"No Way Out" | |
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Porridge episode | |
Episode no. | Episode Christmas Special 1 |
Directed by | Sydney Lotterby |
Written by | Dick Clement Ian La Frenais |
Original air date | 24 December 1975 |
"No Way Out" is the first Christmas special of the BBC sitcom Porridge . It first aired on 24 December 1975. [1] In this episode, prisoner Tommy Slocombe makes an escape attempt in the lead-up to Christmas.
Christmas has come to Slade Prison. Godber, with his innocent nature, likes the idea of Christmas, but Fletcher tells him that Christmas in prison is little different to any other day. Godber points out that there are carol singers, but Fletcher remarks that they are there to drown out the sound of Tommy Slocombe's tunnelling.
Fletcher tries to visit the prison's infirmary with his bad knee, but the prison doctor refuses to admit him. Instead, he gives Fletcher an appointment at a civilian hospital, Carlisle General. With this information, Harry Grout requests that Fletcher picks up an important object from a nurse at the hospital.
Mr Barrowclough is given the job of escorting Fletcher to hospital, although he finds the very edgy Fletcher's grumbling a dampener on his day. At the hospital, a young nurse gives Fletcher a "Christmas card", which turns out to be a fake passport for Tommy Slocombe. Grouty also asks that Fletcher and Godber help with the choir, but also insists that Fletcher provides him with a bicycle.
Unfortunately, Barrowclough's bicycle is stolen as part of the escape plan and, on confronting Godber, Warren and Fletcher about the theft, he is left in a state of confusion with their responses. Mr Mackay berates Barrowclough for being too trusting with the prisoners. To make matters worse, Mackay discovers what is going on with the tunnelling, and orders the men back to their cells. Lukewarm, a skilled pickpocket, manages to steal Barrowclough's watch under the façade of wishing him a Merry Christmas. Mackay's wallet is also stolen.
Due to these events, Christmas is cancelled in Slade Prison. Fletcher realises that things have gone too far and speaks to Harry Grout, who admits that the tunnel is off course anyway. Fletcher arranges to have a word with Mackay; his plan is for Mackay to fall into the tunnel, and Grout can use the distraction to smuggle Slocombe out another way, but Fletcher miscalculates the tunnel's location and ends up falling into the tunnel himself.
With the escape attempt apparently thwarted, Christmas is reinstated and Fletcher is in the infirmary. As Fletcher is eating Christmas lunch, Mackay tries to bribe him with an almost full small bottle of whisky if he tells him where the earth from the tunnel went. Fletcher tells Mackay that they dug another tunnel and hid the earth there. The episode ends with a triumphant Fletcher drinking his whisky and wishing Mackay a Merry Christmas.
Actor | Role |
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Ronnie Barker | Norman Stanley Fletcher |
Brian Wilde | Mr Barrowclough |
Fulton Mackay | Mr Mackay |
Richard Beckinsale | Lennie Godber |
Peter Vaughan | Harry Grout |
Graham Crowden | Prison Doctor |
Sam Kelly | Warren |
Christopher Biggins | Lukewarm |
Carol Hawkins | Sandra |
Elisabeth Day | Nurse |
Porridge is a British sitcom, starring Ronnie Barker and Richard Beckinsale, written by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, and broadcast on BBC1 from 1974 to 1977. The programme ran for three series and two Christmas specials. A feature film of the same name based on the series was released in 1979.
Norman Stanley Fletcher, commonly nicknamed "Fletch", is the main fictional character in the BBC sitcom Porridge, and the spin-off, Going Straight. He was played by Ronnie Barker.
"The Desperate Hours" is the second Christmas special of the BBC sitcom Porridge. It first aired on 24 December 1976. In this episode, Fletcher and Godber are in trouble for brewing liquor in the lead-up to Christmas, but are caught up in a hostage situation in the Governor's office. It was the only episode of Porridge to air in 1976.
"A Day Out" is an episode of the British sitcom Porridge, made for the BBC. It first aired on 26 September 1974, and is the fourth episode of the first series. In this episode, Fletcher and some of his fellow prisoners are allowed out for the day to dig drainage ditches for the local council, only for mishaps to soon occur.
