All 12 episodes of the BBC drama based on the novels by Robert Graves which follows the history of the Roman Empire as told by Emperor Claudius (Derek Jacobi). Beginning with the Emperor Augustus (Brian Blessed) seeking an heir and his wife Livia (Siân Phillips) using assassination and betrayal to secure the position for her son Tiberius (George Baker), the murderous schemes continue through the reigns of Tiberius and Caligula (John Hurt) until Claudius, Caligula's uncle, rises to power. Accepting his inevitable fate, Claudius is eventually succeeded by his stepson, Nero (Christopher Biggins). Patrick Stewart, Fiona Walker, John Rhys-Davies and David Robb also star.
The episodes are:
- 'A Touch of Murder'
- 'Waiting in the Wings'
- 'What Shall We Do About Claudius?'
- 'Poison Is Queen'
- 'Some Justice'
- 'Queen of Heaven'
- 'Reign of Terror'
- 'Zeus, By Jove'
- 'Hail Who?'
- 'Fool's Luck'
- 'A God in Colchester'
- 'Old King Log'