Showing posts with label Poll. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Poll. Show all posts

Your Favourite Friar Tuck

James Hayter  as Friar Tuck on the set of Disney's Story of Robin Hood

In last week's post I explained how Friar Tuck has been an integral part of Robin Hood's men since Anthony Munday's two Elizabethan plays, 'The Downfall' and 'The Death of Robert Earl of Huntington' (1598). This jovial character has been interpreted thousands of times. But which actor in your opinion portrayed him the best?

As regular readers of this blog will know, I have run a couple of surveys to find your all-time favourite Robin Hood and Maid Marian. It was Michael Praed of TV's Robin of Sherwood who achieved the most votes for the outlaw hero and the results of that poll can be seen here


Michael Praed as Robin Hood

Joan Rice (1930-1997) gained the most votes for her portrayal of Maid Marian in Disney's live-action movie The Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952). The rest of that chart is here.


Joan Rice as Maid Marian

So who was your favourite Friar Tuck? I can now reveal that out of a poll of 134 it was James Hayter (1907-1983) who came out on top with 49 votes.


James Hayter as Friar Tuck


In The Story of Robin Hood, Hayter played one of the most memorable Friar Tucks of all time and went on to re-create his famous role for Hammer Films A Challenge for Robin Hood in 1967. But in his long acting career he starred in countless film, stage and television productions.  He is probably best remembered for being the voice of Mr Kipling Cakes and James Onedin’s father-in-law in the costume drama, The Onedin Line.
But towards the end of his long and illustrious acting career, Hayter was chosen by comedy writer and producer, David Croft, to appear as a new assistant in his successful TV series Are You Being Served

Alexander Gauge (1914-1960) gained second place in the poll with 27 votes. His Friar Tuck appeared in 91 of the 143 episodes of the much-loved television series The Adventures of Robin Hood (1955-1959). 


Alexander Gauge


Eugene Pallete's gravel-voiced, sword wielding Friar Tuck was your choice for third place with 20 votes. This legendary Hollywood character actor appeared alongside Errol Flynn in the classic Technicolor screen version, The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938).


Eugene Pallete

Once again we return to TV's memorable Robin of Sherwood for your fourth Friar Tuck. It was Phil Rose who gained 14 votes. Rose is a very popular British actor both on stage and television. 


Phil Rose

Next with 5 votes is Eastenders star Tony Caunter who appeared as the friar in the BBC mini series The Legend of Robin Hood in 1975. This for me was a pleasant surprise. Because, although it was a fine version (nominated for a BAFTA TV award) which included Martin Potter as Robin Hood and Diane Keen as Maid Marian, the series was almost forgotten until a viewers' petition finally made the BBC release it on DVD. Tony's friar made it to number five in our chart.


Tony Caunter

A more recent Friar Tuck reaches number six. This is Mark Addy from York in England, who donned the robes in Ridley Scott's recent version of Robin Hood (2010). As a souvenir collecting bee keeper, Addy's priest is seen brewing mead for profit.


Mark Addy

The late Ronnie Barker is at joint number eight with 3 votes. Barker, famous for his roles in hugely popular tv series like The Two Ronnies and Porridge appeared as Friar Tuck in Richard Lester's Robin and Marian in 1976. Although his appearance in the movie was short and understated it was certainly memorable.


Ronnie Barker

And alongside Ronnie Barker at number eight is Michael McShane who appeared as the chunky, quick-tempered, drunken priest in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves in 1991.


Michael McShane

At number nine, sharing 2 votes each are four 'friars'. Mel Brooks in his hilarious spoof Robin Hood:Men In Tights (1993) as Rabbi Tuckman, with David Harewood's Tuck, the disillusioned priest from Fountains Abbey in BBC TV's Robin Hood (2006-2009). Alongside those, also with 2 votes are Bill Dow as Friar Tuck in the first internet version of Robin Hood, Beyond Sherwood Forest (2009) and the Welsh actor Martyn Ellis who appeared in 52 episodes of The New Adventures of Robin Hood as the friar (1997-1999).

Niall McGinnis gained 1 vote for his Friar Tuck in Sword of Sherwood Forest (1960).




So, the best Robin Hood production of all-time would have Michael Praed as Robin Hood, Joan Rice as Maid Marian and James Hayter as Friar Tuck. Who would be Little John?

