A new Merlin featurette has been released in which the actors and showrunner Johnny Capps preview what we’ll see in the upcoming fifth series and present new episode clips!

In the video, executive producer Johnny Capps previews the fifth season, calling it a “departure” from what we’ve previously seen on the show. “What that actually means is that the show and the characters have grown up,” Bradley James (Arthur) clarifies.

Angel Coulby (Gwen) talks about the ways in which Merlin has grown darker, also musing that as the actors have grown up with the show and its audience, they are “able to push the boundaries of that darkness a little bit more.”

“The situations they are being put in are all ones which grown-ups are being put in,” James explains, although Coulby points out that the show hasn’t lost its trademark sense of humour.

They also talk about the technical look and feel of the show, making it more of a fantasy show with more expansive landscapes and better visual effects.

On the storyline, Capps previews the “interesting journeys” that the four main characters (Arthur, Merlin, Gwen and Morgana) are going on this year. For example, Guenevere is settling into her role as queen, and Arthur is feeling the pressure of running his kingdom and making difficult decisions.

But although the story is very much centered around these four, Capps says that the story-telling is much more multi-stranded than previously, which indicates that the other big characters in the series (primarily Gaius and the knights) will also have their own stories.

Finally, Katie McGrath (Morgana) says, “I think what’s at stake for the characters is very much life and death. What we’re having now is the ultimate battle, and that’s what everybody’s fighting for.”

We can’t wait! Merlin premieres this Saturday at 7:45 on BBC One with “Arthur’s Bane“!