Norman Stanley Fletcher

Last updated
Norman Stanley Fletcher
Porridge/Going Straight character
Normanstanleyfletcher.PNG
Ronnie Barker as Fletcher.
Portrayed by
Duration1974–1978, 2003
First appearance"Prisoner and Escort (1973)
Last appearance Life Beyond the Box: Norman Stanley Fletcher (2003)
Created by Dick Clement and
Ian La Frenais
Spin-off
appearances
  • Going Straight (1978)
  • Life Beyond the Box (2003)
In-universe information
Occupation Pub landlord
(former criminal)
Brothers
  • George Fletcher
  • Rodney Fletcher
  • Harry Fletcher
Wife
  • Isobel Fletcher (divorced)
  • Gloria Fletcher
SonsRaymond Fletcher
Daughters
Grandsons
  • Norman Godber
  • Nigel Norman Fletcher
Uncles
  • Godfrey
  • Wilfred
Other relatives Lennie Godber (son-in-law)

Norman Stanley Fletcher, commonly nicknamed "Fletch", is the main fictional character in the BBC sitcom Porridge , and the spin-off, Going Straight . [1] He was played by Ronnie Barker. [2]

In the pilot episode, Fletcher claims to Mr. Barrowclough that he was sentenced for stealing a truck, which then crashed through garden walls and a toolshed when its brakes failed. This turns out to be a shaggy dog story leading up to the punchline "I asked for six other fences to be taken into consideration". In other episodes, it is stated that he was sentenced for breaking and entering and that he is a career burglar. The opening of each episode refers to Fletcher as a "habitual criminal."

His tactics range from the practical (stealing pills from the prison doctor and eggs from the prison farmyard), to the symbolic (finding new and imaginative ways to stick two fingers up at Mackay, the antagonist prison officer, and get away with it). In return, Mackay's frenzied, neurotic attempts to catch Fletcher out, when fruitful, give the warder a level of smugness and satisfaction that is only accentuated by his charge's hostility and skulking.

Fletch is also surprised when this spell in prison finds him taking on the role of father figure. It is left to him to help Warren when he needs a letter read or written and to oversee new, younger inmates such as McClaren and Godber.

Fletch is manipulative and can play upon the sympathies and weaknesses of people like the liberal warden, Mr. Barrowclough, and the ineffectual prison governor to acquire more pleasant employment, accommodation, or special privileges.

Fletcher was born, in his words, "two-two-thirty-two" - 2 February 1932. He is a native of Muswell Hill. His elder daughter Ingrid was conceived in Highgate Cemetery, shortly before his marriage to Isobel at the age of 19. He also has a younger daughter Marion and a son named Raymond. Fletcher did his post-war National Service in the early 1950s, including service in the Malayan Emergency. He joined the Royal Army Service Corps or RASC, which he refers to in army slang as "Run Away, Someone's Coming". He was "King of the Teds" in Muswell Hill, circa 1955, and retains fond memories of Gloria, a seamstress with whom he had an affair at that time, and who used to tighten his trousers for him.

Upon release from prison, Fletch decided to give up his criminal career. In the follow-up series, Going Straight , he took a job as a hotel night-porter but found himself often tempted back into crime, although he resisted. His wife, Isobel, had left him, leaving him in sole charge of Raymond.

When last seen, in the mockumentary Life Beyond the Box: Norman Stanley Fletcher , Fletch was the landlord of a pub in Muswell Hill, alongside his second wife, Gloria (an old flame briefly mentioned in Porridge).

In 2009, the character was revived in a stage production, penned by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, and is played by Shaun Williamson.

In the 2016 revival of the show, also titled Porridge, it is revealed that Fletcher died circa 2011.

Personality and traits

For a man of his age and poor education, Fletch is highly intelligent. He speaks with confidence and a large vocabulary on a wide range of topics including politics, race relations, the justice system, and society in general. It appears he possess a considerable degree of natural intellect. He is a tolerant man who briefly dabbled in Marxist politics in his youth but is often cynical about the world and generally pessimistic. His attitude never goes beyond simple complaining and playful teasing of Mr. Mackay, although Fletch occasionally shows a darker side which reflects his true mental state, usually when he is talking about his past. The large amount of time he has spent in prison has left him feeling that he has wasted his life. In the final episode of Going Straight, he is convinced not to return to crime after walking into a pet shop and seeing the animals in cages, reminding him of his time in prison. He struggles to adapt to life on the outside after his spell in Slade prison, and his frayed nerves have resulted in a quick temper, shown by how quick he is to shout at his daughter Ingrid. He is also something of a drinker - on one occasion, after sneaking away from an outdoor trip, he goes straight to a pub and drinks several pints of beer, one of which he downs in one. In Going Straight, he consumes several pints of beer and a few whisky chasers just on the train from Carlisle to London. He mentions that an "average day" in Muswell Hill involved visiting four different pubs for a "swift half". He is upset that his wife Isobel has left him and struggles to cope with the responsibility of holding his family together.

