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Norman Stanley Fletcher, a career criminal, and his escorts – soft-hearted Mr Barrowclough and authoritarian Mr Mackay – make the journey on New Years Eve from London up to Slade Prison
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Norman Stanley Fletcher, a career criminal, and his escorts – soft-hearted Mr Barrowclough and authoritarian Mr Mackay – make the journey on New Years Eve from London up to Slade Prison in Cumberland.
One of seven different sitcom pilots commissioned by the BBC in 1973 ("Seven of One") starring Ronnie Barker. The plan was that the most successful would then be made into a full series. One of the episodes, "Prisoner and Escort", written by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, is this. Despite Barker's initial preference for another of the pilots, a sitcom about a Welsh gambling addict, "Prisoner and Escort" was selected. It was renamed Porridge, a slang term for prison; Barker and Clement and La Frenais actually came up with the same title independently of each other.
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John Noakes (and Shep) of the children's show Blue Peter interview Ronnie Barker and cast on the set of Porridge
John Noakes (and Shep) of the children's show Blue Peter interview Ronnie Barker and cast on the set of Porridge
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In his innocence, Godber is looking forward to Christmas, but Fletch just wants a quiet sojourn in the prison hospital. As he says: "there's one big event round here, it's not the coming
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In his innocence, Godber is looking forward to Christmas, but Fletch just wants a quiet sojourn in the prison hospital. As he says: "there's one big event round here, it's not the coming of the Lord - it's the tunnelling of Tommy Slocombe". Just as Fletcher's 'old knee injury' wins him a trip to the local civilian hospital for a full check up and x-ray, genial Harry Grout decides to call in a favour.
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Christmas behind bars might not be so bad. Fletcher and Godber have spent months fermenting their illicit cell-brew liquor "Chateau Slade" and it is ready for tasting. But things are
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Christmas behind bars might not be so bad. Fletcher and Godber have spent months fermenting their illicit cell-brew liquor "Chateau Slade" and it is ready for tasting. But things are about to take a turn for the worse - Mackay has discovered the brew and then they find themselves caught up in psychotic Reg Unwin's attempt to take Mr Barraowclough hostage. Will Fletch be the hero of the day - even if it means helping out a 'screw'?
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Fletch has now reached the end of his stay in Prison and says his goodbyes to McLaren. On the train journey home Fletch bumps into Mackay and an old friend. His old friend makes an early
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Fletch has now reached the end of his stay in Prison and says his goodbyes to McLaren. On the train journey home Fletch bumps into Mackay and an old friend. His old friend makes an early attempt to tempt him from the straight and narrow but it's Mackay who almost commits a crime.
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Fletch visits his probation officer and reveals that his wife, Isobel, has left him for someone called Reg Jessop who owns a cardboard box factory. Fletch doesn't seem too concerned
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Fletch visits his probation officer and reveals that his wife, Isobel, has left him for someone called Reg Jessop who owns a cardboard box factory. Fletch doesn't seem too concerned about getting a job and the reason is a legacy from a previous crime which he attempts to dig up by stealing Godber's lorry and driving off to the site where the loot was buried. He is out of luck, however, when he discovers a housing development has been built on the field.
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Fletch is diverted from his own problems when he comes across a young punk girl and tries to set her on the straight and narrow.
Fletch is diverted from his own problems when he comes across a young punk girl and tries to set her on the straight and narrow.
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Fletch's probation officer sets him up with a job as a night porter. Fletch is nervous about his first ever job and can't face it but Godber and Ingrid make sure he turns up.
Fletch's probation officer sets him up with a job as a night porter. Fletch is nervous about his first ever job and can't face it but Godber and Ingrid make sure he turns up.
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As hotel porter, Fletch recognises an unscrupulous guest and suspects a scam.
As hotel porter, Fletch recognises an unscrupulous guest and suspects a scam.
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Fletch is almost tempted off the straight and narrow on the day Ingrid is to marry Godber. He has a change of heart before it's too late but almost gets into trouble with a walkie
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Fletch is almost tempted off the straight and narrow on the day Ingrid is to marry Godber. He has a change of heart before it's too late but almost gets into trouble with a walkie talkie. Godber married Ingrid with Fletch giving away the bride and acting as best man.
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This prison comedy is based on the popular British televison series of the same name. Long time Slade prison inmate Fletcher (Ronnie Barker) is ordered by Grouty (Peter Vaughan) to
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This prison comedy is based on the popular British televison series of the same name. Long time Slade prison inmate Fletcher (Ronnie Barker) is ordered by Grouty (Peter Vaughan) to arrange a football match between the prisoners and an all-star celebrity team. Fletcher is unaware that the match is only a diversion so that an escape can take place. When Fletcher and his cell mate Lennie (Richard Beckinsale) stumble on the escape, they are taken along, and find themselves having to break back into prison to avoid getting into trouble.
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Life moves by at HM Slade Prison on a day-to-day basis, with the usual antics of the various inmates becoming usual form. The newly-arrived and violent armed robbery, Oakes (Barrie
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Life moves by at HM Slade Prison on a day-to-day basis, with the usual antics of the various inmates becoming usual form. The newly-arrived and violent armed robbery, Oakes (Barrie Rutter) approaches the Slade Prison's Mr. Big, Harry Grout (Peter Vaughan), and using a cut from his last job before being caught, asks for his escape to be arranged. Grouty sets the price, then begins making arrangements.
