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The BBC has confirmed that Merlin will return for a second series.

Anthony Head, who plays King Uther Pendragon in the show, last week revealed to Digital Spy that Merlin will be back for a second run.

The fantasy series, which focuses on the young wizard’s friendship with King Arthur, has been a Saturday-night ratings success since debuting on BBC One in September.

Head of drama for BBC Wales Julie Gardner said: “We are thrilled that audiences have entered into the magical world of Camelot and Merlin has been such a big hit on Saturday nights. It has performed outstandingly well.

“The cast have entertained and enchanted a whole new generation with this fresh and modern retelling of a classic British legend.”

Along with Head, cast members Colin Morgan, Bradley James and Richard Wilson will reprise their roles in the second series, which begins shooting on location in Wales and France next year.

“We are absolutely delighted to be returning for a second series,” producers Johnny Capps and Julian Murphy said in a statement. “All the principal characters are destined to experience more magical adventures next year.

“The story of Merlin is a much loved tale and it’s so exciting that our updated version has captured the hearts of audiences and brought the magic and myth of Camelot alive.”

DigitalSpy

For the last umpteen weeks there’s been a failsafe incentive to stay in on Saturday night – no, we don’t mean The X Factor, we’re actually talking about Bradley James on Merlin! As the mythical TV series draws to a close, we’ve decided to give Prince Arthur his very own Picture Special. “And about time too,” you’d have every right to grumble.

For pictures, go HERE. Nothing new of course.

A suitably epic finale rounds off the largely impressive first season of Merlin, with the stakes raised higher than ever. The tone is chillingly dark, the cast is brilliant and the plot is consistently gripping. It’s perfect fantasy viewing for all the family.

Morgana’s prophetic doom-laden visions help to instill a sense of dread after a slightly clumsy beginning to the episode, featuring a very unconvincingly rendered monster. From then on, the episode provides Colin Morgan with his best material to date as the confused wizard, who is put in the horrible position of having to sacrifice his own life to save Arthur – or so he thinks. Morgan, as an X Factor judge would say, owns the stage in a tense confrontation with the Dragon and is similarly crowdpleasing when asserting himself on Arthur (in a purely verbal sense!) and calling him a ‘prat’.

Special mention should go to Anthony Head too, whose grief over his slain son is authentic and very moving despite the character’s past evil deeds. Richard Wilson also exudes an immense amount of selfless dignity as Gaius, benefiting from some excellent writing – especially the admission that his life has mostly been a failure and that Merlin is the son he always wanted. But just as you’re about to reach for the hankie, Gaius is spared from death by Merlin’s actions.

The finale is not without its flaws though. When Merlin’s mother turns up on Gaius’s doorstep, with Rice Krispies attached to her face, it’s hard to be too concerned about her fate as she’s hardly figured throughout the series. Certainly, if we got to know her a bit better during Merlin’s recent trip home the scenario would have been more effective. Also, Merlin’s decision to kill Nimueh – without any subsequent remorse – doesn’t quite gel with the moral messages present throughout the series. Still, what’s the betting that she isn’t really dead?

Nonetheless, Merlin bows out for the year on a high and there are plenty of narrative threads that deserve to be further explored in a second season. Let’s hope Merlin can cast a spell on the BBC programme commissioners…

DigitalSpy.

The ending of Series 1, whatever will we do, I’m guessing after this update it will be ages to new updates lol.

I have added screencaps and clips from Episode 13 of Merlin.

Gaius is deeply troubled when a Questing Beast is spotted in Camelot. A creature conjured from the nightmares of a long dead king, not only is its bite fatal but it is feared as an omen of impending doom…

Friendship, loyalty and love are all tested to the limit as Merlin is forced to choose between those he loves most in the world. Just how far is the young sorcerer prepared to go to protect his destiny? And what will he have to sacrifice in order to do so?

It hasn’t escaped our notice that Merlin’s Bradley James is proving rather popular round these parts. Well, we’ve had a root around and we’ve managed to get our mitts on some shirtless shots from his appearance in Lewis earlier this year.

We’re not sure why Simon Cowell’s bodyguard is hoisting Bradley up in that second picture, but sometimes it’s best not to question these things.

P.S. Do you think Bradley deserves his own Picture Special? It could certainly be arranged…

Images – already in the gallery – Lewis.

SOURCE

The image I was talking about is included in this weeks stills

Too much Morgana again, her character has gotten too overrated, her character isn’t even meant to be big