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''Wentworth'' is an Australian television drama series. It was first broadcast on
SoHo SoHo, short for "South of Houston Street, Houston Street", is a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan, New York City. Since the 1970s, the neighborhood has been the location of many artists' lofts and art galleries, art installations such as The Wall ...
on 1 May 2013, and it concluded on
Fox Showcase Showcase (formerly Fox Showcase) is an Australian premium drama cable and satellite television channel. It was initially part of the Showtime Australia channels and was managed by PMP chief executive officer Peter Rose. In 2007 Rose said ''Sho ...
with its 100th episode on 26 October 2021. The series serves as a contemporary reimagining of ''
Prisoner A prisoner, also known as an inmate or detainee, is a person who is deprived of liberty against their will. This can be by confinement or captivity in a prison or physical restraint. The term usually applies to one serving a Sentence (law), se ...
'', which ran on
Network Ten Network 10 (commonly known as the 10 Network, Channel 10 or simply 10) is an Australian commercial television network. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Paramount Global's Paramount Networks UK & Australia, UK & Australia division and is o ...
from 1979 to 1986. Lara Radulovich and David Hannam developed ''Wentworth'' from
Reg Watson Reginald James Watson (27 August 1926 – 8 October 2019) was an Australian television producer and screenwriter and executive. Watson was executive producer on the British soap opera ''Crossroads (British TV series), Crossroads'' and created ...
's original concept. The series is set in the modern day and initially focuses on Bea Smith's (
Danielle Cormack Danielle Cormack (born 26 December 1970 )is a New Zealand stage and screen actress. She was one of the original cast members of the long-running soap opera ''Shortland Street'', though she is also known for her role as the Amazon Ephiny in th ...
) early days in prison and her subsequent rise to the top of the prison's hierarchy. From the fifth season onward, the series shifted to emphasize more of an ensemble format. For the first three seasons, ''Wentworth'' was filmed on purpose-built sets in the suburbs of
Clayton, Victoria Clayton is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 19 km south-east of Melbourne's Central Business District,Newport, Victoria Newport is an inner suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, south-west of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Hobsons Bay local government area. Newport recorded a population of 13,658 at the 2021 census. Ne ...
. The show has received a mostly positive reception from critics, and the first episode became the most watched Australian drama series premiere in
Foxtel NXE Australia Pty Ltd, trading as the Foxtel Group, is an Australian pay television company that operates cable television, direct-broadcast satellite, direct broadcast satellite television, and IPTV streaming services. It was formed in April ...
history and became one of Foxtel's longest running local dramas. The series was picked up by several countries, including New Zealand and the UK, where it is titled ''Wentworth Prison''. ''Wentworth'' was commissioned for an eighth and final season consisting of 20 episodes and airing in two parts; the first part from July to September 2020, and the second part from 24 August 2021, with its final episode on 26 October.


Premise

''Wentworth'' is set in modern-day Australia. The first four seasons explore the life of Bea Smith (
Danielle Cormack Danielle Cormack (born 26 December 1970 )is a New Zealand stage and screen actress. She was one of the original cast members of the long-running soap opera ''Shortland Street'', though she is also known for her role as the Amazon Ephiny in th ...
) when she first enters prison after being charged with the attempted murder of her husband. Bea is separated from her daughter and sent to Wentworth on remand, where she lives in "an uncertain limbo" until she is sentenced. Starting at the bottom of Wentworth's hierarchy, Bea is forced to learn how to survive in prison.


