British Comedy Guide
Porridge. Image shows from L to R: Oakes (Barrie Rutter), 'Bunny' Warren (Sam Kelly), Norman Stanley Fletcher (Ronnie Barker), Rudge (Daniel Peacock). Copyright: WitzEnd Productions
Porridge

Porridge

  • 1979 film

Feature film based on the TV sitcom of the same name, featuring Ronnie Barker and the regular cast in the classic prison comedy. Also features Richard Beckinsale, Fulton Mackay, Brian Wilde, Peter Vaughan, Geoffrey Bayldon and more.

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Porridge. Image shows from L to R: Norman Stanley Fletcher (Ronnie Barker), Mackay (Fulton Mackay), Lennie Godber (Richard Beckinsale). Copyright: WitzEnd Productions

Key details

Genre
Film
Released
1979
Stars
Ronnie Barker, Richard Beckinsale, Fulton Mackay, Brian Wilde, Peter Vaughan, Geoffrey Bayldon, Daniel Peacock, Barrie Rutter and more
Writers
Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais
Director
Dick Clement
Producers
Ian La Frenais and Allan McKeown
Company

Harry Grout, Slade Prison's resident bigwig, is arranging for the escape of fellow prisoner, Oakes, under the guise of a celebrities vs convicts morale-boosting football match.

Fletcher and Godber, nearing the end of their respective sentences, are horrified to find themselves roped in on the scheme - try as they might, Grouty's just not a man you can say 'no' to.

As the villainous plot unfolds, the pair find themselves even deeper in it than they'd feared, and are soon outside the prison walls themselves. It may be something they've dreamed of for years, but so close to their release dates, the duo are far more concerned about suffering even longer sentences for escaping.

Splitting from Oakes's getaway, Fletch and Godber are in a race against time to get themselves back across country undetected, and back inside the prison walls without being caught. Whoever heard of convicts wanting to break into a prison?

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Additional details

Tagline
Fletcher's inside story - even funnier as a film.
UK certificate
A
Duration
94 minutes
UK release
August 1979
Distributors

ITC Entertainment

Also known as
  • Doing Time (US title)
Production
Location
Camera set-up
Single camera
Picture
Colour
Soundtrack
Songs featured include "Free Inside" sung by Joe Brown, "Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick" by Ian Dury and the Blockheads and Harry Nilsson's "Without You".

Website links

Broadcast details

Most recent repeats
  • Thursday 5th September 2024 at 9:15pm on BBC4
  • Saturday 31st August 2024 at 5:15pm on BBC2
  • Saturday 23rd December 2023 at 5:35pm on BBC2

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