Rumpole: A BBC Radio Collection

Oct 12, 2024 12:23 AM

Author:John Mortimer,Benedict Cumberbatch,Timothy West,Julian Rhind-Tutt,Desmond Barrit,Prunella Scales,Jasmine Hyde,Full Cast

An irresistible collection of sparkling stories featuring John Mortimer's beloved comic creation

Horace Rumpole is the most erudite, astute, and seldom defeated of barristers in the annals of the Old Bailey. In these 32 dramas, arranged in order of broadcast, four distinguished actors don the wig and white band to portray our hero as he recalls his long, eventful career.

Timothy West stars as the older Rumpole in eight cases in which he proves, despite scurrilous rumours to the contrary, that he is alive, well and as adept as ever at getting to the heart of crimes ranging from sexual assault to terrorism. He also has hopes of becoming a QC at last - but his marriage to She Who Must Be Obeyed is under pressure...

Joining Timothy West for another seven legal adventures, Benedict Cumberbatch plays the young, feisty, devastatingly acute Rumpole. We flash back to the 1950s, as he meets and marries Hilda, embarks on his first big murder case 'alone and without a leader', and defends clients including an aristocrat, a shoplifting clergyman and a gardener accused of blackmail.

Returning as young Rumpole, Cumberbatch takes us through six more curious cases. It is 1964, and Horace takes on a new pupil - Phyllida Trant, the 'Portia of our Chambers' - only to find himself becoming smitten with her. Forced to consider the path his life has taken, he comes close to giving up the law...

With the Sixties swinging, Julian Rhind-Tutt gives us a Rumpole in his prime, recounting ten tales which find the tireless defender swapping sides to appear for the prosecution; coming to the aid of a doctor accused of unprofessional conduct; and suffering the indignity of wrongful arrest. We leave him facing a life-changing decision: after many years of falling in and out of love with both women, will he finally leave Hilda to be with Phyllida?

Also included is a special 90-minute Christmas episode starring Desmond Barrit, in which Rumpole indulges in a little seasonal, charitable blackmail and solves an audacious crime at the panto.

Production credits

Written by John Mortimer

Adapted by Richard Stoneman

Directed by Marilyn Imrie.

A Catherine Bailey production for BBC Radio 4

Sax quartet version of Gershwin's 'They Can't Take That Away From Me' arranged by Julie Hodge and performed by 'Sax' (Luiza Beddoes, Kate Mylnar, Janine Ng and Julie Hodge)

Pantomime music written by Neil Brand

Cast

Older Horace Rumpole - Timothy West/Desmond Barrit

Young Horace Rumpole - Benedict Cumberbatch/Julian Rhind-Tutt

Hilda - Prunella Scales/Joanna David

Young Hilda - Jasmine Hyde/Cathy Sara

Phyllida - Cathy Sara/Patience Tomlinson

'Soapy Sam' Ballard - Michael Cochrane

Claude Erskine-Brown - Nigel Anthony

Fig Newton - David Shaw-Parker/Geoffrey Whitehead

Bonny Bernard - Bruce Alexander/Nicholas Le Provost/Matthew Morgan

Judge Bullingham - Christopher Benjamin/David Shaw-Parker/Stephen Critchlow

Liz Probert - Elaine Claxton

First broadcast BBC Radio 4 between 25 December 2001 and 9 May 2018

Reviews

Patterson knows where our deepest fears are buried... there's no stopping his imagination.

—— NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW

No one gets this big without natural storytelling talent - which is what Jim has, in spades.

—— LEE CHILD, bestselling author of the Jack Reacher series

Patterson boils a scene down to a single, telling detail, the element that defines a character or moves a plot along. It's what fires off the movie projector in the reader's mind.

—— MICHAEL CONNELLY

James Patterson is the boss. End of.

—— IAN RANKIN, bestselling author of the Inspector Rebus series

James Patterson is the gold standard by which all others are judged.

—— STEVE BERRY, bestselling author of the Colton Malone series

Patterson is in a class by himself.

—— VANITY FAIR

'Gave me palpitations! Complex, layered, sneaky and beautifully woven. Creeps up behind you then let's you have it. Fabulous!'

—— Helen Fields

'Twisty, propulsive and unsettling, with a plot I wish I'd thought of myself.'

—— Catherine Ryan Howard

'Andrea Mara's Hide and Seek is a must read for psychological thriller fans. Well-drawn, intriguing characters and a twisty, gripping plot will keep you reading well into the night. A real page-turner.'

—— Olivia Kiernan

'What a fabulously twisty tale - really clever, and with one of the most satisfying and believable endings I've read for a while.'

—— Emma Curtis

'Andrea Mara has perfected her own south Dublin version of domestic noir where secrets are buried under manicured lawns and expensively paved patios. In Mara's world no one, from the babysitter to the new neighbour to the smiling guests at a garden drinks party can be considered above suspicion.'

—— Sinead Crowley

"Hide and Seek is domestic noir at its absolute compelling best, gripping, twisty and as if it's all happening next door - be warned, with Andrea Mara, there's always a brilliant last sting in the tail!"

—— Sam Blake

"The latest from Andrea Mara chilled me to my core. An outrageous amount of twists and turns, you will love it!"

—— Sarah Breen

Loved this fascinating tale of how a woman's pain turns to rage and then murder. A dark, thrilling ride into a world of revenge. Oh so satisfying

—— Julie Owen Moylan

A perfect read for any crime fiction fan. A chilling immersion into the mind of a serial killer - dark, seductive and addictive. A truly gripping read

—— Lia Middleton

Based on a true story, with dark humour throughout, you will be hooked

—— Prima

Extraordinary. Bruce does a marvellous job of reimagining this real-life murderer, without excusing her crimes

—— The Times

This gory fictionalisation of her story is also a great character study

—— Best

Explosive . . . If you like true crime, you'll devour this chilling story of revenge

—— Woman

Chilling. Camilla Bruce's adept reimagining of this compelling historical figure is difficult to forget

—— Gazette and Herald

You'll veer between pity and loathing for the main character, with perhaps a touch of horrified admiration at times

—— The Hunsbury Handbook

Previous Article：The Son Next Article：Isaac Newton: Master of the Mint & Nemesis

Comments

Welcome to zzdbook comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.