The finale to the fifth season of Rumpole of the Bailey has a surprising conclusion which involves some regular cast members showing up for a brief appearance. It makes you think they had a wrap party with a tiny bit of filming to finish the series.
Lady Perdita Derwent is a young woman married to an old wealthy artist, Sir Daniel Derwent who is not in the best of health.
Perdita Derwent is accused of poisoning him for his inheritance. His grown up daughter Helen has no time for Perdita and she saw some ampules in her room.
Samuel Ballard QC is defending with Rumpole as the junior. However Rumpole is less than impressed with Ballard's tactics in the courtroom.
It has a racy beginning as Lady Perdita poses topless for her husband. There is comedy with Rumpole advised by his doctor to go on a diet but this is an uneven episode.
A subplot involving Claude Erskine-Brown interviewing a new barrister for the chambers thinking he is gay is interminably awful.
I also felt Rumpole never shutting his mouth at court and annoying the judge went on too long.
It soon becomes clear that Ballard even as a QC was not up to defending the accused in a serious murder trial. He lacks Rumpole's street fighting skills. The episode felt too forced even with Ballard having a mishap while trying to keep fit and suddenly falling in love.
Lady Perdita Derwent is a young woman married to an old wealthy artist, Sir Daniel Derwent who is not in the best of health.
Perdita Derwent is accused of poisoning him for his inheritance. His grown up daughter Helen has no time for Perdita and she saw some ampules in her room.
Samuel Ballard QC is defending with Rumpole as the junior. However Rumpole is less than impressed with Ballard's tactics in the courtroom.
It has a racy beginning as Lady Perdita poses topless for her husband. There is comedy with Rumpole advised by his doctor to go on a diet but this is an uneven episode.
A subplot involving Claude Erskine-Brown interviewing a new barrister for the chambers thinking he is gay is interminably awful.
I also felt Rumpole never shutting his mouth at court and annoying the judge went on too long.
It soon becomes clear that Ballard even as a QC was not up to defending the accused in a serious murder trial. He lacks Rumpole's street fighting skills. The episode felt too forced even with Ballard having a mishap while trying to keep fit and suddenly falling in love.