Merlin cast at events 2010
We thought it worthwhile to start a page listing any events or conventions at which we know Merlin cast or crew will appear. We’ll keep this information as up-to-date and correct as we can, but of course it’s always worth checking the official sites before making any firm plans.
news re filming dates in September
It seems certain that filming in Pierrefonds in September will be cut short, just as the filming in June was. I don’t have any firm information as to how that effects the dates. I had originally heard they were filming from 1 to 16 September. My guess is that this will be cut back to 1 to 10 September, or 6 to 16 September. However, this is only guesswork at present. I will confirm what I can as soon as I hear anything definite. Apologies for the uncertainty!
By the way: It has been confirmed that the shortened schedule in June was because less footage on location was needed, due to the nature of that block’s storylines.
confirmed events
Film Funday at BFI Southbank, London | 5 September | bfi.org.uk
This begins at 11:30 with a Merlin Funday Workshop for the kids in the foyer. Then from 13:00 there is a preview of the first two episodes of the third season! Followed by a panel discussion with cast and crew, involving all six of the main cast as well as producers Johnny Capps and Julian Murphy. This event is now sold out!
possible events
There will be tv appearances and other promotional activity around the start of the new season, which will probably begin airing in mid September. We’ll post any details here that we… um, hear.
London Expo | 29-31 October | londonexpo.com
There have been Merlin panels at previous Expos, so here’s hoping they’ll attend this one as well!
Cinemagic Film Festival, Dublin | cinemagic.org.uk
The Cinemagic International Film & Television Festival for Young People was held in Dublin on 5-12 May 2010. The event ‘Merlin – Drama Showcase’ was scheduled for Monday 10 May, at Movies@Dundrum. This was described as: ‘Come and revisit the first episode of series 1 and the final episode of series 2 of the fantasy period drama based on the King Arthur legend. Cast and crew members will be taking time out from filming series 3 to talk about the making of the hit BBC show.’ It sounds as if this was intended to be similar to the BAFTA event held in London in November 2009 – which was certainly well worth a visit.
Unfortunately this event was cancelled, due to the flow-on effects on filming schedules caused by the volcanic ash. :-( However, they will try to reschedule for later in the year. If we hear anything more definite, we will post it here. It may be worth keeping an eye on the Festival scheduled for 11-26 November 2010 in Belfast.
filming
We are often asked how people can see the cast and crew filming on location.
The studio sets are all closed to the public. We never know ahead of time when and where any filming will occur in Wales or England. We only hear about filming locations after the event. So while there’s a chance of you being lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time, it does indeed come down to luck. Or insider information that we’re not privy to!
The one real opportunity to watch the magic happen is at the Chateau de Pierrefonds in France. Filming generally takes place in Pierrefonds during April, June and September. Filming only takes place on weekdays. The Chateau remains open during filming, though parts of it will be unavailable. Again, much of this comes down to luck, however. If they are filming an interior scene, then you won’t have access to that room, and you won’t be able to watch. If they are filming in the courtyard, in the carpark (the tournament ground) or in front of the Chateau, then chances are you’ll be able to see what’s going on.
You will of course be asked to respect the fact that our beloved cast and crew are all working hard! Silence is requested while the cameras are rolling (someone will call out to warn you). Our cast are generally friendly and approachable, but please be respectful enough to wait until they can spare you their time and attention. Being able to see them like this is a real privilege, and we’re sure you will treat it accordingly.
Filming took place at the Chateau from 8 to 21 April, and from 3 to 17 June 2010.
- Our information was that filming would next occur from 1 to 16 September 2010. However, it now seems that this will be cut short, and filming will only take place during two of those three weeks. I will post here with more information if/when it comes to hand.
Please keep in mind that all this is secondhand information, and has not been officially confirmed. Keep an eye on the official website of the Chateau de Pierrefonds for more information, which of course we will also post here. Note that the Chateau is closed to the public on Mondays from 5 September.
Thanks are due to various friends for the info and heads-up.
