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The Best Episodes of The BBC Television Shakespeare Season 1

Every episode of The BBC Television Shakespeare Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of The BBC Television Shakespeare Season 1!

The BBC Television Shakespeare is a series of British television adaptations of the plays of William Shakespeare, created by Cedric Messina and produced by BBC Television. It was transmitted in the UK from 3 December

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  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    The BBC Television Shakespeare Season 1 Episode 1 - Romeo & Juliet
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    #1 - Romeo & Juliet

    S1:E1

    Two households, both alike in dignity, in fair Verona where we lay our scene, from ancient grudge break to new mutiny where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes a pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life whose misadventur'd piteous overthrows doth with their death bury their parents' strife.

    Director:Alvin Rakoff
    Writer:William Shakespeare

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  2. The BBC Television Shakespeare Season 1 Episode 2 - King Richard the Second
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    #2 - King Richard the Second

    S1:E2

    Richard II, who ascended the throne as a child, is a regal and stately monarch. He believes he is the rightful ruler of England, ordained by God, yet he is a weak and ineffective king - wasteful in his spending habits, unwise in his choice of chancellors, and detached from his country and its people. When he seizes the land of his cousin Henry Bolingbroke, both the commoners and the barons decide that their king has gone too far.

    Director:David Giles
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. The BBC Television Shakespeare Season 1 Episode 3 - As You Like It
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    #3 - As You Like It

    S1:E3

    Orlando is forced to work like a servant for his brother Oliver, so he goes to win his fortune in a wrestling contest, where he meets a lady of the court, Rosalind (daughter of the deposed duke), who is companion to Celia, niece of the deposed duke. When the current duke banishes Rosalind from the kingdom, she, Celia, the court jester, and incidentally Orlando, all end up in the forest or Arden, where the deposed duke holds court. Romantic mix-ups, cross-dressing, love poems nailed to trees, and a lion await them all.

    Director:Basil Coleman
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. The BBC Television Shakespeare Season 1 Episode 4 - Julius Caesar
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    #4 - Julius Caesar

    S1:E4

    Marcus Brutus is Caesar's close friend and a Roman praetor. Brutus allows himself to be cajoled into joining a group of conspiring senators because of a growing suspicion — implanted by Caius Cassius — that Caesar intends to turn republican Rome into a monarchy under his own rule.

    Director:Herbert Wise
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. The BBC Television Shakespeare Season 1 Episode 5 - Measure for Measure
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    #5 - Measure for Measure

    S1:E5

    When the Duke of Vienna takes a mysterious leave of absence and leaves the strict Angelo in charge, things couldn't be worse for Claudio, who is sentenced to death for fornication. His sister, Isabella (a nun-in-training), however, is a very persuasive pleader. She approaches Angelo, but instead of offering clemency, Angelo offers to save Claudio's life if Isabella sleeps with him. The only sympathetic friend Isabella has is a priest who, in reality, is the Duke in disguise - and he has a plan.

    Director:Desmond Davis
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. The BBC Television Shakespeare Season 1 Episode 6 - The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight
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    #6 - The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight

    S1:E6

    Henry is a proud monarch who flies in the face of the church in seeking to divorce Queen Katherine and marry Anne Bullen. As Cardinal Wolsey, the powerful Lord Chancellor of England, attempts to bend Rome to the King's wishes, the court reverberates with political intrigue and accusations of treachery.

    Director:Kevin Billington
    Writer:Unknown

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  7. The BBC Television Shakespeare Season 1 Episode 7 - The First Part of King Henry the Fourth with the Life and Death of Henry Surnamed Hotspur
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    #7 - The First Part of King Henry the Fourth with the Life and Death of Henry Surnamed Hotspur

    S1:E7

    Henry Bolingbroke has now been crowned King of England, but faces a rebellion headed by the embittered Earl of Northumberland and his son (nicknamed 'Hotspur'). Henry's son Hal, the Prince of Wales, has thrown over life at court in favour of heavy drinking and petty theft in the company of a debauched elderly knight, Sir John Falstaff. Hal must extricate himself from some legal problems, redeem himself in his father's eyes and help suppress the uprising.

