Prisoner (TV series)

*Prisoner*
Prisoner
	File:Prisoner.png
Created by	Reg Watson
Starring	Val Lehman; Colette Mann; Sheila Florance; Amanda Muggleton; Betty Bobbitt; Patsy King; Elspeth Ballantyne; Maggie Kirkpatrick
Country of origin	Australia
No. of episodes	692
Original release
Network	Ten Network
Release	1979 –; 1986

For the 1967 UK television series, starring Patrick McGoohan, see The Prisoner.

Prisoner (known in the UK and USA as Prisoner: Cell Block H or The Prisoner of Cell Block H, and in Canada by the English title Caged Women) was an Australian television soap opera set in Wentworth Detention Centre, a women's prison. Because of its success in the UK, the series has become one of the most enduring in Australian television history.

The show has some similarities to the earlier London Weekend Television series Within These Walls, and may well have been influenced by it.

The series was created by Reg Watson and produced by the Reg Grundy Organisation and ran on Network Ten for 692 episodes from 1979 to 1986. The show's storylines primarily concentrated on the lives of the prisoners and, to a lesser extent, the officers and other prison staff.

Within the walls of the prison, the major themes of the series were the inter-personal relationships between the prisoners, the power struggles, friendships and rivalries. When the series launched in 1978, the press advertising used the line "if you think prison is hell for a man, imagine what it's like for a woman".

While it is remembered now mainly for its campy qualities — the low budget, at-times silly storylines and tiny production values — it was hailed in its time for ground-breaking storytelling.

Themes

The themes of the show were often radical, including feminism, homosexuality and social reform. While many of the characters were played, at times, for comedy, the series had an extraordinary humanity, examining in detail the way in which women dealt with incarceration, and separation from their families.

Several lesbian characters were featured throughout the show's run, notably prisoners Franky Doyle and Judy Bryant, and prison officer Joan Ferguson. The lesbian angle was never used for titillation, rather for thoughtful and realistic storylining.

Characters

The character structure of the series rarely changed throughout the series run, even though the individual personalities and actors often did. The prison population always comprised a "Top Dog" and gang, an elderly inmate, a handful of heavies used for "muscle" and an agitant prisoner who threatened the "Top Dog"'s control.

Early Episodes

The major characters of the series first year included:

Inmates

Bea Smith (Val Lehman - episodes 1-400), the tough and uncompromising top dog — the name given to the unofficial leader of the prisoner population — who ruled Wentworth's H Block with an iron fist. Initially imprisoned for strangling her husband's mistress and then murdered her husband upon her release. Her teenage daughter Debbie (played by Val Lehman's daughter Cassandra) had died from a heroin overdose while Bea was in prison, therefore Bea is renowned for her hatred of drug pushers.
Doreen Anderson (Colette Mann - episodes 1-446), a dim-witted and easily led prisoner who was briefly involved in a sexual relationship with Franky Doyle (Carol Burns). Thumb-sucking, teddy-bear clutching Doreen was a petty criminal, in and out of juvenile institutions before ending up at Wentworth, with a particular talent for forgery.
Lizzie Birdsworth (Sheila Florance - episodes 1-418), an elderly, chain-smoking, alcoholic recidivist prisoner, who provided much of the series comic relief. At the series start, Lizzie had already served twenty years in prison. Working as a bush cook, she had allegedly poisoned a group of sheep shearers who'd had the audacity to complain about her cooking.
Franky Doyle (Carol Burns - episodes 1-20), an agitating lesbian bikie whose violent attitude stemmed from the fact that she was illiterate. Despite her popularity, she appears in only the first 20 episodes. She was shot dead by police when she aimed a gun at them, when she was on the run with Doreen.
Karen Travers (Peta Toppano - episodes 1-80), a middle-class school-teacher who had stabbed her abusive, adulterous husband to death in the shower when she had found him in bed with another woman after he had forced her to have an abortion.
Lynn Warner (Kerry Armstrong - episodes 1-44), a young country girl who had come to the city to work as a nanny and arrived at Wentworth protesting her innocence at having kidnapped the baby in her care and buried him alive.
"Mum" Brooks (Mary Ward - episodes 1-204), an elderly, dignified long-term inmate who worked in the prison garden, well respected by both prisoners and officers. "Mum" (real name Jeanette) had committed euthanasia on her terminally ill husband and had served fifteen years at the start of the series.
Marilyn Mason ( Margaret Laurence - episodes 1-16), the prison nymphomaniac, inside for soliciting and chiefly memorable for her erotic assignations with electrician Eddie Cook (Richard Moir) in the prison roof.
Rosie Hudson (Anne-Maree McDonald - episodes 2-73), a pregnant prisoner who gives birth at Wentworth. One year later, she suffers a breakdown being unable to cope after her baby son is taken into care.
Chrissie Latham (Amanda Muggleton - episodes 3-338), a tarty and lascivious prostitute who spent much of her time behind bars lamenting the fact that there were no men around. Despite murdering Meg's first husband Bill Jackson, she served only 18 months, before being released on parole in Episode 192 (mid-1981). This is not the end of Chrissie's story and further crimes keep her in and out of Wentworth for some years.
Helen Masters (Louise Pajo - episodes 8-10), a businesswoman remanded to Wentworth for running down a child and whose haughty attitude alienates both staff and prisoners.
Monica Ferguson (Lesley Baker - episodes 15-60), a brutish, hulking inmate inside for bashing her weaselly husband Fred (Gary Files) who was sometimes an ally, sometimes an enemy of Bea Smith.
Barbara Davidson (Sally Cahill - episodes 17-24), the niece of governor Erica Davidson. Barbara is admitted to Wentworth on drug charges.
Catherine Roberts (Margo McLennan - episodes 18-24), a middle-class housewife who runs down and kills the man who she thinks is the one who raped her teenage daughter.
Susan Rice (Briony Behets - episodes 25-29), an emotionally fragile woman who shoplifts to gain attention from her pop star husband.
Martha Eaves (Kate Jason - episodes 29-64), a dimwitted prisoner ridiculed by the other women, but who often acts as hired muscle for wannabe top dogs or those needing physical back-up.
Noeline Burke (Jude Kuring - episodes 30-132), the head of a family of petty criminals usually inside for burglary and theft. An antagonist of both Bea Smith and Monica Ferguson.
Clara Goddard (Betty Lucas - episodes 30-39), a genteel, flighty socialite remanded to Wentworth for embezzlement who gains considerable influence amongst the women. Sarcastically nicknamed "Madame Clara" by Bea Smith, jealous of the way Clara manages to usurp her authority as top dog of the prisoners.
Kathleen Leach (Penny Stewart - episodes 30-149), background prisoner who sometimes played a bigger role in the series.
Leanne Burke (Tracey-Jo Riley - episodes 33-121), Noeline Burke's daughter, who has inherited her mother's criminal tendencies. She fell to her death off the prison roof (accidentally) during a riot over Jock Stewart killing Sharon Gilmore.
Irene Zervos ( Maria Mercedes - episodes 38-40), a young Greek woman admitted to Wentworth after being blackmailed into prostitution by a relative who is aware of her status as an illegal immigrant.
Joyce Martin (Judy Nunn - episodes 40-48), the wife of an armed robber inside for being an accessory, and the only person who knows the location of the loot.
Denise Crabtree (Lynda Keane - episodes 43-48), a tarty young woman who is the girlfriend of Monica Ferguson's husband Fred, but who turns out to be using him to get her hands on the stolen loot from the robbery committed by Joyce Martin's husband.
Edith Wharton (Colleen Clifford - episodes 44-49), an elderly woman who is made homeless and ends up in Wentworth charged with vagrancy, bringing out the softer side of deputy governor Jim Fletcher.
Melinda Cross (Lulu Pinkus - episodes 47-58), a devious young woman and university student who is remanded to Wentworth after trying to blackmail the lecturer with whom she had been having an affair.
Bella Albrecht (Liddy Clark - episodes 51-52), a remorseless child killer who had murdered her toddler daughter and arrives at Wentworth on remand, arousing the anger of the women, who despise those who harm children.
Phyllis Hunt (Reylene Pearce - episodes 54-460), background prisoner who eventually takes on a larger role around the time of Bea Smith's departure from the series, turning nasty in the process.
Antonia McNally (Pat Bishop - episodes 57-64), a cool, classy woman on remand for murder who takes over as top dog while Bea Smith is away in solitary confinement. Antonia is the wife of the head of the local underworld with friends in high places, therefore pressure is brought to bear on governor Erica Davidson to give her special privileges that further cements her high status amongst the prisoners.
Roslyn Coulson (Sigrid Thornton - episodes 63-92), an idealistic young woman charged with killing the woman who had murdered her mother.
Pat O'Connell (Monica Maughan - episodes 65-110), an imprisoned mother separated from her young children, Pat had aided and abetted her husband and eldest son in an armed robbery.
Janet Dominguez (Deirdre Rubenstein - episodes 79-83), a suspected terrorist held in solitary awaiting extradition to the United States to stand trial for her crimes. An attempt by her fellow guerillas to rescue her by breaking into Wentworth at night forms the first end-of-season cliffhanger in the series.

