Frequently finding itself on multiple ‘best shows ever made’ lists, I, Claudius is a 1976 BBC adaptation of Robert Graves’ eponymous 1934 novel and its 1935 sequel Claudius the God.
With a screenplay penned by Jack Pulman, I, Claudius boasts a legendary star-studded cast with Derek Jacobi at the helm as Claudius, joined by John Rhys-Davies, Patricia Quinn, Patrick Stewart, Margaret Tyzack, Kevin McNally, Siân Phillips, Ian Ogilvy, Brian Blessed, George Baker, and John Hurt.
Told from the perspective of Roman Emperor Claudius — who is also the narrator of the series — the 13-episode period drama dwells into the storied history of the early Roman Empire and all the power, betrayal, murder, incest, lust, and corruption that comes with it.
I, Claudius bagged three BAFTAs in 1977 and Tim Harvey won a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Art Direction for the series in 1978. The show also found itself on the British Film Institute’s ‘100 Greatest British Television Programmes’ list in 2000 at number 12 as well as TIME Magazine’s “100 Best TV Shows of All-TIME” list in 2007.
The BBC series is often hailed as one of the greatest shows in British television history — and a landmark show in TV history overall.
The series holds a 100 per cent critics approval rating on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes and a smashing 92 per cent audience approval rating to match.
While one critic complimented the show, saying: “It’s amazing. Gripping, dark, complex, compulsive.”
Another wrote: “Though it may actually defy basic properties and capabilities of the medium, this latest import to march under the Masterpiece Theater banner proves immensely, compulsively watchable. It’s so good it’s a little embarrassing.”
A third critic lauded the series and said: “It’s one of those magical rare TV classics that is forever-fresh no matter how many times you’ve seen its often fanciful depiction of the lust and brutality of ancient Rome.”
While a fourth reviewer bestowed high praise upon the show: “May be the most addictive soap opera ever made. Certainly the best-acted.”
Audience reviews for the show follow in a similar vein, with one fan calling it: “One of the best TV series of all time. See it for the dialogue and the terrific performances. The acting overwhelms the lack of production values and risible makeup. In my opinion, Sian Phillips and Derek Jacoby deliver the best acting performances of all time.”
While another fan of the series and the novels said: “The cast, the writing, the uneasiness and poison that runs throughout the show cannot be missed by anyone. The book(s) have since become some of my favourite novels and I recommend this show to almost everyone who I become close with. 10/10 TV, almost the best of all time.”
And one viewer called it a ‘masterpiece’ and said: “Possibly the best show ever made, certainly in terms of script and acting, which are of the highest level you will ever see on TV. Sian Phillips, Brian Blessed, Derek Jacobi, John Hurt, Patrick Stewart…. all in the same show! (Though all the other actors are incredible too). A masterpiece and a masterclass. This is how it’s done.”
, Claudius is available to buy on Amazon Prime Video for £1.89 per episode or on YouTube for £1.99 per episode.