Episodes
Episode | First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
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01 | 20151026 | First century Rome was a dangerous place. The Emperor had informers everywhere; no one was safe. One person who survived Domitian's purges was Pliny the Younger. Orphaned at an early age, Pliny was adopted and brought up by his famous uncle, the scientist Pliny the Elder, who died in the eruption of Vesuvius when his nephew was just 18. In this first episode Pliny and his mother go shopping for a new slave. Pliny wants someone with secretarial skills to help him get his letters ready for publication. His mother has other needs in mind. They choose a man who was captured by the Romans when they invaded Wales and who has learned Latin and Greek from his previous master. Back at the villa the nervous new member of the household meets Doris, the Greek cook, an unsuccessful prophetess who was pipped to the post of Oracle at Delphi by another girl. If Pliny and his household are to survive the snake-pit of Imperial Rome, they must negotiate a political minefield, keep their eyes peeled for spies and most of all, not do anything to annoy the Emperor. Hattie Naylor's drama is based on real letters written by Pliny to his friends and colleagues nearly two thousand years ago. Music composed by Pete Flood and performed by Pete Flood (percussion), Laura Cannell (recorder, crumhorn), Rhodri Davies (harp), and Paul Sartin (oboe, cor anglais) Historical Consultant: Dr Peter Jones Sound: Nigel Lewis Production Coordinator: Eleri McAuliffe Produced and Directed by Kate McAll. Pliny the Younger and his mother go shopping for a slave in Rome in the 1st century AD. Classic and contemporary original drama and book dramatisations | |
01 | 20171023 | 20190128 (R4) | Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Kieran Hodgson returns as Pliny the Younger, with Nigel Barrett as his trusty slave, Venta, who was captured during the Roman conquest of Britain. Based on real events in first century Rome. The Emperor Domitian rules Rome with a rod of iron, and is dangerously unstable and paranoid. There are spies everywhere. Venta, Pliny, his mother Marcella, and Doris the Greek cook will have to have all their wits about them if they are to prevail. As a teenager Pliny witnessed the eruption of Vesuvius from his home across the bay. Many years later, following a request from his uncle Tacitus who is an historian, he takes time off from being a lawyer to travel to Pompeii and Herculaneum where he hopes to find out what happened to his uncle, Pliny the Elder, who died in the eruption. But upon returning to his villa outside Rome, he finds a letter from the Emperor which throws the whole household into a panic. By Hattie Naylor. A BBC/Cymru Wales production, directed by Kate McAll. Pliny and his eccentric household are subject to the whims of an unstable emperor. Classic and contemporary original drama and book dramatisations Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Kieran Hodgson returns as Pliny the Younger, with Nigel Barrett as his trusty slave, Venta, who was captured during the Roman conquest of Britain. Based on real events in first century Rome. The Emperor Domitian rules Rome with a rod of iron, and is dangerously unstable and paranoid. There are spies everywhere. Venta, Pliny, his mother Marcella, and Doris the Greek cook will have to have all their wits about them if they are to prevail. As a teenager Pliny witnessed the eruption of Vesuvius from his home across the bay. Many years later, following a request from his uncle Tacitus who is an historian, he takes time off from being a lawyer to travel to Pompeii and Herculaneum where he hopes to find out what happened to his uncle, Pliny the Elder, who died in the eruption. But upon returning to his villa outside Rome, he finds a letter from the Emperor which throws the whole household into a panic. By Hattie Naylor. A BBC/Cymru Wales production, directed by Kate McAll. Pliny and his eccentric household are subject to the whims of an unstable emperor. Classic and contemporary original drama and book dramatisations |
