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Bradley James plays Arthur, the handsome heir to the throne of Camelot, in DIVA Universal’s Merlin. Here, Bradley talks about the latest season of Merlin, and his real-life friendship with the Knights of the Round Table. 

Q: Where do we find Arthur at the beginning of season four?

Bradley James: Arthur has to take responsibility for the kingdom because his father has lost his mind. He’s already offered to give his life away, and now Morgana poses an enormous threat to the kingdom he's trying to protect. Arthur’s been thrown into the deep end of a very grave situation.

Q: Does Arthur cope with the responsibility?

Bradley James: It's not always easy for him and he constantly has to learn from his mistakes. But I would say he's the man you would want in a crisis. He always sticks by what he feels is right, which is a very good quality.

Q: How would you characterise the relationship between Arthur and Merlin in this season?

Bradley James:  Merlin has now taken on more of an advisory role. Their friendship has grown, and Merlin comes up with pearls of wisdom more and more often. They are forming a much closer relationship.

Q:How does Arthur deal with Lancelot, his rival for Gwen's affection?

Bradley James: Camelot always comes first for Arthur. If his love for Gwen causes friction, it holds back the kingdom. But if being with Gwen works for the kingdom, then he feels it should happen.

Q: Have you enjoyed the new focus on the Knights of the Round Table this season?

Bradley James: Absolutely. The Knights have a great camaraderie, which is what the Round Table is all about. They have a passionate dream, which they all want to achieve. Off-screen, we all get on famously. I celebrated my birthday recently and they all came along to my place. We made a great day and a night of it. One of the actors, Tom, was in Liverpool, and he came down especially for a few hours to help celebrate. That's a measure of how close we have become over this year. It's been an absolute pleasure to have them around, and I'm quietly confident that will translate to the screen.

Q: Has the character of Agravaine given something extra to this season?

Bradley James:Definitely. Very early on, the audience are aware that Agravaine’s allegiance is to Morgana. Naturally, Arthur is unaware of this, and that creates great tension. Someone has to play dumb – and it's usually Arthur! As far as Arthur is concerned, his mother's brother is someone to be trusted implicitly, and he can't comprehend the idea that he shouldn't be.

Q: Do you get a lot of attention from fans in the street?

Bradley James:Yes, I get stopped quite a bit. It's inevitable. If you stick your face on the TV, it'll draw some attention. But people are always very flattering – they love the show and want pictures and autographs. It's lovely when your work comes across so well.

Q: Why do you think Merlin has been such a global hit?

Bradley James: People relate to the ideals of the Arthurian legends and the myth of the Round Table. On top of that, you have great characters, amazing magic and an astonishing period.  People love to get lost in that world.

Q: Do you think the show's success is attributable to the worldwide recession?

Bradley James: Recession or not, we all need escapism. Film and television and theatre inspire people in that way. They have certainly inspired me over the years. That's what we're trying to do. We want to allow the audience to escape into the land of Camelot.

Catch Merlin every Monday @ 9/8PM THAI-JKT.

Written by DIVA UniversalEditor

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