Prison Staff

Erica Davidson (Patsy King - episodes 1-454), the prison's governor. Davidson was a former barrister with political connections, best remembered for her clipped English accent and pompadour hairdo.
Meg Jackson (Elspeth Ballantyne - episodes 1-692), one of the prison's senior officers. Born in a prison herself, Jackson was often sympathetic to inmate needs, hoping to rehabilitate the prisoners. The departures of Bea Smith in September 1983 and Lizzie Birdsworth in February 1984 left Meg as the show's only remaining original cast member. Meg continued until the end of the series, making her the only main character seen through the show's entire run.
Vera Bennett (Fiona Spence - episodes 1-224), the acid-tongued senior prisoner officer who believed that Erica's progressive methods were wrong, and that the prisoners needed discipline and authority. Her nickname was "Vinegar Tits".
Greg Miller (Barry Quin - episodes 1-110), handsome prison doctor who had had a relationship with inmate Karen Travers years before she was imprisoned at Wentworth.
Anne Yates (Kirsty Child - episodes 2-29), a corrupt officer who does favours for the prisoners in exchange for cash. Is forced to resign after being caught selling contraceptives to Marilyn Mason and is subsequently admitted to Wentworth as a prisoner in on drug charges.
Jean Vernon (Christine Amor - episodes 14-56), a young, idealistic social worker appointed welfare officer at Wentworth.
Joyce Barry (Joy Westmore - episodes 29-692), usually friendly but somewhat ineffectual officer who eventually marries the prison chef Mervin Pringle (Ernie Bourne).
Jim Fletcher (Gerard Maguire - episodes 40-256), the prison's male deputy governor, a stern, authoritarian ex-army man who had a tendency to fall in love with some of his more attractive charges.
Colleen Powell (Judith McGrath - episodes 48-456), a senior prison officer who rose to prominence after Vera Bennett's departure and was deputy governor for much of Ann Reynolds' administration. She was fair-minded, but had a sarcastic, dry sense of humour.
Ted Douglas (Ian Smith - episodes 61-382), the pompous, generally disliked representative of the Department Of Corrective Services, forever visiting Wentworth to demand that governor Erica Davidson increase security.

Other Characters

Insp. Jack Grace (Terry Gill - episodes 8-635), an overbearing Detective Inspector who becomes the main representative of the police force in the series.
Steve Wilson (James Smillie - episodes 15-42), dashing solicitor who represents a number of the women during the first year of the series.
Peter Clements (Carrillo Gantner - episodes 44-52), a psychology lecturer granted permission to conduct research into prison life at Wentworth, but who is covertly studying the officers rather than the prisoners.
Dr. Weissman (Bryon Williams - episodes 28-589), a psychiatrist called into Wentworth to examine several of the inmates throughout the series.
Geoff Butler (Ray Meagher - episodes 78-112), an old friend of deputy governor Jim Fletcher from when they fought together in Vietnam who turns out to be dangerously unbalanced.

Later Episodes

As the series progressed, a number of major cast changes followed. This is a rundown of many of the characters who appeared in the series throughout the remainder of its 692-episode run:

