Porridge (1973)
- TV sitcom
- BBC One / BBC Two
- 1973 - 1977
- 21 episodes (3 series)
Ronnie Barker stars as Norman Stanley Fletcher, trying to keep his nose clean and guiding his young 'roomie' Godber, whilst residing in HMP Slade. Stars Ronnie Barker, Richard Beckinsale, Fulton Mackay, Brian Wilde, Michael Barrington and more.
- Series 2, Episode 4 repeated Friday at 9pm on U&Yesterday
Episode menu
Series 1, Episode 1 - New Faces, Old Hands
It's New Year's Day, and Fletch enters Slade Prison, along with two fellow prisoners, returning resident Heslop and new boy Godber. Fletch introduces Godber to the ways of survival inside - "little victories" over the warders and other staff - although his scheming doesn't quite have the desired effect.
Broadcast details
- Date
- Thursday 5th September 1974
- Time
- 8:30pm
- Channel
- BBC One
- Length
- 30 minutes
Cast & crew
| Ronnie Barker | Fletcher |
| Richard Beckinsale | Godber |
| Fulton Mackay | Mr Mackay |
| Brian Wilde | Mr Barrowclough |
| Michael Barrington | Governor Venables |
| Brian Glover | Heslop |
| John Bennett | Medical Officer |
| Edward Cogdale | Prison Officer |
| Ronald Musgrove | Prison Officer |
| Keith Norrish | Prison Officer |
| Dick Clement | Writer |
| Ian La Frenais | Writer |
| Sydney Lotterby | Director |
| Sydney Lotterby | Producer |
| Geoffrey Botterill | Editor |
| Tim Gleeson | Production Designer |
| Max Harris | Composer |
Press
Porridge is not particularly about prison, and if it were it might be distasteful or intolerable. It is about Barker, in shape and content an all-round bad egg, resisting to the last wriggle and wangel and back answer, the pressure of the system. So instinctively awkward that he lies about his height merely to deceive the doctor.
Nancy Banks-Smith, The Guardian, 22nd February 1975