Rumpole of the Bailey

Infobox Television
show_name = Rumpole of the Bailey


caption = Leo McKern as Horace Rumpole in the 1983 episode "Rumpole and the Old Boy Net"
genre = Drama
creator = John Mortimer
starring = Leo McKern
theme_music_composer = Joseph Horovitz
country = UK
language = English
num_seasons = 7
num_episodes = 44
runtime = c. 50 minute episodes
network = BBC (play)
ITV
first_aired = December 17, 1975
last_aired = December 3, 1992
imdb_id = 078680
tv_com_id = 2123

"Rumpole of the Bailey" is a British television series created and written by British writer and barrister Sir John Mortimer, QC and starring Leo McKern as Horace Rumpole, an aging London barrister who defends any and all clients. It has been spun off into a series of short stories, novels, and radio programmes.

Horace Rumpole

While certain biographical details are slightly different in the original TV series and the subsequent book series, Horace Rumpole has a number of definite character traits that are constant. First and foremost, Rumpole loves the courtroom. Despite attempts by his friends and family to get him to move on to a more respectable position for his age, such as a QC or a Circuit Judge (referred to as Queer Customers and Circus Judges by Rumpole), he only enjoys the simple pleasure of defending his clients at The Old Bailey, London's central criminal court. A devotee of Arthur Quiller-Couch's "Oxford Book of English Verse", he often quotes Wordsworth and secretly calls his wife Hilda "She Who Must Be Obeyed" (SWMBO), a reference to the novel "She" by H. Rider Haggard.cite web
author = Sharpe, Brenda J.
url = http://www.wmbriggs.com/mortimer/rfaq.txt
title = The Rumpolean FAQ
accessdate = 2007-04-16
year = 2002]

His skill at defending his clients is legendary among the criminal classes. The Timson clan of "minor villains" (primarily thieves) regularly rely on Rumpole to get them out of their latest bit of trouble with the law. Rumpole is proud of his successful handling of the Penge Bungalow Murders "alone and without a leader" (that is, as a "junior" barrister without a QC) early in his career and of his extensive knowledge of bloodstains and typewriters. Cross-examination is one of his favourite activities and he disdains barristers who lack either the skill or courage to ask the right questions. His courtroom zeal gets him into trouble from time to time. More than once, his investigations reveal more than his client wants him to know. Rumpole's most chancy encounters stem from arguing with judges, particularly those who seem to believe that being on trial implies guilt or that the police are infallible.

Rumpole enjoys smoking inexpensive cigars (cheroots), drinking cheap red wine, and indulging in a diet of fried foods, overboiled vegetables, cheese sandwiches, and steak and kidney pudding. On a daily basis he visits "Pommeroy's", a wine bar located on Fleet Street within walking distance of both the Old Bailey and his law office at Equity Court, and at which he contributes regularly to an ever-increasing bar tab by purchasing glasses of red wine of a questionable quality, to which he refers as either "Cooking Claret", "Pommeroy's Plonk", "Pommeroy's Very Ordinary", "Chateau Thames Embankment", or "Chateau Fleet Street". His cigar smoking is often the subject of debate within his chambers. His peers sometimes criticise his attire, noting his old hat, imperfectly aligned clothes, cigar ash trailing down his waistcoat and faded barrister's wig, "bought second hand from a former Chief Justice of Tonga" (or the Windward Islands—Rumpole is occasionally an unreliable narrator).

Despite his affection for the criminal classes, Rumpole's character is marked by a firm set of ethics. He is a staunch believer in the presumption of innocence, the "Golden Thread of British Justice". Accordingly, Rumpole's credo is "I never plead guilty", although he has qualified that credo by stating on several occasions that he is morally bound to enter a guilty plea if he knows for a fact that the defendant is actually guilty of the crime committed. However, if there is any doubt whatsoever in Rumpole's mind about the actual facts surrounding the commission of the crime, even if the defendant has personally confessed to the deed, Rumpole feels equally honour-bound to enter a plea of "not guilty" and offer the best defense possible. Rumpole's "never plead guilty" credo also prevents him from making deals that involve pleading guilty to lesser charges.

