I, Claudius

By: Robert Graves

Narrated by: Derek Jacobi, Full Cast, Tom Goodman-Hill

A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of Robert Graves' brilliant account of the madness and debauchery of ancient Rome, starring Tom Goodman Hill as Claudius and Derek Jacobi as Augustus. The wickedly entertaining inside story of the lives and deaths of the Imperial dynasty from Augustus to Caligula is told by their obscure relation, Claudius. In public, Claudius is a stammering, drooling weakling, whose reputation as an idiot keeps him safe from office and assassination. But in private, he's as sharp as they come, and keeps a secret history of everything he discovers. Until one day, as one of the few of his family left alive, he's acclaimed Emperor against his will. Can he save Rome from the corruption he's grown to detest? Featuring Derek Jacobi (who won a BAFTA for his performance as Claudius in the acclaimed 1977 BBC television production) as Augustus, and with an all-star cast, this gripping dramatisation will enthral anyone who loves the decadence of Ancient Rome.

Excellent

I loved the original TV drama when it first aired, & this version is equally excellent.

If you loved the TV series, you'll also love this.

The voice of Claudius is not Derek Jacobi, but that's of no concern, because he sounds very similar and his stuttering skill is identical. You might even be surprised to learn it's not Jacobi's voice. You will feel comfortable and happy about the Claudius voice. Derek Jacobi himself does a short stint in the story as Augustus, and does not sound like Claudius from the show, but like Augustus (go figure). Some things are a little different than the show but in an interesting way. That is, they add info to the situations that made me think these bits of info were supposed to be part of the show but were cut. Anyway, the facts work nicely into the facts from the show. The music was fitting and the cast superb; it was just a good time revisiting our old friend Claudius from the series.

Exceeded my expectations!

What did you love best about I, Claudius (Dramatised)?

The casting, the acting, the plot, the language, the music, the pace - everything was superb. I also loved that male and female characters were played by actors with corresponding voices, as well as the fact that many of the voice actors were part of the BBC production of I, Claudius, making them extremely familiar with the characters they were portraying.

What was one of the most memorable moments of I, Claudius (Dramatised)?

Aside from Hill and Jacobi's masterful acting, the detail that stuck with me the most of Caligula's character. The way he was introduced, developed and portrayed, as well as the shocking revelation about the fate of his father Germanicus all left a lasting impression on me. Definitely worth listening just for this!

What about Derek Jacobi and Tom Goodman Hill ’s performance did you like?

As someone who has not watched the TV series, I can say that Derek Jacobi's performance was solid, but Tom Goodman Hill blew my mind with how authentic and pitiful his Claudius came across. Amazing acting that made me relate to the character despite his very ostentatious flaws.

History comes alive

This is a great story that is superbly acted from start to finish. There is real depth to the characters and you get areal sense of the turbulent times and endless intrigue, cross and double cross nature o Roman political life. Highly recommended!

Poison is Queen! Poison is Queen!

Wonderful performances, memorable scenes. Worth every penny. This BBC audio dramatization stands on its own.