Review of Rumpole of the Bailey

This is screen writing at it's best, John Mortimer's insight into the legal process, the Central Criminal Court and it's characters gave television it's first glimpse of how barristers interact with members of the public, and how judges presented themselves as sometimes pompous oafs in front of the court, and shone a light on the social morays that were so deftly cut through with a hot and sarcastic knife through butter by our heroic Horace Rumpole. If anyone is in doubt about British acting's ability to portray the criminal court, they should watch this iconic series which ran for 14 years. A gem of a TV series much missed, as is it's lead actor, Leo McKern.