01 | 20180115 | Captured in Wales during the Roman conquest of Britain, Venta is now a slave in the household of Pliny the Younger, a wealthy lawyer who lives in a magnificent villa just outside Rome. As servitude goes, things could be worse. Pliny is a kind, if tetchy, master and uses Venta mainly as a scribe. His mistress, Pliny's mother, thinks of him as her 'bedroom attendant'. Recently Venta had a lucky escape when he was forced to fight in the Colosseum and survived to tell the tale. Unfortunately, he was given no choice but to kill Calvin, lover of Doris the cook, who now won't speak to him. Depressed by the decline in the standard of Doris's cooking following Calvin's death, the family spend the day in Rome, shopping for bargains in the market, followed by sheer indulgence at the Baths. But the outing ends with a surprising turn of events for Pliny. By Hattie Naylor, based on real events in first century Rome. Pliny the Younger . . . Kieran Hodgson Venta . . . Nigel Barrett Marcella . . . Joanna Scanlan Doris . . . Mia Soteriou Hawker . . . Matthew Gravelle Music composed and performed by Pete Flood (percussion) with Laura Cannell (recorder, crumhorn), Rhodri Davies (Harp) and Paul Sartin (Oboe, Cor Anglais) A BBC/Cymru Wales production, directed by Kate McAll. A day at the baths in Rome has a surprising ending for Pliny. Classic and contemporary original drama and book dramatisations | |
02 | 20151027 | Venta, who used to be a free man called Cadwalader of Caerwent, has now been slave to Pliny the Younger for a month. He's been welcomed into the household, especially by Pliny's mother - though not by Doris the cook who resents him interrupting her divinations. With a picnic basket of stuffed dormice, Pliny and Venta go hunting for boar, though Pliny would much rather write a letter to his friend Tacitus than actually get his hands dirty - after all, he's got Venta to do that for him. Hattie Naylor's drama is based on real letters written by Pliny to his family and friends nearly two thousand years ago. Music composed by Pete Flood and performed by Pete Flood (percussion), Laura Cannell (recorder, crumhorn), Rhodri Davies (harp), and Paul Sartin (oboe, cor anglais) Historical Consultant: Dr Peter Jones Sound: Nigel Lewis Production Coordinator: Eleri McAuliffe Produced and Directed by Kate McAll. Pliny the Younger and Venta, his new Welsh slave, go hunting for boar. Classic and contemporary original drama and book dramatisations | |
02 | 20171024 | 20190129 (R4) | Pliny has been commanded by Emperor Domitian to hold a banquet for General Agricola who has recently returned from a successful conquest of Britain. The feast will take place at Pliny's villa outside Rome. But all is not what it seems. The Emperor is a jealous man and Pliny becomes suspicious when he sends one of his personal slaves to oversee the menu. By Hattie Naylor A BBC/Cymru Wales production, directed by Kate McAll. Pliny is commanded by the Emperor to hold a banquet for returning hero General Agricola. Classic and contemporary original drama and book dramatisations Pliny has been commanded by Emperor Domitian to hold a banquet for General Agricola who has recently returned from a successful conquest of Britain. The feast will take place at Pliny's villa outside Rome. But all is not what it seems. The Emperor is a jealous man and Pliny becomes suspicious when he sends one of his personal slaves to oversee the menu. By Hattie Naylor A BBC/Cymru Wales production, directed by Kate McAll. Pliny is commanded by the Emperor to hold a banquet for returning hero General Agricola. Classic and contemporary original drama and book dramatisations |
02 | 20180116 | Pliny, despite vehemently not believing in such things, appears to have fallen in love at first sight. In a quest to find the girl of his dreams, he commands Venta to go under cover in the Ladies side of the Roman Baths. Meanwhile, Doris the psychic cook makes a surprising confession, which no one saw coming. By Hattie Naylor, based on real events in first century Rome. Pliny the Younger . . . Kieran Hodgson Venta . . . Nigel Barrett Marcella . . . Joanna Scanlan Doris/Oppia . . . Mia Soteriou Maximus . . . Ewan Bailey Music composed and performed by Pete Flood (percussion) with Laura Cannell (recorder, crumhorn), Rhodri Davies (Harp) and Paul Sartin (Oboe, Cor Anglais) A BBC/Cymru Wales production, directed by Kate McAll. Pliny has fallen in love at first sight. Now all he needs to do is find the girl. Classic and contemporary original drama and book dramatisations | |