Inmates

Caroline Simpson (Rosalind Speirs - episodes 89-114), a sophisticated middle-class woman who stabbed her abusive father to protect her mother, Vivienne Williams (Bernadette Gibson), from being beaten. Both Caroline and Vivienne are remanded to Wentworth, and Caroline becomes attracted to deputy governor Jim Fletcher, who as a result earned the nickname "Fletch the letch".
Sharon Gilmour (Margot Knight - episodes 90-116), a scheming, spoilt young woman imprisoned for drug dealing and an immediate enemy of Bea Smith. Sharon's older girlfriend, Judy Bryant, deliberately had herself imprisoned to be with Sharon, only for Sharon to shamelessly manipulate her in her bid to become top dog. Jock Stewart killed her by pushing her down the stairs, breaking her neck.
Judy Bryant (Betty Bobbitt - episodes 91-534), an American ex-pat lesbian who deliberately committed a crime to join her lover Sharon Gilmour in prison. She was initially an agitator, but later became one of Bea's allies, as well as a long-term inmate.
Margo Gaffney (Jane Clifton - episodes 92-448), one of a long line of agitators in the prison cellblock who generally played rival to the reigning top-dog. Margo took charge of all gambling inside Wentworth and was usually accompanied by her stooges "Lil and Bev" (played by extras Judith McLorinan and Kaye Chadwick). She was eventually released from prison on parole but subsequently participated in a botched payroll robbery. She was arrested and returned to Wentworth, and later sentenced to a minimum of eight years for this crime, and became increasingly embittered and would be regularly moved to other cell blocks or to solitary confinement due to infractions. She was later transferred to another prison after it was found she lit the major fire in the store-room, burning the prison to the ground in episode 326. After a long absence she was subsequently transferred back to Wentworth, now acting as a drug dealer, before being transferred out of Wentworth for the last time after attacking another prisoner.
Heather "Mouse" Trapp (Jentah Sobott - episodes 106-326), a rather stupid young woman in and out for Wentworth for petty crime. Usually in the background, her most memorable moments in the series include accompanying Bea, Lizzie, Doreen and Judy during their attempted escape through the underground tunnel (episodes 165-166), giving departing officer Vera Bennett her pet rock as a goodbye present (episode 224) and finally, burning to death in a large-scale fire at Wentworth (episode 326).
Kerry Vincent (Penny Downie - episodes 112-124), a prisoner transferred to Wentworth because of her artistic talent but who turns out to be a mediocrity, exploited for her prisoner status.
Helen Smart (Caroline Gillmer - episodes 118-441), a likeable, amusing prostitute frequently sent to Wentworth for soliciting who becomes a useful contact for the women on the outside. Became good friends with Judy Bryant.
Gail Summers (Susanne Howarth - episodes 124-133), a harrassed housewife and neighbour of officer Meg Morris, driven to beating her young children because of an inability to cope. Remanded to Wentworth where she faces the anger of the other prisoners for being a "baby basher", because she hit her baby son Jason.
Kay White (Sandy Gore - episodes 127-145), the administrator of a clothing factory where the women are out on work release. Kay arrives at Wentworth after embezzling the payroll, using it to finance her compulsive gambling habit. White was killed by Linda Jones, but Birdsworth wore the murder charge for her.
Tracey Morris (Sue Devine - episodes 141-198), a young woman on remand accused of smuggling heroin into Australia but claims that she was set up by her gangster boyfriend. Tracey's father Bob becomes romantically involved with officer Meg Jackson. Because of that, Tracy had to be transferred to Barnhurst.
Hazel Kent (Belinda Davey - episodes 142-399), background prisoner whose situation is eventually explored. A generally decent sort, later episodes show Hazel as being a depressed, drunken loser, turning to the bottle after her partner leaves her for another woman, taking their children with him.
Jacki Nolan (Diane Craig - episodes 149-159), a sophisticated young woman who had escaped from Barnhurst years previously and lives under an alias. When her cover is blown, she is brought to Wentworth as a high profile inmate, with various groups campaigning for her release.
Myra Desmond (Anne Phelan - episodes 154-552), a former prisoner who had worked with the Prison Reform Group before arriving back at Wentworth and replacing Bea Smith as the show's second long-running "top dog". She was a thoughtful but strong woman. She was shot dead as a hostage in the terrorist siege after the bungled attempt to free prisoner Ruth Ballinger from Wentworth.
Anne Griffin (Rowena Wallace - episodes 160-167), a fragile young woman who is remanded to Wentworth protesting her innocence of a robbery charge. It is later discovered that Anne is mentally disturbed. Griffin tried to bury Bea Smith alive as she escaped with other inmates down the tunnel in Episode 165.
Sandra Hamilton (Candy Raymond - episodes 173-180), an ambitious journalist who deliberately gets herself imprisoned to write a story about life behind bars.
Evelyn Randall (Julia Blake - episodes 175-179), an eccentric, middle-aged woman and herbalist who is imprisoned for manslaughter after a patient died. Evelyn's arrival just so happens to occur at the same time as Wentworth is gripped by a mysterious disease and placed under quarantine conditions.
Georgie Baxter (Tracy Mann - episodes 175-186), a violent, illiterate biker's moll whose aggression is caused by her deafness. After a successful operation, Georgie begins to study. She is released successfully rehabilitated.
Jeannie Baxter (Leila Hayes - episodes 180-183), Georgie Baxter's mother, who had neglected her as a child. Admitted to Wentworth for "living off immoral earnings" as a brothel madam.
Marie Winter (Maggie Millar - episodes 197-471), a tough long-term prisoner who was top dog of country prison Barnhurst, specialising in pushing drugs.
Michelle Parks (Nina Landis - episodes 209-213), an attractive young athlete with Olympic potential, Michelle is remanded to Wentworth charged with stealing from the office where she worked and once inside, literally runs rings around deputy governor Jim Fletcher. Unfortunately, it turned out to be true she did in fact steal at least some of the money from her former employee. Despite this, she was acquitted.
Lori Young (Susannah Fowle - episodes 209-347), a young girl who visits Wentworth searching for her biological mother who had given her up for adoption - Judy Bryant. Lori later deliberately gets herself imprisoned to spend more time getting to know her mother. She later married a rich man by the name of Geoff. Unfortunately, Judy was not released in time to attend the wedding.
Kathy Hall (Sue Jones - episodes 213-220), a woman imprisoned for theft who is heavily involved with the local underworld. Kathy knows too much, and attempts are made to silence her for good. Terry Harrison organised to have her killed by his drug-lord mates in a hit-and-run outside the prison straight after her release.
Alison Page (Fay Kelton - episodes 215-227), troubled suburban prisoner inside for shoplifting and unhappy at being locked up with "common criminals". She was given a hard time by the other inmates because she "thought she was better than everyone else".
Andrea Hennessy (Bethany Lee - episodes 228-236), a student and political activist who is admitted to Wentworth after assaulting officer Colleen Powell during a demonstration outside the prison. To secure her release, her followers kidnap governor Erica Davidson.
Linda Golman (Mary Charlston - episodes 228-236), associate of Andrea Hennessy who is remanded to Wentworth for her part in the kidnapping of governor Erica Davidson. She hung herself in her cell overloaded with regret from letting her father down by hanging around with Hennesy.
Sandy Edwards (Louise Le Nay - episodes 235-264), a cocky gangster's moll inside for murder. Briefly took over as top dog whilst Bea Smith was away in hospital. Kate Peterson and Marie Winters had her killed and compacted in a garbage truck and disguised that as her escape.
Kate Peterson (Olivia Hamnett - episodes 235-273), a former doctor who had poisoned her lover. A refined, intelligent and coolly self-reliant inmate. She went mad, and was transferred to a psychiatric institution.
Susie Driscoll (Jacqui Gordon - episodes 260-302), a young girl who is admitted to Wentworth after she has escaped from all the juvenile institutions she has been placed in. Due to her young age and innocent nature, she is taken under the collective maternal wing of most of the women. She was freed in the same episode Joan Ferguson arrived. Susie narrowly escaped a lifetime of drug addiction and crime.
Faye Quin (Anne Lucas - episodes 285-352), a petty criminal inmate who attempts to take charge of all gambling at Wentworth.
