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MAID MARIAN AND HER MERRY MEN
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS LIST
Version 1.2, 25 June 1998
Maintained by Benjamin John Evans
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
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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).
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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.
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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.
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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.
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