Rumpole of the Bailey debut on 17 December 1975 to good reviews by the critics. Aware of the potential for further stories centred on Rumpole, Irene Shubik approached the BBC's Head of Plays, Christopher Morahan, and obtained permission from him to commission a further six "Rumpole of the Bailey" scripts from John Mortimer. However, Morahan left his post at the BBC a short time later and his successor was not interested in turning "Rumpole of the Bailey" into a series. At around this time, Shubik was contacted by Verity Lambert, Head of Drama at Thames Television, who was looking for ideas for an up-market
A Voyage Round My Father television (produced by Thames Television for ITV) with Laurence Olivier as the father, Alan Bates as the son, Elizabeth Sellars as the mother and Jane Asher as Elizabeth. This production was notable for including the blind actor Esmond Knight in a sighted role, as one judge Mortimer senior faces. It was filmed in Mortimer's own house. In June 2006, the play was revived at the Donmar Warehouse with Derek Jacobi and Dominic Rowan and transferred to the Wyndham's Theatre in September. The Dragon School,Oxford. Partly filmed at this location. A Voyage Round My Father A Voyage Round My Father is