    Director:David Giles
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. The BBC Television Shakespeare Season 1 Episode 8 - The Second Part of King Henry the Fourth containing his Death: and the Coronation of King Henry the Fift
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    #8 - The Second Part of King Henry the Fourth containing his Death: and the Coronation of King Henry the Fift

    S1:E8

    King Henry's health is failing as a second rebellion against his reign threatens to surface. Intent on securing his legacy, he is uncertain that his son Hal is a worthy heir, believing him more concerned with earthly pleasures than the responsibility of rule. Sir John Falstaff is sent to the countryside to recruit fresh troops. Amongst the unwitting locals, opportunities for embezzlement and profiteering prove impossible to resist. As the king's health continues to worsen, Hal must choose between duty and loyalty to an old friend.

    Director:David Giles
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. The BBC Television Shakespeare Season 1 Episode 9 - The Life of Henry the Fifth
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    #9 - The Life of Henry the Fifth

    S1:E9

    Insulted by the Dauphin, the newly-crowned Henry V gathers his troops for war. But Henry must convince his men that he has left his wild days behind, and prove himself as a leader. Henry V tells a tale of intrigue and betrayal, courtly romance, and a heroic battle against outrageous odds. The lead, played here by David Gwillim, is one of the most coveted of roles with inspiring lines including the St Crispin's Day speech.

    Director:David Giles
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. The BBC Television Shakespeare Season 1 Episode 10 - Twelfth Night
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    #10 - Twelfth Night

    S1:E10

    Viola and Sebastian are lookalike twins, separated by a shipwreck. Viola lands in Illyria, where she disguises herself like her brother and goes into the service of the Duke Orsino. Orsino sends her to help him woo the Lady Olivia, who doesn't want the duke, but finds that she likes the duke's new messenger. Then Viola's brother shows up, whom she thought was dead, and chaos ensues. Meanwhile, Olivia's uncle and his cohorts are trying to find some way to get back at Olivia's officious majordomo, Malvolio.

    Director:John Gorrie
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. The BBC Television Shakespeare Season 1 Episode 11 - The Tempest
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    #11 - The Tempest

    S1:E11

    Prospero, the true Duke of Milan, is now living on an enchanted island with his daughter Miranda, the savage Caliban and Ariel, a spirit of the air. Raising a storm to bring his brother - the usurper of his dukedom - along with his royal entourage, to the island, Prospero contrives his revenge.

    Directors:John Gorrie, Rodney Bennett
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. The BBC Television Shakespeare Season 1 Episode 12 - Hamlet, Prince of Denmark
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    #12 - Hamlet, Prince of Denmark

    S1:E12

    Hamlet returns home from university to find his uncle married to his mother, and his father's ghost haunting the battlements and scaring the watch. Then his father's ghost directs him to avenge his murder. Hamlet complies, but his madness and indecision take their toll on everyone.

    Directors:John Gorrie, Rodney Bennett
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. The BBC Television Shakespeare Season 1 Episode 13 - The Taming of the Shrew
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    #13 - The Taming of the Shrew

    S1:E13

    Baptista has two daughters: Katherine and Bianca. Everyone wants to wed the fair Bianca, but nobody's much interested in problem child, Katherine. Baptista declares that he won't give Bianca away until he's found a husband for Katherine, so all the suitors begin busily hunting out a madman who's willing to marry her, and they find Petruchio: a man who's come to wive it wealthily in Padua. And Petruchio intends to marry Katherine with a plan to tame her, while everybody else begins scheming to win Bianca's hand.

