25 March 2013 (2013-03-25) – 8 December 2022 (2022-12-08)
Plebs is a British sitcom broadcast on ITV2.[1] It was first broadcast in March 2013, and was produced by Tom Basden, Caroline Leddy, Sam Leifer and Teddy Leifer. It stars Tom Rosenthal, Ryan Sampson, Joel Fry (series 1–3), and Jonathan Pointing (from series 4), who play young residents of ancient Rome (plebs were ordinary non-patrician citizens of Rome). The format has been compared to The Inbetweeners, Up Pompeii and Chelmsford 123.[2] The first series, comprising six episodes, was broadcast between 25 March and 22 April 2013. Three subsequent series of eight episodes each were broadcast between 22 September and 3 November 2014, between 4 April and 16 May 2016, and between 9 April and 21 May 2018. A fifth series was commissioned with Rosenthal, Sampson and Pointing all returning.[3] The fifth series started on 30 September 2019, ending on 11 November 2019.[4] On 30 April 2020, it was confirmed the series would end with a feature-length special.[5] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, filming was delayed but eventually completed in May 2022.
The show makes comical use of anachronistically modern parlance and concepts in a historical setting and uses predominantly ska/rocksteady music during all the opening and closing titles and during each episode as background music.
Premise
The show initially follows new arrivals from the provinces Marcus, Stylax, and their slave Grumio, as they deal with daily life in ancient Rome. Marcus and Stylax work in the scriptorium of a grain company with their manager, Flavia, the water-carrier Aurelius, and communications officer Claudius. They live next door to two attractive young British women: Cynthia, an aspiring actress, and her slave Metella, with their ever unscrupulous landlord a constant thorn in their sides.
The third series saw the departure of Cynthia and Metella, and the introduction of Delphine, a young woman from Gaul, who begins a relationship with Marcus.
The fourth series replaces Stylax, who is crushed to death, with a new character, Jason, played by Jonathan Pointing and gives Aurelius a leading role. The four endeavour to run a bar in a renovated public toilet.
Flatmates Marcus and Stylax are pleased when two attractive young British women, Cynthia (a would-be actress) and her slave Metella, move into the flat next door. Marcus offers to show Cynthia around the city, but his attempts to form a relationship with her are ruined when he tries to invite her to an orgy. Meanwhile, Stylax arranges to attend the party with their boss, Flavia, but discovers that he is part of the entertainment.
2
2
"The Gladiator"
Sam Leifer
Sam Leifer & Tom Basden
25 March 2013 (2013-03-25)
0.94
Cynthia has a new gladiator boyfriend Cassius (Danny Dyer). However, she wrongly assumes him to be an actor and the fatal fights to be simulated. He impresses everyone except jealous Marcus, who arranges with their sleazy landlord to have him put up against a formidable opponent from Germania in his next bout. In the meantime, Cynthia breaks up with Cassius when she finds out that he kills people, but Marcus is unable to call off the fight. Cassius is unhappy about his relationship ending and is decapitated by his opponent.
3
3
"The Erotic Vase"
Sam Leifer
Sam Leifer & Tom Basden
1 April 2013 (2013-04-01)
0.80
It is Marcus and Stylax's slave Grumio's birthday and he receives an erotic vase featuring a girl that the boys think looks like Cynthia at a certain angle. Marcus, under pressure from the girls to be nicer to his slave, suggests they swap roles for the day. Grumio takes advantage of the situation by blackmailing Marcus, threatening to tell Cynthia about the vase. Meanwhile, Stylax hangs out with his first cousin Lucretia (Naomi Bentley), who is also his sex buddy. Marcus and his landlord strongly disapprove of the relationship, considering it to be incest, so he ends it.
4
4
"The Herpes Cat"
Sam Leifer
Sam Leifer & Tom Basden
8 April 2013 (2013-04-08)
0.69
To endear himself to Cynthia, Marcus befriends a mangy cat she has rescued from the courtyard, but the cat is accidentally killed. Stylax is suffering from a disturbing itch and visits a sexual health clinic where he falls for an attractive young nurse. Flavia recommends an ointment for his condition. Grumio buys a lottery ticket from the landlord.
