When I arrived, I watched Colin meet his waxwork for the first time. It was really exciting.

Colin stood next to the waxwork as all the photographers took his photo. It looked exactly like him.

When I interviewed him, Colin told me that in order for the waxwork makers to take 300 measurements, he had to stand still on a turntable for nearly three hours. Then it took four months to make.

Colin said: “I’ve seen little figures of the waxwork before, but not a life-size one. It’s a bizarre experience!” Colin told me he really liked the figure as it’s the right height and the real costume – the boots are the actual pair he wears in the programme.

Then Colin and I went up to the birds of prey area. I wore a big glove and held some food and an eagle owl landed on my arm! It was pretty heavy.

Next, Colin took me, my brother George and my friend Josh around the Merlin the Dragon Tower attraction, where the waxwork will be kept.

The Great Dragon spoke to us. It was amazing to be in the tower with the real Merlin! Colin told me: “The best thing about being in the show is that you get to do all the things you wanted to do as a kid, like talking to dragons and being chased by giant scorpions!”

My day meeting Colin at Warwick Castle made me feel really special.

The fourth series of Merlin starts on BBC One this autumn.

by Louis Hira