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Rumpole of the Bailey

1975·Show
42Episodes in7Seasons·TV-PG
IMDb8.4
Episode ratings

Where to watch

BritboxPBSBritBoxPBS MasterpieceKQED

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

What's your score?

Your score

Rumpole of the Bailey fingerprint

Funny, immersive world, low-key.

Energy

Calm and low-key

  • Tension4
  • Fast Pace3
  • Spectacle2

Heart

Wholesome and hopeful

Much of it is about family.

  • Wholesome7
  • Hopefulness7
  • Nostalgia7

Humor

Plenty of sharp wit and situational comedy

  • Wit & Wordplay9
  • Situational Comedy8
  • Satire & Parody6

World

Crime, everyday modern life, and society

Lived-in and easy to get lost in. Holds up on a rewatch.

  • Dialogue Centrality10
  • World Immersion8
  • Rewatchability8

Craft

Standout performances, dialogue, and direction

  • Acting9
  • Dialogue Quality9
  • Direction8

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Cinematography6
  • Editing6
  • Music Composition6

Who it's for

AdultsFamily Movie NightFriends NightIntergenerationalPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensBackground WatchBinge-FriendlyComfort WatchDrop-in FriendlyThought-Provoking

Find more like it

Funny showsPeaceful showsAtmospheric shows

Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every show. Select a row to see all of them.

Episode ratings

IMDb rating of every episode, one row per season
SeasonEpisode 1Episode 2Episode 3Episode 4Episode 5Episode 6Episode 7
IMDb rating of every episode, one column per season
Episode
Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3
Episode 4
Episode 5
Episode 6
Episode 7

About

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.
British Legal DramaWitty Courtroom ComedyEccentric ProtagonistLiterary DialogueSocial SatireClassic TelevisionCharming & EruditeCharacter-Driven ProceduralWarm Human Drama

Crew

Directed by:
Herbert Wise, Roger Bamford, Robert Tronson
Written by:
John Mortimer
Produced by:
Jacqueline Davis, Irene Shubik

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Rumpole of the Bailey

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Rumpole of the Bailey legally?

BritboxPBSBritBoxPBS MasterpieceKQEDThirteenWETA+

Rumpole of the Bailey is included with a subscription to PBS, BritBox, Thirteen, and WETA+ in the United States. You can watch it free with ads on KQED. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is Rumpole of the Bailey worth watching?

77
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly. It's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 78/100 (IMDb 8.4). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Rumpole of the Bailey rated?

TV-PG

It's rated TV-PG in the United States.

How many seasons does Rumpole of the Bailey have?

7 seasons

It has 7 seasons with 42 episodes of about 60 minutes each.

When did Rumpole of the Bailey air?

It ran from 1975 to 1992 and has ended.

What language is Rumpole of the Bailey in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in United Kingdom.

In how many countries can I watch Rumpole of the Bailey?

5ATCADEGBUS

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Rumpole of the Bailey in 5 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does Rumpole of the Bailey use?

Chekhov's GunDeclining PromotionRetconBoarding SchoolContinuity NodFor Your Own GoodFlaw ExploitationNo Party GivenMy Greatest FailureSophisticated as HellNot-So-Innocent WhistlePrecision F-Strikeand 154 more

TV Tropes lists 166 storytelling tropes for Rumpole of the Bailey, including Chekhov's Gun, Declining Promotion, Retcon.