PREMIERES TUESDAY, APRIL 2 at 8:00PM

JULIUS CAESAR: THE MAKING OF A DICTATOR is a new three-part BBC-produced historical docudrama that explores how the nearly five-centuries-old Roman democracy was overthrown in just 16 years. The story of a brazen power grab that saw Julius Caesar consolidate the vast Roman Republic in his own hands, the series is told through the eyes of an expert cast of British and American historians, scholars, and political operatives (including a former head of MI5). Illustrated with artful dramatic moments and packed with contemporary resonances, JULIUS CAESAR has all the elements of the best political thrillers, with complex power dynamics playing out for enormous stakes.

Tuesday night's premiere episode, "High Priest" traces Caesar’s ambitious rise as he seeks to become Consul, the highest political position in Rome. He forms dangerous alliances and bends the rules of the Republic, courting the popular vote, exploiting division, and using bribery and intimidation to get his own way. But his unconventional approach to politics and disregard for established customs sets him at odds with the conservative elite within the Senate. And one man — Cato — is determined to bring him down.