I, Claudius
(TV series)
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I, Claudius
Genre
Created by
Joan Sullivan
Based on
and
by
Written by
Directed by
Starring
Country of origin
United Kingdom
Original language
English
No.
of episodes
12
(
)
Production
Producer
Running time
50+ minutes per
episode
Production
company
BBC/London Films
Original release
Network
Release
20 September
–
6 December 1976
I, Claudius
(stylised as
I·CLAVDIVS
) is a 1976
adaptation of
' 1934 novel
and its 1935 sequel
.
Written by
, it stars
as
, with
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
and
. The series covers
the history of the
, told from the perspective of the
elderly Emperor
, who narrates the series.
Among many other productions and adaptations, Graves' Claudius novels have
also been adapted for a
broadcast (2010) and for the stage (1972).
Plot summary and episodes
[
]
Main article:
I, Claudius
follows the history of the
, narrated by the
elderly
Claudius, from the year 24 BC to his death in AD 54. The
series opens with
, the first
of Rome, attempting to find an
heir, and his wife,
, plotting to elevate her son
to this
position. An expert poisoner, Livia uses the covert assassination and betrayal
of her rivals to achieve her aims, beginning with the death in 22 BC of
. The plotting, double-crossing and murder continue for many decades,
through the reign of Tiberius, the political
of his
and the depraved rule of the lunatic emperor
,
culminating in the accidental rise to power of his uncle Claudius. Claudius'
enlightened reign is marred by the betrayals of his adulterous wife
and his boyhood friend
. Eventually, Claudius comes to accept the
inevitability of his assassination and consents to marrying his scheming
niece,
, clearing the way for the ascent of his mad
stepson,
, whose disastrous reign Claudius vainly hopes will bring about
the restoration of the
.
Cast
[
]
Major characters
as
as Young Claudius
(
ep.
3)
as
(
ep.
1–7, 13)
as
(
ep.
1–5, 13)
as
(
ep.
1–9, 13)
as
(
ep.
2–4, 6–9, 13)
as Young Antonia
(
ep.
1)
as
(
ep.
4, 6–7, 9, 11–12)
Michael Clements as Young Herod
(
ep.
3)
as
(
ep.
7–10, 13)
Robert Morgan as Young Caligula
(
ep.
6)
as
(
ep.
9)
as
(
ep.
10–12)
as
(
ep.
11–13)
as
(
ep.
11–13)
as
(
ep.
13)
Secondary cast
as
(
ep.
1–3)
as
(
ep.
1)
as
(
ep.
1)
as Aristarchus
(
ep.
1)
as
(
ep.
1)
as
(
ep.
1–2)
as
(
ep.
1–2)
as
(
ep.
1, 13)
&
(
ep.
10)
as Pylades
(
ep.
1)
as Thallus
(
ep.
1)
as Slave
(
ep.
1)
as
(
ep.
2)
as Senator
(
ep.
3)
&
(
ep.
13)
as Claudius' Slave
as
(
ep.
2)
as
(
ep.
3)
as Young Lucius
(
ep.
2)
as Gaius Plautius Silanus
(
ep.
3)
as
(
ep.
3–4, 6–7)
as Domitus
(
ep.
3)
as
(
ep.
3, 7–8)
as Courier
(
ep.
3)
as Julia's Lover
(
ep.
3)
&
(
ep.
10–11)
as
(
ep.
4–8)
as Young Livilla
(
ep.
3)
as
(
ep.
4–6)
as Young Germanicus
(
ep.
3)
as
(
ep.
4–8)
as Young Agrippina
(
ep.
3)
as
(
ep.
4–5)
Alister Kerr as Young Postumus
(
ep.
3)
as
(
ep.
4)
as
(
ep.
4)
as
(
ep.
4)
as Librarian
(
ep.
4)
as
(
ep.
4)
as
(
ep.
5–8)
as
(
ep.
5)
as
(
ep.
6)
as
(
ep.
6)
as
(
ep.
6)
as Martina
(
ep.
6)
as Gershom
(
ep.
6)
as Lollia
(
ep.
7)
as Titus
(
ep.
7)
as Lucius Visellius Varo
(
ep.
7)
as
(
ep.
7)
as
(
ep.
7–8)
& Michael Stock as Guards
(
ep.
7)
as
(
ep.
8)
as
(
ep.
8)
as
(
ep.
8–9)
as
(
ep.
8)
&
as Captains of the Guard
(
ep.
8)
as
(
ep.
8)
as Briseis
(
ep.
9–10)
as
(
ep.
9)
as Senator
(
ep.
9–10)
as
(
ep.
9)
as Calpurnia
(
ep.
10, 12)
as
(
ep.
10–11)
as
(
ep.
10–11)
as Gaius Sabinus
(
ep.
10)
as Sergeant of the Guard
(
ep.
10)
as
(
ep.
10)
as
(
ep.
10)
as Diana
(
ep.
