Following last year's successful one-off Porridge revival, we are now on Episode 2 of a new series.
This is another example of 'do not mess about with the classics'.
The one-off episode last year was a very brave attempt to continue the original series this time following Fletcher's grandson. It was surprisingly good, despite some very obvious similarities - notably a clone of Chief Officer MacKay, and a watered-down version of Barrowclough.
But this new series has gone one step further into unoriginality - by so far recycling two original episodes, and nicking some of the best jokes from the feature film.
The modern audience is not stupid. All the original Porridge shows are so widely available, and have been for many years, so we know when we are being taken for a ride.
After some 40 years, I think the original writers could have thought of some newer, fresher ideas.
It has been bad enough with Still Open All Hours recycling some ideas, but this is far more blatant.
Another old programme that was given an update last year was Goodnight Sweetheart, which despite not making it to a new series, did show a lot of promise.
This is another example of 'do not mess about with the classics'.
The one-off episode last year was a very brave attempt to continue the original series this time following Fletcher's grandson. It was surprisingly good, despite some very obvious similarities - notably a clone of Chief Officer MacKay, and a watered-down version of Barrowclough.
But this new series has gone one step further into unoriginality - by so far recycling two original episodes, and nicking some of the best jokes from the feature film.
The modern audience is not stupid. All the original Porridge shows are so widely available, and have been for many years, so we know when we are being taken for a ride.
After some 40 years, I think the original writers could have thought of some newer, fresher ideas.
It has been bad enough with Still Open All Hours recycling some ideas, but this is far more blatant.
Another old programme that was given an update last year was Goodnight Sweetheart, which despite not making it to a new series, did show a lot of promise.