Thieves have stolen the only master tapes for the BBC's new £8m series on Robin Hood and are demanding a £1m ransom for their safe return, it is reported today.
The four tapes were stolen last week in Budapest, where the 13-part series is being edited, according to the Daily Mirror.
The series, which is due to replace Doctor Who on Saturday nights from October and is expected to be a worldwide success, could now be seriously delayed or even shelved, the paper said.
The paper published a joint statement from the BBC and Tiger Aspect, the production company behind the series, which said: "Tiger Aspect has been the victim of a break-in in Hungary where Robin Hood is currently being filmed and some high-definition tapes and other equipment has been stolen.
"The thefts are causing inconvenience and have resulted in a delay in finalising some of the episodes. Tiger Aspect is taking all reasonable steps to recover the tapes."
The series features Jonas Armstrong as Robin, Keith Allen as the Sheriff of Nottingham, Lucy Griffiths as Marian and North & South star star Richard Armitage as Guy of Gisborne, the Sheriff's lieutenant.
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