The ghost of author John Mortimer, best known for his Rumpole of the Bailey novels, is to sue Reform from beyond the grave over their selection of Robert ‘Rob’ Kenyon in Makerfield.
‘Woo, woo’, said Mortimer’s ghost, ‘It’s a straight rip-off of ‘Rumpole and the Bubble Reputation’, woo’.
(Sir John Mortimer has been a ghost since 2009, you’d have thought he’d be better at haunting, but there you go).
NewsBiscuit has read Rumpole and the Bubble Reputation and we can confirm similarities. In the novel, later dramatised for telly (which may be where Nigel came across it, in between adverts for quickie cremations and Secret Nazi Bunkers) Rumpole is hired to do a libel case. He doesn’t do libel cases, they’re outside his range. Halfway through the book he realises that the plaintiff and defendant are in cahoots – and he was selected because they thought he’d lose! That’s the twist.
Did Nigel pick Robert ‘Rob’ Kenyon so he’d lose, and Andy Burnham would make trouble for Sir Keir? Will John Mortimer ever get the hang of haunting? Will Robert ‘Rob’ read the book and change his strategy at the last minute in a thrilling climax? We don’t know, to be honest. Bit of a mystery.
If you’ve been affected by any of the issues in the story – maybe you’re a plumber with a sexist line in banter or a tobacco-stained Russia enthusiast – please phone a hotline. Not ours, they cut us off for non payment. Try the BBC, they’re loaded.
