Chris Chibnall on how he almost wrote Merlin, before doing his own Arthurian series Camelot

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Chris Chibnall, who used to run Doctor Who, has written for many different TV shows, not just the popular BBC science fiction series.

In a recent interview for our video series, The TopMob Writers’ Room, where we explore the minds of screenwriters, Chris Chibnall discussed his work on popular shows like Born and Bred, Life on Mars, Torchwood, Law & Order: UK, and Broadchurch. He also mentioned an upcoming Agatha Christie adaptation for Netflix called Seven Dials.

He wasn’t involved in the popular BBC fantasy series Merlin, which featured Colin Morgan, Bradley James, Katie McGrath, and Angel Coulby, but he came very close to being part of the show.

Before the popular Merlin series was created, Chris Chibnall had begun working on his own version of the story. Although that initial idea didn’t move forward, he later had the chance to revisit the Arthurian legends by writing for the American series, Camelot.

Camelot starred Joseph Fiennes, Jamie Campbell Bower and Eva Green, and ran for one season in 2011.

During a conversation for The TopMob Writers’ Room, Chris Chibnall was asked if his take on Merlin would have resembled the Camelot series. He stated that the two would have been entirely unrelated.

He strongly disagreed with the suggestion that the two things were alike. He explained that the idea originated with BBC Worldwide – now known as BBC Studios – and the producers of ‘Born and Bred’. They approached the creators with a request for an international series centered around a particular concept.

They asked me to start working on some related ideas while we were still finishing up ‘Born and Bred’. There was also another ‘Merlin’ project happening with Julie Gardner and the team, but this new thing is totally separate – just a coincidence.

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I’m really excited about this new series, ‘Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials’! It’s got a fantastic cast – Mia McKenna-Bruce, Helena Bonham Carter, and Martin Freeman – and the story sounds gripping. It centers around Lady Eileen ‘Bundle’ Brent, who’s not your typical detective, and she finds herself investigating a murder after what starts as a harmless prank at a country house quickly turns deadly. It seems like a really clever mystery is unfolding!

You can watch the full interview with Chris Chibnall from The TopMob Writers’ Room on Thursday, January 15th.

Don’t miss Agatha Christie’s ‘Seven Dials’! Add it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download the app today for daily TV suggestions, articles, and more.

Authors

James HibbsDrama Writer

James Hibbs writes about TV dramas for TopMob, covering shows on streaming services and traditional channels. Before becoming a writer, he worked in public relations, first at a business-to-business agency and then at Fremantle, a major international TV production company. He has a BA in English and Theatre Studies and a Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.

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2026-01-07 10:06