The BBC fantasy drama Atlantis launches with a bold reimagining of Greek mythology, blending action, humour and romance. Season 1 follows Jason, portrayed by Jack Donnelly, who is mysteriously transported from the modern world to the legendary city of Atlantis.
There, he befriends Pythagoras (Robert Emms) and the brawny Hercules (Mark Addy), creating an unlikely trio that faces mythical beasts, sinister politics, and divine interventions. The series intertwines classic tales such as encounters with the Oracle and Medusa with fresh twists designed for a family audience. Rich in adventure and sweeping visuals, Atlantis season 1 establishes a world where gods and mortals collide in high-stakes storytelling.
Jason and Pythagoras in Episode 3 of Atlantis. Image Credit: BBC/Urban Myth Films/Nick Briggs – Photographer: Nick Briggs – Image Copyright: Urban Myth Films
Which actors play Jason, Hercules and Pythagoras in BBC’s Atlantis?
The part of Jason is played by Jack Donnelly while Mark Addy plays a rather physically weak Hercules, and ‘the triangle guy’ Pythagoras is portrayed by Robert Emms.
Other key characters include the Oracle, who’s played by actress Juliet Stevenson and Aiysha Hart as Ariadne, the young woman and daughter of King Minos, who appears to have taken a fancy to the show’s hero, Jason. Here’s the Atlantis cast list for the drama’s main, recurring characters:
Jason – Jack Donnelly. Before landing this lead role, Donnelly was most famous for playing Jason Winkler in Nickelodeon’s House of Anubis.
Hercules – Mark Addy. The man who provides Atlantis’ light touches of comic relief also played King Robert Baratheon in Game of Thrones.
Pythagoras – Robert Emms. Before becoming the triangle guy, Emms appeared in a number of British television series, plus films such as War Horse and Kick-Ass 2.
The Oracle – Juliet Stevenson. Seen as the show’s highest profile cast member, Stevenson is a veteran of both stage and screen. In 1992 she won the Best Actress Olivier Award for her portrayal of Paulina in the play Death and the Maiden.
Ariadne – Aiysha Hart. The part of Ariadne is probably the biggest role to date for this young actress of English and Saudi Arabian heritage.
King Minos – Alexander Siddig. Alexander, who was born in Sudan, previously appeared in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine series as Dr. Julian Bashir.
Pasiphaë – Sarah Parish. This English actress also starred as Lady Catrina in the fellow BBC show, Merlin.
The fantasy drama series Atlantis is currently being broadcast in the UK on BBC One and BBC One HD, with earlier episodes available to watch online via BBC iPlayer.
How many episodes are there of the BBC TV series Atlantis?
Season 1 of Atlantis consisted of 13 episodes, with each show lasting around 45 minutes and being broadcast on Saturday evenings in the UK on BBC One.
Atlantis Episode 1 – Image Credit: BBC/Urban Myth Films/Nick Briggs. Photographer: Nick Briggs. Image Copyright: Urban Myth Films
Here’s the known Atlantis episode list so far, along with their UK premiere dates:
1: The Earth Bull – 28/9/2013
2: A Girl By Any Other Name – 5/10/2013
3: The Boy Must Die – 12/10/2013
4: Twist of Fate – 19/10/2013
5: White Lies – 26/10/2013
6: The Song of the Sirens – 2/11/2013
7: The Rules of Engagement – 9/11/2013
8: The Furies – 16/11/2013
9: Pandora’s Box – 30/11/2013
10: The Price of Hope – 7/12/2013
11: Hunger Pangs – 14/12/2013
12: Touched by the Gods – Part One – 21/12/2013
13: Touched by the Gods – Part Two – 28/12/2013