Watch Porridge

Porridge is a classic sitcom that aired on BBC One between 1974 and 1977. It stars Ronnie Barker as Norman Stanley Fletcher, a seasoned and resourceful criminal serving a prison sentence in HMP Slade. The show is set in the confined environment of the prison, and its characters are predominantly inmates and prison staff, including Mr. Mackay (played by Fulton Mackay), a strict and authoritarian Scottish prison officer, and Lennie Godber (played by Richard Beckinsale), a naive and affable young inmate who becomes Norman's fellow co-conspirator.

The show takes its name from the British prison slang for oatmeal, which was a mainstay of the prisoners' diet. Porridge is full of wit, humor, and satire, deftly using the microcosm of prison life as a metaphor for wider society. Norman, played to perfection by Barker, embodies a kind of roguish charm and world-weary experience that make him an immediately compelling character. He is a wise and wily veteran whose humor and quick thinking are always at odds with Mr. Mackay's stern principles.

One of the key strengths of the show is the brilliant ensemble cast, which delivers outstanding performances across the board. Richard Beckinsale's Lennie Godber is the perfect foil to Barker's Fletcher, and his character's innocence and naivety are a constant source of charm and pathos throughout the series. Mackay, played by Fulton Mackay, is a superbly drawn caricature of the strict and authoritarian figurehead of the prison institution, whose efforts to maintain order and discipline are continually undermined by the prisoners' cheeky antics.

The humor of Porridge is clever, never losing sight of the fact that it is set in a prison, yet also never forgetting that it is fundamentally a comedy. The show's writers take the bleak, oppressive reality of prison life as a starting point, but their real genius lies in subverting expectations and turning these conditions into a springboard for absurdist storytelling. The humor is often bittersweet, with the characters finding ways to inject humanity and compassion into their otherwise bleak circumstance.

Porridge is full of memorable moments, from the iconic opening sequence featuring the theme song "The Prisoner's Song" to the various scams and schemes that Norman and his fellow inmates get up to. The show is also noteworthy for its use of slang and jargon, which adds a level of authenticity to the depiction of life behind bars.

The show's setting provides fertile ground for social commentary and satire, with the characters offering sly observations on everything from politics to class to celebrity. Yet what really sets the show apart is its humanity. Porridge never loses sight of the fact that its characters are real people with flaws and foibles, who are often just trying to get by in a harsh and unforgiving world. And while the humor is often farcical, there is always a sense of empathy and compassion beneath the surface.

In summary, Porridge is an absolute classic of British television. Its wit, humor, and irreverence have made it one of the most beloved sitcoms of all time, and its influence can be seen in countless shows that have followed in its wake. With its timeless characters, indelible humor, and sharp social commentary, Porridge is an enduring masterpiece that stands the test of time.

Porridge is a series that ran for 3 seasons (34 episodes) between September 5, 1974 and on BBC One