We have learned the hard way (!) that when the Chateau posts the filming dates for June and September, the first and last days involve only the crew setting things up or packing them away. The cast have not been there at all. You’d probably be wise to make plans that allow for that. And it now seems clear that the crew start work more than one day earlier than the cast in April – maybe even a week earlier.
Happy hunting!
past events
United Relief Live, Manchester | 1 May | www.sportrelief.com
Bradley played for The Rivals team against The Reds (Manchester United). The Rivals won, with the final score 6-7, and our hero kicked a penalty goal! ♥♥♥
London Expo | 29 May | londonexpo.com
There was a lovely Merlin panel featuring Johnny Capps, Colin Morgan, Angel Coulby and Katie McGrath – as well as mini!Merlin, mini!Gaius, mini!Arthur and mini!Kilgarra. Unfortunately Bradley wasn’t able to attend because of problems with the trains. Meanwhile, Colin looked sizzlingly hot…
Comic Con, Paris | 1 July | www.comic-con-france.com/en/
The con included a Merlin panel and autograph sessions featuring Angel Coulby and Katie McGrath. I humbly apologise for not thinking to list this before now. :-(
Comic Con International, San Diego | 25 July | comic-con.org/cci/
Colin Morgan, Anthony Head, Johnny Capps and Julian Murphy attended Comic Con, and participated in a one-hour panel and autograph session.
It is going to be magic seeing you again for me to, my dear!… 9 days and I come back to Camelot, yeeeesss!!!
Hi julie
Iwondered if you know when series 3 is starting?,as i have read and heard varrying information.
Are you going to see the cast film in france in september?.
My son has just taken delivery of the merlin 2011 annual,looks great and has plenty to keep his active mind occupied,although it has too little information on katie mcgrath for my liking….
Still hoping that they will do expo in october.
cheers
karl.
Hello, Karl! Your timing is perfect. :-) The BBC Press Office have just announced today that the new series starts on 11 September. This is a week earlier than the previous two years, so if you’ve seen 18 September around, it’s just what we were assuming. Here’s a link to the Press Office info (with thanks to a friend).
Yes, we’re off back to France to watch the filming. It’s going to be a busy and exciting couple of weeks! I’ll be back and posting photos as soon as I can.
I’m glad your son is happy with the Annual. Still, I can empathise with your point there… :-D Let’s hope they not only do the Expo, but that you get to see Katie there, too. ♥
Hi julie
Sorry its so late but i have just finished a night shift.as i work in the police,
Thanks very much for the info on the new series start date.
You are so lucky being able to go and see the cast film in france.
I hope to go and see the cast film in france next year,providing there is a fourth series of course.
My little 7 year old daughter is dying to meet katie mcgrath,and hopefuly yourself at expo in october if that is possible?
All the best
Carl.
Karl! How reassuring to know that you are one of our local heroes. ♥
We are very lucky indeed, being able to head for France. I am quietly confident there will be a 4th (and 5th) series, so I hope you and your family will be able to travel to Pierrefonds at least once while the magic is happening. It’s such a rare opportunity, so I very much hope you won’t miss out.
Of course I’d love to meet you and your daughter at Expo, though I’m sure I’ll be a major disappointment compared to the lovely Katie! I came this close to suggesting it myself, but I didn’t want to seem inappropriate. :-) Let’s keep our fingers crossed that it all works out… And feel free to email if you’d rather, to make arrangements: julie@merlinlocations.com If it’s anything like last time, I’m afraid it’s going to be bedlam!
Hi julie
THANKYOU…for your kind words,and yes it would be great to meet up at expo if the cast are there of course.
When we know anything definite about expo,i will email you to make arrangements.
Did they sell merlin merchandise last time you went,or any items for signing?.
Do you get chance to ask the cast any questions,or does it all move along too quickly to be able to?
cheers
karl.
I really don’t think the cast will be on October Expo.
I mean, they already where on May expo, why be on Oct. expo too?
Morning, Karl! As far as I’m aware, at previous Expos they haven’t been selling Merlin merchandise – but then I haven’t yet had the chance to have a good wander round all the stalls – I have tended to focus on the panel and on meeting up with friends. Maybe this year they will, as there’s so much more merchandise available now, including the action figures.
