Maid Marian and Her Merry Men Take to the Tabletop

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Maid Marian and Her Merry Men was a British children’s comedy series produced by the BBC that aired from 1989 to 1994. Created and written by Tony Robinson (best known for his role as Baldrick in Blackadder) the show offered a deliberately irreverent and subversive take on the traditional Robin Hood legend. Rather than presenting Robin as the noble hero, it gleefully inverted expectations.

In this version, Maid Marian (Kate Lonergan) is the true leader and intellectual driving force behind the Merry Men, while Robin Hood (Wayne Morris) is reimagined as a vain, self-obsessed, and rather dim figure, more concerned with his appearance and musical ambitions than with heroism. Supporting characters such as Little Ron, Barrington, and Rabies added to the show’s chaotic humour, while Tony Robinson himself appeared as the Sheriff of Nottingham, portrayed not as a fearsome tyrant but as a petulant, scheming buffoon, often undermined by his own incompetence and his equally inept henchmen.

This legacy provides the inspiration for the Maid Marian & The Sheriff of Nottingham Kickstarter by Hayland Terrain, a small but successful project aimed at tabletop gamers and collectors. The campaign funded very quickly, reflecting both the enduring affection for the series and the appeal of characterful miniature sculpts.

The Kickstarter offered a set of eight 28mm miniatures, faithfully capturing the distinctive personalities of the show’s central cast. These included the five members of the Merry Men (Maid Marian, Robin Hood, Little Ron, Barrington, and Rabies) alongside their adversaries, the Sheriff of Nottingham and his two dim-witted henchmen, Gary and Graeme. In keeping with the playful tone of the source material, a stretch goal added an alternative sculpt: a humorous “chef” version of Little Ron.

Little Ron, Robin, Marian, Barrington & Rabies

Little 'Chef'  Ron


The Sheriff of Nottingham flanked by Gary & Graeme



Location: Southampton, UK

Comments

  1. Mike Demana28 June 2026 at 18:05

    Figures look great, though I never saw the show over here in the States. Sounds like a "Hogan's Heroes" of the Middle Ages, with the Germans as buffoons and the Allied prisoners as wise-cracking subversives.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Simon Norrington29 June 2026 at 09:00

      Thank you. That’s a great way of putting it! It definitely leans into that same “authority figures as buffoons” dynamic, though with even more absurdity and fourth-wall humour thrown in. The Sheriff is less of a credible threat and more of an overgrown child, while Marian ends up being the real brains behind everything. If you ever get the chance to check it out, it’s well worth it (clips can be found on YouTube) - very much that British anarchic comedy style.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous29 June 2026 at 05:45

    Very cool! Brings back memories!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Simon Norrington29 June 2026 at 09:00

      Glad to hear it! It’s one of those shows that really sticks with you, with so much character and silliness packed into it. Seeing it translated into miniatures feels like a lovely bit of nostalgia made tangible.

      Delete
  3. Brauwan8 July 2026 at 20:48

    The minis are great !
    Nice to see a sheriff not just wearing black...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Simon Norrington9 July 2026 at 08:23

      Thank you. Agree on the black - Prince of Thieves has a lot to answer for!

      Delete

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