Prisoner
Season 3
DVD cover
Starring
Country of originAustralia
No. of episodes81
Release
Original networkNetwork Ten
Original release4 February (1981-02-04) –
11 November 1981 (1981-11-11)
Season chronology

The third season of Australian drama television series Prisoner (commonly known as Prisoner: Cell Block H) premiered on Network Ten on 4 February 1981. It consists of 81 episodes and concluded on 11 November 1981.

The season is notable for the conclusion to the tunnel escape storyline which ended the previous season; the departure of Vera Bennett ("Vinegar Tits") when she accepts the position of governor of Barnhurst; the kidnapping of Erica Davidson; the arrival of new prisoners Sandy Edwards, Kate Peterson and former inmate and top dog of H Block – Marie Winter; Bea Smith's amnesia, and later, her mysterious illness which sees her step down as top dog, only to be replaced by Sandy Edwards.

Cast

Recurring

Episodes

No.
overall		EpisodeDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
166Episode 1Alistair SharpRod Hardy & Juliana Focht4 February 1981 (1981-02-04)
Bea, Lizzie and Doreen are trapped in the tunnel collapse. Judy and Mouse get out alive but Mouse is recaptured.
167Episode 2Denise MorganJohn McRae10 February 1981 (1981-02-10)
Mouse takes the authorities into the tunnel to rescue Bea, Lizzie and Doreen.
168Episode 3Margaret McCluskyJohn McRae11 February 1981 (1981-02-11)
Mr Gillespie is caught opening a letter to the Ombudsman. Lizzie suffers a heart attack.
169Episode 4Ray KolleLeigh Spence17 February 1981 (1981-02-17)
Lizzie doesn't want to go on.
170Episode 5George MallabyLeigh Spence18 February 1981 (1981-02-18)
Bryant flees after the police arrest Wally for harbouring her.
171Episode 6Denise MorganMike Murphy24 February 1981 (1981-02-24)
Bryant's videotape is put to air. Not satisfied, she has a new revenge plan for her old mate Jock.
172Episode 7Alastair SharpMike Murphy25 February 1981 (1981-02-25)
Bryant gets Jock Stewart arrested. Jim catches Doreen kissing David Andrews.
173Episode 8Dave WorthingtonJuliana Focht3 March 1981 (1981-03-03)
Sandra Hamilton is getting a bit too nosey for her own good.
174Episode 9Bryon WilliamsJuliana Focht4 March 1981 (1981-03-04)
Sandra is forced to admit she is a journalist doing a follow-up to the story of the tunnel escape. Syd is found unconscious.
175Episode 10Denise MorganLeigh Spence10 March 1981 (1981-03-10)
A pandemic casts a shadow over Wentworth.
176Episode 11Margaret McCluskyLeigh Spence11 March 1981 (1981-03-11)
Inmates and staff are falling ill.
177Episode 12Ian BradleyMike Murphy17 March 1981 (1981-03-17)
Wentworth is put under quarantine.
178Episode 13Barbara RamsayMike Murphy18 March 1981 (1981-03-18)
Bryant forces herself on Baxter, but it is Baxter who gets into trouble for slapping Bryant.
179Episode 14Ray KolleMarcus Cole24 March 1981 (1981-03-24)
The quarantine is lifted as the real cause of the disease is discovered. Sandra Hamilton's release is placed in jeopardy.
180Episode 15Dave WorthingtonMarcus Cole25 March 1981 (1981-03-25)
Erica joins the inmates as a fellow student in David's pottery classes. Gaffney is released but her boyfriend has run up huge gambling debts.
181Episode 16Denise MorganJuliana Focht31 March 1981 (1981-03-31)
Faction fighting among the inmates over Georgie Baxter. Wayne and Margo have to think of ways of getting out of debt.
182Episode 17George MallabyJuliana Focht1 April 1981 (1981-04-01)
A wild brawl leaves Bee unconscious. Wayne and Bazza have a plan to get Wayne and Gaffney out of debt.
183Episode 18Bryon WilliamsLeigh Spence7 April 1981 (1981-04-07)