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A VHS release of three classic episodes, their stories combined into a running feature.
A VHS release of three classic episodes, their stories combined into a running feature.
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Cast and crew look back at the classic 1970s BBC sitcom Porridge (1974), which starred Ronnie Barker as a wily Cockney prisoner
Cast and crew look back at the classic 1970s BBC sitcom Porridge (1974), which starred Ronnie Barker as a wily Cockney prisoner
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Ronnie Barker looks back on the classic sitcom.
Ronnie Barker looks back on the classic sitcom.
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Spoof documentary looking at the life of Normal Stanley Fletcher, the star of 1970s sitcom Porridge played by Ronnie Barker. Featuring fictional footage and interviews with the
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Spoof documentary looking at the life of Normal Stanley Fletcher, the star of 1970s sitcom Porridge played by Ronnie Barker. Featuring fictional footage and interviews with the character's family, friends and associates, the film documents Fletcher's chequered career.
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Johnny Vaughan argues the case for Porridge in BBC Britian's Best Sitcom:
"'Porridge' is set in the grimmest place imaginable - a prison. And yet still manages to be both gritty and
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Johnny Vaughan argues the case for Porridge in BBC Britian's Best Sitcom:
"'Porridge' is set in the grimmest place imaginable - a prison. And yet still manages to be both gritty and witty".
"Why? The scripts of course… and it doesn't hurt that Fletcher - the most brilliant sitcom creation of all time - is played by the comedy guvnor himself Ronnie Barker".
"Fletch laid down the template for comedy rogues which Del Boy and 'Fools and Horses' followed shamelessly. David Jason even studied Ronnie Barker on the set of 'Porridge'".
"And who could be a better comedy foil for Barker than doe-eyed innocent Richard Beckinsale. The pair made episode 'A Night In' the best ever two-hander to ever appear in a British sitcom".
"'Porridge' is rich, satisfying, and packed with goodness. Never past its sell-by date, and guaranteed no artificial additives like labyrinthine plots, rubbish title music and stereotypical nagging wives."
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In the first of a three-part series, creators Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, now in their 70s but still pitching ideas in Hollywood (“It’s Spielberg: tell him to go away!”) reveal the
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In the first of a three-part series, creators Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, now in their 70s but still pitching ideas in Hollywood (“It’s Spielberg: tell him to go away!”) reveal the unlikely origins of and initial fears for one of our finest ever sitcoms. One fab sequence sees the pair dissect their favourite scene, chuckling along with every familiar line.
Later, über-fan Keith Allen drives a police van around Porridge locations, while we hear rare Barker recordings intended for real prison inmates. Eric Idle points out the roundedness of HM Prison Slade’s wiliest character, and Kate Beckinsale, daughter of Richard (Godber), reminds us that the series really clicked when it became a two-hander.
It’s a total treat for devotees of the kind of comedy where not a word was wasted. David “Old Man Blanco” Jason is the narrator.
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This is quite simply TV heaven. Just stick two colossi of comedy writing in front of a telly and get them to comment on favourite scenes. At one point in another delicious serving of
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This is quite simply TV heaven. Just stick two colossi of comedy writing in front of a telly and get them to comment on favourite scenes. At one point in another delicious serving of Porridge memories, writers Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais do just that, the latter nailing the success of the show’s plots and its main character with one phrase.
But there’s much more besides. Celebrity fan Simon Day tracks down the famous, clanging doors of HM Prison Slade, there’s brief behind-the-scenes footage from 1977 (more!), and Kate Beckinsale, daughter of Richard (Godber) will bring a lump to your throat with a story about her favourite episode.
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The final chapter of this comforting hug of a programme focuses on the third and final series of Porridge – and its best, according to writers Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais. Also the
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The final chapter of this comforting hug of a programme focuses on the third and final series of Porridge – and its best, according to writers Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais. Also the spin-offs: Going Straight, in which Fletcher returns to civvy street; the 1979 movie (filmed at Chelmsford Prison during refurbishment after a fire); and the US adaptation, which featured a Puerto-Rican Fletch.
Going Straight is regularly dismissed in comedy textbooks as disappointing, but the only series made (in 1978) still attracted 15 million and won a Bafta. And marked an early appearance of Nicholas (Only Fools) Lyndhurst as Fletcher’s son Raymond.
Christopher Biggins (Lukewarm), Sam Kelly (“Bunny” Warren) and Tony Osoba (McLaren) express pride at their involvement in co-starring in Porridge. And Kate Beckinsale, only five on the death of her father Richard, who played Godber, says she finds repeats “endlessly consoling and surprising”. As do many.
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Forty years on from the original series, Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais present a brand new half hour episode of the classic sitcom Porridge. Kevin Bishop plays Fletch, grandson of
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Forty years on from the original series, Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais present a brand new half hour episode of the classic sitcom Porridge. Kevin Bishop plays Fletch, grandson of Ronnie Barker's iconic character, who is in prison for cyber crimes and getting himself into more trouble while he is in there.
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