Porridge (2017 TV series)
| Porridge | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Genre | Sitcom |
| Created by |
Dick Clement Ian La Frenais |
| Written by |
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| Directed by | |
| Starring | |
| Composer(s) | Max Harris |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 7 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | |
| Producer(s) | Richard Webb |
| Camera setup | Multi-camera |
| Running time | 28 minutes |
| Production company(s) | BBC Studios |
| Release | |
| Original network | BBC One |
| Picture format | 16:9 1080i |
| Audio format | Stereo |
| Original release | 28 August 2016 – 10 November 2017 |
Porridge is a British sitcom, starring Kevin Bishop, written 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 (played by Bishop), the grandson of Norman Stanley Fletcher, who is sent to Wakeley Prison to serve a five year sentence for cyber crimes.
The programme's creation came about when the BBC decided to air a one-off special of Porridge as part of its Landmark Sitcom Season in 2016, which later proved popular with viewers and led to a series being commissioned, with Clement and La Frenais recruited into the show's production team. The first episode premiered on 6 October 2017.
The main storylines of the show focus on its central character, Nigel Norman Fletcher, a talented computer specialist, who is sent to the fictional Wakeley Prison in southern England, to serve a five year prison sentence for cyber crimes, the proceeds of which he used to support his now ex-girlfriend's lifestyle. Much like his grandfather, Norman Stanley Fletcher, Nigel has his own personal opinions of criminal life that he likes to voice out, though he considers himself to be an "uncommon criminal", as he has some regret of the actions he committed, and often seeks to avoid being caught up in illegal schemes that could endanger his well-being or add time to his sentence. Each episode's plot usually focuses on events that Fletcher becomes involved in.
In addition to Fletcher, the series also features an array of supporting characters. Like his grandfather, Fletcher shares a cell with another prisoner named Joe Lotterby, a senior but veteran old-time criminal who knew his grandfather and his old cell-mate Godber, and has a somewhat cynical view on life as a result of his previous sentences in prison, while he often comes into conflict with prison officer Meekie, whose character is similar to that of Mr Mackay from the original series, in that he firmly dislikes Fletcher and often suspects him of being up to something, and who often mocks him in return as a result. Although Fletcher has a firm dislike of the prison guards, he has some respect for prison officer Braithwaite, whose character is similar to that of Mr Barrowlough in the original series, in that he is more gentle and trusting of the prisoners and thus quite gullible, although he is quite meek when fights break out and slightly dim on some areas, such as jokes. Unlike his grandfather, Fletcher is close friends with two other prisoners, Shel and Aziz, and often has dealings with Dougie Parfitt, a hardcore criminal involved in contraband and drugs, who sometimes requests Fletcher's help with a scheme he is working on, and is often assisted by his right-hand man Scudds (referred to as "Scuddsy" by Fletcher), who is somewhat dim-witted, but has feelings and a deep respect for Fletcher.
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