Bureaucratic bungling delays Bee's trip to hospital. Wayne, Margo and Bazza barricade themselves in a haberdashery shop when their robbery attempt goes wrong.
184Episode 19Margaret McCluskyLeigh Spence8 April 1981 (1981-04-08)
The Gaffney Siege continues throughout the episode, and ends in bloodshed. A trainee officer begins her stint in Wentworth.
185Episode 20Denise MorganMike Murphy14 April 1981 (1981-04-14)
Gaffney, now back inside following the siege, causes trouble when she finds out her boyfriend has died in hospital.
186Episode 21Barbara RamsayMike Murphy15 April 1981 (1981-04-15)
What is Lizzy Birdsworth up to?
187Episode 22Alastair SharpJohn McRae21 April 1981 (1981-04-21)
Birdsworth enjoys her time on the run. Meg's husband Bob is getting increasingly sick of her job as a prison officer, and gives her an ultimatum.
188Episode 23Ian BradleyJohn McRae22 April 1981 (1981-04-22)
The conjugal visiting suite is set up. Hazel is the first to enjoy this special visit, but not all goes well. Vera warns Latham she has been checking up on what she and O'Brien have been up to, and their past record.
189Episode 24Dave WorthingtonJuliana Focht28 April 1981 (1981-04-28)
Bee's boycott of the visiting suite doesn't go down too well with the women. Meg agrees to get a job as probation and parole officer.
190Episode 25Ray KolleJuliana Focht29 April 1981 (1981-04-29)
Bee allows herself to be dragged through the mud, and make other sacrifices, for the benefit of the other women.
191Episode 26Denise MorganLeigh Spence5 May 1981 (1981-05-05)
Bee is forced to say goodbye to Ken. Chrissie Latham is released.
192Episode 27George MallabyLeigh Spence6 May 1981 (1981-05-06)
Latham is in a bitchy mood, and her dangerous attitude could cost her parole and custody of Elizabeth. Censorship of mail is reintroduced, and unsupervised visits are off, after Doreen makes a mistake.
193Episode 28Margaret McCluskyGeoffrey Nottage12 May 1981 (1981-05-12)
The women are down on Doreen for having censorship brought back. Bee calls a strike after David's teaching hours are cut back.
194Episode 29Bryon WilliamsGeoffrey Nottage13 May 1981 (1981-05-13)
David is forced to resign for inciting the strike. Latham's boyfriend is arrested.
195Episode 30Denise MorganMarcus Cole19 May 1981 (1981-05-19)
Latham is forced to say goodbye to Mick as he is extradited to South Australia. The prisoners rebel against the regime that stopped David's classes.
196Episode 31Barbara RamsayMarcus Cole20 May 1981 (1981-05-20)
Erica Davidson is sacked. Bee is shanghaied in the middle of the night. Chrissie Latham is caught with her pants down.
197Episode 32Dave WorthingtonJuliana Focht26 May 1981 (1981-05-26)
Bee seems happy to live out her sentence at Barnhurst. Meg keeps quiet about Latham's illegal activity and so she is granted custody of Elizabeth. The women agree to lift the barricade and end the hunger strike when Erica is returned as Governor.
198Episode 33Ray KolleJuliana Focht27 May 1981 (1981-05-27)
Marie Winter and her gang drug Bee. Erica decides to have Bee brought back to Wentworth.
199Episode 34John HarperLeigh Spence2 June 1981 (1981-06-02)
Bee wanders the streets in a daze, and takes refuge at "mum"'s house. Gaffney takes over as Top Dog after getting a stiff sentence for the siege.
200Episode 35Denise MorganLeigh Spence3 June 1981 (1981-06-03)
Bee is stripped of her dignity after being recaptured accused of escaping the Barnhurst van.
201Episode 36Peter BrennanGeoffrey Nottage9 June 1981 (1981-06-09)
202Episode 37Bryon WilliamsGeoffrey Nottage10 June 1981 (1981-06-10)
