Robin Hood is slain - by the BBC

ROBBING from the rich and giving to the poor apparently doesn't pull in the TV ratings like it used to.

The BBC announced yesterday the cancellation of Robin Hood, the programme it introduced three years ago to bolster its BBC1 Saturday-night family line-up revitalised by Doctor Who.

Set in Sherwood Forest but filmed in Hungary, the programme starred Jonas Armstrong as a young version of the legendary hero. But Armstrong has announced he would not be back for a fourth series, casting its future in doubt.

It was still capable of pulling in millions of viewers on a good Saturday – and had built up an international following, including a slot on BBC America – but was no longer the massive ratings-getter expected by the BBC.

Saturday's season three finale had only 1.7m viewers – although it was bumped to BBC2 to make way for Andy Murray at Wimbledon.

The cancellation comes at a time when city tourism bosses are focusing more on the big screen as a way to capitalise on Robin-loving tourists' interest in Nottingham. In particular, they're looking at the in-the-works big-budget re-telling of the legend starring Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett.

As reported yesterday in the Post, tourism body Experience Nottinghamshire is in talks with Universal Pictures to bring the film's premiere to Nottingham, and to use images from the film to publicise tourist attractions.

The television programme had helped garner new interest in the legend, said Experience Nottinghamshire's Alex Green. But he insists the programme's demise would not end that.

"We've certainly enjoyed the benefits of the programme's popularity in terms of increased visitors to Nottinghamshire," she said, "but I think this will continue, despite the series coming to an end''.

Stephen Barker, director of communications at Nottingham City Council, said: "The legend lives on. The series could not have gone on forever.''