Series 4



Series 4
Series 4 of Merlin will air in autumn 2011. Its air date is not yet known. The series was originally cut to ten episodes from the previous series' 13 due to financial issues. It was deemed better to reduce the length of the series and maintain the quality rather than staying with 13 episodes but having to reduce the budget and therefor the quality for each. It was also originally rumored to air in early 2012, later than its usual slot in autumn so that it wouldn't clash with Autumn half of Doctor Who Series 6 running in the same period. However, Johnny Capps revealed on 18 March 2011 that the show has been increased to its original 13 episodes, opening with a two-parter. Filming started in mid-March 2011. Block 1 at Pierrefonds finished May 20th and the cast and crew should return to France for Block 2, starting June 20th and continuing until June 27th.

Rumours

 * The first episode will be called "Revival of the Witch." This may mean Morgause ' or even Nimueh 
 * Nathaniel Parker will play Arthur's uncle, Agravaine. This has been confirmed.
 * Arthur will become either King or Regent King. Uther is broken, so he takes a bit more control.
 * Morgause will be revived by Morgana and will return. This has been confirmed.
 * Freya will return. This is likely as producers have said Merlin and Freya will grow closer, and they only spoke for a short time in Series 3.
 * Morgana will return. This has been confirmed.
 * Mordred will return. There is a possibility.
 * Excalibur will make an appearance.
 * Gwaine will be the second knight out of The Knights of the Round Table to find out about Merlins secret.
 * Morgana kills Uther.
 * Gwen and Arthur will get married.
 * Grettir will make an appearance. This has been confirmed. Warwick Davis was seen at the setting of "Grettir's Bridge" on April 26
 * Merlin will show a darker side to his personality.
 * Morgana will meet the Great Dragon.
 * Merlin is badly injured and Arthur defies Leon to save him.
 * Merlin will disguise as Dragoon the Great (Old Merlin) again.
 * The Isle of the Blessed will reappear.
 * Gwen has been looking after the King during the year gap between Series 3 and 4.
 * Nimueh will return. Her profile on the BBC implies this.
 * Morgause kills Gaius.
 * Somebody is going to be burnt at the stake. This has been confirmed.
 * Entertainers arrive in Camelot.
 * The tension between Gwen and Morgana increases considerably.
 * Arthur's loyalties will be tested to the limit. This has been confirmed.
 * Elena and Godwyn will return.
 * Sidhe's will appear
 * Lancelot will be declared dead.
 * Arthur will learn the truth of his birth again and that magic can be used for good as well as evil.
 * Merlin will reveal his powers.
 * More Knights of the Round Table.
 * Agravaine will be the new enemy within the walls of Camelot. This has been confirmed.
 * Avalon will re-appear.
 * Cornelius Sigan's soul will pocess another person.
 * Uther will die.
 * Morgana has a scene in the lower town.
 * Anthony Head finished filming Series 4 on the 3rd May, much earlier than the rest of the cast

Guest-Stars

 * Nathaniel Parker as Agravaine
 * Warwick Davis as Grettir
 * Phil Davis as The Gleeman
 * James Callis as TBA
 * Gemma Jones as The Cailleach (gatekeeper to the spirit world)
 * Lindsay Duncan as Queen Annis
 * Zee Asha as Audrey
 * Steven Hartley as TBA.
 * Andrew Fowler as Knight of Camelot.