03 | 20151028 | Venta has now been Pliny's servant and scribe for four months. They've been happy months, despite living under the unstable Emperor Domitian. But as time goes on, news of arrests and executions begins to circulate. Doris the cook sees portents of evil everywhere, especially in the entrails of small animals. The uneasiness only gets worse when Pliny receives a visit from his fellow lawyer, and arch-rival, Regulus. Then Pliny makes a trip to Comum to open a new library he has built for his old home town. When he drops in on his former mother in law, and is given preferential treatment from one of her slaves, Venta too begins to worry about his future. Hattie Naylor's drama is based on real letters written by Pliny to his family and friends nearly two thousand years ago. Music composed by Pete Flood and performed by Pete Flood (percussion), Laura Cannell (recorder, crumhorn), Rhodri Davies (harp), and Paul Sartin (oboe, cor anglais) Historical Consultant: Dr Peter Jones Sound: Nigel Lewis Production Coordinator: Eleri McAuliffe Produced and Directed by Kate McAll. Pliny has an unnerving visit from his fellow lawyer, and arch-rival, Regulus. Classic and contemporary original drama and book dramatisations | |
03 | 20171025 | 20190130 (R4) | General Agricola has just returned from the successful conquest of Britain and Pliny has been commanded by the Emperor Domitian to throw the welcome party. But the Emperor is a jealous man and has sent his personal slave to oversee the preparation of dishes for the feast. When the conquering hero mysteriously falls ill and dies, someone has to pay a heavy price. By Hattie Naylor A BBC /Cymru Wales production, directed by Kate McAll. The welcome party for General Agricola ends in disaster - and an arrest. Classic and contemporary original drama and book dramatisations General Agricola has just returned from the successful conquest of Britain and Pliny has been commanded by the Emperor Domitian to throw the welcome party. But the Emperor is a jealous man and has sent his personal slave to oversee the preparation of dishes for the feast. When the conquering hero mysteriously falls ill and dies, someone has to pay a heavy price. By Hattie Naylor A BBC /Cymru Wales production, directed by Kate McAll. The welcome party for General Agricola ends in disaster - and an arrest. Classic and contemporary original drama and book dramatisations |
03 | 20180117 | Pliny has a new job as Chief Overseer of the sewage works of Rome - but it's Venta, his slave, who has to go under ground and check for blockages. There he finds that Rome's prisoners are doing the real dirty work, including a Stoic philosopher, the victim of a recent purge by the Emperor Domitian. By Hattie Naylor, based on real events in first century Rome. Pliny the Younger . . . Kieran Hodgson Venta . . . Nigel Barrett Marcella/Hispulla . . . Joanna Scanlan Calpurnia . . . Kimberley Nixon Prisoner . . . Matthew Gravelle Stoic . . . Ewan Bailey Music composed and performed by Pete Flood (percussion) with Laura Cannell (recorder, crumhorn), Rhodri Davies (Harp) and Paul Sartin (Oboe, Cor Anglais) A BBC /Cymru Wales production, directed by Kate McAll. Venta explores the sewers of Rome where philosophers toil in the darkness. Classic and contemporary original drama and book dramatisations | |
04 | 20151029 | Venta has been in the household of Pliny the Younger for five months, as secretary and scribe. Meanwhile, the Emperor Domitian's reign of terror continues. There's a rumour that he entertains people one day, then has them executed next morning on some trumped up charge. The atmosphere in the normally calm villa is uneasy. Pliny hears stories of slaves who are spying on masters. And then an invitation arrives - to dinner with the Emperor. They are instructed to wear black so Marcella arranges for their togas to be dyed. The night of the dinner arrives, and it proves just as alarming as they feared. Hattie Naylor's drama is based on real letters written by Pliny to his family and friends nearly two thousand years ago. Music composed by Pete Flood and performed by Pete Flood (percussion), Laura Cannell (recorder, crumhorn), Rhodri Davies (harp), and Paul Sartin (oboe, cor anglais) Historical Consultant: Dr Peter Jones Sound: Nigel Lewis Production Coordinator: Eleri McAuliffe Produced and Directed by Kate McAll. Pliny the Younger and his mother are invited to dinner with the Emperor. Classic and contemporary original drama and book dramatisations | |
04 | 20180118 | Pliny feels under threat from the Emperor Domitian more than ever when he is invited to the Palatine, and the room where the Emperor tortures flies. Meanwhile, Marcella has a new slave, Sextus, who has supplanted Venta in Marcella's affections. By Hattie Naylor, based on real events in first century Rome. Pliny the Younger . . . Kieran Hodgson Venta . . . Nigel Barrett Marcella . . . Joanna Scanlan Emperor Domitian/Sextus . . . Ewan Bailey Tacitus/Regulus . . . Matthew Gravelle Music composed and performed by Pete Flood (percussion) with Laura Cannell (recorder, crumhorn), Rhodri Davies (Harp) and Paul Sartin (Oboe, Cor Anglais) A BBC/Cymru Wales production, directed by Kate McAll. Marcella's new slave, Sextus, isn't all that he seems. Classic and contemporary original drama and book dramatisations | |
