I, Claudius

Production of the series was delayed due to complex negotiations between the BBC and the copyright holders of Alexander Korda's aborted 1937 film version of I, Claudius, which inadvertently gave screenwriter Jack Pulman more time to refine his script.

The series was shot on videotape at BBC Television Centre for artistic rather than budgetary reasons, and was made at a relatively low cost of £60,000 per hour of broadcast material.

The closing shot of episode 8, 'Zeus, by Jove!', originally depicted a butchered body after Caligula cut a fetus from Drusilla's womb using belly makeup effects; this scene was considered so shocking it was re-edited multiple times, even on the day of its premiere, by order of the head of the Serials Department, and the original version is now lost.

Derek Jacobi was far down the list of actors considered for Claudius; American star Charlton Heston and comedian Ronnie Barker were both considered or offered the role before him, and Jacobi only got the part after an unnamed prominent British actor initially cast proved unsuitable and had to be replaced at short notice.

Brian Blessed originally auditioned for the role of Tiberius but was persuaded to play Augustus instead; director Herbert Wise advised him to play Augustus as an ordinary, flannel-full person, since the reactions of those around him would make him seem like the Emperor.

John Hurt initially turned down the role of Caligula, but changed his mind after director Herbert Wise deliberately invited him to a special pre-production party (held instead of the usual wrap party, since Derek Jacobi was the only actor in every episode) where meeting the cast and crew impressed him enough to reverse his decision.

Siân Phillips initially struggled to play Livia because she tried to make the character sympathetic rather than evil; director Herbert Wise told her to simply 'be evil,' explaining that the more evil and campy her performance, the funnier and more terrifying it would be.

Despite an initially negative critical reception in the UK, the series went on to great success, winning three BAFTAs in 1977 (for Derek Jacobi, Siân Phillips, and designer Tim Harvey) and later placing 12th on the British Film Institute's 2000 list of the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes.

The creators of the 1980s hit soap opera Dynasty acknowledged they were seeking to make a modern-day version of I, Claudius, and critics have compared the show's palace intrigue to later series such as The Sopranos, Game of Thrones, and House of Cards.