Porridge(1974)
Porridge is a British situation comedy broadcast on BBC1 from 1974 to 1977, running for three series, two Christmas specials and a feature film also titled Porridge. Written by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, it stars Ronnie Barker and Richard Beckinsale as two inmates at the fictional HMP Slade in Cumberland. "Doing porridge" is British slang for serving a prison sentence, porridge once being the traditional breakfast in UK prisons. The series was followed by a 1978 sequel, Going Straight, which established that Fletcher would not be going back to prison again. Porridge was voted number seven in a 2004 BBC poll of the 100 greatest British sitcoms.
- Created by:
- Dick Clement, Ian La Frenais
- First aired:
- 1974-09-05
- Country:
- GB
- Network:
- BBC One
Episodes
1. A Storm in a Teacup
★ 8.01977-02-18 · 30m
When a bottle of pills goes missing from the Doctor's surgery, Harry Grout is worried that investigation of the theft by the prison authorities will jeopardise some of his activities. Grout insists that Fletcher must find the pills and return them before the warders can take action.
2. Poetic Justice
★ 8.01977-02-25 · 30m
Fletcher's new cellmate turns out to be the judge who sentenced him to five years in Slade Prison.
3. Rough Justice
★ 8.01977-03-04 · 30m
Fletcher is worried that Judge Rawley might rob him of his main source of income - writing letters for illiterate inmates.
4. Pardon Me
★ 9.01977-03-11 · 30m
Old Blanco is doing time for the murder of his wife. He still swears he wasn't guilty. Now he's up before the Parole Board and it looks as if he's sure to be released. Blanco surprises everyone by turning down parole when it's offered to him. He explains that, if he accepts parole, he'll also be admitting that he was guilty of a crime for which he was wrongly convicted. He insists that he'll only leave prison if he's offered a full pardon. Fletcher comes up with a plan to help him.
5. A Test of Character
★ 9.01977-03-18 · 30m
Godber is working hard for an extra O-level. Fletcher tries to persuade him that cheating would be a good way of ensuring success in the examination. Godber isn't convinced.
6. Final Stretch
★ 9.01977-03-25 · 30m
Godber is due to appear before the parole board, but a fight with another inmate puts his parole in jeopardy. It's up to Fletcher to save the day.
Where to watch
No streaming, rental, or purchase options are listed for this title in United States right now.
Cast
Ronnie Barker
Norman Stanley Fletcher
Richard Beckinsale
Lennie Godber
Fulton Mackay
Mr. Mackay
Brian Wilde
Mr. Barrowclough
