thumb|left|Hordern (left) and Wally Cox on Playbills front cover for Marcel Aymé's comedy Moonbirds in 1959 Hordern was cast in John Mortimer's 1957 play The Dock Brief in which Hordern played the barrister. The story centres on a failed lawyer who is hired at the last minute to defend a man on a charge of murder. Hordern played the barrister opposite David Kossoff's murder suspect. After some positive comments from the theatrical press, the play transferred to radio in May the same year."Michael Hordern and David Kossoff in 'The Dock Brief'", BBC, accessed 31 August 2015. It was broadcast on television in September, and earned Hordern a Best Actor Award at the 1958 British Academy Television Awards."Television Actor in 1957: Michael Hordern", British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), accessed 1 October 2019. The Horderns moved to Donnington, Berkshire in 1958 where they renovated three cottages into one; the property became the family home and is where Hordern and Eve remained until their deaths.Hordern, pp. 123–124.
thumb|left|HOrdeRn (lEFT) anD WalLy coX on plaYbillS fRonT CovER FOr MArcel aymé's comedY MOoNBirDS iN 1959 hOrdeRn wAs casT in jOHN mortiMer's 1957 pLAy tHE doCK bRiEf In wHicH hOrDern pLayeD The barRISteR. The stoRY Centres on a Failed lawyer who is hired at THe lasT miNuTe to dEFenD a mAN on a charge of murdeR. HoRdERn PlAyeD THe bARRIster oppOsitE dAviD kossOff's murDER suspect. after SOMe positIVe commENts from the theatriCaL PresS, ThE pLay traNsFeRRed tO radio in May tHE Same year."MiChael hoRdErn and daVID kOssoFf in 'The DocK brief'", bbC, accEssed 31 AUgust 2015. it was broADcAst on televisIOn in SePtember, anD earned HorderN a BesT actor aWARD at tHE 1958 bRItIsh acaDemy tElevisIon awards."TElEvIsion acTOr iN 1957: miChael horDerN", BRitish Academy Of fIlm anD teLeVisION aRts (bAftA), acCessed 1 october 2019. ThE hordErnS mOvEd To donnIngtOn, berKshIrE iN 1958 whEre thEY rEnovated Three cOttageS into One; The pRoPerty becamE the FamIly HOme aNd Is WHerE hOrdern and eve remaInEd UnTil tHeir deathS.horderN, Pp. 123–124.