Based on the classic Robert Graves novel of the same name, I, Claudius is a brilliant piece of television covering the life of Emperor Claudius of the Roman Empire.

With Graves' novel being an interpretation of historical fact, it qualifies as fiction. The novel offers a read-between-the-lines approach to the recorded events of the Julii/Claudian dynasty, filling in the details of the reigns of Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, and Claudius. Through the first-person narrative of the book's central character of Claudius, Graves speculated on the deaths, political manoeuvrings, marriages, and banishments that occurred during the years of 23 BC to 54 AD. The result is a riveting novel that has since become a literary classic.

The BBC production of I, Claudius is as true to the book as possible, in one of the rare cases where a filmed story is actually as compelling as the novel. Performed much like a play on obvious soundstages, the TV series is far from realistic. However, the solid acting from its underrated cast combined with the historical gravity of the subject matter carries it far, putting I, Claudius into the pantheon of 'must see TV'.