Hannah Simpson (Julieanne Newbould - episodes 288-303), a young woman on remand for armed robbery who becomes the first unwilling object of officer Joan "The Freak" Ferguson's Sapphist lust.
Donna Mason (Arkie Whiteley - episodes 290-303), a doomed heroin addict whom Bea Smith tries to help through cold turkey, reminded of her own deceased daughter Debbie. She died after injecting heroin which was cut with battery acid.
Maxine Daniels (Lisa Crittenden - episodes 297-392), a young biker frequently inside Wentworth for petty theft.
Barbara Fields (Susan Guerin - episodes 300-326), a devious middle-class woman who embezzled funds from the shoe factory where she worked. Barbara is the first Wentworth inmate to pose a threat to Joan Ferguson after she acquires the Freak's secret diaries full of incriminating evidence of the corrupt screw's dodgy dealings.
Paddy Lawson (Anna Hruby - episodes 304-339), a young woman charged with assault and a highly aggressive inmate. It is eventually discovered that Paddy suffers from claustrophobia. After this, she settles down and becomes a friend of Bea Smith. She was drowned by Nola McKenzie, who killed just for the hell of it.
Penny Seymour (Joy Dunstan - episodes 307-309), a young woman imprisoned for prostitution. After she was released, she had her neck broken by a serial killer who killed prostitutes (later revealed to be Neil Murray).
Sally Dempster (Liz Harris - episodes 313-320), neurotic middle-class housewife who tries to run down her neglectful husband after an argument. Like Gail Summers, she too was given rough treatment by the other women, because she bashed her kid.
Jeannie Stanton (Rona McLeod - episodes 325-329), pregnant prisoner whose baby is delivered by Bea Smith and Chrissie Latham in a men's prison (as the men rioted).
Valerie Jacobs (Barbara Angell - episodes 330-332), an old friend of deputy governor Colleen Powell having stolen goods for her boyfriend to sell in his shop.
Nola McKenzie (Carole Skinner - episodes 331-370), a vicious double murderer who had escaped from death row in Western Australia. Possibly Bea Smith's deadliest rival and the first inmate to actively collude with corrupt officer Joan "The Freak" Ferguson.
Trixie Mann (Anna Mizza - episodes 336-340), a young woman imprisoned for prostitution who becomes a brief offsider of Nola McKenzie.
Janice Young ( Catherine Wilkin - episodes 344-352), proud suburban wife and mother imprisoned for refusing to pay a court fine. Her husband Chris (Roger Oakley) becomes involved with deputy governor Colleen Powell while she is inside.
Roxanne Bradshaw (Peppie D'Or - episodes 345-381), friend of Maxine Daniels who later arrives inside for receiving stolen goods. She is pregnant after agreeing to a surrogacy arrangement with a middle-class couple.
Jill Clark (Kathleen Brinson - episodes 348-353), a departmental employee posing as an inmate in order to conduct a covert investigation of the prison.
Lainie Dobson (Marina Finlay - episodes 354-366), tattoo-covered shoplifter who turns to drugs while inside.
Diane Henley (Rhonda Cressey - episodes 355-361), illiterate prisoner whose plight highlights the lack of educational facilities at Wentworth.
Denise Tyler (Geraldene Morrow - episodes 361-367), working-class single mother on remand for apparently killing one of her sons.
Zara Moonbeam (Ilona Rodgers - episodes 362-370), on remand for fraud. Zara claims to be a medium with "second sight" and becomes embroiled in a bizarre scheme by Joan Ferguson and Nola McKenzie to drive Bea Smith insane.
Tracey Belman (Alyson Best - episodes 368-372), paraplegic prisoner who poisoned her husband after a car crash which left her confined to a wheelchair.
Maggie May Kennedy (Davina Whitehouse - episodes 371-376), geriatric drugs mule convicted for smuggling heroin. Turns out to be an old friend of Lizzie Birdsworth.
Carol Colsen (Merrin Canning - episodes 373-377), next door neighbour of Joan Ferguson and an abused housewife who finally snaps and kills her husband.
Laura Gardiner/Brandy Carter (Roslyn Gentle - episodes 373-382), admitted to Wentworth as a surly, antagonistic prostitute, officer Meg Morris recognises her as a meek librarian. However, it is not simply a case of a woman living a double life as it soon becomes apparent that Laura/Brandy is schizophrenic...
"Pixie" Mason (Judy McBurney - episodes 377-510), a flighty, romantic inmate initially admitted on bigamy charges. (Mason, addicted to weddings, had married a number of men.) She was removed to a hospital after being brutally raped by Frank Burke.
Petra Roberts (Penny Maegraith - episodes 383-407), a former teacher remanded to Wentworth charged with the murder of her abusive father. Is in love with prison doctor Scott Collins.
Sharon Smart (Liddy Clark - episodes 383-388), the younger sister of Helen Smart who becomes involved with a crooked religious cult. Kidnapped by Helen, Sharon stabs the man who attempts to reverse her brainwashing by the cult and is charged with manslaughter.
Lucy Ferguson (Yoni Prior - episodes 385-389), the niece of officer Joan Ferguson who arrives inside on drug charges.
Glynis Ladd (Debbie Cumming - episodes 389-391), a prostitute and junkie.
Rosemary Kaye (Jodie Yemm - episodes 391-402), naive country girl who comes to the city looking for work and ends up in Wentworth falsely accused of theft.
Sonia Stevens (Tina Bursill - episodes 394-447), a cool vice queen who had operated a protection racket fleecing prostitutes whilst maintaining a cover as a policeman's wife. Imprisoned for heroin trafficking.
Randi Goodlove (Zoe Bertram - episodes 394-414), a mercenary, high-class prostitute who crosses swords with officer Meg Morris when she tries to manipulate her son Marty (Andrew McKaige) into marriage as a cover for her prostitution.
Cass Parker (Babs McMillan - episodes 401-460), a gentle-natured farmer's daughter with a murderous bad temper.
Minnie Donovan (Wendy Playfair - episodes 405-437), an elderly woman who had been a foster carer and had organised her charges into a team of shoplifters. Became the series' most unorthodox top dog.
Bobbie Mitchell (Maxine Klibingaitis - episodes 405-533), a streetwise and rebellious youngster and punk imprisoned for shoplifting and assault.
Brenda Hewitt (Carmen Warrington - episodes 408-416), a talented forger working for the local underworld who is involved in a brief business partnership with Sonia Stevens while inside.
Belinda Johns (Jane Turner - episodes 414-428), an embittered blind woman who gets herself imprisoned to take revenge on Sonia Stevens, whose protection racket partner left her blind after a bashing.
Sarah Higgins (Nell Johnson - episodes 416-499), Aryan-looking Visiting Justice notorious for her tough attitude and the harsh sentences she gives out to the prisoners. Sarah gets a taste of life on the other side of the bars when she is remanded on corruption charges.
Reb Kean (Janet Andrewartha - episodes 422-589), a tough inmate who played rival to top dog Myra Desmond. She was born into money, but rebelled against her wealthy family.
Mo Maguire (Bronwyn Gibbs - episodes 428-432), antagonistic remand prisoner protesting her innocence of a burglary charge.
Camilla Wells (Annette Andre - episodes 429-432), a radio show hostess and journalist who arrives at Wentworth as a "celebrity" inmate for not paying a parking fine.
Meryl King (Marilyn Maguire - episodes 429-432), a prostitute imprisoned for drug possession with links to the local underworld.
Gloria Payne (Tottie Goldsmith - episodes 430-445), trouble-making inmate and early antagonist of new top dog Myra Desmond, having been her husband's mistress on the outside.
Sarah Webster (Fiona Paul - episodes 433-441), a young single mother who finds herself remanded to Wentworth after sheltering her old friend Reb Kean while she is on the run.
Alice "Lurch" Jenkins (Lois Collinder - episodes 448-692), a prisoner who, like many, graduated from a small non-speaking part into a more fleshed-out role. Her character, initially a thug, later mellowed.
Rachel Millsom (Kim Trengove - episodes 450-472), a young woman on remand for running down the man who ran down and killed her grandfather.
Hannah Geldschmidt (Agnieszka Perepeczko - episodes 451-456), an East German Jewish concentration camp survivor and illegal immigrant who arrives at Wentworth awaiting extradition back to East Germany.
Lou Kelly (Louise Siversen - episodes 452-616), a vicious prison thug — perhaps the most violent agitator in H Block, during the later years of the series. She killed Alice Jenkins mother and brother.
Leigh Templar (Virginia Hey - episodes 457-470), a glamorous fashion model remanded to Wentworth after killing her manager, who had been blackmailing her with some porn films she had made at the start of her career.
Marlene "Rabbit" Warren (Genevieve Lemon - episodes 461-534), a juvenile prankster imprisoned for manslaughter after one of her practical jokes had gone tragically wrong.
Dot Farrar (Alethea McGrath - episodes 462-486), an elderly, hypochrondiac prisoner who had served years inside. Generally regarded as a nuisance by the other women.
