The mini-series follows the history of the Roman Empire, from approximately the death of Marcellus (24/23 BC) to Claudius' own death in 54 AD. As Claudius narrates his life, we witness Augustus' attempts to find an heir, often foiled by his wife Livia who wants her son Tiberius to become emperor. We also see the conspiracy of Sejanus, the infamous reign of Caligula, and Claudius' own troubled period of rule.
10 years after Martin Shaw turned the beloved Inspector Gently novels into a hit BBC One TV series, filming has begun on two final feature-length episodes. Back in action one last time will be Shaw as the eponymous inspector, who is tested like never before just as he winds down his career. In the first of two films - Gently Liberated - the inspector and his trusted allies Bacchus (Lee Ingleby) and Coles (Lisa McGrillis) are brought in to investigate a possible "miscarriage of justice". However, their final case in Gently and the New Age has the Met's new Special Investigations Squad boss Lister bringing in the inspector to investigate high levels of corruption within the force. Both of these mini-movies will be set in 1970, as the women's liberation movement and the rise of the Conservative Party bring clashing values to Britain.
青木文（あや）（石田ゆり子）は４５歳。６年前、夫が上京中に無差別殺人事件に巻きこまれ、殺されてしまった。事件直後に妊娠が判明した息子も今は５歳。夫と始めた海辺のドライブインを、女手一つで細々と続けている。自分はもう幸せを取り戻すことはできないのだと、乾いた諦めの中に生きてきた文。事件に関わった刑事・佐々岡滋（原田泰造）が文と息子を気にかけて足繁く訪ねてくるが、女心はときめかない。そんなある日、店に詰めかけるトラックドライバー達の中に、物静かで端正な雰囲気の男・長部瞭司（おさべ・りょうじ）（井浦新）がいた。耳は聞こえるが口がきけないらしく、筆談用のメモ帳を持ち歩いている。世捨て人のようなその佇まいは、眠っていた文の女心を大きく揺さぶる。瞭司もまた、物憂げな文の姿に心を奪われていく。だが、二人をつないでいたのは、皮肉な運命の糸だった。６年前、エリート弁護士の職も何もかも捨てた瞭司こそ、文の夫を殺した張本人だったのだ……。
