Rumpole of the Bailey enjoyed his accounts of his cases and "harmless legal anecdotes". But as Nick grows older, father and son start to grow apart, because Nick doesn't agree with Rumpole's attitudes towards the law, criminals, judges, justice or his own family life. In total, seven series of "Rumpole of the Bailey" were made from 1978 to 1992, each consisting of six episodes. A special two-hour film, "Rumpole's Return", was made and aired in 1980, between the 2nd and 3rd series. The author, John Mortimer, occasionally appeared as an extra. Rumpole and his family: Members of Rumpole's Chambers at 3 Equity Court, London:
Rumpole of the Bailey acclaimed ("Not to be missed. Leo McKern is superb as the wild and witty barrister Rumpole" – "The Times"; "I wouldn't say the BBC threw away a pearl richer than all its tribe but it has mislaid a tasty box of kippers" – Nancy Banks-Smith, "The Guardian") and Thames quickly commissioned a second season. However, upset to see that her pay had reduced while McKern and Mortimer had received increases for the second season, Shubik's relationship with Verity Lambert deteriorated and, in the end, she quit Thames after commissioning three of the six scripts for the second season. Shubik moved