Horace Rumpole is an iconoclastic, poetry-quoting "Old Bailey hack", whose irreverence is not particularly popular with judges. He has a dysfunctional marriage to "she who must be obeyed" and a rather tenuous relationship with Nick, his only son, who has always believed his father cares more for the Bailey than him. Although Nick is scheduled to leave for college in America, Rumpole opts to defend a Jamaican teenager who has apparently confessed to randomly stabbing a pedestrian at a bus stop after a cricket match. Nick does stop by the courthouse to have lunch with his father and try establish communication with him before he leaves.
This was a stand-alone production in 1975 for BBC TV's anthology series Play for Today. Duration: circa 65 minutes. It inspired the seven-series TV show that aired 1978–1992. Though not conceived as such, it was a de facto "pilot" for the subsequent TV series.
Re-titled "Rumpole and the Confession of Guilt" for radio adaptation in 1980 and for DVD release in 2007. It was adapted into literary form by John Mortimer and published along with all six of the specially-written new scripts from the 1980 radio series in the 1981 book Regina V. Rumpole (Re-published in 1982 under the title Rumpole For The Defence).
Rumpole is defending a young member of the Timson clan, an extended family of light-fingered but otherwise moral South London villains. To his distress, his own son appears to be acquiring some of the Timson traits.
3
2
"Rumpole and the Alternative Society"
Herbert Wise
John Mortimer
1970
10 April 1978 (1978-04-10)
Rumpole defends a hippie-type schoolteacher on a narcotics charge and finds himself attracted to her and her lifestyle.
4
3
"Rumpole and the Honourable Member"
Graham Evans
John Mortimer
1974
17 April 1978 (1978-04-17)
An MP is accused of raping one of his assistants, and seems reluctant to defend himself. Rumpole is left with only one line of defence; attack the complainant's character, thereby infuriating his son's American fiancée.
5
4
"Rumpole and the Married Lady"
Graham Evans
John Mortimer
1975
24 April 1978 (1978-04-24)
After a long spell without cases, Rumpole is apparently divorcing his old friend and colleague George Frobisher. His client meanwhile threatens to drive Rumpole's wife Hilda (She who must be obeyed) into the arms of her friend Dodo.
6
5
"Rumpole and the Learned Friends"
Graham Evans
John Mortimer
1976
1 May 1978 (1978-05-01)
Rumpole accuses a dishonest policeman of framing his safecracker client and finds himself in legal trouble when he can't back up his claim.
7
6
"Rumpole and the Heavy Brigade"
Graham Evans
John Mortimer
1977
15 May 1978 (1978-05-15)
Rumpole returns to bloodstains as he defends a stuttering, apparently mentally-challenged petty crook on a murder charge.
All six stories in TV series one were adapted into literary form by John Mortimer and published in the 1978 book Rumpole of the Bailey
Series 2 (1979)
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1
"Rumpole and the Man of God"
Brian Farnham
John Mortimer
29 May 1979 (1979-05-29)
Rumpole defends a vicar accused of shoplifting three shirts although he refuses to testify in his own behalf.
9
2
"Rumpole and the Case of Identity"
Derek Bennett
John Mortimer
5 June 1979 (1979-06-05)
One instance of marital infidelity is at the root of Rumpole's current case involving a liquor store robbery while another threatens the stability of his chambers.
Rumpole goes on Circus, or rather on Circuit, in the north, where an actor and theatre manager has been shot with a stage prop. The case seems clear-cut, but everything depends on how one reads the script.
Captain Rex Parkin of the Pay Corps (retired) is charged with an offence under the Race Relations Act, and finds to his horror that Rumpole has taken under his wing a pupil barrister from the Punjab.
12
5
"Rumpole and the Course of True Love"
Brian Farnham
John Mortimer
26 June 1979 (1979-06-26)
What appears to be an uncontrollable outbreak of bed-hopping is about to ruin the chances of Guthrie Featherstone QC MP becoming a judge, and Rumpole's client's career as a teacher.
