"Porridge" (1974) TV series 1974-1977

User Rating:

9.0/10   

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Release Date:

5 September 1974 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Fletcher's doing five years for breaking and entering. He's quick witted and never short of a trick or two to make his life that little bit easier...

Plot Keywords:

Prison | Title Spoken By Character

Awards:

4 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Ronnie Barker	...	Norman Stanley Fletcher (20 episodes, 1974-1977)
Brian Wilde	...	Mr. Barrowclough (19 episodes, 1974-1977)
Fulton Mackay	...	Mr. Mackay (19 episodes, 1974-1977)
Richard Beckinsale	...	Lennie Godber (19 episodes, 1974-1977)
Sam Kelly	...	Warren / ... (11 episodes, 1974-1977)
Tony Osoba	...	McLaren (9 episodes, 1974-1977)

Runtime:

30 min (19 episodes) | 40 min (1 episode) | 45 min (1 episode)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Black and White | Colour

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

New Zealand:M (seasons 1-3) | Australia:M (some episodes) | Australia:PG | UK:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Chelmsford Prison, Chelmsford, Essex, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

The BBC production team had planned to film Porridge in a real prison, however before filming began the Home Office refused. The BBC improvised. They used the Main Gate House, of former St Albans Prison, Victoria Street, St Albans, Hertfordshire as the main gate of "Slade Prison". Slade Prison's metal walkways and communal area were filmed in a large metal tank at Elstree Studios. The huge tank was previously used for underwater filming however the BBC converted it into the two floor 'prison' seen in the programme. External scenes at "Slade" (e.g. the rooftop strike, exercise ground) were filmed at various London psychiatric hospitals. Most other interior scenes (e.g. Fletcher's cell) were filmed at BBC Studios.

Quotes:

[Fletcher and Warren are trying to convince Godber it's all right to cheat]
Warren: You know when you're playing draughts with Fletch, and he says he's dropped one and can you please look for it, and you do, and when you get up again you see the board's been re-arranged? That's all cheating is.
Fletch: Yeah - that's all it is.
Warren: Oh, so you admit to it!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Comedy Connections: Porridge (#1.1)" (2003)

Britain does it again. Another master work

This show is definately one of the top ten best sitcoms in Britain and maybe even in the world. Ronnie Barkers best piece of comedy ever. One of the best points about it is the originality and imagination put into the idea of it being set in a prison. Not many 70's sitcoms do very well but this along with Fawlty Towers are exceptions of that decade. Highly recommended to anyone with a decent sense of humour. I just wish we had things like this now instead of "The office" and "Office Gossip", both of which can make a coffee-addicted insomniac fall asleep. Watch this show whenever its on. Best quote:

Mckay: Where's (can't remember name)?

Fletcher: Oh hes outside desecrating holy ground.

Mckay: He's what?

Fletcher: He's having a slash in a church yard.