Prisoner (TV series)

Australian television drama series

Not to be confused with The Prisoner or The Prisoner (2009 miniseries).

Prisoner

Also known as|

* Prisoners (working title)[1]
* Prisoner: Cell Block H (UK and United States)
* Caged Women (Canada)
* Kvinnofängelset (The Women's Prison; Sweden)
* Więźniarki (Prisoners; Poland)
* Celblok H (Cellblock H; Netherlands)
* As Prisioneiras (Prisoners; Brazil)

Genre| Soap opera serial
Crime drama
Created by| Reg Watson
Written by| Ian Smith, Anne Lucas, Coral Drouyn
Directed by|

* Chris Adshead
* Steve Mann
* Sean Nash
* Kendal Flanagan
* Leigh Spence
* Tony Osicka (and others)[nb 1]

Starring| (see List of Prisoner cast members)
Theme music composer| Allan Caswell
Conductor – William Motzing
Ending theme| "On the Inside" (written by Allan Caswell, conducted by William Motzing performed by Lynne Hamilton)
Country of origin| Australia
Original language| English
No. of seasons| 8
No. of episodes| 692 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer| Ian Bradley (from season 2)
Producers| Ian Bradley (season 1), Ian Smith
Production locations| Melbourne, Victoria
Camera setup| Video
Running time| 41–53 minutes
Production company| Reg Grundy Organisation
Original release
Network| Network Ten
Release| 27 February 1979 (1979-02-27) –
11 December 1986 (1986-12-11)
Related
Willow B: Women in Prison
Wentworth

Prisoner (known in the UK and the US as Prisoner: Cell Block H and in Canada as Caged Women) is an Australian television soap opera, which was broadcast on Network Ten (formerly the 0-10 Network) from February 27 (Melbourne) and February 26 (Sydney) 1979 to December 1986 (Melbourne),[nb 2] running eight series and 692 episodes.

Prisoner was the first Australian series to feature a primarily female-dominated cast[2] and carried the slogan "If you think prison is hell for a man, imagine what it would be like for a woman!"[3]

The series, produced by the Grundy Organisation, was conceived by Reg Watson and filmed at the then-Network Ten Melbourne Studios at Nunawading and on location.

The series garnered an international cult following, and it was one of Australia's most successful media exports, exported to 80 countries, performing particularly well in the United States and Canada (billed as Prisoner: Cell Block H and Caged Women, respectively). It also built a large audience in the United Kingdom and other European countries, especially Sweden.

Sammy Davis Jr. was a major fan and visited the set, and wanted to appear in a role, but had other engagements at the time.[4]

The cult status of the series has seen many adaptations, including the modern 21st-century re-imaging series Wentworth on Foxtel.

## Background

[edit]

Ian Bradley served as original producer and then executive producer, from series 2, while associate producer and screenwriter was Ian Smith, who appeared as an actor in the series as Head of the Department Ted Douglas, prior to becoming famous as the character Harold Bishop in Neighbours; another screenwriter, Anne Lucas, also acted briefly in the series playing prison bookie Faye Quinn.[4]

The series is loosely based on British prison drama series Within These Walls, although it focuses more on the prisoners or inmates, rather than the prison staff led by officious governor Faye Boswell, played by Googie Withers, who was even approached by producers of Prisoner to play the governor.[5]

The series is set in the fictional Wentworth Detention Centre in the fictional suburb of Wentworth in Melbourne, Victoria, and follows the lives of the prisoners and staff within cell block H and, to a lesser extent, others on the outside such as family members, doctors and lawyers. Numerous scenes also took place outside the compound exploring the lives of the inmates and staff outside of the prison; in particular, "Driscoll House", a halfway house where inmates were housed after being released, or neighbouring correction institutions like Barnhurst (a lower-security country prison) and Blackmoor (an aged, yet high-security, prison).

The series gained a positive reception. Initially conceived as a standalone miniseries of 16 episodes, its popularity meant it was developed into an ongoing series. It has since endured worldwide, acquiring cult classic status, particularly for its occasionally outrageous plotlines.

## Creation and production

[edit]

Prisoner was created by Reg Watson, who had produced the British soap opera Crossroads from 1964 to 1973 and then the Australian soaps The Young Doctors and (post-Prisoner) Sons and Daughters and Neighbours.

Inspired by the British television drama Within These Walls, the show was initially conceived as a 16-episode series, with a pilot episode bearing the working title "Women Behind Bars".[nb 3] Its storylines focused on the lives of the prisoners and, to a lesser extent, the officers and other prison staff. When the initial episodes met an enthusiastic reception, it was felt that Prisoner could be developed into an ongoing soap opera. The early storylines were developed and expanded, with assistance from the Victorian Corrective Services Department.[6]

The show's themes, often radical, included feminism, LGBT matters and social reform. Prisoner began in early 1979 with the advertising slogan, "If you think prison is hell for a man, imagine what it's like for a woman". The series examined how women dealt with incarceration and separation from their families and friends, and the common phenomenon of released inmates re-offending. Within the prison, major themes were interpersonal relationships, power struggles, friendships and rivalries. The prisoners became a surrogate family, with the self-styled "Queen Bea", Bea Smith (played by Val Lehman) and the elderly "Mum" (Jeanette) Brooks (Mary Ward) emerging as central matriarch figures. Several lesbian characters were introduced on the show, including prisoners Franky Doyle (played by Carol Burns), Sharon Gilmour (played by Margot Knight) and Judy Bryant (played by Betty Bobbitt), lawyer Angela Jeffries (played by Jeanie Drynan) and corrupt and sinister officer Joan Ferguson (Maggie Kirkpatrick).[7]

## Continuity

[edit]

Characters and story exposition were often 'retconned' in order to expand potential storylines. Initially there was a men's prison "next door" to Wentworth, but it was never mentioned again after the early episodes. Barnhurst was originally a co-ed prison, soon becoming a women's facility. Its security status varied considerably, with it being described as an 'open prison farm' by the end of the run; although it was often described as "low-security", serial murderers Bea Smith and Marie Winter were housed there for long periods. Although Blackmoor Prison was initially described as a brand-new, state-of-the-art maximum-security prison, it was depicted as a Victorian-era workhouse when finally seen. Wentworth was variously described as either new or built during World War II, with aged infrastructure.

During the show's run, several recurring characters were played by multiple actresses and actors.[8][9] Meg Jackson's (later Morris) (Elspeth Ballantyne) son and stepdaughter, Marty Jackson and Tracey Morris, were each played by multiple actors—Ronald Korosy, Andrew McKaige and Michael Winchester as Marty, and Sue Devine and Michelle Thomas as Tracey.[10][11] In the closing year, Nicki Paull's character Lisa Mullins was taken over by Terrie Waddell.[9][12]

## Synopsis

[edit]

Prisoner cast from early 1979. Seated: Bea Smith (Val Lehman). Standing, right to left: Karen Travers (Peta Toppano), Franky Doyle (Carol Burns), Doreen Anderson (Colette Mann), Chrissie Latham (Amanda Muggleton) and a background prisoner, later known as Lorna Young (Barbara Jungwirth)

Viewers' introduction to the Wentworth Detention Centre featured the arrival of two new prisoners, Karen Travers (Peta Toppano)[nb 4] and Lynn Warner (Kerry Armstrong). Travers was charged with murdering her husband in a crime of passion after he was found in bed with another woman (her flashback featured a shower scene that was a nod to Alfred Hitchcock's classic Psycho), while Warner insisted she was innocent despite her conviction for the abduction and attempted murder of a child. Both women were sent to the prison's maximum-security wing (H Block), where they were horrified by their new surroundings. Karen was confronted with a former lover—prison doctor Greg Miller (Barry Quin)—and was sexually harassed by violent lesbian cellmate Franky Doyle (Carol Burns). Lynn was ostracised by the other prisoners because of her crime (prisoners are known for their intolerance of offenders against children) and terrorised by Bea Smith, who burnt her hand in the laundry's steam press in one of the series' most iconic early scenes.

Other, less-volatile, prisoners included elderly garden-loving Jeanette "Mum" Brooks (Mary Ward), who was incarcerated for the euthanasia of her husband who had terminal cancer, teddy-clutching misfit and childlike Doreen Anderson (Colette Mann), alcoholic former cook recidivist Lizzie Birdsworth (Sheila Florance), who apparently poisoned a group of shearers, and seductive prostitute Gladys "Marilyn" Mason (Margaret Laurence), who seduced prison electrician Eddie Cook (Richard Moir). The prison officers (or "screws", as the prisoners call them) included firm-but-fair, well-heeled governor Erica Davidson (Patsy King); dour deputy governor Vera Bennett (Fiona Spence), who was always wanting to become Governor and was nicknamed "Vinegar Tits" by Franky; and firm but compassionate senior officer Meg Jackson (later Morris) (Elspeth Ballantyne).

Early episodes featured a high level of violence: Lynn Warner's burning in a steam press; a prisoner hanging herself in her cell; a fatal stabbing; and a flashback sequence triggered by the time Karen Travers stabbed her abusive husband to death in the shower. The series' first major story arc was the turf war between Bea and Franky, in a bid to become the prison's "Top Dog" (unofficial leader), culminating by episode 3 in a riot where Meg was held hostage and her husband—prison social worker Bill Jackson (Don Barker)—was stabbed to death by inmate Chrissie Latham (Amanda Muggleton).

### Series extension

[edit]

Prisoner premiered in Australia on 27 February 1979.[nb 5] Its success prompted the producers to extend the series, first from 16 to 20 episodes and then indefinitely. The production schedule increased from one- to two-hour-long episodes per week; Carol Burns left the show after 20 episodes, feeling that she could not continue playing Franky Doyle with the tighter schedule. Her storyline sees her as an escapee from Wentworth with fellow inmate Doreen Anderson, and after being on the run for three weeks, she is shot dead by a policeman.[13]

New story arcs were introduced. Karen Travers appealed against her sentence and was eventually released, allowing her to resume her relationship with Greg Miller and becoming involved in prison reform. As original characters began leaving the series (Mum Brooks, Lynn Warner, Karen and Greg appeared beyond the initial sixteen episodes, but most had left by the end of the 1979 season; Greg left in early 1980), new characters arrived: hulking husband-beater Monica Ferguson (Lesley Baker), career criminal Noeline Bourke (Jude Kuring), troubled murderess Roslyn Coulson (Sigrid Thornton) and imprisoned mother Pat O'Connell (Monica Maughan), in addition to shorter-term inmates with brief storylines. Prostitute Chrissie Latham, a minor character in the early episodes, returned in a more central antagonistic role and a male deputy governor, Jim Fletcher (Gerard Maguire), joined the female-dominated cast.

### Final season

[edit]

Ratings had been declining for some time, and when they continued to fall in 1986, Network Ten decided in July not to renew the series. Production ended on 5 September, and the final episode aired in Melbourne on 11 December 1986.[nb 6] The producers had several weeks' notice that the series was ending, enabling them to construct strong concluding storylines (including the ultimate defeat of Joan "the Freak" Ferguson). Prisoner's final episodes dealt with the redemption of the misunderstood Kath Maxwell and concluded the ongoing dynamic between Rita Connors (played by Glenda Linscott) and Joan Ferguson (Maggie Kirkpatrick).