Rumpole also refuses to prosecute, feeling it more necessary to defend the accused than to work to imprison them. (There was one exception where Rumpole took on a private prosecution, working for a private citizen rather than for the crown, but he proved that the defendant was innocent and then reaffirmed, "from now on, Rumpole only defends").

Biographical information

Television

In the television series, where Rumpole first appeared, there is some consistency with regard to Rumpole's backstory. While his exact age is never revealed, certain dates that have been mentioned are suggestive: he bought his barrister's wig in 1932; first appeared in court in 1937; first met Hilda on August 14, 1938; served in the RAF Ground Staff in WWII; and won the Penge Bungalow Murder case in 1947. The series itself takes place between 1967 and 1992, when Rumpole is getting on in years. All this would seem to indicate that Rumpole was born sometime between, say, 1910 and 1915, although Leo McKern, the actor who played Rumpole, was born in 1920.

Books

Within the context of the books, things are harder to pin down. He mentions buying his wig in 1932, and another time to proposing to Hilda in 1938, and is 67 at the publishing of the first book in 1978. As well, in "Rumpole and the Fascist Beast", it is mentioned that Rumpole was born some time before the outbreak of World War I. These last two pieces of info would indicate a birth year of 1911, although later books would seem to contradict this. "Rumpole and the Primrose Path", for instance, appeared in 2003 and was set in the present day -- however Rumpole was not 92, but somewhere in his seventies. Nonetheless, when in "Rumpole and the Primrose Path", Erskine-Brown asks Rumpole what he sings to himself when he's alone, Rumpole replies "a ballad of the war years".

In general, in the book series, it would seem that Rumpole has been frozen at an age of around 70 years old for the duration of the series, and past events in his life have been retconned in order to fit the time-frame of each specific story. Thus, despite an early story indicating he proposed to Hilda in 1938, in most of his reminiscences it appears that he neither became a barrister nor met Hilda until after the Second World War ended in 1945. "Rumpole and the Penge Bungalow Murders", containing his first unled case and his engagement to Hilda, takes place in the early 1950s. In the story "Rumpole and the Reign of Terror", he was still practising in 2006.

Rumpole attended a minor public school and studied law at either Keble College or the fictional "St Joseph's College", Oxford, coming away with "a dubious Fourth". He would not be eligible to be called to the bar in England today, as a Lower Second is the minimum degree requirement.

Rumpole's family

Apart from the legal drama, Rumpole also has to deal with his relationships with family and friends. His wife Hilda was proud of her daddy (as she calls him), C.H. Wystan, who was Rumpole's head of chambers, and pushes for Rumpole to achieve more: head of chambers, QC, judge.cite web
author = Angelini, Sergio
url = http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/1205794/
title = Rumpole of the Bailey (1978-83, 87-92)
work = Screenonline
accessdate = 2007-04-16] The Rumpoles reside in a cavernous, underheated mansion flat at 25B Froxbury Court (sometimes called Froxbury Mansions), Gloucester Road, London.

Rumpole raises tensions with his American daughter-in-law Erica because of their differing views (such as her disapproval of him cross-examining a rape "victim" whom he believed to be lying).cite episode
series = Rumpole of the Bailey
title = Rumpole and the Honourable Member
credits = Directed by Graham Evans, written by John Mortimer
airdate = 1978-04-17] His associates' dynamic social positions contrast with his relatively static one, which causes feelings between him and the others to shift over time.

