The Merlin series 5 BBC premiere date has been announced, and we also get a description of the two-part episode, entitled “Arthur’s Bane”!

Yesterday we reported that the premiere date was revealed by the producers at a recent screening of the first episode of series 5, but we want to make sure you see it, as it seems to be the official word: Merlin‘s fifth series returns to BBC One on October 6, at 7:45 p.m. GMT!

Sadly Americans will have to wait a few more months, as the fifth series is set to air in January 2013 on the SyFy channel.

The first episode of the series, entitled “Arthur’s Bane,” jumps into the future to see Arthur, Merlin, Gwen and Gaius face a new and darker age. The description from BBC reads:

Camelot faces a new golden age, but even as the city flowers, the dark seeds of destruction are being sown. In the frozen wastelands of the north, men are disappearing without a trace. King Arthur and his knights undertake a dangerous mission into the unknown in search of answers – but once there, Merlin finds himself locked in a battle unlike any he has fought before.

Thanks to SpoilerTV for that information!

Are you excited to see the show take a darker turn as the characters are now a few years older? Arthur and Gwen will have been married for a while, and presumably Merlin, Arthur and the knights have grown even closer than before. What new challenge will Merlin face in the premiere episode? And what role will Morgana and the now grown-up Mordred (played by Alexander Vlahos) play this year? Whatever it is, we’re betting it won’t be good for our heroes.

You can join the hosts of Hypable’s new Merlin podcast Talks of Camelot as they tackle all these big questions and more! Check out their premiere episode, “Dragonlord Speak 101.”

Update: The BBC has now 100% officially confirmed that the premiere episode will air on October 6, via the @MerlinOfficial Twitter account. Start the countdowns!