August 25th 2024.
Coming up next on your screens is the highly-anticipated return of the BBC thriller, starring David Morrissey. Sherwood writer, James Graham, has opened up about the real-life stories and tragedies that have inspired the series, giving viewers a glimpse into the dark and dramatic events that have shaped the show.
Set in a Nottinghamshire mining village, the series delves into the aftermath of the 1980s miners' strikes, where the local community is still dealing with the trauma decades later. Season two takes us even deeper into the divides and tensions within the village, as rival gangs resurface with revenge on their minds.
In anticipation of the second season, creator James reveals that Sherwood draws inspiration from real events, although it is fictionalized based on his own experiences growing up in the area. The first season was based on the 2004 crossbow murders in James' hometown of Annesley Woodhouse, with fictional characters bringing the story to life.
This time around, the focus shifts to the "shotting" days in Nottingham, when the city was plagued by a wave of shootings and organized crime that resulted in the deaths of innocent people. Interestingly, James himself lived in the city during that time, working at the stage door of Nottingham's Theatre Royal.
As the David Morrissey-starring drama returns to our screens tonight, viewers may be wondering if Sherwood is based on a true story. James reveals that while there are elements of real-life events in the series, it is a fictionalized account of the experiences of those who lived through it.
Speaking about the inspiration behind the second season, James explains that there were many different components that he drew from, just like in the first season. As the stories he wanted to tell were about his own friends and neighbors, he was careful to protect their privacy and not put them through the trauma again just for the sake of art.
James was aware that in the particular community he was writing about, the stories were often pushed down and repressed, with people choosing not to talk about them. However, he also recognized the value of bringing these difficult stories to life through drama and wanted to do so in an empathetic and respectful manner.
He goes on to explain that the characters in the series are a hybrid of many different experiences that the community went through in the early 2000s, transposed into the vessels of his fictional characters. This approach, he hopes, will allow viewers to experience the events without having to relive them and also gives him the freedom to tell the story through the characters he chooses.
When asked about the real-life events that inspired the series, James reveals that there were three, four, or even five different stories that he has combined to create a hybrid of real and fictionalized drama.
While the series draws inspiration from the Nottinghamshire community, there are other aspects that may seem eerily familiar to viewers. For example, tensions with the police and one particular scene in the series reflect real-life events such as the Sarah Everard murder and the policing of the Black Lives Matter movement.
James explains that the first season explored the toxic relationship between the police and the community, which stemmed from the miners' strike. Unfortunately, he believes that this relationship has only gotten worse since then, and the series continues to delve into this divide in the second season.
As we prepare to dive back into the world of Sherwood, we can expect to see a gripping and thought-provoking drama that is both inspired by real events and skillfully fictionalized to bring these stories to life in a respectful and impactful manner.
Are you ready for the return of the gripping BBC thriller, Sherwood? Creator James Graham has recently shared some insight into the real-life events and tragedies that have inspired the series.
Set in a Nottinghamshire mining village during the 1980s miners' strikes, the show follows the aftermath of a series of dramatic crossbow murders. As the community tries to cope with the trauma, tensions with the police and local gangs resurface, leading to revenge plans and further divides.
James, who grew up in this world, has revealed that Sherwood draws inspiration from real events, although it is fictionalized. The first season was based on the crossbow murders in James' hometown of Annesley Woodhouse in 2004. However, the characters were not based on real people.
In the upcoming season, the focus shifts to the "shotting" days in Nottingham, where the city experienced a wave of shootings and organized crime, resulting in innocent deaths. James himself lived in the city during this time, while working at the stage door of Nottingham's Theatre Royal.
But is Sherwood based on a true story? In an interview with The Agency, James shared, "There are so many different components, much like in the first series. These people were my neighbours and friends, I wanted to protect them a bit, I didn't want to put them through having to relive that specific trauma so that I could turn it into art."
He was aware that in the community he was writing about, the stories were often suppressed and people didn't talk about them. But James also recognized the value of exploring such difficult topics through drama. "So in a similar way [with the first series], it's not based on one or two or three specific characters. It's like a hybrid of lots of experiences that the community went through in the early noughties in particular, in the shattering of days, transposed into my characters as vessels."
He hopes that by fictionalizing the characters and events, it will prevent the community from having to relive the trauma. But it also gives him the freedom to tell his own version of the story. "There's three, four, five even real-life stories that we've amalgamated and turned into a hybrid real-fictionalized drama."
While the series may be inspired by the Nottinghamshire community, it also tackles other real-life issues. In the first season, James explored the toxic relationship between the police and the community, stemming from the miners' strike. This theme is further explored in the upcoming season, which coincides with real-life events such as the murder of Sarah Everard and the policing of the Black Lives Matter movement.
"It was just a complete breakdown in people's faith in that institution," James shared. "I think that unfortunately, it has only gotten worse since then." The series continues to delve into these complex and relevant issues, creating a gripping and thought-provoking drama for viewers to enjoy. So don't miss the return of Sherwood tonight!
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