[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/chelmsford_123_7.jpg]]

->''In the year 123 AD throughout the known world the Romans were spreading their own particular brand of civilisation. Some places, Britain for example, were proving especially difficult to Romanise, partly because of the weather and partly because of the Britons and their own particular brand of civilisation. But one place above all became synonymous with all that was turbulent, perilous and barbaric. Its very name struck terror into the hearts of decent men...''

A British situation comedy from the late '80s produced by Creator/{{Channel 4}} and written by Jimmy Mulville and Rory [=McGrath=].

In 123 AD the Emperor of Rome (Bill Wallis) appoints Aulus Paulinus (Jimmy Mulville) governor of Britain after Aulus made the mistake of insulting his love, [[BestialityisDepraved Portia]]. To add insult to injury the Emperor then appoints Aulus's brother-in-law [[SlimeBall Grasientus]] (Philip Pope) as the aide-de-camp.

Upon arrival in Britain Aulus must contend with the UsefulNotes/{{British weather}} and the British people, especially the local tribal leader Badvoc (Rory [=McGrath=]) who'll do everything he can to undermine Roman authority and make some money while he's at it.

In 2021, it was announced that the show had been revived for a four-part audio series starring the surviving members of the cast.

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!!Tropes present in ''Chelmsford 123'':

* AllJustADream: First episode of the second series [[spoiler: in the following episode's opening reveal.]]
* BeQuietNudge: Happens to Blag a few times.
* BedSheetGhost: PlayedForLaughs by Wolfbane upon Aulus. [[spoiler: It doesn't work.]]
* BlindMistake: Seems to only occur in the very first episode.
* BritainIsOnlyLondon: Averted. Most of the series is set in Chelmsford, which in RealLife wasn't even a city at the time of production.
* BritishBrevity: Only two series with six episodes in the first and seven episodes in the second.
* {{Catchphrase}}: "They call me Mungo the [placeholder]." He then gives an example as to why he's called that.
* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: Blag.
* CoveredInGunge: In the fifth episode of the first series Badvoc [[spoiler:is kidnapped and, in one scene, is tortured by being stuck in a barrel of...]] are you ready for this? [[spoiler:human faeces. He's totally unfazed.]]
* DeadpanSnarker: Mungo may come across as this.
* DoctorWhomage: The [=TARDIS=] materializes in the background of the first episode with a silhouette of a man who looks like the Fourth Doctor gets out and looks around briefly before getting back in.
* TheDungAges: A little early historically speaking, but the portrayal of Britain certainly comes across as this.
* EmbarrassingNickname: Inverted when it turns out that [[spoiler: Badvoc's]] real name is [[spoiler: Rosemary]].
* IntercontinuityCrossover: In the very first episode there's a brief appearance of [[spoiler: the TARDIS]].
* JacobMarleyWarning: Wolfbane tries to pull this off on Aulus as the 'Ghost of Next Week'. [[spoiler: It fails hilariously.]]
* LongLostRelative: {{Lampshaded}} in one episode where [[spoiler:both Badvoc's and Aulus's embarrassing twin brothers turn up in Chelmsford]].
* TheNoseless: {{Justified|Trope}} in one episode when it turns out [[spoiler: the {{sculptor|s}} can't sculpt noses.]]
* NotWhatItLooksLike: In one episode Aulus catches Badvoc in gathering his tribe, apparently to start a local rebellion. Badvoc explains they're rehearsing for a sporting event. [[spoiler: Subverted, in that it turns out they really were rehearsing for the friendly inter-tribal competition.]]
* TheOtherDarrin: Averted for laughs in one episode when [[spoiler:it looks as though Badvoc's been executed.]]
* PutOnABus: Gargamadua, Badvoc's girlfriend, is only present in the 1st Series... as was Functio (Robert Austin).
* TheQueensLatin: Subverted. The Romans are shown speaking Latin, until they reach Britain where they're compelled to speak the native tongue, which at the time would've been closer to Welsh.
* RepeatAfterMe: Happens to Badvoc in the last episode of the first series when [[spoiler: he's made King as part of the traditions of the Roman holiday of Saturnalia, which he then amends to remain king and one thing and another leads to the following exchange.]]
-->[[spoiler: '''Tutor:''' Amo.]]
-->[[spoiler: '''Badvoc:''' Amo.]]
-->[[spoiler: '''Tutor:''' Amas.]]
-->[[spoiler: '''Badvoc:''' Amas.]]
-->[[spoiler: '''Assassin:''' One move and you're dead.]]
-->[[spoiler: '''Badvoc:''' One move and you're dead.]]
-->[[spoiler: '''Assassin:''' That goes for you, too, King Badvoc.]]
-->[[spoiler: '''Badvoc:''' That goes for you, too, King Badvoc.]]
* RightBehindMe: [[spoiler: In the final episode Aulus is preparing his speech upon becoming Emperor of Rome in the belief that Badvoc's holding him hostage when the real emperor walks in.]] It gets worse when [[spoiler:Badvoc walks in and delivers Aulus's completely unflattering description of the emperor word for word.]]
* ShoutOut: In Mine's a Double it's revealed that Badvoc's parents named all their kids after [[TheHerbs herbs.]]
* ShownTheirWork: The Latin spoken by the Romans is proper Latin complete with correct pronunciation.
* SuicideAsComedy: In one episode [[spoiler:Grasientus nearly hangs himself in despair of his apparent ugliness before a girl servant cheers him up, only for Aulus to grab the stool he was standing on without thinking.]]
* TamperingWithFoodAndDrink: Used in one episode where [[spoiler: Grasientus attempts to poison members of the local British tribe at a dinner party. Since the Romans and Britons suspect each other of attempting to poison the other, {{hilarity ensues}}.]]
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