Welcome to RichardArmitageOnline.com

This is an unofficial website about the work of the British actor Richard Armitage, star of BBC Robin Hood, North and South and The Vicar of Dibley.

Richard Armitage as Harry in BBC Vicar of Dibley

Richard Armitage as John Thornton in North and South

Richard Armitage as Guy of Gisborne in BBC Robin Hood

There's information here about his television, film and theatre work, including pictures and video clips of many of his TV and film roles. You can also read Richard Armitage's comments on his various characters, taken from published interviews.

Navigate to any of his roles from the pull-down menu at the top of the page, or go to the Television Career, Film Career, Theatre Career or Voice/Audio/Radio Career pages and follow the links from there.

Message from Richard Armitage, 22nd April 2008

Hi everyone,

This is a message of thanks for yet more gifts and good wishes that I have been receiving, I apologize if some of you have been waiting for responses but since United Agents relocation there has been a bit of a back log, but I hope to catch up with it all soon.

Before I say thanks, I have to 'rap knuckles' again. I am really sad that I have to write a message like this but needs must. I have been informed of continued angst amongst forum and fan base members, though various different channels and I want to ease any growing tensions if I can.

Obviously I have no evidence for problems nor will I take sides in any dispute. I have NO personal correspondence with any fan, fan base or forum, I have deliberately tried NOT to favour one over another. My ONLY contact is through these messages. Occasionally, in the past, I have responded to letters with minor personal additions when requested but I suspect this may be causing further problems. Any 'thanks' given have been because certain events, gifts, fund raising have been brought to my attention. If ever I have over looked someone or something, I sincerely apologize. I welcome any requests for 'commendations' and will do everything I can to oblige.

Charity endorsement will always be unofficial, which enables me to look at different charities when needs arise. Once again, if I am asked to endorse something, it is looked into properly and then I will decide if it is something I want to support. Usually it is because it is relevant to me.

So please, once more, let me implore you to put your grievances aside and enjoy the fun. If it stops being fun, then it must stop altogether. I am really proud to have such a united fan base and I love the fact that I can keep things informal and have contact with you all. I am determined this will not change but if it all falls apart because the 'foundations are cracked', it would be such a great shame. I do not favour one site over another which is why I have asked for my messages to be distributed to anyone who wants to post it. There is room for everyone.

I get quite a few very personal letters telling me how this community has helped them through difficult times or given them a great hobby, so I suppose the letters which tell me how upset the community has made them, is all part of the ebb and flow. I just ask you to look after each other, thats all. There are quite a few sensitive souls lingering out there which need protecting not to mention the younger members who are looking at you as role models. This angst goes against everything I believe in, I think you know that.

"To live and let live, without clamour for distinction or recognition; to wait on divine love; to write truth first on the tablet of one's own heart - this is the sanity and perfection of living."
~ Mary Baker Eddy

Thank you for:

Framed water colour of Me as Richard III (watch this space!)
Stationary Paper with My Name and Mrs A's name on it (scribble scribble)
Upwardly mobile Actors Survival Kit 'Track Suit' (To run away from angry fans!?)
Silver Gold Engraved ring (hidden in Easter egg nearly choked on it scoffing the chocolate!)
Junior Doctors Satirical Stories+ Phots of OZ (down under not Wizard of...)
Silver Bracelet hidden in Comfy insoles (nearly choked on it scoffing insoles!!)
Insect repellent and Herbal Cream (scratch scratch)
Stuffed toy Vixen and Pink Umbrella (animal not woman!!)
"The Iron King" by Maurice Duron (am guessing this isn't about pressing a shirt!)
Richard III by Horace Walpole (read it Love it)
CD's Demo CD's (Simon Cowell eat ya heart out)
The Taming of the Shrew by Willy Wagglestaff (no comment)
Adventures of Little Guy by Cherry T (is that alcoholic?)
Vitamin B ( for 'Blummin eck that does the trick')
Easter Eggs + Fairtrade bag for Life (choked on the bag scoffing the chocolate)
Easter Eggs and dark side chocolate (choked on the chocolate scoffing the...chocolate)
Chocolate Soap (really cleaned my mouth out!)
Hand knitted socks (bless her cottons!!)
Pen and Key Chain set (writing home)
Special Powers Thimble (to ward of evils)
2 Leap Year proposals (covered in Chocolate...)
Crucifix (to keep me safe!)

Probably a few more to follow.

Much Love
Keep up the good work and SHINE
RA

Latest News

Marie Lloyd in New Zealand - The Sky Rialto channel will broadcast Miss Marie Lloyd : Queen of the Music Hall several times over the next few days. See the Richard Armitage on TV this week page for further details.

Robin Hood on iTunes in the USA and UK - The second series of Robin Hood is being made available on iTunes in the USA. Each episode can be purchased for $1.99, 24 hours after it's first shown on BBC America. The first series is also available (from 5th May).

In the UK, the whole of series 2 has been available for download from iTunes since February. Single episodes cost £1.89 each, or the whole series can be bought for £21.99. Series 1 is now also available - single episodes also cost £1.89, but the entire series costs £24.57. Also available are the four Robin Hood audiobooks recorded by Richard Armitage (at £7.95 each), as well as the sound track (at 79p per track, or £7.99 for the whole sound track).

Richard Armitage in Woman's Own poll - Richard Armitage was recently voted into third place in Woman's Own magazine's "Your Top 10 Hunks" poll.

Two new on-line interviews - Two interviews with Richard Armitage have recently been published on the Web as part of the publicity for the new series of Robin Hood, which recently started on BBC America.

