================================= MAID MARIAN AND HER MERRY MEN FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS LIST Version 1.2, 25 June 1998 Maintained by Benjamin John Evans ================================= WHAT'S NEW IN THIS VERSION * Added broadcast dates for all remaining episodes. * Updated info about videos. * Added info on other Maid Marian books. TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. What is MAID MARIAN AND HER MERRY MEN (MMMM)? | 2. Where can I get MMMM on video? | 3. Is there an episode guide for MMMM? 4. What are the lyrics of the theme song? 5. Where do I know some of the cast from? 6. Wasn't there a MMMM Christmas special? | 7. Are there books about MMMM? CREDITS This FAQ List was originally created by Benjamin John Evans, and modelled on the RED DWARF FAQ, created by Michael J. Montoure and Renee Ann Byrd, and currently maintained by Patrick M. Berry. Endless thanks must go to David Lloyd, without whose inside information this document would be terribly innacurate and pointless. HOW TO FIND THE LATEST VERSION OF THIS LIST The current version of this list will be posted as it is updated to alt.comedy.british. At any time, you can request a copy of the most recently posted version from the author via email at turlough@geocities.com. Alternatively, it is made available via WWW at http://www.ecr.mu.oz.au/~bjev/marian/ or | http://www.geocities.com/TelevisionCity/Set/2592/ COPYRIGHT NOTICE This document is Compilation Copyright (c) 1997 by Benjamin John Evans. It may be freely redistributed in its entirety provided that this copyright notice is not removed. It may not be sold for profit or incorporated in commercial documents without the written permission of the copyright holder. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. What is MAID MARIAN AND HER MERRY MEN? MAID MARIAN AND HER MERRY MEN is a children's television series created and written by Tony Robinson, which aired in the U.K. between 1989 and 1994. The show is a re-telling of the legend of Robin Hood; in this version it is Maid Marian who is the dynamic leader of the Merry Men, while Robin is in fact a cowardly tailor from Kensington. (Due to its long name, MAID MARIAN AND HER MERRY MEN is often shortened to either "MMMM" or "Maid Marian" (the title character is referred to as just "Marian").) The regular cast of the series are: YE GOODIES Marian......................Kate Lonergan Robin of Kensington.........Wayne Morris Barrington..................Danny John-Jules Rabies......................Howard Lew Lewis Little Ron..................Mike Edmonds YE BADDIES King John...................Forbes Collins The Sheriff of Nottingham...Tony Robinson Gary........................Mark Billingham Graeme......................David Lloyd Guy of Gisborne.............Ramsay Gilderdale (1990-1994) Rotten Rose Scargill........Siobhan Forgarty (1993-1994) YE PEASANTS Gladys......................Hilary Mason Snooker.....................Robin Chandler ------------------------------ 2. Where can I get MMMM on video? So far, the BBC have only released two volumes of MMMM on video: "How the Band Got Together" and "The Miracle of St. Charlene", | comprising the six episodes of the first series. They *were* | readily available from video retailers in the UK and from ABC Shops | and Centres in Australia; however, it has been recently reported that | the tapes have been deleted from BBC listings. [Let me know about availability in other countries and I'll add the information here. -- BJE] The Red Dwarf FAQ points readers to the alt.comedy.british FAQ List, which includes an excellent list of mail-order dealers who will ship British comedy videotapes to overseas customers. A copy is located at: | http://www.ecr.mu.oz.au/~bjev/marian/acb_faq4.txt and is also posted regularly on alt.comedy.british, alt.answers, and | news.answers. I can send you a copy via email. All four parts are | available on the Maid Marian web site. ------------------------------ 3. Is there an episode guide for MMMM? No official episode guide has been published, but a complete guide to all four series by Ben Evans can be found on the Swirly Thing Alert web site at: http://www.ecr.mu.oz.au/~bjev/marian/index.html A plain text version can be obtained from the above site, or by emailing me with your request at: turlough@geocities.com The following is basic information for all four series; thanks to the Episode Guide Site for being the place I eventually tracked down the dates at! You can find their 800+ epsisode guides and listings at: http://www.xnet.com/~djk/main_page.shtml Series 1 - 1989 | 1 How the Band Got Together...........16 Nov 89 | 2 Robert the Incredible Chicken.......23 Nov 89 | 3 A Game Called John..................30 Nov 89 | 4 The Miracle of St. Charlene......... 