Edna Pearson (Vivean Gray - episodes 463-468), a genteel woman imprisoned for trying to poison her second husband. (Note: the episodes featuring Edna Pearson were edited to remove all her scenes after a woman who had been acquitted of a similar offence threatened to sue Grundy's, claiming similarities between the character and her own case. The complete storyline has been screened in certain subsequent international screenings.)
Deirdre Kean (Anne Charleston - episodes 464-492), Reb Kean's estranged socialite mother who is remanded to Wentworth after helping her daughter to escape.
Bev Baker (Maggie Dence - episodes 472-477), an infamous serial killer, dubbed "The Beast" by the tabloids, who terrifies both staff and inmates alike.
Angel Adams (Kylie Foster - episodes 477-488), a deceitful young prisoner who plays on a "little girl lost" facade as a cover for her genuine criminal activities.
Kerryn Davies (Jill Forster - episodes 485-495), a white-collar fraudster who finds it hard to cope being in prison and separated from her husband.
Sam Greenway (Robyn Gibbes - episodes 495-520), a young arts student framed for drug possession.
Matt Delaney (Peter Bensley - episodes 499-533), one of a trio of male prisoners transferred to Wentworth for their own safety after they had foiled a mass breakout attempt.
Geoff Macrae (Leslie Dayman - episodes 500-556), the unofficial top dog of the male inmates transferred from Woodridge men's prison. Becomes romantically involved with top dog Myra Desmond.
Frank Burke (Trevor Kent - episodes 500-555), the last of the male Woodridge inmates moved to Wentworth, Frank is a convicted rapist and all-round villain.
Yemil Bakarta ( Maria Mercedes - episodes 504-516), a Middle Eastern Islamic inmate charged with causing a car accident when attempting to escape from her brutal husband.
Lexie Patterson (Pepe Trevor - episodes 509-650), a loud-mouth punk and card-shark, who spent her first few months in Boy George-style garb. (Note: With George's change in image and subsequent fall from favour occurring prior to Lexie's on-air debut in February 1985, these episodes already seemed dated at the time of first broadcast.)
Ettie Parslow (Lois Ramsay - episodes 514-600), a senile old dear who turns out to have been imprisoned since the Second World War due to a bureaucratic mix-up. Develops a close relationship with officer Meg Morris when it turns out that Ettie nursed her as a new-born baby in prison.
Janice Grant (Jenny Ludlam - episodes 514-528), a sophisticated solicitor imprisoned for dangerous driving. It turns out that Janice is an alcoholic, suffering from withdrawal symptoms and dependent on buying prison home brew from other inmates.
Sheila Brady (Colleen Hewett) - episodes 519-534), misfit remand inmate inside for heroin possession with a secret singing talent.
Anita Selby (Diane Craig} - episodes 526-536), a Catholic nun imprisoned for causing a disturbance at a nuclear disarmament demonstration.
Nora Flynn (Sonja Tallis - episodes 537-588), a long-term, self-reformed prisoner transferred from Barnhurst after serving 23 years for killing three hitch-hikers. Takes over as an unconventional, pacifist top dog.
May Collins (Billie Hammerberg - episodes 537-587), an earthy career criminal who was a famous cat burglar. Although getting on in years, May is a tough lady who watches out for the more vulnerable, younger prisoners.
Willie Beecham (Kirsty Child - episodes 537-682), May Collins' partner-in-crime. Willie was a fence on the outside and runs a bartering business in prison. Willie is something of a snob, and often antagonises the women with her supercilious attitude.
Julie Egbert (Jackie Woodburne - episodes 537-628), a shy but highly intelligent young girl who had stolen from her workplace to help her terminally ill mother.
Daphne Graham (Debra Lawrance - episodes 537-590), a garden-loving inmate who had been a juvenile offender before ending up in prison. It is later discovered that Daphne's crime and her subsequent self-harming in prison is linked to extreme PMT.
Ruth Ballinger (Lindy Davies - episodes 538-552), the shady wife of an international drugs baron remanded to Wentworth with special privileges in the hope that she will assist the Federal Police with their efforts to nail her husband's drug trade. Ruth's time in the series climaxes in a three-episode-long terrorist siege when her husband sends a team of armed mercenaries to spring her from the prison, which leads to the shocking demise of one of the series' most popular characters.
Jenny Hartley (Jenny Lovell - episodes 540-588), a naive, wimpish young woman on remand protesting her innocence of the murder of her wealthy grandmother.
Queenie Marshall (Marilyn Rodgers - episodes 556-573), sassy prostitute who later becomes a friend to the women on the outside.
Nikki Lennox (Vicki Mathias - episodes 568-574), the leader of a gang of juvenile delinquents sent to Wentworth to spend time with convicted criminals as part of a "scared straight" scheme. The episodes in which she was featured were shown at schools throughout Australia to discourage teenagers from turning to crime.
Cindy Moran (Robyn Frank - episodes 568-574), another juvenile offender sent to Wentworth to be "scared straight".
Eve Wilder (Lynda Stoner - episodes 574-600), a beautiful, enigmatic socialite who arrives in Wentworth protesting her innocence at having allegedly shot the man she had been having an affair with.
Rita Connors (Glenda Linscott - episodes 585-692), a spirited bikie, nicknamed "Rita the Beater" who arrives inside for grievous bodily harm and becomes the show's third long-running top dog.
Barbie Cox (Jayne Healey - episodes 586-602), a daffy young woman whose vocabulary is limited to "Hi-de-hi!" and "Naughty, naughty!" As part of a running joke, it is never revealed why Barbie is in prison.
Nancy McCormack (Julia Blake - episodes 589-650), a demure, dignified housewife imprisoned for killing her abusive husband. In fact, Nancy is covering up for her son, who had accidentally killed his father during a fight.
Jessie Windom (Pat Evison - episodes 589-620), a no-nonsense, resourceful former brothel madam who deliberately gets herself imprisoned in order to search for the daughter she gave away years before - Lexie Patterson.
Ida Brown (Paddy Burnet - episodes 592-691), Rita Connors' formidable elderly auntie involved with her niece's biker gang.
"Roach" Waters (Linda Hartley - episodes 595-643), a young punk inside for armed robbery. "Roach" is the girlfriend of Rita Connors' brother Bongo (Shane Connor).
Janet Williams (Christine Earle - episodes 599-639), a second-rate prison thug who becomes an offsider to a number of the wannabe top dogs at Wentworth. First, Lou Kelly and then Kath Maxwell.
Kath Maxwell (Kate Hood) - episodes 601-692), a middle-class woman committed for killing her terminally sick, handicapped daughter. Initially brutalised by the other women, Kath toughens up and becomes Rita Connors' main rival, before eventually becoming the show's final top dog.
Vicki McPherson (Rebecca Dines - episodes 608-692), a wisecracking inmate who becomes an ally to Kath Maxwell and "Spider" Simpson.
Lorelei Wilkinson (Paula Duncan - episodes 623-677), a vivacious con-woman imprisoned for posing as a policewoman.
Merle Jones (Rosanne Hull-Brown - episodes 625-692), a mentally retarded, illiterate prisoner initially regarded as a figure of fun by the other women, but finds friendship from inmate Kath Maxwell.
"Spider" Simpson (Taya Stratton - episodes 649-686), a sneering career criminal who takes charge of all rackets and contraband trading at Wentworth.
Lisa Mullins (Nikki Paul/Terrie Waddell - episodes 651-692), a young woman arrested for operating a prostitution and blackmail racket on the outside. (Note: Lisa was played by Nikki Paul for her first six episodes. When Paul suddenly became ill, the part was taken over by Terrie Waddell).
Wendy Glover (Julieanne Newbould - episodes 651-659), an undercover policewoman sent into Wentworth to shadow endangered inmate Lisa Mullins and to gather information about her case.
Sarah West (Kylie Belling - episodes 658-668), a fiery, impulsive Aboriginal inmate who suffers from abuse from racist prisoners but who starts to fight back.
"Brumby" Tucker (Sheryl Munks - episodes 665-692), a young prisoner first seen at Blackmoor prison. A misfit and a troublemaker.
"Spike" Marsh (Victoria Rowland - episodes 665-691), "Brumby"'s best friend at Blackmoor who was framed for heroin trafficking. "Spike" (real name Margaret) was a university student studying the sciences before being imprisoned and has kept her middle-class background hidden from the other prisoners.
"Stud" Wilson ( Peter Lindsay - episodes 668-684), male former Blackmoor inmate transferred to Wentworth after Blackmoor is burnt down following a riot. A convicted rapist and an underling of evil governor Ernest Craven.
Harry Grosvenor (Mike Bishop - episodes 679-692), former male Blackmoor prisoner moved to Wentworth, becoming a love interest for Alice Jenkins.

