As a teenager I would look in disdain at my parents watching stuff like this as I was going out or coming in. Now I realise how good all comedy was back then and it also makes me miss my parents more than I can say.
Ronnie Barker, Pete Postlethwaite and Nigel Hawthorne. Character acting really doesnt get better than this unless Daniel Day Lewis turns up. Absolutely brilliant.
Nobody will ever beat David Jason as the old lag Blanco in an episode of Porridge . He was so good , I had to check the credits to confirm it was really him .
Come on Billy Graham…. This is a brilliant episode, so much plot packed into 29 minutes, so many great lines, better safe than sorry, then fletch muttering I preferred the three bears. And moments of serious life lessons as well. Just bloody great, excellent work.
Same here. For some reason, I was always wrongly under the impression that this series was a failure and bombed, but of course it was obviously the sad death of Richard Beckinsale that halted it. I'm very pleasantly surprised by how good it is.
@@TheRowlandstone73 Yes the show ended after Richards sad death they couldn't go on without him, although they were asked too. But I suppose it just wouldn't be the same. I would really like to have seen more of this show and how it all played out over the coming years.... You neve know they could have ended up back in Slade Prison.
Ronnie Barker one of the best men of comedy he was very underestimated he deserved much more credit for Ronnie Barker was the man with the gags that made us laugh and still makes us laugh in 2022/23
I haven't given this series the same degree of attention as Porridge. Thanks for the upload. Different chemistry, same inimitable Barker performance. Lovely
It's Betty from Hi-de-Hi at 11:18. The other actor playing her "husband" was a favorite of David Croft and Jimmy Perry also; Donald Morley, he was in Dad's Army, Open All Hours, Grace and Favour and more!!
@@doddyvanstraaten2774I know/❤ the "What on earth" bit!!! 😢. Never mentioned 'Going Straight'! Not sure why comment is here tbh.😕..✌(edit: Was watching a clip of FT's & this after probably. They did say that wouldn't do anymore episodes of it in a John Cleese 'Docu''. Gave reason's, but can't recall tbh!)
BBC iPlayer. Check out the remade porridge. Script by clement frenais and good actors in it. It’s not fletch it’s his grandson in for it fraud. Highly recommend it, sharp neat stories and some real cracking lines. Just like this episode.
@@highdownmartin are you kidding,utter rubbish,just like every other remake,Ronnie Barker's timing & comedy writing was the best,why can't they just leave these classics alone,everything the BBC touches turns to sh*t.
@@highdownmartin yeah,just hate remakes,shows lack of creativity,99 times out of 100 utter garbage & in today's climate of don't offend anyone usually as funny as being diagnosed with bowel cancer after winning the euro jackpot.
@@dps8435 give a go. I’m of the same opinion the original is the best. But it’s new scripts with up to date themes. You’ll see the original shining through but there’s loads of real good moments, sharp writing, inventive dialogue. It’s as good as because it’s the same writers and they’re shit hot. Trust me.
It's such a shame this series didn't catch on - it was well written, well acted and very funny, and the writers and Ronnie B did an excellent job in developing the character of Fletcher outside the confines of Slade prison.
I'm guessing you don't know the reason as to why this show never carried on, Richard Beckinsale, the guy who played Lennie Godber died tragically from a heart attack aged 31, Ronnie B refused to act or work for days because he was mourning the loss of a dear friend
@@ShadowKingRPG Oh , Dear Lord . I had no idea . What a loss . I have just discovered this series and had hoped for more than one season . What a shock to discover why there is just the one .
@@georgeelmerdenbrough6906 he died in the middle of filming this an another comedy called Bloomers, David Swift was in bloomers too,David also appeared as Mr Grey in rising damp with Richard
This was pure class, I can't believe it only ran for one series. Maybe it was because we were spoiled rotten in the 70's for classy comedy?. I love this episode in particular, the acting from everyone is just wonderful.
Very similar. Considering that this was filmed and screened a couple of years after the first series of FT and a few months before the second, I am wondering if maybe the BBC simply used the only 'hotel' set they had available. Or perhaps the FT set was still available and they adapted it slightly.
I never noticed that Sir Nigel Hawthorne was in this episode. I was shocked when I realised. He's the actor who starred as Sir Humphrey Appleby in Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister, where I know him from. Brilliant.
