Going Straight (1978)

There can't be too many TV fans that haven't watched at least one episode of Porridge in their lifetime - I'd go so far as to add 'watched and LIKED' at least one episode of Porridge. It was the great combination of Ronnie Barker as Norman Stanley Fletcher, Fulton Mackay as his arch nemesis, Richard Beckinsale as young Lenny Godber his cell mate and a host of likeable side characters that interact brilliantly to provide an ensemble cast to support Mr Barker's lead. Making the audience sympathise with prisoners was a bold step, but perhaps that is one of the main reasons it has stood the test of time as a classic comedy production.

So it makes you wonder why it's sequel has almost vanished into oblivion. 'Going Straight' was a one series follow up that tracked N.S. Fletcher on his rocky road to staying away from crime and trying to set up a family life again. His wife has left him, and he is being looked after by his eldest daughter Ingrid. Still living at home is his youngest son Raymond (played by an instantly recognisable Nicholas Lyndhurst). Throw into the mix Lenny Godber as a long distance lorry driver who wants to marry Ingrid and you have the basic set-up. Which ever way he turns in the real world Fletcher finds it harder and harder to get a job because of his background, and finds more and more temptation to lead him back into a life of crime.

But it doesn't work. Don't get me wrong, it's brilliantly written and is still a million times better than a host of sit-coms I could list, but it's always going to be compared with it's predecessor and because of that, it doesn't cut the mustard. Perhaps it's because we've stepped out of it's claustrophobic prison setting, or perhaps it's because Fletcher doesn't have the same ensemble of players to interact with (Godber is relegated to being a bit-part now). Perhaps it's the lack of authority figures that Fletcher used to get one over (Mackay makes a great appearance in episode one, but never reappears). Whatever the problem is, it's there and it makes 'Going Straight' a sad addition to the Porridge family.

I must stress again though that it is still a funny comedy on it's own and deserves a lot more recognition, but I suppose the equivalent would be having Basil Fawlty moving away from Torquay and not taking Sybil, Manuel and Polly with him. I'm sure we'd still laugh, but know deep down that something was missing.

I'll give 'Going Straight' a thumbs up as a stand alone TV comedy, but if you are asking me if it a worthwhile sequel to Porridge, then it's a sad 'no'.