U.S. premiere of Merlin season two set for Friday, April 2nd on Syfy

U.S. TELEVISION PREMIERE OF MERLIN SECOND SEASON

ON SYFY FRIDAY, APRIL 2, AT 10PM (ET/PT)

Season One Merlin Marathon Airs on Syfy Sunday, March 28, from 10AM-11PM (ET/PT)

New York, NY – March 9, 2010 – The second season of the critically acclaimed series Merlin makes its United States television premiere on Syfy Friday, April 2, at 10PM (ET/PT), following the spring season premiere of Stargate Universe at 9PM (ET/PT).

To give viewers a chance to catch up before the new season two launch, Syfy will showcase all 13 hours of Merlin’s first season in a full day marathon Sunday, March 28, from 10AM-11PM (ET/PT).

An imaginative new twist on a timeless legend, Merlin is set in the mythical city of Camelot, before history began. It’s a fantastical realm of legendary beasts and mysterious peoples, and a dangerous world where magic has been banned by the ruthless tyrant, Uther Pendragon.

Merlin stars Colin Morgan as Merlin, Bradley James as Prince Arthur, Anthony Head as King Uther, Richard Wilson as Gaius, Katie McGrath as Morgana and Angel Coulby as Gwen.

In the season two premiere episode, new servant Cedric (Mackenzie Crook, The Office) threatens Merlin’s position as Arthur’s right-hand-man, turning the Prince against his loyal friend. Merlin is convinced the slippery newcomer is up to something and he’s right – Cedric is a con man and a thief who’s after a magnificent jewel recently unearthed in a tomb far beneath Camelot. Little does Cedric realize that his precious prize is more dangerous than he could possibly imagine.

Merlin is executive produced by Julian Murphy and Johnny Capps for Shine Television.

In February, Syfy acquired the basic cable rights from FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) for all 26 episodes of Merlin. Season One of Merlin aired on NBC (Summer 2009). Seasons one and two aired on BBC One in the UK (2008-09). BBC has commissioned a third season, which will air in the UK in September 2010.

Syfy is a media destination for imagination-based entertainment. With year round acclaimed original series, events, blockbuster movies, classic science fiction and fantasy programming, a dynamic Web site (www.Syfy.com), and a portfolio of adjacent business (Syfy Ventures), Syfy is a passport to limitless possibilities. Originally launched in 1992 as SCI FI Channel, and currently in 96 million homes, Syfy is a network of NBC Universal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies. (Syfy. Imagine greater.)

FremantleMedia is one of the leading creators and producers of entertainment brands in the world. FremantleMedia is part of the RTL Group, Europe’s largest television and radio broadcast company, which is in turn 90 percent owned by Bertelsmann AG, one of the world’s major media and entertainment companies. FremantleMedia’s worldwide production arm is responsible for many of the world’s highest rated prime time entertainment, drama, serial drama and factual entertainment programmes. FremantleMedia Enterprises is the brand extension arm of FremantleMedia, offering a one-stop-shop for all Licensing, Distribution and Home Entertainment around the world. The FremantleMedia Group (which includes talkbackTHAMES, UFA and Grundy amongst others) has operations in 22 countries, one of the most comprehensive global networks, creating over 14,000 hours of programming a year, rolling out more than 60 formats and managing over 300 individual titles. FremantleMedia has some of the world’s most sought after and long running formats in its catalogue, and globally, produces such programmes as: Idols (co-produced with 19 Productions in the US), The X Factor (co-produced with Syco in the UK), Got Talent (co-produced with Syco in the UK and the US), Neighbours, The Bill, Family Feud, The Price is Right, Farmer Wants A Wife and Hole In The Wall.