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Prisoner 1979

★ 7.6/10 NR SoapDrama 8 seasons · 692 eps Ended

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Overview

Prisoner is an Australian soap opera set within the fictional Wentworth Detention Centre. The series explores the lives of inmates and staff at this high-security women's prison, focusing on their backstories, daily struggles, and interpersonal relationships within the environment of incarceration. Known in the United Kingdom and the United States as Prisoner: Cell Block H and in Canada as Caged Women, the program was broadcast on the 0-10 Network, later known as Network Ten. The series began its run in February 1979, with initial broadcasts occurring on February 26 in Sydney and February 27 in Melbourne. The show concluded its original broadcast run in 1986 in Melbourne and 1987 in Sydney. The cast of the 1979 production included Elspeth Ballantyne, Betty Bobbitt, Sheila Florance, and Maggie Kirkpatrick. The narrative centers on the harsh realities of life for those deprived of liberty and kept under involuntary restraint or confinement within the facility.

Should you watch it?

“This Australian soap opera follows the lives of inmates and staff at a high-security women's prison.”

Reasons to watch
  • explores complex backstories
  • focuses on interpersonal relationships
Keep in mind
  • depicts harsh prison realities

Watch it if you enjoy long-running dramas set within a confined environment.

The series explores the daily struggles and harsh realities of life within a detention centre.

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Cast

Episode guide

Season 1 · 79 episodes
Season 2 · 86 episodes
Season 3 · 81 episodes
Season 4 · 80 episodes
Season 5 · 90 episodes

Frequently asked questions

What is the setting of the series?

The series is set in the Wentworth Detention Centre, a fictional women's prison in Australia.

What is the genre of the show?

It is an Australian television soap opera.

When did the series air?

The series aired from 1979 to 1986.

What is the show known as in other countries?

It is known as Prisoner: Cell Block H in the UK and US, and Caged Women in Canada.

Who are some of the cast members?

The cast includes actors such as Elspeth Ballantyne, Betty Bobbitt, Sheila Florance, and Maggie Kirkpatrick.