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Mythical favourite Merlin returns this week, but there are surprises in store for the young sorcerer, played by Colin Morgan, and his co-stars including Katie McGrath, better known as evil Morgana. She’s back with dastardly sister Morgause (Emilia Fox) to stir things up once more, and viewers won’t be disappointed…

Were you a bit worried at the end of the last series when Morgana was crushed in the remains of Camelot?
The great thing with this show is that I know the legend, so I know where Morgana has to go in terms of the story, and so I thought, ‘They can’t kill her off, there’s no way I’m dead,’ which was comforting!

Does Morgana have any redeeming features?
She’s got great hair! I’m the worst person to talk to about it because I don’t believe Morgana’s evil. I believe she’s a victim of her circumstances and believes she’s doing the right thing. I believe she’d be a better ruler than Arthur because she’d make tough decisions. It’s not easy ruling a kingdom, but she’d be good at it. I hope she comes across as a sympathetic villain.

Lots of famous actors have played Morgana on screen, most recently Eva Green…
Yes and that was a comparison I really wanted! It’s the worst day when someone says to you, ‘The other person playing the part at the same time as you is the hottest Bond girl of the last 20 years’. Great, brilliant. That was a dark day for Katie. I do feel a responsibility playing Morgana because she is a feminist icon without losing her femininity. So many brilliant people before me have played her, so I hope I'm doing it right.

Morgana seems a lot more powerful than Merlin this series…
Hugely powerful and I think that’s because she’s generally angrier than Merlin. He’s more controlled with his magic and when he’s powerful it’s generally when he’s backed into a corner. Morgana feels like that all the time.

Merlin is a long shoot [eight months], do you often have to cancel dates with friends?
Yes, that’s why I don’t buy theatre or concert tickets any more. I don’t tell friends I’ll be at their party, I’ll call them up on the day if I’m free. I’m more of a spontaneous, ‘It’s three o’clock in the afternoon, let’s have some Pimm's,’ type of person.

Have you enjoyed acting opposite Nathaniel Parker, who plays Arthur’s uncle Agravaine, this season?
He’s brilliant. Actors who come into Merlin have to embrace it and he so does, he gets the whole thing. He’s completely up for it and slotted in totally.

Morgana and Agravaine are in cahoots, aren't they?
I don’t want to say he’s Morgana’s bitch, but he is! She’s using him and he’s using her for all the wrong reasons.

What’s his motivation?
Her hair! No, he’s Arthur’s mother’s brother and he blames Arthur and Uther for her death. He wants revenge.

Why do you think fantasy shows like Merlin, Game Of Thrones and Camelot are so popular?
With things the way they are, people are watching TV for escapism. Nobody on Merlin is trying to pay their mortgage or their gas bill, so you can just sit down and enjoy pure entertainment. It’s comforting and that’s what people are looking for nowadays.

Morgana has to kill Morgause to make herself all powerful, so is this the end of the road for you and Emilia Fox?
Nobody ever dies on Merlin, that’s the wonderful thing about magic! That’s all I’m going to say. I’m so lucky to work with Millie.

Mary Comerford