Regarded by many critics as Britain's best sitcom, Porridge is set to become even more popular following the sad death of Ronnie Barker in October 2005. His portrayal of Fletch, the experienced, cynical old lag, won the nation's heart when the series first hit our screens in 1973. This complete companion is the only book to tell the behind-the-scenes story of how the series came to be made and is packed full of never-before-published photographs and interviews with the cast and crew. It is also the only book to bring together the original scripts from all three series, making this the essential souvenir for all the millions of Porridge fans.

In 1978, after three series, two Christmas specials and a full-length feature film of Porridge, writers Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais finally released Fletcher from prison. Going Straight went on to win a BAFTA and attract an audience of over 15 million.

Fletch is out. After spending three years, eight months and four days at Her Majesty's pleasure, the old lag is out of Slade Prison on parole. However, life on the outside is not going to be easy - he even finds Mr McKay in the buffet car of his train home.

Will his carefully buried nest egg still be there? Will he be able to manipulate his family (including a 17-year-old son - played be Nicholas Lyndhurst) as easily as the gullible Slade Prison lags? Will he welcome old cell-mate, Lenny Godber, now a long-distance lorry driver dating his daughter Ingrid? Or will the delights of freedom make him yearn for the company of thieves, fraudsters and even screws?

Richard Quine directs this comic adaptation of the novel by Anthony Hope which sees Peter Sellers starring in multiple roles. When the mad old King of Ruritania (Sellers) is killed in a freak hot-air balloon incident, two proud Ruritanian suitors who don't want the king's son (Sellers) to take the throne travel to England in search of Syd (Sellers), a London cabbie who has an un-nerving likeness to the late king. Once in Ruritania, Syd has to outwit the Machiavellian plans of the evil Prince Michael (Jeremy Kemp) while he finds himself falling in love with the late king's fiancée.

Every episode from six classic television sitcoms starring comedian Ronnie Barker. The collection includes 'Open All Hours' (Series 1-4), 'Porridge' (Series 1-3 plus the Christmas specials), 'Going Straight' (all six episodes), 'Clarence' (all six episodes), 'Seven of One' (all seven episodes) and 'The Magnificent Evans' (all seven episodes).

The entire first and second series of the cult TV show.

In the first season, a group of builders from England go over to Germany to work on a site by day, and do their bit for European harmony and understanding by night. Whilst in the second season, the likeable Geordies along with boring Barry from Wolverhampton and Londoner Wayne, find themselves in the exotic location of Marbella, following the success of their trip to Germany.

No Way Out
In his innocence, Godber is looking forward to Christmas, but Fletch just wants a quiet sojourn in the prison hospital. As he says: "there's one big event round here, it's not the coming of the Lord - it's the tunnelling of Tommy Slocombe". Just as Fletcher's 'old knee injury' wins him a trip to the local civilian hospital for a full check up and x-ray, genial Harry Grout decides to call in a favour.

The Desperate Hours
Christmas behind cars might not be so bad. Fletch and Godber have spent months fermenting their illicit cell-brew liquor "Chateau Slade" and it is ready for tasting. But things are about to take a turn for the worst - Mackay has discovered the brew and then they find themselves caught up in psychotic Reg Unwin's attempt to take Mr Barraclough hostage. Will Fletch be the hero of the day - even if it means helping out a 'screw'?

Three more episodes from the first series of the cult TV show, which sees a group of builders from England going over to Germany to work on a site by day, and do their bit for European harmony and understanding by night. The episodes are: 'Private Lives', 'The Fugitive' and 'The Alien'.

Big screen spin-off of the BBC's popular Seventies sitcom. Habitual criminal Norman Stanley Fletcher (Ronnie Barker) is currently 'doing porridge' at Slade prison, but only has a year to go. He and cellmate Lennie Godber (Richard Beckinsale, who sadly died shortly after filming was completed) are content to bide their time - until they accidentally become involved in an escape plan while playing a morale-raising football match against a 'celebrity' team. Desperate not to ruin their chances of parole, Fletcher and Godber find themselves in the unusual position of trying to break back into prison without being caught!

BBC television adaptation of the post-Cold War thriller by Robert Harris. Washed-up historian Fluke Kelso (Daniel Craig), a specialist in Soviet studies, is attending a conference in Russia when he is approached by a former NKVD officer who offers him information that could uncover a vast conspiracy. Kelso takes the bait and soon finds himself persued by the Russian authorities on a dangerous journey to the remote Russian port of Archangel, where he finds evidence of Stalin's final, unimaginable legacy.

All 20 episodes of the classic prison sitcom, starring Ronnie Barker and Richard Beckinsale, set in Slade prison. Small-time career criminal Fletcher (Barker) takes first-timer Godber (Beckinsale) under his wing to show him the ropes, all the while trying to get one over on officious prison officer Mr Mackay (Fulton Mackay). Episodes comprise: 'New Faces, Old Hands', 'The Hustler', 'A Night In', 'A Day Out', 'Ways and Means', 'Men Without Women', 'Just Desserts', 'Heartbreak Hotel', 'Disturbing the Peace', 'Happy Release', 'The Harder They Fall', 'No Peace for the Wicked', 'No Way Out', 'The Desperate Hours', 'A Storm in a Teacup', 'Poetic Justice', 'Rough Justice', 'Pardon Me', 'A Test of Character' and 'Final Stretch'.