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.

Latest News

BBC America interview - Richard Armitage was recently interviewed for BBC America about Robin Hood, and several extracts from the interview can be seen online, as follows;

BBC America showed a 30 second "Inside Look" at Guy of Gisborne during a commercial break in a recent episode of Robin Hood. Richard Armitage talked briefly about Gisborne. See the clip....

Two more "Inside Look" features with more thoughts from Richard about Gisborne can be seen on the BBC America website here and here.

Two longer extracts from the interview can be seen on You Tube here... and here...

And finally, members of the BBC America Robin Hood messageboard were asked to post questions for Richard about Robin Hood. In another extract from the interview which is also on the BBC America website, he answered some of those questions.

George Gently DVD in the UK - This can now be pre-ordered from Amazon UK, but the release date has been pushed back even further - to 1st June 2009.

Inspector Lynley on the Internet - Those who haven't yet seen the Inspector Lynley episode In Divine Proportion in which Richard Armitage was a guest star, will have a chance to see it on the Internet later this month. Dutch digital TV station Hilversumbest will show it on Thursday 24th July at 00.15am CET (that's 23rd July at 11.15pm BST). It will be broadcast in English with Dutch subtitles, and will also be streamed live on the Internet - see this link. (With thanks to the Dutch Richard Armitage website.)

New DVD releases in the Netherlands and Australia - On 22nd July, Dutch Filmworks will release the third series of Miss Marple (including Ordeal by Innocence) and re-release The Impressionists, both with Dutch subtitles.

Miss Marie Lloyd: Queen of the Music Hall will be released on DVD in Australia on 1st September (it can be pre-ordered from EzyDVD). And Miss Marple: Ordeal by Innocence will be released on 4th September (also available for pre-order at EzyDVD).

The Lords of the North audiobook - Richard Armitage's recording of Bernard Cornwell's The Lords of the North for The Audiobook Collection continues to be one of their bestselling titles. Their latest newsletter shows it in fifth place in their Top Ten.

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...

Spooks series 7 in the autumn - The new series of Spooks is likely to begin on BBC One at the end of September, according to Rupert Penry-Jones and Peter Firth, who were guests on 'Top Gear' recently. Richard Armitage joins the cast of the popular BBC drama series about MI5 (the UK's security intelligence agency) as Lucas North, an MI5 officer who returns to Britain after 8 years in a Russian jail.

In a BBC press release issued in March, he said, "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 been taking place in and around London since February. Richard was due to complete his work on Spooks at the end of June, returning to Hungary to rejoin the cast of Robin Hood, currently shooting its third series.

See the Spooks page for more information about this series, and pictures of Richard filming in a London street in March.

Robin Hood series 2 DVD - The boxset of the second series of Robin Hood will be released in North America on 5th August. It's due to be released in New Zealand in July 2008. See this page for further details and links to pre-order it.

The set includes commentaries on some of the episodes by the cast and crew, including Richard Armitage. There's also a feature about the making of Robin Hood, and short features about Marian and her father. See this page for some excerpts.

George Gently DVD in the USA - A Region 1 DVD of George Gently is now available for pre-order at Amazon USA.

Recent online interviews with Richard Armitage - Sir Guy of Gisborne has won RedEye's Most Popular Character [on American TV] contest. It was a knockout tournament, with characters from American TV programmes voted for by visitors to the RedEye Show Patrol website. Richard Armitage spoke to Curt Wagner about Gisborne's success in the poll, about series 3 of Robin Hood, and about leather trousers... The interview and a short audio clip of Richard can be found on the Show Patrol blog.

Earlier, two other interviews with Richard Armitage were published on the Web as part of the publicity for the new series of Robin Hood 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.

Jonathan Ross's World of Robin Hood - To accompany its recent Medieval Season, BBC Four 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 3 in the UK - The Daily Mail reported that the BBC's new series, 'Merlin', starring Richard Wilson, will be shown in Robin Hood's Saturday evening slot in autumn 2008. Other reports state that series 3 of of Robin Hood won't be seen in the UK until early 2009, although the BBC Robin Hood website still says it will be shown in 2008. Filming began in May.

Broadcast magazine reported that the writers for the third series 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 are 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.

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

Richard Armitage on TV this week

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

They include the new series of Robin Hood in the USA, Canada and Sweden, and the first series in Finland, Italy and Norway. Also scheduled are Inspector Lynley in the UK and the Netherlands, Cold Feet and Macbeth in Finland, and The Impressionists in Sweden. And the episode of Spooks from the first series in which Richard Armitage had a small part will be seen in New Zealand.

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 plays MI5 officer Lucas North.

Having completed filming on Spooks, he is now working on the third series of Robin Hood, in which he again plays Sir Guy of Gisborne.