Rumpole of the Bailey
1975 · TV Series · TV-PG · 60 min
★ 6.7(24)unSUB Rating
This British legal drama follows an aging defense barrister in London as he takes on criminal cases for all kinds of clients. Each episode blends courtroom problem-solving with dry humor, office clashes, and glimpses of home life, creating self-contained stories with wit and a strong sense of justice.
Where to watch
Streaming on BritBox and PBS Masterpiece.
46 hours to watch · 45 episodes.
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Details
- Years
- 1975–1992
- Release date
- 1975-12-17
- Network
- ITV1
- Language
- English
- Rated
- TV-PG
- Runtime
- 60 min
- Max quality
- HD
- TMDB rating (input)
- 7.1/10 (24 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy this if you like smart, character-driven British TV with dry humor, cozy mystery elements, and self-contained cases, somewhere between New Tricks and Jeeves and Wooster; Not for you if you want fast-paced action or heavy suspense.
Pros: witty courtroom stories; memorable lead character; strong standalone episodes | Cons: some uneven cases; office scenes can drag; later seasons repetitive
Themes
- lawyer
- criminal lawyer
Cast & crew
Leo McKern
as Horace Rumpole
Jonathan Coy
as Henry
Marion Mathie
as Hilda Rumpole
Peggy Thorpe-Bates
as Hilda Rumpole
Julian Curry
as Claude Erskine-Brown
Patricia Hodge
as Phyllida Trant
Robin Bailey
as Mr. Justice Gerald Graves
Richard Murdoch
as Uncle Tom
Denys Graham
as Hoskins
Abigail McKern
as Liz Probert
Directed by Peter Hammond, Tony Dean Smith, Donald McWhinnie +17 more
Created by John Mortimer
Episodes7 seasons · 45 episodes
Specials3 episodes
- S0E1Play for Today / Pilot (a.k.a Rumpole and the Confession of Guilt)60m
- S0E2Mortimer's Musings60m
- S0E3Rumpole's Return104m
Season 16 episodes
- S1E1Rumpole and the Younger Generation60mAmazon Prime VideoBritBoxApple TV+
- S1E2Rumpole and the Alternative Society60mAmazon Prime VideoBritBoxApple TV+
- S1E3Rumpole and the Honourable Member60mAmazon Prime VideoBritBoxApple TV+
- S1E4Rumpole and the Married Lady60mAmazon Prime VideoBritBoxApple TV+
- S1E5Rumpole and the Learned Friends60mAmazon Prime VideoBritBoxApple TV+
- S1E6Rumpole and the Heavy Brigade60mAmazon Prime VideoBritBoxApple TV+
Season 26 episodes
- S2E1Rumpole and the Man of God60mAmazon Prime VideoBritBox
- S2E2Rumpole and the Case of Identity60mAmazon Prime VideoBritBox
- S2E3Rumpole and the Show Folk60mAmazon Prime VideoBritBox
- S2E4Rumpole and the Fascist Beast60m
- S2E5Rumpole and the Course of True Love60mAmazon Prime VideoBritBox
- S2E6Rumpole and the Age for Retirement60mAmazon Prime VideoBritBox
Season 36 episodes
- S3E1Rumpole and the Genuine Article60mAmazon Prime VideoBritBox
- S3E2Rumpole and the Golden Thread60mAmazon Prime VideoBritBox
- S3E3Rumpole and the Old Boy Net60mAmazon Prime VideoBritBox
- S3E4Rumpole and the Female of the Species60mAmazon Prime VideoBritBox
- S3E5Rumpole and the Sporting Life60mAmazon Prime VideoBritBox
- S3E6Rumpole and the Last Resort60mAmazon Prime VideoBritBox
Season 46 episodes
- S4E1Rumpole and the Old, Old Story60mAmazon Prime VideoBritBox
- S4E2Rumpole and the Blind Tasting60mAmazon Prime VideoBritBox
- S4E3Rumpole and the Official Secret60mAmazon Prime VideoBritBox
- S4E4Rumpole and the Judge's Elbow60mAmazon Prime VideoBritBox
- S4E5Rumpole and the Bright Seraphim60mAmazon Prime VideoBritBox
- S4E6Rumpole's Last Case60mAmazon Prime VideoBritBox
Season 56 episodes
- S5E1Rumpole and the Bubble Reputation60mAmazon Prime VideoBritBox
- S5E2Rumpole and the Barrow Boy60mAmazon Prime VideoBritBox
- S5E3Rumpole and the Age of Miracles60mAmazon Prime VideoBritBox
- S5E4Rumpole and the Tap End60mAmazon Prime VideoBritBox
- S5E5Rumpole and Portia60mAmazon Prime VideoBritBox
- S5E6Rumpole and the Quality of Life60mAmazon Prime VideoBritBox
Season 66 episodes
- S6E1Rumpole a la Carte60mAmazon Prime VideoBritBox
- S6E2Rumpole and the Summer of Discontent60mAmazon Prime VideoBritBox
- S6E3Rumpole and the Right to Silence60mAmazon Prime VideoBritBox
- S6E4Rumpole at Sea60mAmazon Prime VideoBritBox
- S6E5Rumpole and the Quacks60mAmazon Prime VideoBritBox
- S6E6Rumpole for the Prosecution60mAmazon Prime VideoBritBox
Season 76 episodes
- S7E1Rumpole and the Children of the Devil60mAmazon Prime VideoBritBox
- S7E2Rumpole and the Miscarriage of Justice60mAmazon Prime VideoBritBox
- S7E3Rumpole and the Eternal Triangle60mAmazon Prime VideoBritBox
- S7E4Rumpole and the Reform of Joby Jonson60mAmazon Prime VideoBritBox
- S7E5Rumpole and the Family Pride60mAmazon Prime VideoBritBox
- S7E6Rumpole on Trial60mAmazon Prime VideoBritBox