Prison Staff

Paul Reid (George Mallaby - episodes 85-130), a liberal-minded social worker who also has problems at home thanks to his wayward son Tony (John Higginson).
Jock Stewart (Tommy Dysart - episodes 114-258), a sinister, vicious officer who bullies the women. He killed Judy Bryant's lesbian lover Sharon Gilmore by pushing her down the prison stairs. Bryant eventually avenged her death by pushing him down the stairs outside her flat, leaving him crippled.
Agnes Forster (Lois Ramsay - episodes 135-140), a dotty old lady who arrives as a social worker, and seems more interested in her cat Butchie and drinking tea than actually doing any work.
Stuart Gillespie (Wynn Roberts - episodes 160-168), a stern departmental overseer who comes to inspect the running of the prison and antagonises both inmates and officers with his officious attitude.
Sid Humphries (Edward Hepple - episodes 169-222), an elderly man who works as a part-time handyman at Wentworth and develops a romantic attachment with inmate Lizzie Birdsworth. He died peacefully in his sleep, of heart failure.
David Andrews (Serge Lazareff - episodes 171-194), a teacher who arrives at Wentworth to run a new educational facility for the women. He was forced to resign after inciting the women to strike.
Terry Harrison (Brian Hannan - episodes 199-223), a male officer and old friend of Jim Fletcher's who is transferred to Wentworth and becomes romantically involved with Vera Bennett. Shot dead in front of Vera by a crime gang.
Janet Conway (Kate Sheil) - episodes 232-274), a newly trained officer who had previously spent time in Wentworth as a remand prisoner twelve years before. Left to marry the love of her life, Ian Marney.
Steve Faulkner (Wayne Jarratt - episodes 245-316), handsome male officer, frequently accused of sleeping with some of the women. Forced to resign after unsuccessfully trying to set up The Freak.
Joan Ferguson (Maggie Kirkpatrick - episodes 287-692), a sadistic and corrupt lesbian prison officer known to the prisoners as "the Freak". Infamous for the body searches she conducts using her trademark black leather gloves. Had an amazing ability to get out of trouble and avoid the sack.
Neil Murray (Adrian Wright - episodes 305-320), a male nurse who takes over medical duties at Wentworth and develops a sinister attachment to inmate Chrissie Latham.
Ann Reynolds (Gerda Nicolson - episodes 364-692), who replaced Erica Davidson as governor of the prison. A former social worker, she was a progressive governor, who believed in rehabilitation.
Scott Collins (Tim Elston - episodes 383-418), a new handsome prison doctor who is secretly in love with prisoner Petra Roberts.
David Bridges (David Waters - episodes 408-417), a male officer who is sensitive to the women's problems to the point that he begins to systemically "set them free" with the prisoners assuming that he is helping them to escape. His intentions are rather more sinister, as the elderly Lizzie Birdsworth discovers in an end-of-season cliffhanger episode...
Rick Manning (Andy Anderson - episodes 421-458), a tough male officer who had previously been in the police force.
Stan Dobson (Brian James - episodes 425-513), an elderly prison officer who worked at Wentworth before his retirement. Stan later returned to Wentworth as a general handyman.
Jonathan Edmonds (Bryan Marshall - episodes 448-455), a psychologist ranted permission to conduct research at Wentworth, whose activities take a sinister turn when they involve experiments in mind control through hypnosis.
Dennis Cruckshank (Nigel Bradshaw - episodes 457-560), a Yorkshireman who had worked in borstals in England before arriving at Wentworth as an officer.
Heather Rodgers (Victoria Nicholls - episodes 461-484), a well-meaning but naive "rookie" officer straight out of training school.
Pat Slattery (Dorothy Cutts - episodes 473-690), who takes over Joyce Barry's role in the series as a well-meaning but incompetent background officer.
Len Murphy (Maurie Fields - episodes 493-511), a former officer at Woodridge men's prison, Len was a sinister, murderous male counterpart to "The Freak".
Mervin Pringle (Ernie Bourne - episodes 523-691), prison cook well liked by the women. Fell in love with and married officer Joyce Barry.
Pippa Reynolds (Christine Harris - episodes 539-604), Governor Ann Reynolds' spirited, fashion-conscious daughter who teaches an art class at Wentworth.
Terri Malone (Margot Knight - episodes 540-576), young officer who temporarily became Joan Ferguson's live-in lover.
Steve Ryan ( Peter Hayes - episodes 592-628), a doctor who is granted permission to conduct research at Wentworth posing as a general handyman.
Bob Moran ( Peter Adams - episodes 595-620), a tough Vietnam veteran who was a temporary stand-in for Ann Reynolds in the governor's chair.
Marty Jackson (Michael Winchester - episodes 625-692), the son of Meg Jackson, who had followed his mother into the prison officers' profession and shared her compassionate attitude towards the women.
Rodney Adams (Philip Hyde - episodes 630-692), a sneaky, self-serving trainee officer, generally despised by both prisoners and staff.
Delia Stout (Desiree Smith - episodes 630-679), dedicated trainee officer who harbours a secret crush on colleague Marty Jackson.
Pamela Madigan (Justine Saunders - episodes 653-668), a social worker and old friend of governor Ann Reynolds.
Ernest Craven (Ray Meagher - episodes 665-672), the evil governor of corrupt high security prison Blackmoor.
Tom Lucas ( John McTernan - episodes 687-692), maverick teacher who arrives at Wentworth to tutor the women, forming particular friendships with prisoners Merle Jones and Kath Maxwell.

