“I was bricking myself,” he told SciFiNow. “The level of banter and familiarity with the cast is unlike anything, so to come in as the new kid was a little daunting. The jokes, especially with the knights, left me going ‘What the hell are they talking about?'”

Vlahos also revealed that he had been inspired by Asa Butterfield, who played Mordred as a child in the first two series of Merlin. “[Asa] did such a good job, and he was so well-loved, so I try and live up to what he did,” he said. “I watched all of Asa’s work as Mordred to try and make sure I don’t mess it up. Asa has this great thing where… he has this brilliant smile and then he drops it within a second and looks as evil as anything. I wanted to bring that in as a nod to the past.”

Beyond that, it’s Vlahos’s own approach, and the time jump between Series 4 and 5 allows the character to have changed. “The audience aren’t stupid, they know it’s a different actor playing the part, so I’m having to bring a little bit of me to it,” he explained. “He’s older, had life experiences and I’m pleased with the introduction, it’s not as you expect at all. I know a lot of people are drawing comparisons to Agravaine and thinking Mordred’s going to fulfil that same role, but wait and see is what I’m saying…”

What are your hopes for Mordred in Series 5? Let us know below…

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