I Clavdivs (or I Claudius) by Robert Graves is going to be shown on BBC Four from tomorrow night. I loved that TV series which was originally on in 1976. The novel it was based on was written in 1934.

The title sequence of a snake writhing across a mosaic floor with the words I Clavdivs written on it always makes me chuckle, the u’s were written as v’s hence the odd way it looks and sounds.

The machinations of the Roman Emperors from the death of Julius Ceasar to the reign and eventual demise of Claudius is shown in the TV series. It’s like a series of plays, not lavish, but grimy and ordinary. Brian Blessed played Augustus Ceasar, Patrick Stewart stars in it, as does Sian Phillips and other stars from that era. John Hurt plays Caligula. There are executions, poisonings, ghosts and hysterical scenes. It’s amazing and overblown and interesting. Claudius is played by the excellent Derek Jacobi who later played Brother Cadviael in the murder mystery series. Jacobi is able to play the part with skill, as an idiot who limps and stutters but who is intensely inlligent despite appearances. So if you get the chance, try and watch it.