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Rumpole of the Bailey Trivia Quiz

I couldn't find a quiz about my favourite barrister, created by John Mortimer, so I had to make one up. If you are a fellow Rumpole fan, you should find this easy.

A multiple-choice quiz by MotherGoose. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
MotherGoose

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
84,393

Updated
Jul 06 22

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
600

Awards
Top 5% quiz!

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. John Mortimer is the author of the Rumpole series of books. What was his profession before he became a successful author and playwright? Hint

Doctor

Barrister

Accountant

Architect

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Question 2 of 10

2. Which Australian actor portrayed Rumpole in the television series? Hint

Peter Bowles

Alistair Sim

Peter Blythe

Leo McKern

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Question 3 of 10

3. How does Rumpole describe himself in the first book, 'Rumpole of the Bailey'? Hint

Old Bailey Hack

QC (Queer Customer)

He Who Must be Obeyed

Old Sweetheart

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Question 4 of 10

4. Where do Hilda and Horace Rumpole reside? Hint

25B Froxbury Court

3 Equity Court

25B Gloucester Court

3 Chancery Court

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Question 5 of 10

5. How many children do the Rumpoles have? Hint

One

Two

None

Three

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Question 6 of 10

6. Which case does Rumpole regard as his greatest triumph? Hint

The Streatham Co-op Case

The Great Brighton Benefit Club Forgery

The Penge Bungalow Murder

The Peckham Billiard Hall Stabbing

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Question 7 of 10

7. Rumpole loves to quote poetry. Which poetry book does he constantly refer to? Hint

Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge

The Golden Treasury of Poetry

The Oxford Book of English Verse

The Penguin Book of English Verse

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Question 8 of 10

8. What is the 'golden thread' that Rumpole frequently refers to? Hint

The presumption of innocence

The right to appeal

The right to silence

The burden of proof

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Question 9 of 10

9. What is the name of the 'huge and industrious family of South London villains' Rumpole defends on a regular basis? Hint

Simpson

Molloy

Timson

Elver

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Question 10 of 10

10. In which branch of the British Armed Services did Rumpole serve in the Second World War? Hint

Royal Navy

Royal Air Force

Royal Marines

British Army

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Most Recent Scores

Apr 10 2024 : Guest 147: 9/10
Feb 18 2024 : Guest 49: 10/10

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. John Mortimer is the author of the Rumpole series of books. What was his profession before he became a successful author and playwright?

Answer: Barrister

John Mortimer was a barrister but is no longer practicing. He once successfully defended Penguin Books as the publishers of 'Lady Chatterley's Lover' in a landmark case. Rumpole would have been proud of him as Rumpole always defended and never prosecuted.

2. Which Australian actor portrayed Rumpole in the television series?

Answer: Leo McKern

John Mortimer had Alistair Sim in mind for the role of Rumpole but Sim's death resulted in the role going to Leo McKern. Peter Bowles and Peter Blythe play Rumpole's colleagues at Number 3 Equity Court.

3. How does Rumpole describe himself in the first book, 'Rumpole of the Bailey'?

Answer: Old Bailey Hack

Rumpole fans know that his wife Hilda is 'She Who Must Be Obeyed'. The ambitious Hilda often bemoans the fact that Rumpole does not make the effort to become a QC (Queen's Counsel) or inherit her Daddy's previous position as Head of Chambers. Rumpole occasionally refers to Daddy as the 'Old Sweetheart' and himself as an 'Old Bailey Hack'. Rumpole jokes that if he were a QC, it would stand for Queer Customer.

4. Where do Hilda and Horace Rumpole reside?

Answer: 25B Froxbury Court

The Rumpoles live at 25B Froxbury Court, Gloucester Road, in a mansion flat which Rumpole describes as a 'cavernous and underheated area'. Number 3 Equity Court is the address of Rumpole's chambers.

5. How many children do the Rumpoles have?

Answer: One

Hilda and Horace Rumpole have one son, Nicholas (Nick), who is married to Erica (Ricky). They live in America and are only minor characters in the books. Hilda blames Rumpole for Nick and Erica's decision to live in America.

6. Which case does Rumpole regard as his greatest triumph?

Answer: The Penge Bungalow Murder

Rumpole frequently refers to the Penge Bungalow Murder, where he gained an acquittal alone and without a leader, as his greatest triumph. The other three cases were also memorable Rumpole cases.

7. Rumpole loves to quote poetry. Which poetry book does he constantly refer to?

Answer: The Oxford Book of English Verse

Rumpole loves to quote poetry, particularly Wordsworth, and is constantly referring to the Oxford Book of English Verse (Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch's edition).

8. What is the 'golden thread' that Rumpole frequently refers to?

Answer: The presumption of innocence

' ...my country will be remembered for three things: the British Breakfast, The Oxford Book of English Verse and the Presumption of Innocence! That presumption is the Golden Thread which runs through the whole history of our Criminal Law ...' (From 'Rumpole and the Golden Thread').

9. What is the name of the 'huge and industrious family of South London villains' Rumpole defends on a regular basis?

Answer: Timson

Rumpole has been retained by three generations of Timsons. The Timsons are petty criminals but they have their standards - they are non-violent, loyal and they never 'grass'. The Molloys are another family of villains but they lack the Timson's ethics. Rumpole compares them thus: 'The Molloys and the Timsons are like the Montagues and the Capulets'.

10. In which branch of the British Armed Services did Rumpole serve in the Second World War?

Answer: Royal Air Force

In 'Rumpole and the Alternative Society' we learn that Rumpole served three years in the RAF ground staff.

Source: Author MotherGoose

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Bruyere before going online.
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