"Fletch", sentenced to a five year stretch at HM Prison Slade in darkest Cumbria, is determined to keep his head down, do his time and not let the bastards grind him down. But it's not so simple when you're an old lag. His native cell-mate Lenny Godber needs to learn the ropes, skives and scams; evil Prison Officer Mackay can't be allowed to run things his own way and warden Barrowclough is just too weak-willed not to have his good-nature exploited.
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Played by:
 | David Jason David Jason was born in Edmonton, London, in 1940. He has become one of Britain's most famous and respected ... | |
Character Bio

Blanco is a very old man. Blanco is also a close friend of
Fletcher. Blanco was imprisoned for murdering his wife. He featured heavily in the episode
Happy Release where he and
Fletch are in adjacent beds in the prison hospital, Fletch having broken his foot and Blanco having been diagnosed with a "tired heart". Also in the hospital is Norris (played by Colin Farrel), who is considered "scum" even by the other inmates, who had managed to con Blanco out of his only possessions: an antique silver snuff box, a Japanese wireless radio, and a musical box that played
Waltzing Matilda when opened. Fletch manages to reacquire Blanco's possessions with the aid of
Godber's help, and manages to get Norris, who had just been released, re-arrested after only one day by tricking him into trying to dig for "treasure" underneath the pitch of
Leeds United.
Throughout his lengthy prison sentence Blanco continued to profess his innocence, and when parole was granted (in the episode
Pardon Me) he refused, preferring the prospect of dying in prison to that of admitting guilt. When he is finally granted a pardon, Fletch warns him not to seek revenge on the person who really killed his wife. Blanco's response is an oft-repeated comedy moment:
"No. I know 'im wot did it. It were the wife's lover. But don't worry, I shan't go round searching for him, 'e died years ago. That I do know. It were me that killed him!".
Jason's role alongside
Ronnie Barker in
Porridge is just one in a long line of occasions on which the two have paired up. Another notable role for them was in
Open All Hours. David Jason was originally considered for the part of elderly
Lance-Corporal Jack Jones in
Dad's Army; the role went to
Clive Dunn.
Blanco Photos | powered by  |
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