ON SCREEN: Famous judges

Judge Rinder (2pm, ITV) is a criminal barrister who judges real cases in his studio courtroom. Here are more of our favourite on-screen judges, both real and fictional…

Judge Dredd (1977-present)

Created for the British comic book 2000 AD, Dredd puts even Judge Judy’s no-nonsense approach in the shade. As police, judge, jury and executioner, Dredd serves Mega-City One, and was first portrayed on the big screen in 1995 by Sylvester Stallone. New Zealand actor Karl Urban played him in a 2012 film – and a new live-action

Judge Dredd TV series is in the works.

Judge Roger Bullingham (1978-87)

Played by Bill Fraser, the ‘Mad Bull’ was Rumpole Of The Bailey’s notorious courtroom enemy in the first four series of the popular ITV drama. He was famous for his dislike of defending barristers in general, and of Horace Rumpole in particular.

Judge Judy (1996-present)

Dramatised court shows aired on US radio as early as the 1930s, but Judy Sheindlin’s (centre) reality series brought the genre bang up to date, and is still going strong. Judy is a former family court prosecutor and a criminal court judge who has often been imitated – but never intimidated.

Judge John Deed (2001-07)

More usually found playing a tough, uncompromising cop, Martin Shaw gained a substantial increase in gravitas as the tough, uncompromising High Court judge (right) in this hit BBC drama, which ran for six series.