Worst & Best Porridge Episodes





Title: Porridge
Genre: UK Sitcom
Series: 3
Episodes: 20
First Transmission: 1974-1977

Fletcher is serving a five-year sentence and is determined not to be ground down by the system.

 

Episode Rankings

Use your mouse to hover to see the corresponding episode title –

 

Notes

*The Standard Deviation (SD) of the ratings is a measure of how much spread there is in the numbers. The median represents the middle value of the ratings

SD for Porridge = 0.23

Average Rating for Porridge = 8.29

Median value of the ratings = 8.3

The top-rated episode differs from the mean-rated episode by 2.25 standard deviations.

The bottom-rated episode differs from the mean-rated episode by 2.12 standard deviations.

 

Top-Rated Episodes:

#10 Happy Release (1975)
#13 No Way Out (1975)

Bottom-Rated Episodes:

#2 The Hustler (1974)
#5 Ways and Means (1974)

 

Best Episode #10

Happy Release – Fletch is in the prison hospital, where an unpleasant con called Norris, shortly to be released, has won the possessions of an elderly prisoner, Blanco. Fletch comes to Blanco’s rescue by hatching a plan involving a supposed treasure map. (1975)

Episode characteristics & General Consensus:
This episode features Fletch out of his cell and in a hospital bed next to Blanco (played by David Jason.) The great chemistry between the two is a great highlight. A well-plotted instalment with a great ending.

 

Worst Episode #5

Ways and Means – As a punishment, Fletch has to sew fishing nets with an aggressive prisoner. Fletch has a plan to talk down the prisoner from a roof-top protest after attempts by others fail. The plan works, but not quite in the way Fletch hoped. (1974)

Episode characteristics & General Consensus:
No Godber (Richard Beckinsale) in this episode, and is perhaps the reason why it is the least popular.

 

 

Full Episode List

# Episode Year
1 New Faces, Old Hands –

It is Lennie Godber’s first time in prison, so Fletcher shows him the ropes.

 1974
2 The Hustler –

Fletch starts an illegal gambling enterprise that soon runs into trouble.

 1974
3 A Night In –

Fletcher is told that Lennie Godber is his new cellmate, much to his annoyance.

 1974
4 A Day Out –

Fletch and some other prisoners go out on a work party, and Fletch’s day ends up at the pub.

 1974
5 Ways and Means –

Fletch has to work with a violent prisoner.

 1974
6 Men Without Women –

Fletch becomes a bit of an agony aunt.

 1974
7 Just Desserts –

Someone steals Fletcher’s pineapple chunks, and he is determined to catch the culprit.

 1975
8 Heartbreak Hotel –

Godber’s girlfriend breaks up with him via a letter.

 1975
9 Disturbing the Peace –

Mackay’s temporary replacement is even worse than he is.

 1975
10 Happy Release –

Fletch ends up in the prison hospital.

 1975
11 The Harder They Fall –

Fletch, under Harry Grout’s orders, tries to rig a boxing match.

 1975
12 No Peace for the Wicked –

Fletch becomes increasingly annoyed by all the interruptions in his cell.

 1975
13 No Way Out –

A planned escape causes all kinds of trouble just before Christmas, and Fletch attempts to spend some valuable time in the infirmary.

 1975
14 The Desperate Hours –

Fletcher, Godber, Barrowclough and the governor’s secretary are held hostage by a prisoner with a homemade gun.

 1976
15 A Storm in a Teacup –

After a capsule containing pills that Harris stole goes missing, Grouty attempts to locate them and Fletch is recruited to help.

 1977
16 Poetic Justice –

Fletcher’s new cell-mate turns out to be the judge who sentenced him.

 1977
17 Rough Justice –

The judge’s watch is stolen.

 1977
18 Pardon Me –

Blanco refuses parole for murder as he claims he never committed the crime.

 1977
19 A Test of Character –

Fletch is determined to help Godber pass his History O-level.

 1977
20 Final Stretch –

With his parole meeting less than a week away, Godber has a fight with Jarvis.

 1977