Episodes


Cast and characters


Main cast

*
Danielle Cormack Danielle Cormack (born 26 December 1970 )is a New Zealand stage and screen actress. She was one of the original cast members of the long-running soap opera ''Shortland Street'', though she is also known for her role as the Amazon Ephiny in th ...
as Bea Smith (seasons 1–4) *
Nicole da Silva Nicole da Silva is an Australian stage, film and television actress, best known for her roles as Stella Dagostino in the series '' Rush'' (2008–2011), and as Franky Doyle in the show ''Wentworth'' (2013–2018, 2019). She has made appearance ...
as Francesca "Franky" Doyle (main seasons 1–6, special guest season 7) *
Kris McQuade Kris McQuade (born 1952) is an Australian actress who has had many film, television and theatre roles. Career McQuade's film credits include '' The Love Letters from Teralba Road'', '' Kostas'', '' Fighting Back'', '' Lonely Hearts'', '' Goodby ...
as Jacqueline "Jacs" Holt (season 1, hallucination season 2) *
Leeanna Walsman Leeanna Walsman is an Australian actress. She is best known for her role as Zam Wesell in '' Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones'' (2002), and for her roles in the 2000 film '' Looking for Alibrandi'' and the television series '' We ...
as Erica Davidson (season 1) * Kate Atkinson as Vera Bennett (seasons 1–8) * Celia Ireland as Elizabeth "Liz" Birdsworth (seasons 1–7) * Shareena Clanton as Doreen "Dor" Anderson (seasons 1–5) *
Aaron Jeffery Aaron C. Jeffery is a Logie Award-winning New Zealand-Australian actor. He is best known for his roles as Terry Watson in '' Water Rats'', as Alex Ryan in '' McLeod's Daughters'', and as Matt "Fletch" Fletcher in '' Wentworth''. Personal life ...
as Matthew "Matt" Fletcher – "Fletch" (seasons 1–3) * Robbie J. Magasiva as Will Jackson (seasons 1–8) *
Catherine McClements Catherine McClements is an Australian stage, film, and television actress, and television presenter. She is known for her TV roles in '' Water Rats'' and '' Tangle'', for which she won Logie Awards, and has performed in stage productions for th ...
as Meg Jackson (season 1) * Katrina Milosevic as Susan Jenkins – "Boomer" (recurring season 1, main seasons 2–8) *
Pamela Rabe Pamela Rabe (born Pamela June Koropatnick; 30 April 1959) is a Canadian–Australian actress and theatre director. A graduate of the Playhouse Acting School in Vancouver, Rabe is best known for her appearances in the Australian films '' Sirens ...
as Joan Ferguson – "The Freak" (main seasons 2–5, 8, special guest seasons 6–7) *
Socratis Otto Socratis Otto is an Australian film, theatre and television actor. He is best known for his roles in television series ''Young Lions (TV series), Young Lions'' as Justin Carmody, ''Home and Away'' as Robert Robertson (Home and Away), Robert Ro ...
as
Maxine Conway Maxine Conway (formerly Max) is a recurring character from '' Wentworth'', portrayed by actor Socratis Otto. Maxine is notable for being Bea Smith's ( Danielle Cormack) bodyguard and also for being transgender within the series. She was dating ...
(recurring seasons 2–3, main seasons 4–5) *
Tammy MacIntosh Tammy MacIntosh (born 16 February 1970) is an Australian actress known for portraying Dr. Charlotte Beaumont in the medical drama '' All Saints'' and Jool in the TV series ''Farscape''. She is also known for her roles on television series '' The ...
as Karen "Kaz" Proctor (recurring season 3, main seasons 4–7) *
Kate Jenkinson Kate Ellen Jenkinson (born 24 August 1981) is an Australian actress, known for her various roles on '' The Wedge'', as well as her role of Kendall Quinn on '' Super Fun Night''. She is known for her role as Allie Novak in the Australian TV ser ...
as
Allie Novak Allie Novak is a fictional character from the Australian drama series '' Wentworth'', played by Kate Jenkinson. She made her first appearance during the fourth season episode titled, "First Blood", broadcast on 10 May 2016. The character was i ...
(seasons 4–8) *
Bernard Curry Bernard Curry (born 27 March 1974) is an Australian actor, best known for his role as Jake Stewart in '' Wentworth'', Luke Handley in ''Neighbours'' and Hugo Austin in ''Home and Away''. Early life Alongside his actor brothers Stephen and And ...
as Jake Stewart (season 4–8) *
Sigrid Thornton Sigrid Madeline Thornton (born 12 February 1959) is an Australian film and television actress. Her television work includes ''Prisoner'' (1979–80), '' All the Rivers Run'' (1983), '' SeaChange'' (1998–2019) and '' Wentworth'' (2016–2018) ...
as Sonia Stevens (special guest season 4, main seasons 5–6) *
Leah Purcell Leah Maree Purcell (born 14 August 1970) is an Aboriginal Australian stage and film actress, playwright, film director, and novelist. She made her film debut in 1999, appearing in Paul Fenech's ''Somewhere in the Darkness'', which led to rol ...
as Rita Connors (seasons 6–8) *
Susie Porter Susie Porter (born 1970 or 1971) is an Australian television, film and theatre actress. She made her debut in the 1996 film '' Idiot Box'', before rising to prominence in films including '' Paradise Road'' (1997), '' Welcome to Woop Woop'' (1997 ...
as Marie Winter (seasons 6–8) *
Rarriwuy Hick Rarriwuy Hick (born ) is an Aboriginal Australian award-winning actress, known for her roles in the television series ''Redfern Now'', '' Cleverman'', '' Wentworth'' and '' True Colours''. Early life and education Hick was born around 1991 i ...
as Ruby Mitchell (seasons 6–8) *
Kate Box Kate Box (born 28 October 1979) is an Australian stage, film, and television actress. She is known for her roles as Nicole Vargas in ''Rake,'' Lou Kelly in '' Wentworth'', and as Dulcie Collins in '' Deadloch''. Early life and education Kate ...
as Lou Kelly (season 8) * Jane Hall as Ann Reynolds (season 8) *
Zoe Terakes Zoe Terakes () is an Australian actor. They are known for playing Reb Keane in the series '' Wentworth'' (2020–2021) and Hayley in the horror film '' Talk to Me'' (2022). Early life and education Terakes attended SCEGGS Darlinghurst for h ...
as Reb Keane (season 8) * Vivienne Awosoga as Judy Bryant (season 8)


