WHAT has King Arthur ever done for us? He’s kept quite a few Brit actors in work over the years and oh yes, given a satirical comedy team a hit movie.

So Channel 4 were brave to have another stab at the tale with Camelot (Saturday, CH4, 9pm).

There’s pounding horses’ hooves, misty moors, lush scenery, smouldering looks and knowing glances. So far, so good.

But what’s happened to Merlin?

You know, the guy with a wizard’s hat, flowing white locks and beard that goes on for weeks.

Surely some mistake here, but Joseph Fiennes has him virtually devoid of magic and shock-upon-shock, hair-free.

Head shaven, no facial hair and maybe an all-over wax job. (okay, I’ll give you the designer stubble!) Instead of the eccentric, bumbling, mad professor-type portrayed in the past, Fiennes makes him more of a grim-faced schemer behind the throne.

Menacing and moody, Fiennes could be a long-lost Mitchell brother from Eastenders.

And what about Camelot?

Instead of a plush palace, it’s a crumbling castle.

No matter. Despite sometimes looking like a music video, it has five important S’s – swords, sex, sorcery, slaughter and snidey smirks.

And the interesting take on the sword in the stone, which was located on top of a waterfall, was well done.

All that’s missing on these summer Saturday barbecue nights is the Holy Grill.

While Camelot begins its run, Sky Atlantic’s medieval fantasy drama Game of Thrones (Monday, Sky Atlantic,9pm) is heading for its season finale.

Good cast, fine acting, excellent setting, wonderful cinema- tography, it has movie qualities and obviously, a big budget.

Gore and raunch scenes hit an impressive Spinal Tap 11 out of 10 on the adult scenes-o-meter.

Sean Bean looks like he hasn’t had a wash in weeks and is stoic as ever as Ned Stark.

And in Jason Momoa (soon to be seen as Conan the Barbarian) – playing Khal Drogo – they have a man-mountain who could defeat everybody in Camelot, while having a cup of tea and sifting through the racing results.

However star of the show has undoubtedly been vertically-challenged Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister, who has proved during this series that even in violent times, brain beats brawn.

There’s not too much on at the moment to get the mirth muscles moving.

Jack Dee’s Lead Balloon (Tuesday, BBC2 10pm), tries its very best.

Lead Balloon has finally been deflated and will end after this fourth series.

But Jack and the excellent supporting cast are still wringing the laughs out of down-on-his-luck comedian Rick Spleen and those who impact on his life.

Gloomy Rick has his own little rain cloud following him.

If he saw a £20 note fluttering in the wind, he wouldn’t give chase, as he could already visualise it agonisingly dropping out of reach down a drain after a five-mile adventure.

Rick’s self-inflicted wounds aren’t helped by his family, friends, annoying neighbour and the superbly gormless Ben – his daughter’s boyfriend – who finds doing anything constructive too much like hard work and frankly, a bit of a bore.

So in Tuesday night’s episode Rick faced multiple humiliation by nearly choking at a funeral and trying to get a new TV repaired, which showed upside down images.

And he ended up losing his job as a co-host on a shopping channel, which is dee-pressing news.

(I know that joke isn’t very good, but I ordered a better one and it didn’t arrive on time.)