Porridge
Porridge

Porridge

1974 3 Seasons 18 Episodes ⭐ 8.1 Comedy

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.

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.

Seasons & Episodes

EP 1

New Faces, Old Hands

“Twenty-three and you want to go straight? What kind of talk is that? You've got your whole life in front of you!” I

EP 2

The Hustler

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'

EP 3

A Night In

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

EP 4

A Day Out

The rest of the working party are thrilled to have a day out, but Fletch is masking indifference - what's so exciting ab

EP 5

Ways and Means

Who would want to spend eight hours a day sewing fishing nets? Not Fletch, who is hell-bent on a cushy job in the librar

EP 6

Men Without Women

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

EP 1

Just Desserts

There's an outbreak of petty pilfering from the inmates in Slade prison. Fletcher is disgusted - after all, stealing may

EP 2

Heartbreak Hotel

Godber gets bad news from his girlfriend. Fletcher tries to provide help and advice, but perhaps daughter Ingrid might p

EP 3

Disturbing the Peace

When Mr Mackay leaves Slade Prison, Fletcher thinks that "happy days are here again". Until, that is, he meets Mr Mackay

EP 4

No Peace For the Wicked

It's Saturday afternoon and Fletcher looks forward to a quiet read. Everyone else seems to have other ideas about how Fl

EP 5

Happy Release

Fletcher is having a spell in the prison hospital with a broken ankle. He's sharing a ward with old Blanco, who tells hi

EP 6

The Harder They Fall

Godber takes up boxing and wins a place in the prison championship, so Fletcher sees a chance for a bit of a flutter. Th

EP 1

A Storm in a Teacup

When a bottle of pills goes missing from the Doctor's surgery, Harry Grout is worried that investigation of the theft by

EP 2

Poetic Justice

Fletcher's new cellmate turns out to be the judge who sentenced him to five years in Slade Prison.

EP 3

Rough Justice

Fletcher is worried that Judge Rawley might rob him of his main source of income - writing letters for illiterate inmate

EP 4

Pardon Me

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 Boa

EP 5

A Test of Character

Godber is working hard for an extra O-level. Fletcher tries to persuade him that cheating would be a good way of ensurin

EP 6

Final Stretch

Godber is due to appear before the parole board, but a fight with another inmate puts his parole in jeopardy. It's up to

Popular Cast

Ronnie Barker
Ronnie Barker
Norman Stanley Fletcher
Richard Beckinsale
Richard Beckinsale
Lennie Godber
Fulton Mackay
Fulton Mackay
Mr. Mackay
Brian Wilde
Brian Wilde
Mr. Barrowclough