Porridge was voted number seven in a 2004 BBC poll of the 100 greatest British sitcoms. Three series' were broadcast on the BBC from 1974-1977. It was created by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, and centred on the lives of the inmates of Slade Prison in the wilds of Cumbria. The central character is Norman Stanley Fletcher ('Fletch') played by Ronnie Barker, and described by his sentencing judge as "an habitual criminal". The other main character is Fletch's cell-mate, Lennie Godber, played by the late Richard Beckinsale, whom Fletcher takes under his wing.
Each episode revolves around Fletcher's attempts to make prison life more bearable by beating the system, and getting one over the wardens in charge of their block, notably the tough Mr Mackay, and the more sympathetic and timid, Mr Barrowclough.
Porridge gained its title from British slang. Serving time in Prison is known as "doing porridge" referring to the traditional breakfast dish commonly served in British prisons at the time.
Wandsworth is the largest prison in the UK, currently able to hold 1665 prisoners. The prison was built in 1851, when it was known as Surrey House of Correction. Between 1878 and 1961, 135 men were executed at Wandsworth. The gallows were kept in full working order until 1993 and tested every six months. In 1994, they were dismantled and the condemned suite is now used as a tea room for the prison officers.
On 8 July 1965, Ronnie Biggs escaped from the prison, where he was serving a 30-year sentence for his part in the Great Train Robbery two years earlier. He fled to Brazil and remained on the run until 2001, when he returned to Britain.
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