The BBC Television Shakespeare
The BBC Television Shakespeare is a series of British television adaptations of the plays of William Shakespeare, created by Cedric Messina and produced by BBC Television. It was transmitted in the UK from 3 December 1978 to 27 April 1985 and spanned seven series. Development of the series began in 1975 when Messina saw that Glamis Castle would make a perfect location for an adaptation of Shakespeare's play As You Like It. On returning to London, he envisioned an entire series devoted exclusively to the dramatic works of Shakespeare. After encountering numerous problems trying to produce the series, Messina eventually pitched the idea to the BBC’s departmental heads and the series was greenlighted. The series as a whole received generally negative reviews from critics.
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Episodes
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Top Cast
Jon Finch
Henry Bolingbroke / King Henry the Fourth · 3 eps
Michael Hordern
Prospero / Lafeu / Capulet · 3 eps
David Gwillim
King Henry the Fifth / Henry, Prince of Wales · 3 eps
Helen Mirren
Imogen / Rosalind / Titania · 3 eps
John Gielgud
Chorus / John of Gaunt · 2 eps
Charles Gray
Julius Caesar / Duke of York · 2 eps
Jeffrey Holland
Duke of Surrey / William · 2 eps
Richard Pasco
Brutus / Jacques · 2 eps
Derek Jacobi
Hamlet / Richard II · 2 eps
David Collings
Cassius / Thurio · 2 eps
Robert Brown
Earl of Pembroke / Sir Walter Blunt · 2 eps
Patrick Ryecart
Romeo · 1 ep
Rebecca Saire
Juliet · 1 ep
Celia Johnson
Nurse · 1 ep
Joseph O'Conor
Friar Laurence · 1 ep
Laurence Naismith
Prince Escalus · 1 ep
Anthony Andrews
Mercutio · 1 ep
Alan Rickman
Tybalt · 1 ep
Jacqueline Hill
Lady Capulet · 1 ep
Christopher Strauli
Benvolio · 1 ep
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