9. I, Claudius

Quinctilius Varus, where are my eagles?!?!? Andy and Martin
celebrate the BBC's classic 12-part Roman epic I, Claudius, which
first aired in the UK in 1976 and starred Derek Jacobi, Sian
Phillips, Brian Blessed, John Hurt and George Baker. Dramatised by
Jack Pulman, from two award-winning novels by Robert Graves, I
Claudius has quite rightly wowed audiences for over 40 years. The
series secured Jacobi and Phillips and designer Tim Harvey BAFTAs
and has been shown all over the world gaining particular
appreciation in the US where it was shown as part of the
'Masterpiece Theatre' strand. A tale of love, murder and intrigue,
the series charts the tempestuous reigns of four Roman Emperors and
the dawn of a fifth, via the writings of the most unlikely man ever
to become one himself, the lame, stammering, stuttering Claudius.
Andy and Martin choose their favourite scenes and performances, go
back to Graves' novels to see what Pulman missed out and even dig
out some 1st Century quotes from Roman historians Tacitus and
Suetonius. They also inevitably discuss that one legendary missing
clip that everyone is convinced they've seen. Get that thar toga on
and get yersel down t'Forum! Next Time: Jonathan Creek