The BBC Television Shakespeare · S1E27 — The Tragedy of Richard III
Season 1 episodes
1. Romeo & JulietDec 3, 1978
2. King Richard the SecondDec 10, 1978
3. As You Like ItDec 17, 1978
4. Julius CaesarFeb 11, 1979
5. Measure for MeasureFeb 18, 1979
6. The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the EightFeb 25, 1979
7. The First Part of King Henry the Fourth with the Life and Death of Henry Surnamed HotspurDec 9, 1979
8. The Second Part of King Henry the Fourth containing his Death: and the Coronation of King Henry the FiftDec 16, 1979
9. The Life of Henry the FifthDec 23, 1979
10. Twelfth NightJan 6, 1980
11. The TempestFeb 27, 1980
12. Hamlet, Prince of DenmarkMay 25, 1980
13. The Taming of the ShrewOct 23, 1980
14. The Merchant of VeniceDec 17, 1980
15. All's Well That Ends WellJan 4, 1981
16. The Winter's TaleFeb 8, 1981
17. Timon of AthensApr 16, 1981
18. Antony and CleopatraMay 8, 1981
19. OthelloOct 4, 1981
20. Troilus and CressidaNov 7, 1981
21. A Midsummer Night's DreamDec 13, 1981
22. King LearSep 19, 1982
23. The Merry Wives of WindsorDec 28, 1982
24. The First Part of Henry the SixthJan 2, 1983
25. The Second Part of Henry the SixthJan 9, 1983
26. The Third Part of Henry the SixthJan 16, 1983
27. The Tragedy of Richard IIIJan 23, 1983
28. CymbelineJul 10, 1983
29. MacbethNov 5, 1983
30. The Comedy of ErrorsDec 24, 1983
31. The Two Gentlemen of VeronaDec 27, 1983
32. The Tragedy of CoriolanusApr 21, 1984
33. The Life & Death of King JohnNov 24, 1984
34. Pericles, Prince of TyreDec 8, 1984
35. Much Ado About NothingDec 22, 1984
36. Love's Labour's LostJan 5, 1985
37. Titus AndronicusApr 27, 1985Synopsis
Richard Duke of Gloucester, youngest brother of King Edward IV, will stop at nothing to get the crown. He first convinces the ailing King that the Duke of Clarence, his elder brother, is a threat to the lives of Edward's two young sons. Edward has him imprisoned in the Tower of London; killers in Richard's pay then drown Clarence in a barrel of wine. When news of Clarence's death reaches the King, the subsequent grief and remorse bring about his death. Richard is made Lord Protector, with power to rule England while his nephew (now King Edward V) is still a minor. Before the young king's coronation he has his two nephews conveyed to the Tower, ostensibly for their safekeeping. Richard's accomplice, the Duke of Buckingham, then declares the two boys illegitimate and offers Richard the crown, which after a show of reticence he accepts. After Richard's coronation, he and Buckingham have a falling-out over whether or not to assassinate the two children.
