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Bad Girls (TV series)

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Bad Girls is a British drama series showed on ITV1. It is set in the fictional women's prison of Larkhall, and features a mixture of serious and light storylines focusing on the prisoners and staff of G Wing.

Bad Girls is produced by Shed productions, the company which later produced Footballers' Wives.

Series

The first series of Bad Girls was shown in 1999, lasting 10 episodes. There have been seven series in total, ranging from 10 to 16 episodes, while an eighth series is currently going ahead. All series have been shown on ITV1, at 9pm: the day has varied between Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

The current series of Bad Girls has now come to a close, but fans can expect a christmas special on 19th of December at 9PM on ITV1.

Plot Analysis

Series 1

Bad Girls has not been a TV show to shy away from controversy. Early episodes of the first series have particularly shocking moments. The first three series featured prominently the developing romantic relationship between Nikki Wade, a prisoner serving life for murder, and Helen Stewart, the Wing Governor who spent much of series 1 engaged to a man. The story featured more than one kiss, and one bed scene, but never became graphic: many viewers regarded the subtlety of the portrayal of the relationship as one of its strongest assets. For this reason, Bad Girls has ammassed a significant following within the lesbian community.

Other storylines to feature prominently in early series included the pregnancy of a young drug addict, the suicide of a teenage prisoner following bullying, and the illicit relationship between Jim Fenner, the male senior officer and Shell Dockley, the resident bully and drug dealer, serving life for murder.

Series 2-3

Shell's background was later examined in some detail, with harrowing scenes describing childhood abuse. For light relief, hooch was brewed in a watering can, a stray cat was adopted into the prison, and Yvonne Atkins, the gangster's moll set up "Babes Behind Bars", a sex-hotline staffed by the prisoners, playing such characters as "Whiplash Wanda", "Saucy Sonia" and "Vicky the virgin bride".


Series 4-6

As the drama continued through series four to six, the storylines got darker and more fast-paced, but began to become more over-the-top. However, some more serious storylines included domestic violence within the relationship of Di Barker and Barry Pearce and featured the upsetting storyline of teenage junkie Buki Lester's battle for the right to see her disabled son, Lennox. The fourth series ended with the prison library being obliterated, resulting in a fire which claimed the life of inmate Shaz.

Series 5-7

The fifth series of Bad Girls took us to a dark, disturbing place indeed, with numerous deaths, including the very shocking demise of fan-favourite Yvonne Atkins at the hands of the evil Jim Fenner. He was sent to prison for a short period, but due to the devotedness of new wife Di, the lucky prison officer was allowed to see daylight again. But it's not long before all of G Wing want Fenner dead, and he is brutally stabbed in the bowels of the prison with a sharpened iceicle. Julie Johnson later reveals it was her who commited the crime, though it is Fenner's widow (Di Barker) who is arrested, charged and remanded in custody for the offence.

Random Musings

Series 4

We are given a clue of what is to become of Yvonne near the start of series 4, when Maxi claims that Yvonne will 'die in this place'. Or maybe it's just a coincidence.

Series 5

Di, who accused Gina of faking a pregnancy in Series 3, fakes a pregnancy in this series. Another parallel is Di faking her miscarriage, whilst Gina suffered a genuine one after fighting with Di.

We are given at least one clue of what is to become of Yvonne prior to the final episode. When Jim Fenner talkes of Yvonne on the punishment block he remarks: "leave her down there for good, let her rot."

Series 6

The police could have identified that the keys found in the hanging cell at the start of the series were not used by Yvonne simply by checking the fingerprints on them. This would have shown that she was indeed locked in, and may have resulted in the arrest of her murderer.

Series 7

The ever-resourceful Julie Johnson is apparently also a fine sculptor, capable of fashioning a lethal weapon made from the ice in an everyday kitchen freezer.

We hear nothing of Selena Geeson or Kris Yates in this series, despite their heroic exploits at the end of series 6. The website says Kris was sent to a different prison while Selena was merely sacked from the prison service. As far as the show itself goes, however, the two simply fell through a plot hole.

Recurring Elements

Weapons The bar of soap in a sock has been seen twice. It was first seen when Maxi Purvis and Al MacKensie beat up Tina Purvis in her cell in Series 3. Next seen when Natalie Buxton and Janine Nebeski beat up Arun Parmar in the library in Series 7.

Weapons II The razor blade stuck in toothbrush handle makes frequent appearances. It was first seen when Al MacKensie threatens Shaz Wiley in Series 3. Next seen when Maxi Purvis uses one in her fight with Shaz in Series 4. Next seen with Arun Parmar shaving in Series 7.

