Jul 07 2008
Exit Doctor Who - Enter Merlin!
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Felix in his wonderful Gaming Blog, tells us that straight after the final episode of Doctor Who the BBC ran a (very) short trailer which basically consisted of the following screen. He also found two Guardian news artciles that reveal some interesting facts. |
First Announcement 2005
The BBC is developing a drama series based around the fictional Arthurian wizard Merlin for the Doctor Who early Saturday evening slot on BBC1.
Merlin is one of a number of dramas being developed for the 7pm Saturday slot following the runaway success of Doctor Who earlier this year, which is credited with reviving family viewing.
The new BBC1 drama would concentrate on Merlin’s early life. In literature and on screen Merlin has been variously portrayed as a key figure in the Camelot story, acting as King Arthur’s adviser, poet and magician, but also as a villainous character.
Born and Bred creator Chris Chibnall is working on draft scripts for Merlin.
Second Article 2008
The BBC has started filming on Merlin, a fantasy drama about Arthurian legend featuring Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Little Britain star Anthony Head and One Foot in the Grave’s Richard Wilson.
The 13-part drama will be broadcast in the autumn and stars a trio of newcomers as the young Merlin, Arthur and Guinevere.
Head will star as Arthur’s father, Uther Pendragon, while Wilson will play court physician Gaius in the Saturday teatime BBC1 series, slated for the family drama slot occupied by the likes of Doctor Who and Robin Hood.
The drama will be set in the mythical city of Camelot, and focus on Merlin as a wizard on the brink of adulthood who clashes with a young Prince Arthur.
Jane Tranter, the controller of BBC Fiction, the corporation’s department in charge of drama, said:
The writer Julian Jones and award-winning team at Shine have delivered scripts which are bold and original, entertaining and enchanting and director James Hawes’ bravura vision for this piece is perfectly suited to the adventure we are all embarking upon.
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