The fifth and final series of the British

fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy literature and d ...

drama series In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-ge ...

'' Merlin'' began broadcasting on 6 October 2012 with the episode "Arthur's Bane – Part 1" and ended on 24 December 2012 in the UK, with "The Diamond of the Day – Part 2". It consists of 13 episodes shown on Saturday evenings on

BBC One BBC One is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network owned and operated by the BBC. It is the corporation's flagship network and is known for broadcasting mainstream programming, which includes BBC News television bulletins, ...

and BBC One HD (repeats shown on

BBC Three BBC Three is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It was first launched on 9 February 2003 with programmes targeting 16 to 34-year-olds, covering all genres including animation, comedy, cur ...

). Series producer is Sara Hamill and executive producers are Johnny Capps and Julian Murphy. Directors include Justin Molotnikov, Ashley Way, Alice Troughton and Declan O'Dwyer. Writers include Julian Jones (head writer),

Howard Overman Howard Overman is a British television writer, best known for creating the series ''Misfits'' which won the 2010 BAFTA Television Award for Best Drama Series and the police-procedural comedy ''Vexed''. Career Overman has written scripts for ser ...

, Jake Michie and Richard McBrien. Series five stars the regular cast from the previous series including

Colin Morgan Colin Morgan (born 1 January 1986) is a Northern Irish actor. He is best known for playing the title character in the BBC fantasy series ''Merlin'' (2008–2012), Leo Elster in ''Humans'' (2015–2018), and Billy Clanton in Kenneth Branagh’s ...

Angel Coulby Angel Leonie Coulby (born 30 August 1980) is an English actress in film, television, and theatre. She gained recognition for portraying the character Gwen (Guinevere) in the BBC fantasy series ''Merlin''. Early life Coulby was born and grew u ...

, Bradley James,

Katie McGrath Katie McGrath () is an Irish actress. In television, she gained recognition for portraying Morgana Pendragon in the BBC One series ''Merlin'' (2008–2012), Lucy Westenra on the British-American series ''Dracula'' (2013–2014), Saskia in th ...

, and Richard Wilson.

Anthony Head Anthony Stewart Head (born 20 February 1954) is an English actor and singer. Primarily a performer in musical theatre, he rose to fame in the UK in the 1980s following his role in the Gold Blend couple television advertisements for Nescafé, w ...

returns to the cast in a one episode guest appearance. Alexander Vlahos became part of the regular cast in this series and

John Hurt Sir John Vincent Hurt (22 January 1940 – 25 January 2017) was an English actor whose career spanned over five decades. Hurt was regarded as one of Britain's finest actors. Director David Lynch described him as "simply the greatest actor in t ...

returned as the voice of the Dragon. Supporting cast members include Adetomiwa Edun,

Eoin Macken Eoin Christopher Macken (born 21 February 1983) is an Irish actor, director, and model. Macken has modelled for Abercrombie and Fitch, Ralph Lauren, and GQ, and has appeared in films such as ''Resident Evil'', ''Close, Killing Jesus'', and '' ...

Tom Hopper Thomas Edward Hopper (born 28 January 1985) is a British actor. He has appeared as Percival in ''Merlin'', Billy Bones in '' Black Sails'', Dickon Tarly in ''Game of Thrones'', and Luther Hargreeves in ''The Umbrella Academy''. Early life T ...

, and

Rupert Young Rupert Francis Young (born 16 May 1978) is an English actor from Lambeth, London. He portrayed Sir Leon in the BBC drama series ''Merlin''. Young's television work includes episodes of '' Doc Martin'', ''Foyle's War'', '' Hotel Babylon'', '' The ...

. It was announced on 26 November 2012 that Merlin would end with the fifth series. The two-part finale was broadcast on 22 and 24 December 2012.

Plot

After three years of peace and harmony, Camelot's future could not appear brighter. But as Merlin helps King Arthur to bring the kingdom into a Golden Age, the seeds of Camelot's destruction are being sown as the sorceress Morgana Pendragon resumes plotting Arthur's downfall. When an old face returns to the castle and gains a position amongst the king's inner circle, Merlin must be on guard more than ever. For the new arrival is the sorcerer Mordred, the Druid boy whose destiny it is to end the King's life and bring chaos to Camelot; after all, Merlin has been warned in the past that Mordred is destined to unite with the evil Morgana in a deadly alliance which will destroy Camelot. With the death song of King Uther haunting the castle, Morgana's powers greater and more dangerous than ever and Guinevere crossing over to the dark side, both Merlin and Arthur find that their destinies are approaching. The battle for Camelot is headed for a deadly conclusion and nothing will ever be the same again.

