Our latest episode is a conversation with the Notts-born Showrunner of BBC TV's Sherwood, who is taking Notts to New York stages and returning home to celebrate the 160th Birthday of Nottingham's Theatre Royal...
James Graham grew up in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Notts and has gone on to be one of the most prolific stage and screen writers in the country. In 2020 he was awarded an OBE for his service to drama and young people in British theatre.
To date he’s written thirty five plays including Quiz (about the Who Wants To Be A Millionaire coughing scandal), Ink (about the Murdoch Empire) and Dear England (about Gareth Southgate’s tenure as England football manager).
James also has a prolific career as a screenwriter and has written dramas like Brexit: The Uncivil War (starring Rory Kinnear and Benedict Cumberbatch) and Brian and Maggie (starring Steve Coogan). However, James’ biggest TV baby is the prime-time BBC One drama Sherwood for which he is the showrunner.
James has quite a lot going on at the moment. When we recorded this interview he was in a hotel room in New York. This was because Punch!, a play he wrote last year about a man from the Meadows, Jacob Dunne, who killed a man with one punch is heading to Broadway over there and premiering in September.
However in mid September James will be back in Notts as Dear England, is playing at Nottingham’s Theatre Royal as part of their 160th birthday celebrations.
This interview took place over Zoom in early August 2025.
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