Harry Grout, Slade Prison's resident bigwig, has agreed to help a fellow prisoner Oakes escape. Fletcher (Barker) and Godber (Beckinsale) find themselves in the midst of the escape during a football match between the prisoners and an all-star celebrity team. Of course, Fletcher and Godber are both reaching the end of their stretch in prison and are horrified at the prospect of being caught and having their sentences extended. So, Fletcher persuades Oakes to let them go their own way on the outside and they soon concoct a plan to break themselves back into Slade before the 'screws' realise they've escaped.

Our Review: Porridge excelled as one of Britain's best loved sitcoms of all time, with an exceptional cast and witty storylines, so creating a feature length film adaptation certainly carried some risk.

Fortunately, the 1979 film version of Porridge managed to fulfil all expectations and delivers the same witty scripting and acting performances we saw in the original series.

Although a little slow to start (which is understandable considering the need to set the scene for those who aren't familiar with the existing premise), the film's plot provides laugh after laugh. Seeing Fletcher and Godber struggle to sneak back into the very place we've seen them despise for so long is entertaining in itself, and the two lead performances by Barker and Beckinsale increase the chuckle-rate ten fold. In fact, the entire cast is, as usual, on great form.

Porridge is a must-see for lovers of the original television series. Come to think of it, it's essential viewing for any fan of quick-witted writing, superb comic acting and good old fashioned British determination.