British Comedy Guide
Up Pompeii!. Lurcio (Frankie Howerd). Copyright: BBC / London Weekend Television
Up Pompeii!

Up Pompeii! (1969)

  • TV sitcom
  • BBC One / ITV1
  • 1969 - 1991
  • 16 episodes (2 series)

Frankie Howerd starrs as Lurcio, a Roman slave in Pompeii, serving senator Ludicrus Sextus and his family. Also features Max Adrian, Wallas Eaton, Elizabeth Larner, Kerry Gardner, Jeanne Mockford and more.

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Up Pompeii!. Image shows from L to R: Ludicrus Sextus (Wallas Eaton), Lurcio (Frankie Howerd), Ammonia (Elizabeth Larner). Copyright: BBC / London Weekend Television

Key details

Genre
Sitcom
Broadcast
1969 - 1991
Channels
BBC 1, ITV
Episodes
16 (1 pilot + 2 series), plus 1 short special
Stars
Frankie Howerd, Max Adrian, Wallas Eaton, Elizabeth Larner, Kerry Gardner, Jeanne Mockford, Georgina Moon, William Rushton and more
Writers
Talbot Rothwell and Sid Colin
Directors
David Croft and Sydney Lotterby
Producers
David Croft and Sydney Lotterby
Companies

Lurcio - the inimitable Frankie Howerd - is a much-put-upon slave in the ancient Roman town of Pompeii.

More often than not, Lurcio finds himself keeping his owner's family members apart, in order to keep them together: a wet, wimpy son; a wife with a rather impressive bosom; a naïve daughter; and Ludicrus Sextus himself, a lecherous and lustful but terribly lazy Senator.

There's also Senna the Soothsayer, constantly forseeing doom and woe in Lurcio's path. Will he ever be allowed to complete the Prologue?

Additional details

Part of

The Up Pompeii! Family

Also known as
  • Further Up Pompeii
  • Further Up Pompeii!
  • Up Pompeii
Production
Studio
Camera set-up
Multi-camera
Picture
Colour
Soundtrack
Theme tune composed by Alan Braden.

Website links

Broadcast details

First broadcast
Wednesday 17th September 1969 at 9:10pm on BBC One

Recording details

  • BBC Television Centre
  • The London Studios - 1991 special.

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