"The Desperate Hours" | |
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Porridge episode | |
Episode no. | Episode Christmas Special 2 |
Directed by | Sydney Lotterby |
Written by | Dick Clement Ian La Frenais |
Original air date | 24 December 1976 |
"The Desperate Hours" is the second Christmas special of the BBC sitcom Porridge . It first aired on 24 December 1976. [1] 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.
It is nearly time for Christmas, and Fletcher has been making wine for the prisoners of Slade Prison. The Governor, who is strictly teetotal, has a zero tolerance on illicit drinking in Slade Prison. After Mr Barrowclough fails to discover alcohol in Fletcher and Godber's cell, Fletcher reveals to Godber that he hid the booze in their metal bedpost. Unfortunately, Mr Mackay catches them in the act, and takes them to see the Governor.
It turns out that the Governor is feeling ill with an upset stomach, and has to keep running to the toilet. Urwin, the new trusty, comes in with the Governor's cup of tea. As the Governor is making another visit to the toilet, Urwin reveals his plan. He produces a gun and takes Barrowclough and the Governor's secretary, Mrs Jamieson, hostage.
Urwin makes Mackay leave and forces Barrowclough to phone the nearest RAF base to demand a helicopter and £10,000 in used notes. Word soon gets out about the kidnapping; however, Fletcher and Godber are also implicated in it. Mackay arrives with several cups of coffee, which Urwin accepts. One of these cups is drugged, and intended to knock out Urwin, but Barrowclough messes up the procedure and Fletcher drinks it instead and falls asleep.
While Fletcher is fast asleep, it is revealed that Barrowclough has been having an affair with Mrs Jamieson. Upon waking up, Fletcher requests to look at Urwin's file. It turns out that he has been recommended for psychiatric treatment several times before, but has been turned down. Fletcher persuades Urwin to give him the gun and to give himself up. Godber is amazed at Fletcher's bravery, but Fletcher knew the gun was a fake as he saw Urwin make it in the hobby shop. Fletcher fires the gun in the air to prove his point, and the shot hits the ceiling, showering them with plaster, meaning that the gun was in fact loaded. Luckily, no one is hurt.
Later, Barrowclough visits Fletcher and informs him that Urwin is now receiving psychiatric treatment like he requested. Also, the charges against Fletcher and Godber of brewing the illegal alcohol have been dropped. Barrowclough asks Fletcher to forget about the affair between him and Mrs Jamieson. Fletcher points out that he was asleep during this revelation, but then calls Barrowclough "Henry", revealing that he was not entirely unconscious and had heard the conversation.
Actor | Role |
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Ronnie Barker | Norman Stanley Fletcher |
Brian Wilde | Mr Barrowclough |
Fulton Mackay | Mr Mackay |
Richard Beckinsale | Lennie Godber |
Dudley Sutton | Reg Urwin |
Sam Kelly | Warren |
Tony Osoba | McLaren |
Ken Wynne | Keegan |
Michael Redfern | Tulip |
Michael Barrington | Governor Venables |
Jane Wenham | Mrs Jamieson |
Pat Gorman | Prisoner Officer (uncredited) |
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.
"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.
"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.
"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.
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 the warders 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.
"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. Blanco Webb is due to be paroled, but he doesn't 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.