203Episode 38Ian BradleyMarcus Cole16 June 1981 (1981-06-16)
204Episode 39Margaret McCluskyMarcus Cole17 June 1981 (1981-06-17)
205Episode 40Barbara RamsayJuliana Focht23 June 1981 (1981-06-23)
206Episode 41Ray KolleJuliana Focht24 June 1981 (1981-06-24)
207Episode 42Dave WorthingtonLeigh Spence30 June 1981 (1981-06-30)
208Episode 43Alastair SharpLeigh Spence1 July 1981 (1981-07-01)
209Episode 44David Minter & Margaret McCluskyJohn McRae7 July 1981 (1981-07-07)
210Episode 45Bryon WilliamsJohn McRae8 July 1981 (1981-07-08)
211Episode 46Peter BrennanKendal Flanagan14 July 1981 (1981-07-14)
212Episode 47David StevensKendal Flanagan15 July 1981 (1981-07-15)
213Episode 48Ray KolleJuliana Focht21 July 1981 (1981-07-21)
214Episode 49Barbara RamsayJuliana Focht28 July 1981 (1981-07-28)
215Episode 50Dave WorthingtonLeigh Spence4 August 1981 (1981-08-04)
216Episode 51Alastair SharpLeigh Spence5 August 1981 (1981-08-05)
217Episode 52Bryon WilliamsJohn McRae11 August 1981 (1981-08-11)
218Episode 53Denise MorganJohn McRae12 August 1981 (1981-08-12)
219Episode 54Margaret McCluskyKendal Flanagan18 August 1981 (1981-08-18)
220Episode 55Peter Brennan & Coral DrouynKendal Flanagan19 August 1981 (1981-08-19)
221Episode 56Barbara RamsayJuliana Focht25 August 1981 (1981-08-25)
222Episode 57Ray KolleJuliana Focht26 August 1981 (1981-08-26)
223Episode 58Alastair SharpWayne Cameron1 September 1981 (1981-09-01)
224Episode 59Dave WorthingtonWayne Cameron2 September 1981 (1981-09-02)
225Episode 60Bryon WilliamsGary Conway8 September 1981 (1981-09-08)
226Episode 61Denise MorganGary Conway9 September 1981 (1981-09-09)
227Episode 62Margaret McCluskyKendal Flanagan15 September 1981 (1981-09-15)
228Episode 63Coral DrouynKendal Flanagan16 September 1981 (1981-09-16)
229Episode 64Peter Brennan & Wendy JacksonJuliana Focht22 September 1981 (1981-09-22)
230Episode 65Ray KolleJuliana Focht23 September 1981 (1981-09-23)
231Episode 66Ian BradleyWayne Cameron23 September 1981 (1981-09-23)
232Episode 67Barbara RamsayWayne Cameron29 September 1981 (1981-09-29)
233Episode 68Dave WorthingtonLex Van Os30 September 1981 (1981-09-30)
234Episode 69Christine McCourtLex Van Os30 September 1981 (1981-09-30)
235Episode 70Alastair SharpRod Hardy6 October 1981 (1981-10-06)
236Episode 71Bryon WilliamsRod Hardy7 October 1981 (1981-10-07)
237Episode 72Denise MorganGreg Shears13 October 1981 (1981-10-13)
238Episode 73Margaret McCluskyGreg Shears14 October 1981 (1981-10-14)
239Episode 74Coral DrouynLeigh Spence20 October 1981 (1981-10-20)
240Episode 75Ian BradleyLeigh Spence21 October 1981 (1981-10-21)
241Episode 76Ray KolleLex Van Os27 October 1981 (1981-10-27)
242Episode 77Wendy JacksonLex Van Os28 October 1981 (1981-10-28)
243Episode 78Michael Freundt & Andrew KennedyKendal Flanagan3 November 1981 (1981-11-03)
244Episode 79Barbara RamsayKendal Flanagan4 November 1981 (1981-11-04)
245Episode 80Rick MaierJuliana Focht10 November 1981 (1981-11-10)
246Episode 81Dave WorthingtonJuliana Focht11 November 1981 (1981-11-11)
Doreen and Judy are transferred to Barnhurst when it is discovered the rosters had been forged. Colleen is promoted to Chief Prisoner Officer, while Meg is voted to stand for Union Rep. Bea successfully come through her operation, however, she may be out of action for some time. The women's schemes are brought to a close when Lizzie is caught stealing from the kitchen which prompts them to consider that they could be dealing with a lagger. In light of the tight security measures, Marie persuades Sandy to start a riot which traps several of the officers inside the prison.