Rumpole retired for a short period of time, moving to Florida to be near his son Nick, a sociology professor and now department head at the University of Miami.cite video
year = 1980
title = Rumpole's Return
medium = Television production
publisher = Thames Television]

Production

Origins: Play for Today

The origins of "Rumpole of the Bailey" lie in “Infidelity Took Place”, a "Wednesday Play" written by John Mortimer and broadcast by the BBC on 18 May 1968. [Shubik, "Play for Today", p. 101-102.] This satirical play – a comment on newly enacted English divorce laws – told the story of a happily married couple who decide to get divorced to take advantage of the more beneficial tax situation they would enjoy were they legally separated. The play features a character, Leonard Hoskins (played by John Nettleton), a divorce lawyer with a domineering mother, who can be seen as an early prototype of Horace Rumpole.Shubik, "Play for Today", p. 177.] In the mid nineteen-seventies, Mortimer approached "Play for Today" producer Irene Shubik, who had overseen “Infidelity Took Place”, with a new idea for a play, titled “My Darling Prince, Peter Kropotkin”, that centred around a barrister called Horace Rumbold. Rumbold would have a particular interest in nineteenth-century anarchists, especially the Russian Peter Kropotkin from whom the title of the play was drawn. The character's name was later changed to Horace Rumpole when it was discovered that there was a real barrister called Horace Rumbold.Shubik, "Play for Today", p. 178.] In an early synopsis of the character, Mortimer suggested that part of the reason for the breakdown of Rumpole's marriage was a “tendency to prefer young men”. The title of the play was briefly changed to “Jolly Old Jean Jacques Rousseau” before settling on the less esoteric “Rumpole of the Bailey”.

Mortimer was keen on Michael Hordern for the role of Rumpole but, when Horden proved unavailable, the part went to Australian-born actor Leo McKern. Mortimer was initially unenthusiastic about McKern's casting but changed his opinion upon seeing him at rehearsal. [Shubik, "Play for Today", p. 179.] Cast as Hilda was Joyce Heron, who played the character as much tougher individual than that later seen in the eventual series.Shubik, "Play for Today", p. 180.] “Rumpole of the Bailey” was broadcast, to good reviews, on 17 December 1975.

The series

Aware of the potential for further stories centered on Rumpole, Irene Shubik approached the BBC's Head of Plays, Christopher Morahan, and obtained permission from him to commission a further six "Rumpole of the Bailey" scripts from John Mortimer.Shubik, "Play for Today", p. 182.] However, Morahan left his post at the BBC a short time later and his successor was not interested in turning "Rumpole of the Bailey" into a series. At around this time, Shubik was contacted by Verity Lambert, Head of Drama at Thames Television, who was looking for ideas for an up-market drama series. Impressed with "Rumpole of the Bailey", Lambert offered Shubik the opportunity to bring the series to Thames. John Mortimer readily agreed, since it would mean more money, and Shubik (and "Rumpole") duly left the BBC in late 1976. [Shubik, "Play for Today", p. 184.]

"Rumpole of the Bailey" made its Thames Television debut on 3 April 1978 in a season of six episodes. These introduced and established the supporting characters including Guthrie Featherstone (Peter Bowles), Claude Erskine-Browne (Julian Curry) and Phyllida Trant (Patricia Hodge). The role of Hilda was recast, with Peggy Thorpe-Bates taking on the part. Other than McKern, David Yelland (who played Rumpole's son Nick) was the only cast member who from the BBC "Play For Today" pilot who also became a regular in the series.

Rob Page's title sequence, featuring amusing caricatures of Rumpole, was inspired by the nineteenth-century cartoonist George Cruikshank, who had illustrated the works of Charles Dickens.Shubik, "Play for Today", p. 187.] The music was composed by Joseph Horovitz, whose extensive use of the bassoon for Rumpole's theme complemented Leo McKern's portly stature and sonorous voice. Mortimer continued to work as a barrister while writing the series, rising at 5:30am to write scripts before going to work at the Old Bailey. [Shubik, "Play for Today", p. 190.] The series was critically acclaimed (“Not to be missed. Leo McKern is superb as the wild and witty barrister Rumpole”Shubik, "Play for Today", p. 195.] - "The Times"; “I wouldn't say the BBC threw away a pearl richer than all its tribe but it has mislaid a tasty box of kippers” - Nancy Banks-Smith, "The Guardian") and Thames quickly commissioned a second season. However, upset to see that her pay had reduced while McKern and Mortimer had received increases for the second season, Shubik's relationship with Verity Lambert deteriorated and, in the end, she quit Thames after commissioning three of the six scripts for the second season. [Shubik, "Play for Today", p. 198-203.] Shubik moved to Granada Television where she produced an acclaimed adaptation of Paul Scott's "Staying On" and set up, but did not produce, "The Jewel in the Crown" the follow-up adaptation of Scott's "Raj Quartet". [cite web |url = http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/583723/index.html |title = Irene Shubik (1935 -) |accessdate = 2007-04-17 |last = Vahimagi |first = Tise |work = Screenonline |publisher = British Film Institute ] "Rumpole of the Bailey" continued under a new production team.

