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.
Streaming, rental and purchase options
Checked Jul 22, 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.
Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.
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 John Bardon, Chrissie Cotterill, Joanna David, Paul Bigley, Joanna Van Gyseghem
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 Tony Doyle, Tim Wylton, Ronnie Stevens, Rosalind March, David Beames, Peter Bowles, Joanna Van Gyseghem
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 Howard Attfield, Eleanor David
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?
Written by John MortimerGuest stars Julian Fellowes, Brian Hall, James McKenna, John Simm, Julian Glover
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 Roger Brierley, Patrick Ryecart, Jo Kendall, John Nettleton, Tony Melody, Faith Brook, Donald Pickering, Charles Edwards
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 GorrieGuest stars Richard Vernon, Peter Sallis, James Grout, Antony Carrick, Peter Bowles, Joanna Van Gyseghem
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
ITV1United KingdomMore shows like Rumpole of the Bailey.
