhood. The first series tackled the undercurrent of tension between mining communities within the region, while series two takes inspiration from gang culture and disenfranchised youth. 

While series two continues to air on BBC One until the final on Monday (9th September), show creator James admitted all the characters “go through it” in the second season in a “darker” storyline than its predecessor. 

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When asked about how he wanted series two to end, James revealed: “Hopefully it’s not just the second season cliche of everything gets worse and there’s a higher body count. There is a higher body count in this series but I think our regular characters do go through something quite upsetting.”

While not elaborating what that “upsetting” moment is, James did confess that it the moment was so powerful, it also impacted those behind the camera. 

“We all got upset at filming some of it,” he added. “Because you start to get to know these people, so it is dramatic, and it does get quite dark, possibly darker than the first series, and more upsetting than the first series.”

Despite its often harrowing themes, James was aware of not ending either the first or second series of Sherwood on a dark note, adding: “It's a conscious thing to still even end on a note of looking forward to the future and asking questions about where we go from here. I think it's similar to the first series.”

Teasing the final shot of the series, the Dear England playwright shared: “It is a metaphor for looking to the future now about how we finally understand our past, but don't feel imprisoned by it.”

Sherwood series two sees the return of David Morrissey and Leslie Manville, as well Sharlene Whyte, Ria Zmitrowicz, Philip Jackson, Aisling Loftus, Bill Jones, Bethany Asher and Robert Emms.”

Ian St Clair star David recently stopped by The Chris Evans Breakfast Show to chat about the gripping series, and described writer James as “fantastic.”

He elaborated: “He really wanted the BBC to release Sherwood in that traditional capacity that we all used to know and love, that it doesn't all drop at once, that we're all having the experience at the same time.

“And you have to then discuss it amongst yourselves, and talk at water cooler moments that we used to all have. You don't have that thing, with Sherwood, with people saying, ‘Where you're up to?’ or ‘Have you seen the whole thing?’ The way it is delivered is the way that it was always traditionally delivered.”

Saying, “there's a lot of stuff happening” in series two of Sherwood, the Walking Dead star suggested: “I think you have to digest it. I think you have to sit there and think, ‘God, these things are happening right here, right now,’ and really take that in before you jump into the next bit.”

Sherwood airs Sundays And Mondays at 9pm on BBC One and on BBC iPlayer.