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IMDbPro

Porridge

  • TV Series
  • 1974–19771974–1977
  • TV-14TV-14
  • 45m
IMDb RATING
8.3/10
6.4K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,153
116
Ronnie Barker in Porridge (1974)
ComedyCrime
The prison life of Fletcher, a criminal serving a five-year sentence, as he strives to bide his time, keep his record clean, and refuses to be ground down by the prison system.The prison life of Fletcher, a criminal serving a five-year sentence, as he strives to bide his time, keep his record clean, and refuses to be ground down by the prison system.The prison life of Fletcher, a criminal serving a five-year sentence, as he strives to bide his time, keep his record clean, and refuses to be ground down by the prison system.
IMDb RATING
8.3/10
6.4K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,153
116
  • Stars
    • Ronnie Barker
    • Brian Wilde
    • Fulton Mackay
  • Stars
    • Ronnie Barker
    • Brian Wilde
    • Fulton Mackay
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 30User reviews
    • 7Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 4 BAFTA Awards

    Episodes20

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    TopTop-rated

    Photos55

    Porridge (1974)
    Ronnie Barker and Richard Beckinsale in Porridge (1974)
    Ronnie Barker in Porridge (1974)
    Michael Barrington and Maurice Denham in Porridge (1974)
    Brian Glover and Fulton Mackay in Porridge (1974)
    Ronnie Barker and Peter Vaughan in Porridge (1974)
    Ronnie Barker and Richard Beckinsale in Porridge (1974)
    Richard Beckinsale and Fulton Mackay in Porridge (1974)
    Ronnie Barker and Paul McDowell in Porridge (1974)
    Ronnie Barker and Sam Kelly in Porridge (1974)
    Ronnie Barker and Fulton Mackay in Porridge (1974)
    Brian Glover in Porridge (1974)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ronnie Barker
    Ronnie Barker
    • Norman Stanley Fletcher
    Brian Wilde
    Brian Wilde
    • Mr. Barrowclough
    Fulton Mackay
    Fulton Mackay
    • Mr. Mackay
    Richard Beckinsale
    Richard Beckinsale
    • Lennie Godber
    Sam Kelly
    Sam Kelly
    • Warren
    Tony Osoba
    Tony Osoba
    • McLaren
    Michael Barrington
    Michael Barrington
    • Governor Venables
    Christopher Biggins
    Christopher Biggins
    • Lukewarm
    Ken Jones
    • Ives
    Paul McDowell
    • Mr. Collinson
    David Jason
    David Jason
    • Blanco
    Brian Glover
    Brian Glover
    • Heslop
    Peter Vaughan
    Peter Vaughan
    • Harry Grout
    Ronald Lacey
    Ronald Lacey
    • Harris
    Patricia Brake
    Patricia Brake
    • Ingrid Fletcher
    John Dair
    • Crusher
    Maurice Denham
    Maurice Denham
    • Rawley
    Eric Dodson
    Eric Dodson
    • Mr. Banyard
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The script allowed the prisoners to swear without offending viewers by using the word "naff" in place of ruder words ("Naff off!", "Darn your own naffing socks", "Doing next to naff all"), thereby popularizing a word that had been recorded at least as early as 1966. Ronnie Barker did not claim to have invented it. In a television interview in 2003 it was explained to him on camera what the word meant, as he said he hadn't a clue. The word was actually a piece of slang for heterosexual men which was popular among homosexual men. It was an acronym for "Not Available For F******".
    • Quotes

      Mackay: There are only two rules in this prison: 1 - do not write on the walls. 2 - You obey all the rules.

    • Crazy credits
      The closing credits listed the actors' names but not the corresponding names of the characters that they played.
    • Connections
      Featured in Laughter in the House: The Story of British Sitcom (1999)

    User reviews30

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Sublime
    Easily one of the best sitcoms of all time with Ronnie Barker never better as the inmate Norman Stanley Fletcher, cocky inmate of Slade prison.

    Richard Beckinsale was also superb as the wet-behind-the-ears Birmingham cook and Fulton McKay priceless as draconian Scots warder MacKay.

    Each script by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais was a gem and the series became a firm favourite with Sean Connery who re-used one of the gags in Never Say Never Again.

    (007 has to give a urine sample and is stood across the room) Doctor: I'd like a sample.

    Bond: From here?

    Barker's version is arguably a lot funnier.

    Good support came from David Jason, Peter Vaughan and Brian Wilde and the big screen version (released in the States as Doing Time) was also a hoot.
    helpful•12
    2
    • Dodger-9
    • Mar 1, 2000

    FAQ4

    • Why do they say "naff off"?
    • What is snout?
    • Does Ronnie do the voice of the judge at the beginning?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 5, 1974 (United Kingdom)
      • United Kingdom
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • HM Prison Maidstone, Maidstone, Kent, England, UK
    • Production company
      • British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 45 minutes
      • Color
      • Mono

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