A special panel for Saturday with creators Johnny Capps, Juilian Murphy, lead actors Colin Morgan (Merlin) & Bradley James (Arthur).

A chance to learn about the magic of making Merlin.

MERLIN is an exciting new fantasy action adventure series for BBC1. Set in the mythic city of Camelot in a time before history began, but inspired by modern US television series like Smallville , MERLIN is a fresh and innovative take on the story of MERLIN, the greatest wizard of all time, and ARTHUR, the fabled King of the Britons.

MERLIN is an exciting new fantasy action adventure series for BBC1. Set in the mythic city of Camelot in a time before history began, but inspired by modern US television series like Smallville , MERLIN is a fresh and innovative take on the story of MERLIN, the greatest wizard of all time, and ARTHUR, the fabled King of the Britons.

This is no ordinary historical drama, but a reinvention of the legend for the 21st Century. MERLIN is a young man, at the cusp of adulthood, heading to Camelot where he hopes to find adventure and a use for his hidden talent: magic.  However when he gets to the mythic city, he finds Camelot is not quite as he’d hoped. Magic is banned by UTHER, the tyrannical leader of the realm. And worse than that, Merlin winds up being servant to a man he hates: ARTHUR, the King’s son, an arrogant young man who despises Merlin with equal fervour.

However, it seems Merlin’s new job is not merely bad luck. The Great Dragon, the last of his kind, summons Merlin to the cave where Uther keeps him captive. He tells Merlin that together he and Arthur have a great destiny. It is Merlin’s job to keep Arthur safe from harm until he can become the legendary KING ARTHUR, once and future King, bringing peace and fairness to the land.

MERLIN is guided in his quest by GAIUS, the court physician, with whom Merlin shares a touching father/son relationship as he learns to master his powers and adapt to life in the court of King Uther. By contrast, Arthur’s relationship with his father is much harder. Arthur finds Uther’s harsh rule and intolerance of magic conflicts with his own more open and democratic instincts.

Bound up in Merlin and Arthur’s destiny are MORGANA, the King’s ward, herself the subject of ancient and mysterious prophecies and her handmaiden GWEN, short for Gwynevere, the ugly duckling upon whose future hangs the clouds of history.

But before they achieve greatness, each week Merlin and Arthur must battle mystical monsters and enchanted assassins who threaten the people of Camelot and the future of the realm.  Of course Arthur can never know the contribution Merlin makes to his survival. Merlin must keep his magic secret, as in Camelot magic is punishable with death. Thus Merlin must always be the unsung hero, whilst Arthur is feted and adored.

As the series develops we will pay homage to the legend of Merlin and Arthur – Excalibur, Mordred and the Lady of the Lake will all feature in original and unexpected ways as we make a new legend of Merlin and Arthur for a modern audience.