5
5
"Bananae"
Sam Leifer
Sam Leifer & Tom Basden
15 April 2013 (2013-04-15)
Under 0.59
Mass immigration from Thrace puts the boys into contact with sexy Thracian lodger Irina and a dazzling yellow exotic fruit, the banana (plural, "bananae"). Meanwhile, Marcus has an unfortunate encounter with an aggressive elderly war veteran (played by Brian Murphy) who is collecting for charity. Irina, far from being the useful addition to the household that Stylax anticipates, has brought along her husband, and yet more Thracian couples turn up, overcrowding the apartment. The bananae catch on and become a craze with Marcus' fellow workers. When Marcus is approached again by the veteran, he fights back and injures him, and has to avoid the veteran's friends who are looking for revenge. Grumio points the old soldiers in the direction of Irina's husband. The Thracians flee Rome, leaving behind a pineapple.
6
6
"Saturnalia"
Sam Leifer
Sam Leifer & Tom Basden
22 April 2013 (2013-04-22)
Under 0.66
It is the festival of Saturnalia and the celebration on the stroke of midnight is the perfect opportunity for Marcus to make a move on Cynthia, but she thinks she is cursed and does not feel like coming out. They think they have struck lucky when Flavia invites them to her party along with Aurelius the water carrier, until all three discover that they are expected to wait on the real guests; to escape in time for the public festivities, they rig the water clock so that Flavia thinks it is already midnight. Meanwhile, Grumio goes on a mission to make sure that sacrificial meat does not go to waste. Befriended by a priest, he thinks his luck is in until he discovers he is being taken to Cyprus for castration.
Series 2 (2014)
Series two began on ITV2 on Monday 22 September 2014 at 10 pm with a series-opener double bill. Rosenthal's father Jim Rosenthal appeared in the first episode as a commentator on a chariot race.[citation needed]
Having won 100 denarii each through Stylax's betting on a chariot race, he and Marcus have very different ideas on how to spend the money. Marcus, naturally, wants to spend it on Cynthia, whilst Stylax prefers a more laddish approach. After being rejected for a date with Cynthia, Marcus asks the next-door neighbour out.
8
2
"The Best Men"
Sam Leifer
Sam Leifer & Tom Basden
22 September 2014 (2014-09-22)
0.87
Surprisingly, Aurelius is getting married. Even more surprisingly, he invites his "best mate" Marcus to be his best man. Reluctant to say the least, Marcus plans a night on the cheap, avoiding the hottest club in town.
9
3
"The Baby"
Sam Leifer
Sam Leifer & Tom Basden
29 September 2014 (2014-09-29)
0.78
Grumio finds an abandoned baby at the bins, which he decides to parent and starts to develop affection towards her despite Marcus wanting her out of the house. Stylax uses it to get closer to a young wet nurse. Marcus doesn't want to see Cynthia's one-woman play.
10
4
"The Patron"
Sam Leifer
Sam Leifer & Tom Basden
6 October 2014 (2014-10-06)
0.74
Marcus is unwilling to pay for the medicine that Grumio needs, as he uses his slave's sickness to get closer to Cynthia. A nobleman (James Fleet) shows an interest in Stylax's charioteering career, but seems too good to be true.
11
5
"The New Slave"
Sam Leifer
Sam Leifer & Tom Basden
13 October 2014 (2014-10-13)
0.84
At an auction, Marcus and Stylax purchase a new slave (Tim Key) who might be a psychopath.
Marcus and Stylax get involved in the campaign of Victor of the Gracchi (Simon Callow), a local politician; Grumio takes up with Victor's opponent
13
7
"The Phallus"
Sam Leifer
Sam Leifer & Tom Basden
27 October 2014 (2014-10-27)
0.77
The boys bump into a former schoolmate, Fabianus (Naz Osmanoglu), who is now a lawyer. Stylax fails to connect with an old flame, Cordelia (Poppy Drayton).
14
8
"The Race"
Sam Leifer
Sam Leifer & Tom Basden
3 November 2014 (2014-11-03)
0.94
Marcus and Stylax need to raise 3,000 denarii to keep the girls from being deported. Grumio discovers that the landlord is in prison
Series 3 (2016)
Series three began on ITV2 on Monday 4 April 2016 at 10 pm, with the broadcast of "The Beasts" and "Justin Junior".
