Season 1 • Episode 6
LatestThe 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.
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.
Costume
Wigs so wrong they deserve their own documentary.
Production
Sets that wobble. Seriously. They wobble.
Acting
Performances ranging from 'trying' to 'betrayed by material'.
Creator
Philip Mackie
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Philip Mackie spent years developing this as his magnum opus; the BBC buried it in a late-night slot after disastrous previews.
The show's failure killed big-budget ancient world drama on the BBC for nearly two decades—until 'Rome' proved it could work with actual money.
GB