Special guest

*
Marta Dusseldorp Marta Dusseldorp is an Australian stage, film and theatre actress. Her television credits include ''BlackJack'', ''Crownies'' (and its spin-off '' Janet King''), ''Jack Irish'' and '' A Place to Call Home''. She is also a producer, as co-found ...
as Sheila Bausch (season 8) *
Tina Bursill Tina Bursill (born 24 July 1951) is an Australian actress. She played Louise Carter on the television series '' Skyways'' (1979–1981) and Sonia Stevens on ''Prisoner'' (1983–1984). She played Meryl Knight in the Nine Network drama series ' ...
as Eve Wilder (This character was originally portrayed in "Prisoner" by
Lynda Stoner Lynda Stoner (born 10 September 1953) is an Australian former actress, most notable for her roles on the small screen on television soap operas and serials is an animal rights activist.
) (season 8) Notes: Bursill appeared in "Prisoner" as Sonia Stevens, with the character being portrayed by
Sigrid Thornton Sigrid Madeline Thornton (born 12 February 1959) is an Australian film and television actress. Her television work includes ''Prisoner'' (1979–80), '' All the Rivers Run'' (1983), '' SeaChange'' (1998–2019) and '' Wentworth'' (2016–2018) ...
in Wentworth.


Recurring cast

* Jacqueline Brennan as
Linda Miles Linda M. Miles (born August 28, 1978) is an American former professional wrestler and professional wrestling manager. She worked under the ring name Shaniqua for World Wrestling Entertainment's (WWE) WWE SmackDown, SmackDown brand between 2002 an ...
(seasons 1–8) *
Ra Chapman Ra Chapman is a Korean-born Australian Australian(s) may refer to: Australia * Australia, a country * Australians, citizens of the Commonwealth of Australia ** European Australians ** Anglo-Celtic Australians, Australians descended principa ...
as Kim Chang (seasons 1–5) *
Martin Sacks Martin Colin Sacks (born 16 October 1959) is an Australian actor who is chiefly known for his 12-year role on '' Blue Heelers'' from 1993 to 2005. Life and career Sacks was born in Sydney. He got into acting after a bit part in an episode of ' ...
as Derek Channing (seasons 1–6) * Lucia Brancatisano as Officer Peta Webb (seasons 1–8) * Reef Ireland as
Brayden Holt The following is a list of characters from the Australian television series ''Wentworth (TV series), Wentworth''. Main characters Bea Smith Bea Smith (Danielle Cormack) (seasons 1–4) came to be an inmate after attempting to murder her h ...
(seasons 1–2) * Benne Harrison as Rosalind "Roz" Jago (seasons 1–3) * Cassandra Magrath as Hayley Jovanka (seasons 1–3) * Richard Sutherland as Alan Doyle (seasons 1, 4–6) * Georgia Flood as Debbie Smith (seasons 1–2, cameo season 4) * Louise Harris as Ronnie Katsis (season 1) * Rondah Dam as Phillipa "Pip" Turner (season 1) *
John Bach John Bach (born 5 June 1946) is a British-born New Zealand actor who has acted on stage, television and film over a period of more than four decades. Though born in the United Kingdom, he has spent most of his career living and working in New ...
as Vinnie Holt (season 1) * Melitta St Just as Megan Summers (season 1–2) *
Lynette Curran Lynette Curran is an Australian actress known for many roles in Australian television series and films, including the soap opera '' Bellbird'', and the films '' Country Town'' (1971) and ''Bliss'' (1985). Career Theatre She started acting ...
as Rita Bennett (seasons 1–2) *