The Games are taking place in the city and the boys are desperate for tickets. Marcus meets Delphine (Bella Dayne), a fiery activist from Gaul who is later revealed to have an interesting past, while Grumio clashes with Landlady (Maureen Lipman), the mother of their missing landlord.
16
2
"Justin Junior"
Sam Leifer
Sam Leifer & Tom Basden
4 April 2016 (2016-04-04)
1.04
Grumio's estranged father returns, prompting a father-son reconciliation.
17
3
"The Vestal"
Sam Leifer
Sam Leifer & Tom Basden
11 April 2016 (2016-04-11)
1.07
Marcus' parents are staying with the boys, prompting Marcus to attempt to hide Delphine from them. Stylax becomes obsessed with a Vestal Virgin. Grumio begins a business endeavour.
18
4
"The Cupid"
Sam Leifer
Sam Leifer & Tom Basden
18 April 2016 (2016-04-18)
1.11
After being accused of being uncultured by Delphine, the boys take their first steps into the theatre where Grumio wins the role of Cupid.
19
5
"The Crime Wave"
Sam Leifer
Sam Leifer & Tom Basden
25 April 2016 (2016-04-25)
0.91
Marcus, Stylax and Delphine take a self-defence course; Grumio begins dating a cake maker.
20
6
"Jugball"
Sam Leifer
Sam Leifer & Tom Basden
2 May 2016 (2016-05-02)
1.03
The son "Ramases" (Nathan Clarke) of the owner of the office where Marcus and Stylax work visits on work experience; before long Flavia is fired and Marcus finds himself in charge. Stylax invents a new ball game.
21
7
"The New Master"
Sam Leifer
Matt Morgan
9 May 2016 (2016-05-09)
1.15
Grumio is sent to work for another master after injuring his slave, where he then prompts a rebellion. Marcus wants Stylax and Delphine to get on better and gets more than he bargained for.
When a Weatherist "Strabo" (David Bamber) moves in next door and predicts an earthquake, Marcus and Stylax use the opportunity to improve their love lives. Grumio also plans to take advantage of the impending quake when he is denied a dish of curry.
Series 4 (2018)
Series four began filming in September 2017.[8][9] The first two episodes aired on 9 April 2018 on ITV2.[10]
Stylax is crushed by a slab and unemployed Marcus tries to blackmail builder Crassus (Robert Lindsay) for compensation, but ends up serving his evictions. Aurelius moves in as flatmate while Grumio and ladies' man Jason are in the doghouse. They later burgle Crassus' home for valuable art.
24
2
"The Critic"
Sam Leifer
Sam Leifer & Tom Basden
9 April 2018 (2018-04-09)
1.06
Marcus spends his savings to open the Crown and Toga pub, and agrees to Grumio's avant-garde menu to appease food critic Athena (Annette Badland). They later forge an unprecedented review and enjoy brief popularity. Meanwhile, Jason tries to connect with the waitresses he hires.
Aurelius is running in a charity marathon and Jason sabotages him to win a bet. Grumio is mistaken for being mentally disadvantaged and Marcus tries to scam money through a charitable foundation, but Grumio soon takes advantage.
Marcus begins a relationship with stand-up comedian Minerva (Aisling Bea) but becomes insecure when she reflects on their relationship at pub shows. Jason, Aurelius and Grumio start a house band.
Marcus receives mixed signals when Gloria asks him out for dinner on Lupercalia. Jason tries to break up couples for rebound sex, while Grumio accidentally swallows a customer's engagement ring.
Threatened with liquidation for the bar's tax debt, Marcus woos a Jewess to do their accounting. Jason takes a barber's tab in hair styling. And Grumio attempts to end their money troubles through snail racing.
The Crown and Toga lose business to a Germanian pub, and try to steal their recipe for beer. Meanwhile, Marcus runs afoul of an incompetent fire brigade.
Series 5 (2019)
No. overall
No. in series
Title
Directed by
Written by
Original air date
UK viewers (millions)
31
1
"The Vineyard"
Sam Leifer
Sam Leifer & Tom Basden
30 September 2019 (2019-09-30)
N/A
The boys set off on a wine-buying trip to Tuscany, but when their cart has a collision on the road they are forced to pull in to a nearby village.
