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Ways And Means (Porridge)
"Ways and Means" is an episode of the British sitcom ''Porridge'', made for the BBC. It first aired on 3 October 1974, and is the fifth episode of the first series. In this episode, Fletcher intends to help new prisoner who has an attitude problem, when they decide to hold a rooftop protest. Synopsis Fletcher finds himself working with several other inmates to sew fishing nets, and complains to prison officer Barrowclough about the work while he is supervising them. The two men soon change the subject to new prisoner McLaren - a black Scotsman, who is being punished for his recent assault on another prison officer due to severe attitude problems. Later that day, Fletcher bumps into McLaren when leaving his cell, and is threatened by him. Manhandling McLaren into his cell when he is distracted, Fletcher firmly warns him over his attitude, and then talks to him when he calms down. Fletcher advises McLaren about his wild ways, stressing that he is his own worst enemy, but sympathises ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Porridge (1974 TV Series)
''Porridge'' is a British sitcom, starring Ronnie Barker and Richard Beckinsale, written by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, and broadcast on BBC One, BBC1 from 1974 to 1977. The programme ran for three series and two Christmas specials. A feature film of the Porridge (film), same name based on the series was released in 1979, after Beckinsale's death in March of that year. The sitcom focuses on two prison inmates, Norman Fletcher (played by Barker) and Lennie Godber (played by Beckinsale), who are serving time at the fictional HM Prison, HMP Slade in Cumberland. The show's title is a 1950s British slang term for a prison sentence, derived from the traditional breakfast that used to be served in British prisons.Prisoners no longer do porridge ''oxbridgeapplications.com''. Retrieved 11 November 2020. ''Porridge ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dick Clement
Dick Clement (born 5 September 1937) is a retired English writer, director and producer. He became known for his writing partnership with Ian La Frenais for television series including ''The Likely Lads'', ''Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?'', ''Porridge (1974 TV series), Porridge'', ''Lovejoy'' and ''Auf Wiedersehen, Pet''. Early life Born in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, England, Clement was educated at Bishop's Stortford College, and then spent a year in the US on an exchange visit. Upon his return, he completed his Conscription in the United Kingdom, National Service with the Royal Air Force. He then joined the BBC as a studio manager and started writing scripts and comedy sketches. Writing partnership with Ian La Frenais Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais have enjoyed a long and successful career embracing films, television and theatre. Their partnership began in the mid-1960s with ''The Likely Lads'', and by the end of the decade they had also written three feature films: ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ian La Frenais
Ian La Frenais (born 7 January 1937) is a retired English writer best known for his creative partnership with Dick Clement. They are most famous for television series including '' The Likely Lads'', ''Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?'', ''Porridge'' and its sequel '' Going Straight'', ''Lovejoy'' and ''Auf Wiedersehen, Pet''. Early life La Frenais was born in Monkseaton, Northumberland; his father was an accountant. As a child at Park Primary School in Whitley Bay, La Frenais enjoyed art and writing. He then attended Dame Allan's Boys School in Newcastle upon Tyne, and completed his National Service in the British Army. After working as a salesman for a tobacco company, he began composing songs for a weekly satirical programme on Tyne Tees Television and then moved to London where he worked for a market research company. Writing partnership with Dick Clement Ian La Frenais and Dick Clement have enjoyed a long and successful career embracing films, television and theatr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sydney Lotterby
Sydney Warren Lotterby (30 November 1926 – 28 July 2020) was a British television producer and director who produced numerous BBC comedy series. Life and career Lotterby was born in Paddington, London, to Winifred (née Warren) and Sidney Lotterby, a shop fitter, and grew up in Edgware, Middlesex. In 1941, on leaving Stag Lane school aged 14, he joined the BBC as a storekeeper in the electrical department at Broadcasting House, then worked in the sound control room at BBC Radio until his national service in the British Army from 1946 until 1948. After national service he returned to the BBC and became a cameraman and progressed to becoming technical manager. He joined the BBC's Entertainment Department in 1958 and in 1963, became a producer/director. Lotterby married Marcia Dos Santos in 1997. He died at his home in Chiswick on 28 July 2020, at the age of 93. Production and direction Television comedy series which he produced or directed included: '' As Time Goes By'', '' Ma ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
A Day Out
"A Day Out" is the fourth episode from the first series of the British sitcom ''Porridge Porridge is a food made by heating, soaking or boiling ground, crushed or chopped starchy plants, typically grain, in milk or water. It is often cooked or served with added flavourings such as sugar, honey, fruit, or syrup to make a sweet cereal ...''. It first aired on 26 September 1974, and is the fourth episode of the first series. In this episode, Fletcher and some of his fellow prisoners are allowed out for the day to dig drainage ditches for the local council, only for mishaps to soon occur. Synopsis Godber becomes excited that he, Fletcher, and some of the other prisoners will be forming a work party and heading outside of Slade Prison for the day. However, Fletcher is less excited, due to the fact he knows they will be mostly working on digging drainage ditches under the supervision of prison officer Mackay, and that Ives will be part of the party as well, although takes some reassu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Men Without Women (Porridge)
"Men Without Women" is an episode of the British sitcom ''Porridge'', made for the BBC. It first aired on 10 October 1974, and is the final episode of the first series. In this episode, Fletcher offers his services as an agony aunt to his fellow inmates, but later has to return home when he learns he has marital problems. Synopsis Fellow prisoner Warren visits Fletcher and asks him to read a letter from his wife due to Warren being dyslexic. Fletcher agrees and discovers that Warren's wife is questioning their marriage. That evening, he composes a response to the letter for Warren to send and offers a similar service to other prisoners with wives (in the case of Lukewarm, his homosexual partner) when he speaks to Warren about what he wrote, in exchange for payment in tobacco. A few days later, Warren brings another letter from his wife for Fletcher to read and learns that he has nothing to worry about. He thus becomes excited to see her on the upcoming visiting day, alongside the o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sitcom
