THE third series of the BBC's intellectually undemanding sword and sorcery romp is now on sale on DVD, with the first six episodes occupying this three disc set and the rest scheduled to follow in the New Year.

The overall mood of this new series is a little darker than its predecessors, with the archly malevolent Morgana establishing herself as the villainess of the piece.

The youthful Merlin gradually finds his feet as a practitioner of the magical arts as the tale unfolds, ably supported by the ever reliable Richard Wilson and guest stars including the likes of Miriam Margolyes, Warwick Davies and Mark Williams of Fast Show fame.

Merlin: Series 3 - Volume 1 (PG) is out now on DVD. (Freemantle Media FHED 2779: £11.99)