Other Cast Members
Michael Barrington
Born 19 April 1925
Died 5 June 1988
AKA Governor Geoffrey Venables
Sam Kelly
Born 19 December 1943
Died 15 June 2014
AKA "Bunny" Warren
Sam Kelly always seemed to be a supporting actor which belies his tremendous comic talent. He was brilliant in the over-stretched sitcom Allo Allo playing the German Captain and was also superb as Sam the driver in the Dennis Waterman sitcom On The Up.
Peter Vaughan
Born 4 April 1923
Died 6 December 2015
AKA "Genial" Harry Grout
Peter Vaughan is one of Britain's finest actors. For me his most memorable role was in Our Friends From the North. A tribute to his acting genius is that he only ever appeared in 3 episodes of Porridge (not counting the film) but nevertheless, Harry Grout remains the character most people remember apart from the main four.
Christopher Biggins
Born 16 December 1948
AKA "Lukewarm" Lewis
Christopher Biggins is a prolific supporting actor appearing in many British TV programmes. He was also a co-presenter with Cilla Black on Surprise Surprise.
David Jason
Born 2 February 1940
AKA "Blanco" Webb
David Jason is arguably Britain's best loved actor and is also a close friend of Ronnie Barker. David was only in his mid-thirties when he played the character of 63 year old Blanco. He is best known for his legendary comic role Del Boy in BBC TV's Only Fools and Horses.
Ronald Lacey
Born 28 September 1935
Died 15 May 1991
AKA Harris
Ronald Lacey played the unpleasant Harris in Porridge. He was also in the pilot episode of Randall and Hopkirk and played alongside Honor Blackman in Minder on the Orient Express.
Maurice Denham
Born 23 December 1909
Died 24 July 2002
AKA The Honourable Mr Justice Stephen Rawley
Most famous for his prolific acting in early Black and White British films, Maurice Denham was an actor with a unique talent. For me, his most memorable role was as the Prison Governer in Two Way Stretch in which he starred with Peter Sellers.
Ken Jones
Born 20 February 1930
Died 14 February 2014
AKA "Horrible" Ives
Brian Glover
Born 2 April 1934
Died 24 July 1997
AKA Cyril Heslop born 1 April 1933
Starting out as a wrestler, Brian Glover progressed into acting and certainly made his mark. He was most famous for his voice-overs for the Tetley Tea and Allinson (bread with nowt taken out) adverts and as the chess player in American Werewolf in London.
June Ellis
AKA Isobel Fletcher (Fletch's wife)
June Ellis is probably best known for appearing in one of the finest episodes of Fawlty Towers, The Waldorf Salad.
Tony Osoba
AKA "Sonny Jock" McLaren
Tony Osoba has appeared in many of the most popular dramas and comedies in Britain including such classics as Minder and Coronation Street.
Ray Dunbobbin
AKA Evans
Ray Dunbobbin is probably best known for portraying Ralph in the soap, Brookside.
John Rudling
AKA Mr Birchwood
John Rudling played Brabinger the butler in another of my favourite sitcoms, To The Manor Born.
Peter Jeffrey
Born 18 April 1929
Died 25 December 1999
AKA Senior Prison Officer "Napper" Wainright
Philip Madoc
Born 5 July 1934
Died 5 March 2012
AKA Williams
Philp Madoc is probably best known for his role as a German Submarine Commander in the Dad's Army episode "The Deadly Attachment".
Madge Hindle
Born 19 May 1938
AKA Mrs Hesketh
Probably best known for her role as Renee Bradshaw in Coronation Street.
Jane Wenham
AKA Dorothy Jameson
Jane Wenham was probably most famous for her role as the enigmatic Eva in An Inspector Calls.
Graham Crowden
Born 30 November 1922
Died 21 October 2010
AKA Doctor
Graham Crowden later became more famous for his role as Tom in the sitcom Waiting for God. I also think he was given the funniest ever line in Porridge. Click on a Doctor's Bedside Manner on the sounds page. to find out more.
Carol Hawkins
Born 31 January 1949
AKA Sandra
Carol Hawkins was most famous for playing Sharon in Please Sir. Carol also appeared a couple of Carry On movies.
Michael Redfern
Born 30 March 1943
Played Tulip in the Desperate Hours episode but is probably best known for his role as the father in the Oxo adverts.
Geoffrey Bayldon
Born 7 January 1924
Died 10 May 2017
AKA Governer Tredaway (film)
Only appearing in the movie version of Porridge, Bayldon was most famous for playing the title role in the children's TV series, Catweazle.
Gorden Kaye
Born 7 April 1941
Died 23 January 2017
AKA Bus Driver
Gorden kaye played the bus driver in the Porridge movie and went on to become Rénée in Allo Allo.
Patricia Brake
Born 25 June 1942
Died 28 May 2022
AKA Ingrid Rita Fletcher (Fletch's daughter)
Gorgeous Patricia Brake played Fletch's daughter in a few episodes of Porridge and in all episodes of Going Straight. Her next most famous role was in the ill-fated soap, Eldorado. Patricia passed away after a long battle with cancer on 28 May 2022
Nicholas Lyndhurst
Born 21 April 1961
AKA Raymond Fletcher (Fletch's son)
One of the most talented comedy actors in the UK today, Nicholas Lyndhurst was showing an early ability as Fletch's son in Going Straight. He went on to star in many other classic comedies such as Butterflies, Only Fools and Horses and Goodnight Sweetheart.
