Introduction

Rumpole of the Bailey is a British television series created and written by the British writer and barrister John Mortimer.

• 

• 

It starred Leo McKern as Horace Rumpole, an elderly London barrister who defended a broad variety of clients, often underdogs.

The TV series led to the stories being presented in other media including books and radio.

The “Bailey” of the title is a reference to the Central Criminal Court, the “Old Bailey”.

Outline

Rumpole finds himself on a British army base in Germany defending a trooper who is charged with murdering his sergeant who was found dead outside a local bar and dressed as a woman.

He is welcomed with open arms by the regiment’s senior officers who expect the trooper to be found innocent, thus preserving the honour of the regiment.

He finds any number of possible solutions to the crime and an overly eager legal officer.

Rumpole also finds himself before his old Chambers-mate George Frobisher, now a judge in the military justice system.

Rumpole of the Bailey Episodes

You can find a full index of Rumpole of the Bailey here.

Production & Filming Details

• Creator(s): John Mortimer.
• Director(s): Martyn Friend.
• Producer(s): Jacqueline Davis.
• Writer(s): John Mortimer.
• Music: Joseph Horovitz.
• Editor(s): Ray Ball.
• Production: Thames Television.
• Distributor(s): Fremantle Media International and ITV.
• Release Date: 16 February 1987.
• Running Time: 50 minutes.
• Country: UK.
• Language: English.