The BBC has unveiled major new details for the highly anticipated third series of its gripping crime drama Sherwood, confirming a star-studded new cast and a fresh family mystery set to unfold in Nottinghamshire.
A New Family and a Buried Secret
Production is now underway on the new season, which will jump forward six months from the dramatic events of series two. The story will centre on the Wood family, described as the picture of working-class respectability and pillars of their community.
Zoe Wood is a passionate campaigner for her town, while her husband Alex oversees construction of the new Gotham housing estate, built in the shadows of Sherwood Forest. They live on the estate with their children and Zoe's parents, Irene and Eric Bostall.
Meanwhile, DI Zara Gill is leading an operation to identify numerous human remains found in the reservoir during the recovery after Ann Branson's drowning. This trail leads to missing people linked to the Bransons' crimes, but one discovery shockingly points back to the Bostall family.
The body of Arthur Bostall, missing for forty years, is unearthed from Nottingham's ancient caves, raising unnerving questions about his death and forcing the Wood and Bostall families to confront a buried past.
Stellar New Cast Members Announced
The BBC confirmed an exciting line-up of new actors joining the ensemble for this chapter. Joe Dempsie (Game of Thrones) and Rosalie Craig (Riot Women) will take the lead roles as Alex and Zoe Wood.
They will be joined by Sue Johnston (The Royle Family) and Peter Wight (Another Year) as Zoe's parents, Irene and Eric Bostall. Kirby Howell-Baptiste (The Sandman) steps into the role of DI Zara Gill.
A host of familiar faces will also return, including David Morrissey, Lorraine Ashbourne, Lindsay Duncan, Robert Glenister, Robert Lindsay, Lesley Manville, and Claire Rushbrook, reprising their roles from earlier series.
Acclaimed Storytelling Returns
Writer James Graham expressed his joy in introducing brand new characters each series, alongside the existing cast he has grown to love. He teased that the new Wood family, despite their charm, will be put through "the most intense experience we've created yet."
Executive producer Juliette Howell praised Graham for crafting something "truly special", combining gripping storytelling with profound emotional truth in a family mystery designed to hook audiences from the first frame.
Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, added her enthusiasm, stating she is "thrilled that it's back with such a stellar cast" and that Graham's scripts remain as gripping and unpredictable as ever.
The drama, which explores community tensions and lingering historical scars, holds an impressive 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Fans have previously hailed it as "BBC drama at its brilliant best" and "one of the best TV series of all time."
Sherwood is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