## Core cast members

[edit]

The following characters appear in twenty or more episodes. For extended cast list, see article: Prisoner cast list

Actor  | Character  | Appears in

|
|

Val Lehman | Bea "Queen Bea" Smith  | series 1-5 episodes 1-400
Colette Mann | Doreen Anderson (latter Burns)  | series 1-6 episodes 1-446
Sheila Florance  | Elizabeth "Lizzie" Birdsbirth  | series 1-6, episode 1-418
Carol Burns | Frieda "Franky" Doyle  | series 1, episodes 1–20
Peta Toppano | Karen Travers  | series 1-2 episode 1-80
Barry Quin | Dr. Greg Miller  | series 1–2, episodes 1–110
Kerry Armstrong  | Lynn Warner  | series1, episode 1-44
Elspeth Ballantyne | Meg Jackson (later Morris)  | Series 1–8, episodes 1–692
Fiona Spence | Vera "Vinegar Tits" Bennett  | series 1–3, episodes 1–224
Mary Ward | Jeanette "Mum" Brooks  | series 1–3, episodes 1–204
Patsy King | Erica Davidson  | Series 1–5, episode 1–360
Amanda Muggleton | Chrissie Latham  | series 1–4, episodes 3–338
Terry Gill | Detective Inspector Jack Grace  | series 1–8, episodes 8–635
Christine Amor | Jean Vernon  | series 1, episodes 14–56
Lesley Baker | Monica "Monnie" Ferguson  | series 1, episodes 15–60
James Smillie | Steve Wilson  | series 1, episodes 15–42
Bryon Williams  | Dr. Weissman  | series 1–8, episodes 28–589
Joy Westmore | Officer Joyce Barry Pringle  | series 1–8, episodes 29–692
Penny Stewart  | Kathleen Leach  | series 1–2, episodes 30–149
Jude Kuring | Noeline Burke  | series 1–2, episodes 30–149
Gerard Maguire | Deputy Governor Jim "Fletch The Letch" Fletcher  | series 1–4, episodes 40–256
Judith McGrath | Colleen "Po-Face" Powell  | series 1–6, episodes 48–456
Reylene Pearce | Phyllis Hunt  | series 1–6, episodes 21–460
Ian Smith | Ted Douglas  | series 1–5, episodes 61–382
Sigrid Thornton | Roslyn Coulson  | series 1–2, episodes 63–92
Monica Maughan | Patricia "Pat" O'Connell  | series 1–2, episodes 65–110
George Mallaby | Paul Reid  | series 2, episodes 85–130
Ian Gilmour | Kevin Burns  | series 2, episodes 89–139
Rosalind Speirs | Caroline Simpson  | series 2, episodes 89–114
Margot Knight | Sharon Gilmour  | series 2, episodes 90–116
Betty Bobbitt | Judith "Judy" Bryant  | series 2–7, episodes 91–534
Jane Clifton | Margo Gaffney  | series 2–6, episodes 92–448
Jentah Sobott | Heather "Mouse" Trapp  | series 2–4, episodes 106–326 (previously background extra)
Caroline Gillmer | Helen Smart  | series 2–6, episodes 118–441
Sue Devine  | Tracey Morris  | series 2–3, episodes 141–198
Belinda Davey  | Hazel Kent  | series 2–5, episodes 142–399
Anthony Hawkins | Bob Morris  | series 2–4, episodes 143–260
Maureen Edwards | Officer Sue Bailey  | series 2–8, episodes 151–629
Anne Phelan | Myra Desmond  | series 2–7, episodes 154–552
Alan Hopgood | Albert "Wally" Wallace  | series 3–6, episodes 167–466
Serge Lazareff | David Andrews  | series 3, episodes 171–194
Maggie Millar | Marie Winter  | series 3–6, episodes 197–471
Brian Hannan  | Terry Harrison  | series 3, episodes 199–223
Kate Sheil | Janet Conway  | series 3–4, episodes 232–274
Olivia Hamnett | Dr. Kathryn "Kate" Peterson  | series 3–4, episodes 235–273
Louise Le Nay | Sandy Edwards  | series 3–4, episodes 235–264
Wayne Jarratt | Steve Faulkner  | series 3–4, episodes 245–316
Jacqui Gordon | Susan "Susie" Driscoll  | series 4, episodes 260–302
Anne Lucas | Faye Quinn  | series 4–5, episodes 285–352
Maggie Kirkpatrick | Joan "The Freak" Ferguson  | series 4–8, episodes 287–692
Lisa Crittenden | Maxine Daniels  | series 4–5, episodes 297–391
Susan Guerin  | Barbara "Barbie" Fields  | series 4, episodes 300–326
Anna Hruby | Paddy Lawson  | series 4–5, episodes 304–339
Alan David Lee | Tony Berman  | series 4–5, episodes 306–329
Carole Skinner | Nola McKenzie  | series 5, episodes 331–369
Gerda Nicolson | Governor Ann "Reyno" Reynolds  | series 5–8, episodes 364–692
Wanda Davidson  | Frances Harvey  | series 5–7, episodes 373–525
Judy McBurney | Sandra "Pixie" Mason  | series 5–7, episodes 377–510
Tim Elston | Dr. Scott Collins  | series 5–6, episodes 383–418
Penny Maegraith  | Petra Roberts  | series 5, episodes 383–407
Tina Bursill | Sonia Stevens  | series 5–6, episodes 394–447
Babs McMillan | Cass Parker  | series 5–6, episodes 401–460
Maxine Klibingaitis | Roberta "Bobbie" Mitchell  | series 5–7, episodes 405–533
Wendy Playfair | Minerva "Minnie" Donovan  | series 5–6, episodes 405–437
Andy Anderson | Rick Manning  | series 6, episodes 421–458
Janet Andrewartha | Rebecca "Reb" Kean  | series 6–8, episodes 422–589
Brian James | Stanley "Stan The Man" Dobson  | series 6–7, episodes 425–513
Lois Collinder  | Alice "Lurch" Jenkins  | series 6–8, episodes 448–692 (previously background extra)
Kim Trengove | Rachel Millsom  | series 6, episodes 450–472
Louise Siversen | Louise "Lou" Kelly  | series 6–8, episodes 452–616 (previously background extra)
Nigel Bradshaw | Officer Dennis "The Yorkshire Pud" Cruickshank  | series 6–7, episodes 457–560
Genevieve Lemon | Marlene "Rabbit" Warren Delaney  | series 6–7, episodes 461–534
Victoria Nicholls | Heather Rodgers  | series 6, episodes 461–484
Alethea McGrath | Dot Farrar  | series 6, episodes 462–486
Robert Summers  | Shane Munroe  | series 6–7, episodes 462–527
Dorothy Cutts  | Officer Patricia "Pat" Slattery  | series 6–8, episodes 473–690
Steve Kuhn  | Philip Cleary  | series 6, episodes 475–498
Robyn Gibbes  | Samantha "Sam" Greenway  | series 6–7, episodes 495–520
Peter Bensley | Matt Delaney  | series 6–7, episodes 499–533
Leslie Dayman | Geoff Macrae  | series 6–7, episodes 500–556
Trevor Kent | Francis "Frank" Burke  | series 6–7, episodes 500–555
Pepe Trevor | Alexis "Lexie" Patterson  | series 7–8, episodes 509–650
Lois Ramsey | Ethel May "Ettie" Parslow  | series 7–8, episodes 514–600
Ernie Bourne | Mervin "Merv The Perv" Pringle  | series 7–8, episodes 523–691
Sonja Tallis | Nora Flynn  | series 7, episodes 537–588
Billie Hammerberg | May "Auntie May" Collins  | series 7, episodes 537–587
Kirsty Child | Wilhelmina "Willie" Beecham  | series 7–8, episodes 537–682
Jackie Woodburne | Julie "Chook" Egbert Ryan  | series 7–8, episodes 537–628
Debra Lawrance | Daphne "Daffy" Graham  | series 7–8, episodes 537–590
Christine Harris | Pippa Reynolds  | series 7–8, episodes 540–604
Jenny Lovell  | Jennifer "Jenny" Hartley  | series 7, episodes 540–588
James Condon | James Dwyer  | series 7–8, episodes 561–689
Kevin Summers | Ben Fulbright  | series 7–8, episodes 563–604
Lynda Stoner | Eve Wilder  | series 7–8, episodes 574–600
Glenda Linscott | Rita "The Beater" Connors  | series 7–8, episodes 585–692
Julia Blake | Nancy McCormack  | series 8, episodes 589–650
Pat Evison | Jessie Windom  | series 8, episodes 589–620
Sean Scully | Dan Moulton  | series 8, episodes 590–654
Peter Hayes | Dr. Steve Ryan  | series 8, episodes 592–628
Linda Hartley | Rachel "Roach" Waters  | series 8, episodes 595–643
Peter Adams | Acting Governor Bob Moran  | series 8, episodes 595–620
Christine Earle  | Janet "Maggot" Williams  | series 8, episodes 599–639
Kate Hood | Katherine "Kath" Maxwell  | series 8, episodes 601–692
Rebecca Dines | Vicki McPherson  | series 8, episodes 608–692
Paula Duncan | Lorelei "Snook" Wilkinson  | series 8, episodes 623–677
Rosanne Hull-Brown  | Merle "Looney" Jones  | series 8, episodes 625–692
Michael Winchester | Marty Jackson  | series 8, episodes 625–692
Philip Hyde | Rodney Adams  | series 8, episodes 630–692
Desiree Smith  | Delia Stout  | series 8, episodes 630–679
Taya Straton | Rose "Spider" Simpson  | series 8, episodes 649–686
Terrie Waddell | Lisa Mullins  | series 8, episodes 651–692
Sheryl Munks | Michelle "Brumby" Tucker  | series 8, episodes 665–692
Victoria Rowland  | Margaret "Spike" Marsh  | series 8, episodes 665–691

### Opening titles sequence

[edit]

Each episode opens with mug shots of three to four main cast members, which change from year to year. 25 different characters appear in total (in chronological order):

* Peta Toppano as Karen Travers (series 1–2, episodes 1–12, 15–80)
* Kerry Armstrong as Lynn Warner (series 1, episodes 1–48)
* Val Lehman as Bea Smith (series 1–5, episodes 1–12, 15–400)
* Colette Mann as Doreen Anderson (series 1–4, episodes 13–14, 81–306)
* Carol Burns as Franky Doyle (series 1, episodes 13–14)
* Sheila Florance as Lizzie Birdsworth (series 1–6, episodes 49–418)
* Betty Bobbitt as Judy Bryant (series 4–7, episodes 307–334, 419–534)
* Carole Skinner as Nola McKenzie (series 5, episodes 335–352)
* Marina Finlay as Lainie Dobson (series 5, episodes 353–356)
* Alyson Best as Tracey Belman (series 5, episodes 368–372)
* Lisa Crittenden as Maxine Daniels (series 5, episodes 373–392)
* Judy McBurney as Pixie Mason (series 5–6, episodes 393–396, 401–418)
* Tina Bursill as Sonia Stevens (series 5–6, episodes 397–447)
* Maxine Klibingaitis as Bobbie Mitchell (series 6–7, episodes 419–441, 507–514)
* Babs McMillan as Cass Parker (series 6, episodes 442–462)
* Anne Phelan as Myra Desmond (series 6–7, episodes 448–552)
* Janet Andrewartha as Reb Kean (series 6–7, episodes 463–506)
* Genevieve Lemon as Marlene Warren (series 7, episodes 515–534)
* Pepe Trevor as Lexie Patterson (series 7–8, episodes 535–548, 553–650)
* Louise Siversen as Lou Kelly (series 7–8, episodes 535–616)
* Sonja Tallis as Nora Flynn (series 7–8, episodes 539–592)
* Jackie Woodburne as Julie Egbert (series 8, episodes 593–626)
* Lois Collinder as Alice Jenkins (series 8, episodes 617–692)
* Glenda Linscott as Rita Connors (series 8, episodes 627–692)
* Kate Hood as Kath Maxwell (series 8, episodes 647–692)

## Episodes

[edit]

Main article: List of Prisoner episodes

The transmission dates in this chart reflect the broadcasts on Network Ten Melbourne Station ATV-10. Dates and times varied in Sydney (see below) and in other regions of Australia.

Season| Episodes| Originally released

|
|

First released| Last released
1| 1-79 (79)| 27 February 1979 (1979-02-27)| 28 November 1979 (1979-11-28)
2| 80-165 (86)| 22 January 1980 (1980-01-22)| 12 November 1980 (1980-11-12)
3| 166-246 (81)| 4 February 1981 (1981-02-04)| 11 November 1981 (1981-11-11)
4| 247-326 (80)| 9 February 1982 (1982-02-09)| 9 November 1982 (1982-11-09)
5| 327-416 (90)| 1 February 1983 (1983-02-01)| 3 November 1983 (1983-11-03)
6| 417-505 (89)| 17 January 1984 (1984-01-17)| 8 November 1984 (1984-11-08)
7| 506-588 (83)| 24 January 1985 (1985-01-24)| 5 November 1985 (1985-11-05)
8| 569-692 (104)| 9 January 1986 (1986-01-09)| 11 December 1986 (1986-12-11)

The episodes on Network Ten Sydney Station TEN-10 were often several weeks or more behind those airing on its Melbourne counterpart, particularly in the later seasons, although there were some occasions when Sydney viewers saw the episodes first. In some years, the total number of episodes shown in a “season” differed between the markets, meaning they ended the year on different episodes.

For example, Episode 166, which was the 1981 season return in Melbourne and showed the aftermath of the tunnel collapse, was shown as the 1980 finale in Sydney. Although we learned in this episode which prisoners had survived the collapse, some were still trapped underground at the end of the episode, so there was still an element of the cliffhanger as viewers waited to find out if they would be rescued.

Conversely, the final episode shown in Sydney in 1984 was Episode 500, which concluded with a warehouse exploding in which two prison staff were being held against their will. This was a much stronger cliffhanger than that of Episode 505, which was the final episode of the year in Melbourne.

Season| Episodes| Originally released

|
|

First released| Last released
1| 1-84 (84)| 26 February 1979 (1979-02-26)| 11 December 1979 (1979-12-11)
2| 85-166 (82)| 4 February 1980 (1980-02-04)| 10 November 1980 (1980-11-10)
3| 167-246 (80)| 10 February 1981 (1981-02-10)| 10 November 1981 (1981-11-10)
4| 247-326 (80)| 15 February 1982 (1982-02-15)| 6 December 1982 (1982-12-06)
5| 327-416 (90)| 1 February 1983 (1983-02-01)| 15 December 1983 (1983-12-15)
6| 417-500 (84)| 31 January 1984 (1984-01-31)| 13 December 1984 (1984-12-13)
7| 501-588 (88)| 29 January 1985 (1985-01-29)| 21 November 1985 (1985-11-21)
8| 589-692 (104)| 14 January 1986 (1986-01-14)| 29 September 1987 (1987-09-29)

## Spin-offs, remakes and specials

[edit]

### Spin-offs

[edit]

Punishment

Main article: Punishment (TV series)

This was a short lived spin off based in a male prison. Early episodes starred Mel Gibson. The show was not a ratings success and was removed from prime time schedules after only four episodes.

