SPACE Prepares to Say Good Knight to MERLIN Beginning January 5

- The beloved fantasy series draws its final sword with Season 5, and bows out with a special two-part finale -

- It's a marathon of MERLIN magic as the first four seasons air on SPACE beginning Jan. 2 at 8 a.m. ET -

"... Our thanks go to MERLIN's remarkable and loyal audience around the world for their enthusiasm for the characters and Camelot universe." - MERLIN co-creators Johnny Capps and Julian Murphy

To tweet this release: http://bit.ly/UPK1T5

TORONTO, Dec. 10, 2012 /CNW/ - Noble and trustworthy SPACE viewers: the fifth and final season of the beloved fantasy-adventure series MERLIN is about to commence. The epic conclusion of the battle for Camelot rides onto SPACE's line-up beginning Saturday, Jan. 5 at 8 p.m. ET. This season finds the Kingdom in the height of its 'golden age' with a full round table, peace across the land, and everything to lose. Leading up to the Season 5 premiere, SPACE has worked its magic to make sure viewers don't miss out on a single spell with an encore broadcast of the first four seasons of MERLIN. As part of THE 12 DAYS OF SPACEMAS, Seasons 1, 2, and 3 will air daily at 8 a.m. ET beginning Jan. 2, with Season 4 airing at 7 a.m. ET on Jan. 5.

Far from a chink in SPACE's ironclad armour, MERLIN's enticing plot lines and enchanting visual effects have established the series as a fan favourite. The Season 4 premiere on January 7, 2012, drew almost half a million total viewers and reached more than 800,000 Canadians, and throughout Season 4, SPACE ranked as the #1 specialty network in the MERLIN timeslot, Saturdays at 8 p.m. During its fourth season run, MERLIN also became the #1 program on SPACE for total viewers as well as the key A25-54 demo, and the final season promises to do the mythical series justice with old enemies, new allies, sharp special effects, and larger-than-life combat.

**Media Note** - Photography for MERLIN is available online at BellMediaPR.ca/SPACE

In the Season 4 finale, "The Sword in The Stone (Part 2)," Merlin (Colin Morgan, Island) used his magic to boost Arthur's (Bradley James, DIS/CONNECTED) moral, eventually guiding him to regain his role as King. Helios (Terence Maynard, SPY) and his forces were defeated, Morgana (Katie McGrath, THE QUEEN) disappeared, and the kingdom reached a state of peace. Arthur also proposed, for the second time, to Gwen (Angel Coulby, THE VISIT) and she was crowned Queen of Camelot.

The Season 5 premiere, "Arthur's Bane (Part 1)," is set in Camelot three years later, in a time of peace. Arthur (James) has never felt so strong, but as the city relishes in its 'golden age,' dark forces are brewing across the land. Men start disappearing into the frozen territories of the north, and in search of answers King Arthur and his Knights must undertake a dangerous mission to the unknown.

Season 5 of MERLIN also stars Anthony Head (BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER) as Uther, Richard Wilson (ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE) as Gaius, and John Hurt (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2) as the voice of the Great Dragon. The Knights of the Round Table also return amongst several special guest stars including Liam Cunningham (GAME OF THRONES), Lindsay Duncan (Alice in Wonderland), James Fox (Sherlock Holmes), Julian Glover (GAME OF THRONES), and Janet Montgomery (ENTOURAGE).

Viewers can also once again relive the magic of MERLIN for one month following the broadcast at SPACEcast.com.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
SPACE on Facebook
SPACE on Twitter

About SPACE
SPACE is Canada's national science fiction, horror and fantasy channel. SPACE is truly the station for all those who dare to challenge their imagination. SPACE is a division of Bell Media, which is owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest communications company. For more information about SPACE, visit spacecast.com.

Source: BBM Canada

SOURCE: SPACE

Andrea Allen, SPACE, 416.384.5375, [email protected]
Christy Sullivan, SPACE, 416.384.3624, [email protected]