Official Anthony Stewart Head Merlin Series Two

The magic is back – bigger, bolder and more action-packed than ever – as the hit family fantasy series, Merlin, returns to Saturday nights. The thrilling opening episode guest stars Mackenzie Crook (The Office, Pirates Of The Caribbean).

View Merlin images here.

EPISODE 1:

In the dark tunnels deep beneath Camelot, an ancient tomb is discovered, filled with treasure. Gaius begs the King to seal it shut again, fearing that the tomb belongs to Cornelius Sigan, an evil sorcerer who cursed Camelot and swore he would, one day, return to destroy the city. But Uther is too taken with the treasure to listen, insisting Sigan is just a fairy tale.

Meanwhile, new servant Cedric muscles in on Merlin's position as Arthur's right-hand man and turns the prince against his loyal friend. Merlin is convinced the slippery newcomer is up to something and he's right – Cedric is a con man and a thief who is after the magnificent jewel found at the heart of the tomb. Little does Cedric know his precious prize is more dangerous than he could possibly imagine.

Camelot has never been more vulnerable but how can Merlin make things right when, thanks to Cedric, he might have lost Arthur's friendship for good? Merlin faces the prospect of turning to the creature he swore he'd never trust again – The Great Dragon.

Richard Wilson is Gaius, Anthony Head is Uther, Bradley James is Arthur, Mackenzie Crook is Cedric, Colin Morgan is Merlin and John Hurt is the voice of The Great Dragon. The cast also includes Katie McGrath as Morgana and Angel Coulby as Gwen.

Anthony as Uther Pendragon

EPISODE 2:

Camelot's jousting tournament is fast approaching and Arthur is determined to win it on his own merit, despite suspecting that the knights are letting him win because he is the prince, as the magical family drama continues.

With the help of Merlin and Gwen he goes undercover, taking lodgings at Gwen's house while the tournament is on. But Arthur is in for a shock when Gwen challenges him to give up his spoilt, lofty ways. Will he be able to shake the habits of a lifetime as easily as he did his princely robes, and why does he care so much what Gwen thinks anyway?

King Arthur (Bradley James) is determined to win the impending jousting tournament without the help of the knights

Meanwhile, Myror, the sinister bounty-hunter, is sent to Camelot with a mission – to kill Prince Arthur. Arthur, however, is too wrapped up in the tournament to notice the impending danger. Determined to win, he has to prove to himself that he can compete – no matter what.

Prince Arthur is played by Bradley James, Merlin by Colin Morgan, Gwen by Angel Coulby and Myror by Adrian Lester.

EPISODE 3:

When Morgana's nightmares spill into her waking hours she becomes terrified that she has magic powers, as the family drama continues.

Gaius is determined to keep her in the dark for her own good, but Merlin won't stand by and watch his friend suffer. He knows exactly what she is going through and knows she needs to hear the truth. Is he about to reveal his secret at last?

Wilfully disobeying Gaius, meanwhile, Merlin risks everything to help Morgana – without guessing what the far-reaching consequences might be. Lives are in danger, loyalties are tested and Morgana is reunited with the strange young druid boy Mordred (Asa Butterfield), whom the Dragon has predicted will one day kill Arthur.

Morgana is played by Katie McGrath, Gaius by Richard Wilson, Merlin by Colin Morgan, Mordred by Asa Butterfield, the Dragon by John Hurt and Arthur by Bradley James.

Morgana's (Katie McGrath) nightmares spill over into her waking hours

EPISODE 4:

Santiago Cabrera returns as the dashing Lancelot, in the fourth episode of the magical family drama series. When Gwen is kidnapped, Arthur goes to her rescue, but Lancelot gets there first.

