RUMPOLE OF THE BAILEY – “Rumpole and the Old Boy Net” | Classic BBC Radio Drama.

She who must be obeyed has spoken… and Horace Rumpole is back in the Old Bailey doing exactly what he does best, defending the undefendable!In this deliciously sharp 1980s BBC Radio 4 gem written by John Mortimer himself, Rumpole takes on a case of alleged blackmail involving a respectable businessman, a glamorous call-girl ring, and a very dodgy “old boy network” that stretches from the golf club to the dock. Naturally, the odds are stacked, the judge is hostile, Hilda is furious, and Rumpole still hasn’t given up cigars or claret. Expect sparkling courtroom banter, pomposity punctured, and that glorious moment when Rumpole finally turns the tables with nothing more than a raised eyebrow and a well-timed quotation from the Oxford Book of English Verse.I’ve paired the pristine original BBC broadcast (starring the incomparable Leo McKern as Horace Rumpole) with soft, period-perfect animated backgrounds, vintage London street scenes, gently moving courtroom sketches, swirling cigar smoke, and the occasional claret glass that refills itself. The visuals are deliberately calm and understated, designed to complement the play for listeners who just want beautiful ambience while they enjoy every golden line, never to distract from the master at work.Perfect for curling up on a rainy afternoon, introducing new fans to the greatest barrister who never took silk, or simply reminding yourself why “Rumpole and the Old Boy Net” remains one of the finest episodes in the entire series.Tim Brooke-Taylor, Maureen Lipman, and the full original cast are all present and correct. Raise a glass of Château Thames Embankment and settle in!
#RumpoleOfTheBailey #RumpoleAndTheOldBoyNet #LeoMcKern #JohnMortimer #BBCRadioDrama #OldTimeRadio #BritishComedy #CourtroomClassicOriginal BBC Radio 4 broadcast – visuals gently added for your viewing pleasure.Support the Channel – Keep the Old Bailey in Session!

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your favorite Rumpole quote below – “Never plead guilty” or something juicier?

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