TV series
Rumpole of the Bailey
1975–1992, English, on ITV1. Created by John Mortimer.
TV's Best Loved Barrister
Rumpole of the Bailey is a British television series created and written by the British writer and barrister John Mortimer. It stars Leo McKern as Horace Rumpole, an aging London barrister who defends any and all clients, and has been spun off into a series of short stories, novels, and radio programmes.
- Seasons
- 7
- Episodes
- 42
- Episode length
- 60 min
- Status
- Ended in 1992
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Where to watch Rumpole of the Bailey
Rumpole of the Bailey is streaming on Britbox, PBS, and PBS Masterpiece in India.
Stream
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PBS
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PBS Masterpiece Amazon Channel
BritBox Amazon Channel
Thirteen
WETA+Free
KQEDAvailability in India as of 12 November 2026. Streaming data by JustWatch.
Latest episode
S7 E6: Rumpole on Trial
Aired 3 December 1992
Seasons 7
Cast & crew
- John MortimerCreator
- Leo McKernHorace Rumpole · 42 ep
- Jonathan CoyHenry Trench · 36 ep
- Julian CurryClaude Erskine-Brown · 35 ep
- Marion MathieHilda Rumpole · 24 ep
- Richard MurdochUncle Tom · 23 ep
- Maureen DarbyshireDianne · 23 ep
- Patricia HodgePhyllida Erskine-Brown · 20 ep
- Peter BlytheSamuel Ballard, QC · 19 ep
- Peggy Thorpe-BatesHilda Rumpole · 16 ep
- Peter BowlesGuthrie Featherstone · 16 ep
- Joanna Van GyseghemMarigold Featherstone · 14 ep
- Denis LillMr Bernard · 14 ep
Details
- First aired
- 17 December 1975
- Last aired
- 3 December 1992
- Network
- ITV1
- Language
- English
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Type
- Scripted
- Rated
- TV-PG
Check ratings elsewhere
News & fan talk
What Rumpole of the Bailey is based on
Rumpole of the Bailey is adapted from a play or musical.
Source details from Wikidata and TMDB.
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Rumpole of the Bailey: quick answers
Is Rumpole of the Bailey worth watching?
Rumpole of the Bailey doesn’t have enough ratings for a verdict yet.
How many seasons of Rumpole of the Bailey are there?
Rumpole of the Bailey has 7 seasons and 42 episodes, about 60 minutes each.
Is Rumpole of the Bailey finished?
Yes. Rumpole of the Bailey ended in 1992, so you can watch the whole story.
Which OTT platform is Rumpole of the Bailey on?
Rumpole of the Bailey is streaming on Britbox, PBS, and PBS Masterpiece in India. (Checked 12 November 2026.)
Rumpole of the Bailey parents guide: is it suitable for kids?
Rumpole of the Bailey is rated TV-PG. That rating means it is generally fine for children.
What shows are like Rumpole of the Bailey?
If you liked Rumpole of the Bailey, try A Nero Wolfe Mystery, Whiskey Cavalier, Wild Cards.
Who created Rumpole of the Bailey?
Rumpole of the Bailey was created by John Mortimer and stars Leo McKern, Jonathan Coy, Julian Curry.
What is Rumpole of the Bailey based on?
Rumpole of the Bailey is adapted from a play or musical.