TV series
TV's Best Loved Barrister
Rumpole of the Bailey is a British television series created and written by the British writer and barrister John Mortimer. It stars Leo McKern as Horace Rumpole, an aging London barrister who defends any and all clients, and has been spun off into a series of short stories, novels, and radio programmes.
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Checked Sep 4, 2026
Rumpole of the Bailey is available to stream on Britbox and Britbox (Via Amazon Prime) in United States. Use the direct links below to open the provider.
Rumpole of the Bailey is a British television series created and written by the British writer and barrister John Mortimer. It stars Leo McKern as Horace Rumpole, an aging London barrister who defends any and all clients, and has been spun off into a series of short stories, novels, and radio programmes.
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Episode 1
Rumpole again defends the Timsons, when they are accused of Satanism and their daughter Tracy has been put into local authority care. Hilda is angling for Rumpole to take her to this year's Scales of Justice Ball.
Directed by James Cellan JonesWritten by John MortimerGuest stars Julian Curry, Jonathan Coy, Abigail McKern, Chrissie Cotterill, Paul Bigley, Joanna Van Gyseghem, Denis Lill, Peter Blythe
Episode 2
Rumpole defends a policeman, Superintendent Gannon, who is accused of changing a teenager's statement confessing to murdering a policeman. Meanwhile, Sir Guthrie Featherstone finds himself in hot water - as the Judge in the boy's case, he gave a damning summing-up against him, and now the Lord Chief Justice of England is taking an interest in the matter.
Directed by Robert TronsonWritten by John MortimerGuest stars Julian Curry, Jonathan Coy, Tony Doyle, Tim Wylton, Ronnie Stevens, Rosalind March, David Beames, Peter Bowles
Episode 3
Rumpole flirts with a beautiful violinist and finds himself reluctantly defending her husband, who is charged with murdering the violinist's musical partner.Meanwhile, Claude Erskine-Brown accuses Henry, the clerk at 3 Equity Court, of sexually harassing a secretary.
Directed by Robert TronsonWritten by John MortimerGuest stars Julian Curry, Jonathan Coy, Abigail McKern, Howard Attfield, Eleanor David, Denis Lill, Peter Blythe, James Grout
Episode 4
Rumpole defends a teenager charged with stealing from old people. Curiously, Rumpole's own apartment is promptly broken into and documents are stolen. Erskine-Brown is in the running again to 'take silk' (become a Queen's Counsel) but the word around the Inns of Court is that he does not have enough 'bottom' and will not make the grade. Phyllida launches a campaign in support of Claude, but can she pull it off?
Directed by Martyn FriendWritten by John MortimerGuest stars Julian Curry, Jonathan Coy, Robin Bailey, Abigail McKern, Julian Fellowes, Brian Hall, James McKenna, John Simm
Episode 5
Rumpole and Hilda are invited for the weekend at a cousin's castle - but when they get there they find their relation faces the charge of murdering a travelling woman and is looking for Rumpole to rally round to help him.
Directed by John GorrieWritten by John MortimerGuest stars Abigail McKern, Roger Brierley, Patrick Ryecart, Jo Kendall, John Nettleton, Tony Melody, Faith Brook, Donald Pickering
Episode 6
Hilda persuades Ballard to defend Rumpole when he faces a disciplinary hearing. Rumpole seems to have gone a good deal too far in what he said in Mr Justice Oliphant's court - or did he?
Directed by John GorrieWritten by John MortimerGuest stars Julian Curry, Jonathan Coy, Robin Bailey, Abigail McKern, Richard Vernon, Peter Sallis, Antony Carrick, Peter Bowles
Episode information updated Sep 15, 2026
Leo McKernHorace Rumpole
Jonathan CoyHenry
Marion MathieHilda Rumpole
Peggy Thorpe-BatesHilda Rumpole
Julian CurryClaude Erskine Brown
Robin BaileyMr. Justice Gerald Graves
Richard MurdochUncle Tom
Denys GrahamHoskins
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