05 | 20151030 | Pliny is put out when one of his guests fails to show up for dinner, though his mother is delighted by another guest, Martial the poet, much to Venta's disapproval. Venta has a visitation in the night from Pliny's dead uncle, Pliny the Elder - or was it just a dream? Then a visit from the obnoxious Regulus gives rise to a secret that Venta is compelled to keep from his Master. Pliny, meanwhile, in fear of his life at the hands of the Emperor, is thinking about his legacy. Hattie Naylor's drama is based on real letters written by Pliny to his family and friends nearly two thousand years ago. Music composed by Pete Flood and performed by Pete Flood (percussion), Laura Cannell (recorder, crumhorn), Rhodri Davies (harp), and Paul Sartin (oboe, cor anglais) Historical Consultant: Dr Peter Jones Sound: Nigel Lewis Production Coordinator: Eleri McAuliffe Produced and Directed by Kate McAll. Pliny is put out when one of his dinner guests fails to show up. Classic and contemporary original drama and book dramatisations | |
05 | 20171026 | 20190131 (R4) | Venta has been arrested, accused of murdering a famous war hero, and flung into prison. There he meets Calvin, fellow convict and dwarf, who reveals the terrible fate that awaits them both when Emperor Domitian reopens the Colosseum with a spectacular Games. By Hattie Naylor. A BBC/Cymru Wales production, directed by Kate McAll. Venta meets a fellow prisoner, a dwarf who reveals the terrible fate that awaits them. Classic and contemporary original drama and book dramatisations Venta has been arrested, accused of murdering a famous war hero, and flung into prison. There he meets Calvin, fellow convict and dwarf, who reveals the terrible fate that awaits them both when Emperor Domitian reopens the Colosseum with a spectacular Games. By Hattie Naylor. A BBC/Cymru Wales production, directed by Kate McAll. Venta meets a fellow prisoner, a dwarf who reveals the terrible fate that awaits them. Classic and contemporary original drama and book dramatisations |
05 | 20171027 | 20190201 (R4) | Venta the slave has been moved to the cells under the Colosseum, along with his new friend Calvin, a dwarf convicted of stealing a chicken. Doris the Greek cook comes to visit. She has gazed into the entrails of a small rodent and seen death - but whose death she can't be sure. Then, from the Imperial Box Emperor Domitian gives the signal for the Games to begin. Tigers enter the arena, pitted against Gladiators. Soon Venta and Calvin will have to meet their fate. By Hattie Naylor A BBC Cymru/Wales production, directed by Kate McAll. Venta the slave is forced to fight in the Colosseum. Classic and contemporary original drama and book dramatisations Venta the slave has been moved to the cells under the Colosseum, along with his new friend Calvin, a dwarf convicted of stealing a chicken. Doris the Greek cook comes to visit. She has gazed into the entrails of a small rodent and seen death - but whose death she can't be sure. Then, from the Imperial Box Emperor Domitian gives the signal for the Games to begin. Tigers enter the arena, pitted against Gladiators. Soon Venta and Calvin will have to meet their fate. By Hattie Naylor A BBC Cymru/Wales production, directed by Kate McAll. Venta the slave is forced to fight in the Colosseum. Classic and contemporary original drama and book dramatisations |
05 | 20180119 | Fearing for her safety, Pliny calls off his marriage to Calpurnia and retires to his room, brokenhearted. Meanwhile, the Emperor Domitian is increasingly paranoid that there is a plot against him. This time he's right. By Hattie Naylor, based on real events in first century Rome. Pliny the Younger . . . Kieran Hodgson Venta . . . Nigel Barrett Marcella . . . Joanna Scanlan Emperor Domitian/Maximus . . . Ewan Bailey Calpurnia . . . Kimberley Nixon Regulus . . . Matthew Gravelle Music composed and performed by Pete Flood (percussion) with Laura Cannell (recorder, crumhorn), Rhodri Davies (Harp) and Paul Sartin (Oboe, Cor Anglais) A BBC Cymru/Wales production, directed by Kate McAll. The Emperor is increasingly paranoid that there is a plot against him. Classic and contemporary original drama and book dramatisations |