#### Willow B: Women in Prison

[edit]

A pilot for an unproduced American version of Prisoner was produced by Lorimar in 1980, entitled Willow B: Women in Prison. The cast included Ruth Roman, Virginia Capers, Carol Lynley and Sally Kirkland. The pilot aired on ABC-TV on 29 June 1980.

#### Wentworth

[edit]

Main article: Wentworth (TV series)

In March 2012, it was announced that Foxtel would produce a contemporary "re-imagining" of Prisoner, titled Wentworth, set in modern-day Australia. Wentworth recounts the rise of Bea Smith (Danielle Cormack) from her arrival at Wentworth as a remand prisoner to "top dog". The series is filmed at a new, purpose-built prison set in the Melbourne suburb of Clayton.

Wentworth features contemporary versions of vintage characters along with new characters. Other characters and cast members include crime matriarch Jacs Holt (Kris McQuade), Liz Birdsworth (Celia Ireland), Doreen Anderson (Shareena Clanton), Franky Doyle (Nicole da Silva), Sue "Boomer" Jenkins (Katrina Milosevic), social worker Erica Davidson (Leeanna Walsman), officer Will Jackson (Robbie Magasiva), officer Matthew Fletcher (Aaron Jeffery), deputy governor Vera Bennett (Kate Atkinson), and governor Meg Jackson (Catherine McClements), and later included Linda Miles (Jacquie Brennan), Joan Ferguson (Pamela Rabe), Sean Brody (Rick Donald), Greg Miller (David de Lautour), Marie Winter (Susie Porter) and Rita Connors (Leah Purcell).

None of the original Prisoner cast were initially scheduled to appear in the first series, but on 29 November 2012 it was confirmed that Anne Charleston (who appeared in the original series) would make a guest appearance.[16] Wentworth premiered in Australia on Foxtel's SoHo channel on 1 May 2013.[17][18][19] Wentworth ended in 2021 after nine seasons. It did not surpass Prisoner in terms of number of episodes (Wentworth produced only ten to twelve episodes per year culminating in 100 episodes over the course of its run, compared to 692 episodes for Prisoner), but surpassed it in the number of years on air.[20] Thirteen actors who appeared in Prisoner also appeared in Wentworth in a guest capacity. These included Sigrid Thornton, who was in the original series as Ros Coulson, joining the Wentworth cast to play Sonia Stevens. In an ironic twist, Tina Bursill, who originally played Sonia Stevens in Prisoner, was cast in the final series of Wentworth as Eve Wilder.[21]

### Spoofs

[edit]

In 1980 Saturday Night Live aired a parody of the series, "Debs Behind Bars". In the sketch, the inmates (including guest host Teri Garr) are spoiled debutantes who complain about "icky" living conditions in prison. During the early 1990s, Seven Network's comedy sketch program Fast Forward parodied Prisoner; Gina Riley (Bea Smith), Jane Turner (Lizzie Birdsworth), Magda Szubanski (Doreen) and Marg Downey as officer (Joan Ferguson) gave scenes from the series a comedic twist.

Other series to have featured Prisoner spoofs included The Paul Hogan Show, Let the Blood Run Free, Naked Video and The Krypton Factor.

### Prisoner-inspired shows

[edit]

In 1991, Prisoner was reprised for the American market as Dangerous Women. The US version borrowed heavily from the Australian original for characters and was created and written by Reg Watson, who had also created the original Australian series. In Dangerous Women, the emphasis was outside the prison, focusing on prisoner relationships in a halfway house. In 1997, Prisoner was revised in a German-language version, Hinter Gittern – Der Frauenknast (Behind Bars). The series ran from 1997 to 2007 for 16 series and 403 episodes.

### Talking Prisoner

[edit]

On June 18, 2021, producer Matt Batten created the Talking Prisoner podcast and YouTube channel. Batten's co-host Ken Mulholland served as head cameraman on Prisoner from the series debut until episode 692. Mulholland and Batten interview cast and crew from Prisoner in depth. The podcast however also features interviews with cast and crew from other popular Australian internationally successful series like Sons and Daughters and Neighbours, and also featured interviews from staff at actual prisons including a 2023 interview with a warder from Ireland and a Prison Chaplin from San Quentin. In 2023 Mulholland departed[22] the podcast to focus on his art and it was announced that filmmaker Tim Burns had joined as the new co-host of the podcast.

## Merchandise

[edit]

There have been several tie-in books and video and DVD releases. Prisoner's theme song ("On the Inside", sung by Lynne Hamilton) reached number four in Australia in 1979 and peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart in 1989. "On the Inside" was re-released as a digital download and CD single in March 2012. The song was featured as a B-side on punkabilly group The Living End's EP, Second Solution / Prisoner of Society.

### Books (tie-in publications)

[edit]

#### Based on the Series

[edit]

There have been numerous publications on the series, including tie-in paperback novels, including publication's by Pinnacle Books, which in 1980, led by the actors union the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance and represented by cast member Val Lehman (Bea Smith), which saw the cast go on strike due to the content in the United States: soft-core pornography at odds with the series. Six books were published: Prisoner: Cell Block H, The Franky Doyle Story, The Karen Travers Story, The Frustrations of Vera, The Reign of Queen Bea and The Trials of Erica.

Two behind-the-scenes books were published in the UK during the early 1990s. Prisoner: Cell Block H – Behind the Scenes was written by Terry Bourke and published by Angus & Robertson Publishers, who published similar books about soap operas Neighbours and Home and Away. Bourke documents the show's genesis and development, and the book has many stills and character profiles. Hilary Kingsley's Prisoner Cell Block H – The Inside Story emphasises more on plot and characters.

A limited-edition book, The Inside Story, was published in 2007 as part of the full-series DVD release in Australia. Written by TV journalists Andrew Mercado and Michael Idato, the commemorative book has the series' background, year-by-year storylines, character details and quotes by cast and crew. It was available as part of The Complete Collection DVD set.

#### Biographies and memoirs of cast members

[edit]

There are also several published autobiographies, biographies and memoirs of cast members:

* Colette Mann published 2 books, It's a Mann's World in 1990 and Give Me a Break in 2002.

* Betty Bobbitt self-published From the Outside, in 2011, which are her memoirs of her career which included playing the role of Judy Bryant on Prisoner.[23]

* Sheila Florance biography titled "On the Inside" was published in 2016 by Helen Martineau, which details her career as an actress and performer, including her role as Lizzie Birdsworth on Prisoner.

* Maggie Kirkpatrick, published her own autobiography in 2019, about her performing career, titled The Gloves Are Off, named after the iconic leather gloves that she occasionally wore as Joan Ferguson on Prisoner.

### DVD releases

[edit]

Main article: List of Prisoner home video releases

The complete series of Prisoner is available on DVD format in both Australia and the United Kingdom. On Region 4 in Australia, distribution company Shock Records released the series over forty volumes, and a complete collection, comprising these volumes; the UK editions, from FremantleMedia, made the series available over twenty volumes (doubling up on the Australian sets). In 2016, ViaVision acquired the rights to re-release the series in Australia and made the decision to release the series in their original season formats. See above for a full listing of VHS and DVD sets available. The following is an overview of Prisoner releases in their seasons formats. The use of the term 'season' is a recent phenomena, perhaps tied to DVD releases. During its original run, Prisoner was considered a continuing series. Continuous episode numbers (1–692) were used on production materials such as scripts and production schedules, rather than a 'season number / episode number' format.

DVD title  | Episodes  | Discs  | Release date  | Runtime
(minutes) | ACB rating

|
|
|
|
|

Region 4[24]
| The Complete Season One  | 79  | 20  | 2 November 2016  | 3,555  | M
| The Complete Season Two  | 86  | 21  | 11 January 2017  | 3,949  | M
| The Complete Season Three  | 81  | 21  | 8 February 2017  | 3,596  | M
| The Complete Season Four  | 80  | 21  | 8 March 2017  | 3,600  | M
| The Complete Season Five  | 90  | 23  | 5 April 2017  | 4,001  | M
| The Complete Season Six  | 89  | 22  | 7 June 2017  | 4,001  | M
| The Complete Season Seven  | 83  | 21  | 2 August 2017  | 3,735  | M
| The Complete Season Eight  | 104  | 26  | 6 September 2017  | 4,680  | M
Source:[25]

### Theatre and musicals

[edit]

See also: Prisoner Cell Block H: The Musical

A stage version of Prisoner, based on the original scripts, was produced in 1989 and toured the United Kingdom. Elspeth Ballantyne (Meg Morris) and Patsy King (Erica Davidson) reprised their characters and Glenda Linscott (Rita Connors) played a new character, Angela Mason. A second tour, with Fiona Spence (Vera Bennett) and Jane Clifton (Margo Gaffney), followed in 1990; Jacqui Gordon (Susie Driscoll) played new character Kath Evans.

A musical version followed, with Maggie Kirkpatrick reprising her role as Joan (the Freak) Ferguson and Paul O'Grady (as Lily Savage) as an inmate. The musical, a parody of Prisoner's kitschier aspects, toured and had West End runs in 1995 and 1997. Val Lehman (Bea Smith) was critical of the production, questioning why a drag queen would be in a women's prison.[26]

Due to Prisoner's popularity in the UK during the late 1980s, its British fan club organised personal-appearance tours for several actresses including Val Lehman (Bea Smith), Carol Burns (Franky Doyle), Betty Bobbitt (Judy Bryant), Sheila Florance (Lizzie Birdsworth), Amanda Muggleton (Chrissie Latham) and Judy McBurney (Pixie Mason). A TV special, The Great Escape, was produced in 1990. The programme, which featured Val Lehman, Sheila Florance, Amanda Muggleton and Carol Burns on their 1990 UK visit, includes extensive footage of their on-stage interview with TV presenter Anna Soubry in which the cast members discuss their time on the series. Recorded at the Derby Assembly Rooms in Derby,[27] it was briefly available in the UK on VHS video.[28]

Several Prisoner actors have appeared in British stage drama and pantomime, including Val Lehman (The Wizard of Oz, Beatrix Potter and Misery), Peta Toppano, Fiona Spence, Maggie Dence (Bev Baker), Debra Lawrance (Daphne Graham), Linda Hartley (Roach Waters), Ian Smith (Ted Douglas) and Maggie Millar (Marie Winter).

## Popular culture references

[edit]

In 1997, a Prisoner clip from its second episode (Franky Doyle and Lynn Warner's fight in the garden) appeared on the BBC sitcom Birds of a Feather, and the series was mentioned several times during Birds of a Feather's seven-and-a-half-year run.[29] The theme song was played briefly in episode three of BBC sitcom One Foot in the Grave.[29] Prisoner has also been referenced in British sitcoms 2point4 Children, Absolutely Fabulous and Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, as well as the soap operas Coronation Street, Brookside and EastEnders.[29]

## International broadcast

[edit]

### United Kingdom

[edit]

Prisoner was shown on the ITV network in the UK, but was not simulcast nationally. It began airing on Yorkshire Television on 8 October 1984.[30] Some ITV stations cut some of the more violent scenes (including the attempted hanging of Sandy Edwards and the hanging of Eve Wilder).[31] Some also heavily edited the episode 326 fight scene with Joan Ferguson and Bea Smith, despite its time slot which was well past the 9 p.m. watershed. Some regions (such as Granada in the North-West of England) did not start to show the series until 1988, while the Ulster region in Northern Ireland was the final region of the ITV network to start broadcasting the series, in 1989.

Border Television did not air some episodes, with a considerable gap in the middle of the run, resulting viewers not seeing the conclusion of some storylines. To rectify this, the continuity announcer relayed the plots of the missed episodes. In a comical nod to the low-budget production values of the show, the announcer would also often refer to the programme as: '...the wobbly walls of Wentworth'.

When Border, Grampian and Granada TV screened the final episode in the UK in the mid-1990s, continuity announcer John McKenzie conducted a telephone interview with Maggie Kirkpatrick (Joan "the Freak" Ferguson).[32]

Prisoner was part of Channel 5's schedule when it launched in 1997, with the series receiving a complete broadcast run until 2001.[33] The series returned to the UK in September 2023 after 22 years when it was added to the channel's streaming service My5.[34] It was also briefly aired from the beginning on 5Select from 20 December 2023, until 1 January 2024, ceasing broadcast at episode 20, but later resumed broadcast. From season 4, which began on 6 January 2025, it is aired on 5Select before streaming on My5. It is also currently airing from the beginning, as of 3 January 2024, on That's TV 2.

