The Cleopatras (1983)

Name: The Cleopatras
Genre: Drama
Released: 1983-01-19
Rating: 3.8
Cast: Michelle Newell

NR50m1 seasonsEndedNR(4)

The Cleopatras is a 1983 BBC Television historical drama serial created and written by Philip Mackie. Set in Ancient Egypt during the latter part of the Ptolemaic Dynasty, the eight-part series follows the lives of a series of queens belonging to the Ptolemaic Dynasty of ancient Egypt, culminating in its final active ruler Cleopatra VII. Intended to be the I, Claudius of the 1980s, The Cleopatras met with a decidedly negative critical reaction, and was regarded and portrayed as a gaudy farce. It also produced a number of complaints due to scenes of nudity.

Drama

Episodes

Director: John Frankau
Writers: Philip Mackie

Michelle Newell

Cleopatra

Seasons & Episodes

Miniseries

E1 - 145 BC

Jan 19, 1983 - 50m

Ptolemy VIII, known as Pot Belly, takes control. A vengeful mother has the support of the mob - and persuades Rome she can be just as good a friend as Potbelly. In revenge Pot Belly sends a very special present.

E2 - 128 BC

Jan 26, 1983 - 50m

Greek Pharoah Pot Belly shows himself to be one of the few men to better the Cleopatras of his family.

E3 - 115 BC

Feb 2, 1983 - 50m

On his deathbed, Pot Belly stages his greatest practical joke -leaving a will gleefully designed to cause mayhem. It works. Chickpea becomes king against Cleopatra's wishes. However, Cleopatra turns the mob against him, leaving her free to invite her favourite son, Alexander, to share the throne with her. She gets more than she bargained for.

E4 - 100 BC

Feb 9, 1983 - 50m

Berenike plots to get rid of her drunken husband Alexander. Chickpea reclaims the throne and Berenike's ambition is realised when he makes her joint monarch. However, his death leaves a dangerous power vacuum - and Rome is now taking a more than friendly interest.

E5 - 80 BC

Feb 16, 1983 - 50m

For all his eccentricity, Fluter sees clearly that Rome is the true source of all power, and he sets off on an extended royal visit, dispensing large sums of money to bribe both Caesar and the Senate to back him. The Egyptians, furious at this subservience, depose him in his absence and make his wife, Cleopatra Tryphaena, and his daughter, Berenike, joint monarchs. But the illegitimate Fluter has enough Ptolemy blood not to let go easily.

E6 - 51 BC

Feb 23, 1983 - 50m

The youngest and most notorious of the Cleopatras, now 18, becomes joint ruler with her brother Ptolemy. Civil war breaks out. It is only the arrival of Julius Caesar that makes a solution possible. Cleopatra and Caesar become lovers. She believes she has found the man to help her realise her ambition to rule the world.