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Merlin (2008 TV series)

Merlin (also known as The Adventures of Merlin) is a British fantasy-adventure drama television programme, loosely based on the Arthurian legends regarding the close relations of Merlin and King Arthur. Created by Julian Jones, Jake Michie, Johnny Capps and Julian Murphy for the BBC, it was broadcast for five series on BBC One between 20 September 2008 and 24 December 2012. The programme starred Colin Morgan, Bradley James, Katie McGrath, Angel Coulby, Richard Wilson, Anthony Head, and John Hurt.

For the 1998 miniseries, see Merlin (miniseries).

Merlin

Julian Jones
Jake Michie
Johnny Capps
Julian Murphy

Rob Lane

"Merlin's Arrival at Camelot"

"The Call of Destiny"

Rob Lane
Rohan Stevenson

United Kingdom

English

5

Julie Gardner
Bethan Jones[1]

Sara Hamill

45–50 minutes

BBC One
BBC One HD (Series 4 – Series 5)

20 September 2008 (2008-09-20) –
24 December 2012 (2012-12-24)

The programme is a reimagining of the legend, in which young warlock Merlin is sent to the kingdom of Camelot by his mother because of his "special gift". After saving Prince Arthur's life in the first episode, he becomes Arthur's manservant. Merlin soon learns that the reason for his gift is to protect Arthur, but Merlin must hide his powers because magic was banned in Camelot by Arthur's father, King Uther Pendragon, and those caught practising it are executed. Over the years and after several adventures together, Merlin and Arthur become trusted friends and companions, with the former doing his best to influence the latter into becoming the king he is destined to be.


Merlin was nominated for several awards, winning the 2011 British Academy Television Award for best visual effects. Broadcasting rights were sold to over 180 countries.

Series overview[edit]

Merlin (Colin Morgan) is a young, powerful warlock who arrives in the kingdom of Camelot after his mother arranges for him to stay with the court physician, Gaius (Richard Wilson). He discovers that the king, Uther Pendragon (Anthony Head), outlawed magic twenty years earlier in an event known as the Great Purge and imprisoned the last dragon, Kilgharrah (voice of John Hurt), in the caves beneath the castle. After hearing a mysterious voice inside his head, Merlin makes his way to the cavern beneath the keep to find that he was hearing the dragon's voice. The Great Dragon tells Merlin that he has an important destiny: to protect Uther's only son, Prince Arthur (Bradley James), who will return magic to Camelot and unite the land of Albion.


When Merlin meets Arthur, Merlin considers him to be an arrogant bully, and Arthur, likewise, is less than impressed with Merlin. After saving the prince's life, Merlin is appointed as his personal manservant. The two experience many adventures, over the course of which they come to respect and trust one another. But when Uther's actions eventually cause his ward, Morgana (Katie McGrath), to turn against Camelot and pursue a path of evil, Merlin and Arthur must join forces with friends, old and new, to protect their home and secure their destinies.

as Merlin, Arthur's servant and Gaius' ward, who secretly develops his magical gifts under the gaze of kings Uther and Arthur, both of whom despise the art. Only Gaius and Lancelot are aware of his magic. Merlin also has an alter-ego, "Dragoon the Great" (conjured when Merlin performs an aging spell upon himself), who is considered a criminal by Uther and Arthur, and inspires profound fear in Morgana who recognises him as Emrys, her prophetic nemesis. Despite keeping his capabilities under wraps for years, by the end of the show, more people become aware of Merlin's powers, including Mordred, Agravaine, Morgana, Gwen, and Arthur.

Colin Morgan

as Arthur Pendragon, the Prince and later King of Camelot, and the commander of the kingdom's knights. Despite being charged with carrying out his father's harsh edicts, Arthur is portrayed as a far more compassionate man, who defends the falsely accused before the king, and occasionally defies him. Arthur welcomes commoners Lancelot, Gwaine, Elyan, Mordred, and Percival as knights, and falls in love with Gwen, a serving girl, whom he later marries and makes Queen. He comes to regard his servant Merlin as a close friend and confidant, never realising how many times Merlin has had to save his life using magic. Arthur initially promises to lift Uther's ban on magic when he becomes king, but changes his mind when he thinks magic killed his father. Arthur is prophesied as "The Once and Future King", which means, even though he is killed in the final episode, Arthur Pendragon will rise again.

Bradley James

as Guinevere ("Gwen"), Morgana's servant who later becomes Queen of Camelot. Her relationship with Arthur at first causes conflict within the kingdom, as Uther considers her unworthy due to her low status and forbids Arthur to court her, even accusing her of witchcraft when Arthur's affections for her do not diminish. However, Gwen proves popular among the common people, and strives to make Arthur and his advisers approachable to them. Gwen is brave and selfless, always doing what's right for Arthur and Camelot.

Angel Coulby

as Morgana Pendragon, Uther's ward who is later revealed to be his daughter. Initially a kind and empathetic young woman, Morgana comes to despise Uther for his prejudice against magic and when she realizes he would never accept her if he knew of her magical powers, she begins covertly plotting against him. She becomes the show's primary villain by the third series, coveting Arthur's throne.

Katie McGrath

as Uther Pendragon, Camelot's stubborn king, who shows Arthur repeated tough love and ruthlessly enforces the kingdom's strict ban on sorcery. Although meaning well, Uther earns himself many enemies in his brutal fight against magic, and Morgana's ultimate betrayal leaves him a broken man.

