The prison life of Fletcher, a criminal serving a five-year sentence, as he strives to bide his time, keep his record clean, and refuses to be ground down by the prison system.

Norman Stanley Fletcher is sentenced to 5 years at her Majesty's pleasure at HM prison Slade in darkest Cumbria. His naive cell mate Lenny Godber needs to learn the ropes, skives and scams and strict prison officer Mr.Mackay tries to run the prison his own way. And then there's Mr.Barroclough who is just too weak willed to have his good nature exploited.

Norman Stanley Fletcher is a career criminal and a regular guest of Her Majesty's Prison Service. He is about to start a five year stretch. In prison his cellmate is a young first-offender, Lenny Godber. It's up to Fletcher to teach Godber the ropes. Hijinks ensue.—grantss

Fletcher's doing five years for breaking and entering. He's quick witted and never short of a trick or two to make his life that little bit easier. Lennie Godber's his cellmate who Fletch often teases but also protects in a father-like way. The other two main characters are prison officers; MacKay's a militarily strict type, keen to adhere to the rules, while Mr Barrowclough is almost a complete opposite and easily manipulated by Fletcher.—Rob Hartill