Homosexuality in the Hollamby Bloodline Ironic considering Sylvia's disgust with any homosexual behaviour. First hinted at after Bobby Hollamby's death in Series 5 when we learn from Sylvia that their son, Bobby-Daren "lives with a pal". Series 7 fleshes it out completely when we learn Sylvia's Aunt was a lesbian and Bobby-Daren is still not married. He later becomes sexually involved with Governor Neil Grayling.

Letters to Mrs Fenner Twice we've seen letters written to Jim Fenner's wife telling of his affairs and twice they've helped bring about the failure of those marriages. Shell Dockley wrote to Marilyn Fenner at the end of Series 1. Natalie Buxton wrote to Mrs Di Fenner in Series 7.

Top Dogs There has always been a 'top dog of G-Wing and every top dog has eventually fallen from grace in some terrible manner. First, Shell Dockley who was ultimately sent to a secure prison hospital. Next, Maxi Purvis who choked herself to death by swallowing toilet paper. Finally Yvonne Atkins who was locked into a dead end past the hanging cell and died in claustrophobic darkness.

Luck Jim Fenner has had a lot of this. Helen Stewart described it as 'the luck of the devil'. Interestingly Fenner's brand of cigarette, revealed in Series 7 is 'Lucky Strike'.

£50,000 This large sum of money is used throughout Bad Girls. After Sylvia falls down a flight of stairs, Yvonne suggests a lawyer, claiming a friend received £50,000 as compensation for an accident. At the end of series four, Snowball and Richie try to cheat Yvonne out of £50,000, and in series five, Sylvia and Bobby end up in debt by £50,000.

Also, towards the end of series 7, the amount of money set for Di's bail is £50,000.

Russian Mafia When Phyl and Bev are convicted in series 5, they claim that it was the fault of the Russian Mafia. In series 7, who do they come into close contact with and steal diamonds off? That's right, members of the Russian Mafia.

Characters

Beware: This section details current and former cast correct at the end of series seven, and hence may contain spoiler information.

Current Characters

Officers

Inmates

Former Characters

Officers

Inmates:


Supporting Characters

Jim Fenner information (*spoilers*)

Jim Fenner (Jack Ellis) was (is?) probably the most hated and loved character in Bad Girls. He has done innumerable evil things, including raping, beating up prisoners and even murdering innocent people! He got away from it every time and that made series pretty unbelieveable for some time.

He did following things (spoilers)

  • Driving Rachel Hicks to suicide.
  • Assaulting Shell Dockley.
  • Sexually assaulting Helen Stewart.
  • Raping Karen Betts.
  • Lying to get Shell Dockley's baby taken away and to transfer Shell to the mental hospital
  • Killing an innocent person by hit and run and framing Karen Betts for it
  • Sexually assaulting Tina O'Kane
  • Locking up Yvonne Atkins to the dead end (while her escape), where nobody couldn't hear her scream. She died by starving and her body was discovered six weeks later.
  • Assaulting Kris Yates
  • Beating up his wife, Di and many random prisoners

Thanks to the Digitalspy forum for the things I forgot.

At end of season 7, it was comeuppance time: Fenner was murdered in hanging complex where he murdered Yvonne Atkins by getting stabbed by icestick. There's still change that Fenner returns as ghost, but fans probably want to get rid of him already.

Crew

Writers

  • Martin Allen
  • Di Burrows
  • Jaime Caruana
  • Maureen Chadwick
  • Jaden Clark
  • Phil Ford
  • Tom Higgins
  • Jayne Hollinson
  • Tim Hyndman
  • Liz Lake
  • Nick Malmholt
  • Ann McManus
  • Paul Mousley
  • Louise Page
  • Guy Picot
  • Mark Wadlow
  • Sally Wainwright
  • Miranda Wilson

Directors

  • Mike Adams
  • David Crean
  • Nigel Douglas
  • Julie Edwards
  • Brett Fallis
  • Jim O'Hanlon
  • David Holroyd
  • Julian Homes
  • Jo Johnson
  • Ian Knox
  • Craig Lines
  • Jim Loach
  • Laurence Moody
  • Di Patrick
  • A. J. Quinn
  • Ian White

Producers

  • Mike Adams
  • David Crean
  • Claire Phillips
  • Cameron Roach

Executive Producer

  • Brian Park

Associate Producer

  • Eileen Gallagher

Casting

  • Margaret Crawford

Creator

  • Ann McManus

Editor

  • Colin Fair

Creators

  • Maureen Chadwick
  • Eileen Gallagher

Story Editor

  • Ann McManus

Executive Story Editor

  • Maureen Chadwick

First Assistant Director

  • Chris Alexander

Costume Designer

  • Sarah Arthur

Property Masters

  • Alison MacMillan
  • Nick Walker

Make-up Artist

  • Rebekah McVitie
  • Susie Munachen
  • Kate Rudlin

Camera Operator

  • John Piggott

Stunt Director

  • Erol Mehmet
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