Rumpole: the genuine article
MARION MCMULLEN looks back at how Rumpole Of The Bailey dealt with his final case 30 years ago
Sir John Mortimer was the mastermind behind ITV courtoom drama Rumpole Of The Bailey.
He once said: “My father was the doyen of the divorce barristers. He was an extremely erudite and very famous divorce lawyer. So that, when I was a little boy in the nursery, instead of Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs, I used to get The Duchess And The Seven Correspondents.”
Rumpole Of The Bailey saw Australian-born actor Leo Mckern playing the wonderfully eccentric barrister Horace
Rumpole who was the champion of the underdog. He made his TV debut on the BBC in 1975 and an ITV series followed in 1978. Leo starred in more than 40 episodes with Rumpole calling his wife “She who must be obeyed” and declaring “An ENGLISHBARRISTER man’s gin bottle is his castle.” The curmudgeonly Rumpole also merrily called court judges “old darlings”.
Patricia Hodge and Peter Bowles were among cast regulars and Leo’s daughter Abigail appeared in several episodes.
The would also be appearances over the years by 007’s Miss Moneypenny Samantha Bond, Jane Asher and future Vera star Brenda Blethyn.
Rumpole’s last case was broadcast 30 years ago on December 3, 1992, and saw Rumpole on trial for contempt of court and risking being disbarred after he was even more sarcastic than normally to a judge.
Sir John Mortimer passed away in 2009 at the age of 85.
His widow Penny said: “He was never bored. If nothing interesting was happening, he would start an argument.”
The former barrister’s funeral service was attended by friends, relatives and celebrities including Sir Bob Geldof. Sir John was an atheist, but a member of the local clergy said: “We hope he is in for a wonderful surprise.”