A bored Rumpole living in Florida retirement uses an inquiry from Phyllida as a pretext to re-establish himself back in chambers
This production was created as a stand-alone, feature-length special in 1980. Duration: circa 103 minutes. It aired between series two and series three. It was adapted into literary form by John Mortimer and published in the 1980 book Rumpole's Return
Rumpole defends an eccentric artist in a forgery case before the newly appointed Judge Featherstone.
16
2
"Rumpole and the Golden Thread"
Donald McWhinnie
John Mortimer
18 October 1983 (1983-10-18)
Rumpole agrees to defend a cabinet minister of a former British African colony accused of murdering a prominent clergyman.
17
3
"Rumpole and the Old Boy Net"
Tony Smith
John Mortimer
25 October 1983 (1983-10-25)
A seemingly respectable old school couple arrested for running a brothel for upper-class clients are reluctant to help in their own defense.
18
4
"Rumpole and the Female of the Species"
Donald McWhinnie
John Mortimer
1 November 1983 (1983-11-01)
Rumpole defends a petty thief on charges of armed robbery while trying to get Fiona accepted into his chamber.
19
5
"Rumpole and the Sporting Life"
Bill Hays
John Mortimer
8 November 1983 (1983-11-08)
Rumpole reluctantly agrees to defend Fiona's sister, who's accused of murdering her husband with a shotgun.
20
6
"Rumpole and the Last Resort"
Stuart Burge
John Mortimer
15 November 1983 (1983-11-15)
Rumpole tries to collect an old debt from an elusive deadbeat solicitor while defending a vacation planner on fraud charges.
All six stories in TV series three were adapted into literary form by John Mortimer and published in the 1983 book Rumpole and the Golden Thread
Series 4 (1987)
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21
1
"Rumpole and the Old, Old Story"
Roger Bamford
John Mortimer
19 January 1987 (1987-01-19)
After a fight with his wife Rumpole stays with Erskine-Browns and finds that Portia is prosecuting one of his clients.
22
2
"Rumpole and the Blind Tasting"
Roger Bamford
John Mortimer
26 January 1987 (1987-01-26)
Rumpole defends career criminal Hugh Timson for receiving a garageful full of stolen wine.
23
3
"Rumpole and the Official Secret"
Rodney Bennett
John Mortimer
2 February 1987 (1987-02-02)
Rumpole defends an eccentric spinster accused of being a government whistle-blower.
24
4
"Rumpole and the Judge's Elbow"
Donald McWhinnie
John Mortimer
9 February 1987 (1987-02-09)
Rumpole defends the smarmy owner of a string of massage parlors on the charge of running "disorderly houses" (i.e. bordellos).
25
5
"Rumpole and the Bright Seraphim"
Martyn Friend
John Mortimer
16 February 1987 (1987-02-16)
After an army sergeant is found stabbed to death wearing a woman's dress, Rumpole is assigned to defend the accused murderer.
26
6
"Rumpole's Last Case"
Rodney Bennett
John Mortimer
25 February 1987 (1987-02-25)
While defending one of the Timson clan, Rumpole makes an exotic horse racing bet which may allow him to retire if he wins.
All six stories in TV series four were adapted into literary form by John Mortimer and published in the 1987 book Rumpole's Last Case
Series 5 (1988)
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1
"Rumpole and the Bubble Reputation"
Mike Vardy
John Mortimer
23 November 1988 (1988-11-23)
A notorious tabloid hires Rumpole to defend it in a libel suit being brought by a puritanical novelist it has accused of sexual promiscuity.
28
2
"Rumpole and the Barrow Boy"
Julian Amyes
John Mortimer
30 November 1988 (1988-11-30)
Nigel Timson, one of the few members of the notorious Timson clan to have a legitimate job, is defended by Rumpole on a charge of insider trading.
29
3
"Rumpole and the Age of Miracles"
Mike Vardy
John Mortimer
7 December 1988 (1988-12-07)
Rumpole defends Hilda's nephew, a canon who has accused of adultery in an ecclesiastical court.
30
4
"Rumpole and the Tap End"
Julian Amyes
John Mortimer
14 December 1988 (1988-12-14)
Featherstone's controversial remarks and ruling in a domestic violence case causes fallout from women's rights groups and concern from the Lord Chancellor.