    Director:Jonathan Miller
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. The BBC Television Shakespeare Season 1 Episode 14 - The Merchant of Venice
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    #14 - The Merchant of Venice

    S1:E14

    Antonio's best friend, Bassiano, is in love with Portia, a wise and wealthy heiress, and needs three thousand ducats to press his suit. With Antonio's money tied up in ships at sea, he approaches Shylock, a Jewish usurer, who agrees to lend the money under the provision that Antonio shall forfeit a pound of his flesh if the debt is unpaid. When Antonio's ships are wrecked, Shylock calls for the contract to be filled.

    Director:Jack Gold
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. The BBC Television Shakespeare Season 1 Episode 15 - All's Well That Ends Well
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    #15 - All's Well That Ends Well

    S1:E15

    Helena loves Bertram, but he's of noble birth, while she's just a doctor's daughter. But Bertram is at the court of the King of France, who is ill, and Helena has a remedy that cures him and wins her the right to marry Bertram. But he doesn't want to marry her, but is forced by the king. However, Bertram refuses to sleep with Helena and leaves for the Italian wars. He says that he will only accept Helena if she obtains a ring from his finger and becomes pregnant with his child!

    Director:Elijah Moshinsky
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. The BBC Television Shakespeare Season 1 Episode 16 - The Winter's Tale
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #16 - The Winter's Tale

    S1:E16

    King Leontes of Bohemia suspects his wife, Queen Hermione, of deceiving him with his good friend Polixenes. Leontes drives Polixenes out of his kingdom, but this leads to unforeseen consequences: the arrival of a dangerous bear, an infant abandoned in the snow, love, death, and a statue which comes to life.

    Director:Jane Howell
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. The BBC Television Shakespeare Season 1 Episode 17 - Timon of Athens
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    #17 - Timon of Athens

    S1:E17

    Ancient Athenian Timon is well-known for his generosity - his many friends come to all his parties and like to get presents from him. But then Timon suffers losses and finds himself in debt, and his friends melt away. He loses faith in humanity and becomes a hermit.

    Director:Jonathan Miller
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. The BBC Television Shakespeare Season 1 Episode 18 - Antony and Cleopatra
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    #18 - Antony and Cleopatra

    S1:E18

    Octavius Caesar (later known as Augustus), Mark Antony, and Lepidus form a triumvirate to rule the Roman Empire. Antony will rule in the east and goes to Egypt, where he becomes the lover of Queen Cleopatra. In Egypt, Antony raises an army and a navy to fight Caesar. What is destined for the lovers and political allies?

    Director:Jonathan Miller
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. The BBC Television Shakespeare Season 1 Episode 19 - Othello
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #19 - Othello

    S1:E19

    Set in 16th-century Venice and Cyprus, Othello the Moor, a noble black warrior in the Venetian army, has secretly married a beautiful white woman called Desdemona, the daughter of a prominent senator, Brabantio. When he finds out, he is outraged, and promptly disowns her. Othello’s ensign, Iago, harbours a secret jealousy and resentment towards the Moor, partly because another soldier, Lieutenant Cassio, has been promoted ahead of him, and also because he suspects that Othello has had an affair with his wife. Intent on revenge, Iago hatches a devious plan to plant suspicions in Othello’s mind that Desdemona has been unfaithful to him with Cassio.

    Director:Jonathan Miller
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. The BBC Television Shakespeare Season 1 Episode 20 - Troilus and Cressida
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    #20 - Troilus and Cressida

    S1:E20

    The bitter Trojan War drags on - the Greeks blame Achilles' apathy for low morale, while Troy's hero Hector challenges one of the enemy to a personal duel. And after her father exchanges Cressida for a Trojan prisoner, the war becomes personal for her distraught lover Troilus.

