BBC One Commissions Full Series Of Porridge

BBC One has announced the commission of a full series of Porridge.

The decision follows a successful one-off episode of the show which was re-made as part of the broadcaster's Landmark Sitcom Season during the summer.

The 6x30' series will go into production in January 2017. It stars Kevin Bishop as Nigel 'Fletch' Fletcher, the grandson of Ronnie Barker's character Norman Stanley Fletcher.

'Fletch' is currently locked up in Wakeley Prison for a series of cyber crimes, and in the one-off episode he managed to stay on the right side of the prison's hard case Richie Weeks, as well as escaping the attentions of Officer Meekie.

The series is written by the show's original creators – Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais. Casting is still to be confirmed for the series.

Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais said: "We're in a state of disbelief that Porridge is coming back after all these years, but Kevin Bishop is a worthy successor to Ronnie Barker. So even though we feel like recidivists, we're more than happy to go back inside."

Kevin Bishop added: "It was an honour to be asked to play Fletch although I never thought it would go further than just the one off homage. To be welcomed back by Porridge fans and the BBC to make a full series, is one of the proudest moments in my career. Dick and Ian are true sitcom masters and I know they're going to write a brilliant series."

Porridge is a BBC Studios production. It is produced by Richard Webb and directed by Dominic Brigstocke.

www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre

(JP/LM)