Prisoner And Escort (Porridge) 50 Years Old Today
Ronnie Barker’s first outing as Norman Stanley Fletcher first hit our TV screens 50 years ago today.
Coming second in the running order for Ronnie Barker’s Seven Of One BBC TV series it was the first to develop into a full series which would begin a year later in 1974 and run for 3 series until 1977 overlapping with the first series of Open All Hours which began in 1976.
Summary
The episode opens at St Pancras railway station as Fletcher is waiting to catch a train at the beginning of his journey to start a five year prison sentence.
Next we see Fletcher on the train and meet his two prison guard escorts Mr Mackay and Mr Barrowclough. He soon finds out that Mr Mackay is very strict and doesn’t allow him to read his paper. Whilst Mr Barrowclough is softer, and tries to be friendly towards Fletcher. Being a Scotsman Mackay is unhappy about having to do a prison escort on New Year’s Eve.
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In the North of England, McKay and Barrowclough take Fletcher into a prison van for the next part of their journey. It soon transpires that Slade Prison is in the middle of nowhere, miles away from the nearest village. Fletcher asks to use the bathroom, but Mackay does not allow this, as he is handcuffed to Fletcher. Mackay instead allows Fletcher to go quickly behind the van. Fletcher eyes up the fuel cap, implying that he is going to urinate in the petrol tank.
When later in the journey the van breaks down Mackay goes for help, leaving Fletcher alone with Barrowclough. Fletcher sees his chance to escape. Persuading Barrowclough to take shelter from the cold and dark in a nearby cottage. He proceeds to get his escort drunk with some whiskey that has “fallen out” of Mackay’s pocket then manages to persuade him to take the handcuffs off. When Barrowclough falls asleep the handcuffs are not the only thing that’s off.
Fletcher manages to escape only to come full circle back to the cottage.
Finally back at Slade Prison Mackay informs Fletcher that the mechanic’s report of the vehicle found something other than petrol in the tank. Mackay warns Fletcher he’ll be keeping a close watch on him. In the opposite scenario Barrowclough is rather pleased with himself having had the Governor congratulate him on keeping his cool during a difficult situation. The two strike up an uneasy friendship.
Clip
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Cast
Norman Stanley Fletcher – Ronnie Barker
Mr Mackay – Fulton Mackay
Mr Barrowclough – Brian Wilde
Details
Channel: BBC2
Written By: Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais
Original Transmission Date: 1st April 1973