Derek Jacobi (Claudius), Sian Phillips (Livia), Brian Blessed (Augustus), Margaret Tyzack (Antonia), John Hurt (Caligula), George Baker (Tiberius), Patrick Stewart (Sejanus), Stratford Johns (Piso), Sheila White (Messalina)

Rated one of the "100 Best TV Shows of All Time" by Time magazine, this epic BBC series spans the history of the Roman Empire from Augustus through Claudius, a stuttering scholar who learns early to play the fool and stay alive. Based on the novels by Robert Graves, it stars Derek Jacobi (The King's Speech, Cadfael) in a career-defining role. Siân Phillips (The Age of Innocence) is "exquisitely wicked" (Los Angeles Times) as the lethal Livia, wife to Augustus (Brian Blessed, Hamlet), while John Hurt (The Elephant Man) is "decadence personified" (USA Today) as the depraved Caligula, whose reign of terror paves the way for Claudius's ascension

Not rated

Mode of access: World Wide Web

Episode 1

A Touch of Murder

Episode 2

Waiting in the Wings

Episode 3

What Shall We Do about Claudius?

Episode 4

Poison Is Queen

Episode 5

Some Justice

Episode 6

Queen of Heaven

Episode 7

Reign of Terror

Episode 8

Zeus, by Jove!

Episode 9

Hail Who?

Episode 10

Fool's Luck

Episode 11

A God in Colchester

Episode 12

Old King Log