Fletch at full stretch

BBC1, 9.30pm FORTY years after Norman Stanley Fletcher (the late Ronnie Barker) served time in HMP Slade, his grandson is following in his footsteps. How proud he would be.

Nigel Norman Fletcher (Fletch) has been given five years for cyber crimes at HMP Wakeley – a far more modern prison, complete with TVs in the cells and a fancy gym. This is Porridge for the modern day but written by the original series’ writers, Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais.

We’re always nervous when a remake is on the cards – can it ever be as good as the original? But this one, hot on the heels of a successful pilot last year, seems to capture the spirit of the Porridge we remember.

Kevin Bishop has an easygoing charm as Fletch, and there’s sterling support from Mark Bonnar as wily Officer Meekie, Dominic Coleman as the softer Officer Braithwaite and Dave Hill as Fletch’s cellmate, prison elder statesman Joe Lotterby.

“You know if that wall wasn’t so high we’d have a view,” muses Joe. “But people would be pole vaulting over it all day,” retorts Fletch.

In this first episode, Fletch has taken to helping his fellow inmates with appeals and letters home to loved ones. He’s making a killing penning love letters, often begging for forgiveness, to various wives and girlfriends.

But when one such girlfriend pays a visit to Wakeley, things get complicated.

This is comfortable family viewing, filmed in front of a studio audience, and there are plenty of laughs.

Everyone always says the old ones are the best and this is proof.