Up Pompeii!
From Conservapedia
Up Pompeii! was a British comedy television series that ran between 1969 and 1970, starring comedian Frankie Howerd in the lead role as the slave Lurcio (pronounced Lurk-io).
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Premise
The series took place in pre-eruption Pompeii, and followed the comic misadventures of the slave Lurcio and his promiscuous but empty-headed masters, including Senator Ludicrous Sextus (played by Wallas Eaton in the first series and by Max Adrian in the second), his wife Ammonia (Elizabeth Larner) and their neurotic son Nausius (Kerry Gardner). Each episode would pose a comic situation which Lurcio, because of his cunning, would be forced to resolve.
The series lasted for a total of 14 episodes, split into two series of 7 episodes each.
Film adaptation
A film adaptation (also called Up Pompeii!) of the series appeared in 1971, which was set during the actual eruption that destroyed Pompeii, yet also featured Emperor Nero (who had actually committed suicide ten years prior to the destruction of Pompeii).
Only Howerd returned from the original cast for the film, with new actors being used for the characters. Unlike the television series, however, the film has been repeated regularly on television and has been released on both VHS and DVD continuously.[1]
Further Up Pompeii!
Further Up Pompeii! is the name given to two extra-length specials for the original Up Pompeii! television series.
The first of these specials was released in 1975, and ran for 45 minutes, with much of the original cast reprising their roles from the television series.[2]
The second special - also called Further Up Pompeii! - was released in 1991, and ran for 40 minutes. This special was set during the reign of Claudius, and only featured Lurcio from the original cast of characters. This special had raised hopes for a revival of the original series, but Howerd's sudden death in 1992 put an end to such plans.[3]
Other works
Another television series, Whoops Baghdad!, was created as a follow-up to the original Up Pompeii! television series, and featured some of same cast members.
Two spin-off films were made to accompany the film adaptation of Up Pompeii!, these being Up the Chastity Belt and Up the Front.