Other Characters

Kevin Burns (Ian Gilmour - episodes 89-139), a young man who meets, falls in love with and marries Doreen Anderson when she is out on parole.
Ken Pearce (Tom Oliver - episodes 104-191), a prison reform advocate who had previously served time for armed robbery and comes to oversee a new drama group in the prison, arousing the romantic feelings of Bea Smith in the process.
Andrew Reynolds ( John Lee - episodes 125-136), the owner of a clothing factory where the women are sent on work release who has a brief romance with governor Erica Davidson.
Bob Morris (Anthony Hawkins - episodes 143-260), a businessman who meets officer Meg Jackson when his daughter Tracey is an inmate at Wentworth. They marry, but Meg's devotion to her job at the prison and Bob's expectations that Meg be a conventional corporate wife causes the marriage to fall apart.
"Wally" Wallace (Alan Hopgood - episodes 167-466), a non-conformist man who lives alone in the country and befriends Judy Bryant when she is on the run. Later, has a relationship with governor Ann Reynolds.
Tony Berman (Alan David Lee - episodes 306-329), a young social worker who becomes Judy Bryant's assistant at Driscoll House.
Shane Munroe (Robert Summers - episodes 462-527), a young boy who runs away from his abusive father and is taken in by officer Joan Ferguson.
James Dwyer (James Condon - episodes 561-689), the second major Departmental representative of the series, who frequently clashes with governor Ann Reynolds.
Ben Fulbright (Kevin Summers - episodes 563-604), solicitor representing prisoner Daphne Graham in her PMT appeal case who falls in love with Pippa Reynolds.
Dan Moulton (Sean Scully - episodes 590-654), minister who is involved with Rita Connors' bikie gang, The Conquerors. Has a relationship with governor Ann Reynolds.
Bongo Connors (Shane Connor - episodes 595-667), Rita Connors' tearaway younger brother.

Major storylines

Template:Spoiler The storyline for the opening episodes involved the arrival of two new prisoners, Karen Travers (Peta Toppano) and Lynn Warner (Kerry Armstrong). Travers had been charged for the murder of her husband, and quickly found herself the unwilling recipient of Franky Doyle's affections. Warner was charged with the abduction of a child, a prickly issue with the other inmates. (Prison populations are known for their intolerance torwards criminals who commit offences against children.)

Both prisoners quickly found themselves in the midst of a power struggle in the prison — between established Bea Smith who ran the prison's maximum security wing (H Block) and the upstart Frankie Doyle. Their power struggle ends in a prison riot in which officer Meg Jackson is held hostage, and her husband, prison psychiatrist Bill Jackson (Don Barker), is stabbed to death by inmate Chrissie Latham.

The storylines which drove the series used familiar elements — smuggling, personality clashes between the prisoners, a range of issue-based storylines, court cases and police investigations and escape plots.

One of the major drivers of the middle years of the series was the personality clash between Bea and Joan 'The Freak' Ferguson. The former was the prison population's benevolent 'Queen Bea', the latter was a corrupt, sadistic lesbian warder who delighted in terrorising the inmates.

Their conflict peaked in a showdown which brought the prison, literally, to the ground. In episodes 326–327 of the series, Smith decided to finish Ferguson once and for all, so she lured The Freak into a trap by falsely claiming that Ferguson's inciminating diaries had been hidden in isolation by prisoner Barbara Fields (in reality Fields had hidden them in the Governor's office). As a decoy Chrissie Latham was to light a small fire in the prison library. A recalitrant Margo Gaffney had angrily criticised the decoy fire idea as weak and predictable, claiming that for anyone to be fooled it had better be a pretty big fire. She refused to co-operate further with the scheme but as the plan got underway Margo secretly went and set a much larger fire in a storeroom. Unfortunately a large stock of mineral turpentine was being temporarily stored there.

The fire spread out of control while Bea Smith and Joan Ferguson battled it out in the isolation wing. In the confusion of the prison evacuation, Fields made her way to the Governor's office to retrieve the diaries. The fire overloaded the prison's security system which engaged the riot alarm which casued all the prison gates to automatically slam shut and lock, leaving prisoners and staff trapped in the burning prison. As this end-of-season episode came to a close Fields was overcome by smoke and collapsed in the Governor's office as the flames surrounded her (and the diaries). Mouse Trapp and Paddy Lawson found themselves trapped in the laundry; Paddy attempted to escape through the air ducts while a pannicky Mouse Ran through the corridor trying each door in turn. Ferguson had beaten Smith to an unconscious state but when the gates slammed shut she was trapped in the cell block, with Smith - along with Ferguson's dropped keys - lying just out of reach on the other side of the locked gate. In the final scene of the episode a vengeful Smith regained consciousness, and, realising that having beaten Ferguson she would now be ineligible for parole, vowed she would not pass the key to Ferguson and that the two would die right there in the fire.

