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Chelmsford 123

Season 1 1988

  • 1988-03-09T00:00:00Z on Channel 4
  • 24m
  • 2h 21m (6 episodes)
  • United Kingdom
  • English
  • Comedy
Chelmsford 123 is a British television situation comedy produced for Channel 4 by Hat Trick Productions. It ran for two series, of six and seven episodes, in 1988 and 1990. The series was set in the British town of Chelmsford in the year AD 123, and concerned the power struggle between Roman governor Aulus Paulinus and the British chieftain, Badvoc. Britain is a miserable place, cold and wet – just the place to exile Aulus for accidentally insulting the Emperor's horse, but also give him something useful to do. Aulus, probably a play on Aulus Platorius Nepos, the governor of Roman Britain between 122 and 125, was a rather delicate Roman, who was usually outwitted by the scheming Badvoc, who hadn't had a haircut for twenty-five years. Many of the other regular "Hat Trick" actors, previously seen in shows such as Who Dares Wins, also appeared. Both series are now available on 4 on Demand and SeeSaw. Series 1 and 2 was released on DVD by Acorn Media UK on 15 September 2011.

6 episodes

Series Premiere

1988-03-09T00:00:00Z

1x01 Arrivederci Roma

Series Premiere

1x01 Arrivederci Roma

  • 1988-03-09T00:00:00Z23m

Aulus is given the Governor's job as a suitable punishment for accidentally insulting the Holy Roman Emperors' girlfriend (a horse!). They arrive in England to a surprisingly warm welcome from the Brits but inadvertently upset them at the first night celebration.

1988-03-16T00:00:00Z

1x02 What's Your Poison?

1x02 What's Your Poison?

  • 1988-03-16T00:00:00Z24m

Aulus tries to win over the Brits by doing an early morning walkabout and arranging a banquet. Grasientus buys poison from Wolfbane with a view to killing Badvoc. Aulus is dismayed when Grasientus is exposed as a poisoner... but then Badvoc and Aulus are found to be up to the same tricks.

1988-03-23T00:00:00Z

1x03 The Girl of My Dreams

1x03 The Girl of My Dreams

  • 1988-03-23T00:00:00Z23m

Aulus is having troubled dreams and tries to have them interpreted. A tribe of female warriors demands a male sacrifice after their cheif's three daughters are de-flowered. The women lay seige to Aulus, Badvoc, Grasientus and Functio for over a month.

1988-03-29T23:00:00Z

1x04 One for the Road

1x04 One for the Road

  • 1988-03-29T23:00:00Z23m

Aulus pledges to build a Roman road from Chelmsford to London but the proposed route goes straight through a brothel that is being run by Badvoc and his men and being frequented by Functio. Blagg makes a career change from Shepherd to Masseur.

1988-04-05T23:00:00Z

1x05 Vidi, Vici, Veni

1x05 Vidi, Vici, Veni

  • 1988-04-05T23:00:00Z24m

Badvoc is kidnapped by two Triconi. Aulus decides to 'protect' Gargamadua. Badvoc outwits the Triconi and talks them into sending a ransom demand of 100 bags of gold to Aulus.

Season Finale

1988-04-12T23:00:00Z

1x06 Peeled Grapes and Pedicures

Season Finale

1x06 Peeled Grapes and Pedicures

  • 1988-04-12T23:00:00Z24m

Aulus decides to liven up Chelmsford with the Festival of Saturnalia. As part of the revelry, a fool is made king for a day - and so the Romans naturally choose Badvoc.

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