Rumpole and the Primrose Path Rumpole and the Primrose Path Rumpole and the Primrose Path is a light hearted legal comedy, one of six short stories in an anthology by writer John Mortimer. It is the 12th in a series based in part on his own past experiences as a barrister but also notable for their use of themes topical at the time each was published. It begins with the eponymous hero marooned in a nursing home where he feels some shady business is going on. It was later the first episode in a short series of 45 minute radio plays starring real life husband
Rumpole of the Bailey (radio series) were special radio adaptations of stories first published in book format after the end of the final TV series and some were brand-new, purpose-written episodes created for radio. Five different actors – including Leo McKern – portrayed Horace Rumpole in these 40 different episodes. 1980 – One series – a total of thirteen episodes featured Maurice Denham as Horace Rumpole. 2003 – 2012 – In this period there were seven mini-seasons – a total of eighteen episodes featuring Timothy West as Horace Rumpole. West's real-life wife Prunella Scales appeared as Rumpole's wife Hilda. The seven mini-seasons were produced in 2003,