When the series returned for its fourth season in 1987 Marion Mathie took over as Hilda when Peggy Thorpe-Bates retired because of poor health.cite web
url = http://www.625.org.uk/biograph/biogmort.htm
title = John Mortimer
author = Cooper, Nick
accessdate = 2007-04-16
date = 2001-10-28]

eries cast

In all, 7 series of "Rumpole of the Bailey" were made from 1978 to 1992, each consisting of 6 episodes. A 2-hour TV Movie, "Rumpole's Return", was aired in 1980, between the 2nd and 3rd series.

The series had an exceptionally large cast, and a fair bit of turnover in the supporting roles. The cast list is as follows:

"Rumpole and his family:":
*Horace W. Rumpole [ Rumpole's monogram HWR is clearly seen on the red bag he frequently carries. It's most clearly readable in the episode "Rumpole and the Alternative Society" ] (Leo McKern): Self-described "Old Bailey hack" who defends any and all clients, and never pleads guilty.
*Hilda Rumpole (Peggy Thorpe-Bates) (Series 1-3, TVM); (Marion Mathie) (Series 4-7): Also known as "She Who Must Be Obeyed". Would dearly love to see Rumpole become a Q.C., and Head of Chambers – neither of which are honours Rumpole really wants. Played by Joyce Heron in the original BBC "Play For Today".
*Nicholas Rumpole (David Yelland) (Series 1-2); (Ian Gelder) (TVM only): "The brains of the family", as Rumpole calls him, Nick and his father are especially close. Nick eventually moves to the US (first Baltimore, then Miami) to work as a professor of sociology.

"Members of Rumpole's Chambers at 3 Equity Court, London:"
*Guthrie Featherstone (Peter Bowles) (Series 1-2, TVM, and as an occasional guest star in series 3-7). The Head of Chambers who later becomes a Judge.
*Phyllida (Trant) Erskine-Brown (Patricia Hodge) (Series 1-2, TVM, and as an occasional guest star in series 3-7). The "Portia of our Chambers", Phyllida is a strong advocate with definite opinions of her own. Usually, but not always, sides with Rumpole in Chambers matters. She eventually becomes a Q.C. and then a Judge.
*Claude Erskine-Brown (Julian Curry): Phyllida's husband, "opera buff and hopeless cross-examiner", and sometime would-be philanderer. Eventually promoted to Q.C.
*T.C. Rowley, better known as "Uncle Tom" (Richard Murdoch) (Series 1-6, TVM). "The oldest member of chambers, who has not had a brief as long as any of us can remember." He is usually seen happily practising his putting in the clerk's room.
*George Frobisher (Moray Watson) (Series 1-2, TVM and as an occasional guest star in Series 3-5). A sensible if somewhat stiff barrister, and Rumpole's closest friend in Chambers. Later a Circuit Judge, at which point their relationship cools.
*Percy Hoskins (Norman Ettlinger) (Series 1, Episode 1 only); (Denys Graham) (Series 3-6): A rather minor character, Hoskins seems chiefly concerned with keeping other lawyers from being admitted to Chambers, lest they take away his work. Often prefaces his arguments with the phrase "Speaking as a man with daughters..."
*Samuel Ballard (Peter Blythe) (Series 3-7): Head of Chambers in later series; a very pious and priggish person. Rumpole refers to him as "Soapy Sam", and generally addresses him as "Bollard".
*Fiona Allways (Rosalyn Landor) (Series 3 only): Originally Phyllida Erskin-Brown's pupil, Rumpole took a liking to her, mentored her, and got her admitted to Chambers.
*Liz Probert (Samantha Bond) (Series 4); Abigail McKern (Series 5-7): A young feminist barrister in Rumpole's chambers, known to Rumpole as "Miz Liz". Rumpole's wife Hilda once suspected him of having an affair with Liz. (Note that Abigail McKern is Leo McKern's daughter.)
*Dave Inchcape: (Michael Grandage) (Series 5, Episode 6 only); (Christopher Milburn) (Series 6-7): A young lawyer who has a sometimes stormy relationship with Miz Liz.

