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BBC axes Robin Hood as viewers abandon show

by Ben Bold, Brand Republic 03-Jul-09, 09:30

LONDON - The BBC has taken the axe to its once-popular hoodies-in-the-woods drama 'Robin Hood', with the series grand finale haemorrhaging viewers with less than two million tuning in.

The series ended on Saturday evening, when the eponymous character -- played by actor Jonas Armstrong -- was killed by a poisoned sword, but not before he defeated his arch enemy the Sheriff of Nottingham -- played by Keith Allen.

For a show that averaged 5.5m viewers in its first and about 4.5m in its third and final series, the final episode ended with a whimper -- only attracting 1.7m viewers.

This was not least because the climatic episode was relegated to BBC Two to make way for Andy Murray playing at Wimbledon.

The demise of 'Robin Hood', which some critics likened to a forest-bound reworking of 'Hollyoaks' with bows and arrows, is yet another sign that the honeymoon is over for expensive family-oriented sci-fi and swords and sorcery-themed drama, which kicked off four years ago with BBC One's successful revival of 'Doctor Who'.

'Robin Hood''s axing follows a growing pressure on broadcasters to cut back budgets, with ITV announcing in March that it would reduce the number of dramas as one measure to slash its programming budget by £135m.

Casualties include the broadcaster's ITV1 drama 'Primeval', which gave viewers time-travelling scientists fighting dinosaurs, and vampire drama 'Demons'.

The BBC has also cut the number of episodes of its 'Doctor Who' spin-off drama 'Torchwood' from 13 to five, which led the programme's star, actor John Barrowman, to publicly express his anger and frustration at the cuts.

Torchwood' started life as a BBC Three series before jumping to BBC Two. The third series comprises five hour-long episodes. But last month the BBC announced it was moving to its flagship BBC One.

Barrowman said: "I feel like we're being punished. We moved to BBC2 as the ratings were so good and then to BBC One -- and then we were cut.

"Other shows move and don't get cut, so why are we?"

However, the BBC has made some notably successful family-aimed dramas, including its tea-time swords and sorcery series 'Merlin', which has attracted audiences of 6m.

It is also one of the few British shows that have successfully jumped across the Atlantic -- last month its debut on NBC attracted 5m viewers.

Comments

A DIAZ - 03/07/2009

Probably axed to pay for all those middle class surburbanites from Chiswick that the BBC sent to Glastonbury

Ben Damshenas - 03/07/2009

Nothing wrong with Chiswick

Mark Griffiths - 03/07/2009

Axed because it was making a soap opera out of a fiction out of a myth. And a poor one at that. Agree about the Glastonbury point, though. BBC is spending all its money on live events - as you'll know if you've attended one and, despite having paid your entry price, found yourself pushed out of the way by six-strong camera crews and their truckloads of kit, or forced to stand way, way back away from the action you paid to get close to.

Mike Page - 03/07/2009

Isn't it about time that broadcasters (irrespective whether they are publically funded, subscription funded or ad funded) realised that us viewers won't tolerate series that go on and on and on for years? So many of the initially great programmes have decended into farce in their twilight years, just because the broadcasters 'believed' that's what the viewer wanted. Like the article says, 'the end of the honeymoon period'. If you get to that point and you are not sustaining viewers, then it has to be time to go.

As for the Glastonbury comments, I don't think they have any bearing on the axing of Robin Hood. As the Beeb was the official media broadcaster, Glasto coverage sold around the world would probably more than covered the expense of sending all those staff.

IMHO

Nicola Lucas - 03/07/2009

They couldn't really have carried it on with Robin dead anyway could they? They should have bowed out gracefully and aimed to end it there anyway. Agree with Mike Page - Life On Mars got it right with 2 series. Now I worry for Ashes to Ashes - BBC seem to be intent on dragging it out, it could've been good if it was kept to 2 series and concluded. When will they learn, we're not american, we don't want 10 series each with 24 episodes.. costs far too much for the DVD for a start.

A DIAZ - 03/07/2009

You are right Mike - BBC gets the same amount of money from BBC Worldwide each year and they decide where it gets spent not the BBC. From what I understand they give £30m back each year and insist that it gets spent on Attenborough style documentaries and Top Gear \(and maybe Glastonbury) which sell well abroad. What doesn't sell well abroad is the dull costume dramas which the BBC have made their own. I was joking about the Robin Hood being axed to pay for Glastonbury.