#### ITV regional scheduling

[edit]

ITV Region | Programme Schedule Pattern

|

Start Date | Days Screened | End Date | Episodes not screened
Yorkshire Television (YTV)  | Monday 8 October 1984 23:00  | Mondays with a Thursday episode added from January 1993. Yorkshire took a short break from the series after screening episode 39 in October 1985. The series resumed in January 1986 with many interruptions during the year including World Cup football from Mexico, snooker and Bank Holiday material. Only 32 episodes managed to air during 1986 in the Monday slot as the other 20 Mondays were filled with Network scheduling. It remained on air until the end of April 1987 (episode 85). The series returned in September 1987 and filled its regular Monday 23:00 slot. From 1988 the series moved to 23:05 and was often replaced with snooker and football. During the Gulf War the series was not as heavily affected as in most other regions. Episodes were simply moved to earlier and later start times.

Episode 295 onwards with Tyne Tees from January 1993. Thursday episode added from 07/01/93. The World Cup filled two Prisoner slots on 20 and 23 June in 1994 meaning no episodes were screened in that week. The programme did not suffer as it had done on Yorkshire in 1986 when the World Cup was last played in the Americas. Mondays only from 8 January - 15 February 1996 and again from 6 January - 13 February 1997 as the Thursday slot was used for ITV networked films during these periods. Thursdays only between 26 September and 21 October 1996, as the Monday slot was used for ITV networked films during this period as well. Yorkshire never screened the show before 22:55 in its entirety or after 00:35 allowing the show a more regular timeslot than all other regions.

| Monday 7 April 1997 23:10  | None
Television South (TVS) (up to episode 292) & Meridian Broadcasting (from episode 293) slowest overall  | Friday 11 October 1985 22:30  | Fridays episodes 1-9 until December 1985, then Thursdays from January 1986. Reverts to Fridays from April 1986 (ep 19 Friday 4 April), Then back to Thursdays from September 1986. The series takes a summer break after screening episode 63 on 23 April 1987, returning in September then another summer break after episode 91 on 5 May 1988. Then Tuesdays and Thursdays from September 1988, Thursdays only from January 1989. Final episode to be screened by TVS was episode 292 on Thursday 17 December 1992 23:10

Series remained on Thursdays under Meridian's control then moved to Tuesdays from 4 January 1994. Episode 477 screened on Wednesday 27 November 1996 as Tuesday slot unavailable, then after a one-off Thursday episode on 19 December 1996 the series moves to Mondays and Tuesdays from January 1997, Mondays only in April 1997 then back to Tuesdays only from May 1997 until December 1998. Series re-started on Mondays from 25 January 1999 at episode 564 until series dropped at episode 586 in July 1999.

| Monday 12 July 1999 23:50 (episode 586)  | 587–692
Channel Television (CTV)  | As TVS from Thursday 16 January 1986 22:30 starting from episode 10 (TVS had screened 1 - 9 themselves in late 1985)  | As TVS & Meridian. Channel had a direct link with TSW for all regional shows until end of 1985, before switching to TVS in January 1986 because it was felt that TSW's scheduling was peculiar. Therefore, Channel missed the first 9 episodes screened by TVS.  | As Meridian  | 1-9 and 587–692
Television South West (TSW) (up to episode 239) & Westcountry Television (from episode 240)  | Thursday 15 January 1987 23:05  | Thursdays with 13 episodes shown until April 1987, then a break until September 1987 when Thursdays resume with 13 more episodes until Thursday 10 December. Show then restarts with episode 27 on Mondays from 12 September 1988, then stops at episode 52 on 17 April 1989 showing that TSW must buy in blocks of 13. Series goes back to weekly Thursdays with ep 53 from 20 July 1989, then switches to Fridays from 13 April 1990 then Sundays and Mondays from 1 September 1991. In January 1992 the series returns to weekly Thursdays, then Sundays and Thursdays from 30 August 1992 until the last episode aired by TSW episode 239 23:50 Sunday 20 December 1992. Having no desire to make too many programmes themselves during their last months on air TSW viewers saw an increase in output of all imported regional Australian soaps to fill the hours.

TSW's successor Westcountry Television commenced from episode 240 and screened the series initially on Tuesdays and Thursdays 23:10 with Sundays added from March 1994. Sundays were axed from the start of 1995. After 25 May 1995 episode, Thursday episode moves to Wednesdays starting on 7 June. From September series switches to Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Tuesdays only during January 1996 until Thursday episode returns on 15 February. Series moves to weekly Mondays from January 1997 until the return of a Thursday episode from 14 August 1997 (episode 671).

| Thursday 30 October 1997 23:45  | None
Central Television fastest to complete  | Saturday 25 April 1987 22:45 and Monday 8 February 1993 (Sunday night) 00:20 for repeat run  | Initially Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays at extremely varying timeslots. Then Saturday episode dropped in February 1988 but re-instated in April 1988. The Saturday episode later changed to Friday. Final Saturday episode 31 March 1990, first Friday episode 13 April 1990. Latest Saturday episode started at 02:30, earliest 22:20. Central's nightly Prisoner airings in January 1991 were interrupted in the middle of the 23:55 Wednesday 16 January episode 561 for news of the Gulf War. Five other slots were reused for Gulf War programming. Various Fridays dropped in 1991 for snooker highlights Rugby World Cup highlights.  | Monday 16 December 1991 22:40. Repeated first 95 episodes on Sunday nights from February 1993 until episode 94 on Monday 19 December 1994 00:15 (Sunday night).  | None
Thames Television (up to episode 357) & Carlton Television (from episode 358)  | Friday 19 June 1987 00:30 (Thursday night)  | Thursdays, then Tuesdays and Thursdays from 24 July 1990 (Tuesday episode temporarily removed during February and March 1991). Tuesdays and Thursdays fitted into the same slots that Anglia and HTV were using to enable the three to be ready at the right time for Thames' night-time service. Final Thames episode 23:15 Thursday 17 December 1992 episode 357

When Carlton replaced Thames they screened it on Tuesdays only from 5 January 1993 usually at 23:40 or in the first available slot after network programming. After playing episode 492 on Tuesday 26 September 1995 series is taken off air until its return on 7 November, Final Tuesday episode on 19 December. Series then restarts on Thursdays from 15 February 1996. Then Mondays only from 2 September 1996 until November until returning on Mondays from January to March 1997, series dropped until May when it returns on Thursdays, then back to Mondays from September until December, then Thursdays again from February 1998 until dropping the series in August 1998 at episode 598.

| Episode 598 on Thursday 20 August 1998 23:40  | 599–692
Scottish Television (STV)  | Monday 19 October 1987 23:30  | Mondays until March 1988. In April the series was shown on Mondays, the first three Sundays and the last two Fridays. Then Mondays only in May, then Mondays and Fridays from June to September 1988. During September and October Mondays only until 31 October 1988 plus a one off Thursday episode on 13 October 1988 too. After 31 October 1988 the series resumes on 28 November. Then Mondays and Fridays from January 1989 until Friday episode after 5 October 1990. Then Mondays only until December 1992. Slot on 21 January 1991 cleared for regional sport and Gulf War programming. In January 1993 the series moves to Thursdays and Fridays, Monday episode returns from 19 April, Friday episode dropped after 14 May episode. Then Mondays and Thursdays until Friday episodes return on 1 October 1993, back to Thursdays and Fridays after Monday episode dropped after 15 November 1993. Then Tuesdays and Thursdays from January 1994, Thursdays only in September, then Mondays only in October until Thursday episode returned on 27 October. Mondays and Thursdays until December 1995 until Thursday episode moves to Tuesdays from 2 January 1996. Remained on Mondays and Tuesdays until finishing in November.  | Wednesday 20 November 1996 00:20 (Tuesday night)  | None
Anglia Television | Wednesday 6 January 1988 00:30 (Tuesday night)  | Initially Tuesdays and Thursdays, then changed to Sundays and Mondays from September 1988. At the start of 1989 to make up for the loss of the show while Network programmes were shown over Christmas the show was screened daily Monday to Friday for the first week of January. The Monday episode was switched to Tuesday from September 1990 after the screeneing of episode 259 on Sunday 2 September. Then the Sunday episode switched to Thursday from January 1991 to fit into the same slots that HTV and Thames were using to enable the three to be ready at the right time for Thames' night-time service. The first two Thursday slots in 1991 along with Tuesday 22 January had replacement programming for the Gulf War.

Continues at 23:40 on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the new ITV franchise era from January 1993. Then one episode screened on Monday in November 1993 when network programming filled the Tuesday and Thursday slots. Then weekly most available Tuesdays around 23:40 from 4 January 1994 until July 1995 when Thursday episode reinstated from 6 July. Thursday episode then axed after episode 667 on 16 November apart from a one-off episode on 21 December and series plays out on Tuesdays only until the end in May 1996.

| Tuesday 21 May 1996 23:40  | None
Granada Television | Sunday 14 February 1988 23:30  | Sundays and Mondays. Then Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays from July 1988. Sunday transmissions from 14 February replace the Rugby League highlights series Scrumdown. Series took a week's break in September for snooker coverage. Then Sundays and Mondays from January 1989, then Thursday episodes return 30 April 1992. From January 1993 the series is moved to weekly Tuesdays and then Thursday episodes return from March 1993. Then Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from March 1994 though Sunday episode dropped in December 1994.  | Thursday 9 February 1995 23:10  | None
Tyne Tees Television | Thursday 7 April 1988 22:35  | Thursdays usually at 23:05. A Sunday episode was added starting 13 January 1991. Soon after this Gulf War programming meant a temporary loss of the Sunday slot from 20 January and the Thursday slot had earlier and later start times. From 5 October 1992 another episode was suddenly added on Mondays in an unsuccessful attempt to catch up to their newly merged business with neighbouring Yorkshire. Sunday episode was dropped after 1 November 1992, to follow Yorkshire's Sunday schedule, reducing to two episodes a week. During December 1992, Tyne Tees took the unusual step of opting out of live networked snooker coverage to squeeze in an extra episode in its effort to catch up to Yorkshire.

From January 1993 exactly as Yorkshire, episodes 293 and 294 unscreened to catch up to Yorkshire.

| As Yorkshire  | 293 and 294
Border Television | Friday 10 June 1988 23:35  | Initially Fridays 23:35. Series then takes a break at the end of August for snooker and returns in early September in new slots Sundays and Thursdays. Sundays and Mondays from January 1989, then back to Sundays and Thursdays from May 1989, Thursday episode temporarily dropped at the end of October 1989 to allow Falcon Crest to complete before Christmas. During 1990 the show was often screened at 23:35 on both nights. During July and August 1992 the Sunday episode briefly switched to Monday leaving a return to Sundays and Thursdays as the nights used at the end of 1992, although the last three Mondays in November also had an episode.

From 5 January 1993 Tuesdays and Thursdays were used. Episode 476 screened on Thursday 28 October 1993 was followed by Episode 548 on Tuesday 2 November 1993, then as Granada from this point onwards until the end. 71 episodes missed to catch up to Granada. Daytime Australian soaps experienced a similar "Granada jump" at the end of December 1993. US series Crime Story replaced the programme.

| As Granada  | 477–547
HTV Wales & West  | Monday 22 August 1988 23:40  | Initially Mondays and Tuesdays. Later Sundays and Mondays from January 1989. Then Sundays and Tuesdays from October 1990. After 7 April 1991 Sunday episode moves to Thursday starting from 11 April to fit into the same slots that Anglia and Thames were using to enable the three franchises to be ready at the right time for Thames' night-time service. Then Tuesdays and Thursdays. Very occasionally HTV Wales airtimes were behind HTV West to accommodate extra locally made programming for Wales as they were legally obliged to provide. For much of early 1993 HTV West was an episode or two ahead of HTV Wales, as they had to show sport programmes.