    Director:Jonathan Miller
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. The BBC Television Shakespeare Season 1 Episode 21 - A Midsummer Night's Dream
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    #21 - A Midsummer Night's Dream

    S1:E21

    Hermia is in love with Lysander, but her father wants her to marry Demetrius. To escape the arranged marriage, she and Lysander elope into the woods. Demetrius follows them, and he is pursued by Helena, who nurses an unrequited passion for him. Puck the fairy makes both of the boys fall in love with the same girl. Meanwhile, a group of rough craftsmen rehearse a badly-written play in the woods for the wedding of the Duke of Athens. Soon all find their lives changed by the actions of Oberon and Titania, the warring king and queen of the fairies. Magic, action, love and humour are the ingredients for this unforgettable spell.

    Director:Elijah Moshinsky
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. The BBC Television Shakespeare Season 1 Episode 22 - King Lear
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    #22 - King Lear

    S1:E22

    When England's ageing King Lear renounces his throne to divide his kingdom among his three daughters, treachery, madness and murder soon follow. After banishing Cordelia, his most loyal daughter, Lear is betrayed and cast out by her elder sisters Regan and Goneril. Meanwhile, evil brews at the Gloucester castle as Edgar falls victim to his brother's deception. As battle lines are drawn and backs are stabbed, Lear rages against a fearsome storm. Can a man undo his wrongs? Will Cordelia be saved? Or will the wheels of fate crush all in its way?

    Director:Jonathan Miller
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. The BBC Television Shakespeare Season 1 Episode 23 - The Merry Wives of Windsor
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    #23 - The Merry Wives of Windsor

    S1:E23

    When Sir John Falstaff decides that he wants to have a little fun he writes two letters to a pair of Window wives: Mistress Ford and Mistress Page. When they put their heads together and compare missives, they plan a practical joke or two to teach the knight a lesson. But Mistress Ford's husband is a very jealous man and is pumping Falstaff for information of the affair. Meanwhile the Pages' daughter Anne is besieged by suitors.

    Director:David Hugh Jones
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. The BBC Television Shakespeare Season 1 Episode 24 - The First Part of Henry the Sixth
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    #24 - The First Part of Henry the Sixth

    S1:E24

    Following the death of his father, Henry V, the young Henry VI is proclaimed king under the protectorship of his uncles, the Dukes of Gloucester and Exeter. There is conflict between Gloucester and his long-term rival, the Bishop of Winchester. Richard Plantagenet, having established a claim to the throne through the Mortimer line of his family, declares his animosity towards the Duke of Somerset. Charles the Dauphin, fortified by his alliance with Joan la Pucelle (Joan of Arc), dominates the battles in France. An uneasy peace is concluded between England and France, and Gloucester engineers a politically astute marriage between Henry and the Earl of Armagnac's daughter. Meanwhile, in France, Suffolk woos Margaret, daughter of the Duke of Anjou, to be Henry's queen and in order to gain her father's consent cedes the newly conquered French territories of Anjou and Maine. Suffolk persuades Henry, against opposition from the court, to marry Margaret and make her Queen of England.

    Director:Jane Howell
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. The BBC Television Shakespeare Season 1 Episode 25 - The Second Part of Henry the Sixth
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    #25 - The Second Part of Henry the Sixth

    S1:E25

    Dissension is rife in the English court. Suffolk's influence intensifies. The fractious English nobles unite in their common aim to get rid of the Duke of Gloucester. His wife Eleanor, the Duchess of Gloucester, aspires to the crown and is lured by a priest, John Hume, who is in the pay of Suffolk, to consult a witch about her ambitions. Somerset returns from France with the news of the loss of all English territories. York and others seize this opportunity to implicate Gloucester in the loss of France and to accuse him of treason.

    Director:Jane Howell
    Writer:Unknown

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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Romeo & Juliet" is the best rated episode of "The BBC Television Shakespeare" season 1. It scored /10 based on 0 votes. Directed by Alvin Rakoff and written by William Shakespeare, it aired on 12/3/1978. This episode is rated 0.0 points higher than the second-best, "King Richard the Second".