British Comedy Guide
Chelmsford 123. Image shows from L to R: Aulus Paulinus (Jimmy Mulville), Badvoc (Rory McGrath). Copyright: Hat Trick Productions
Chelmsford 123

Chelmsford 123

  • TV sitcom
  • Channel 4
  • 1988 - 1990
  • 13 episodes (2 series)

In the year 123 AD and Aulus Paulinus finds himself appointed new governor of Britannia - to a somewhat mixed reception from the locals. Stars Rory McGrath, Jimmy Mulville, Philip Pope, Howard Lew Lewis, Neil Pearson and more.

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Chelmsford 123. Image shows from L to R: Functio (Robert Austin), Mungo (Neil Pearson), Aulus Paulinus (Jimmy Mulville), Blag (Howard Lew Lewis), Badvoc (Rory McGrath), Grasientus (Philip Pope). Copyright: Hat Trick Productions

Key details

Genre
Sitcom
Broadcast
1988 - 1990
Channel
Channel 4
Episodes
13 (2 series)
Stars
Rory McGrath, Jimmy Mulville, Philip Pope, Howard Lew Lewis, Neil Pearson, Erika Hoffman, Robert Austin and Geoffrey McGivern
Writers
Rory McGrath, Jimmy Mulville and Andy Hamilton
Directors
Vic Finch and John Stroud
Producers
Denise O'Donoghue and Adrian Bate
Company

It is the year 123 AD, and after accidentally insulting Emperor Caesar's girlfriend Portia, Aulus Paulinus finds himself expelled from the comforts of Rome to a wet, cold island in the far corner of the Empire - Britannia. Potentially even worse, his snivelling brother-in-law Grasientus is sent as his second-in-command.

Based in Chelmsford, Aulus knows little - and understands less - of the peoples he has been sent to control, and so regularly finds himself at odds with (and more often than not, outwitted by) the local Celtic tribal leader, Badvoc.

Additional details

Production
Studio
Camera set-up
Multi-camera
Picture
Colour

Website links

Broadcast details

First broadcast
Wednesday 9th March 1988 at 10pm on Channel 4
All previous repeats

Recording details

  • Limehouse Studios

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