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CHARLIE VICKERS and MORFYDD CLARK on forging ahead in Middle-earth after last season's shock Sauron twist...

- SEAN MARLAND

Leaning back into a plush sofa, Charlie Vickers smiles while recalling the day he brought to life an iconic moment in fantasy literature during filming for the second series of Prime Video's prequel epic The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.

The first season saw the Australian actor take centre stage in the finale as his character was unmasked as infamous villain Sauron, and now he gets to forge the magical artefacts at the heart of the action.

'It was a surreal moment,' says Charlie, as TV Times meets him and co-star Morfydd Clark, who plays Elf Galadriel, for an exclusive chat at a posh London hotel. 'I had my morning porridge as normal, but when I arrived on set, the producer said, "We're doing the creation of the rings today!" I really had to pinch myself!'

Inspired by a backstory created by author J.R.R. Tolkien and set thousands of years before The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, the first series followed Galadriel as she hunted Sauron, only to discover he'd been hiding in plain sight all along under the guise of her humble companion, Halbrand! A In the new eight-part run, we'll see the Dark Lord's powers grow as he continues to create the 20 rings that will eventually seduce the rulers of Middle-earth to evil so that Sauron can control them.

Elsewhere, the Stranger (played by Daniel Weyman) travels to the far-off land of Rhûn to seek answers about his identity with inquisitive Harfoot Nori Brandyfoot (Markella Kavenagh) in tow, while in the dwarf realm of Khazad-dûm, King Durin III (Peter Mullan) is concerned when a new evil begins to stir.

Here, Charlie, 31, and Morfydd, 35, reveal why fans are set to be on the edge of their seats...

It was a brilliant twist when Halbrand was revealed to be Sauron! What happens next?