​​'I Claudius'
Gary Lowrey
on why it's the best
TV prog ever made

​
Gary said to me today that 'I Claudius' is the best TV program ever made - I’ve yet to hear his reasoning but I countered with 'Hill Street Blues', which I rewatch every few years without fail in fact I’ve recently finished, I’m talking days ago. 
I await Gary’s arguments (well here they are...) before producing mine …. Bless best pauliepaul - to be continued opinions welcome ...
​

So I was in the British museum some time in the last millennium. It must have been the room of Roman antiquities. Hey there’s a bust of Brian Blessed… this one is Derek Jacobi and look! John Hurt.
But the plaques say Augustus Caesar, Claudius and Caligula.
The thing is for some of my generation this period of ancient Roman history is unbreakably linked to the series I Claudius. Caligula - John Hurt; John Hurt - Caligula.
I had thought for many years that this idea was universal. On talking to Paulie (slightly younger than me) (only by 2/3 years ED)  I realised that anyone mid-fifties or younger has no awareness of I Claudius as after its original broadcast in 1976, apart from perhaps one repeat it might never have been shown again. Even at the time of the first broadcast few may have been able to watch as it was on BBC 2. At the time not all televisions could receive BBC 2. Our family had to change our set with the express purpose of enjoying this “televisual feast” and we weren’t disappointed.

​Viewing figures at the time would appear to be around two and a half million. Which suggests very few people have actually seen the series and many of those who did would certainly have died by now.
Fans of the program (I would say anyone who saw it) are few a far between, a dying breed.
So addressing the majority if not entirety of you the uninitiated,
Why I Claudius?
Mainly, I would say the cast (I have mentioned only three of the talented actors but although it was was a real ensemble piece with solid performances throughout some of them were outstanding; note Livia (Sean Phillips), John Hurt was terrifying as the psychopath emperor and Derek Jacobi set new standards for television acting.
I went on a bit there, but I was going to say the cast, the script and the compelling story. If you can look beyond things like the production values and unconvincing scenery you might discover a classic you never knew existed. 

​Gary Lowrey

share
​