The latest critically acclaimed drama series was directed by award-winning University of Gloucestershire graduate, Lewis Arnold.

Broadcast on BBC1, Sherwood, is inspired partly by real events set in the Nottinghamshire mining village where the writer of the series, playwright James Graham, grew up.

Lewis, who graduated from the university with a first-class honours degree in video production, directed an array of British acting talent on the six-part series, which kicked off on June 13, including David Morrissey, Joanne Froggatt, Robert Glenister, Alun Armstrong, Lesley Manville and Adeel Akhtar.

Reviewing Sherwood, a Guardian TV critic said it was: "The cleverest, most compelling and most moving thing I've seen in years. It should, and undoubtedly will, win awards for all concerned."

Lewis Arnold, who has directed a string of hit drama series, said: "At the heart of Sherwood lie two shocking and unexpected killings that shatter an already fractured community and spark a massive manhunt.

"As suspicion and antipathy build - both between lifelong neighbours and towards the police forces who descend on the town - the tragic killings threaten to inflame historic divisions sparked during the miners' strike three decades before.

"Sherwood is a distinctly human story of a community forced to re-examine the terrible events of decades ago, for which it still bears the scars."

Before working on Sherwood, Lewis directed Jimmy McGovern's Time starring Sean Bean and Stephen Graham, which was nominated for six BAFTA awards. In 2020, he directed and executive produced Des, starring David Tennant, which won him the International Emmy Award for Best Performance by an Actor.

Lewis, who graduated from the university in 2007, regularly returns to the university's School of Creative Industries as a guest lecturer on the BA (Hons) film production course.

He said: "I love coming back into the university to teach and inspire the next wave of filmmakers alongside the brilliant existing tutors.

"It was for the students at University of Gloucestershire that I created Directors Now, which has now been downloaded by thousands of aspiring filmmakers worldwide."