Introduction

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

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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

A scrap dealer unknowingly participates in a Special Branch sting operation designed to trap a known terrorist, who is killed resisting arrest.

The dealer claims he did not know the goods he was trafficking in included arms and asks Rumpole to defend him. As there is no one able to look after his only son, to whom he is devoted, Rumpole feels an emotional attachment to the case.

Phyllida is also suffering from separation anxiety too as Erskine-Brown wants to send their son Tristan off to a boarding school. Ironically, she is assigned to preside at the trial in her newly appointed position of recorder, a type of criminal judge.

When Ballard threatens to evict Uncle Tom from chambers because of his golfing in the clerks’ office, Rumpole becomes indignant and threatens to resign in support of his colleague when this current case concludes.

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): Roger Bamford.
• 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: 21 December 1988.
• Running Time: 50 minutes.
• Country: UK.
• Language: English.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1apSI-dhSs