8.2/10548 votes#1 - A Touch of Murder
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 9/20/1976
Livia, the scheming wife of Augustus, seeks to disinherit her husband's grand-children in favour of her own son Tiberius.
Director: Herbert Wise
Writer: Jack Pulman
8.3/10409 votes#2 - Waiting in the Wings
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 9/27/1976
Livia, wife of Emperor Augustus plots against his daughter Julia and manages to convince him to bring her son Tiberius back from exile.
Director: Herbert Wise
Writer: Jack Pulman
8.4/10435 votes#3 - What Shall We Do About Claudius?
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 10/4/1976
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.
Director: Herbert Wise
Writer: Jack Pulman
8.4/10425 votes#4 - Poison is Queen
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 10/11/1976
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.
Director: Herbert Wise
Writer: Jack Pulman
8.8/10435 votes#5 - Some Justice
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 10/18/1976
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.
Director: Herbert Wise
Writer: Jack Pulman
8.3/10413 votes#6 - Queen of Heaven
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 10/25/1976
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.
Director: Herbert Wise
Writer: Jack Pulman
8.6/10427 votes#7 - Reign of Terror
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 11/1/1976
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.
Director: Herbert Wise
Writer: Jack Pulman
8.8/10422 votes#8 - Zeus, By Jove!
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 11/8/1976
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.
Director: Herbert Wise
Writer: Jack Pulman
8.7/10409 votes#9 - Hail Who?
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 11/15/1976
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.
Director: Herbert Wise
Writer: Jack Pulman
8.8/10417 votes#10 - Fool's Luck
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 11/22/1976
Claudius is happily married, while the mad Caligula has been assassinated. To his astonishment, Claudius has been proclaimed emperor by the Praetorian Guard.
Director: Herbert Wise
Writer: Jack Pulman
8.6/10385 votes#11 - A God in Colchester
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 11/29/1976
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.
Director: Herbert Wise
Writer: Jack Pulman
8.6/10380 votes#12 - Old King Log
Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 12/6/1976
Almost at the end of his family history, Claudius' thoughts turn to the future of Rome.
Director: Herbert Wise
Writer: Jack Pulman
The Best Episodes of I, Claudius Season 1
Every episode of I, Claudius Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of I, Claudius Season 1!
Acclaimed blackly comic historical drama series. Set amidst a web of power, corruption and lies, it chronicles the reigns of the Roman emperors - Augustus,...
Genres:DramaWar & Politics
Network:BBC Two
Season 1 Ratings Summary
"A Touch of Murder" is the best rated episode of "I, Claudius" season 1. It scored 8.2/10 based on 548 votes. Directed by Herbert Wise and written by Jack Pulman, it aired on 9/20/1976. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "Waiting in the Wings".