Featuring exclusive bonus features – including a ‘making of’ documentary, commentaries, hilarious out-takes and deleted scenes – The Complete Fourth Series of BBC One’s Merlin is released on DVD and Blu-ray on Monday 23rd January.

> Read our review.

To celebrate, we’ve got DVD and Blu-ray boxsets to give away to five of our Twitter followers!

For a chance to win, just follow CultBox on Twitter and tweet the following text:

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Starring Colin Morgan, Bradley James, Angel Coulby, Katie McGrath, Anthony Head and Richard Wilson with John Hurt as the voice of the dragon, Series 4 sees the most dramatic change yet in the fortunes of our heroes and is the most exciting series so far.

> Buy the Series 4 boxset on Amazon.

With a thrilling mix of action, adventure, pure magic and the arrival of the fearless Knights of Camelot, Series 4 includes guest appearances by Gemma Jones (Spooks), Phil Davis (Doctor Who) and Nathaniel Parker (Narnia).

Winners will be selected at midday on Thursday 9th February 2012.

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You must be resident in the UK to enter. Employees and contributors of CultBox.co.uk and their families are not eligible to enter. Only one entry per person is permitted. The judge’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. The prize may not be transferred to any other person. No cash alternative or alternative prize is available on entrant’s request, but in the event of the advertised competition prize being unavailable we reserve the right to offer an alternative prize of equal or greater value. Entry in the competition implies acceptance of these rules. Prizes are 3 x DVD boxsets and 2 x Blu-ray boxsets.

Source: Cultbox.

Merlin has come a long way since its first season. This lighthearted, fun, and fantastical BBC show about the legend of King Arthur and Merlin before they became legends has earned a loyal following over the years. As SyFy gets ready to air the fourth season, which promises to take the show in a whole new direction, I took part in a conference call with actor Colin Morgan (Merlin) to find out what’s in store for the young warlock and his friends.

At the end of season three, Morgana (Katie McGrath) and her half-sister Morgause (Emilia Fox) failed to take control of Camelot. Morgana continues to play a central role in the series, now as the head villain, and is intent on destroying the newly crowned King Arthur (Bradley James) with the help of the double-agent Agravaine (Nathanial Parker), Arthur’s uncle and closest adviser. It’s up to Merlin to continue protecting Arthur while still keeping his magical abilities a secret.

The relationship between Arthur and Merlin has always been the heart of the show. So it’s sad to hear that with Arthur as king, their relationship becomes strained in some ways.

“We see them grow apart a little bit, actually,” said Morgan. “There’s a new character called Agravaine, Arthur’s uncle who comes on the scene. He’s exactly where Merlin should be. It’s about Merlin trying to regain that position to try to get by Arthur’s side, to be there for him and to get him to make the right decisions.”

Merlin’s attempts, apparently, are not in vain. Morgan explains that his great power this season isn’t entirely magical. It’s in the power of words and Merlin’s growing wisdom, which Arthur does pay attention to.

“Arthur listen to him a lot more. You’re seeing Arthur in fact change the way he’s thinking sometimes because of what Merlin says,” said Morgan. “But they’re also growing a little bit further apart. So Merlin has to work awful hard to try and be heard.”

READ MORE @ Popitimal.

One of the big draws for our readers, and I guess for a lot of Merlin viewers, is Merlin and Arthur’s relationship. Can you tell us how we’re going to see that grow and change over the course of Series 4?
Yeah, I mean it’s  one of the most iconic relationships in legend, and it’s very much about Merlin bringing Arthur to the point where he can rule the kingdom, where it’s fit for him, and he’s fit for himself. And in the fourth season we see them growing apart a bit, actually. There’s a new character called Agravaine, who’s Arthur’s uncle, who [Merlin] realizes very, very quickly is not all it appears he is. Yet he’s Arthur’s right-hand man, he’s exactly where Merlin should be… and it’s about Merlin trying to re-gain that position, to be by Arthur’s side, to get him to make the right decisions. Because things very quickly change and Arthur gets more responsibility. And it’s where Merlin should be, and he’s not there, and it’s about him sort of grappling with the whole concept.

What is your favorite Merlin to play? Is it the sort of clumsy, funny Merlin, or the dramatic Merlin, or the Great Dragoon Merlin?
I would say it’s the variety, that I like, it’s the facets of the character, that’s what fascinates me. I think variety’s the spice of life, and being able to push yourself in all directions – that’s what it is, the complexity that I enjoy the most.

