Merlin: Secrets and Magic

Welcome to Secrets And Magic, going behind the scenes to reveal how Merlin is made.

Today, things are hotting up on set for Richard Wilson.

Really upsetting when you were reading it -

"They can't do that to Richard! No!" "It's not Richard, it's Gaius!" "But don't do that to Richard!"

We take a look back at the lovable Gaius' greatest moments

and we meet the creepy Camelot visitor who's spooking all the cast.

I'm glad they genuinely felt scared. That means I was doing my job.

But is he really that scary?

All this and more on Merlin Secrets & Magic.

Today, the cast and crew are making another hair-raising episode.

It stars Richard Wilson, aka Gaius, and his wig, aka... Martin.

Why, I don't know. That's what my make-up lady, Anna, calls it.

Richard's rug may well have a life of its own

but, together, they've been turning heads.

You cannot imagine Gaius being played by anyone else. Absolutely not.

He is wonderful and he has created a character

so different to everything he's done before.

Apart from the wig, what was it that attracted Richard to the role?

Something I haven't really done before. I quite liked the idea

of doing a bit of filming in France and things like that. Um...

it just seemed rather a good idea.

We knew he was right for the part. The fact that he is very well known

is an added bonus, but it wasn't important to cast a name in that part

but it was good that he did say yes,

because, obviously, we got a lot of kudos by having Richard in the show.

Because he is the national treasure that he is

and because he is a comic genius,

you find yourself insane sometimes trying to keep a straight face cos you're going, "That is brilliant!"

What's this? LAUGHTER

Sorry, I have to stop. Someone's put a cappuccino thing in my inkwell.

I believe it was you had a cappuccino. No, it was me.

I'm ever so sorry, Richard.

I don't want to see anything else in my inkwell.

When Gaius crashed onto our screens, he seemed only to be Camelot's cantankerous court physician.

Are you using magic again?! No.

But as things heated up, we learned there was more to him than meets they eye.

I want you to take mine in his place.

Gaius the hero.

Gaius the magician. HE RECITES AN INCANTATION

Gaius the confidant.

Once again you save my life. You've always served me well.

And, most importantly, Gaius, Merlin's guardian.

They have this very, very touching relationship

and that just blossomed from episode one of the first series

when Gaius is helping Merlin's wounds from the mace fight with Arthur.

There was such a great chemistry between the two of them

that we were going, we can build on this -

Gaius being the reluctant father figure, but enjoying it whilst at the same time not knowing how to do it.

In this latest episode, his relationship with his uncle is put to the ultimate test.

Merlin's casual magic sends Camelot into chaos

and leads Gaius into grave danger.

The smoke was alive, I tell you. I feared for my life.

Send for the witchfinder.

In this story, probably for the only time in the first two series,

Merlin is actually accused of using magic. Quite a big moment.

These are dangerous times. The threat against magic and against Merlin is real.

I think it's good to occasionally remind the audience of that.

We were always very keen to tell a story of a witchfinder coming.

We talked about Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the child catcher because I remember being freaked out by that.

We thought he could arrive in this carriage on a dark, wet night with chains in the carriage.

So we started with this kind of image and created a story round it.

I am expected.

The witchfinder was a really difficult part to cast because you want a great British actor.

We were going, "What about Charles Dance? Would he do it? Would he be interested in doing Merlin?

"Should we talk to him? Let's just send him the script and see what happens."

Sometimes, something different comes along, and this is certainly that.

The witchfinder serves no-one. He's a law unto himself. Do you smell it?

Do you smell it, Uther?

Aredian. It's all around us. The foul stench of sorcery.

He was obviously having great fun with it and, you know...

he was having a great time!

You don't often get to swish around in a long, black leather coat

and black hat and gloves.

It's enormous fun to play parts like that. Of course it is.

Because, you know, I can play.

Aredian.

When do you begin?

I've already begun.

He came up to me and he said, "What do you think of this ring?

And I said, "What do you mean?" "I've just bought it in Camden Market. It'd be perfect for the character."

It was a rather ugly little thing, with a kind of claw in it.

I thought, "That'll be handy!"

It's very much in keeping with the rest of the stuff.

You know, Keith Richards has got the kind of

spanners and nuts and bolts hanging from his hair! We edged in that direction.

Merlin.

I have a few questions I would like to you to answer. Please be at my chambers in an hour.

'He created such a sense of menace'

and a strange, twisted sense of fun

about approaching these suspects.

'And it's very unnerving. You're sitting there

'and, I mean, I was...felt quite genuinely intimidated.'