Barker, Ronnie

Perhaps the king of British TV Comedy, Ronnie Barker was born in Bedford on 25 September 1929 and died on 3 October 2005.  I'd say that he's best remembered for his part in the BBC's perennial 70's and 80's show, The Two Ronnies in which he starred with Ronnie Corbett.  His best work however, is probably Porridge - the prison sitcom, written by Dick Clement and Ian Le Frenais in which he played Norman Stanley Fletcher, soft hearted perennial criminal.  Fletcher was looked up to by many of his fellows, notably cell mate Lennie Godber, portrayed by Richard Beckinsale; but looked down on by prison officer Mr Mackay, played by Fulton Mackay.  Another one of Barker's triumphs was Open All Hours, written by Roy Clarke, in which he starred alongside David Jason and Lynda Baron, as Arkwright the tight-fisted, stammering purveyor of all things 'cornershop'. That'll be th-th-th-th-th-forty seven pee please...