The dying Master of Porterhouse succumbs to a Porterhouse Blue - a stroke brought on by over-indulgence. In his place comes a new Master, Sir Godber Evans, an ex-grammar-school boy, failed politician and old Porterhusian, who chooses the occasion of the annual great feast to announce a major break with six centuries of college tradition: Porterhouse will open its doors to scholars! Skullion, head porter for 45 years, is as stunned as the Fellows and students. But the new master - egged on by his wife, a zealous espouser of militant and minority causes - is determined to sow seeds of change in the very foundations of Porterhouse.