Series 5

Series 5 will be the fifth series of the highly popular drama show, Merlin. It has been officially commissioned by the BBC, due to popularity and anticipation. This was confirmed 24 July 2011 by Julian Murphy and Johnny Capps. Filming began on 12th March 2012 in Cardiff, Wales and Pierrefonds, France. 13 episodes have been ordered.

The fifth series will air in Autumn 2012 (This was confirmed by Johnny Capps and Julian Murphy during their acceptance speech for the SFX Phenomenon Award). This would mean that it will be shown at the same time as Doctor Who's seventh series.

Confirmed Information

 * Mordred will return, but Alexander Vlahos will play him.
 * Alvarr will return.
 * According to Julian Murphy in a recent interview, Series 5 will feature the return of an evil character that we've met in earlier series. Characters like Nimueh and Morgause are still within a chance.
 * Series 5 will open with a two-parter, just like Series 3 and Series 4 did.
 * There will be two new monsters or creatures that we haven't met before in the first couple of episodes.
 * Aithusa and Kilgharrah will return.
 * Dragons will be more involved in the major plot line.
 * Sara Hamill, producer of Merlin Series 4 and 5 , confirmed via her twitter that Justin Molotnikov will be returning to direct the first 3 episodes.
 * Series 5 is going to be darker. An older and wiser Merlin will struggle between making some very difficult decisions and trying to tread a very careful path between what is good and what is bad.
 * Morgana is growing into a stronger and more committed enemy than ever before. The stakes are becoming higher now that Arthur is king and the future of Albion is being created, there's more for Merlin to fight for and more for him to protect so as he gets older, he's tested as a character because everything in the world becomes more serious.
 * After the finale showed the white dragon Aithusa saving an injured Morgana, there's been some debate on whether the creators are drawing on the legend of the red dragon (representing Camelot) kills the white dragon (symbolising the Saxons) and the writers are clearly satisfied with the reaction: "We hoped it was a nice tease..."
 * Filming began on 12 March 2012.
 * They'll play with the idea of the two battling dragons, the red one and the white one, with their own twist.
 * Mordred has a job to do at the end of the story.
 * The opening double parter will be a jump ahead in time and it'll be surprising to realize where all the characters are.
 * Gwen will have a more prominent role as Arthur's confidant.
 * The length of Merlin is all about whether the audience are enjoying it. If they still enjoy the series we'll keep making it, but we will absolutely wrap it up properly when it does come to an end"
 * Mordred will have long hair, the actor indicated that he is "wig fitting".
 * Mordred will ride on a horse, that actor said that he is "horse riding".
 * Merlin's hair and clothes are the same.
 * Arthur's hair is slightly longer.
 * No love interest for Merlin this season, indicating that it's unlikely that Freya will appear.

Main Cast

 * Merlin - Colin Morgan
 * King Arthur Pendragon - Bradley James
 * Morgana Pendragon - Katie McGrath
 * Queen Guinevere Pendragon - Angel Coulby
 * Gaius - Richard Wilson
 * Sir Gwaine - Eoin Macken
 * Sir Leon - Rupert Young

Recurring Cast

 * Mordred - Alexander Vlahos
 * Kilgharrah, the Great Dragon - John Hurt
 * Sir Percival - Tom Hopper
 * Sir Elyan - Adetomiwa Edun
 * Geoffrey of Monmouth - Michael Cronin
 * Aithusa - Unknown Voice
 * Alvarr - Joseph Mawle

Guest Stars

 * Unknown Character- Stephen McCole

Episodes
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 500px; "

Title
That Merlin Voice
 * Director
 * Writer
 * Original Air Date
 * UK Viewers (Millions)
 * 1
 * The Return of Nimueh (Part 1)
 * Justin Molotnikov
 * Julian Jones
 * April 24, 2012
 * 2
 * The Return of Nimueh (Part 2)
 * Justin Molotnikov
 * Julian Jones
 * 3
 * The Term of Magic
 * Justin Molotnikov
 * 4
 * Surprise of Queen
 * 5
 * Magic That Rises
 * 6
 * Mirror Mirror, Stuck The Street
 * 7
 * Stable Boy
 * 8
 * The Legend
 * 9
 * Surprise of Queen
 * 5
 * Magic That Rises
 * 6
 * Mirror Mirror, Stuck The Street
 * 7
 * Stable Boy
 * 8
 * The Legend
 * 9
 * 6
 * Mirror Mirror, Stuck The Street
 * 7
 * Stable Boy
 * 8
 * The Legend
 * 9
 * 7
 * Stable Boy
 * 8
 * The Legend
 * 9
 * 8
 * The Legend
 * 9
 * 8
 * The Legend
 * 9
 * The Legend
 * 9
 * 9
 * 9
 * 9
 * 9
 * 9
 * 10
 * The Kitten Is A Witch
 * 12.
 * The Future's Queen (Part 1)
 * 13.
 * The Future's Queen (Part 2)
 * }
 * 12.
 * The Future's Queen (Part 1)
 * 13.
 * The Future's Queen (Part 2)
 * }
 * 12.
 * The Future's Queen (Part 1)
 * 13.
 * The Future's Queen (Part 2)
 * }
 * 13.
 * The Future's Queen (Part 2)
 * }
 * The Future's Queen (Part 2)
 * }
 * }
 * }
 * }
 * }