"Staff at 3 Equity Court, London:"
*Albert Handyside [Albert is called "Mr. Tree" by Henry in both his appearances in Series 1, but his last name is thereafter Handyside. ] (Derek Benfield) (Series 1-2, TVM): The original clerk of chambers. Fired in episode 3, he remains friendly with Rumpole and gets him the occasional case from the firm of solicitors that he joins as a clerk.
*Henry Trench [Henry's last name is never spoken aloud by any character, but it can be seen on a poster in the chambers office in a fourth season episode. ] (Jonathan Coy): Albert's successor as the efficient but harried clerk of chambers. Unhappily married, Henry is also an amateur dramatics enthusiast, frequently appearing in works by Noel Coward. Henry's wife is active in local politics and serves as a member of their local city Council.
*Dianne (Maureen Darbyshire) (Series 1-6, TVM): The oft-seen but rarely heard chambers secretary, and Henry's flame.
*Dot Clapton (Camille Coduri) (Series 7): The new Chambers secretary, after Dianne leaves.

"Frequent courtroom allies and adversaries:"
*Mr. Bernard (Edward de Souza) (Series 1); (Denis Lill) (Series 3-7): An instructing solicitor who frequently presents Rumpole with clients – often a hapless member of the Timson clan. Known to Rumpole as "Bonny Bernard".
*Mr. Justice Roger Bullingham (Bill Fraser) (Series 1-4, TVM): "The Mad Bull", Rumpole's most notorious courtroom enemy. Noted for his intense dislike of defending barristers in general, and of Rumpole in particular.
*Mr. Justice Vosper (Donald Eccles) (Series 2): A humourless, elderly judge who is not fond of Rumpole.
*Detective Inspector Brush (Struan Rodger) (Series 2-5): A police officer intent on seeing accused criminals put away. Rumpole is generally highly contemptuous of D.I. Brush and his "unreliable notebook".
*Mr. Justice Gerald Graves (Robin Bailey) (Series 4-7): Another in a long line of judges who are not fond of Rumpole's courtroom theatrics. Known privately to Rumpole as Mr. Justice Gravestone.
*Mr. Justice Oliver Oliphant (James Grout) (Series 6-7): A judge whose affectations of Northern bluntness and "common sense" drive Rumpole to distraction.

"Others in Rumpole's life:"
*Marigold Featherstone (Joanna Van Gyseghem): Guthrie's social-climbing wife.
*Fred Timson (Peter Childs) (Series 1-2); (John Barden) (Series 4-7): Head of the Timson clan, a family of "minor South London villains". The Timsons, who specialize in non-violent petty theft, often turn to Rumpole to defend them from their latest brush with the law. Although many Timsons are seen through the course of the series, only Fred and Dennis (below) are series regulars.
*Jack Pommeroy (Peter Whitaker) (Series 1); (Eric Dodson) (Series 3-5): Owner of Pommeroy's Wine Bar, to which Rumpole often repairs for a glass of "Pommeroy's Plonk".
*Keith (Peter Cartwright) (Series 2 & 5): Almost invariably referred to as "Old Keith from the Lord Chancellor's office". Has the ear of the Lord Chancellor, and is largely responsible (it seems) for determining who will be promoted to Queen's Counsel, or to judgeships.
*Dodo Mackintosh (Ann Way) (Series 3-5): A school friend of Hilda's who is often mentioned. Barely tolerated by Rumpole, she stops by to visit the Rumpoles on several occasions.
*F. I. G. "Fig" Newton (Jim Norton) (Series 3); (Frank Mills) (Series 5-6): Rumpole's favourite private investigator, who is usually battling a cold as he's often called on to tail suspects through the pouring rain. In his first appearance, when played by Norton, he introduces himself as "F"erdinand "I"an "G"ilmour Newton. All later appearances were by Mills, and in these appearances Rumpole refers to him as "F"erdinand "I"saac "G"erald Newton.
*Dennis Timson (Ron Pember) (Series 4-7): Another member of the Timson clan who frequently requires Rumpole's services, either for himself or for a family member.
*Marguerite "Matey" Ballard (Rowena Cooper) (Series 5-7): The matron of the Old Bailey, who later becomes "Soapy Sam" Ballard's incongruously blunt wife.

