BBC Merlin drama to star Richard Wilson and Anthony Head

Published Monday 17 March 2008 at 12:35 by Matthew Hemley

Richard Wilson and Anthony Head are to star in a major new BBC drama series called Merlin, set in the mythical city of Camelot.

The series is an adaptation of the Arthurian legend, with newcomer Colin Morgan as a young Merlin and Bradley James as Arthur. Wilson will play Gauis and Head will play Arthur’s father, Uther.

It is being made by production company Shine and has been written by Julian Jones.

Fanny Hill’s James Hawes will direct the series, which focuses on Merlin as a young wizard and his clashes with Arthur.

The show was commissioned by controller of BBC fiction Jane Tranter, who 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.”

Filming for Merlin will take place in Wales, England and France and the series will transmit on BBC1 in autumn 2008.