I would like to thank all those readers who took part and helped produce this interesting result. Don't forget to vote for your favourite Little John in the task bar.

To see the all the votes for your favourite Robin Hood and Maid Marian please click on the link Favourites.



Your Favourite Maid Marian : Joan Rice


Joan Rice



I am pleased to announce that the winner of our poll for your Favourite Maid Marian of all time is Joan Rice! She gained 53 votes. Close behind came Judi Trott from TV's excellent Robin of Sherwood (1984-86) with 51.


Judi Trott


Olivia de Havilland


Joint third is the lovely Olivia de Havilland from the classic Hollywood movie The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) with Lucy Griffiths from the recent BBC series (2006-7).



Bernadette O'Farrell

Next came Richard Green's love interest, Lady Marian Fitzwalter in the iconic TV series of the 1950's played by Bernadette O'Farrell with 13 votes. And right up to date comes Hollywood's modern interpretation played by Cate Blanchett with 12.

Patricia Driscoll received 9 votes. She had  continued the roll of Lady Marian in series 3 and 4 of  TV's Adventures of Robin Hood (1955-59) after the departure of Bernadette O'Farrell.

Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio gained 7 votes as Maid Marian in Robin Hood:Prince of Thieves (1991) alongside Kevin Costner. She was later nominated for two awards as Best Supporting Actress and Best Female Performance.

Legendary Audrey Hepburn returned to the screen after an eight year absence to appear in Richard Lester's Robin and Marian (1976) alongside Sean Connery.But she collected only 3 votes.


Uma Thurman

Both surprisingly on 2 votes are Uma Thurman from the gritty and very underrated Robin Hood (1991) and Sarah Branch from Hammer's Sword of Sherwood Forest (1960) which also starred Richard Greene as the outlaw hero.


Gay Hamilton

Gay Hamilton played Lady Marian Fitzwarren in Hammer Film's third version of the Robin Hood legend in 1967, but she only got 1 vote along with Anna Galvin from The New Adventures of Robin Hood (1997).

Sadly the other maidens were not voted for. 

Thank you to all the readers who voted. We have now chosen Michael Praed as the all-time Favourite Robin Hood and we can place Joan Rice alongside him as Maid Marian. Who shall we pick as Friar Tuck?  Look out for the poll starting soon!




Who Was Your Favourite Robin Hood ?


For quite a while this survey has appeared on my blog and I feel it’s now time to reveal the winner! I have had 395 people take part in this poll and the winner with 96 votes is Michael Praed of the 80’s TV series ‘Robin of Sherwood.’ In second place with 86 votes was Errol Flynn in the classic Hollywood movie the ‘Adventures of Robin Hood.’ Jonas Armstrong’s portrayal of the outlaw in the recent BBC series earned him third place with 68 votes.

Our Richard Todd who appeared in Disney’s live action masterpiece received 45 votes which gave him fourth place. From the golden age of television, Richard Greene’s Robin Hood was given 38 votes and Russell Crowe’s most recent depiction gained him 19 votes. Kevin Costner’s 'Prince of Thieves' reached seventh place with 11 votes.

Eighth and just ahead of his father is Jason Connery who took over from Michael Praed in 'Robin of Sherwood'. Sean Connery is ninth with his portrayal of an old Robin Hood with 7 votes and in those green tights and with 6 votes is Cary Elwes, from Mel Brooks’s hilarious movie.

One of the most underrated versions of the legend featured Patrick Bergin as the outlaw, and he received 3 votes. Cornel Wilde, Barrie Ingham and Martin Potter just got 2 votes each and John Derek and Matthew Porretta had one apiece. From the silent era of Hollywood, Douglas Fairbanks sadly never got a vote.

Thanks to everyone who took part in this poll and I hope you found the result as interesting as I did. Look out for the next survey which will be on your favourite Maid Marian of all time!



Michael Praed the 'Favourite Robin Hood'

Who Was Your Favourite Robin Hood?


This is the result of a poll that I have had sitting on my blog for a couple of years now. As Russell Crowe is now a contender, since the release of his new film, I thought I would finally remove it and perhaps run a similar poll in the future. What do you think of the final outcome?