Porridge

Norman Fletcher's hopes of having a cell to himself are ruined by the arrival of naive Brummie, Lennie Godber. It's Lennie's first stretch, and Fletch is going to have to teach him how to survive inside.

When gambling fever sweeps through Slade prison, there's no way that a loser like Ives is going to be left out of Fletch's game. They'll bet on anything, from which chicken will lay an egg next to a game of snakes and ladders. Only one thing's for sure - Fletch will always find a way to win.

It looks like Fletch is stuck with Godber as a cellmate. He lays down some ground rules and then explains to Godber that the best way to cope with life inside is to see it as just a 'quiet night in'. The only trouble is, Godber has another 698 to go.

The rest of the working party are thrilled to have a day out, but Fletch is masking indifference - what's so exciting about digging a ditch anyway? When Mr Barraclough is left in charge of the motley crew, Fletch and the others are quick to take advantage.

Who would want to spend eight hours a day sewing fishing nets? Not Fletch, who is hell-bent on a cushy job in the library. He needs to find a way back into McKay's good books and McLaren's rooftop protest might be just the opportunity.

Fletch fancies himself as a bit of an agony aunt and is called upon by his fellow inmates to help out with affairs of the heart. When Fletch gets some shocking news from his daughter, it seems like he should have taken some of his own advice.

There's an outbreak of petty pilfering from the inmates in Slade prison. Fletcher is disgusted - after all, stealing may be a job on the 'outside', but it's despicable when it happens 'inside'. When Fletch's tin of pineapple chunks goes missing, he is determined to find the culprit.

Fletcher receives a visit from his daughter Ingrid, but is worried when she reveals she's dating a criminal. Godber, meanwhile, is devastated when he receives a 'Dear John' letter from fiancee Denise.

When Mr McKay leaves Slade Prison, Fletcher is delighted. After all, Barrowclough doesn't exactly rule with a rod of iron. Things are lookin up at last, until Mr McKay's real replacement arrives.

It's Saturday afternoon and Fletcher looks forward to a quiet read. Although everyone else seems to have other ideas about how Fletcher should be spending his time.

Fletcher is in the prison hospital sharing a ward with old Blanco. His stay isn't as restful as he was hoping when he learns that another inmate has swindled him out of his belongings in a crooked card game.

When Godber wins a place in the prison boxing championship, Fletcher eyes the chance for a bit of a flutter. Until genial Harry Grout takes an interest, that is. He soon learns that being a referee can be more dangerous than being a fighter.

Fletcher just wants a quiet Christmas, but his fellow prisoners have different ideas. He soon finds himself embroiled in a complex escape attempt involving smuggled passports and singing carols to cover up the sound of tunnelling. Fletcher's naïve cellmate Godber wants to believe every Christmas is special, but when the guards learn of the plot and Christmas is cancelled, his hopes are dashed. Now it's up to Fletcher to bring both sides together in the spirit of the season. If he can earn a few favours in the process, all the better.

Its Christmas again in Slade Prison, and the ever entrepreneurial Fletcher is making illegal wine for his fellow inmates enjoy. Everything goes well until the pitiless Warden Mackay catches him in the act, and brings both Fletcher and his good-natured cellmate Godber before the prison Governor. Just when it seems things can't get worse, unstable prisoner Urwin takes Fletcher, Godber, Warden Barrowclough and the Governor's Secretary hostage at gunpoint. Now Fletcher must rely on his wits to diffuse a potentially fatal situation and restore peace and goodwill to the ever troubled HMP Slade.

When a bottle of pills goes missing from the doctor's surgery, Harry Grout is worried that investigation of the theft by the prison authorities will jeopardise some of his activities.

Fletcher's new cellmate turns out to be the judge who sentenced him to five years in prison. While other inmates have scores to settle, wily Fletch realises that the judge has the ear of the Governor.

Fletcher is worried that Judge Rawley might rob him of his main source of income - writing letters for illiterate inmates. How can he get out of this one?

Old Blanco is doing time for murdering his wife, a crime for which he has always protested his innocence. Now he's up before the Parole Board and it looks as if he's finally going to be released.

Godber is working hard for an extra qualification. Fletcher tries to persuade him that cheating would be a good way of ensuring success in the examination, but he isn't convinced.

Godber is due to appear before the parole board, but a fight with another inmate puts his impending release in jeopardy. It's up to Fletcher to save the day.