Cleopatras, The (BBC-2 1983 with Michelle Newell and Richard Griffiths)

Period drama serial. The lives of the various Cleopatras (actually of Greek descent) who ruled over Egypt from 145bc – 35 bc.

The Cleopatras came in for a huge amount of ridicule and caused quite a degree of controversy on it’s original broadcast with it’s ample nudity. Series creator Philip Mackie had done a similar job on Roman history with his earlier serial The Caesars.

production details
UK / BBC Two / 8×50 minute episodes / 1983 19 January – 9 March 1983

Writer: Philip Mackie / Music: Nick Bicat / Producer: Guy Slater

cast
MICHELLE NEWELL as Cleopatra
RICHARD GRIFFITHS as Pot Belly
ELIZABETH SHEPHERD as Cleopatra II
CAROLINE MORTIMER as Cleopatra Thea
SUE HOLDERNESS as Cleopatra IV
AMANDA BOXER as Cleopatra Tryphaena
PRUE CLARKE as Cleopatra Selene
PAULINE MORAN as Cleopatra Berenike
CHRISTOPHER NEAME as Mark Antony
ROBERT HARDY as Julius Caesar
FRANCESCA GONSHAW as Arsinoe
IAN McNEICE as Alexander
JOHN ARNATT as Sophron

THE EPISODES
1. ALEXANDRIA, 145 BC
2. 128 BC
3. 115 BC
4. 100 BC
5. 80 BC
6. 51 BC
7. 46 BC
8. 35 BC