Porridge

The Hustler follows a betting fever that sweeps Slade Prison, quickly raising the stakes to levels many inmates cannot sustain. Framed as a comedy, the programme stars Ronnie Barker and depicts the escalating tension and chaos that ensues behind the prison walls.

The Hustler is a televised episode presented as a comedy programme, headlined by the well‑known comic Ronnie Barker. It is catalogued simply as an episode rather than a full series, and its genre is explicitly listed as comedy, signalling a light‑hearted approach to the story it tells. The central narrative follows a sudden surge of gambling enthusiasm that grips the inmates of Slade Prison. What begins as a harmless pastime quickly escalates, and the betting stakes become dangerously high for a number of the prisoners. The episode tracks how this rapid rise in risk affects those involved, highlighting the tension between the thrill of the game and the potential consequences. Although the setting is a prison, the tone remains comedic, with the humour arising from the absurdity of a betting craze taking hold behind bars. Ronnie Barker’s presence adds a familiar comic flavour, ensuring the story leans more toward amusement than drama. The plot’s focus stays tightly on the betting fever and its repercussions within the prison walls. Overall, The Hustler delivers a concise, humour‑driven look at how a simple gamble can spiral out of control, especially when the participants are confined inmates. The episode’s brief run‑time keeps the story brisk, allowing the comedy to unfold around the escalating stakes without straying beyond the core premise.