On May 15 at 21h00, BBC Prime on DStv presents Byron.

Jonny Lee Miller stars as the charismatic, hedonistic, wildly rebellious and gifted poet Lord Byron, the “mad, bad and dangerous to know” aristocrat who lived fast and died young.

This drama explores contemporary themes such as the cult of celebrity, media manipulation and the bad-boy image of an outsider who wins – yet despises – society’s praise. The first superstar, Byron became the toast of London society literally overnight. He was also a heartbreaker and his many jilted lovers included the infamous Lady Caroline Lamb, who exacted her revenge in collusion with his betrayed wife, Annabella.

Byron’s true love was his half-sister, Augusta, and their scandalously illicit incestuous affair led to his self-imposed exile in Italy, where he met fellow poet Shelley and became embroiled in the Greek struggle for independence from the Turks. It was his involvement in this cause which led to his death, aged only 36, in Greece in 1824.

Byron also features Natasha Little (Augusta), Camilla Power (Lady Caroline Lamb) and Julie Cox (Annabella), with Vanessa Redgrave co-starring as Lady Melbourne.