7 Dec 89 | 5 The Sharp End of a Cow..............14 Dec 89 | 6 The Whitish Knight..................21 Dec 89 Series 2 - 1990 | The Beast of Bolsover...............15 Nov 90 | The Worksop Egg Fairy...............22 Nov 90 | Little Brown Noses..................29 Nov 90 | Rabies in Love...................... 6 Dec 90 | Rotten Rose - part one..............13 Dec 90 | - part two..............20 Dec 90 Series 3 - 1993 | The Big Baby........................ 7 Jan 93 | Driving Ambition....................14 Jan 93 | Keeping Mum.........................21 Jan 93 | They Came From Outer Space..........28 Jan 93 | Robin and the Beansprout............ 4 Feb 93 | The Great Mud Harvest...............11 Feb 93 The Christmas Special (1993) Maid Marian and Much the Mini-Mart Manager's Son............24 Dec 93 Series 4 - 1994 Tunnel Vision....................... 5 Jan 94 Bouncy Sheriff......................12 Jan 94 Raining Forks.......................19 Jan 94 The Wise Woman of Worksop...........26 Jan 94 Robin the Bad....................... 2 Feb 94 The Nice Sumatran................... 9 Feb 94 Voyage to the Bottom of the Forest..16 Feb 94 ------------------------------ 4. What are the lyrics to the theme song? The lyrics are: Ma-ri-an! Why don't you carry on, With what you're doing, 'Cause there's always Trouble brewing You've got to find a way To make a better day Oh, Marian... Why don't you carry on With your Merry Men And make heroes Out of each of them You've got to find a space To make a better place Oh, Marian (Oh Marian) If you want lyrics to any of the other songs, many of them can be found on the web site (see above for address). ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. Where do I know some of the cast from? Several of MMMM's cast members are better known for other roles. The major roles the cast have had in other series, as well as a few cameo appearances and minor parts, include: Danny John-Jules: Cat in Red Dwarf (1987- ). Has also appeared in The Tomorrow People, The Bill and the films Little Shop of Horrors and Labyrinth. Tony Robinson: Baldric in Blackadder (1983-1989). Has also made various other series of his own, including the story-telling children's programs Fat Tulip, Fat Tulip Too, Odysseus and others. Has appeared in numerous other programs, including the Young Ones, the Good Sex Guide, and many others. Kate Lonergan: Played the stage manager in the Mel Smith film "The Tall Guy", starring Jeff Goldblum and Rowan Atkinson. Wayne Morris: Not been in much television, really, but did appear in the Tongue Tied video for Danny John-Jules. Ramsay Gilderdale: Played the fiancee of Blackadder's neice in "Blackadder's Christmas Carol" (which, of course, also featured Tony Robinson as Baldrick). Howard Lew Lewis: Played the barman in "Brush Strokes". Various other television appearances, including "Harry's Mad" (see below). Mike Edmonds: Various film and television appearances, including Terry Gilliam's "Time Bandits". David Lloyd and Mark Billingham: Both David and Mark have appeared in the children's series "Harry's Mad", which they also wrote. Howard Lew Lewis has appeared in an episode. I recommend the Internet Movie Database if you want more detailed information. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 6. Wasn't there a MMMM Christmas special? Yes, although I've been led to believe otherwise by a certain cast member... From the programme guide (version 1.1): The Christmas special was scheduled for and filmed in 1992, but not broadcast until Christmas Eve 1993. Details are scarce, but the plot centred around Marian falling in love with the Manager's son of the title, who was trying to manipulate her as well as Rose Scargill. This special episode was 50 minutes long. ------------------------------ 7. Are there books about MMMM? Yes. BBC Books have published a number of comic-book adaptions of | MMMM episodes. The episodes "Robert the Incredible Chicken", "How | The Band Got Together", "Robert The Incredible Chicken", "The Whitish | Knight", "The Beast of Bolsover", "Rabies in Love", "The Worksop Egg | Fairy", "They Came From Outer Space", and, as one volume, "Driving | Ambition" and "Keeping Mum" have all been adapted into books. The books are probably out of print; however, to help you in finding them, here are the publishing details of "Robert the Incredible Chicken": Maid Marian and her Merry Men: Robert the Incredible Chicken, by Tony Robinson. Illustrated by Paul Cemmick. Published by BBC Books; first printed 1989, reprinted 1990. ISBN 0 563 20808 2 (paperback). (c) Tony Robinson 1989; illustrations (c) Paul Cemmick 1989. | In addition to the noveilisations, also published are a novel | version of the story by Tony Robinson, and the script of the | play - presumably the musical version.