Dick Clement
Director
Porridge (1974)
Specials
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.
Released Sept. 5, 1974
Episode 30 min
10+
Keywords: tmdb.prison, tmdb.judge, tmdb.england, tmdb.theft, tmdb.warden, tmdb.sitcom, imdb.british-humour + 18 more, imdb.cell, imdb.cell-mate, imdb.food-in-title, imdb.title-spoken-by-character, tmdb.convict, imdb.prison, imdb.sitcom, imdb.judge, imdb.warden, imdb.criminal, imdb.1970s, imdb.british-comedy, imdb.prisoner, imdb.laugh-track, imdb.incarceration, imdb.british-prison, imdb.dark-comedy, imdb.sitcom-comedy
Network: BBC One
Country: United Kingdom
Languages:
English
S0E1 - Prisoner and Escort - Pilot
Norman Stanley Fletcher, a career criminal and his escorts - soft-hearted Mr Barraclough (Brian Wilde) and authoritarian Mr Mackay (Fulton Mackay) going up to prison.
April 1, 1973, midnight
S0E2 - No Way Out
An escape plan is being hatched and Fletcher wants to stay well out of it. Perhaps spending Christmas in the prison hospital might help to keep him out of trouble
Dec. 24, 1975, midnight
S0E3 - The Desperate Hours
Fletcher and Godber have spent months fermenting "Chateau Slade". They don't get chance to drink it, however, when the "screws" discover it's whereabouts. It begins to look as if Fletcher will be spending Christmas in solitary confinement.
Dec. 24, 1976, midnight
S0E4 - Porridge - The Movie
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.
Aug. 12, 1979, midnight
S0E5 - Case for Britain's Best Sitcom
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' had proper villains too! No sitcom has ever had a character quite as mean as the man who really runs Slade Prison - Harry Grout. And prison officer Mackay, played to neurotic perfection by Fulton Mackay, very nearly stole the show from under the convicts' noses
Jan. 6, 2009, midnight
S0E6 - Interview with Ronnie Barker
Ronnie Barker looks back on the classic sitcom.
S0E7 - Life Beyond the Box: Norman Stanley Fletcher
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.
Dec. 29, 2003, midnight
S0E8 - Porridge: Inside Out - Sent Down
A making-of documentary celebrating the 40th anniversary of the television sitcom Porridge (Episode 1 of 3).
May 21, 2014, midnight
S0E9 - Porridge: Inside Out - Banged Up
A making-of documentary celebrating the 40th anniversary of the television sitcom Porridge (Episode 2 of 3).
May 28, 2014, midnight
S0E10 - Porridge: Inside Out - Good Behaviour
A making-of documentary celebrating the 40th anniversary of the television sitcom Porridge (Episode 3 of 3).
June 4, 2014, midnight
Network: BBC One
Episode Runtime: 30 min.
Season Runtime: 540 min.
Released: Sept. 5, 1974
Last Air Date: March 25, 1977, midnight
Status: Ended
Certification: 15 / 10+
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