[1] William Tell is a folk hero of Switzerland in the early 14th century, said to have encouraged the Old Swiss Confederacy population to revolt against the regime of Albert I of Germany (reigned 1298–1308).

The crew used to walk up the mountain from their base, as there was no vehicle access, and brought work for at least three yearly shoots to a tiny corner of North Wales before tourism took off.

Phillips had to wear support bandages during filming but sometimes forgot, causing him to struggle with some action scenes.

Unlike the courtly Sheriff of Nottingham, Gessler was a pig of a man, unshaven, often eating or drinking without manners and throwing his metaphorical as well as literal weight around.

Nevertheless, the interaction between the hero and the Sheriff and Landburgher respectively, was a strong point in both series, bringing out the high quality diction and crispness of both Alan Wheatley's and Willoughby Goddard's acting.

The series featured a long-remembered theme song, with music based on the William Tell Overture by Gioachino Rossini.

We are simple peasant folk We will not bear a foreign yoke Our freedom song will echo on To fight for what is right.

We had the skill to plough and till, But not the art of war, But now the tyrant from the plains Steals up to take our lands, Instead of spade we wield the blade Our life is in our hands.

Conrad Phillips later played William Tell's sidekick, Stefan, in the series Crossbow which ran from August 1987 till February 1989.

Other members of the cast were Jeremy Clyde as Hermann Gessler, Valentine Pelka as Roland, Melinda Mullins as Blade and David Barry Gray as Tell's son Matthew.

In the cast were Kieren Hutchison as William Tell, Andrew Binns as Xax, Nathaniel Lees as Leon, Katrina Browne as Aruna, Ray Henwood as Kreel, Sharon Tyrell as Kalem, Beth Allen as Princess Varga and Drew Neemia as Drogo.