...the name of the actor who played Grouty in Porridge?

I understand that there are ways of finding these things out for yourself but I can't be arsed.

Thanks.

I'll do the dirty work for you, shall I?

Courtesy of IMDB: "Genial" Harry Grout was played by Peter Vaughan from 1975 to 1977.

Thanks Roq (sorry if Roq's being over familiar, I also can't be arsed to type Roquentin, although now I've typed it and a shed load of extra crap as well. Tsk.) He was Wolfie Smith's dad as well if I remember.

Father-in-law, not dad.

Did a fine line in looking sinister.

Peter Vaughn is one of my all-time favourite actors. Played Christopher Ecclestone's dad in Our Friends in the North, and reduced me to a blubbering wreck by turning in a fantastic performance of an old man succumbing to Alzheimer's.

Actually I'd better not think about it in too much detail or I'll be off again

pash, richard armitage of north and south fame is on bbc1 tonight in shakespeare re-told. does that reignite any minor flame?