Porridge

Author: Richard Weight
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1911239368
Category : Performing Arts
Languages : en
Pages : 201

Book Description
'Norman Stanley Fletcher, you have pleaded guilty to the charges brought by this court and it is now my duty to pass sentence.' Those words, spoken by a judge to the show's hero in the title sequence of every Porridge episode, are among the most famous in British comedy and they remind viewers that this is no ordinary TV sitcom. The first situation comedy anywhere in the world to be set in a prison, Porridge is about men being punished for crimes committed against the same sort of people who are watching the show. Millions of hard working Britons were fans, many of them anxious about rising crime and worried that burglars would steal the TV set they were watching it on. Yet they still settled down at 8.30pm on Friday nights between 1974 and 1977 to watch a series that celebrates the sometimes pathetic, often ingenious, recidivism of a group of social misfits who by their own admission are failed citizens. How did such a comedy come to be seen as part of a 'golden age of British sitcom', without ever losing its edge to nostalgia? Crime, like sex, sells. But Porridge did not romanticise villainy. Written by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, it's a satire of class-consciousness and power, warmed by a humanistic celebration of men on the margins of society. Its heroes are weak inadequate misfits, not tough, glamorous gangsters. Porridge was a success because the essence of situation comedy is confinement; characters in this format are people who feel trapped and thwarted by circumstances beyond their control. This, therefore, is the ultimate sitcom. Richard Weight's entertaining study of this much-loved classic places Porridge in the context of 1970s social upheavals, explores how the series satirises structures of class and authority through Fletch and Godber's battles to outwit the prison officers Mr Mackay and Mr Barrowclough, and traces its influences on TV comedy that followed.

Porridge

Author: Richard Webber
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780755315352
Category : Porridge (Television program)
Languages : en
Pages : 416

Book Description
Regarded by many critics as Britain's best sitcom, Porridge is set to become even more popular following the sad death of Ronnie Barker in October 2005. His portrayal of Fletch, the experienced, cynical old lag, won the nation's heart when the series first hit our screens in 1973. This complete companion is the only book to tell the behind-the-screens story of how the series came to be made and is packed full of never-before-published photographs and interviews with cast and crew. It is also the only book to bring together the orginal scripts from all three series, making this the essential souvenir for all the millions of Porridge fans.

Remembering Ronnie Barker

Author: Richard Webber
Publisher: Random House
ISBN: 1407089358
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 306

Book Description
Ronnie Barker was one of our most respected and best-loved comedy actors and here, in this fascinating biography, Richard Webber delves deep in to the heart of Barker's life and career, peppering his narrative with original and incisive memories from some of Barker's closest contemporaries, including Ronnie Corbett, Michael Palin and Barry Cryer. Star of the much-adored comedy classics Porridge, The Two Ronnies - one of the most successful and long-running television comedy shows ever on British television - and Open All Hours, Ronnie Barker was universally admired by the public and industry insiders alike. From his early days writing for and performing skits on The Frost Report right up to his retirement in 1988, he lit up television screens across the country with his wonderful gift for comedy and his remarkable skill for character acting. Beyond his performances on the stage and screen, Barker was also an accomplished comedy writer, providing many of the sketches and songs for The Two Ronnies and contributing material to a number of other television and radio shows. And despite his retirement he retained pole position in the public's affection, returning to the screen in 1999 to team up with his erstwhile comedy partner and great friend Ronnie Corbett for a Two Ronnies night on BBC1, followed by a BAFTA tribute in 2004 and a final appearance on television in 2005 on The Two Ronnies Christmas Sketchbook. Effortlessly funny, universally adored and an actor and writer responsible for some of Britain's best-loved and most-respected comedy, Ronnie Barker was a true comedy legend. Here he's brought to the page in winning style as he's remembered by those who best loved and knew him.

Writing for TV and Radio

Author: Sue Teddern
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1441178341
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 321

Book Description
This essential companion offers invaluable insights and solid, practical guidance to those keen to write for TV and radio. PART 1 explores the nature of the media. It looks at the history of writing drama and comedy for radio and TV through a consideration of its key elements and some of the most successful dramas and comedies of past and present. PART 2 includes reflections and tips from award-winning writers of film, television and radio from the UK, the US and Scandinavia: Sam Bain, Peter Bowker, Elly Brewer, Laura Eason, Ellen Fairey, Nick Fisher, Phil Ford, Jeppe Gjervig Gram, Katie Hims, Rachel Joyce, Marcy Kahan, Rebecca Lenkiewicz, Jan McVerry, Jonathan Myerson, Hattie Naylor, Richard Nelson, Andrew Nickolds, Georgia Pritchett, Mike Walker and Stephen Wyatt. PART 3 offers practical advice on technical aspects of writing for TV and radio including character development, structure and dialogue. It also gives guidance on how to deal with branches of the broadcasting industry, from agents and actors to producers and script editors.

