Home / Series / BBC Television Shakespeare / Aired Order / Season 5 / Episode 1

King Lear

When England's ageing King Lear renounces his throne to divide his kingdom among his three daughters, treachery, madness and murder soon follow. After banishing Cordelia, his most loyal daughter, Lear is betrayed and cast out by her elder sisters Regan and Goneril. Meanwhile, evil brews at the Gloucester castle as Edgar falls victim to his brother's deception. As battle lines are drawn and backs are stabbed, Lear rages against a fearsome storm. Can a man undo his wrongs? Will Cordelia be saved? Or will the wheels of fate crush all in its way?

English
  • Originally Aired September 19, 1982
  • Runtime 185 minutes
  • Network BBC Two
  • On Other Sites IMDB
  • Created May 25, 2015 by
    Administrator admin
  • Modified July 27, 2025 by
    GreatReset
Name Type Role
William Shakespeare Writer
Michael Hordern Guest Star
Jonathan Miller Director