Each season (seven in all, plus a one-off two-hour episode) was accompanied by a book adaptation, also written by John Mortimer. Although the television series ended on December 3, 1992, the books have continued, now containing original stories.

All 44 episodes are available on DVD.

The BBC One Play for Today and the second television series were adapted for BBC Radio 4 in 1980 along with seven new stories. "" starred Maurice Denham as Rumpole and Margot Boyd as Hilda.

As Leo McKern and Maurice Denham died one day apart McKern on July 23 and Denham on July 24 in 2002, the role of Rumpole went to Timothy West when four new 45-minute plays were broadcast by BBC Radio 4 in the autumn of 2003. "Rumpole and the Primrose Path" also starred West's wife Prunella Scales as Hilda.

Television episodes

BBC One Play for Today (1975)
* "Rumpole of the Bailey" (December 16, 1975; a.k.a "Rumpole and the Confession of Guilt")

Season 1 (1978)
# "Rumpole and the Younger Generation" (April 3, 1978) (Set in 1967)
# "Rumpole and the Alternative Society" (April 10, 1978) (Set in 1970)
# "Rumpole and the Honourable Member" (April 17, 1978) (Set in 1974)
# "Rumpole and the Married Lady" (April 24, 1978) (Set in 1975)
# "Rumpole and the Learned Friends" (May 1, 1978) (Set in 1976)
# "Rumpole and the Heavy Brigade" (May 15, 1978) (Set in 1977)

Season 2 (1979)
# "Rumpole and the Man of God" (May 29, 1979)
# "Rumpole and the Case of Identity" (June 5, 1979)
# "Rumpole and the Show Folk" (June 12, 1979)
# "Rumpole and the Fascist Beast" (June 19, 1979)
# "Rumpole and the Course of True Love" (June 26, 1979)
# "Rumpole and the Age for Retirement" (July 3, 1979)

Special (1980)
* "Rumpole's Return" (December 30, 1980)

Season 3 (1983)
# "Rumpole and the Genuine Article" (October 11, 1983)
# "Rumpole and the Golden Thread" (October 18, 1983)
# "Rumpole and the Old Boy Net" (October 25, 1983)
# "Rumpole and the Female of the Species" (November 1, 1983)
# "Rumpole and the Sporting Life" (November 8, 1983)
# "Rumpole and the Last Resort" (November 15, 1983)

Season 4 (1987)
# "Rumpole and the Old, Old Story" (January 19, 1987)
# "Rumpole and the Blind Tasting" (January 26, 1987)
# "Rumpole and the Official Secret" (February 2, 1987)
# "Rumpole and the Judge's Elbow" (February 9, 1987)
# "Rumpole and the Bright Seraphim" (February 16, 1987)
# "Rumpole's Last Case" (February 25, 1987)

Season 5 (1988)
# "Rumpole and the Bubble Reputation" (November 23, 1988)
# "Rumpole and the Barrow Boy" (November 30, 1988)
# "Rumpole and the Age of Miracles" (December 7, 1988)
# "Rumpole and the Tap End" (December 14, 1988)
# "Rumpole and Portia" (December 21, 1988)
# "Rumpole and the Quality of Life" (December 28, 1988)

