01/04/1973 Prisoner and Escort (28' 20")
(This pilot episode
is to be found as a bonus feature on the Porridge Season 2 DVD release)
Norman Stanley Fletcher
has been sentenced to prison for five years and he is being taken from Brixton Prison in London
to Slade Prison in Cumberland (now Cumbria). He is escorted by Prison Officers Mackay and Barrowclough. The prison van breaks down enroute when Fletcher fixes the petrol tank answering a call of nature and sees
an opportunity to escape. He is thwarted after losing his way in the dark and
ending up back where he started from, before he is taken the rest of the way to Slade Prison.
DVD Chapters
Prisoner and Escort
Sympathy and Understanding
Happy New Year
We Have Rules
Good Behaviour
Credits
05/09/1974 New
Faces, Old Hands
Unlike Fletcher, Lenny Godber
has never been in prison before and there are many things to be learned from old lag Fletcher, like how to ingratiate himself
with the tropical fish loving Governor.
DVD Chapters
New Faces, Old Hands
Nice To Have You With Us
What, With These Feet?
I Got Caught
Know Your Tropical Fish
A Full And Exciting Day
12/09/1974 The
Hustler
According to Fletcher, Ives
is such a loser that if Elizabeth Taylor had triplets, he'd have been "the one in the middle".
Ives is keen to be a part of Fletcher's gambling enterprise, something Mackay is determined to stop.
DVD Chapters
The Hustler
Down On The Farm
Permission Granted
A Game Going
Black And White Minstrel
Show
Ives The Grass
19/09/1974 A
Night In
Fletch explains to Godber
- who he sees as his temporary cell mate, that the best way to cope with his first night in prison, is to see it as just a
"quiet night in". The first of 698 nights in Godber has ahead of him.
DVD Chapters
A Night In
Bide Your Time
Ingrid
Religion
Who's Gloria?
Help Me Make It Throught
The Night
26/09/1974 A
Day Out
A day digging ditches means
a day out of prison for Fletcher and Godber. When Mackay leaves Mr. Barrowclough in charge, the men can't help but take advantage
of his easy-going nature. A situation Fletcher takes full advantage of with a trip to the local pub.
DVD Chapters
A Day Out
Road Party
Sing
Smoke Break
Where's The Ointment?
Locked In
03/10/1974 Ways
and Means
Flether has lost his cushy
job in the library after falling out of favour with the governor. He hatches a plan with McLaren which he hopes will restore
his standing with the governor. This involves a trip up on to the prison roof, which for an acrophobic Fletcher, wasn't part
of the plan.
DVD Chapters
Ways And Means
Surly And Hostile
McClaren
Up On The Roof
Talking McClaren Down
A Set Up
10/10/1974
Men Without Women
After reading a love letter
for Bunny Warren, Fletcher imparts his wisdom to Bunny regarding the fairer sex. But it seems Fletcher doesn't know quite
as much as he thinks when his daughter Ingrid brings him news from home.
DVD Chapters
Men Without Women
Subtlety With Strength
Benefit Of Experience
Miss Lonely Hearts
Visiting Day
Compassionate Parole