Karl Howman
Born 13 December 1952
AKA "Light Fingered" Larry Urquhart
Karl Howman played Urquhart in the Porridge movie and is best known for his role as Jacko in the comedy Brush Strokes.
Paul Barber
AKA Morgan
Paul Barber was credited in the film as Morgan but didn't have any lines. He can be seen in various scenes. He is most famous for playing Denzil in Only Fools and Horses and Horse in The Full Monty.
Duncan Preston
AKA The Weather Man
Duncan Preston has appeared in various British comedies and is best known as Kevin the Teenager's father in the Harry Enfield shows and more recently as Stan in Victoria Wood's wonderful sitcom, Dinnerladies.
John Bennett
Born 8 May 1928
Died 11 April 2005
AKA Medical Officer
John Bennett has been a recognisable character actor on British television for over forty years, with many credits including The Avengers, Doctor Who, I Claudius, Blake's 7, Survivors, The Professionals, Boon, Bergerac, Danger Man, Dixon Of Dock Green. A few of many film appearances include The Fifth Element, Minority Report and Watership Down.
By Phillip Madeley
Cyril Shaps
Born 13 October 1923
Died 1 January 2003
AKA Jackdaw
Cyril Shaps was a regular supporting actor on various television and film productions, including four episodes of Doctor Who, Randall And Hopkirk (Deceased), Department S, Jason King, Danger Man, The Sweeney, Some Mothers Do 'Ave Em, Z Cars, The Young Ones and Lovejoy.
By Phillip Madeley
David Daker
Born 29 September 1935
AKA Jarvis
David Daker has appeared in various television shows including Z Cars, Rising Damp, Only Fools and Horses, Sorry!, Doctor Who, Casualty, All Creatures Great And Small and more recently Doctors, Heartbeat, The Bill, The Last Detective and Where The Heart Is.
By Phillip Madeley
Paul Angelis
AKA Navy Rum
Most famous for playing Ringo in the Beatles film Yellow Submarine (1968), Paul Angelis has also appeared as a regular in Z Cars, with guest roles including The Sweeney, The Bill, The Vice, Robin's Nest, Callan, Boon and The Grimleys.
By Phillip Madeley
Philip Jackson
Born 18 June 1948
AKA Dylan
Porridge being one of Philip Jackson's earliest roles, he has gone on to star in such television shows as Coronation Street, The Last Of The Summer Wine, A Touch Of Frost, Heartbeat, Silent Witness, Poirot, Grass and Little Britain. Film credits include Little Voice, Mike Bassett: England Manager and Brassed Off.
By Phillip Madeley
Robert Gillespie
Born 9 November 1933
AKA The Vicar
Credits include Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads?, Survivors, Secret Army, Rising Damp and Only When I Laugh.
By Phillip Madeley
John Rutland
AKA The Verger
Television appearances include One Foot In The Grave, Eastenders, Hi-De-Hi!, 'Allo 'Allo! and The Bill.
By Phillip Madeley
Dudley Sutton
Born 6 April 1933
Died 15 September 2018
AKA Reg Urwin "with a U"
Recognisable face on British television, Dudley Sutton has most recently appeared as Wilfred Atkins in BBC soap Eastenders, but is perhaps best known as Tinker in Lovejoy. Various television appearances include Randall And Hopkirk (Deceased), Emmerdale Farm, Tales Of The Unexpected, Casualty, Victoria And Albert and David Copperfield.
By Phillip Madeley
Johnny Wade Scrounger
Arnold Peters Chief Officer Barratt
Ralph Watson Frank the Barman
Peggy Mason District Nurse
Royston Tickner Policeman
Emlyn Price Tolly
Susan Littler Norma (Tolly's Wife)
Andonia Katsaros Iris Heslop
Rosalind Elliot Elaine Warren
Eric Dodson Banyard (TV series)
Graham Ashley Mr Appleton
Felix Bowness Gay Gordon
Maggie Flint Mrs Godber
Ivor Roberts Home Office Inspector
Barbara New Home Office Inspector
Geoffrey Greenhill Home Office Inspector
Tony Aitken Prison Chaplain
Colin Farrell Norris
Terence Soall Medical Officer
Roy Sampson PT Instructor
John Moore Grouty's Lacky
Alun Armstrong "Spraggs" Spraggon
Elizabeth Day Nurse
Ken Wynne Keegan
Julian Holloway Mr Bainbridge
Christopher Godwin Beale
Paul McDowell Prison Officer Collinson
Barrie Rutter Oakes
Daniel Peacock Rudge
Philip Locke Banyard (Film)
Oliver Smith McMillan
Andrew Dunford Armstrong
Steven Steen Wellings
Ivan Steward Simkin
Derek James Small
Rod Culbertson Callaghan
Zoot Money Lotterby
Derek Deadman Cooper
Robert Putt Atkinson
Allan Warren Whalley
Stewart Harwood Whittaker
John Barratt Hedley
Paul Barber Morgan
Sebastian Abineri Hayward
Barry James Delilah
Jackie Pallo Jr Jacko
Robert Lee Tinkler
Robert Hamilton Cox
Charles Pemberton Miller
Colin Rix Lassiter
Michael O'Hagan Medical Officer (Film)
Paul Luty Chalky
Bunny May Alf
Elizabeth Knight Sheila
Nicholas McArdle PC Townsend
Jean Campbell Dallas Old Lady
Bill Kerry Old Man
Dick Clement Writer
Ian La Frenais Writer
Sydney Lotterby Producer