"Happy Release" is an episode of the British sitcom Porridge, made for the BBC. It first aired on 21 November 1975, and is the fifth episode of the second series. In this episode, Fletcher concocts a scheme to help another prisoner get revenge on someone for cheating them of their possessions.
"New Faces, Old Hands" is the first episode of British sitcom Porridge, produced for the BBC. It first aired on 5 September 1974, and forms part of the first series of the sitcom. The episode focuses on Norman Stanley Fletcher's arrival at Slade Prison alongside two others, where he attempts to manipulate things to his benefit.
Porridge is a 1979 British comedy film based on the television series Porridge. It was released under the title Doing Time in the United States. Most of Prison Officers and inmates from the original series appear in the film, with the notable exceptions of Lukewarm, Blanco, Heslop and Harris. There is also a different governor, played by Geoffrey Bayldon rather than series regular Michael Barrington.
"Prisoner and Escort" is the pilot episode of the BBC sitcom Porridge. It was originally broadcast on 1 April 1973 as part of a series of pilot shows with the overall title Seven of One. In this episode, Norman Stanley Fletcher is transported from London to Slade Prison by Mr Mackay and Mr Barrowclough.
"The Hustler" is an episode of the British sitcom Porridge, produced for the BBC. It first aired on 12 September 1974, and is the second episode of the first series. In this episode, Fletcher and his friends hold an illicit gambling syndicate under Mr Mackay's nose.
"Just Desserts" is an episode of the British Porridge. It first aired on 24 October 1975, and is the first episode of the second series. In this episode, Fletcher finds something he stole has since been stolen, and this soon causes problems for others.
"Heartbreak Hotel" is an episode of the British sitcom Porridge, made for the BBC. It first aired on 31 October 1975, and is the second episode of the second series. In this episode, Fletcher becomes depressed after his daughter visits him, while Godber receives a letter from his fiancée with bad news.
"Disturbing the Peace" is an episode of the British sitcom Porridge, made for the BBC. It first aired on 7 November 1975, and is the third episode of the second series. In this episode, Mr Mackay leaves Slade Prison to go on a course, though the prisoners soon wish for him back when they discover how awful his replacement is.
"The Harder They Fall" is an episode of the British sitcom Porridge, made for the BBC. It first aired on 28 November 1975, and is the sixth episode of the second series. In this episode, Fletcher finds himself in trouble when two rival prisoners decide to fix a boxing match, leaving him at risk of the wrath of one of them for helping the other.
"A Storm in a Teacup" is an episode of the BBC sitcom Porridge. It aired on 18 February 1977. In this episode, Fletcher is tasked by Grouty to replace a bottle of pills Harris stole. But there is a surprise for Fletcher in his teacup.
"Poetic Justice" is an episode of the BBC sitcom Porridge. It aired on 25 February 1977. A new inmate arrives at the prison, and Fletcher is astounded that the inmate is the judge who sentenced him.
"Pardon Me" is an episode of the BBC sitcom Porridge. It aired on 11 March 1977. In the episode, elderly prisoner Blanco Webb is due to be paroled, but he does not accept it, as he would be admitting his guilt. Fletcher and the rest of Slade Prison petition to the Home Office for Blanco to be pardoned.
"A Test of Character" is an episode of the BBC sitcom Porridge. It aired on 18 March 1977. Godber is studying for his O Level History exam, but doesn't want Fletcher's method of cheating. Meanwhile, Fletcher and Warren are having a dispute on the Solar System.
"Final Stretch" is the final episode of the BBC sitcom Porridge, the sixth episode of the third series. It first aired on 25 March 1977. Godber's upcoming parole hearing is threatened by the prospect of a fight with fellow inmate Jarvis. Meanwhile, Fletcher is suspicious of his daughter's holiday plans.
Porridge is a British television sitcom, starring Kevin Bishop, written by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, and broadcast on BBC One. The show is a sequel to the original 1974 series of the same name, which both Clement and La Frenais wrote. The sitcom focuses on prison inmate, Nigel Norman Fletcher, the grandson of Norman Stanley Fletcher, who is sent to Wakeley Prison to serve a five year sentence for cyber crimes.