What attracted me to the series was the fact that growing up I read all the different variations on Camelot and the Arthurian legends, and what I liked about it was that this one’s focusing on Merlin’s backstory. I mean Merlin, to me, was always a mysterious character, and I liked that. But also, in seasons four and five will he be taking more of that puppetmaster role that I was used to seeing in the previous stories and the previous tellings of that legend?
Yeah, that’s a big theme, actually, coming up in this season, because that’s  absolutely what Merlin’s driving towards. He’s gaining wisdom and a certain kind of power in that wisdom. Certainly in parts you’re seeing Arthur listen to him a lot more, you’re seeing Arthur in fact change the way he’s thinking, sometimes, because of what Merlin says. And you see the beginnings of that, and that’s pretty exciting. But they’re also growing a little bit further apart, so I’d say Merlin has to work ultra-hard to try and be heard. And hopefully by the end of the season you’ll see that the relationship has come to the point where maybe they’re ready to set rules and set grounds and become a good team to rule the kingdom.

READ MORE @ Clique Clack.

Merlin is famously awkward around fair maidens, and he is no stranger to embarrassing himself around Camelot’s royalty as well. In Season 4, do we start to see a more capable Merlin and perhaps even someone we should begin to recognize as Camelot’s great wizard warrior?

Our characters always had this kind of growing-up feel, particularly for Merlin. In a way, he’s got the slowest-burning journey. He has to put himself last, after everyone else. He’s been thrown into this world, with his destiny of ensuring that the kingdom reaches its full height, that magic is restored to the kingdom and that Arthur becomes the greatest king the land has ever known. Only then can Merlin be who he is going to be. He really has to put himself last, which is maybe why he hasn’t developed as much as the others but he certainly is becoming a lot more mature. He is becoming a lot less naïve, he’s wiser and he’s more grounded. He is also developing a better understanding of who he is supposed to be and what he’s supposed to do.

As we enter into the fourth series, we really see him grappling to keep hold of his relationship with Arthur too because in a way, things happen and things come to head where they are slowly growing apart and that’s a big, big challenge for Merlin this series – to really hold onto what he has.

Some of the best parts of Merlin are the banter between Merlin and Arthur. Despite all these big-budget, epic battles coming this season, is there still the same level of playfulness between the characters?

There’s definitely still that banter-filled relationship between Merlin and Arthur. As dark as the show goes, it always balances itself with some great humor. It really makes it interesting when the writers try to balance it out that way. Fans of the relationship and the banter between Merlin and Arthur really should have no worries at all – it’s all still there.

READ MORE @ Comic Book Resources.

>> Did you ever think the show would be this successful?

I don’t think anyone thought it would end up where it has. That’s not to say we didn’t believe in the stories. Five years is a hard thing to imagine for any commitment. The fan base is growing bigger right across the world.

>> How has the Merlin character changed?

It was always going to be a tale of growing up for Merlin. How does he become the great wizard that we know from the legends? Merlin is the one who is most lost amongst everyone. That is because the one thing he loves (magic) is the one thing he cannot do (because it is outlawed) in Camelot.

We have seen him go from a naive boy who trusted in people a little bit too much to now having gained wisdom, power and strength. We’re seeing him grow into a young man. The same thing has happened with Arthur, who has just become king.

This is the biggest step but it has happened in the wrong way. Arthur’s father died by magic, which is not what Merlin wanted at all. Now there are higher stakes. Everything could be lost.

>> The show centres on the relationship between Merlin and Arthur. How do you get on with your co-star Bradley James?

We were all new when we started this show so we were all embarking on this adventure together. Bradley and I were always going to have a lot of scenes together. We have a great rapport.

>> The tone of the show has changed, especially in series three when Morgana (Katie McGrath) became a villain.

I think the series is at its strongest when it goes a little bit darker. It will always have elements of humour but we’re entering into serious territory now. You see our characters going through these huge emotional things that are going to change their lives forever. They are stories that shouldn’t be taken lightly. We’re not afraid to go in that direction.

>> Morgana seems to hate Camelot even more in the current series.

One of Merlin’s big things is using your powers for the right reasons. Morgana is the perfect example of how things can go so badly wrong. It is a great shift for Katie’s character and she does it perfectly.

Source: Adelaide Now.

Parked tackles serious issues but in a unique way – is that what attracted you?
Absolutely… You watch this film and it does have a very bleak undertone to it, because it does deal with homelessness, it does touch on a bit of the economic state of Ireland, and drug abuse, all very serious issues. But it very much focuses on the human story, and the hope and how Irish people tend to cope in these situations – which is very resiliently, I think, and in a way in which they don’t let themselves get down and they battle through. By the end of the film, Colm Meaney’s character Fred is changed forever by it. For a tough subject matter, it has a very strong message of hope.

Parked is almost a two-hander between you and Meaney – was that intense?

