July 14, 2021
Chambers are pleased to launch the first in a series of RLC “In Conversation” podcasts debuting with Anthony Arlidge QC (84 years) and his crime-writer son, Matthew Arlidge (46 years).
In this podcast, Simon Spence QC of RLC, interviews the well-known Anthony Arlidge QC, a criminal barrister who has been involved in numerous high- profile cases throughout his career. Amongst them were the defence of the GP, David Moor, accused of a mercy-killing of a patient, and the prosecution of Jeremy Bamber, who was accused and convicted of murdering his parents, sister, and her 6 year-old twin boys.
A former Head of Chambers, Anthony was appointed Silk in 1981. Growing up, he abandoned his childhood desire to be a ballet-dancer, and read Law at Cambridge. In the podcast, he recounts his fondest and funniest memories from his days as a barrister. He discusses the prosecution of Jeremy Bamber (who maintains his innocence and has sent his prosecuting counsel Christmas cards protesting his innocence), defending a barrister accused of a disciplinary offence (a victory meant samosas, prayers and Urdu poetry bestowed on a receptive Arlidge Senior), being solely responsible for evacuating the entire Royal Courts of Justice due to a nun’s habit, maid’s oufit and a ticking camera being harboured in his briefcase, and his recollection of his time as a Recorder at the Old Bailey when a female defendant wore her knickers on her head throughout the sentencing process!
Arlidge Junior, known as ‘Matt’, recounts his childhood growing up with such a talented and charismatic father, witnessing the way he would advocate at the Old Bailey and prepare his cases with compelling narratives. Growing up around murder, serious crime and witnessing jury trials provided Matt with inspiration and content which would eventually see him develop his career as a story-teller and a writer of crime novels and popular TV dramas.
Born in 1974, Matt was the youngest of four siblings. Like his father, he studied at Cambridge, where he read English Literature and subsequently studied Film and Television Production at Bristol University. His first writing credit was at EastEnders, where he wrote for the character Robbie Jackson’s dog – the much loved ‘Wellard’. From there, he subsequently moved on to write for Monarch of the Glen and created new shows for BBC, ITV and Channel 4 such as Mistresses. In 2007, Arlidge Junior set up his own production company, TXTV Limited, with colleagues Jeremy Gwilt and Chris Lang (of popular TV series Unforgotten fame). Matt’s recent ITV drama ‘Innocent’ Series 2 was filmed during the pandemic and broadcast with Katherine Kelly in the starring role.
Matt has recently released a new book named ‘Truth and Dare’, the latest in his DI Helen Grace series, and he is currently in talks with a publisher about a future biography of Anthony, entitled “The Stories My Father Told Me”.
Listen to the revealing, informative and highly entertaining podcast between father and son here:
“Hope it doesn’t put anyone off the Law!” Anthony Arlidge QC