In January 1993 a Wednesday episode was introduced but was dropped after the end of February, by March Wednesdays had reverted to slots used for non-continuous series meaning the series continued on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Series then increased to three a week using Sundays from March 1994. Thursday episode dropped after 1 September 1994. Sunday episode discontinued from January 1995, then Tuesdays only until the return of the Sunday episode on 10 September 1995. During September and October a Wednesday night is used when the Tuesday slot was unavailable. From 20 November HTV Wales shows the Tuesday episode on Monday nights due to Welsh rugby highlights being accommodated in the Tuesday slot. HTV West retains the series on Tuesdays. Then Thursday episode returns on 15 February 1996. Some Tuesday slots filled with regional sport instead.

| Thursday 25 April 1996 23:40  | None
Grampian Television | Sunday 11 September 1988 23:30  | Sundays and Mondays until December 1992. As slots on 20/01, 21/01 and 27/01 were lost to the Gulf War coverage Grampian created extra slots for the show in Wednesday 23/01 (23.00 episode 207) and Wednesday 30/01 (22.55 episode 209) These slots replaced intended networked films which were now too long for the vacant one hour slot between ITN News at Ten and Gulf War coverage from midnight. Episode 221 was screened on Tuesday 19 March due to STV providing Grampian with regional sport filling up Grampian's Monday 18 March schedule (STV simply played their episode late on Monday - Grampian could not do this as they followed Granada's schedule after around 00.30) Then Monday and Tuesday from January 1993, Tuesday episode moves to Thursday in January 1994, then Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from March 1994 before going back to Mondays and Thursdays in January 1995. Monday episode moved to Tuesday in September then Sunday episodes returned in November. From 8 January 1996 (episode 684) the series was shown weekly on Mondays in the 23:40/23:35 slot.  | Monday 4 March 1996 23:40  | None
Ulster Television (UTV)  | Sunday 22 October 1989 23:35  | Sundays with many weeks' slot given to regional sport, then Fridays and Sundays from November 1990. Then Sundays only from May 1991, Fridays return in September 1991 then changes to Fridays only from January 1992. Series takes a break after episode 127 on Friday 24 April, then resumes on Sundays only from 21 June until Fridays return on 25 September, Sundays dropped after 18 October, then Fridays only until March 1993. Changes to Mondays and Fridays in March 1993 until October 1994 when Fridays change to Sundays. Mondays and Fridays again from January 1995, then Wednesdays and Fridays from March until a Sunday episode is added. Wednesday episode moves to Mondays from 25 September 1995. Friday episode dropped after 12 January 1996, then Sundays and Mondays until Sunday episode dropped after 2 June 1996. Then Mondays for the rest of 1996 before switched to Fridays from 24 January 1997, then Mondays from 30 June 1997.  | Monday 15 December 1997 23:40 (episode 562)  | 563–692

### UK ITV End of Year Episode Numbers

[edit]

ITV Region in start date order | End of Year Episode Numbers

|

1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992
Yorkshire Television (YTV)  | 10  | 39  | 71  | 95  | 134  | 176  | 214  | 254  | 294
Television South (TVS)  | Not yet purchased  | 9  | 47  | 77  | 108  | 152  | 200  | 246  | 292
Channel Television (CTV)  | CTV's supplier had not yet purchased  | CTV's supplier had not yet purchased  | 47  | 77  | 108  | 152  | 200  | 246  | 292
Television South West | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | 26  | 40  | 72  | 118  | 178  | 239
Central Television | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | 108  | 251  | 406  | 557  | First to Complete  | Completed
Thames Television | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | 26  | 73  | 119  | 188  | 271  | 357
Scottish Television (STV)  | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | 5  | 63  | 148  | 229  | 275  | 321
Anglia Television | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | 99  | 196  | 290  | 377  | 468
Granada Television | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | 107  | 201  | 284  | 366  | 479
Tyne Tees Television | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | 32  | 74  | 116  | 200  | 292
Border Television | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | 40  | 123  | 208  | 301  | 394
HTV Wales & West  | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | 30  | 126  | 224  | 316  | 403
Grampian Television | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | 28  | 121  | 204  | 289  | 372
Ulster Television (UTV)  | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | 9  | 55  | 114  | 155
ITV Region in start date order | End of Year Episode Numbers

|

1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999
Yorkshire Television (YTV)  | 393  | 490  | 588  | 674  | Joint 8th to Complete  | Completed  | Completed
Meridian Broadcasting formerly TVS  | 341  | 390  | 435  | 481  | 530  | 563  | 586
Channel Television | 341  | 390  | 435  | 481  | 530  | 563  | 586
Westcountry Television formerly TSW  | 336  | 466  | 559  | 643  | 10th and last to Complete  | Completed  | Completed
Central Television | 47r  | 94r  | Stopped rerun  | Stopped rerun  | Stopped rerun  | Stopped rerun  | Stopped rerun
Carlton Television formerly Thames  | 406  | 457  | 499  | 534  | 574  | 598  | Incomplete
Scottish Television (STV)  | 428  | 510  | 607  | 7th to Complete  | Completed  | Completed  | Completed
Anglia Television | 562  | 609  | 673  | 6th to Complete  | Completed  | Completed  | Completed
Granada Television | 561  | 680  | Joint 2nd to Complete  | Completed  | Completed  | Completed  | Completed
Tyne Tees Television | 393  | 490  | 588  | 674  | Joint 8th to Complete  | Completed  | Completed
Border Television | 561  | 680  | Joint 2nd to Complete  | Completed  | Completed  | Completed  | Completed
HTV Wales & West  | 500  | 608  | 668  | 5th to Complete  | Completed  | Completed  | Completed
Grampian Television | 467  | 592  | 683  | 4th to Complete  | Completed  | Completed  | Completed
Ulster Television (UTV)  | 239  | 331  | 454  | 513  | 562  | Incomplete  | Incomplete

### UK ITV Midpoint of Year Episode Numbers (italics indicate episode shown on 30 June)

[edit]

ITV Region in start date order | Midpoint of Year Episode Numbers (30 June)

|

1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992
Yorkshire Television (YTV)  | 25  | 55  | 85  | 112  | 154  | 194  | 234  | 274
Television South (TVS)  | Not yet purchased  | 27  | 63  | 91  | 129  | 175  | 223  | 268
Channel Television (CTV)  | CTV's supplier had not yet purchased  | 27  | 63  | 91  | 129  | 175  | 223  | 268
Television South West | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | 13  | 26  | 52  | 94  | 142  | 202
Central Television | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | 30  | 176  | 331  | 483  | 626 | Completed
Thames Television | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | 2  | 51 | 94  | 144  | 226  | 313
Scottish Television (STV)  | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | 33  | 104 | 192  | 251  | 297
Anglia Television | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | 50 | 149  | 242  | 330  | 424
Granada Television | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | 38  | 151  | 242  | 323 | 415
Tyne Tees Television | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | 12 | 50  | 94  | 158 | 245
Border Television | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | 3  | 82  | 163  | 254 | 345
HTV Wales & West  | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | 77  | 174  | 267  | 357
Grampian Television | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | 71  | 162  | 244 | 330
Ulster Television (UTV)  | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | Not yet purchased  | 27  | 85 | 129
ITV Region in start date order | Midpoint of Year Episode Numbers (30 June)

|

1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999
Yorkshire Television (YTV)  | 342  | 439 | 538  | 628  | Completed  | Completed  | Completed
Meridian Broadcasting formerly TVS  | 316  | 366  | 413  | 458  | 513  | 549  | 584
Channel Television | 316  | 366  | 413  | 458  | 513  | 549  | 584
Westcountry Television formerly TSW  | 287  | 397 | 512  | 601  | 664 | Completed  | Completed
Central Television | 47r  | 94r  | Stopped rerun  | Stopped rerun  | Stopped rerun  | Stopped rerun  | Stopped rerun
Carlton Television formerly Thames  | 381  | 432  | 480  | 518  | 552  | 590  | Incomplete
Scottish Television (STV)  | 371  | 472  | 559  | 653  | Completed  | Completed  | Completed
Anglia Television | 515  | 584  | 634  | Completed  | Completed  | Completed  | Completed
Granada Television | 515  | 621 | Completed  | Completed  | Completed  | Completed  | Completed
Tyne Tees Television | 342  | 439 | 538  | 628  | Completed  | Completed  | Completed
Border Television | 443  | 621 | Completed  | Completed  | Completed  | Completed  | Completed
HTV Wales & West  | 452  | 558 | 635  | Completed  | Completed  | Completed  | Completed
Grampian Television | 420  | 523 | 635  | Completed  | Completed  | Completed  | Completed
Ulster Television (UTV)  | 193  | 283  | 382 | 492  | 538 | Incomplete  | Incomplete

### Original, UK, Sweden and UK repeat Air dates of significant episodes

[edit]

ITV Region in start date order | Air dates of significant 1979 - 1982 Australian screened episodes