For the autograph session, they did have nicely printed copies of a publicity shot available for the cast to sign, but you could also bring your own stuff to have signed. There’s usually a limit of two items each, but of course that changes on the day let alone the event. It does all move along fairly quickly, but there’s usually the chance to exchange a few sentences, and maybe to have a photo taken. But I’m sure you’re aware all of this depends on so many factors – especially if time is limited. But even if I ended up with only a moment’s direct attention from one of my heroes, I’ve always found it worth the effort! ♥
Morning, colincolic! At this stage it’s only a hope, but it’s a fairly confident hope. There has been a Merlin panel at both May and October Expos since October 2008. Plus the new series will be screening, so they’ll be wanting to promote that. So I am quietly confident that there’ll be a panel. Who will attend and what will happen there is another matter entirely. :-D
I’ve no idea where to go about selling it, but as of today I have a spare ticket for the BFI event, so I thought I’d offer it up here (if that’s okay?). My friend can no longer go, and I don’t want to just leave an empty seat when someone else could enjoy it instead of her!
Hello, Kirsty! You’re very kind – and I’m sure you’ll find someone here who’d love to attend. Thank you!
I’ll add a note to the main entry to see if we can get a quick response.
Kirsty, it’s very kind of you to offer it here. I would have loved to attend the BFI event but I live in France and it would be quite difficult for me to catch an Eurostar just for it :-(
I’m sure someone else will be delighted with this news !
Fortunately, I could manage to be in Pierrefonds at the end of next week (thursday 9th and Friday 10th), so if Julie or other people are there, maybe it could be great to wait for the magic to happen together ? I’m sure we will meet in the castle, it’s not that big after all!!!!!
Let’s hope everyone would enjoy a great time with Merlin… either at the BFI or in Pierrefonds.
Hi Kirsty,
I’d love to attend the BFI Event. How much are you selling the ticket for?
Also, just wondering, but is that event just for children or can anyone go?
I’m a Canadian who is in England for a year to work, and thought I’d take in an event from my favorite series while I am here!
I emailed Julie as well, but I figured I would contact you here just in case.
Thanks,
Angela
Angela – Thank you for getting in touch re Kirsty’s ticket. I’ve emailed Kirsty as well now, so you two will hopefully be in touch soon and get this sorted out. {touch wood}
While these BFI Family Fundays are supposed to be for young families, Merlin attracts ‘kids’ across quite a wide range of ages! I, for instance, am certainly old enough to be Colin’s mum. I’m sure you won’t feel out of place. :-)
I hope this all works out, and that I’ll see you there!
Hello, Catherine! Thank you for all your kind words. Of course it would be great if we managed to meet up at the Chateau. I’m sure it’ll be fairly obvious where we all are, anyway… The next problem will be identifying each other! We need some kind of Merlin Locations badge, don’t we…? :-D
I really really hope you’re right Julie!!!
I’d love to attend the event if there will be a Merlin panel. The truth is I’m planning a trip to London sometime this year but I have to book flight-tickets early (since I am from another country and last minute tickets cost wayyyy too much) and I am really looking forward for an official announcement, so that I can combine both London and Merlin ;-)
By the way, this site is very informative and really cool!
You’ve done a great job !!! :-))))
PS :
Please keep an eye on the event annd let us all here know asap!!
colincolic – I really hope I’m right, too! :-) Unfortunately we won’t know for sure until a lot closer to the day. They might announce a panel ahead of time, but we don’t tend to know who’s attending until a lot nearer the time. However, so far the October panels have included more cast members – I assume because they have a particular interest in promoting the season that’s being screened at the time. So… if you need to make your travel plans in advance, you might want to make sure you include that weekend. However, there’s no way to be sure at this stage whether it will be worthwhile in terms of the Expo. Sorry! I’ll keep this post updated as we discover more.