Season 6 (1991)
# "Rumpole à la Carte" (October 28, 1991)
# "Rumpole and the Summer of Discontent" (November 4, 1991)
# "Rumpole and the Right to Silence" (November 11, 1991)
# "Rumpole at Sea" (November 18, 1991)
# "Rumpole and the Quacks" (November 25, 1991)
# "Rumpole for the Prosecution" (December 2, 1991)

Season 7 (1992)
# "Rumpole and the Children of the Devil" (October 29, 1992)
# "Rumpole and the Miscarriage of Justice" (November 5, 1992)
# "Rumpole and the Eternal Triangle" (November 12, 1992)
# "Rumpole and the Reform of Joby Jonson" (November 19, 1992)
# "Rumpole and the Family Pride" (November 26, 1992)
# "Rumpole on Trial" (December 3, 1992)

Radio episodes

"" (1980)

Starring Maurice Denham as Horace Rumpole and Margot Boyd as Hilda Rumpole
# "Rumpole and the Confession of Guilt" (July 21, 1980)
# "Rumpole and the Dear Departed"
# "Rumpole and the Gentle Art of Blackmail"
# "Rumpole and the Rotten Apple"
# "Rumpole and the Man of God"
# "Rumpole and the Defence of Guthrie Featherstone"
# "Rumpole and the Show Folk"
# "Rumpole and the Fascist Beast"
# "Rumpole and the Case of Identity"
# "Rumpole and the Expert Witness "
# "Rumpole and the Course of True Love"
# "Rumpole and the Perils of the Sea"
# "Rumpole and the Age of Retirement" (October 13, 1980)

"Rumpole of the Bailey"

Starring Timothy West as Horace Rumpole and his real-life wife Prunella Scales as Hilda

2003

# "Rumpole and the Primrose Path"
# "Rumpole and the Scales of Justice"
# "Rumpole and the Vanishing Juror"
# "Rumpole Redeemed"

2006

* "Rumpole and the Teenage Werewolf"
* "Rumpole and the Right to Privacy"

2007

* "Rumpole and the Reign of Terror" (15th and 22 August)
#Truth Makes All Things Plain
#The Past Catches up with Us All

2008

* "The Anti-Social Behaviour of Horace Rumpole" (28th and 29 May)
#Rumpole on Trial
#Going for Silk

Date unknown

* "Rumpole and the Widow Twankey"

Desmond Barrett

* "Rumpole and the Old Faces"

Books

* "Rumpole of the Bailey" (1978) (adaptations of the first season stories)
** "Rumpole and the Younger Generation"
** "Rumpole and the Alternative Society"
** "Rumpole and the Honourable Member"
** "Rumpole and the Married Lady"
** "Rumpole and the Learned Friends"
** "Rumpole and the Heavy Brigade"

* "The Trials of Rumpole" (1979) (adaptations of the second season stories)
** "Rumpole and the Man of God"
** "Rumpole and the Showfolk"
** "Rumpole and the Fascist Beast"
** "Rumpole and the Case of Identity"
** "Rumpole and the Course of True Love"
** "Rumpole and the Age for Retirement"

* "Rumpole's Return" (1980) (novel; based on one-off special)

* "Rumpole for the Defence" (1982) (adaptation of the BBC One Play For Today plus the seven Denham radio episodes)
** "Rumpole and the Confession of Guilt"
** "Rumpole and the Gentle Art of Blackmail"
** "Rumpole and the Dear Departed"
** "Rumpole and the Rotten Apple"
** "Rumpole and the Expert Witness"
** "Rumpole and the Spirit of Christmas" (a.k.a. "Rumpole and the Defence of Guthrie Featherstone")
** "Rumpole and the Boat People" (a.k.a. "Rumpole and the Perils of the Sea")