Accolades

Home media

The following is a list of DVD sets which contain individual episodes from season three or the complete season as a whole.

Title Episode(s) Release date Format Country Rating Ref.
Prisoner[lower-alpha 3] 166 18 February 2002 VHS & DVD  AUS ACB: M [3]
22 September 2003 DVD  UK BBFC: 15 [4]
30 November 2004 DVD  USA NR [5]
Volume 11 166–176[lower-alpha 4] 18 August 2007 DVD  AUS ACB: M [6]
Volume 12 177–192 20 August 2007 DVD  AUS ACB: M [7]
The Complete Collection 166–246 29 September 2007[lower-alpha 5] DVD  AUS ACB: M [9]
Volume 13 193–208 20 October 2007 DVD  AUS ACB: M [10]
Volume 14[lower-alpha 6] 209–224 20 October 2007 DVD  AUS ACB: M [11]
Volume 15 225–240 3 November 2007 DVD  AUS ACB: M [12]
Volume 16 241–246[lower-alpha 7] 3 November 2007 DVD  AUS ACB: M [13]
Volume 6 166–192[lower-alpha 8] 21 February 2011 DVD  UK BBFC: 15 [14]
Volume 7 193–224[lower-alpha 9] 18 April 2011 DVD  UK BBFC: 15 [15]
Volume 8 225–246[lower-alpha 10] 27 June 2011 DVD  UK BBFC: 15 [16]
The Complete Season Three 166–246 8 February 2017 DVD  AUS ACB: M [17]

Notes

  1. ↑ Colleen Powell, originally credited as Off. Powell, was credited as a recurring character, a central supporting character, and then a main character from episode 225.
  2. ↑ David Andrews is listed as a recurring character from his first appearance in episode 171. He becomes a central recurring character from episode 187.
  3. ↑ All content is identical in Australia, UK and U.S. aside from different cover art. The set was released as "Prisoner: Cell Block H" in the UK and as "25th Anniversary Collector's Edition" in the U.S. Re-released in UK with new packaging on 21 October 2013,[2] while the same re-packeged set was released in Australia.
  4. ↑ Contains the remaining 5 episodes of season 2 (161–165).
  5. ↑ "The Complete Collection" was made available in Australia before the remaining 28 volumes had been released. The set was re-released on 5 October 2011.[8]
  6. ↑ Released as "The Vera Bennett Edition" in Australia.
  7. ↑ Contains the first 10 episodes of Season 4 (247–256).
  8. ↑ Contains the remaining 5 episodes of Season 2 (161–165). An identical set was released in Australia on 1 February 2012 when their original releases went out-of-print.
  9. ↑ An identical set was released in Australia on 7 May 2012.
  10. ↑ Contains the first 10 episodes of Season 4 (247–256). An idential set was released in Australia on 4 July 2012.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "1982 Logie Award Winners". Australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  2. ↑ "The Best of Prisoner Cell Block H [DVD]". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  3. ↑ "Prisoner: Set 1 DVD". Blu-ray.com. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  4. ↑ "Prisoner: Cell Block H DVD". Blu-ray.com. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  5. ↑ "Prisoner: Cell Block H DVD". Blu-ray.com. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  6. ↑ "Prisoner Cell Block H (Volume 11 - Episodes 161 - 176)". Booktopia.com.au. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  7. ↑ "Prisoner Cell Block H (Volume 12 - Episodes 177 - 192)". Booktopia.com.au. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  8. ↑ "Prisoner: Cell Block H DVD (reissue)". Blu-ray.com. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  9. ↑ "Prisoner: Cell Block H DVD". Blu-ray.com. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  10. ↑ "Prisoner Cell Block H (Volume 13 - Episodes 193 - 208)". Booktopia.com.au. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  11. ↑ "Prisoner Cell Block H - Volume 14 - Episodes 209-224 [DVD]". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  12. ↑ "Prisoner Cell Block H - Volume 15 - Episodes 225-240 [DVD]". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  13. ↑ "Prisoner Cell Block H (Volume 16 - Episodes 241 - 256)". Booktopia.com.au. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  14. ↑ "Prisoner Cell Block H - Volume 6 Episodes 161-192 [DVD]". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  15. ↑ "Prisoner Cell Block H - Volume 7 Episodes 193-224 [DVD]". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  16. ↑ "Prisoner Cell Block H - Volume 8 Episodes 225-256 [DVD]". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  17. ↑ "PRISONER - SEASON 3". Amazon.com.au. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
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