BBC puts Robin Hood to the sword

The BBC has announced it is axing the Saturday night drama staple Robin Hood.

Media Guardian reports that the BBC decided to end the show after believing it had run its course after three series and 39 episodes.

Last year it announced Jonas Armstrong, who plays Robin Hood, would be leaving the show, although that didn't necessarily mean the end of the series.

But falling ratings appear to have put paid to a fourth series. Last Saturday the series three finale was watched by just 1.7 million viewers when it was moved to BBC Two to cater for the tennis; at its peak it was drawing more than eight million-strong audiences.

Greag Brenman, head of drama at Tiger Aspect, which produced the series, said: "We have been immensely proud to be the most recent custodians of the Robin Hood legend. From the outset it was our ambition to find an exciting and modern way of interpreting our version of the hero and his legendary life.

"We have had a fantastic time creating and producing Robin Hood, working with some of the most talented actors, writers and directors in our industry. We are sad to be saying goodbye to this much-loved project but we are extremely excited by our upcoming BBC drama commissions – of which more to follow."

The demise of Robin Hood follows ITV's recent decision to axe both Demons and Primeval.