|

ep 3 riot | ep 7 Vera Bennett's mother's death | ep 16 Marilyn's departure | ep 20 Franky's departure | ep 40 Jim's arrival | ep 72 Vera's birthday | ep 79 1979 cliffhanger | ep 82 Terrorist invasion | ep 100 milestone | ep 121 riot | ep 165 1980 cliffhanger | ep 200 milestone | ep 224 Vera's departure | ep 246 1981 cliffhanger | ep 287 Joan's arrival | ep 300 milestone | ep 326 1982 cliffhanger | ITV[35]
Original ATV 10 airdate  | Wed 28/02/79 20:30  | Wed 14/03/79 20:30  | Tue 17/04/79 20:30  | Tue 01/05/79 20:30  | Tue 10/07/79 20:30  | Tue 06/11/79 20:30 (Melbourne Cup Day)  | Wed 28/11/79 20:30  | Tue 29/01/80 20:30  | Tue 01/04/80 20:30  | Wed 11/06/80 20:30  | Wed 12/11/80 20:30  | Wed 03/06/81 19:30  | Wed 02/09/81 20:30 (intended night was Tue 01/09/81)  | Wed 11/11/81 20:30  | Tue 29/06/82 20:30  | Tue 10/08/82 20:30  | Tue 09/11/82 20:30 (21:30 as screened as a double episode with 325)  | Original ATV 10.[36] airdate
Yorkshire Television (YTV)  | Mon 22/10/84 23:00  | Mon 19/11/84 23:15  | Mon 18/02/85 23:00  | Mon 22/04/85 23:00  | Mon 13/01/86 23:00  | Mon 12/01/87 23:20  | Mon 09/03/87 23:00  | Mon 06/04/87 23:10  | Mon 22/02/88 23:05  | Tue 30/08/88 00:00 (Bank Holiday Monday)  | Mon 18/09/89 23:20  | Mon 13/08/90 23:35  | Mon 25/03/91 23:10  | Mon 07/10/91 23:30  | Mon 19/10/92 23:10 abruptly cut off final scene and all of credits due to YTV's late running  | Thu 21/01/93 23:10  | Thu 29/04/93 23:30 edited due to violence  | Yorkshire Television (YTV).[37]
Television South (TVS) & Meridian Broadcasting | Fri 25/10/85 22:30  | Fri 22/11/85 22:30  | Thu 06/03/86 22:30  | Fri 11/04/86 22:30  | Thu 09/10/86 22:30  | Thu 05/11/87 22:30  | Thu 28/01/88 22:40  | Thu 18/02/88 22:40  | Thu 03/11/88 23:05  | Thu 27/04/89 23:05  | Thu 12/04/90 23:15  | Thu 20/12/90 23:10  | Thu 04/07/91 23:25  | Thu 19/12/91 23:10  | Thu 05/11/92 23:10  | Thu 25/02/93 23:20  | Thu 02/09/93 23:20  | Television South (TVS) & Meridian Broadcasting[38]
Channel Television | Not screened  | Not screened  | As TVS  | As TVS  | As TVS  | As TVS  | As TVS  | As TVS  | As TVS  | As TVS  | As TVS  | As TVS  | As TVS  | As TVS  | As TVS  | As Meridian  | As Meridian  | Channel Television[39]
Television South West (TSW) and Westcountry Television | Thu 29/01/87 23:05  | Thu 05/03/87 23:10  | Thu 01/10/87 22:32  | Thu 29/10/87 22:32  | Mon 19/12/88 22:35  | Thu 07/12/89 22:35  | Thu 15/03/90 22:35  | Thu 05/04/90 22:35  | Fri 10/08/90 22:35  | Fri 25/01/91 23:00  | Mon 21/10/91 23:35  | Thu 11/06/92 23:30  | Sun 11/10/92 23:35  | Tue 26/01/93 23:40  | Tue 29/06/93 23:55  | Thu 12/08/93 23:10  | Thu 18/11/93 23:10  | Television South West (TSW) and Westcountry Television[40]
Central Television | Tue 28/04/87 00:05 rpt Mon 15/02/93 00:20  | Sun 10/05/87 00:25 rpt Mon 15/03/93 00:35  | Sun 31/05/87 00:35 rpt Mon 17/05/93 00:05  | Mon 08/06/87 01:10 rpt Mon 14/06/93 02:05  | Sun 26/07/87 01:30 rpt Sun 31/10/93 23:45  | Mon 05/10/87 23:05 rpt Sun 26/06/94 23:45  | Sat 24/10/87 23:30 rpt Mon 22/08/94 00:10  | Sat 31/10/87 22:35 rpt Sun 11/09/94 23:15  | Sun 13/12/87 00:30  | Sun 31/01/88 01:20  | Sat 04/06/88 23:05  | Tue 23/08/88 00:10  | Mon 17/10/88 22:35  | Sun 11/12/88 00:00  | Sat 18/03/89 23:35  | Sun 16/04/89 23:30  | Sat 17/06/89 23:15  | Central Television[41]
Thames Television & Carlton Television | Fri 03/07/87 00:00  | Fri 07/08/87 00:00  | Fri 09/10/87 00:00  | Thu 05/11/87 23:30  | Thu 14/04/88 23:35  | Thu 15/12/88 23:35  | Thu 23/02/89 23:35  | Thu 30/03/89 23:35  | Fri 11/08/89 00:40  | Fri 12/01/90 00:30  | Thu 27/09/90 23:40  | Thu 21/03/91 23:50  | Thu 20/06/91 23:40  | Thu 19/09/91 23:50  | Thu 05/03/92 22:50  | Thu 07/05/92 23:15  | Wed 26/08/92 00:30  | Thames Television & Carlton Television[42]
Scottish Television (STV)  | Mon 09/11/87 23:30  | Mon 01/02/88 23:05  | Mon 04/04/88 23:40  | Mon 18/04/88 23:05  | Fri 22/07/88 22:35  | Fri 17/02/89 23:05  | Mon 20/03/89 23:35  | Fri 07/04/89 23:10  | Fri 16/06/89 23:20  | Mon 28/08/89 23:25  | Fri 16/03/90 23:20  | Fri 27/07/90 23:05  | Mon 12/11/90 23:40  | Tue 21/05/91 00:00  | Tue 21/04/92 00:00  | Mon 20/07/92 23:10  | Thu 21/01/93 23:10  | Scottish Television (STV)[43]
Anglia Television | Wed 13/01/88 00:35  | Wed 27/01/88 00:30  | Thu 25/02/88 23:20  | Thu 10/03/88 23:05  | Thu 19/05/88 23:05  | Sun 18/09/88 23:30  | Mon 10/10/88 22:35  | Sun 23/10/88 23:30  | Mon 02/01/89 23:25  | Mon 13/03/89 23:35  | Sun 27/08/89 23:35  | Mon 22/01/90 23:05  | Sun 22/04/90 23:35  | Tue 10/07/90 00:05  | Mon 10/12/90 01:00  | Thu 07/03/91 23:45  | Thu 13/06/91 23:45  | Anglia Television
Granada Television | Sun 21/02/88 23:30  | Sun 06/03/88 23:30  | Sun 10/04/88 23:45  | Sun 24/04/88 23:30  | Mon 04/07/88 23:15  | Sun 25/09/88 23:45  | Thu 13/10/88 22:35  | Thu 20/10/88 22:35  | Thu 01/12/88 22:35  | Sun 26/02/89 23:30  | Mon 14/08/89 22:35  | Sun 17/12/89 23:05  | Mon 02/04/90 23:05  | Mon 16/07/90 00:05  | Mon 21/01/91 23:00 (originally scheduled to air Sun 20/01/91 23:25)  | Mon 18/03/91 22:40  | Mon 08/07/91 23:10  | Granada Television
Tyne Tees Television | Thu 21/04/88 23:35  | Thu 19/05/88 23:05  | Thu 28/07/88 23:05  | Thu 25/08/88 23:35  | Thu 30/03/89 23:05  | Thu 30/11/89 23:15  | Thu 22/02/90 23:05  | Thu 22/03/90 23:15  | Thu 09/08/90 23:05  | Sun 03/02/91 23:35  | Thu 25/07/91 23:10  | Thu 19/12/91 22:40  | Sun 05/04/92 23:35  | Thu 02/07/92 23:10  | Mon 23/11/92 23:10  | As Yorkshire  | As Yorkshire  | Tyne Tees Television
Border Television | Fri 24/06/88 23:35  | Fri 22/07/88 23:35  | Thu 22/09/88 22:35  | Sun 09/10/88 23:30  | Thu 22/12/88 23:05  | Sun 21/05/89 23:15  | Mon 19/06/89 00:00  | Thu 29/06/89 23:05  | Thu 31/08/89 23:05  | Mon 11/12/89 00:30  | Thu 05/07/90 23:05  | Sun 11/11/90 23:35  | Mon 18/03/91 00:15  | Mon 03/06/91 00:00  | Thu 24/10/91 23:10  | Sun 15/12/91 23:05  | Wed 08/04/92 23:10 moved to Wed due to general election.  | Border Television
HTV West & Wales  | Tue 30/08/88 00:00 (Bank Holiday Monday)  | Wed 14/09/88 00:05  | Tue 25/10/88 23:35  | Mon 14/11/88 23:35  | Sun 12/02/89 23:45  | Mon 12/06/89 00:10  | Mon 03/07/89 23:35  | Mon 17/07/89 00:30  | Sun 17/09/89 23:35  | Mon 27/11/89 23:45  | Mon 21/05/90 00:05  | Tue 25/09/90 01:00  | Wed 19/12/90 00:30  | Mon 08/04/91 00:05  | Thu 05/09/91 23:40  | Tue 22/10/91 23:40  | Thu 13/02/92 23:40  | HTV West & Wales
Grampian Television | Sun 18/09/88 23:30  | Sun 02/10/88 23:30  | Mon 31/10/88 23:05  | Sun 20/11/88 23:30  | Sun 26/02/89 23:30  | Mon 03/07/89 00:30  | Mon 24/07/89 23:05  | Sun 06/08/89 23:35  | Sun 08/10/89 23:35  | Mon 18/12/89 23:05  | Mon 09/07/90 23:35  | Mon 26/11/90 22:50  | Sun 31/03/91 23:30  | Sun 07/07/91 23:05  | Mon 02/12/91 22:40  | Mon 17/02/92 22:40  | Mon 08/06/92 23:40  | Grampian Television
Ulster Television (UTV)  | Sun 05/11/89 23:20  | Mon 04/12/89 00:10  | Mon 26/02/90 00:30  | Sun 08/04/90 23:35  | Sun 07/10/90 23:35  | Mon 08/04/91 00:05  | Mon 20/05/91 00:05  | Sun 09/06/91 22:55  | Sat 28/09/91 00:05  | Sat 07/03/92 00:10  | Mon 15/03/93 23:10  | Sat 24/07/93 00:05  | Sat 30/10/93 00:10  | Sat 29/01/94 00:10  | Mon 11/07/94 22:40  | Mon 29/08/94 22:25  | Sun 04/12/94 22:30 (aired in a double bill with 327)  | Ulster Television (UTV)
TV4 Sweden | 11/09/94  | ??  | 12/10/94  | 21/10/94  | 07/12/94  | 05/03/95  | 22/03/95  | 29/03/95  | 1995  | 28/06/95  | 08/10/95  | Late 1995/Early 1996  | 28/02/96  | 19/04/96  | 11/09/96  | 1996  | 06/12/96  | TV4 Sweden
Five | Thu 03/04/97 04:40  | Mon 07/04/97 04:40  | Wed 16/04/97 04:40  | Sun 20/04/97 04:40  | Tue 13/05/97 04:40  | Thu 19/06/97 04:40  | Fri 27/06/97 04:40  | Sun 29/06/97 01:35  | Fri 18/07/97 23:25  | Mon 18/08/97 23:40  | Tue 25/11/97 23:55  | Tue 03/02/98 04:40  | Sun 08/03/98 04:40  | Fri 10/04/98 04:40  | Sat 06/06/98 04:40  | Wed 24/06/98 04:40  | Fri 31/07/98 04:40  | Five
ITV Region in start date order | Air dates of significant 1983 - 1986 Australian screened episodes

|

ep 327 Fire aftermath | ep 364 Ann's arrival | ep 400 Bea's departure | ep 416 1983 cliffhanger | ep 418 Lizzie's departure | ep 456 Colleen's departure | ep 466 Marie's riot | ep 500 milestone | ep 505 1984 cliffhanger | ep 534 Judy's Departure | ep 552 the end of Myra | ep 588 1985 cliffhanger | ep 600 riot
Original ATV 10 airdate  | Tue 01/02/83 20:30  | Thu 02/06/83 20:30  | Thu 22/09/83 20:30  | Thu 03/11/83 21:30 (21:30 as screened as a double episode with 415)  | Tue 24/01/84 20:30  | Thu 31/05/84 20:30  | Tue 03/07/84 20:30  | Thu 25/10/84 20:30  | Thu 08/11/84 20:30 (21:30 as screened as a double episode with 504)  | Tue 07/05/85 20:30  | Tue 09/07/85 20:30  | Tue 05/11/85 20:30 (21:30 as screened as a double episode with 587)  | Thu 20/02/86 20:30  | Original ATV 10 airdate
Yorkshire Television (YTV)  | Mon 03/05/93 23:25  | Mon 13/09/93 23:20  | Mon 31/01/94 23:10  | Mon 28/03/94 23:10  | Thu 07/04/94 23:25  | Mon 29/08/94 23:35  | Mon 03/10/94 23:35  | Mon 06/02/95 23:55  | Thu 23/02/95 23:30  | Thu 15/06/95 23:25  | Thu 17/08/95 23:10  | Thu 21/12/95 23:20  | Mon 04/03/96 23:10 edited due to violence  | Yorkshire Television (YTV)
Television South (TVS) & Meridian Broadcasting | Thu 09/09/93 23:25  | Tue 14/06/94 23:10  | Tue 14/03/95 23:40  | Tue 18/07/95 23:40  | Tue 01/08/95 23:40  | Tue 28/05/96 23:40  | Tue 20/08/96 23:10  | Tue 11/03/97 23:40  | Mon 14/04/97 23:45  | Tue 17/02/98 23:40  | Tue 04/08/98 23:45  | Not screened  | Not screened  | Television South (TVS) & Meridian Broadcasting
Channel Television | As Meridian  | As Meridian  | As Meridian  | As Meridian  | As Meridian  | As Meridian  | As Meridian  | As Meridian  | As Meridian  | As Meridian  | As Meridian  | Not screened  | Not screened  | Channel Television
Television South West (TSW) and Westcountry Television | Tue 23/11/93 23:40  | Tue 05/04/94 23:40  | Thu 07/07/94 23:10  | Tue 23/08/94 23:40  | Sun 28/08/94 23:10  | Sun 27/11/94 23:45  | Thu 29/12/94 23:40  | Thu 11/05/95 23:10  | Tue 06/06/95 23:40  | Thu 21/09/95 23:10  | Sun 19/11/95 23:45  | Tue 07/05/96 23:30  | Thu 20/06/96 23:45  | Television South West (TSW) and Westcountry Television
Central Television | Mon 19/06/89 00:00  | Mon 11/09/89 23:50  | Mon 04/12/89 23:20  | Sat 20/01/90 23:45  | Mon 22/01/90 22:35  | Mon 23/04/90 23:50  | Sat 19/05/90 00:05  | Tue 07/08/90 01:00  | Mon 20/08/90 00:05  | Sat 27/10/90 00:10  | Sat 08/12/90 00:10  | Tue 02/04/91 00:05  | Tue 30/04/91 00:05  | Central Television
Thames Television & Carlton Television | Thu 27/08/92 23:15  | Wed 03/03/93 00:35  | Wed 10/11/93 00:40  | Wed 09/03/94 00:25  | Tue 22/03/94 23:40  | Tue 13/12/94 23:40  | Tue 07/03/95 23:40  | Thu 15/02/96 23:40  | Thu 21/03/96 23:45  | Mon 04/11/96 23:40  | Thu 26/06/97 23:40  | Thu 28/05/98 23:45  | Not screened  | Thames Television & Carlton Television
Scottish Television (STV)  | Fri 22/01/93 23:15  | Thu 03/06/93 23:10  | Mon 04/10/93 23:10  | Fri 12/11/93 23:40  | Thu 18/11/93 23:10  | Tue 19/04/94 23:40  | Thu 26/05/94 23:15  | Thu 17/11/94 23:15  | Mon 05/12/94 23:45  | Tue 28/03/95 00:45  | Thu 01/06/95 23:30  | Mon 09/10/95 23:45  | Fri 24/11/95 00:55  | Scottish Television (STV)
Anglia Television | Tue 18/06/91 23:40  | Wed 30/10/91 00:00  | Tue 31/03/92 23:45  | Thu 28/05/92 23:40  | Thu 04/06/92 23:40  | Tue 27/10/92 23:40  | Thu 03/12/92 23:50  | Thu 06/05/93 23:40  | Tue 25/05/93 23:40  | Thu 02/09/93 23:40  | Tue 16/11/93 23:40  | Tue 26/07/94 23:40  | Tue 18/10/94 23:40  | Anglia Television
Granada Television | Sun 14/07/91 22:55  | Mon 02/12/91 22:40  | Thu 14/05/92 23:10  | Thu 02/07/92 22:40  | Thu 09/07/92 22:40  | Mon 12/10/92 23:35  | Thu 05/11/92 22:40  | Thu 29/04/93 23:35  | Thu 20/05/93 23:35  | Thu 09/09/93 23:25  | Thu 18/11/93 23:35  | Thu 31/03/94 23:30  | Mon 02/05/94 00:00  | Granada Television
Tyne Tees Television | As Yorkshire  | As Yorkshire  | As Yorkshire  | As Yorkshire  | As Yorkshire  | As Yorkshire  | As Yorkshire  | As Yorkshire  | As Yorkshire  | As Yorkshire  | As Yorkshire  | As Yorkshire  | As Yorkshire  | Tyne Tees Television
Border Television | Mon 13/04/92 00:05  | Thu 03/09/92 23:10  | Thu 21/01/93 22:40  | Thu 25/03/93 23:10  | Thu 01/04/93 23:10  | Thu 12/08/93 23:10  | Tue 21/09/93 23:40  | Not screened  | Not screened  | Not screened  | As Granada  | As Granada  | As Granada  | Border Television
HTV West & Wales  | Tue 18/02/92 23:40  | Thu 23/07/92 23:55  | Tue 01/12/92 23:50  | (West) Thu 11/02/93 23:40 (Wales) Tue 16/02/93 23:55  | (West) Wed 17/02/93 23:40 (Wales) Thu 18/02/93 23:40  | Tue 13/07/93 23:30  | Tue 17/08/93 23:30  | Thu 23/12/93 23:40  | Tue 18/01/94 23:40  | Mon 25/04/94 00:15  | Mon 13/06/94 00:30  | Tue 27/09/94 23:40  | Tue 08/11/94 23:40  | HTV West & Wales
Grampian Television | Mon 15/06/92 23:10  | Sun 08/11/92 23:10  | Mon 19/04/93 23:40  | Tue 15/06/93 23:40  | Tue 22/06/93 23:40  | Mon 08/11/93 23:35  | Tue 14/12/93 23:35  | Thu 21/04/94 23:35  | Tue 10/05/94 23:40  | Tue 02/08/94 23:40  | Sun 18/09/94 23:45  | Sun 11/12/94 23:45  | Mon 30/01/95 23:35  | Grampian Television
Ulster Television (UTV)  | Sun 04/12/94 22:30 (aired in a double bill with 326)  | Sat 29/04/95 00:10  | Wed 16/08/95 23:40  | Sun 24/09/95 23:45  | Sat 30/09/95 00:10  | Sat 13/01/96 00:10  | Mon 04/03/96 23:10  | Mon 19/08/96 23:40  | Mon 21/10/96 23:40  | Sat 07/06/97 00:10  | Mon 06/10/97 23:40  | Not screened  | Not screened  | Ulster Television (UTV)
TV4 Sweden | 09/12/96 ??  | 02/04/97  | 15/08/97  | 21/09/97  | 26/09/97  | 21/01/98  | 13/02/98  | 03/05/98  | 15/05/98  | 07/10/98  | 18/11/98  | 24/03/99  | 21/04/99  | TV4 Sweden
Five | Sat 01/08/98 04:40  | Tue 22/09/98 04:40  | Wed 11/11/98 04:40  | Fri 04/12/98 04:40  | Sun 06/12/98 04:40  | Fri 29/01/99 04:40  | Fri 12/02/99 04:40  | Sun 04/04/99 04:40  | Sat 24/04/99 04:40  | Sat 07/08/99 04:40  | Sat 09/10/99 04:40  | Sat 12/02/00 04:40  | Sat 25/03/00 04:40  | Five

