Characters of Porridge (TV series) episode Mackay asks Fletcher whether he felt he was working class. Fletcher responds 'I did, until I visited Glasgow. Now I think I'm middle class.' Mackay appears in the first episode of "Going Straight", where it is revealed he has left Slade Prison after reaching the compulsory retirement age for prison officers. During the series Mackay regularly wore his army service ribbons on his uniform. During the run of the series he wore the General Service Medal 1918-1962, the Korea Medal, and the UN Korea Medal. For the film this was inexplicably expanded to an additional row containing the 1939-1945
Porridge (TV series) more bearable by beating the system, even in trivial ways. The BBC was forced to look around for locations because the Home Office refused permission for any production filming inside or outside a real prison. Instead the main gatehouse of the disused St Albans Prison (in the town's Victoria Street) was used in the opening credits. Exteriors were first filmed at a psychiatric hospital near Watford. However, after the completion of the second series, the hospital withdrew permission for more filming following complaints from patients' families. Another institution near Ealing was then used for the third series. Scenes within cells