Merlin: Secrets and Magic

Welcome to Secrets And Magic, the series that goes behind the scenes

to reveal how Merlin's made.

Coming up, we take a TROLL backstage, and find out

what's on the menu for guest star Sarah Parish.

She had to eat from a plate that had maggots on the other side of it.

And if that didn't turn your stomach, maybe this will.

Yes, there was some troll loving going on.

# Je t'aime... #

Plus, we take a closer look at Camelot's magic-fearing monarch.

He is the Queen of Hearts, he's the threat of the series, really.

All this and more on Secrets And Magic.

It's a tough life playing a troll,

as Sarah Parish knows all too well.

The guest star is back in the hot seat, getting transformed

into the burping, slurping object of Uther's affection.

It takes two and a half hours to put on.

And it's a big, big prosthetic head,

and a big fat suit.

And big tusks, and contact lenses, and a horrible old wig.

It was a long, long process.

I always moan about how long I spend in hair and make-up

cos I'm not good at sitting still,

but usually, I'm the first in. And when I turned up on set, she'd already been there for two hours.

I've worked with Sarah before. She's great.

'When she was in the suit, it was quite a struggle.

'She was in full head and shoulders make-up and then, on top of that,

'she had the fat suit.'

So, difficult.

So, I was acutely aware, you know, of her struggle.

Hopefully, I would say I'm totally unrecognisable.

And if anyone does say they knew it was me, I'll kill them.

'But she's a trooper.'

She went...

right the way through without a murmur, without a moan.

If the prosthetics weren't torturous enough, on set, she then had to face

some four-star troll cuisine.

MUNCHING

'I have to say,'

Sarah Parish deserves a medal... for the mulch that she ate

'that was, uh...

'black goo.'

I think it was bananas and chocolate,

'and stuff.'

In that particular instance, I think it was difficult for her to keep it down.

LAUGHTER

Cut!

I saw the plates of food

going through, they had put apples and pears in the microwave and made them all soggy,

and then put food colouring in them

to make them all mouldy and grotesque.

She had to eat from a plate with maggots on the other side of it.

So, I really didn't envy her at all.

You think that it can't get... they can't push the joke any more.

And then, the second part just gets hilarious. It was brilliant.

I did many things that I regret.

Father... But... I really don't want to know the details.

THE TROLL GASPS

#..my last, my everything... #

Yes, there was some troll loving going on.

#..all my dreams... #

'So, there's a bit of troll love,'

which is really disgusting,

but really funny, as well. No, they're hilarious.

#..my guiding star

# My kind of wonderful

# That's what you are. #

Yes, my lord. Another face that's becoming familiar around the castle

is that of the considerably better-looking Sir Leon.

You are the future king, my lord.

I'm the dogsbody of Camelot.

But it was back in the beginning of the series when this dogsbody

eventually had his day.

It was kind of terrifying.

This beautiful scene that Colin and Richard had been doing,

I had to interrupt with a knock on the door and come in,

and deliver this line.

And so, my first scene, I opened the door

and managed to forget exactly what my line was,

even though I'd been practising for many days.

Where did this chicken come from?

Come in!

The king and...

..requires your presence immediately.

Cut!

And I thought, that's it, I'm going to be cut.

Thankfully, he survived that first slip-up,

and now has his feet firmly under the table.

They got to stand up for the people of Camelot

when Uther gets under the spell.

It was nice to be able to...

to actually put myself out there a little bit.

..16, take one.

Action.

MUNCHING AND CACKLING EVILLY

THEY LAUGH TOGETHER

Tell them about our plan.

Plan!

We are introducing further taxes.

Sire, we can't.

The people have given all they can.

You told me that before, and yet our coffer is full.

THE TROLL BREAKS WIND

But your people are already going hungry.

Are you questioning my orders?

It's just...

If we take more, they'll starve.

Who are you to tell me what's best for my people?

You will collect more taxes or you will lose your head.

TROLL CACKLES EVILLY

Lose your head! Lose his head!

It's the weirdest thing in the world, meeting, first of all,

an actress who has a troll head,

which was so realistic, it's quite bizarre.

So that was fun, and then, in the same episode,

there's a comedy scene with Richard and I, as we say to Uther...

You do realise your wife is a troll, sire?

I beg your pardon?

At least that's the way she looks to us.

What with the...

warts, and the...

..nose.

And the smell. The smell?

What...?

She also has what appears to be...

a set of fangs.

What?!

I wouldn't really say they were fangs, more like tusks.

Yes, they are more like tusks.

Not that we're saying that that's necessarily a bad thing,

I just thought I should point it out to you in case it had passed you by.

Being in a scene with these incredible actors

that you've always looked up to,

and hoped one day you would get the chance to meet,