It was great. It definitely focuses on our friendship throughout the movie, and then of course the third character is Jules ??, . These three characters are all in a very lonely place. Darragh the director was always saying that these characters were essentially ‘parked’ in life, you know? They weren’t going anywhere. That was another theme of the film. Of course, a big part of what my character does for Fred is to not have him so static, to move him on in life. We do have some very intense scenes but lots of fun ones; there’s a lot of humour in there. As the film goes on, it does become a lot more intense. Working with Colm Meaney, being such an incredible Irish actor, is an absolute honour.

READ MORE @ The Irish World.

If Colin Morgan is tired of talking about his role playing the most famous wizard in history, it does not show.

The BBC’s fantasy series, Merlin, showing here on Prime, has been confirmed for a fifth season, which means the young actor gets a break before heading back to the wilds of Wales.

“I still love it,” Morgan says in his Northern Irish accent. “We finished the fourth season about a month ago and I remember looking at the clapper board and thinking, `I’m actually standing on a set filming a TV show called Merlin’. I don’t take the job for granted and I don’t ever want to get complacent about the role.”

Based loosely on Arthurian legend, the show revolves around a young Merlin – played by the 25-year-old, impish-looking Morgan – who must keep his powers hidden until his contemporary, Arthur Pendragon, who is a newly minted King of Camelot (Bradley James), becomes a wise leader.

Add to the mix Guinevere (Angel Coulby), who is sensible and feisty, and Morgana (Katie McGrath), a powerful sorceress who is doing her best to undermine them all. Not to mention a CGI dragon voiced by John Hurt, sword fights and enough chaste kisses, back-stabbing, spells and intrigue to keep everyone from 10 to 80 happy.

But Merlin was no overnight success. When it first aired in Britain in 2008, ratings were low. Over the past couple of years, and with a change of network, the show has found its niche. Morgan says the enduring legend has helped Merlin to survive.

READ MORE @ Stuff.

Are you pleased with the response to Series 4 so far?

Johnny: “Yeah, we’re thrilled. Our audience figures are the highest they’ve ever been, so year on year we’ve built our audience which is terrific. Also the audience appreciation index, which is very important to the BBC, we’re getting into the 90s and anything above 85 is deemed superb.

“It’s really exciting that not only are we doing well audience figure wise, the people who are watching are also really enjoying it. As programme makers, it doesn’t really get better than that.”

Do you have a favourite episode of Series 4?

Julian: “So far I’d say Episode 3, the one where Uther died.”

Johnny: “I enjoyed Episode 7 with Gaius revealing Merlin’s identity, that was a great episode for me. But I also really enjoyed the dragon egg episode.”

Julian: “Also, this week’s episode is a favourite too.”

BMSESQ67 asks: Will Arthur and Gwen be bringing a Pendragon baby into Camelot in Series 5?

Johnny: “Blimey, I hadn’t thought about that, maybe Series 8!”

READ MORE @ Cult Box.

Q: Is there any more info on the Merlin movie?
A: “It’s in early stages – we’re discussing talent right now, e.g writers, directors.”

Q: Will we ever see Merlin’s mother again?
A: “There’s every chance! Wait and see!”

Q: If you could have any actor star in Merlin, who would it be?
A: “Tom Hollander, Brian Blessed, Felicity Kendal. In terms of guest casting, it depends on the parts – there’s lots of names in our heads! Judi Dench, Ian McKellen…”

: Will there be a sixth series of Merlin?
A: “We’ve always planned five series, but it depends on how popular the show is. There’s every possibility it could continue…”

Q: Will Merlin reunite with Freya?
A: “She’s important to the legend, so there’s a good chance they will reunite, yes!”

READ MORE @ Digital Spy.

Colin Morgan, star of BBC’s hit series Merlin, is set to bring a touch of magic to Belfast during the Takeover Film Festival at Queen’s Film Theatre, part of the Cinemagic International Film Festival for Young People. His latest leading role is in Irish feature film Parked, the Northern Irish premiere of which will open the Takeover Festival.

What is Parked about and who do you play?

Parked tells the story of a character called Fred, played by Colm Meaney, who has nowhere to live and no job. He ends up living out of his car in a car park (hence the name of the film) and he can’t get welfare due to having no fixed abode. Things aren’t looking great for him, and my character, Cathal, is pretty much in the same boat, living out of a car in the same park, but for very different reasons.

Cathal is a bit of a junkie waster who has had something of a dark past. They strike up a friendship and Cathal tries to bring Fred back to the light, despite being in so much darkness, and together they find the importance of being at home.

The subject matter sounds quite dark and gritty, but is the overriding message an uplifting one?

The film tackles some big subjects, dealing with homelessness and drug addiction and the economic state of Ireland at the moment, and it does highlight all of those issues very well. However, there is also a really uplifting note to it, about hope and about finding happiness in the darkest of situations. My character Cathal, who is a very happy go lucky guy, tries to lift Fred up despite his own situation, and he does end up suffering as a result.

READ MORE @ Culture Northern Ireland.