Rumpole of the Bailey interest in nineteenth-century anarchists, especially the Russian Peter Kropotkin from whom the title of the play was drawn. The character's name was later changed to Horace Rumpole when it was discovered that there was a real barrister called Horace Rumbold. The title of the play was briefly changed to "Jolly Old Jean Jacques Rousseau" before settling on the less esoteric "Rumpole of the Bailey". Mortimer was keen on Michael Hordern for the role of Rumpole. When Hordern proved unavailable, the part went to Australian-born actor Leo McKern. Mortimer was initially unenthusiastic about McKern's casting but changed his opinion upon seeing
The Late Late Show (season 54) one week ahead of the 2016 general election. Williams used the platform to target the Sinn Féin party. That programme was the third most watched episode that far of the season, behind "The Late Late Toy Show" and the Country Special. Actor Richard Gere mada a guest appearance. On the episode shown on 18 March, in relation to an upcoming documentary on Irish Travellers, Tubridy interviewed one of them. The interview was described as "highly intense" and resulted in complaints from viewers. On 25 March 2016 (the feast of Good Friday), five RTÉ 'stars' - Martys Whelan and Morrissey and