Main content

Christmas Special: The Desperate Hours

Classic sitcom. Fletcher plans to add a bit of Christmas spirit to the festive season at Slade Prison in the form of his very own homemade liquor. But when prison officers Mackay and Barraclough uncover the stash of 'Chateau Slade', Fletcher seems in danger of spending Christmas in solitary.

Available now

43 minutes

Last on

Sun 22 Dec 2024 01:50
BBC Four

More episodes

Previous

Christmas Special: No Way Out

See all episodes from Porridge

Credits

Norman Stanley Fletcher Ronnie Barker
Mr Barrowclough Brian Wilde
Mr MacKay Fulton Mackay
Lennie Godber Richard Beckinsale
Reg Urwin Dudley Sutton
Warren Sam Kelly
McLaren Tony Osoba
Keegan Ken Wynne
Tulip Michael Redfern
Governor Venables Michael Barrington
Mrs Jamieson Jane Wenham
Writer Ian La Frenais
Writer Dick Clement
Producer Sydney Lotterby

Broadcasts

  • Christmas Eve 1976 20:00
    BBC One London
  • Fri 1 Apr 1977 20:15
    BBC One London
  • Tue 20 Dec 1977 19:40
    BBC One London
  • Sun 14 Oct 1984 19:15
    BBC One London
  • Wed 30 Dec 1992 21:30
    BBC One London
  • Christmas Day 2001 23:15
    BBC Two England
  • Boxing Day 2004 17:45
    BBC Two England
  • Christmas Eve 2005 22:10
    BBC Two England
  • Sat 4 Nov 2006 20:15
    BBC Two England
  • Sat 23 Dec 2006 18:55
    BBC Two England
  • Thu 27 Dec 2007 18:15
    BBC Two England, Wales (Analogue), Northern Ireland (Analogue) & Northern Ireland only
  • Tue 23 Dec 2008 18:45
    BBC Two except East, South East & Yorkshire
  • Wed 28 Dec 2011 18:15
    BBC Two Scotland, Wales & England only
  • Sat 22 Dec 2012 18:15
    BBC Two Scotland
  • Sat 22 Dec 2012 19:15
    BBC Two England & Northern Ireland only
  • Sun 29 Dec 2013 19:15
    BBC Two HD, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales & England only
  • Sat 19 Dec 2015 20:05
    BBC Two HD, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland & England only
  • Fri 23 Dec 2016 17:15
    BBC Two Wales, England, Scotland, Northern Ireland & HD only
  • Boxing Day 2018 17:15
    BBC Two except East, Northern Ireland (Analogue), South East, Wales (Analogue) & Yorkshire
  • Sat 21 Dec 2019 16:30
    BBC Two England, HD, Wales HD, Northern Ireland, Wales & 1 more only & BBC Scotland
  • Sat 19 Dec 2020 17:25
    BBC Two England, HD, Wales, Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland HD & 1 more only
  • Mon 20 Dec 2021 18:15
    BBC Two England, HD, Wales, Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland HD & 1 more only
  • Wed 20 Dec 2023 18:15
    BBC Two Wales & Wales HD only
  • Wed 20 Dec 2023 18:45
    BBC Two HD, England, Northern Ireland & Northern Ireland HD only
  • Tue 17 Dec 2024 20:00
    BBC Four
  • Sun 22 Dec 2024 01:50
    BBC Four

Featured in...

BBC Comedy: Porridge

BBC Comedy: Porridge

'It was greeted with outrage by the tabloid press, shocked at a comedy glorifying prison'

Porridge - The Next Generation

Porridge - The Next Generation

Norman Stanley Fletcher's grandson takes centre stage