* "Rumpole and the Golden Thread" (1983) (adaptations of the third season stories)
** "Rumpole and the Genuine Article"
** "Rumpole and the Golden Thread"
** "Rumpole and the Old Boy Net"
** "Rumpole and the Female of the Species"
** "Rumpole and the Sporting Life"
** "Rumpole and the Last Resort"

* "Rumpole's Last Case" (1987) (adaptations of the fourth season stories, plus one new story)
** "Rumpole and the Blind Tasting"
** "Rumpole and the Old, Old Story"
** "Rumpole and the Official Secret"
** "Rumpole and the Judge's Elbow"
** "Rumpole and the Bright Seraphim"
** "Rumpole and the Winter Break" (new story)
** "Rumpole's Last Case"

* "Rumpole and the Age of Miracles" (1988] ) (adaptations of the fifth season stories, plus one new story)
** "Rumpole and the Bubble Reputation"
** "Rumpole and the Barrow Boy"
** "Rumpole and the Age of Miracles"
** "Rumpole and the Tap End"
** "Rumpole and the Chambers Party" (new story)
** "Rumpole and Portia"
** "Rumpole and the Quality of Life"

* "Rumpole à la Carte" (1990) (adaptations of the sixth season stories)"
** "Rumpole à la Carte"
** "Rumpole and the Summer of Discontent"
** "Rumpole and the Right to Silence"
** "Rumpole at Sea"
** "Rumpole and the Quacks"
** "Rumpole for the Prosecution"

* "Rumpole on Trial" (1992) (adaptations of the seventh season stories, plus one new story)
** "Rumpole and the Children of the Devil"
** "Rumpole and the Eternal Triangle"
** "Rumpole and the Miscarriage of Justice"
** "Rumpole and the Family Pride"
** "Rumpole and the Soothsayer" (new story)
** "Rumpole and the Reform of Joby Jonson"
** "Rumpole on Trial"

* "Rumpole and the Angel of Death" (1995) (new stories)
** "Rumpole and the Model Prisoner"
** "Rumpole and the Way Through the Woods
** "Hilda's Story"
** "Rumpole and the Little Boy Lost"
** "Rumpole and the Rights of Man"
** "Rumpole and the Angel of Death"

* "Rumpole Rests His Case" (2002) (new stories)
** "Rumpole and the Old Familiar Faces"
** "Rumpole and the Remembrance of Things Past"
** "Rumpole and the Asylum Seekers"
** "Rumpole and the Camberwell Carrot"
** "Rumpole and the Actor Laddie"
** "Rumpole and the Teenage Werewolf"
** "Rumpole Rests His Case"

* "Rumpole and the Primrose Path" (2003) (new stories)
** "Rumpole and the Primrose Path"
** "Rumpole and the New Year's Resolutions"
** "Rumpole the Scales of Justice"
** "Rumpole and the Right to Privacy"
** "Rumpole and the Vanishing Juror"
** "Rumpole Redeemed"

* "Rumpole and the Penge Bungalow Murders" (2004) (novel; new story)

* "Rumpole and the Reign of Terror" (2006) (novel; new story)

* "The Anti-social Behaviour of Horace Rumpole" (2007) (novel; new story) published in the USA as "Rumpole Misbehaves"

Notes

References

*cite book
last = Shubik
first = Irene
authorlink =
title = Play for Today. The evolution of television drama
origyear = 1975
edition = 2nd edition
year = 2000
publisher = Manchester University Press
location = Manchester, England
isbn = 0-7190-5687-X

External links

* [http://www.salon.com/11/features/mortimer1.html "Salon"'s interview with John Mortimer re "Rumpole of the Bailey"]
* [http://www.thrillingdetective.com/eyes/rumpole.html Horace Rumpole] at The Thrilling Detective Website (includes comprehensive list of television episodes and books)
*imdb title|title=Rumpole of the Bailey|id=0078680
*Screenonline TV title|id=1205794|name=Rumpole of the Bailey
* [http://www.wmbriggs.com/mortimer/rfaq.txt The Rumpolean FAQ] , a list of frequently asked questions about Rumpole with answers (last updated in 2002)