7 of 1 (TV Series) Prisoner and Escort (1973) User Reviews

Time for Porridge

[Prismark10 · 8/10 · 15 March 2014]

This 7 of 1 anthology serves as the pilot for comedy series Porridge. Here we meet for the first time, habitual criminal and scamp Norman Stanley Fletcher (Ronnie Barker.)

Prisoner and Escort sees Fletcher being escorted to jail in Cumbria by the hard nosed Mr MacKay (Fulton McKay)and the more weaker and liberal Mr Barrowclough (Brian Wilde.)

We already quickly have the character set up before we even reach Slade prison and meet the other inmates such as Godber.

On the train journey Fletcher is already goading and needling the stern MacKay but engages better with Barrowclough with a view of taking advantage of his softer side. When Fletcher is about to transfer into the prison van, he manages to urinate into the fuel tank resulting in the van to breakdown in the countryside.

With McKay going on foot to seek help, the other two find an empty farmhouse and he manages to cajole Barrowclough to undo his handcuffs with the aim of doing a midnight flit.

From the work go, this is an entertaining and funny show. Maybe because even though I watched the pilot for the first time, the characters were familiar to me.

A Strong Start

[Very_Droll · 8/10 · 12 March 2023]

Three characters. A simple storyline. Ronnie Barker. No wonder this pilot was picked up and developed into a much-loved and brilliant show!

Best joke - the Rugby reference. Fletcher was getting under Mackay's skin from their first exchanges.

We are introduced to the characters so well in the first five minutes that we know all we need to for the story and interactions and power struggles to be enjoyed through the rest of the episode and the series.

Fletcher's futile escape scene is a masterful example of advancing a narrative without a single word being said. He achieves at least some little wins in this episide and these little wins sustain him through adversity and give him hope as the series progresses.

Recommended!