#### Channel 5

[edit]

Early on 31 March 1997 Channel 5, which had begun broadcasting at 6pm the previous evening, began a full run of Prisoner[44] while later episodes were still appearing in many ITV regions.[45] Except for an airing of the fire episode (326), as part of a 1995 Channel 4 soap weekend, it was the series' first UK network broadcast and gave some areas their first full run of the series. Although the schedule varied during the Channel 5 run, episodes were typically shown about five times a week in the 4:40am slot.[44] It briefly moved to a late-night slot, usually around 11:30pm,[44] before returning to the 4:40am slot. The Channel 5 run ended on 11 February 2001, with a double bill of the penultimate and final episodes. Channel 5 have no plans to re-run the series, despite viewer requests. For most of the Channel 5 run the programme was sponsored by Pot Noodle, with humorous Prisoner-esque sequences (set in a prison cell and playing on the series' wobbly scenery and props) played before and after the episodes and in the leads into and out of commercial breaks.[46]

The Channel 5 broadcasts included commentary over the closing credits, usually from chief continuity announcer Bill Buckley[47] but sometimes from deputy announcers such as Stuart McWilliam. This began in the early-100s episodes (when Prisoner briefly moved to the late-night slot), when Buckley would deliver a quip about the episode before making continuity announcements. This developed into humorous observations about the episode just shown, and the reading of letters and depicting of trivia sent in by viewers (which Buckley called "snippets"). Due to its early-morning slot, when most viewers relied on VCRs to follow the series,[44] upcoming schedule changes were announced as part of the commentary.

### United States

[edit]

The series was first aired in the United States on KTLA in Los Angeles on 8 August 1979, initially under the original name, Prisoner.[48] The series, whose first two episodes were screened as a two-hour special, was viewed by a quarter of all television viewers in the Los Angeles market and was in second place for the night, beaten only by ABC's Charlie's Angels.[49]

The series would later be repackaged into a daily half-hour format, as Prisoner: Cell Block H,[50] KYW-TV ran this format under the title The Women of Cell Block H. It was syndicated directly to local stations through Firestone Program Syndication Company[51] during the early 1980s (particularly 1980 to '81). In New York City, where Prisoner: Cell Block H was telecast on WPIX, it was rated higher than late-night staple The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson on WNBC and reruns of legendary series M*A*S*H on WNEW-TV, and paved the way for other popular Australian produced shows including miniseries Against the Wind and serial The Sullivans to be sold to international markets.[3]

Under the half-hour format, the original episodes were broadcast in two parts, though some scenes were censored or removed for the US telecast.

KTLA, however, continued to broadcast the series in a weekly hour format, though now Tuesdays at 8 p.m., and under the Prisoner: Cell Block H name.[52] Picked up in at least 38 markets in early 1980,[53] the program would leave the American airwaves by spring 1982, after the few stations that were still carrying the program, such as KOB-TV[54] and WGN-TV,[55] removed Prisoner from their schedules.

During the spring and summer of 1985, the series was screened nationally on USA Network,[25] weekdays at 11 a.m. ET, also in a half-hour format. It is unknown which episodes were televised.[56]

### Canada

[edit]

In Canada, Prisoner began on 10 September 1979[57] as Caged Women on Global Television Network, at the time a small television network serving southern and eastern Ontario;[25] the program was seen weekly on Monday nights at 9 p.m.[58]

The show would move to Tuesdays at 9 p.m. in the fall of 1980, continuing with the Caged Women title.[59] The show would be off the schedule by the 1981–1982 television season,[60] but by the fall of 1982, Global would reintroduce the show to the schedule, still as Caged Women, in the half-hour format, weeknights at midnight and 12:30 a.m.[61] The program would be off the schedule by the start of the 1983–1984 season.[62]

Curiously, Global's use of Caged Women would continue even after the show debuted in the United States as Prisoner: Cell Block H, which led to viewers in the communities along the Ontario / Michigan border to watch the same program under two different titles: Caged Women on Global, and Prisoner: Cell Block H on WKBD-TV Detroit.[63]

In Vancouver, Victoria and the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, Prisoner: Cell Block H was telecast under that title weekdays at 1 p.m. during 1980 and 1981 on KVOS-TV, an independent station in Bellingham, Washington that included the greater Vancouver / Victoria region as part of its viewing area.[64]

### Sweden

[edit]

The series was shown in Sweden where it was a cult broadcast on TV4, from 7 September 1994 and entitled Kvinnofängelset (The Women's Prison). a fan club organised a regular get together and collected several thousands of signatures from fans to repeat the series in again, which TV4 did so in 2000, After the series ended that year, work began to persuade the network to repeat the series a third time. The network originally screened the series three times a week (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday) in the late night program slot of 1 a.m., with the final episode airing on 3 February 2000.

During the repeat run from 2000 until October 2004, the network screening was four times a week (Monday to Thursday) at 2:15 a.m. The episodes were then repeated on weekends with both the Monday and Tuesday episode on Saturday and the Wednesday and Thursday episodes on Sunday.

The second rerun began in May 2014, by station TV4 Guld and again airing Monday through to Thursdays, and screening at 10:00 p.m., with episode 32 on July 3.

The broadcast schedule was later changed to five nights a week airing at midnight. Season 8 began broadcasting Sjuan in September 2017 at 3:00 p.m.

### Other countries

[edit]

In New Zealand, Prisoner was first shown on TV2 on Monday 2 March 1981 and aired up to four afternoons a week, Monday to Thursday, at 2:30 p.m. before moving to twice a week, Mondays and Tuesdays, in the same timeslot by October 1985. On Monday 9 February 1987, the series was moved to TV One and continued to air Mondays and Tuesdays at around 2:30 p.m. until Thursday 23 July 1987 when it aired only on Thursdays in that slot. The final episode of Prisoner was broadcast on Friday 16 September 1988 at 2:35 p.m. The series was rerun on Orange and, later, Sky 1.[25]

In South Africa, public television network SABC 1 began airing the series in 1998, screening Thursday nights at 9 p.m. and a repeat showing on Fridays at 10:45;[25] it was cancelled on 2 October 2000, after episode 156.

In Brazil, Prisoner aired as As Prisioneiras around the end of 1980 and early 1981 by TVS (since renamed SBT). The show was dubbed into Brazilian Portuguese locally by TVS and was cancelled after episode 82 had screened.

## Australian reruns

[edit]

After Network Ten in Sydney, NSW had played the original run of the series, it returned in syndication for a second complete series rerun during weeknights around 10:30–11:00 p.m. during most of the year of 1990 though due to The Gulf War conflict coverage the reruns were abruptly rescheduled weekday mornings from 4 a.m. through to the series finale a few years later. The series was replayed for a third time during the mid-1990s on Channel Ten in Sydney, NSW now screening at weekday afternoons from 1 p.m. and then later at 1:30 p.m. The series has not been seen since on its original commercial Channel Ten since that period. Network Ten began rerunning Prisoner on 8 May 1995; the series was cancelled, despite promises that it would return after the 1996 Christmas break. BBC UKTV began airing it from the beginning on 30 November 1997, at 12:15 a.m. on Tuesday and Thursday and 11:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. A repeat was broadcast at 2 p.m. on Monday. From March 2022, the show is available for streaming at 10play.[65]

Foxtel channel 111 channel began airing the series on 7 March 2011 at 6:30 p.m. AEDT, later moving to 5:30 p.m. AEDT on 10 December 2012. Each episode was repeated the following afternoon, with the final episode on the initial run airing on 11 November 2013. The next day, the channel began a repeat run from episode one at 3:00 p.m. AEDT, later moving to 1:00 p.m. AEST on 7 July 2014. Foxtel held unlimited screening rights to the series until 2019, airing the series 4 times back to back (from 2011 to 2019). Foxtel's final broadcast was on September 11, 2019.

The series' popularity on Foxtel inspired plans for a modern-day remake.[66][67][68]

Believing that Prisoner would resonate with new audiences, in 2010 111 group programming director Darren Chau planned to replay the series against the introduction of digital channel Eleven and Network Ten's plan to move Neighbours to Eleven. The channel ran a promotional campaign highlighting the rerun, with a new version of the theme song by Ella Hooper and a cast reunion.[69]

As of 2023, Prisoner was available on the streaming channel 10Play in Australia and is also available on Pluto TV 24 hours a day with back-to-back episodes streaming.

## Awards and nominations

[edit]

Organisation  | Category  | Year  | Recipient  | Results  | Ref.

|
|
|
|
|

Logie Awards | Best Lead Actress in a Series | 1980  | Carol Burns | Won  | [70]
Logie Awards  | Best New Drama Series | 1980  | Prisoner | Won  | [70]
Logie Awards  | Best Lead Actress in a Series | 1981  | Sheila Florance | Won  | [71]
Logie Awards  | Best Drama Program | 1981  | Prisoner  | Won  | [71]
Logie Awards  | Most Popular Actress | 1982  | Val Lehman | Won  | [72]
Logie Awards  | Best Lead Actress in a Series | 1982  | Val Lehman | Won  | [72]
Logie Awards  | Best Drama Program | 1982  | Prisoner | Won  | [72]
Logie Awards  | Best Lead Actress in a Series | 1983  | Val Lehman | Won  | [73]
Logie Awards  | Best Supporting Actress in a Series | 1983  | Sheila Florance | Won  | [73]
Logie Awards  | Best Supporting Actress in a Series | 1981  | Colette Mann | Nominated  |
Logie Awards  | Best Supporting Actor in a Series | 1981  | Gerard Maguire | Nominated  |
Logie Awards  | Best Lead Actress in a Series | 1982  | Betty Bobbitt | Nominated  |
Logie Awards  | Best Lead Actress in a Series | 1984  | Maggie Kirkpatrick | Nominated  |
Logie Awards  | Best Supporting Actress in a Series | 1985  | Gerda Nicolson | Nominated  |
Logie Awards  | Best Performance by a Juvenile | 1985  | Robert Summers  | Nominated  |
Logie Awards  | Most Popular Actress in a Series | 1986  | Maggie Kirkpatrick | Nominated  |
Penguin Awards | Best Sustained Performance by an Actress in a Series | 1979  | Carol Burns | Won  |
Penguin Awards  | Special Commendation Outstanding Ensemble Acting | 1981  | Ensemble cast Val Lehman, Sheila Florance, Colette Mann and Betty Bobbitt | Won  |
Penguin Awards  | Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series | 1984  | Anne Phelan | Won  |
Penguin Awards  | Best Series Actress | 1985  | Anne Phelan | Won  |
Penguin Awards  | Best Sustained Performance | 1985  | Gerda Nicolson | Won  |
Penguin Awards  | Certificate of Commendation | 1985  | Maggie Kirkpatrick | Won  |
Penguin Awards  | Certificate of Commendation | 1985  | Genevieve Lemon | Won  |
Penguin Awards  | Certificate of Commendation | 1985  | Joy Westmore | Won  |
Penguin Awards  | Best Drama Serial | 1986  | Prisoner | Won  |
Penguin Awards  | Best Performance by an Actress in a Series | 1986  | Glenda Linscott | Won  |
Sammy Awards | Best Actress in a Series  | 1980  | Sheila Florance | Won  |