The episodes now rank among the most popular with fans.

List of Top Dogs

The following characters were Top Dogs at one stage or another in the series' run:

Bea Smith
Franky Doyle
Monica Ferguson
Clara Goddard
Antonia McNally
Sharon Gilmour
Margo Gaffney
Sandy Edwards
Marie Winter
Nola McKenzie
Sonia "S.S." Stevens
Minnie Donovan
Judy Bryant
Myra Desmond
Reb Kean
Nora Flynn
Lou Kelly
Rita "The Beater" Connors
Alice Jenkins
Kath Maxwell

Analysis

Unlike many other contemporary soap operas (Dallas, Dynasty, etc.), the characters and settings were predominantly working-class. Additionally, a majority of the characters were female, over-40 and — because of the show's setting — were not played by typically glamorous TV actors. The series was praised many times for the opportunity it gave actresses who, under more conventional TV circumstances, may not have been cast in leading roles.

The first four episodes of the series were produced as a standalone mini-series, with the working title Woman in Prison. That title was never used on air, but remains on the title plates of the original studio video tape copies of the episodes. It is visually distinct by the title cards used on the commercial breaks. (In the mini-series a prison door closed over the frozen image; in the weekly series a prison gate closed across an empty prison corridor.)

The series made good use of cliffhangers, often involving dramatic escapes, crimes, and catastrophes befalling the prison and its inhabitants. For a significant period of the show's middle-run, the action was split between the prison, and a half-way house, Driscoll House. (It was named after the first inmate whom it housed, Susie Driscoll (Jacqui Gordon).)

Continuity announcer comments

Prisoner was shown on ITV in the United Kingdom during the 1980s and 90s but was never networked. Some ITV companies showed the series once a week whilst others such as Central stripped the series across three days.

Because the series was shown on all ITV companies late at night (just before closedown at first, then as the first programme of the new 24-hour broadcasting in the late 1980s), it became a favourite of the local continuity announcers. The announcers would often joke about characters and plots before and after the programme and during the end titles.

On Central, Mike Prince was fond of satirical announcements linking the previous promotion to the Prisoner edisode following, leading to announcements like "But Ayer's Rock pales into insignificance compared to the might of Joan Ferguson next tonight on Central in Prisoner: Cell Block H." Many continuity announcers on the then-regional ITV stations made similar announcements before and after the programme, helping to boost its cult status.

This style of announcement was later borrowed by the UK's fifth channel to accompany episodes of Sunset Beach, with a similar effect.

Distribution

Prisoner was one of the first Australian soap operas exported to the UK where it was screened as Prisoner: Cell Block H. The name was changed to avoid confusion with the other well-known British series, The Prisoner. It achieved enduring success there despite much negative criticism from reviewers.

In addition to the UK and Australia, the show has also aired in Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Sweden and the United States of America. Its US broadcast is noteworthy for a candlelight vigil held outside the Los Angeles station which aired the show, by lesbian fans of the show, to mourn the on-screen death of biker Franky Doyle (Carol Burns).

The show has a cult following in Sweden, where it has been shown on TV4 for many years. An unofficial fan club organizes an annual get-together, and also gathered several thousand signatures (including that of Elspeth Ballantyne) to convince TV4 to continue airing the show in 2000. Now, the show has ended for the second time in Sweden and the fanclub has once again started to gather signatures to convince TV4 to air it a third time in 2005.

The show's theme song, On The Inside was released in the UK as a single on May 6, 1989, and peaked at number three in the pop charts.

Prisoner was last shown on free-to-air television in Australia on Channel 10, on December 13, 1996, with Episode 196.

Prisoner has been released on DVD, in 3 Box Sets. So far, only a fraction of the 692 episodes have been covered.

The episodes on DVD are:

Episodes 1, 2, 3 and 4 (The beginning)
Episode 20 (Franky Doyle, on the run with Doreen Burns, is shot dead by police)
Episodes 165 and 166 (the tunnel escape 1980-81 Cliffhanger episodes)
Episodes 247 and 248 (Sandy's riot, which started off the 1982 season)
Episode 287 (Officer Joan "The Freak" Ferguson starts)
Episode 327 (The fire's immediate aftermath)
Episode 400 (Bea Smith's demise)
Episode 471 (Marie Winter escapes by helicopter)
Episodes 498, 499, 500 and 501 (Meg Morris and Ann Reynolds are taken hostage)
Episode 536 (The inmates discuss old times, with flashbacks from old episodes of the series)
Episodes 550, 551 and 552 (The terrorist siege, ending in the death of a major character)
Episodes 586, 598, 600, 601, 664, 665, 666, and 667 (twice), and the final 6 episodes of the series.

Spin-offs

In 1979, a telemovie titled The Franky Doyle Story was produced. It was made using material edited from the first two dozen episodes of the series, with emphasis on the character of Franky Doyle (Carol Burns). It was the first of an intended series of telemovies. The plan was shelved when the cast took the matter to the industrial commission, who ruled that they were not being fairly compensated for what amounted to a "second use" of their work.

In 1981, Ten launched Punishment, a drama set in the fictional Longridge prison, a men's prison. The new show had a similar structure and range of characters as Prisoner. The series, which was produced by Bruce Best and Alan Coleman, was a ratings and critical failure. Only 26 episodes were produced. It is noteworthy for the presence of a young Mel Gibson as inmate Rick Monroe.

In 1986, when the series was cancelled, a spin-off titled Barnhurst was proposed. The series would have shifted the story focus to one of Wentworth's sister prisons, Barnhurst, which was mentioned frequently in the series. Although the treatment for the spin-off was in circulation for a number of years, with a number of working titles, it was never produced.

In 1991, the series was re-versioned for the American market as Dangerous Women. The US version borrowed heavily from the Australian original for characters, but not storylines. In Dangerous Women the emphasis was shifted outside the prison, and focused on the prisoner relationships at a half-way house. It is remembered now mainly for the early appearance of actor Casper Van Dien in the role of Brad Morris.

In 1997, the series was re-versioned for the second time, this time for the German TV market. The German language version of Prisoner was titled Hinter Gittern (Behind Bars) and premiered in 1997 and, as of 2004, is still in production.

In 1999, a new British women's prison drama was created, entitled Bad Girls. As of 2005 it is still in production.

Prisoner (TV series)

Themes

Characters

Early Episodes

Inmates

Prison Staff

Other Characters

Later Episodes

Inmates

Prison Staff

Other Characters

Major storylines

List of Top Dogs

Analysis

Continuity announcer comments

Distribution

Spin-offs

See also

External links