Harry Grout

Harry Grout as portrayed by Peter Vaughan in Porridge

'Genial' Harry Grout, or 'Grouty', as he is often referred to, was a character in the popular BBC sitcom Porridge. Despite appearing in only three episodes (and referred to in many more) and the film, he is one of the best-remembered characters from the series. He was played by Peter Vaughan.

Slade Prison is officially run by the Governor, but the prisoners know better. Grouty is the real muscle behind what goes on in the prison. He has his own cell which is lavishly decorated, filled with valuable prison commodoties and he is surrounded by his own 'heavies'. Grouty's job in the prison is to look after the swimming pool, which is particularly easy as the prison does not have a swimming pool. Grouty marks this down to a clerical error. Interestingly, Grouty never appears in the same scene as Mr. Mackay, and accordingly viewers are never certain whether Mackay has ever attempted to tackle Grouty's control of the prison.

Grouty is feared by all the prisoners, even Fletcher winces in terror when Grouty requests his services. His schemes include running a drugs ring, funded by the doctor's office and rigging boxing matches. If crossed, Grouty has little hesitation in setting one of his various heavies on those who displease him.

Grouty also arranges things such as prison breaks, as seen in the Christmas special "No Way Out," in which the major plot involves his trying to arrange a breakout plan, with much help from an unwilling Fletcher. Eventually, Fletcher reveals the tunnel that was dug to Mr. Mackay but ends up landing himself in the prison infirmary. After Mackay offers him a bottle of whisky in exchange for information, Fletcher tells him that they disposed of the soil from the tunnel by burying it in a second one.

In the 2003 mockumentary Life Beyond The Box: Norman Stanley Fletcher, it is revealed that after being released from prison Grouty continued running his "business empire" (although he insisted it was now straight, and no-one could prove otherwise), and also became a "celebrity criminal", in a similar manner to Frankie Fraser and The Krays. He died of a heart attack, but, just before he died, he told Fletcher where his stash was hidden. Fletcher is seen laying a memorial wreath at his funeral which simply says "Nerk".