Jada Alberts Jada Alberts is an Aboriginal Australian actor, playwright, screenwriter, director, artist and poet. Early life and education Alberts is from the Top End of Australia, of Larrakia people, Larrakia, Yanyuwa people, Yanuwa, Bardi people, Bardi, a ...
as Toni Goodes (seasons 1–2) *
Annie Jones Ann Jones (or similar) may refer to: Writers *Ann Jones (author) (born 1937), American writer on women's issues *Anne Jones (writer) (born 1955), Australian editor and administrator *Anna Jones (food writer), columnist and cookbook author *Cathe ...
as Rachel Sanger (seasons 1–2) * Scott Parmeter as Chris Bakula (seasons 1–3) * Jake Ryan as Harry Smith (recurring seasons 1–2; cameo season 3) *
Ally Fowler Alexandra Fowler (born 6 December 1961) is an Australian actress and singer. She is known for her roles as Angela Hamilton in ''Sons and Daughters (Australian TV series), Sons and Daughters'' (1982–1984), Zoe Davis in ''Neighbours'' (1986) an ...
as Simone "Simmo" Slater (recurring seasons 1–2; cameo season 3) *
Steve Le Marquand Steve Le Marquand (born 26 December 1967) is an Australian-born actor, known both locally and internationally for his film and stage work. Personal life Born in Perth, Western Australia in 1967, his family moved to Sydney when he was quite ...
as Colin Bates (season 2) *
Tony Briggs Tony Briggs (born 3 July 1967) is an Aboriginal Australian actor. He is best known for creating the stage play '' The Sapphires'' (later a 2012 film), which tells the true story of an Aboriginal singing girl group who toured Vietnam during th ...
as Steve Faulkner (season 2) * Katherine Halliday as Sarah Briggs (season 2) *
Kathryn Beck Kathryn Beck (born 1 March 1986) is an Australian television and theatre actress. In 2007, she played Lily Nelson in the soap opera ''Home and Away'' and the following year, she appeared in ''East of Everything''. In 2013, Beck began appearing i ...
as Sky Pierson (season 2) * Kasia Kaczmarek as Lindsay Coulter (seasons 2–3) *
Bessie Holland Bessie Holland is an Australian actress, best known for her role as Stella Radic on the prison drama series '' Wentworth''. Holland also plays Tessa in the ABC series ''Wakefield Wakefield is a cathedral city in West Yorkshire, England loca ...
as Stella Radic (seasons 2–5) * Christen O'Leary as Kelly Bryant (seasons 2–3) *
Alex Menglet Alex Menglet, born ''Alexei Menglet'' in Moscow, USSR, is an actor who has found success working in Australia. Early life Menglet was born in Moscow, USSR to parents Maya Menglet and Leonid Satanovskiy. He came from a theatrical family. As a ...
as Ivan Ferguson (seasons 2–3) * Edwina Samuels as Sophie Donaldson (seasons 2–3) *
Maggie Naouri Maggie Naouri is an Australian actress, known for her roles as Rose Atkins in '' Wentworth'' and Anu Singh in '' Joe Cinque's Consolation'' (2016). Early life Naouri is of Armenian and Jordanian ancestry. She was educated at Trinity Lutheran ...
as Rose Atkins (seasons 2–3) * Georgia Chara as Jess Warner (seasons 2–3) * Tony Nikolakopoulos as Nils Jesper (seasons 2–4) * Luke McKenzie as Nash Taylor (seasons 2–5) * Marta Kaczmarek as Marge Nowak (seasons 2, 5) * Miles Paras as Cindy Lou (season 3) *
Pia Miranda Pia Miranda is an Australian actress. Her career was launched with her role in the 2000 feature film '' Looking for Alibrandi'', an Australian film based on the novel of the same name by Melina Marchetta. She is also known for her roles as K ...
as Jodie Spiteri (season 3) * Damien Richardson as Michael Mears (season 3) * Katerina Kotsonis as Brenda Murphy (seasons 3–6) *
