Porridge

Two new inmates, Rudge and Oakes, arrive at Slade Prison. Rudge is nervous and unsure of life inside, while Oakes immediately starts looking for leverage. Grouty, the inmate power broker, begins to plot how to use the new arrivals to his advantage.

Rudge is assigned to the prison farm where Fletcher, nicknamed Fletch, works. Fletch takes him under his wing, offering practical advice and a sense of protection. The unlikely duo begins forming a bond that will influence later schemes.

Grouty orders a high-profile football match between inmates and celebrities to boost morale. He pushes Fletch to persuade the governor, promising favors in return. Fletch, Beal, and Mackay each claim the idea as theirs while quietly enabling the plan.

Fletch is appointed manager of the prison team, while Grouty insists that Oakes must be included on the roster. The inmates brace for the upcoming spectacle and the politics surrounding the match begin to unfold. This sets the stage for the first cracks in the plan.

The celebrity team arrives by coach, but the line-up fails to deliver real star power, leaving the inmates disappointed. A weather presenter from Anglia is the closest thing to a famous face. Tension and skepticism build as the match approaches.

Oakes pretends to be hurt and is taken to the changing rooms, where the coach driver is revealed to be an accomplice. They swap clothes and Oakes ties up the driver, preparing to slip out with the ruse intact. The escape plan moves from talk to action.

Seeing the ruse, Fletch and his cellmate Godber are forced toward the coach’s luggage compartment. Oakes, now in the driver’s disguise, drives away with them in tow and claims they are merely topping up fuel.

Out in the country, Oakes abandons the coach and meets more accomplices, and the two inmates are transported away in a motorhome. The prison authorities and police scramble to understand how the inmates slipped past every gate.

Fletch explains to Godber that remaining outside would be dangerous and that returning to prison is the safest option. The two agree that the 'Them and Us' divide means their best chance is to slip back in without arousing suspicion. They prepare a plan to re-enter the facility.

The pair steal a bicycle and locate the abandoned coach, sneaking back into the luggage hatch as the authorities reclaim the vehicle. Once inside, they slip from the luggage and hide in the officers' club storeroom, where Fletch feigns intoxication to bolster their story.

The Governor accepts their tale and normal life returns to Slade. Grouty privately congratulates Fletch for handling the deception and keeping quiet. Rudge thanks Fletch for helping him navigate his time inside.

Oakes appears to have escaped, leaving Godber feeling jealous that his features have been left out of the plan. Fletch consoles him, insisting that the real risk is behind them and that future freedom is possible for Godber too.

Mr. Mackay visits to discuss the incident, noting that while the Governor believes they were confined to the storeroom, village lore includes mysterious 'UFO' sightings and other mischief. He warns that he will always be watching and that his day will come to claim accountability.