TV series
Let all the poisons that lurk in the mud hatch out.
Acclaimed blackly comic historical drama series. Set amidst a web of power, corruption and lies, it chronicles the reigns of the Roman emperors - Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula and finally Claudius.
Streaming, rental and purchase options
Checked Sep 4, 2026
I, Claudius is available to stream on Acorn TV and Spectrum On Demand in United States. You can also rent or buy it from Google Play. Use the direct links below to open the provider.
Acclaimed blackly comic historical drama series. Set amidst a web of power, corruption and lies, it chronicles the reigns of the Roman emperors - Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula and finally Claudius.
Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.
Episode 1
Livia, the scheming wife of Augustus, seeks to disinherit her husband's grand-children in favour of her own son Tiberius.
Directed by Herbert WiseWritten by Jack PulmanGuest stars Margaret Tyzack, Brian Blessed, Frances White, Ian Ogilvy, George Baker, Siân Phillips, Renu Setna, Sheila Ruskin
Episode 2
Livia, wife of Emperor Augustus plots against his daughter Julia and manages to convince him to bring her son Tiberius back from exile.
Directed by Herbert WiseWritten by Jack PulmanGuest stars Margaret Tyzack, Brian Blessed, Kevin McNally, Frances White, George Baker, Siân Phillips, Kevin Stoney, Simon MacCorkindale
Episode 3
Livia has engineered the downfall of Julia, who has been banished. Tiberius is recalled to Rome and is joint heir with Postumus. Poor stumbling, stuttering Claudius finds a friend in Herod, king of the Jews.
Directed by Herbert WiseWritten by Jack PulmanGuest stars Margaret Tyzack, Brian Blessed, James Faulkner, Fiona Walker, Kevin McNally, David Robb, George Baker, Siân Phillips
Episode 4
The Imperial Army on the Rhine has been wiped out and Tiberius sent to avenge the defeat, followed later by Germanicus. Livia has discredited Postumus, who has been banished. Augustus has been feeling unwell, but is avoiding suspicions of poisoning by eating figs from his own garden.
Directed by Herbert WiseWritten by Jack PulmanGuest stars Brian Blessed, Patrick Stewart, David Robb, George Baker, Siân Phillips, Patricia Quinn, John Castle, Carol Gillies
Episode 5
As Augustus learned of Livia's plot against Postumus, she took action which resulted in Tiberius becoming emperor. The situation in the East now threatens Tiberius's position.
Directed by Herbert WiseWritten by Jack PulmanGuest stars Margaret Tyzack, James Faulkner, Fiona Walker, Kevin McNally, Patrick Stewart, David Robb, George Baker, Siân Phillips
Episode 6
Germanicus has been murdered in Antioch and his wife Agrippina is convinced Tiberius ordered the killing. Livia has discovered that Caligula helped to poison his father. While Tiberius's perversions have become notorious, his right-hand man Sejanus, commander of the Praetorian Guard, gathers more power for himself, including a marriage alliance with Claudius.
Directed by Herbert WiseWritten by Jack PulmanGuest stars Margaret Tyzack, James Faulkner, Fiona Walker, Kevin McNally, Patrick Stewart, John Hurt, George Baker, Siân Phillips
Episode 7
With Tiberius retired to Capri, Sejanus plans to tighten his grip on Rome and divorces his wife so he can marry Livilla. But he also has powerful enemies and his attempts to consolidate power set in motion a bloody chain of events.
Directed by Herbert WiseWritten by Jack PulmanGuest stars Margaret Tyzack, Fiona Walker, Patrick Stewart, John Hurt, George Baker, Patricia Quinn, Kevin Stoney, John Rhys-Davies
Episode 8
Claudius has high hopes of a return to a Republic when Caligula insanely proclaims himself a god and his sister a goddess... but Rome officially accepts his divinity.
Directed by Herbert WiseWritten by Jack PulmanGuest stars Margaret Tyzack, James Faulkner, John Hurt, George Baker, John Rhys-Davies, Anne Dyson, Lockwood West, Jon Laurimore
Episode 9
Caligula's erratic behaviour continues, as he makes his horse a senator and turns the palace into a brothel. Many in the Praetorian Guard grow to realise that their ruler is insane and, fearing the collapse of Rome itself, believe that something needs to be done.
Directed by Herbert WiseWritten by Jack PulmanGuest stars Sheila White, John Hurt, Jo Rowbottom, Sam Dastor, Norman Eshley, Anne Dyson, Bernard Hill, Lockwood West
Episode 10
Claudius is happily married, while the mad Caligula has been assassinated. To his astonishment, Claudius has been proclaimed emperor by the Praetorian Guard.
Directed by Herbert WiseWritten by Jack PulmanGuest stars James Faulkner, Bernard Hepton, Sheila White, John Cater, Moira Redmond, Sam Dastor, Norman Eshley, Bernard Hill
Episode 11
Claudius has ruled wisely for a year with the support of Messalina, whom he deeply loves. Convinced of her devotion, he is totally unaware that she is deceiving him.
Directed by Herbert WiseWritten by Jack PulmanGuest stars James Faulkner, Bernard Hepton, Sheila White, John Cater, Jo Rowbottom, Moira Redmond, Stuart Wilson, Nicholas Amer
Episode 12
Almost at the end of his family history, Claudius' thoughts turn to the future of Rome.
Directed by Herbert WiseWritten by Jack PulmanGuest stars Margaret Tyzack, Brian Blessed, Bernard Hepton, John Cater, John Hurt, George Baker, Siân Phillips, Freda Dowie
Episode information updated Sep 17, 2026
Derek JacobiClaudius
Margaret TyzackAntonia
Brian BlessedAugustus
James FaulknerHerod Agrippa
Kevin McNallyCastor
Bernard HeptonPallas
Sheila WhiteMessalina
BBC TwoUnited Kingdom
BBCUnited Kingdom
