Norman Stanley Fletcher

Norman Stanley "Fletch" Fletcher (born 2 February 1932) is the main character in the popular BBC sitcom Porridge, and the less-successful spin-off, Going Straight. He was played by Ronnie Barker and is widely renowned as one of the great comic creations.

Character

Fletch claims that criminal life to him is something of a career and has been in and out of prison all of his life, including Borstal, Shepton Mallet, Maidstone and Brixton. He was married to Isobel with three children: Ingrid (who was conceived in Highgate Cemetery on the tomb of Karl Marx), Marion and Raymond. In the episode "Ways and Means" he is given the back-story of having completed National service with the Royal Army Service Corps during the Malayan Emergency. It is mentioned that he lives in Muswell Hill.

He was sentenced to serve the particular stretch of 'porridge' detailed in the series after a failed attempt to steal an articulated lorry. It was only after climbing into the driving seat and starting the engine that Fletch realised he had no idea how to operate the vehicle. The subsequent crash sent him through the back of several gardens. He was arrested for robbery and dangerous driving, although "several other fences were taken into consideration". The conviction led to a sentence of five years in Slade prison.

He is a fan of Tottenham Hotspur but also claims to have been a lifelong watcher of Orient during the Porridge film.

Fletch endures his prison sentence by the constant perpetuation of 'little victories' against the wardens, especially the hard-nosed Mr Mackay.

His tactics range from the practical (stealing pills from the prison doctor and eggs from the prison farmyard), to the symbolic (finding new and imaginative ways to stick two fingers up at Mackay and get away with it). In return, Mackay's frenzied, neurotic attempts to catch Fletch out, when fruitful, give the warder a level of smugness and satisfaction that is only accentuated by his charge's hostility and skulking.

Fletch is also surprised when this spell in prison finds him taking on the role of the father figure. It is left to him to help Warren when he needs a letter read or written, and to oversee new, younger inmates such as McClaren and Godber.

As Fletch's cellmate, Godber became a close associate, and is frequently involved in his various schemes. The doe-eyed, optimistic Brummie was the perfect sidekick for the grouchy, world-weary Londoner, and the banter between the two became one of the main attractions of the series.

This was best illustrated in the ambitious episode "A Night In", a bottle episode set entirely in relative darkness within the confines of their cell, with only the pair's conversation for entertainment.

This concept has been imitated by many other sitcoms, such as Friends ("The One Where No One's Ready") and Bottom ("Hole"). However, few, if any of these have managed to recreate the minimalistic feel of the original, falling back on other comedy devices (the former had several characters, each with their own storyline, and the latter was set atop a Ferris Wheel, and much of the comedy derived from this setting). Perhaps a better example would be the One Foot in the Grave episode "Timeless Time", which also feature only the two characters, Margaret and Victor Meldrew, during the events of one sleepless night, but even then, there are moments when one or the other leaves the room, which was not possible in "A Night In".

Fletch is also manipulative, and can play upon the sympathies and weaknesses of people like the liberal warden, Mr Barrowclough, and the ineffectual prison governor to acquire more pleasant employment, accommodation or special privileges.

Upon release from prison Fletch decided to give up his criminal career. In the follow-up series, Going Straight, he took a job as a hotel night-porter, but found himself often tempted back into crime, although he resisted. His wife, Isobel, had left him, leaving him in sole charge of Raymond.

When last seen, in the mockumentary Life Beyond the Box: Norman Stanley Fletcher, Fletch was landlord of a pub in Muswell Hill, alongside his second wife, Gloria (an old flame briefly mentioned in Porridge).

In 2009, the character was revived in a stage production, penned by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, and is played by Shaun Williamson.

See Also

(TV Series)