Rhodes

Rhodes is a 10 hour serial made on a £10 million budget for the BBC and commenced its 8 part broadcast on 15th September 1996, 8.30pm on BBC1.

This epic serial charts the career of Cecil Rhodes, the British imperialist who went to Central Africa at 17 years old expecting to live for only 6 months and by the time he was 30 years old was the wealthest man in the Western world, founding the de Beers diamond empire and with another fortune in gold. He is the man behind the Oxford University Rhodes scholars (a certain Mr. Clinton was one of these) and founded and gave his name to Rhodesia. He died rather young (49) of the weak heart that he expected would kill him in his teens.

Mind you, he wasn't a terrible nice bloke and has been rather forgotten in history now that we are all so PC. He was the man responsible for apartheid and had rather unfortunate ideas about white supremacy. He seized (stole?) the natural wealth of South Africa and was really only interested in expanding the British Empire. But then again he was just a man of his era and if he hadn't done it someone else would have.
Dr Leander Starr Jameson was the brilliant Scottish surgeon-turned-soldier who became his top henchman and the right-hand man who did his dirty work for him. He lead a pioneer army into victorious battle against the Matabele king, Lobengula, though in the end overstretched himself with a disasterous attack on the Boers in Johannesburg.

The serial stars Martin Shaw (Doyle in "The Professionals") as Rhodes and Neil as Jameson. The thing was shot in South Africa in the latter months of 1995. The part gave Neil the opportunity to do a costume drama and ride around on horses (a new skill he acquired on location) sporting a dustcoat and a huge moustache. Jameson was a short balding Zulu-speaking Scot, but at least in this version we are spared the sight of Neil in a `bald' wig, though the facial hair is a bit disturbing.

Women do not feature highly in the Rhodes story (he was said to be homosexual or asexual) and this must be the only part that hasn't required Neil to get his kit off. The only woman in the cast is Francis Barber, an ex-lover of Neils. They are said to have achieved the impossible by working together successfully and amicably. Probably because they don't share any scenes and met on set rarely.

Spin Off Merchandise

There are a number of spin off books from the series:
  • Rhodes by Antony Thomas, published by BBC Books on 3rd October, price 7.99
  • The Making of Rhodes by Fliss Coombes, published by BBC Books on 3rd October, price 9.99
  • A Viewer's Guide, an illustrated booklet on the series available price 4.95 incl. P&P from: Cecil Rhodes Viewer's Guide, PO Box 7, London W5 2GQ. Cheques payable to BBC Education.
  • The 3-tape video is now available from all good retailers, BBCV5933
  • BBC Education has a schools resource pack.

    Principal Cast

    Cecil Rhodes Martin Shaw
    Cecil Rhodes as a young man Joe Shaw
    Dr Jameson Neil Pearson
    Barney Barnato Ken Stott
    Princess Catherine Radziwill Frances Barber

    Production Details

    Production Company Zenith Productions Ltd.
    Producer Charles Salmon
    Writer Anthony Thomas
    Director David Drury
    Crew: DOP Alec Curtis, Editor Ian Farr, Production Designer Maurice Cain, Hair and Make-Up Roseann Samuel, Costume Designer Lyn Avery.
    Shot on location in South Africa from: 29th May to 16th November.

    Neil doesn't appear at all in Episode 1, briefly in 2 and barely in 3. As Rhodes is a bit on the slow side skip 1 and 3 if you like! He gets to speak his first Zulu in episode 4. Martin Shaw is sooooo hammy it becomes pretty unbearable when he is on. Personal view that, obviously.

    Episode Guide

    1. "All The World's Diamonds" - 15 Sept 96
    2. "All The World's Gold" - 22 Sept 96
    3. "The Place of The Killing" - 29 Sept 96
    4. "The Price of My Blood" - 6 Oct 96
    5. "The Chameleon and the Fly" - 13 Oct 96
    6. "Land, Gold and Loot" - 20 Oct 96
    7. "Upsetting the Apple Cart" - 27 Oct 96
    8. "The Reckoning" - 3 Nov 96
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    This is maintained by Carole Goble
    Email any corrections or information to carole@cs.man.ac.uk.
    Last updated 31st October 1996