Chelmsford 123

All Episodes 1988 - 1990

  • Ended
  • #<Network:0x00007fead2618ea0>
  • 1988-03-09T00:00:00Z
  • 24m
  • 5h 6m (13 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.

13 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.

Season Premiere

1990-01-09T00:00:00Z

2x01 Heads You Lose

Season Premiere

2x01 Heads You Lose

  • 1990-01-09T00:00:00Z24m

Aulus is depressed because Badvoc always runs rings around him. He consults with a psychiatrist and confronts his anger. Badvoc is arrested and sentenced to death. Aulus eventually relents but Badvoc convinces him to go ahead with the sentence.

1990-01-16T00:00:00Z

2x02 Get Well Soon

2x02 Get Well Soon

  • 1990-01-16T00:00:00Z23m

A great heatwave hits Chelmsford, giving the Romans an opportunity for to top up their tans and Britons to die of thirst. It gets so bad that Badvoc has to cancel his annual bath.

1990-01-23T00:00:00Z

2x03 Bird Trouble

2x03 Bird Trouble

  • 1990-01-23T00:00:00Z23m

Badvoc attempts to relieve Aulus Paulinus of a priceless ring and use it to exact sexual favours, incurring the wrath of the governor's wife Marcella.

1990-01-30T00:00:00Z

2x04 Odi et Amo

2x04 Odi et Amo

  • 1990-01-30T00:00:00Z24m

Aulus' repulsive right-hand man Grasientus, winner of 'The Ugliest Git in the Empire', falls in love with a beautiful British girl. The problem is Aulus also desires her hand - and other bits as well...

1990-02-06T00:00:00Z

2x05 The Secret War

2x05 The Secret War

  • 1990-02-06T00:00:00Z24m

Things are quiet in Chelmsford. Too quiet. Aulus hasn't heard anything of Badvoc for weeks, which can only mean one of two things; either Aulus has gone deaf or Badvoc is up to something.

1990-02-13T00:00:00Z

2x06 Mines a Double

2x06 Mines a Double

  • 1990-02-13T00:00:00Z24m

Season Finale

1990-02-20T00:00:00Z

2x07 Something Beginning with "E"

Season Finale

2x07 Something Beginning with "E"

  • 1990-02-20T00:00:00Z23m

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