Porridge: Fletcher chats to Mackay in 1977 episode
Porridge was one of Britain’s best-loved BBC sitcoms following two prison inmates serving time at HMP Slade.
The critically acclaimed show was labelled one of the greatest British sitcoms of all time and was followed by a 1978 sequel, Going Straight.
The series was revived in 2016 under the same name, with Norman Fletcher’s (played by Ronnie Barker) grandson in prison.
Fletcher and Lennie Godber (Richard Beckinsale) were the main stars but the series featured a whole host of legendary actors.
Express.co.uk has all you need to know about where the cast are now.
Ronnie Barker as Norman Stanley Fletcher
One half of the comedy duo, The Two Ronnies, Ronnie Barker was also known for playing one of the leads in Porridge.
After leaving the series, he enjoyed an extensive acting career before retiring from showbusiness at the age of 58.
He decided to step away from the limelight saying his writing quality and ambition had diminished.
He was also as concerned about his health and sadly died of heart failure in October 2005, aged 76.
The star made a number of occasional TV appearances before his death.
Fulton Mackay as Principal Officer Mr MacKay
Following his role in Porridge Fulton Mackay founded the Scottish Theatre Company as a director.
He was awarded the OBE in 1984 and went on to star in Lovejoy and Fraggle Rock.
The star died in June 1987 at the age of 64, from stomach cancer.
Richard Beckinsale as Lennie Godber
The other main star of the show was Lennie Godber, played by the late Richard Beckinsale.
Richard went on to star in the show’s sequel series, Going Straight, with his final TV comedy being Bloomers on BBC 2.
He died in March 1979, aged just 31, from coronary artery disease, which caused the heart attack.
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Brian Wilde as Prison officer Mr Henry Barrowclough
Brian Wilde went on to star in Last of the Summer Wine, The Kit Curran Radio Show and Wyatt’s Watchdogs.
He suffered a fall in January 2008 and sadly never recovered.
He died in his sleep in March 2008 at the age of 80.
His son, Andrew, had been film editor on Last of the Summer Wine until the final episode in 2010.
Peter Vaughan as “Genial” Harry Grout
Peter Vaughan went on to star in the film adaptation of Porridge, with his later credits including Our Friends in the North and Silk.
His final role, between 2011 and 2015, was as Maester Aemon in Game of Thrones.
He died of natural causes at the age of 93 in December 2016.
Sam Kelly as “Bunny” Warren
Sam Kelly’s later roles Kelly’s later roles were in Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang and in the final series of Agatha Christie’s Poirot.
In 2010, he guest starred in the sitcom My Family and in 2011 he featured in When We Are Married.
In his later years he starred in the production Wicked, but was admitted to a hospice in June 2014 and died early the next morning aged 70 after a long battle with cancer.
Tony Osoba as Jim McLaren
Following his role in Porridge, Tony Osoba went on to play both Wesley McGregor and Peter Ingram in Coronation Street.
Viewers may have also seen him in Bergerac, Tanner and Planetfall.
The star is currently 76 years old, having celebrated his latest birthday in March.
Michael Barrington as Geoffrey Venables
Michael Barrington went on to star in The Black Panther and The Stud.
He was married to actress Barbara New until his death from a heart attack in June 1988, aged 63. This followed many years of ill health due to lung disease.
Christopher Biggins as Lukewarm
Christopher Biggins, now 74 years old, continues to have a busy showbiz career.
In his later career he turned his attention to pantomime and radio, briefly co-presenting a couple of BBC shows.
Earlier this year he shocked the nation after it appeared he had liked a few X-rated social media posts.
Comedy Classics: Porridge airs on Channel 5 at 7.45pm
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