10)
as
the Younger
(
ep.
11–12)
as
(
ep.
11)
as
(
ep.
11)
as
(
ep.
11)
as Tortius
(
ep.
11)
as Cestius
(
ep.
11)
as
(
ep.
12)
as
(
ep.
12)
as
(
ep.
12)
as Quintus Justus
(
ep.
12)
as Scylla
(
ep.
12)
as
(
ep.
12)
as
(
ep.
13)
as
(
ep.
13)
as
(
ep.
13)
as Senator
(
ep.
13)
as
(
ep.
13)
Note: episodes are the American cut not the original British cut - the difference is the first, double length, episode,
A Touch of
Murder,
is split into 2, normal length episodes,
A Touch of Murder
&
Family Matters
, meaning that every subsequent episode number is 1
higher in the American cut than the British cut, so the total number of episodes is 13 in the American cut and 12 in the British cut.
Production
[
]
This section
needs additional citations for
.
Please help
by
in this section. Unsourced
material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources:
–
·
·
·
·
(
July
2019
)
(
)
The series was produced by Joan Sullivan and
, and directed by
. Production was delayed
because of complex negotiations between the BBC and the copyright holders of
's
. This did, however, give the scriptwriter Jack Pulman more time to fine-tune his script.
The series was shot on videotape in the studios at
, for artistic rather than budgetary
reasons.
I, Claudius
was made at a relatively low cost of £60,000 for an hour of broadcast material (£404,000 in
2025), in a series that had a total running time of 650 minutes.
As alluded to in the 2002 documentary
I, Claudius: A Television Epic
, the original version of episode 8, "Zeus, by
Jove!", included a closing shot after Caligula has cut the fetus from Drusilla's womb, which was considered very
shocking. It was therefore re-edited several times, even on the day of its premiere, by order of Bill Slater, then
head of Serials Department. After initial broadcast and a rerun two days later, the scene was edited again, so that
the episode is now "somewhat attenuated". The "slightly nastier version" of the episode's closing (a scene that used
"makeup on her belly") was allegedly shown twice in 1976, but is now lost since the BBC no longer has a copy of it.
Pulman noted that the original script for the episode ended with "a long shot showing the butchered woman hanging on a
chariot".
The 2002 documentary, which features extensive interviews with all the principal cast members, revealed many
previously unknown facts about the casting and development of the series, among them being:
Derek Jacobi was well down the list of those considered to play Claudius. Among those considered for or offered the
part before him were American film star
and British actor-comedian
. Jacobi explained
that he secured the role only after another prominent (unnamed) British actor who had taken the part proved to be
unsuitable, and had to be replaced at short notice.
Brian Blessed originally auditioned for the role of Tiberius, but was eventually persuaded to play Augustus instead.
He recounted some of director Herbert Wise's key pieces of advice on how to play Augustus: Wise told Blessed that
he should "be as you are – full of flannel", and that he should always play Augustus as an ordinary person, because
the reactions of those around him would make him the Emperor.
John Hurt said that he declined the role of Caligula when it was first offered to him. Because of the time-span of
the production, the fact that Derek Jacobi would be the only actor to appear in every episode, and the subsequent
commitments of the other actors, it was decided that rather than the customary "wrap party" at the end of the
series, there would be a special pre-production party instead, to give the entire cast and crew the chance to meet.
Hurt explained that series director Herbert Wise deliberately invited him to attend the party, hoping he would
reconsider, and that he was so impressed on meeting the cast and crew that he immediately reversed his decision
and took the part.
has spoken about her initial struggle to perform the character of Livia, because she focused more on
making the character sympathetic and justifying her motives than playing her as straightforwardly evil. "I wasn't
achieving anything much... I knew it, and they knew it. They would stand there and look faintly worried."
Eventually Herbert Wise told her not to be afraid of playing her
, saying to "Just be evil. The more evil you
are, the funnier it is, and the more terrifying it is."
Music
[
]
wrote the title music. David Wulstan and the Clerkes of Oxenford ensemble provided the (
)
music for most episodes.
Home media
[
]
Cover of the US release of the
first
I, Claudius
DVD
Most
and
versions of the TV series include the BBC documentary
The Epic
That Never Was
(1965), about the unfinished
of the first
book, featuring interviews with key production staff and actors, as well as most of
the surviving
. The 2002 UK DVD edition also contains a
documentary on the series,
I, Claudius – a Television Epic
, as well as some
alternative and deleted scenes. The US DVD release was updated on 2 December 2008 with superior audio and video to the
2000 US DVD version, but it was met with hostile reviews from some customers, citing that some parts were either cut
or censored from the original version, and no subtitles or closed captioning were included.
On 27 March 2012, a 35th anniversary edition was released. It includes all 13 episodes (uncut except for the lost
footage in "Zeus, by Jove!") on four discs, with
and one disc of bonus features.
Awards and reception
[
]
United Kingdom
[
]
The initial reception of the show in the UK was negative.