Gwen is mistaken for Morgana and kidnapped by savage outlaw Hengist. When Uther Pendragon refuses to pay a ransom for her, however, Arthur defies his father and ventures into dangerous enemy territory to fight for Gwen's freedom

Gwen (Angel Coulby) is kidnapped by savage outlaw Hengist

Merlin suspects that Arthur's devotion to Gwen is more than just that of a prince to one of his subjects. But how will Arthur react when he finds that Gwen is not alone in Hengist's castle? She and Lancelot have found each other again, and powerful feelings have been rekindled...

Lancelot is played by Santiago Cabrera, Gwen by Angel Coulby, Arthur by Bradley James, Morgana by Katie McGrath, Hengist by James Cosmo, Uther Pendragon by Anthony Head and Merlin by Colin Morgan.

EPISODE 5:

Uther is delighted when Lady Catrina arrives in Camelot, in the first episode of an exciting two-parter in the magical fantasy drama. Merlin and Gaius, however, suspect that she is not what she seems.

Uther is captivated by his latest guest but Arthur is appalled by his father's flirting. Merlin is horrified for a different reason – he discovers that Lady Catrina is really a troll but can't get Arthur to believe him.

Catrina and her strange servant, Jonas, are welcomed into the heart of Camelot and it is up to Merlin to prove that she is a monster and to save Uther from ruin. Unfortunately, Catrina has her sights set on a much greater prize than the King's heart. Can Merlin overcome her powerful troll magic before it's too late?

Uther (Anthony) is captivated by a new arrival in Camelot

Uther is played by Anthony Head, Lady Catrina by Sarah Parish, Merlin by Colin Morgan, Gaius by Richard Wilson, Arthur by Bradley James and Jonas by Adam Godley.

EPISODE 6:

Newly crowned Queen Catrina (played by Sarah Parish) settles in as Camelot's first lady, in the second episode of the thrilling two-parter of the magical family drama series. As Queen Catrina's true troll nature surfaces, her influence over Uther increases, and the repercussions are felt throughout the kingdom.

Lady Catrina (Sarah Parish) settles into Camelot

When Catrina accuses Merlin of stealing, he is driven into hiding. Forced to sneak around the castle, Merlin must find a way to expose Catrina's true form without getting caught. However, even if he succeeds, will this be enough to break her powerful magic? Or will Camelot be stuck with a troll as a Queen forever?

Sarah Parish guest stars as Queen Catrina, Anthony Head as Uther and Colin Morgan as Merlin. Merlin also stars Bradley Jones as Arthur, John Hurt as The Dragon, Richard Wilson as Gaius, Angel Coulby as Gwen, Kate McGrath as Morgana and Adam Godley as Jonas.

EPISODE 7:

Uther is determined to wipe out magic in Camelot once and for all, as the magical family drama series continues. This time, no one is beyond suspicion. He summons the most dreaded witch finder, Aredian, to Camelot – a terrifying man who will stop at nothing to uncover sorcery.

Gaius impresses upon Merlin how much danger he is in but Morgana needs no such warning. She's certain that Aredian will see straight through her and that she'll be burnt at the stake. Can Merlin protect Morgana and Gaius without ending up in the flames himself?

Anthony Head plays Uther, Richard Wilson plays Gaius, Colin Morgan plays Merlin and Katie McGrath plays Morgana.

Charles Dance guest stars as Aredian.

Uther (Anthony) wants to stamp out magic in Camelot

EPISODE 8:

When a mysterious warrior challenges Arthur to a duel, nobody could possibly predict the devastating chain of events that is set in motion – least of all the young Prince himself – as the magical family drama continues.

Arthur and Merlin soon find themselves on a strange quest at the behest of the beautiful Morgause. Through her, Arthur discovers a dark secret which could bring about the downfall of the kingdom...

Bradley James plays Arthur, Colin Morgan plays Merlin and Emilia Fox guest stars as Morgause.

EPISODE 9:

Merlin (Colin Morgan) refuses to listen to Gaius

When Merlin discovers the beautiful druid girl Freya trapped in a bounty hunter's cage, he knows he must help her escape, as the magical family drama continues. Gaius warns against getting involved but Merlin refuses to listen.