In an interview with Show Patrol, a Chicago-based online blog, he discusses the character of Gisborne, working with Dawn French, and his new role in Spooks (MI-5)

And in his interview with Daemon's TV, he talks about Gisborne in series 2, with a few hints about series 3. He also discusses Spooks and other aspects of his career.

Polish DVD of North and South - Epelpol's release of the North and South DVD in Poland will now be on 26th May.

George Gently DVD - A DVD of George Gently was to have been released in the UK in May, but it's been delayed. The release date has now been set for 4th August, but this may change.

Jonathan Ross's World of Robin Hood - To accompany its current Medieval Season, BBC Four recently repeated this documentary about the Robin Hood legend. It was first shown in October 2006 when the first BBC Robin Hood series started. Watch an excerpt from the programme, in which Richard Armitage and Keith Allen talk about Guy of Gisborne.

Robin Hood series 2 DVD - This has now been released in Australia. It's available at ABC shops, and at the ABC shop website.

The extras include 'Beneath the Hood: Making Robin Hood Season 2' and featurettes on Marian and Edward. There are also commentaries by Richard Armitage, Lucy Griffiths, Gordon Kennedy, Sam Troughton, Anjali Jay, Foz Allen and Domic Minghella on episodes 1, 7, 12 and 13. More details...

The DVD set will be released in the USA on 29th July, and in the UK in October. In the USA, the set can be pre-ordered at Amazon USA and the BBC America shop.

Watch excerpts from the commentaries on episodes 7 and 13. See also a short extract from an interview with Richard Armitage about Guy and Marian.

Robin Hood series 1 Blu-Ray DVD in the USA - A Region 1 Blu-Ray edition of series 1 will be released on 29th July, and can be pre-ordered at the BBC America shop. A Region 2 Blu-Ray set is already available at Amazon UK.

Richard Armitage in Spooks - The BBC has issued a press release confirming that Richard Armitage is to join Spooks, the BBC's drama series about MI5 (the UK's security intelligence agency). Richard will play Lucas North, an MI5 officer who returns from 8 years in a Russian jail. He says, "Joining Spooks is a fantastic opportunity. Lucas North is certainly a nicer piece of work than my Robin Hood character Guy of Gisborne, although he has a dark side too. Plus I won’t have to wear head-to-toe leather — unless I didn’t read the small print..."

Filming on the seventh series of Spooks, which is known as MI-5 in the USA, has already begun, and it will be shown in the UK in the autumn. See the Spooks page for more information.

Filming Spooks - The new series of Spooks is currently being filmed in London. Richard Armitage was seen recently shooting a scene in a London street - see the Spooks page for pictures.

Patron of 'Playing Shakespeare' project - Richard Armitage is one of the patrons of an education project for schools at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London, now in its second year. 'Playing Shakespeare with Deutsche Bank' aims to stage free performances of Shakespeare for children, most recently a production of Much Ado About Nothing performed at the Globe Theatre on 10th-14th March 2008. Over 10,000 London schoolchildren aged between 11 and 14 were able to see the play. Many were also able to take part in workshops beforehand to help them study it.

Richard Armitage explains on the Globe's website why he supports the project. Other patrons include Sir Derek Jacobi, Patrick Stewart and Joseph Fiennes.

(Richard is a former member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, having appeared in Gregory Doran's 1999 production of Macbeth with Anthony Sher and Harriet Walter, as well as in Webster's The Duchess of Malfi.)

Robin Hood series 3 in the UK - The Daily Mail reports that the BBC's new series, 'Merlin', starring Richard Wilson, will be shown in Robin Hood's Saturday evening slot in autumn 2008. So it's possible that series 3 of Robin Hood won't be seen in the UK until early 2009, although the BBC is still saying that it will be shown in 2008. Filming begins in May.

Broadcast magazine reports that the writers for the third series will include Simon Ashford, who wrote three episodes for the first two series, Michael Chaplin (Foyles War, Monarch of the Glen), Holly Phillips (Nearly Famous), and Ryan Craig (Saddam's Tribe). The producers for Tiger Aspect will be Jane Hudson, who produced six episodes of series 2, and Tom Mullens (EastEnders, The Bill).

As with the first two series, there will be 13 episodes. To date, Robin Hood has been sold to over 50 countries, making it one of the BBC's most successful exports.

The Lords of the North audiobook - Richard Armitage's recording of Bernard Cornwell's The Lords of the North for The Audiobook Collection has been selling well. Their latest newsletter shows it in their Top Ten bestselling titles.

The Lords of the North is the third of Cornwell's 'Saxon Stories', a series of novels about King Alfred the Great and his descendants. See The Lords of the North page for more information about this audiobook, and for links to buy it.

Listen to an excerpt from the first chapter...

Saturn Award nomination for Robin Hood - Robin Hood has been nominated in the category 'Best International Series' for this year's Saturn Awards. These awards are given by The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films, and this year's ceremony will take place on 24th June in California.

Richard Armitage on TV this week

Details of Richard Armitage's appearances on TV around the world this week can now be seen on the Richard Armitage on TV this week page.

They include the new series of Robin Hood in the UK, USA, Canada, and New Zealand, and the first series in Canada, France and Norway.

The page also includes details of broadcasts known to be coming soon.

Forthcoming work

At the end of February Richard started work on Spooks, the BBC's long-running drama series about MI5. He will play MI5 officer Lucas North.

He will return to Hungary in May to film the third series of Robin Hood, in which he will again play Sir Guy of Gisborne.