However, the series went on to become a huge success with
audiences. During its original airing in 1976, the BBC estimated that
I, Claudius
had an average audience of 2.5
million viewers per episode, based on rating surveys.
Among other awards, the series won three
in 1977: Derek
Jacobi,
; Siân Phillips, Best Actress (TV);
, Best Design (TV). Director
won
Outstanding Contribution Award at
in 1978. In a list of the
drawn up
by the
in 2000, voted for by industry professionals,
I, Claudius
placed 12th.
United States
[
]
The series was subsequently broadcast in the United States as part of
's
series, where it
received critical acclaim. Tim Harvey won a 1978
for Outstanding
. The producers and director
received Emmy nominations.
On
, the series has a rating of 100% based on 24 critic reviews. The website's consensus reads:
"Marrying a trove of terrific actors at their peak with a masterful script that draws from irresistibly juicy source
material,
I, Claudius
transcends its paltry production values to become a gold standard for historical dramas."
Legacy
[
]
I, Claudius
is frequently cited as one of the best British television shows and one of the
.
In
2007, it was listed as one of
magazine's "100 Best TV Shows of All-
TIME
",
and placed at #9 on
's
poll of the 10 best British dramas of all time.
In 2016, it was ranked #8 out of 11 on
'
s list
of groundbreaking British TV moments.
Modern critics are unanimous in their praise for the quality of the screenplay and the actors' performances,
particularly those of Siân Phillips and Derek Jacobi.
opined that the "...lust for power,
devious plotting and mesmerising machinations" displayed in the show foreshadowed later series like
,
, and
.
The creators of the hit 1980s
,
, acknowledged that they were
seeking to make a modern-day version of
I, Claudius
.
Jace Lacob of
compared the character of
to the character of the same name in
I, Claudius
, saying that "... there is a whiff of familiarity about his
Livia, as though the ghost of Phillips' ancient Roman empress had echoed through millennia to rain chaos upon yet
another dynastic clan."
In 2012,
of the
credited
I, Claudius
with transforming the quality of television drama:
With its complex characters and multi-toned narrative, not to mention the high quality of writing, performance
and direction,
I, Claudius
established a timeline that would eventually include the rise of
and all its
cable competitors. This in turn expanded the palette and quality of network drama and, most recently,
persuaded
executives to begin original programming.
However, criticism is sometimes levelled at the series over its relatively primitive production quality compared to
modern TV drama,
with
of
writing that "it's hard to suppress a giggle in the opening
scene at Derek Jacobi's make-up and stringy wig."
See also
[
]
References
[
]
Happy Birthday BBC 2
, BBC 2 16 April 2014
Last, Richard (17 March 1977). "
I, Claudius
and the Jinx".
.
Brown, Les (6 November 1977).
.
The New York Times
.
. Retrieved
7 April
2022
.
.
missingepisodes.proboards.com
. Retrieved
7 April
2022
.
.
BBC
. 25 September 2016
. Retrieved
7 April
2022
.
^
Thomas Vinciguerra (23 November 2012).
.
. Retrieved
18 October
2017
.
.
Home Theater Forum
.
.
amazon.com
.
British Broadcasting Corporation (1977).
BBC Handbook 1977: Incorporating the Annual Report and Accounts 1975–76
. London:
British Broadcasting Corporation. p. 47.
.
www.rottentomatoes.com
. Retrieved
6 November
2023
.
^
Jace Lacob (3 July 2012).
.
The Daily Beast
. Retrieved
18 October
2017
.
(6 September 2007).
.
. Archived from
on 19 October
2011
. Retrieved
8 April
2013
.
See
David Wicks (2011).
.
BBC America
. BBCAmerica.com
.
Retrieved
18 October
2017
.
.
The Daily Telegraph
. 17 June 2016
. Retrieved
23 December
2017
.
^
David Bianculi (25 April 2012).
. npr.org
. Retrieved
18 October
2017
.
^
Charlotte Higgins (24 February 2010).
.
The Guardian
. Retrieved
18 October
2017
.
Charlotte Runcie (23 July 2015).
.
The Daily Telegraph
. Retrieved
18 October
2017
.
Mary McNamara (6 May 2012).
.
Los Angeles
Times
. Retrieved
3 June
2018
.
Stubbs, David (13 June 2011).
.
The Guardian
. Retrieved
18 October
2017
.
External links
[
]
Wikiquote has quotations
related to
.
at
at
5 January 2008 at the
by
"
"
Other adaptations
Films directed by
(1964)
(1968)
(1968)
(1969)
(1972)
(1973)
(1973–1974)
(1974)
(1975)
(1976)
(1977)
(1979)
(1980)
(1981)
(1983)
(1984)
(1985)
(1986)
(1986)
(1989)
(1990)
(1992)
(1996)
(2000)
: National
:
This page was last edited on 29 March 2026, at 09:05
(UTC)
.
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