“It continues to be the greatest privilege to tell stories set in and inspired by the history of my home county of Nottinghamshire”, writer-creator James Graham.

The BBC has greenlit a third run of James Graham’s state-of-the-nation drama Sherwood from BBC Studios-owned House Productions.

Graham will return to exec produce alongside Juliette Howell, Tessa Ross and Harriet Spencer for House Productions and Jo McClellan for the BBC. The new series was commissioned by Lindsay Salt, director of BBC Drama.

The second series of Sherwood was inspired by the so-called ‘Shottingham’ gang wars that impacted the region and the Nottinghamshire community in which James Graham grew up.

Series Two was directed by Clio Barnard and Tom George, with a cast including David Morrissey, Monica Dolan, David Harewood, Lorraine Ashbourne, Robert Lindsay, Perry Fitzpatrick, Christine Bottomley, Michael Balogun, Oliver Huntingdon, Bethany Asher and Lesley Manville.

Graham said: “It continues to be the greatest privilege to tell stories set in and inspired by the history of my home county of Nottinghamshire. Having a returning series on the BBC is pretty much every British writer’s dream, and I’m incredibly grateful for the continued passion that Lindsay, Charlotte and Jo have for Sherwood – and to everyone at House Productions, the most supportive producers you can have.

“My biggest appreciation though goes to our audiences and I’m determined to deliver for them in a series three, which will be a new set of stories, and the continuation – and completion – of some strands I’ve been dreaming of for some time.”

Exec producers Howell and Spencer added: “The love that the second series of Sherwood has garnered has been incredible to witness and so we are thrilled that the BBC are once again backing this very special drama for a third run and giving us all the opportunity to bring more rich stories from the Nottinghamshire community that has been such an integral part of James’s life.

“We are looking forward to further exploring the brilliantly complex world of Sherwood and unearthing some more of the many secrets which are harboured in and amongst its characters. James has a lot of very exciting storylines planned so fans will need to be prepared for some more heart-wrenching, jaw-dropping and shocking twists.”

Sherwood series three will once again be written by the BAFTA award winning James Graham who will again be an executive producer alongside Juliette Howell, Tessa Ross and Harriet Spencer for House Productions and Jo McClellan for the BBC. The new series was commissioned by Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama.