Alan-a-Dale was intended to be a recurring character, but the production team and regular cast considered the actor's performance to be very poor.
Richard Carpenter adapted his scripts for the first series into a Penguin/Puffin book, also titled "Robin of Sherwood", published in 1984. "Alan a Dale" comprises chapters 15 to 17.
- It is explained that Alan intends to take Mildred to Scotland after rescuing her.
- Robin and his men teach Alan to shoot the longbow.
- Gisburne tries to make small talk with Mildred while escorting her to Notthingham and mentions her father will probably receive a bleeding from his doctors.
- The scene in which Gisburne addresses his soldiers before the wedding has different dialogue.
- Marion and Much are not disguised as nuns. Instead, Much wears a smock and a battered old straw hat.
- While fleeing from the bees, the Sheriff and Gisburne immediately dive into the Sheriff's bath tub.
- Mildred gives Robin a gold necklace which ones belonged to her mother instead of one she was given by the Sheriff as shown on screen.