When in doubt - do Arthurian!

[Deborah J Miller]

The BBC is filming a King Arthur series - much of the participants from Dr Who - looks interesting!

A host of stars including John Hurt, Michelle Ryan and Richard Wilson are set to appear in BBC One's latest Saturday night drama, Merlin.

The 13-part series follows the fabled friendship between the young wizard Merlin and Prince Arthur.

Bafta-winner Hurt will provide the voice of Merlin's mentor, the Great Dragon, while Bionic Woman star Ryan will play wicked sorceress Nimueh.

Newcomer Colin Morgan, 22, from Northern Ireland, takes the title role.

His previous television experience is limited to guest roles on Doctor Who and the Catherine Tate Show.

However, he has made a name for himself in the West End with critically acclaimed roles in Vernon God Little and All About My Mother.

Further details here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7519877.stm

[Nick]

Ah, yes, I saw that news this morning, too! It does look promising. Some sort of knightly penance for Bonekickers, perhaps! Strangely enough I have had Bernard Cornwell's The Winter King on my pile meaning to read it for pure pleasure, but b***y review books (no, most of them are lovely, really!) take precedent.

[RJ Barker]

'The Winter King' is superb. Have you read Jack Whyte's Arthurian books? very good indeed, I reviewed 'Fort at the Rivers Bend' and 'The Eagle', a few months back. 'The Eagle' made me weep.

[Kari Sperring]

Oh, help. I am, in my other life, a Real Celtic Historian. My academic nerves are stinging already.
But, on the other hand, John Hurt. I will put up with a great deal for John Hurt. And there is good Arthuriana -- the late lamented Arthur of the Britons springs to mind (it still looks pretty good even after 30 odd years), and Excalibur is a strong adaptation of Malory. We can hope.

[Sue_S]

I know I'm disgustingly late in joining this discussion! Sorry.

I wouldn't hold out hopes of a strong adaptation of anything, if "The Tudors" is anything to go by, Kari. Apparently Henry has to remain 'appealing' throughout. Can't wait to see how they're going to manage that. Yet although I hate the way that's totally inaccurate, I remain oddly addicted to it.

Clearly I've been seduced by the shiny - it's probably the only way to survive the disappointment. "Accept what you're presented with and admire the pretty costumes in spite of everything" should probably be the default position unless you want to spend another evening screaming at the TV.

(Please, please let them prove me wrong.....)

[Sue_S]

And right on cue (bearing in mind I'm always slow at taking them) there's a trailer:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/merlin/#/chapters/

[RJ Barker]

Looks better than Robin Hood at least. I'm not sure from that trailer whether Merlin's acting is 'magic'*.






*C 'Puns R Us'

[Kaolin]

Ooh, tempting. Wonder if Sci Fi channel will be getting it next year or if I'll just be buying it on DVD...

[drosdelnoch]

Im worried by this as to be honest Ive never been a big fan or Ryan. Lets face it, although Im not sure how the US audience viewed her American Accent but her English one was goddamn awful, lets face it you'd think it would be easy for a person from the UK to use thier natural accent and considering she did years in Eastenders she should be able to manage something that was reasonable.

The first episode is really going to have to grip me otherwise its going to go the same way for me as the new Robin Hood TV series.

[RJ Barker]

Please, please let this be better than the woeful 'Robin Hood'.

[drosdelnoch]

Yeah the new version not the old Michael Praed one. That was pretty good fun. (Although it could be rose tinted glasses in full working order there.)

[RJ Barker]

The old ones were repeated here not long ago and they still held up (apart from the hairstyles). Have you read 'Hood' and 'Scarlet' by Stephen Lawhead? 'Hood' is good but 'Scarlet' is a truly wonderful book. I'm really looking forward to the last in the trilogy 'Tuck'.

If there's chainmail made from wool in this new Arthur I may have to smash the television. I'll probably watch the first episode at someone else's house, just in case.

[drosdelnoch]

Yep and also looking forward to Tuck, I've passed the other two onto my Dad to enjoy (who's in his 60's LOL)