The Ink-Pot and the Palette

He really was a great casting choice. He does fit the Celtic type very nicely, and his appearance creates a fantastic counterpoint to Bradley James' big blond warrior. (I don't think we're allowed to say Anglo-Saxon anymore, are we?)

According to commentary on the pilot episode, they saw over a hundred actors for the role of Merlin. CM had very little experience--a few guest roles, apparently--but wowed the producers with his air of likable-ness and his comic timing.

They didn't mention sex-appeal. In fact, the commentaries go out of their way to mention the "family" rating the show is aimed at. Which means all the sexual tension just bubbles there, unmentioned and simmering, though there's no WAY the lead actors aren't being directed to gaze at one another, and there's equally no way that the frequent semi-nakedness and undressing and dressing are just accidents.

It's really quite wonderful.