THE NEW SHERIFF OF NOTTINGHAM

David Morrissey is a cop hunting a new type of outlaw in Robin Hood country, in the shadow of the miners’ strike

Nottinghamshire is a place steeped in rich history, famous for its sheriff and legendary outlaw Robin Hood, hiding out with his merry men in Sherwood Forest. But more recent events dominate the drama of Sherwood in a new six-part thriller from James Graham (Quiz).

In a storyline drawn partly from real-life murders in his native Nottinghamshire, playwright Graham examines the legacy of the miners’ strike during the 1980s.

Could the bad blood that was stirred up over the months of industrial strife still leave an aftermath decades later so toxic that it would lead to a man being killed? That’s the question facing DCS Ian St Clair (David Morrissey, right, with Clare Holman as his wife, Helen), a local lad made good who, having risen to the top of the force, takes charge of the investigation after two bodies turn up. Might a serial killer be on the loose?

By his side is DI Kevin Salisbury (Robert Glenister), a Met Police veteran who served in the area during the strike and is back to help with the investigation – much to the displeasure of former miners with long memories.

This is far beyond the routine police procedural, as Graham deploys a large cast of characters across a broad canvas to explore a society still riven by conflict.

An incredible array of acting talent also includes Lesley Manville (inset, right) and Alun Armstrong as an NUM diehard and his wife, plus Joanne Froggatt and Stephen Tompkinson, in addition to Morrissey and the mesmerising Glenister.

The result is an insightful snapshot of the state of the nation, but delivered in a compellingly watchable storyline generously leavened with Graham’s gift for telling lines and humour in even the darkest moments.