Stop Press. Acorn Media in the States have just released I Claudius on DVD. To my knowledge this is the first time that it has been made available in a digital format and I for one can't wait for it to get across the pond! This set contains 5 DVDs and runs to the full 11 hours of viewing. At $89.99, this is well worth it, but it looks as though for the time being I shall have to be content with my videos.

Claudius was a pitiful stammerer who became Emporer of Rome despite his passionate refusal and belief in a Republic. He was the butt of his notorius nephew, Caligula and husband and dupe of the wisked Messalina, who he eventually destroyed, and step-father to the even more notorius Nero.

The story doesn't start there though. Robert Graves begins this 'autobiography' in the reign of Augustus Ceasar, and charts the political and personal ambitions of the court of Rome, following the decline and murder of Augustus, with his succession by his adopted son, Tiberius, contrived by his maternal mother, Livia, wife of Augustus. The state of Rome begins it's downward spiral with each Emporer naming a successor even more hated and evil than he, so that his reign may look better. When Caligula succeeds Tiberius, there are members in the Senate who would have no more and plot the assassination of the hated and mad Emporer and all his line, however, the Emporers Guard crown a reluctant Claudius before the total plan can reach fruition.

This story is far more involved and detailed and stretches over two wonderful books, adn was televised by the BBC and broadcast on BBC 2 in the Autumn of 1976. In twelve hour long instalments from the 20th September through to the 6th of December, this highly acclaimed series, adapted by Jack Pulman, had an all star cast. Brian Blessed played Augustus, John Hurt, Caligula, George Baker as Tiberius, Sian Phillips as Augustus' wife Livia, and Derek Jacobi as Claudius. The series was directed by Herbert Wise and produced by Martin Lisemore.

Ranking high in my pesonal favourites, this is a series not to be missed, and I first caught in on it's first satellite showing, but immediately went out and bought the two double videos from the BBC to overtake the broadcasts I was that impatient! With each retailing at about £20, the only slight downside to the videos is that the opening and closing credits have been edited out to give one long show on each tape. This is a shame as the opening sequence of the snake slithering over the mosaic flooring sums up the entire feel of the show.

Volume one has the first 'six' episodes covering roughly the book, I, Claudius and is on BBCV 4669, with the last 'six' covering the second book, Claudius the God, on the second volume, BBCV 4670.