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Merlin

2008 British fantasy-adventure television programme

AI overview

"Merlin" is a British fantasy-adventure television series that aired starting in 2008, reimagining the legend of King Arthur and the wizard Merlin in a modern storytelling style. The show matters as a significant example of early 2000s fantasy television that brought classic mythological material to contemporary audiences through broadcast drama.

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Key facts

Genre: Medieval fantasy , Adventure
Created by: Julian Jones, Jake Michie, Johnny Capps , Julian Murphy
Starring: Colin Morgan Angel Coulby Bradley James Katie McGrath Anthony Head (Series 1-4) Nathaniel Parker (Series 4) Richard Wilson John Hurt
Theme music composer: Rob Lane
Opening theme: Merlin's Arrival at Camelot
Ending theme: The Call of Destiny
Composers: Rob Lane, Rohan Stevenson
Country of origin: United Kingdom
Original language: English
Number span no of episodes: 65 ( list of episodes )
Executive producers: Julie Gardner , Bethan Jones
Producer

Article

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.

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.