"I, Claudius" - BBC4, Tuesdays 22:00

[Nick Armstrong]

Good to see this classic being rebroadcast, as part of a season commemorating the achievements of the BBC at TV Centre.

Sian Phillips, Brian Blessed, John Hurt, George Baker and above all of course Derek Jacobi unforgettable.

I have the DVD set which have had a couple of outings over the years, but for those that haven't: worth indulging in.

Twelve episodes, one a week, starting tonight!

[Thropplenoggin]

Perhaps only bested by The Singing Detective as the greatest piece of British television drama.

[mercia]

ah! bliss

Stratford Johns, Margaret Tyzack, Patrick Stewart, the Wilfred Josephs title music [is that the sound of a circular saw ? ]

[Mr Pee]

Perhaps only bested by The Singing Detective as the greatest piece of British television drama.

Edge of Darkness.

[Nick Armstrong]

ah! bliss

Stratford Johns, Margaret Tyzack, Patrick Stewart, the Wilfred Josephs title music [is that the sound of a circular saw ? ]

Ah! yes - I'd forgotten that! Gets right into your bones, doesn't it...

[Mandryka]

Perhaps only bested by The Singing Detective as the greatest piece of British television drama.

Really? I think Potter peaked with Pennies From Heaven.

I've had the box set of I,Claudius for about ten years now: it was one of my very first DVD purchases and it was every bit as good as I remembered it. As a 9 year old at the time of the first broadcast, it really fired my interest in Roman history....and in great acting. It's especially great to see Brian Blessed being allowed to give a real, subtle, probing performance rather than the blustering that he's nowadays paid to do. Personally, though, John Hurt's performance resonates the most: I found it absolutely terrifying at the time and I still do now.

[mercia]

looks like I Claudius won't be making it to the iPlayer for whatever reason - but I guess it's all on youtube

how would a 2013 TV adaptation differ I wonder ? perhaps half the length, lots more music, taken out of the studio, computer-generated images ?

basically more like a film than a series of filmed plays I suppose I mean

[eighthobstruction]

My son and I had a very funny few minutes impersonating/miming George Baker's hammie acting....as he strangled the apothecary and restrained himself before striking Julia....

[VodkaDilc]

Perhaps only bested by The Singing Detective as the greatest piece of British television drama.

The Jewel in the Crown??

(Is 'bested' an Americanism? It's not a verb I use.)

[amateur51]

My son and I had a very funny few minutes impersonating/miming George Baker's hammie acting....as he strangled the apothecary and restrained himself before striking Julia....

Ripe for impersonation I'd say 8thO!

[AjAjAjH]

Perhaps only bested by The Singing Detective as the greatest piece of British television drama.

What about the 'Barchester Chronicles'?

Alan Rickman, Geraldine McEwen, Nigel Hawthorn, Donald Pleasance. and the actress who played 'Blanche' on Corrie as 'Mrs Quiverful'

A gentle parody on the Church of England with the classic line 'What's Jesus Christ got to do with it?'

You know - times haven't changed!!

[Mandryka]

My son and I had a very funny few minutes impersonating/miming George Baker's hammie acting....as he strangled the apothecary and restrained himself before striking Julia....

Personally, I miss that full-blooded, theatrical style of acting that you used to get on television: when actors' careers tended to be more evenly divided between the two media. George Baker's performance, imo, is excellent:you feel sympathy for the man, at the mercy of the political machinations of his horrible mother (whom you also come to sympathise with, bizarrrely, later on), so that his moral collapse later in the series makes absolute sense.

[eighthobstruction]

I don't disagree with much of that. I do and did always feel that he was miscast even though he certainly has the range. The way it was filmed (in studio, within set, with limited cameras, with artificial light and lack of tone) as if a stage play give it it's particular feel. Also these are mostly stage actors.
....Sian Phillips really keeps the whole enterprise tight and intriguing....

[gurnemanz]

I got a bit of a surprise when it came up in colour. In 1976, just married in our first flat, I think we must have been either too tight or too broke to have a colour TV.

[Thropplenoggin]

Personally, I miss that full-blooded, theatrical style of acting that you used to get on television: when actors' careers tended to be more evenly divided between the two media.

I bet you miss the full-blooded, theatrical waistcoats more, though. Rigby was rarely on screen without his.