Libby Tanner Elizabeth Tanner (born 1970) is an Australian stage and television actress best known for her roles as Bronwyn Craig in the television series '' All Saints'' and as Bridget Westfall in '' Wentworth''. Early life Tanner grew up in Victoria, Aus ...
as Bridget Westfall (seasons 3–6) * Sally-Anne Upton as Lucy "Juicy Lucy" Gambaro (season 3–6) * Charli Tjoe as Tina Mercado (seasons 3–5) *
Steve Bastoni Steve Bastoni (born 4 March 1966) is an Italian-born Australian actor. He became a household name in Australia for his role as Constable Yannis 'Angel' Angelopoulos in ''Police Rescue'' and as Steve Parker in ''Neighbours''. His memorable per ...
as Don Kaplan (seasons 4–5) * Hunter Page-Lochard as Shayne Butler (seasons 4–5) * Sophia Katos as Mel Barrett (seasons 4–5) * Maddy Jevic as Lee Radcliffe (seasons 4–6) * Sarah Hallam as Jen "Hutch" Hutchins (seasons 5–8) * Danielle Alexis as Dana Malouf (seasons 5) *
Zahra Newman Zahra Newman is an Australian actress. Early life and education Newman was born in Port Antonio Jamaica and spent her formative years in Kingston before migrating to Australia at the age of 14 with her mother. Her interest in the performing ar ...
as Iman Farah (seasons 5) * Chloe Ng as Nurse Shen (seasons 6–8) * Emily Havea as Mon Alston (seasons 6–8) *
Shane Connor Shane Connor (born 3 April 1959) also billed/credited as Shane Feeney-Connor, is an Australian actor, who has had extensive experience in stage, television and film productions, both locally and internationally in the United Kingdom and United St ...
as Ray Houser (seasons 6–7) * Natalia Novikova as Zara Dragovich (season 6) * Artemis Ioannides as Vicky Kosta (seasons 6–7) *
David de Lautour David Hugh de Lautour (born 28 November 1982) is a New Zealand television actor, producer and director. He was born in Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand and attended King's College, then The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) to w ...
as Dr. Greg Miller (seasons 7–8) *
Morgana O'Reilly Morgana O'Reilly (born 19 August 1985) is a New Zealand film, television and theatre actress. She has appeared in several theatre productions and created the one-woman play ''The Height of the Eiffel Tower'', which she performed at the Edinburgh ...
as Narelle Stang (season 7) *
Rick Donald Rick Donald is an Australian actor, writer and director. He attended the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) and made his first television appearance in ''Sea Patrol''. This was followed by recurring or guest roles in '' Paper Giants: The B ...
as Sean Brody (season 7) * Anni Finsterer as May Jenkins (Season 7) *
Alexandra Schepisi Alexandra Schepisi ( ) is an Australian actress. Early life Schepisi was born and raised in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. She is the daughter of filmmaker Fred Schepisi and casting director Rhonda (nee Finlayson) Schepisi. She obtained her ba ...
as Cynthia Rattray (season 8) * Louisa Mignone as Zaina Saad (season 8) * Jennifer Vuletic as Mandy (season 8) * Kevin Harrington as Officer Roberts (season 8) * Tom Wren as Dominic Slade (season 8) * Brian Vriends as Dr. Mendel (season 8) * Peter O'Brien as Tony Cockburn (season 8) * Greg Fryer as Blair Mitchell (season 8) *
Huw Higginson Huw Higginson (born 21 February 1964) is a British-born actor, based in Australia, who is best known for playing PC George Garfield in ''The Bill'' from 1989 to 1999. Higginson has also appeared in '' Heartbeat'', ''EastEnders'', ''Casualty'' ...
as Gavin Thompson (season 8)