A sitcom (short for situation comedy or situational comedy) is a genre of comedy produced for radio and television, that centers on a recurring cast of character (arts), characters as they navigate humorous situations within a consistent setting, such as a home, workplace, or community. Unlike sketch comedy, which features different characters and settings in each Sketch comedy, skit, sitcoms typically maintain plot continuity across episodes. This continuity allows for the development of storylines and characters over time, fostering audience engagement and investment in the characters' lives and relationships. History The structure and concept of a sitcom have roots in earlier forms of comedic theater, such as farces and comedy of manners. These forms relied on running gags to generate humor, but the term ''sitcom'' emerged as radio and TV adapted these principles into a new medium. The word was not commonly used until the 1950s. Early television sitcoms were often filme ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Godfather (novel)
''The Godfather'' is a crime novel by Italian American author Mario Puzo. Originally published on 10 March 1969 by G. P. Putnam's Sons, the novel details the story of a fictional Mafia family in New York City and Long Island, headed by Vito Corleone: the Godfather. The novel covers the years 1945 to 1955 and includes the backstory of Vito Corleone from early childhood to adulthood. The first in a series of novels, ''The Godfather'' is noteworthy for introducing Italian words like '' consigliere'', ''caporegime'', '' Cosa Nostra'', and '' omertà'' to an English-speaking audience. It was adapted into the iconic 1972 film of the same name, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture. Two film sequels, featuring original storylines that include contributions by Puzo himself, were released in 1974 and 1990. Summary The Corleone family is one of the Five Families of the New York Mafia. After World War II, the families avoid open warfare in favour of mutual cooperation. The p ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Oil Of Wintergreen
Methyl salicylate (oil of wintergreen or wintergreen oil) is an organic compound with the formula C8H8O3. It is the methyl ester of salicylic acid. It is a colorless, viscous liquid with a sweet, fruity odor reminiscent of root beer (in which it is used as a flavoring), but often associatively called "minty", as it is an ingredient in mint candies. It is produced by many species of plants, particularly wintergreens. It is also produced synthetically, used as a fragrance and as a flavoring agent. Biosynthesis and occurrence Methyl salicylate was first isolated (from the plant ''Gaultheria procumbens'') in 1843 by the French chemist Auguste André Thomas Cahours (1813–1891), who identified it as an ester of salicylic acid and methanol. The biosynthesis of methyl salicylate arises via the hydroxylation of benzoic acid by a cytochrome P450 followed by reaction with a methyltransferase enzyme. Methyl salicylate as a plant metabolite Many plants produce methyl salicylate in sma ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ronnie Barker
Ronald William George Barker (25 September 1929 – 3 October 2005) was an English actor, comedian and writer. He was known for roles in British comedy television series such as ''Porridge (1974 TV series), Porridge'', ''The Two Ronnies'', and ''Open All Hours''. Barker began acting in Oxford amateur dramatics while working as a bank clerk, having dropped out of higher education. He moved into repertory theatre with the Manchester Repertory Company at Aylesbury and decided he was best suited to comic roles. He had his first success at the Oxford Playhouse and in roles in the West End including Tom Stoppard's ''The Real Inspector Hound''. During this period, he was in the cast of BBC radio and television comedies such as ''The Navy Lark''. He got his television break with the satirical sketch series ''The Frost Report'' in 1966, where he worked with future collaborator Ronnie Corbett. He joined David Frost's production company and starred in ITV (TV network), ITV shows. Af ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Brian Wilde
Brian George Wilde (13 June 1927 – 20 March 2008) was an English actor best known for his roles in television comedy, most notably Mr Barrowclough in ''Porridge (1974 TV series), Porridge'' and Walter "Foggy" Dewhurst in ''Last of the Summer Wine''. Although tall, his gentle demeanour became his hallmark. His lugubrious world-weary face was a staple of British television for forty years. Career Born in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, Wilde was brought up in Devon and Hertfordshire and attended Richard Hale School, Hertford Grammar School. He trained as an actor at Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, RADA. Wilde had an early uncredited role as a small-time crook in the film ''Forbidden Cargo (1954 film), Forbidden Cargo'' (1954), starring Jack Warner (actor), Jack Warner and Nigel Patrick, and a small but significant dramatic part in the horror film ''Night of the Demon'' (1957). His early television work included the series ''The Love of Mike'' (1960) and supporting Tony Hancock i ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fulton Mackay
William Fulton Beith Mackay (12 August 1922 – 6 June 1987) was a Scottish actor and playwright, best known for his role as prison officer Mr Mackay in the 1970s television sitcom ''Porridge''. Early life Mackay was born in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland. He was brought up in Clydebank by a widowed aunt after the death of his mother from diabetes. His father was employed by the NAAFI. On leaving school, Mackay trained as a quantity surveyor and later volunteered for the Royal Air Force in 1941, but was not accepted because of a perforated eardrum. He then enlisted with the Black Watch and he served for five years during the Second World War, which included three years spent in India. Career Theatre work After being demobbed, Mackay began training as an actor at RADA. His first work was with the Citizens' Theatre, Glasgow, where he performed in nine seasons between 1949 and 1958. He also worked at the Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh before gaining notice at the Arts The ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