Cast

Main cast

as Merlin *

as Guinevere * Bradley James as

Arthur Pendragon King Arthur ( cy, Brenin Arthur, kw, Arthur Gernow, br, Roue Arzhur) is a legendary king of Britain, and a central figure in the medieval literary tradition known as the Matter of Britain. In the earliest traditions, Arthur appears as a ...

as Morgana Pendragon * Richard Wilson as

Gaius Gaius, sometimes spelled ''Gajus'', Kaius, Cajus, Caius, was a common Latin praenomen; see Gaius (praenomen). People * Gaius (jurist) (), Roman jurist *Gaius Acilius *Gaius Antonius *Gaius Antonius Hybrida *Gaius Asinius Gallus *Gaius Asinius P ...

Recurring

as the Great Dragon (voice) *

as Sir Leon *

as Sir Gwaine * Adetomiwa Edun as Sir Elyan *

as Sir Percival * Alexander Vlahos as Mordred

Guest star

Stephen McCole Stephen McCole is a Scottish actor. He is best known for starring in the dark comedy series ''High Times'',Paul English"High Times duo Stephen and Paul McCole find fame in unlikely places" '' The Daily Record'', 28 June 2008. Retrieved 1 June 20 ...

as Ragnor * Matthew Prowse as Saxon *

Liam Cunningham Liam Cunningham (born 2 June 1961) is an Irish actor. He is known for playing Davos Seaworth in the HBO epic-fantasy series ''Game of Thrones''. Cunningham has been nominated for the London Film Critics' Circle Award, the British Independe ...

as Ruadan *

James Fox William Fox (born 19 May 1939), known professionally as James Fox, is an English actor. He appeared in several notable films of the 1960s and early 1970s, including '' King Rat'', '' The Servant'', ''Thoroughly Modern Millie'' and ''Performan ...

as King Rodor * Alfie Stewart as Daegal * John Bradley West as Tyr Seward *

Julian Glover Julian Wyatt Glover (born 27 March 1935) is an English classical actor with many stage, television, and film roles since commencing his career in the 1950s. He is a recipient of the Laurence Olivier Award and has performed many times for the ...

as Lochru *

Uther Pendragon Uther Pendragon (Brittonic) (; cy, Ythyr Ben Dragwn, Uthyr Pendragon, Uthyr Bendragon), also known as King Uther, was a legendary King of the Britons in sub-Roman Britain (c. 6th century). Uther was also the father of King Arthur. A few ...

Erin Richards Erin Richards is a Welsh actress, director and writer, best known for playing Molly Hughes in the television series '' Breaking In'' and Barbara Kean in the television series '' Gotham''. Life and career Richards was born in Penarth, Wales ...

as Eira *

Tony Guilfoyle Tony Guilfoyle (born 30 March 1960) is an Irish actor. He was born in County Wicklow, Ireland, and was educated at the Drama Centre from 1970 to 1973. He is best known for his recurring role as the accident-prone Father Larry Duff, in the TV ...

as Sindri * Peter Guinness as Ari *

Kelly Wenham Kelly Wenham (born 28 November 1983) is an English actress, director, screenwriter and comedian. Life and career Wenham was born in Stockport. Her early career was spent in modelling, before answering a casting call for a bit part in '' Always ...

as Queen Mab * Jane Thorne as Valdis *

Sophie Rundle Sophie Rundle (born 21 April 1988) is an English actress, best known for portraying Ada Thorne in the BBC One historical crime drama television series ''Peaky Blinders'', Ann Walker in BBC One and HBO's period drama '' Gentleman Jack'', Vicky B ...

as Sefa *

Josette Simon Josette Patricia Simon is a British actress. She trained for the stage at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London, and played the part of Dayna Mellanby in the third and fourth series of the television sci-fi series ''Blake's 7'' fro ...

as The Euchdag * Barry Aird as Beroun *

Frances Tomelty Frances Tomelty (born 6 October 1948) is a Northern Irish actress whose numerous television credits include ''Strangers'' (1978–1979), '' Testament of Youth'' (1979), ''Inspector Morse'' (1988), ''Cracker'' (1993), '' The Amazing Mrs Pritchard ...

as Disir *

Alexandra Dowling Alexandra Dowling (born 1990), is an English actress best known for her lead role as Queen Anne in the BBC One historical action drama series '' The Musketeers'', which is based on the characters in ''The Three Musketeers'' by Alexandre Dumas. ...

as Kara * Gordon Munro as Alrick *

John Shrapnel John Morley Shrapnel (27 April 1942 – 14 February 2020) was an English actor. He is known mainly for his stage work with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre in the United Kingdom and for his many television appearances. ...

as King Sarrum

Episodes

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Merlin (Series 5) 2012 American television seasons Merlin (2008 TV series)