Thirteen years ago, a BBC family drama shattered the festive spirit for millions of viewers with one of the most controversial and heartbreaking finales in television history.
The Christmas Eve That Broke Camelot
On 24 December 2012, audiences settled in to watch the concluding episode of the beloved fantasy series Merlin, expecting a triumphant holiday resolution. Instead, they witnessed the brutal death of King Arthur, portrayed by Bradley James, as he perished in the arms of his sorcerer friend Merlin, played by Colin Morgan.
The series, which ran from 2008 to 2012, had reimagined the Arthurian legends for a Saturday night family audience. It featured a young cast including Angel Coulby as Guinevere and Katie McGrath as Morgana, alongside established stars like Anthony Head, John Hurt, and Richard Wilson. Averaging over seven million viewers per episode at its peak, the show's two-part finale, Diamond of the Day, was a major television event.
Creators Julian Murphy and Johnny Capps had successfully adapted the dark, tragic source material into PG-friendly viewing for half a decade. The finale, however, took a stark turn towards the original myths' sombre tone.
A Finale of Tears, Not Cheers
In the climactic episode, Arthur is mortally wounded by the traitorous knight Mordred (Alexander Vlahos). Rather than a last-minute magical rescue, viewers watched a prolonged, emotional sequence where Merlin could only cradle his dying friend. The tragedy was compounded by a final, haunting scene set in the modern day, showing an immortal Merlin still waiting for Arthur's promised return.
The audience figures reflected the huge anticipation. Diamond of the Day: Part One attracted 8.45 million viewers on 22 December, while Part Two on Christmas Eve secured 7.8 million. For many fans, particularly younger viewers, the bleak ending was a shocking departure from the show's typically hopeful spirit.
As one fan, then a 13-year-old viewer, recalls: it was a harsh introduction to narrative tragedy, replacing expected festive joy with grief.
A Legacy of Grief and Unwavering Fandom
In the 13 years since, the finale's impact has proven enduring. The fan community remains remarkably active, producing thousands of tributes, over 55,000 fanfiction stories on platforms like Archive of Our Own, and countless video edits on social media, testament to an unresolved collective trauma.
Despite persistent hopes for a sixth season that might restore Arthur and usher in Albion's golden age, the creators have stood by their creative decision. In a 2023 interview with Radio Times, Johnny Capps stated: "I don't think I would change it at all." He explained the modern-day coda was intended to leave the story open, but for the original team, five series felt complete.
Thus, the Merlin finale endures as a landmark moment in British television: a family show that chose poignant, permanent tragedy over a fairytale Christmas ending, leaving a legacy of devotion and heartbreak that still resonates powerfully over a decade later.
The entire series of Merlin is currently available for streaming on BBC iPlayer.
