I do like sit-coms in general. Some are great, some are good with hit and miss moments and some are lacking. Porridge is for me one of the great ones. It has everything a great comedy series should have and more, and it never ceases to entertain me. The stories are well written with a touch of humanity about them, while the writing is superb. Some of it is very sharp and always hilarious. The series is nicely filmed too, and the acting is first class. And of course I love the characters, Fletcher especially is a wonderful character, naughty yet there is something charming about him. And who better to play him than the late great Ronnie Barker. He is perfection in the role, the delivery of the lines, the comic timing and the priceless facial expressions are just brilliant. Richard Beckinsale is also suitably earnest, and I love Brian Wilde too as Barrowclough. So all in all, wonderful, really one of the best comedy series there is. 10/10 Bethany Cox

A comedy that doesn't fail to deliver on any episode of a series deserves full marks! Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais excellently, it must be said, provided the nation with a fine prison-comedy, that especially excelled with Ronnie Barker at the helm, aided by the other great comedy actor of the decade, Richard Beckinsale. Fletcher 'Fletch' (Barker) and Godber (Beckinsale) are at odds naturally with the system that incarcerated them. Godber's the nice, innocent 'first-timer' under Fletch's wing, though this sometime puts them at odds, but mostly they're the best of buddies. The main battle of course, is getting one over on the 'screws' - the Prison Chief, Mr McKay (the brilliant Fulton McKay) and the nervous, spineless, but respected (probably because of those qualities!) Mr Barrowclough, (The equally great, late, Brian Wilde). Always on the make and keeping ahead of the latter two, the 'lags' are ably supported in capers by some other small-time inmates, dumb-ish 'Bunny' Warren, hard Scot, McLaren, and 'horrible' Ives. Occasional support also from the great David Jason as 'Blanco' surfaced well. A special mention too, of the 'Mr Big' character, 'genial' Harry Grout (Peter Vaughan), who's less than that. Fletch makes an attempt to disuade 'Grouty' from 'persuading' Godber to 'throw' the boxing match he's in: "Oh, Harry, not the lad," says Fletch in vain to Grouty, "...he's Got scruples." "Well," says 'Grouty', "if he doesn't throw the match, tell 'im 'e won't 'ave 'em any longer!" An excellent comedy that never failed to please.

This show is definately one of the top ten best sitcoms in Britain and maybe even in the world. Ronnie Barkers best piece of comedy ever. One of the best points about it is the originality and imagination put into the idea of it being set in a prison. Not many 70's sitcoms do very well but this along with Fawlty Towers are exceptions of that decade. Highly recommended to anyone with a decent sense of humour. I just wish we had things like this now instead of "The office" and "Office Gossip", both of which can make a coffee-addicted insomniac fall asleep. Watch this show whenever its on. Best quote:Mckay: Where's (can't remember name)?Fletcher: Oh hes outside desecrating holy ground.Mckay: He's what?Fletcher: He's having a slash in a church yard.

I don't like this sitcom. It seems everybody else does, though. I find the gags are too obvious and I hardly laughed at all when watching it on T.V. It's a very old-fashioned style sitcom that probably only older folk will enjoy. The best comedy of all time is Only Fools And Horses. Without doubt! Oh and by the way, David Jason is in this series as Blanco. Check out the make-up! 4/10