Anthony Head

as Gaius, the court physician and Merlin's surrogate father and mentor. Once a sorcerer himself, Gaius abandoned the practice but occasionally practises it when Merlin needs help. A wise man with a long memory, Gaius is one of Uther's closest advisers, and always among the first to realise what is really happening when magic threatens the kingdom.

Richard Wilson

as Agravaine de Bois (series 4), Arthur's uncle who steps in, reputedly as a trusted adviser to Arthur, but is later identified as a traitor. Merlin and Gaius learn quickly that Agravaine's loyalty is to Morgana.

Nathaniel Parker

as the voice of the Great Dragon, also known as Kilgharrah, the last of his kind after Uther destroys all of his kin and makes an example of him by imprisoning him in a vast cave beneath the castle. The Great Dragon gives Merlin advice and forges the sword of Excalibur in his breath for Arthur, but persistently demands his freedom in return. Merlin eventually releases him, unwittingly unleashing a full-on assault on Camelot by the dragon, seeking revenge for his murdered kin. However, Merlin learns from his father that he is descended from a long line of dragonlords, and is able to use that power to control the Great Dragon. Subsequently, Merlin and the dragon become close friends with the dragon often helping Merlin when needed.

John Hurt

Broadcast[edit]

A documentary series called Merlin: Secrets and Magic explains how the series was created. Apart from the initial 50-minute special, which was broadcast directly after the series two premiere, all new 50-minute episodes were shown after each Merlin episode repeat on Saturday, Sunday, Monday, or Friday evening on BBC Three.[18]


In April 2008, United States broadcasting rights were purchased by NBC,[19] where it was shown on Sundays at 8 pm (EST), starting 21 June 2009.[20] This made it the first British drama in over 30 years to be shown on US network television, as opposed to PBS or cable.[21] The programme moved to Syfy, a cable channel also owned by NBC, for the second series, which premiered on 2 April 2010.[22] Syfy aired the third series in early 2011, after the conclusion of the initial broadcast on BBC.[23] It was later announced the series would air after WWE SmackDown beginning 7 January 2011 at 10 pm (9 pm Central).[24] The distributor, FremantleMedia Enterprises, also sold broadcast rights to CTV in Canada, Network Ten in Australia and Prime in New Zealand. It aired on Choice TV.[25][26] The series was broadcast in 183 countries.[27]

In other media[edit]

Official magazine[edit]

UK publisher Attic Brand Media launched an official magazine for the show in September 2011 featuring articles, puzzles and a comic strip written by Damian Kelleher and drawn by Lee Carey.[63] The monthly magazine cost £3.20 per issue and was distributed in UK newsagents.

2009: (IFMCA) – Best Original Score for a Television Series (Nom)

International Film Music Critics Association

2009: – Best Interactivity (Nom)

British Academy Film Awards

2009: – Outstanding Actor – Drama Series: Colin Morgan (Nom)

Monte-Carlo Television Festival

2009: – Outstanding Actress – Drama Series: Katie McGrath (Nom)

Monte-Carlo Television Festival

2009: – Outstanding Matte Paintings in a Broadcast Program or Commercial: For the Mark of Nimueh. For series 1 (Nom)

7th Visual Effects Society Awards

2009: – Best New Drama (Won)

TV Quick Awards

2010: – Best Family Drama (Nom)

TV Quick Awards

2010: – Best Visual Effects (Nom)

British Academy Film Awards

2010: – Best Design (Nom)

British Academy Film Awards

2010: – Best Director – Film/Drama (Nom)

British Academy Film Awards

2010: – Outstanding Actress – Drama Series: Angel Coulby (Nom)

Monte-Carlo Television Festival

2010: – Outstanding Actor – Drama Series: Colin Morgan (Nom)

Monte-Carlo Television Festival

2010: – Outstanding Actor – Drama Series: Bradley James (Nom)

Monte-Carlo Television Festival

2011: – Best Visual Effects (Won)

British Academy Film Awards

2011: – Outstanding Actor – Drama Series: Colin Morgan (Nom)

Monte-Carlo Television Festival

2011: – Outstanding Actress – Drama Series: Katie McGrath (Nom)

Monte-Carlo Television Festival

2011: – Best Actor: Colin Morgan (Nom)

TV Quick Awards

2011: – Best Family Drama (Nom)

TV Quick Awards

2012: – Most Popular Drama Series (Nom)

National Television Awards

2012: – Best Sound: Drama (Nom)

Royal Television Society

2012: – TV Drama Programme of the Year (Nom)

TRIC Awards

2012: – Best Actor: Colin Morgan (Nom)

TV Quick Awards

2012: – Best Family Drama (Nom)

TV Quick Awards

2013: – Best Actor: Colin Morgan (Won)

SFX Awards

2013: – Best Actress: Katie McGrath (Nom)

SFX Awards

2013: – Best Youth-Oriented Series on Television (Nom)

Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films

2013: – Most Popular Male Drama Performance: Colin Morgan (Won)

National Television Awards

2013: – Most Popular Drama (Nom)

National Television Awards

2015: – Best DVD/Blu-Ray Television Release For "The Complete Series" release (Nom)[68]

Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films

. Archived from the original on 26 April 2011., the official global Merlin site

"The Adventures of Merlin"

at BBC Online

Merlin

at IMDb

Merlin

at epguides.com

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"Merlin"

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