I’m really happy that you enjoy the website and find it useful! Thank you for your kind words. ♥
Would it make any sense if the filming was starting on the 5th September since the chateau closes at 5:30. Or perharps there is another reason for the closing time of the chateau…
Hello, Mary! It seems that the Chateau always changes over to shorter days once summer is past. However, it only closes to tourists at 5:30pm (and for an hour at lunch) – the filming can go on regardless, depending on their own schedule. I doubt the two things are connected – unless of course the production team wanted to make the most of the days on which they’d have the Chateau to themselves for a little bit longer each day!
I still swimming in my ignorance, and I didn’t find any informations about the filming dates (or similar) on the Cuateau website, but I’m planning to be there from 7 to 10 September, do your dates coincide Julie (and any other person)?
If we will be there in the same dates we coul meet (maybe for that famous drink xD), and to recognize each other, I hope to be the only with a pink hair fringe :D
Let me know ^^
Hey there, Elise! No, the Chateau haven’t posted any dates – and indeed maybe they won’t now. I guess they’ve gotten wise to our wily ways! :-)
I will be there from the 7th to the 10th as well, and I am quietly confident that we’ll be in luck – at least in relation to the filming. I will keep an eye out for pink fringes! As for me, I’m short and plump and grey-haired, will probably be dressed in jeans and a Kangaroo Poo t-shirt, and will almost inevitably have a Pentax camera round my neck. Looking forward to meeting up. ♥
Hi Elise and Julie !
I will probably be in Pierrefonds from 7th to 10th, too. Now I think I’ll be able to recognize you girls !! As for me, I’ll try to take my light green rucksack. Not very girly, but very useful to take both umbrella and solar cream – the weather is just very changing these days !!!
See you next week !
Dear Julie, Elise and Catherine,
Hello this is Siti from Malaysia, I am soooo envious that all of you are going to Pierrefonds next week to see the Merlin magic happening right in front of your eyes!!
when you are there please send my love to the cast, especially the fab four, Bradley, Colin, Katie and Angel…
Regards
Siti
Elise, Julie and Catherine!
I’m there from the 8th to the 11th, anyone else staying in the campsite?
My friend met Angel Coulby at Glastonbury and she mentioned the second week of september as filming in france, so hopefully we’l be ok!
I’ve got long brown hair (more of a mane really, it’s usually a mess) and i tend to wear flower wreaths in it, so I’m reasonably recognisable…
If nothing’s going on merlin wise we should console ourselves in that chocolate shop i’ve heard so much about?
Hi Julie, Elise and Catherine!
I’m relatively new to the fandom and I’m so happy to be able to go to Pierrefonds before uni starts. I’m also going there from 7th to 10th, and am wondering if you know which is the best train to take from London? I’m in London right now for some uni related stuff and, of course, the BFI screening, but I’m from Croatia.
I’d love to meet with you girls. As for recognising me, I’m the one with white-blonde hair and will hopefully be wearing a dress like Morgana’s purple one.
See you Sunday / next week! :)
Glacies
Hello, Catherine! Hee. I always use a backpack, too. :-) You’re right to bring an umbrella. When it rains it Pierrefonds, it RAINS! Looking forward to seeing you and your green rucksack. ♥
Hello, Siti! It’s very nice to hear from someone so far afield! We will indeed be pouring all the love we can in the direction of our lovely cast – and some of it will be yours. ♥
Kitty! Hello there. You’re a far braver person than me, camping… I am staying at a hotel, cos I do so appreciate the luxuries of bed and bathroom! I’m sure we’ll be in luck re the filming, but yes there is always plenty to console ourselves with when in France if it doesn’t work out… I’m delighted to hear that Angel went to Glastonbury – I’m sure I remember hearing that she is really into that. I’m looking forward to meeting you, and the flower wreaths sound utterly delightful… I shall feel like a right tomboy next to you! But then, that is my fate for better or worse. :-D ♥
Glacies – Hello there, hon! I hope you are enjoying London, and especially the BFI event.
You will need to catch the Eurostar from London to Paris, and then you can take a train to Compeigne. From there, though, it’s a bit more problematic. You can check out our travel tips on this page.
I’ll look forward to seeing you there in your purple dress! I am sure you will look so very beautiful. ♥