BBC confirm fourth series of ‘Merlin’

The BBC have announced that they are pleased with the viewing figures for Merlin, despite tough competition from ITV’s crappy X-Factor.

Series three of the sword and sorcery show has been drawing audiences of around six million when it goes up against the enormously popular piss-poor talent show on Saturday evenings. This has been a good enough result for the BBC to recommission the show for a fourth season, but it may be the last one.

Aunty Beeb has agreed to bring Merlin back for a fourth year, but this time they have only commissioned 10 episodes rather than the usual 13. The show seems likely to be knocked back until 2012 too as the next series of Doctor Who will be split across the spring and autumn.

Despite the reasonable viewing figures the third series of Merlin has come under criticism for not developing the main characters and becoming stagnant. This may be about to change though going off this hint made by the show’s executive producers Johnny Capps and Julian Murphy.

“We are both delighted with the continuing success of Merlin, and relish the chance to take the series to the next level with the long-awaited arrival of the Knights of the Round Table.” Capps said.

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