Heartbreak Hotel (Porridge)

"Heartbreak Hotel" is an episode of the BBC sitcom Porridge. It first aired on 31 October 1975.^[1] In this episode, Godber receives a Dear John letter from his fiancée, Denise. Meanwhile, Fletcher receives a visit from his daughter, Ingrid, who tells him the news from home.

Synopsis

Godber asks Fletcher why the BBC never plays prisoners' requests on the radio. Fletcher explains it's because the system is open to abuse, where songs may be a message for someone to help with an escape. Mr Mackay comes in and says it's because it would cause embarrassment to families who have given a false story for their husband/son's absence. Mackay wanted to speak to Fletcher about the Governor's soft toilet roll being stolen. Fletcher denies any involvement, but Mackay warns both men to be careful. Once Mackay leaves, Fletcher reveals to Godber that he's hidden the toilet roll in their jug. Fletcher only allows Godber one piece of toilet roll.

On visiting day, Fletcher's daughter Ingrid comes, as well as Godber's mother. Ingrid tells Fletcher that her mother's keeping fine, her sister Marion's got a new job and her younger brother Raymond is on 30 cigarettes a day. Fletcher is disappointed about Raymond smoking and warns Ingrid about her boyfriend Eddie Risley. Fletcher also notices her lack of bra is causing her nipples to show which is risky, especially in a prison full of sex-starved men.

That night, Fletcher wakes Godber up to talk to him. Fletcher is depressed, because he feels his place should be at home, giving fatherly advice to his children. Godber admits that he listened in to most of Fletcher and Ingrid's conversation. This annoys Fletcher as Godber should have been talking to his own mother, who came all the way from Birmingham. Godber says that his mother only gives him news of family ailments and nothing about his fiancée, Denise.

A short while later, Barrowclough wants a word with Fletcher during recreation hour. Godber is in big trouble with the Governor, due to assaulting fellow inmate Jackdaw with a ladle. That evening, Godber returns to his cell and tells Fletcher he was spared the cooler due to mitigating circumstances, which he initially refuses to reveal. After some persuasion from Fletcher, Godber relents and tells Fletcher that he received sad news about Denise marrying another man and that Jackdaw was laughing at him. Fletcher sympathises with Godber.

On the next visiting day, Ingrid tells Fletcher that she is no longer dating Eddie Risley and reveals she is wearing a bra, much to the joy of the inmates and to the embarrassment of Fletcher.

Later, Fletcher shows Godber he's received a new ping-pong ball. Godber tells Fletcher he's sending a request to the BBC on plain notepaper, and also expresses his concerns about finding a new girlfriend when he is released. Fletcher reassures him, but is angry when he hears Godber has his eye on Ingrid. The episode ends with Fletcher accidentally breaking the ping-pong ball in anger.

Episode cast

Notes

• Only appearance of Mrs Godber.
• This is the first time Godber and Ingrid meet each other. They would later marry in the final episode of Going Straight.

References