Merlin harbours Freya in the tunnels beneath Camelot. But with the bounty hunter searching for his missing prize and a ferocious magical beast on the loose, she can't stay hidden long. Merlin's intense new friendship is tested to the limit and he is forced to make some heartbreaking decisions as he battles to keep Freya safe.

Colin Morgan stars as Merlin; Laura Donnelly is Freya; and Richard Wilson plays Gaius.

EPISODE 10:

Dignitaries from rival kingdoms descend on Camelot for peace talks, but what King Alined really wants is war, as the magical family drama continues. He'll do everything in his power to stir up hostilities, even if it means using magic.

Alined's jester, Trickler, puts a spell on Arthur to make him fall madly in love with rival King Olaf's beloved daughter, Vivian. Chaos reigns in the palace and Camelot is once more poised on the brink of war. Can Merlin free Arthur's heart before the prince loses his head in battle?

David Schofield is Alined; Kevin Eldon is Trickler; Mark Lewis Jones is King Olaf; Bradley James is Arthur; Georgia Moffett is Vivian; and Colin Morgan is Merlin.

EPISODE 11:

The ruthless warlock Alvarr is determined to destroy Camelot and allow magic to reign again, as the magical family drama continues. To fight Uther, however, Alvarr must reclaim the Crystal of Neahtid – a precious magical relic of the Old Religion. Few can harness its power, but Alvarr believes Mordred can use it to further their cause.

The crystal is safely locked up in Uther's vaults and many have lost their lives trying to reclaim it. Alvarr, though, has a secret weapon – Morgana's powerful bond with the druid boy. Morgana has always protected Mordred but will she go as far as turning into a thief and traitor to help him and the charismatic Alvarr?

Merlin is shocked by her choice and by the true power of the mysterious crystal.

Alvarr is played by Joseph Mawle, Uther by Anthony Head, Mordred by Asa Butterfield, Morgana by Katie McGrath and Merlin by Colin Morgan.

EPISODE 12:

When the fires of Idirsholas burn for the first time in 300 years, Gaius fears a sorcerer has revived the deadly Knights of Medhir, in the penultimate episode of the magical family drama. Morgause has returned, hell-bent on ending Uther's reign.

Arthur and Merlin ride out to face the Knights and barely escape with their lives. Upon returning home, they find everyone in Camelot is under a strange enchantment – all except for Morgana. Could she be behind the magic

Gaius (Richard Wilson) is worried when the fires of Idirsholas burn for the first time in 300 years

which threatens the Kingdom? As Morgause and her Knights attack a helpless Camelot, Merlin's loyalties are stretched to the limit.

Gaius is played by Richard Wilson, Morgause by Emilia Fox, Uther by Anthony Head, Arthur by Bradley James, Merlin by Colin Morgan and Morgana by Katie McGrath.

EPISODE 13:

Merlin (Colin Morgan) is in a race against time

The Great Dragon is finally free and, full of rage, attacks Camelot with pitiless intensity, in the final episode of the magical family drama. The castle is crumbling and Arthur's men cannot hold out much longer. Only a Dragonlord can kill a dragon and Uther wiped them all out years ago – or did he? Gaius admits one such man could still be alive and in hiding.

The last Dragonlord is the key to Merlin's own past as well as the future of Camelot, but will Arthur and Merlin find Balinor in time to save the kingdom & can they persuade him to return to Camelot to save his enemy, Uther?

The Great Dragon is voiced by John Hurt, Arthur is played by Bradley James, Uther by Anthony Head, Gaius by Richard Wilson, Merlin by Colin Morgan and Balinor by John Lynch.

	BBC 1 Television series (UK) Role: Uther Pendragon Episodes: 1.01 - 1.13 Original air date: September 19th, 2009 - December 19th, 2009 To read the BBC Press release please click here. View Series One details here and Series three details here Merlin on DVD.
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