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 Jul 22, 2026
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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
A live mouse is served to Erskine-Brown in a London restaurant, and Rumpole finds himself defending the self-important chef-restaurateur on the environmental health charges which follow. At home, Hilda takes up with her Canadian cousin, Jean-Pierre O'Higgins, and loses all interest in Rumpole.
Directed by Jim GoddardWritten by John MortimerGuest stars James Maxwell, Frank Mills, T. P. McKenna, John Bluthal, Terence Conoley
Episode 2
Before Mr Justice Guthrie Featherstone, Rumpole defends a trade unionist on charges of recklessly causing the death of a truck-driver who was crossing a union picket-line. Guthrie is thinking about a strike of his own, to hit back at new rights of audience for mere solicitors in court. Meanwhile, chez Rumpole, Hilda declares she is going on strike herself.
Written by John MortimerGuest stars Preston Lockwood, Bryan Pringle, Ronnie Stevens, Gordon Gostelow, Peter Bowles, Joanna Van Gyseghem
Episode 3
Rumpole defends a radical lecturer accused of murdering an unpopular university official - but his client refuses to give critical information in his own defence.Hilda takes offense, after Rumpole gives Ballard and Erskine-Brown advice on the keeping of secrets from their lady wives.
Written by John MortimerGuest stars Maurice Roëves, Christopher Benjamin, Angus Lennie, Russell Porter, Andrew Robertson
Episode 4
Without marked enthusiasm, Rumpole takes Hilda on a cruising holiday. He is appalled to learn that a High Court judge, Mr Justice Graves, is also on board, and Rumpole takes cover - but skullduggery aimed at the missing wife of a politician brings him back to the surface.
Directed by Michael SimpsonWritten by John MortimerGuest stars Julian Holloway, Benjamin Whitrow, Ramsay Gilderdale, Lorelei King, David Quilter
Episode 5
Rumpole defends his own doctor, charged with sexually molesting a woman patient - and Rumpole's friend Phyllida is counsel for the prosecution.Claude Erskine-Brown is in hot water when Phyllida comes to believe he is advertising for women friends in an under-the-counter magazine.
Directed by Robert TronsonWritten by John MortimerGuest stars Pauline Yates, Marcia Ashton, Ray Marioni, Saeed Jaffrey, Gary Waldhorn, Graham Crowden, Gawn Grainger
Episode 6
Rumpole agrees to act for the family of a dead girl who are bringing a private prosecution for murder against a policeman. Did a killer receive preferential treatment from his colleagues on the Force, who knew he was guilty but decided not to charge him?Ballard asks Rumpole to prosecute Erskine-Brown, who is accused of stealing work from a colleague in chambers by changing the names on a brief.Mysteriously, Ballard spends a lot of time at a party hiding a bandaged fingertip...
Directed by Robert TronsonWritten by John MortimerGuest stars Margaret Whiting, Alun Lewis, Tyler Butterworth, Frank Mills, Rowena Cooper, James Grout, Geoffrey Chater
Episode information updated Jul 24, 2026
Leo McKernHorace Rumpole
Robin BaileyMr. Justice Gerald Graves
Richard MurdochUncle Tom
Jonathan CoyHenry
Denys GrahamHoskins
Abigail McKernLiz Probert
Marion MathieHilda Rumpole
Peggy Thorpe-BatesHilda Rumpole
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