Thick as Thieves is a British sitcom which was broadcast on ITV between 1 June and 20 July 1974 and produced by London Weekend.

[2] Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais had written the successful sitcom Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?

They contributed two scripts to Seven of One in 1973, a series of seven individual situation comedy starring Ronnie Barker, with "Prisoner And Escort", serving as the pilot for Porridge and “I’ll Fly You For A Quid”..

Stan's taking advantage of George's soft nature by playing sick comes to an end when he is found creeping round the kitchen.

George is having a long hard think while walking along the Thames when he comes upon a group of youths trying to save their friend from the river.

The lies start when Sergeant Black knocks on their door and in the face of initially stiff opposition reveals George is actually a bit of a local celebrity but from here the deceit only gets worse.

Tommy is an escaped felon whom police have narrowed the search for to the local area, so it's no surprise when he arrives and makes himself more than at home, ordering a string of demands that tests both George and Stan to the limit.

The ensuing arguments cause so much friction that George thinks about booking his own holiday but instead only succeeds in letting Annie and her girlfriend take both tickets while the two boys slum it out at home.

With Annie away in Benidorm for a holiday with her friend, George and Stan make a decent fist of keeping the home in good order and clean, even learning not to burn their dinner along the way.

Except that they both choose the same house at the same time, and their collective talents are going to be no match against its owner - the girlfriend of the local gangland boss.