32
2
"The Paedos"
Sam Leifer
Sam Leifer & Tom Basden
30 September 2019 (2019-09-30)
N/A
Marcus offers to tutor Gloria's teenage son Barney, while Grumio is mistaken for a schoolboy and soon finds himself recruited into the under-14s boxing team.
33
3
"The Banquet"
Sam Leifer
Sam Leifer & Tom Basden
7 October 2019 (2019-10-07)
N/A
The boys gatecrash a posh banquet having received an invitation by mistake. Once there, Marcus attempts to win favour with their host Senator Varus (David Calder), while Jason seduces bored aristocrat Rufina (Amanda Holden). Banished to eat with the other slaves, Grumio overhears what he thinks might be a poison plot.
34
4
"The Grumbrella"
Sam Leifer
Sam Leifer & Tom Basden
14 October 2019 (2019-10-14)
N/A
There's a heatwave in Rome and Marcus has invested in an exciting new gimmick for the bar – ice. Grumio develops an innovation of his own in the form of a hat-parasol hybrid, which attracts the attention of wealthy entrepreneur Severus (Phil Davis). Jason and Aurelius both join male escort agency the Knights of Eros.
35
5
"The Hooligans"
Sam Leifer
Sam Leifer & Tom Basden
21 October 2019 (2019-10-21)
N/A
The boys attempt to infiltrate a local firm of chariot hooligans in order to get some big drinkers into the bar.
36
6
"The Dig"
Sam Leifer
Sam Leifer & Tom Basden
28 October 2019 (2019-10-28)
N/A
The boys begin an archaeological dig in their bar after Grumio unearths an old brooch while sitting on the toilet. They try to keep their activity a secret but others cotton on and when a professor of archaeology, Daedalus Greco (Tony Robinson) goes missing, the boys are brought in for questioning as they paid him a recent visit.
37
7
"The New Flat"
Sam Leifer
Sam Leifer & Tom Basden
4 November 2019 (2019-11-04)
N/A
The boys face uncertainty when their landlord evicts them without notice from their flat. Marcus hopes his parents, who are visiting for the weekend, will help him onto the property ladder, but his dad has other plans for their savings. Meanwhile, Jason's smooth-talking lands him a job as an estate agent.
38
8
"The Wedding"
Sam Leifer
Sam Leifer & Tom Basden
11 November 2019 (2019-11-11)
N/A
Jason's brother Darius (Kevin Bishop) is getting married and Marcus desperately wants to hire out the Crown and Toga for the occasion, while Grumio offers his services as wedding planner. But their plans are threatened when they find out that Darius is a serial jilter. Elsewhere, Marcus clashes with their lazy postman.
Hoping to win respect, romance and discounts at participating restaurants, the boys sign up to the army during peace time but when war’s declared they’re sent to fight on the front line for a cause they don’t believe in. Unsurprisingly they won't return as conquering heroes or cover themselves in glory.[17]
^Excludes viewership prior to linear broadcast through ITVX and any on non-TV devices.
Plebs premiered in Australia on 8 January 2015 on ABC2[24] and is available for streaming on ABC iview.
Plebs is available to stream in the USA on Freevee.[25]
Awards
The show has been nominated for and won several awards throughout its run, with two notable wins being the Royal Television Society Award for Best Scripted Comedy in 2014, and the award for Best New Comedy Programme at the British Comedy Awards in 2013.
At the Royal Television Society Awards in 2014, nominations also went to Sam Leifer and Tom Basden for Best Comedy Writing, and Ryan Sampson for Best Comedy Performance. In 2013, Oli Julian was nominated for an RTS Craft and Design Award for Best Music and Original Title Music.
In 2014, Doon Mackichan was nominated for Best Female Performance in a Comedy Role at the British Academy Television Awards (BAFTAs), for her role as Flavia in Plebs. Sam Leifer and Teddy Leifer of Rise Films were also nominated for the Breakthrough Talent Award at the British Academy Television Craft Awards that year.
In 2016, the show received nominations for Best Comedy Series at the TV Choice Awards and for Best TV Situation Comedy at the Writers' Guild of Great Britain Awards. Series 4 of Plebs was nominated for Best Sitcom at the 2019 Rose d'Or Awards.
