S01E01 A Touch of Murder
Livia, the scheming wife of Augustus, seeks to disinherit her husband's grand-children in favour of her own son Tiberius.
I, Claudius
Let all the poisons that lurk in the mud hatch out.
S01E04: Poison is Queen
The Imperial Army on the Rhine has been wiped out and Tiberius sent to avenge the defeat, followed later by Germanicus. Livia has discredited Postumus, who has been banished. Augustus has been feeling unwell, but is avoiding suspicions of poisoning by eating figs from his own garden.
Overview
Acclaimed blackly comic historical drama series. Set amidst a web of power, corruption and lies, it chronicles the reigns of the Roman emperors - Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula and finally Claudius.
Episodes
S01E02 Waiting in the Wings
Livia, wife of Emperor Augustus plots against his daughter Julia and manages to convince him to bring her son Tiberius back from exile.
S01E03 What Shall We Do About Claudius?
Livia has engineered the downfall of Julia, who has been banished. Tiberius is recalled to Rome and is joint heir with Postumus. Poor stumbling, stuttering Claudius finds a friend in Herod, king of the Jews.
S01E04 Poison is Queen
The Imperial Army on the Rhine has been wiped out and Tiberius sent to avenge the defeat, followed later by Germanicus. Livia has discredited Postumus, who has been banished. Augustus has been feeling unwell, but...
S01E05 Some Justice
As Augustus learned of Livia's plot against Postumus, she took action which resulted in Tiberius becoming emperor. The situation in the East now threatens Tiberius's position.
S01E06 Queen of Heaven
Germanicus has been murdered in Antioch and his wife Agrippina is convinced Tiberius ordered the killing. Livia has discovered that Caligula helped to poison his father. While Tiberius's perversions have become notorious, his right-hand man...
S01E07 Reign of Terror
With Tiberius retired to Capri, Sejanus plans to tighten his grip on Rome and divorces his wife so he can marry Livilla. But he also has powerful enemies and his attempts to consolidate power set...
S01E08 Zeus, By Jove!
Claudius has high hopes of a return to a Republic when Caligula insanely proclaims himself a god and his sister a goddess... but Rome officially accepts his divinity.
S01E09 Hail Who?
Caligula's erratic behaviour continues, as he makes his horse a senator and turns the palace into a brothel. Many in the Praetorian Guard grow to realise that their ruler is insane and, fearing the collapse...
S01E10 Fool's Luck
Claudius is happily married, while the mad Caligula has been assassinated. To his astonishment, Claudius has been proclaimed emperor by the Praetorian Guard.
S01E11 A God in Colchester
Claudius has ruled wisely for a year with the support of Messalina, whom he deeply loves. Convinced of her devotion, he is totally unaware that she is deceiving him.
S01E12 Old King Log
Almost at the end of his family history, Claudius' thoughts turn to the future of Rome.
Cast
Derek Jacobi
Claudius
Siân Phillips
Livia Drusilla
Margaret Tyzack
Antonia
Brian Blessed
Augustus
James Faulkner
Herod Agrippa
Fiona Walker
Agrippina
Kevin McNally
Castor
Bernard Hepton
Pallas
Sheila White
Messalina
John Cater
Narcissus
Frances White
Julia
David Robb
Germanicus
