BBC fantasy series Atlantis to take Merlin slot

Mark Addy and Juliet Stevenson are to head the cast of BBC One's family fantasy series Atlantis, which is to screen later this year.

The show - which also features former Cutting It actress Sarah Parish - is expected to be screened as a new Saturday night attraction in the wake of popular series Merlin ending.

The 13-part drama series will be set around the great lost city and will re-imagine the wealth of Greek myths and legends.

Mark (pictured), who starred in The Full Monty and is currently on screen in ITV's The Syndicate, said: "The scripts bring to life ancient myths with such a vibrancy and sense of humour - I knew I wanted to be a part of it."

Stage and screen star Juliet said: "This genre is new to me, so I am looking forward to a great adventure."

Also appearing in the series are Jemima Rooper - known to viewers for TV's Hex and Lost In Austen - as well as Robert Emms, Aiysha Hart and Jack Donnelly.

The programme team is constructing the set for the city at sites in Wales and Morocco, and filming is due to begin next month.

BBC drama boss Ben Stephenson said: "Some of the UK's best loved actors are joining our newest talent to take the BBC One audience to a rich and wonderful world where any adventure is possible.

 

Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 


An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.