## See also

[edit]

* Bad Girls
* Orange Is the New Black

## Explanatory notes

[edit]

1. ^ For a complete listing of directors and writers, see http://www.wwwentworth.co.uk/writdirx.htm
2. ^ The series finale would not screen until September 1987 in Sydney, where it aired as a three-hour film that was split into three one-hour episodes at the much-later time slot of 10:30 p.m.
3. ^ "Women Behind Bars" would later be used in the US as a subtitle to a series of paperback novelisations released by Pinnacle Books (see the "Books" section).
4. ^ Peta Toppano's first name was spelled in the closing credits as "Peita", her actual spelling. Both "Peta" and "Peita" are used in other television programs, movies and magazine articles.
5. ^ 27 February 1979 was when the series debuted on ATV-10 as a two-hour special; the show had its national debut in Sydney on TEN-10 the night before on 26 February, where it was televised as a two-part premiere, with the second part seen on 27 February.
6. ^ In some areas of Australia, the Prisoner finale did not air until well into 1987. One example is in Sydney, in which TEN-10 did not screen the final two episodes until 29 September 1987, where they aired in a late-night slot at 11:05 p.m.; two years earlier, TEN-10 began airing Prisoner once a week, instead of twice.[14] In some areas of Australia, Prisoner was taken off the air long before the final episode; examples include Perth, where Nine Network station STW-9 cancelled the series after episode 542.[15] (STW and Seven Network outlet TVW-7 shared Network Ten's programming until the sign-on of NEW-10 in 1988.)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "A tough role for Lovely Peita". wwwentworth.co.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
2. ^ Woodcock, Zara (6 November 2023). "Legendary 80s TV series set for reunion to celebrate 45th anniversary since first episode". Mirror.co.uk. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
3. ^ a b Bourke, Terry (1990). Prisoner Cell Block H: Behind the Scenes. London: Angus and Robertson (UK).
4. ^ a b Lane, Richard (1991). Prisoner: Cell Block H. Thames Mandarin. ISBN 0-749309296.
5. ^ Lane, Richard "Prisoner :Cell Block H" published by London Thames Mandarin
6. ^ "Prisoner: Eight Years Inside". Aussie Soap Archive. Archived from the original on 11 September 2009. Retrieved 7 December 2006.
7. ^ Beirne, Rebecca (2008). Lesbians in Television and Text after the Millennium. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 35\. ISBN 9780230615014. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
8. ^ Kingsley, Hillary. Prisoner Cell Block H: The Inside Story. Boxtree Ltd (15 November 1990). ISBN 978-1852831134. Pages 51–53
9. ^ a b Anderson, Scott. Campbell, Barry. Cope, Rob. Behind the Bars: The Unofficial Prisoner Cell Block H Companion. Tomahawk Press; UK ed. edition (12 August 2013). ISBN 978-0956683441. Pages 49 & 60
10. ^ Norman Chance Who was Who on TV, Volume 3, p. 65, at Google Books
11. ^ Horace Newcomb (editor) Encyclopedia of Television (1997), p. 1828, at Google Books
12. ^ Kingsley, Hillary (15 November 1990). Prisoner Cell Block H: The Inside Story. Boxtree Ltd. ISBN 978-1852831134. pp. 51–53.
13. ^ Lane, Richard, "Prisoner Cell Block H", published by Thames, London 1991
14. ^ Sydney Morning Herald, The Guide supplement, 28 September 1987, p. 10
15. ^ "Prisoner: Cell Block H - episode 542". wwwentworth.co.uk.
16. ^ Knox, David (29 November 2012). "Anne Charleston guests in Wentworth". TV Tonight. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
17. ^ Josie (5 March 2012). "Josie's Juice: 'Prisoner' is back: as 'Wentworth'". josiesjuice.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
18. ^ "Prisoner remake Wentworth". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
19. ^ Knox, David (4 October 2012). "Wentworth cast on the inside". TV Tonight. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
20. ^ "Production commences on Wentworth Season 7". Showcasechannel.com.au. 12 April 2018. Archived from the original on 14 April 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
21. ^ Epstein, Jackie; Duck, Siobhan; Woolford, Lisa (24 August 2021). "Wentworth stars on women, Aussie culture and life behind the scenes as prison drama heads into final season". news.com.au. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
22. ^ "Instagram".
23. ^ "Betty Bobbitt official website". Archived from the original on 18 November 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
24. ^ DVD releases:
* "Prisoner: Cell Block H – Season 1". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
* "Prisoner: Cell Block H – Season 2". JB Hi-Fi. Archived from the original on 10 January 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
* "Prisoner: Cell Block H – Season 3". JB Hi-Fi. Archived from the original on 10 January 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
* "Prisoner: Cell Block H – Season 4". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
* "Prisoner: Cell Block H – Season 5". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
* "Prisoner: Cell Block H – Season 6". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
* "Prisoner: Cell Block H – Season 7". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
* "Prisoner: Cell Block H – Season 8". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
25. ^ a b c d e "Prisoner Worldwide". Archived from the original on 19 February 2017. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
26. ^ "'Lily Savage' star takes over as Chitty Childcatcher – News". whatsonstage.com. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
27. ^ "Cell Block The Great Escape 1990". YouTube. 11 November 2013. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
28. ^ "Prisoner Cell Block H Tour 1990: The Great Escape [VHS]". Amazon.co.uk. 10 April 1995. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
29. ^ a b c "Connections". IMDb. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
30. ^ "Episode 1". wwwentworth.co.uk. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
31. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Eve's hanging cut on ITV Tyne Tees". YouTube. 27 March 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
32. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Prisoner Cell Block H – ITV introduction to final episode UK". YouTube. 14 April 2010. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
33. ^ Knight, Dominic (1 September 2023). "Prisoner: Cell Block H joins My5 offering". ATV Today. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
34. ^ Patterson, Stephen (1 September 2023). "Prisoner: Cell Block H returns to TV at last as it streams from the very beginning". Metro. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
35. ^ The Times 1984 - 1999.
36. ^ Melbourne Age 1978 - 1986
37. ^ The Times 1984 - 1997, Yorkshire Post 1984 - 1997, Telegraph and Argus 1984 - 1997, Hull Daily Mail 1984 - 1997 Lincolnshire Echo 1984 - 1997 .
38. ^ The Times 1985 - 1999, TV Times Channel Edition 1986, Southern Daily Echo 1985 - 1999, Portsmouth News 1985 - 1999 The Argus (Brighton) 1985 - 1999 .
39. ^ The Times 1986 - 1999, TV Times Channel Edition 1986, Southern Daily Echo 1986 - 1999, Portsmouth News 1986 - 1999 The Argus (Brighton) 1986 - 1999 .
40. ^ The Times 1987 - 1997, Western Morning News 1987 - 1997 .
41. ^ The Times 1987 - 1991, 1993, 1994, Birmingham Post 1987 - 1991, 1993, 1994, Shropshire Star 1987 - 1991, 1993, 1994, Lincolnshire Echo 1987 - 1991, 1993, 1994, Peterborough Evening Telegraph 1987 - 1991, 1993, 1994 .
42. ^ The Times 1987 - 1998, TV Times London, Radio Times London 1987 - 1998, Evening Standard 1987 - 1998.
43. ^ The Times 1987 - 1996, The Herald (Glasgow) 1987 - 1996, Evening Times 1987 - 1996, Edinburgh Evening News 1987 - 1996, The Courier 1987 - 1996 Press and Journal (Scotland) 1987 - 1996, Belfast Telegraph 1987 - 1996 .
44. ^ a b c d "Who's Who in Wentworth". zahid.john.zen.co.uk. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
45. ^ "Channel Five Soaps". Atvtoday.com. 15 August 2010. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
46. ^ "Prisoner Cell Block H – Pot Noodle adverts". YouTube. 22 November 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
47. ^ "Prisoner Cell Block H funny commentary- Channel 5, 2 endings from the 500". YouTube. 19 January 2010. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
48. ^ TV Week supplement in The Sun, San Bernardino, CA, 5 August 1979. Via newspapers.com.
49. ^ "Pay Row Is Settled", TV Week, 28 August 1979
50. ^ "St. Petersburg Times - Google News Archive Search".
51. ^ Trade ad for Prisoner: Cell Block H" in Variety, November 21, 1979
52. ^ TV Week supplement in The Sun, San Bernardino, CA, 14 September 1980. Via newspapers.com.
53. ^ [1] [dead link]
54. ^ "Prisoner: Cell Block H - episode 258". wwwentworth.co.uk.
55. ^ Preview supplement in The Daily Pantagraph, Bloomington, IL, 3 April 1982. (via newspapers.com)
56. ^ "The Evening Independent - Google News Archive Search".
57. ^ "Ottawa Citizen - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
58. ^ "The Windsor Star - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
59. ^ "Ottawa Citizen - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
60. ^ "Ottawa Citizen - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
61. ^ "Ottawa Citizen - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
62. ^ "Ottawa Citizen - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
63. ^ "The Windsor Star - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
64. ^ "The Vancouver Sun - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
65. ^ "Iconic TV series 'Prisoner' to stream on 10Play in 2022". OutinPerth. 18 December 2021.
66. ^ "Re-live one of Australia's best dramas – Foxtel Insider – What's On". Foxtel. 3 March 2011. Archived from the original on 19 May 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
67. ^ Knox, David (3 March 2011). "Prisoner cast reunite on the inside". TV Tonight. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
68. ^ Knox, David (4 March 2012). "Foxtel to remake Prisoner". TV Tonight. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
69. ^ Knox, David (3 March 2011). "Prisoner cast reunite on the inside". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 23 July 2024. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
70. ^ a b "1980 Logie Award Winners". Australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
71. ^ a b "1981 Logie Award Winners". Australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
72. ^ a b c "1982 Logie Award Winners". Australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
73. ^ a b "1983 Logie Award Winners". Australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 8 June 2018.

## External links

[edit]

* Prisoner at IMDb
* Prisoner on 10Play
* On the Inside – official fan club
* Fan site with list of cuts in DVDs
* Who's who in Wentworth? – fan site with complete episode guide
* Prisoner Cell Block H World – fan site with news and more
* Aussie Soap Archive: Prisoner; Archived 26 November 2005 at the Wayback Machine – overview and review

* v
* t
* e

Prisoner

also known as Prisoner: Cell Block H

General|

* Episodes
* Season 1
* Season 2
* Season 3
* Season 4
* Theme song (“On the Inside”)
* Home video

Cast and characters|

* Cast members
* Inmates
* Prison staff
* Background prison officers
* Miscellaneous characters

Related shows|

* Punishment
* Wentworth

* v
* t
* e

Logie Award for Most Popular Drama Program

* Stormy Petrel (1961)
* Consider Your Verdict (1962)
* The One Day of the Year (1963)
* Homicide (1965)
* Homicide (1966)
* Homicide (1967)
* Homicide (1968)
* Homicide (1969)
* Division 4 (1970)
* Homicide (1971)
* Division 4 (1972)
* Homicide (1973)
* Number 96 (1974)
* Number 96 (1975)
* Number 96 (1976)
* Power Without Glory (1977)
* The Sullivans (1978)
* The Sullivans (1979)
* The Sullivans (1980)
* Prisoner (1981)
* Prisoner (1982)
* Sons and Daughters (1983)
* A Country Practice (1984)
* A Country Practice (1985)
* A Country Practice (1986)
* Neighbours (1987)
* Neighbours (1988)
* Neighbours (1989)
* Neighbours (1990)
* Home and Away (1991)
* E Street (1992)
* Home and Away (1993)
* Home and Away (1994)
* Home and Away (1995)
* Home and Away (1996)
* Blue Heelers (1997)
* Blue Heelers (1998)
* Blue Heelers (1999)
* Blue Heelers (2000)
* All Saints (2001)
* All Saints (2002)
* All Saints (2003)
* McLeod's Daughters (2004)
* McLeod's Daughters (2005)
* Home and Away (2006)
* Home and Away (2007)
* Home and Away (2008)
* Packed to the Rafters (2009)
* Packed to the Rafters (2010)
* Packed to the Rafters (2011)
* Packed to the Rafters (2012)
* House Husbands (2013)
* Home and Away (2014)
* Home and Away (2015)
* Home and Away (2016)
* Molly (2017)
* Wentworth (2018)
* Mystery Road (2019)
* Home and Away (2022)
* Home and Away (2023)

* Logie Awards

*[No.]: Number
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template