Rhodes

1996•45m

Martin Shaw stars as Cecil Rhodes, the man whose controversial career included the creation of de Beers, the addition of nearly one million square miles to the Britain's African Empire, and had given his name to a country (Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe) larger than most of Europe. Martin Shaw's son plays the younger Rhodes and other cast members include Neil Pearson, Frances Barber and Ken Stott.

Seasons

8 Episodes • Premiered 1996

1. All the World's Diamonds

Seventeen years old Cecil Rhodes joins his brother in the rush for diamonds in southern Africa, where he outwits his fellow prospectors, reorganizes the workforce and forms a breath-taking vision to extend the British Empire from the Cape to Cairo.

2. All the World's Gold

Rhodes invites a young clerk to oversee his business interests while he takes his seat in the Cape parliament.

3. The Place of the Killing

Rhodes outwits his greatest rival, Barney Barnato, with a brilliant scheme.

4. The Price of My Blood

Has Rhodes's scheme to outwit Lobengula backfired?

5. The Chameleon and the Fly

Determined to expand north in search of gold, Rhodes orders his pioneer column, a private army, to enter Mashonaland.

6. Land, Gold and Loot

Provoked beyond endurance by Dr. Jameson, Lobengula finally wages war on Rhodes's private army.

7. Upsetting the Apple Cart

Rhodes conspires against Kruger and the Boers. Meanwhile, trouble is brewing in Rhodesia and Princess Radziwill continues to gather proof of Rhodes's past crimes.

8. The Reckoning

Rhodes has to battle against his two greatest enemies - his health, which is failing fast, and Princess Radziwill, who is determined to hound him to the last.