31
5
"Rumpole and Portia"
Roger Bamford
John Mortimer
21 December 1988 (1988-12-21)
Rumpole defends a scrap dealer accused of selling arms to terrorists while Phyllida presides at the trial in her newly appointed job as recorder.
32
6
"Rumpole and the Quality of Life"
Roger Bamford
John Mortimer
28 December 1988 (1988-12-28)
Rumpole defends Lady Perdita Derwent, charged with the murder of her elderly husband. Meanwhile, Ms Liz Probert complains of anti-gay discrimination at number 3, Equity Court, and the portly Rumpole suffers from a strict diet imposed by She Who Must Be Obeyed.
All six stories in TV series five were adapted into literary form by John Mortimer and published in the 1988 book Rumpole and the Age of Miracles
Series 6 (1991)
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1
"Rumpole à la Carte"
Jim Goddard
John Mortimer
28 October 1991 (1991-10-28)
Rumpole agrees to defend an elitist restaurateur whom he dislikes when a live mouse jumps out from one of his gourmet meals.
34
2
"Rumpole and the Summer of Discontent"
Julian Amyes
John Mortimer
4 November 1991 (1991-11-04)
Rumpole defends a union activist accused of manslaughter while Hilda goes on strike as Rumpole's cook because of his late hours.
35
3
"Rumpole and the Right to Silence"
Julian Amyes
John Mortimer
11 November 1991 (1991-11-11)
A radical college professor accused of murder refuses to disclose his alibi while Ballard and Erskine Brown learn domestic lessons about the right to silence.
36
4
"Rumpole at Sea"
Michael Simpson
John Mortimer
18 November 1991 (1991-11-18)
While on a Mediterranean cruise, Rumpole is confronted with his old nemesis, Judge Graves, and the unexplained disappearance of one of his fellow passengers.
37
5
"Rumpole and the Quacks"
Robert Tronson
John Mortimer
25 November 1991 (1991-11-25)
Rumpole defends a Pakistani doctor accused of molesting a female patient, and Phyllida suspects Erskine-Brown of philandering.
38
6
"Rumpole for the Prosecution"
Robert Tronson
John Mortimer
2 December 1991 (1991-12-02)
Rumpole agrees to prosecute for the first time in a private complaint brought by the rich father of a murdered girl.
All six stories in TV series six were adapted into literary form by John Mortimer and published in the 1990 book Rumpole à la Carte
Series 7 (1992)
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39
1
"Rumpole and the Children of the Devil"
James Cellan Jones
John Mortimer
29 October 1992 (1992-10-29)
A well-meaning social worker takes custody of an eight year-old Timson girl charging that the family is involved with devil worship.
40
2
"Rumpole and the Miscarriage of Justice"
Robert Tronson
John Mortimer
5 November 1992 (1992-11-05)
Rumpole finds himself in the unusual position of defending a police officer on a charge of falsifying a confession.
41
3
"Rumpole and the Eternal Triangle"
Robert Tronson
John Mortimer
12 November 1992 (1992-11-12)
After becoming enamored of a beautiful violinist, Rumpole finds himself defending her husband on a charge of murdering her lover.
42
4
"Rumpole and the Reform of Joby Jonson"
Martyn Friend
John Mortimer
19 November 1992 (1992-11-19)
Rumpole defends a juvenile delinquent on charges of assaulting an elderly woman, and Hilda is concerned when a burglar breaks in to steal evidence from his briefcase.
43
5
"Rumpole and the Family Pride"
John Gorrie
John Mortimer
26 November 1992 (1992-11-26)
The suspicious drowning of an anonymous old woman on an estate prompts the Lord to invite his cousins, the Rumpoles, for the weekend, and he asks Horace to represent him at the inquest.
44
6
"Rumpole on Trial"
John Gorrie
John Mortimer
3 December 1992 (1992-12-03)
Last-ever episode. When Rumpole is charged by Judge Oliphant with contempt of court and faces disbarment, Hilda persuades Sam Ballard to defend him.
All six stories in TV series seven were adapted into literary form by John Mortimer and published in the 1992 book Rumpole on Trial