Fletch is a Tottenham Hotspur supporter; in 'Porridge' S1E6, Fletch tells an inmate that he spent a weekend on compassionate leave "in the pub," "eating roast beef," and "watching Spurs win at home." [3] In Going Straight S1E1 he collects his personal possessions upon his release from the prison which includes a Tottenham Hotspur key chain. [4] The Fletch character may have a second team, though, since in the film version of 'Porridge' he says he's supported Leyton Orient for 20 years, [5] and in 'Going Straight' S1E3 he plans to attend a match between Orient and Mansfield Town, hoping that Orient "might just scrape a point." [6]

Related Research Articles

<i>Porridge</i> (1974 TV series) British TV sitcom (1974–1977)

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.

<i>Going Straight</i> British TV sitcom (BBC1, 1978)

Going Straight is a BBC sitcom created and written by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, and starring Ronnie Barker and Richard Beckinsale. The programme was a direct spin-off to the sitcom Porridge, which all four were involved in, with its premise surrounding the exploits of Barker's character Norman Stanley Fletcher following his release from prison and his attempts to not commit another crime for the sake of his family, despite the allure that crime brings. The programme also featured the appearance of Patricia Brake, reprising her role in Porridge, and Nicholas Lyndhurst. Both Fulton Mackay and Tony Osoba guest starred in the first episode, also reprising their earlier roles.

"No Way Out" is the first Christmas special of the BBC sitcom Porridge. It first aired on 24 December 1975. In this episode, prisoner Tommy Slocombe makes an escape attempt in the lead-up to Christmas.

"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 the fourth episode from the first series of the British sitcom Porridge. 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.

"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.

"A Night In" is an episode of the British sitcom Porridge, made for the BBC. It first aired on 19 September 1974, and is the third episode of the first series. A bottle episode, and the only one in which officers Mackay and Barrowclough did not appear, it focuses on Fletcher finding himself sharing a cell with Godber and developing a friendship with him, despite having to endure a difficult first night with him.

<i>Porridge</i> (film) 1979 British comedy film by Dick Clement

Porridge is a 1979 British comedy film directed by Dick Clement and starring Ronnie Barker, Richard Beckinsale, Fulton Mackay and Brian Wilde. It was written by Clement and Ian La Frenais based on their BBC television series Porridge (1974–1977). 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.

"Ways and Means" is an episode of the British sitcom Porridge, made for the BBC. It first aired on 3 October 1974, and is the fifth episode of the first series. In this episode, Fletcher intends to help new prisoner who has an attitude problem, when they decide to hold a rooftop protest.

"Men Without Women" is an episode of the British sitcom Porridge, made for the BBC. It first aired on 10 October 1974, and is the final episode of the first series. In this episode, Fletcher offers his services as an agony aunt to his fellow inmates, but later has to return home when he learns he has marital problems.

"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 a tin of pineapple chunks 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 with bad news from his fiancée.

"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.

"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 the fifth episode from the third series of the BBC sitcom Porridge which aired on 18 March 1977. In the episode, Godber is studying for his O Level History exam but does not approve of 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.

<i>Porridge</i> (2016 TV series) British TV series or programme

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.

References

  1. ↑ Erwin James (2005-10-05). "Erwin James: Doing time with Porridge | Media". The Guardian. Retrieved 2013-08-25.
  2. ↑ "Comedy - Porridge". BBC. Retrieved 2013-08-25.
  3. ↑ ""Porridge" Men Without Women (TV Episode 1974) - IMDb". IMDb . Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  4. ↑ ""Going Straight" Going Home (TV Episode 1978) - IMDb". IMDb . Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  5. ↑ "Doing Time ("Porridge")". IMDB. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  6. ↑ ""Going Straight" Going Sour (TV Episode 1978) - IMDb". IMDb . Retrieved 2 May 2023.
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