Porridge

Author: Richard Webber
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780747233046
Category : Porridge (Television program)
Languages : en
Pages : 240

Book Description
Regarded by many critics as one of Britain's best sitcoms, Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais' tales of life inside Slade Prison first hit the screens in 1973. Three series were transmitted before the prison show finally closed its doors in 1977. But it has never faded from the nation's consciousness. Ronnie Barker, as Fletch the old lag, and Richard Beckinsale, as Godber the naive first-time offender, are among television history's finest comic creations. This book tells the behind-the-scenes story of how the series came to be made.

The Original Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Radio Scripts

Author: Douglas Adams
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
ISBN: 1447204883
Category : Performing Arts
Languages : en
Pages : 308

Book Description
March 1978 saw the first ever transmission of Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy on BBC Radio 4; the beginning of a cult phenomenon. March 2020 marks the 42nd anniversary of that first transmission – 42 being the answer, of course, to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything. To mark the occasion, Pan Macmillan are bringing back into print The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: The Original Radio Scripts with a brand-new introduction from Simon Jones. The collection also includes the previously 'lost' Hitchhiker script from the 25th anniversary edition, 'Sheila's Ear' and the original introductions by producer Geoffrey Perkins and Douglas Adams. This collection, which is a faithful reproduction of the text as it was first published in 1985, features all twelve original radio scripts – Hitchhiker as it was written and exactly as it was broadcast for the very first time. They include amendments and additions made during recordings and original notes on the writing and producing of the series by Douglas Adams and Geoffrey Perkins. For those who have always loved Douglas Adams, as well as for his new generation of fans, these scripts are essential reading and a must-have piece of Adams memorabilia. This special anniversary edition will sit alongside reissued eye-catching editions of the five individual Hitchhiker books coming in May 2020: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, Life, the Universe and Everything, So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish and Mostly Harmless.

Still Open All Hours

Author: Graham McCann
Publisher: Random House
ISBN: 1448142849
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 238

Book Description
From its first episode in 1973, Open All Hours was an instant hit. Audiences around Britain loved its familiar setting, good natured humour, and the hilarious partnership of Ronnie Barker and David Jason. Whilst it only ran for 26 episodes, it firmly cemented itself as a British comedy classic. To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the show in 2014, the BBC revived it for a one-off Christmas Special. Still Open All Hours was swamped by a tsunami of audience affection and the BBC promptly commissioned a full series. The first episode of the fifth series is expected to air in late 2014. With recollections from David Jason, his fellow cast members, and from the scriptwriter Roy Clarke, plus never before seen BBC archive material, acclaimed popular TV historian Graham McCann tells the inside story of this very British sitcom, with wit, insight and affection.

Only Fools and Horses

Author: John Sullivan
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781849908177
Category : Only fools and horses (Television programme)
Languages : en
Pages : 336

Book Description
Join the family Trotter with their get-rich-quick scheming and back-of-a-lorry sales pitch. The Rothschilds of Peckham, otherwise known as Trotter's Independent Traders (or TIT for short) cause untold trouble - and laughs - in their bid to become millionaires. This collection covers the first five series of the hilarious BBC sitcom and contains specially-written, original material, including the Trotter Dictionary, Rodney's CV and the Trotter Guide to Seduction. The Bible of Peckham was a Christmas bestseller in hardback, and is now available for the first time in paperback.

Porridge

Author: Dick Clement
Publisher: Headline Publishing Group
ISBN: 9780747258629
Category : Porridge (Television program)
Languages : en
Pages : 416

Book Description
Regarded by many critics as Britain's best sitcom, Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais' tales of life inside Slade Prison first hit the screens in 1973 and ran until 1977. But it has never faded from the nation's consciousness. Ronnie Barker as Fletch the old lag and Richard Beckinsale as Godber the naive first-time offender are comic creations as fine as any in the history of television. Now, for the first time, Richard Webber has brought together the original scripts from all three series of PORRIDGE to make this the essential souvenir for all the many fans of this much-loved classic comedy.

The Best of Miranda

Author: Miranda Hart
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
ISBN: 1444799363
Category : Performing Arts
Languages : en
Pages : 435

Book Description
Well hello to you, Dear Book Peruser and thank you for your kind interest in my book o'Miranda. Here you will find my favourite six scripts, hand-picked from all three series, with introductions by moi, and some other tit-bits, and silliness. Because no book of this ilk should be without tit-bits and silliness. If nothing else it's fun to say tit-bits. Repeat after me: tit-bits. You're welcome. I hope you enjoy seeing the scripts in their pure written form on the page before they translated to what you have seen on screen. And if you're a lovely young person still at school let me know if your drama teacher ever lets you do an episode for the school play. Nothing would make me happier. Though I bagsy play Miranda. Your favourite, number one bestselling, comedian Miranda Hart is giving you an access-all-areas VIP backstage pass to her award-winning sitcom. Miranda Hart has won bundles of awards, written a bestselling book and completed a sell-out nationwide tour. But it was her award-winning BBC sitcom Miranda which first made her a much-loved household name. Here Miranda gives us an access-all-areas VIP backstage pass to Miranda the sitcom. The Best of Miranda is a beautiful and hilarious book which will delight Miranda's many fans and earn her many new ones.