TV Series · 1974

Porridge

30 min · Comedy · Ended

Composite

8.4

IMDb

8.3 / 10

7,632 votes

TMDB

8.1 / 10

56 votes

Local

— / 10

No votes

Synopsis

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.

Cast

Ronnie Barker

Norman Stanley Fletcher

Richard Beckinsale

Lennie Godber

Fulton Mackay

Mr. Mackay

Brian Wilde

Mr. Barrowclough

Crew

Production

Sydney Lotterby Producer

Seasons & episodes

Series 1 (6 ep)

1. New Faces, Old Hands

Sep 5, 1974 · 30 min

“Twenty-three and you want to go straight? What kind of talk is that? You've got your whole life in front of you!” It's Godber's first time in prison, and Fletch is going to teach him the ways.
2. The Hustler

Sep 12, 1974 · 30 min

Ives is such a loser that if Elizabeth Taylor had triplets, he'd have been the one in the middle. But there's no way he's going to be left out of Fletch's gambling enterprise.
3. A Night In

Sep 19, 1974 · 30 min

Fletch explains to Godber that the best way to cope with his first night in prison, is to see it as just a "quiet night in". Trouble is, Godber's got another 698 to go.
4. A Day Out

Sep 26, 1974 · 30 min

The rest of the working party are thrilled to have a day out, but Fletch is masking indifference - what's so exciting about digging a ditch anyway?
5. Ways and Means

Oct 3, 1974 · 30 min

Who would want to spend eight hours a day sewing fishing nets? Not Fletch, who is hell-bent on a cushy job in the library.
6. Men Without Women

Oct 10, 1974 · 30 min

Fletch fancies himself as a bit of an agony aunt and is called upon by his fellow inmates to help out with affairs of the heart.

Series 2 (6 ep)

1. Just Desserts

Oct 24, 1975 · 30 min

There's an outbreak of petty pilfering from the inmates in Slade prison. Fletcher is disgusted - after all, stealing may be a job on the 'outside', but it's despicable when it happens 'inside'.
2. Heartbreak Hotel

Oct 31, 1975 · 30 min

Godber gets bad news from his girlfriend. Fletcher tries to provide help and advice, but perhaps daughter Ingrid might provide a more suitable solution to Godber's problems
3. Disturbing the Peace

Nov 7, 1975 · 30 min

When Mr Mackay leaves Slade Prison, Fletcher thinks that "happy days are here again". Until, that is, he meets Mr Mackay's replacement.
4. No Peace For the Wicked

Nov 14, 1975 · 30 min

It's Saturday afternoon and Fletcher looks forward to a quiet read. Everyone else seems to have other ideas about how Fletcher should be spending his time.
5. Happy Release

Nov 21, 1975 · 30 min

Fletcher is having a spell in the prison hospital with a broken ankle. He's sharing a ward with old Blanco, who tells him that another inmate has swindled him out of his belongings in a crooked card game. Fletcher hatches a plan to recover Blanco's belongings and to take revenge on the culprit.
6. The Harder They Fall

Nov 28, 1975 · 30 min

Godber takes up boxing and wins a place in the prison championship, so Fletcher sees a chance for a bit of a flutter. Then Harry Grout takes an interest and insists that the fight is 'fixed'. When one of Grout's rivals takes a similar interest in Godber's opponent, it looks as if nobody can win. Fletcher, however, has other ideas.

Series 3 (1 ep)

6. Final Stretch

Mar 25, 1977 · 30 min

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.