Robin Of sherwood: the knights Of the apocalypse

Nothing is forgotten, thankfully

Imagine if, 30 years from now, every surviving Firefly cast member got together and recorded an unfilmed script as an audio drama. You’d flip your lid, wouldn’t you? Well, that’s exactly what Robin Of Sherwood fans are doing right now.

Based on a screenplay by creator Richard Carpenter that picks up after the ’80s ITV show ended, The Knights Of The Apocalypse continues the adventures of Jason Connery’s Robin and co, and does it bloody well too. Once you get over the sheer, fist-pumping joy of hearing Ray Winstone’s Will Scarlet grumbling like a mardy bastard, Nickolas Grace’s Sheriff saying “Gisburne!” as though he’s found something icky on his shoe and, yes, those Clannad vocals at the start, you can sit back and enjoy the episode that never was.

And it’s a doozy: filled with all of Robin Of Sherwood’s glorious swords and sorcery and boasting a scenery-chewing turn from Anthony Head as the bad guy. Despite the fact the series was so gloriously visual – all misty forests and moody castles – the sound design does such a great job of conjuring crackling fires, frog-filled marshes and echoey dungeons. The cast are on top form, too; as in-character as you’d expect given the writer, and there are even a few belly laughs (a scene involving a toilet is a treasure). We’ll never get to see new Robin Of Sherwood on our screens again, but this is the next best thing. Jayne Nelson

Sit back and enjoy the episode that never was