Guest/cameos

*
Anne Charleston Anne Charleston (born 30 December 1942) is an Australian-born former actress prominent in television, radio and theatre, notable for her career locally and in the United Kingdom in both England and Ireland. She began her career on the stage in ...
as Celeste Donaldson (season 1) (Charleston appeared in the original series in three roles, most notably as Deidre Kean) *
Andrew Blackman Andrew Blackman (born 2 August 1965) is an Australian born actor, producer, and director who founded the Complete Works Theatre Company (CWTC) in Melbourne Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian ...
as Oliver Donaldson (season 1) * Brett Swain as Max Henderson (1 episode) *
Carla Bonner Carla Bonner (born 3 March 1973) is an Australian actress, best known for playing the role of Stephanie Scully in the Australian soap opera drama ''Neighbours'', a role she played from 1999 to 2010. She was also a guest on ''Celebrity Big Broth ...
as Manda Katsis (season 1) * Gloria Ajenstat as Georgia Henderson (season 1) * Hany Lee Choi as Su-Yun Lee (Season 2) *
Maria Angelico Maria Angelico is an Australian actress, writer and producer from Melbourne, Victoria. Angelico is best known for her portrayal of Julia Bechly in the TV series ''Sisters'' on Network Ten (2017), as Miss Tan in '' The InBESTigators'' (2019), a ...
as Katrina "Trina" Jenkins (season 2) *
Liddy Clark Elizabeth Anne Clark (born 6 November 1953) is an Australian former politician with the Labor Party in the Queensland Legislature who held the seat for Clayfield and also an actress of television and film, director, producer and presenter, cre ...
as Hazel Fullagher (season 3) (Note: Clark appeared in the original "
Prisoner A prisoner, also known as an inmate or detainee, is a person who is deprived of liberty against their will. This can be by confinement or captivity in a prison or physical restraint. The term usually applies to one serving a Sentence (law), se ...
" series in 2 roles as Bella Ulbright (1979) and Sharon Smart (1983) * Neil Melville as Brendan Maddock (season 3) * Debra Lawrance as Faith Proctor (season 4) * Georgina Naidu as Dr Chappell (season 4, 3 episodes) * Geraldine Hakewill as Kylee Webb (season 7) * Jackson Gallagher as Travis Kelly (season 8) *
Gary Sweet Gary Sweet (born 22 May 1957) is an Australian film and television actor known for his roles in ''Alexandra's Project'' (as Steve), ''Police Rescue'' (as Sergeant "Mickey" McClintock), ''Cody (TV series), Cody'' (as Cody), ''Big Sky (Australian ...
as Dale Langdon (season 8) * Maria Mercedes as Detective Ayoub (3 episodes) * Marta Kaczmarek as Marge Nowak *
Nicholas Bell Nicholas Bell (born 15 August 1958) is an English actor who has worked in Australia for more than 30 years. Bell works regularly with the Melbourne Theatre Company as well as with all the major television broadcasters in Australia, most notabl ...
as Dr Foster (1 episode) *
Steve Mouzakis Steve Mouzakis is an Australian film, television and theatre actor. He is known for his role in the Spike Jonze film ''Where the Wild Things Are'', Van Gogh in ''Prison Break'', Steven Ray in the film '' The Suicide Theory'', and performing alon ...
as Det Russell Minton (1 episode) * Damien Fotiou as Detective Puzo (1 episode)


Production


Conception

In March 2012, it was announced that a contemporary re-imagining of ''
Prisoner A prisoner, also known as an inmate or detainee, is a person who is deprived of liberty against their will. This can be by confinement or captivity in a prison or physical restraint. The term usually applies to one serving a Sentence (law), se ...
'', an Australian soap opera of the late 20th century, had been commissioned by
Foxtel NXE Australia Pty Ltd, trading as the Foxtel Group, is an Australian pay television company that operates cable television, direct-broadcast satellite, direct broadcast satellite television, and IPTV streaming services. It was formed in April ...
. Brian Walsh, the executive director of television at Foxtel, said that ''Wentworth'' would not be a remake of ''Prisoner'', which ran for 692 episodes on
Network Ten Network 10 (commonly known as the 10 Network, Channel 10 or simply 10) is an Australian commercial television network. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Paramount Global's Paramount Networks UK & Australia, UK & Australia division and is o ...
from 1979 to 1986. He said:
"''Wentworth'' will be a dynamic and very confronting drama series, developed and stylised specifically for subscription television audiences. We have told producers to push all boundaries and honestly depict life on the inside as it is in 2012."
Lara Radulovich and David Hannam developed ''Wentworth'' from
Reg Watson Reginald James Watson (27 August 1926 – 8 October 2019) was an Australian television producer and screenwriter and executive. Watson was executive producer on the British soap opera ''Crossroads (British TV series), Crossroads'' and created ...
's original concept.
FremantleMedia Fremantle Limited (), formerly FremantleMedia, is a British multinational television production and distribution company based in London. The company was founded as Pearson Television in 1993 when publishing and education company Pearson ...
and director of drama Jo Porter is producer. The first episode, and several subsequent episodes, were written by
Pete McTighe Pete McTighe is a British screenwriter and executive producer. He wrote several episodes of '' Wentworth'', an Australian prison drama series that won Most Outstanding and Most Popular Drama at the Logie Awards. He is the creator and writer of t ...
. The idea for an "'' Underbelly''-style remake of ''Prisoner''" was first mooted by television critic Michael Idato, who went on to act as series consultant. Kerry Tucker acted as consultant on authenticity. Producer Jo Porter commented that the series would explore "the politics of women in a world with few men, and how the experience both challenges and changes them, sometimes for the better". ''Wentworth'' is set in the modern-day and explores Bea Smith's early days in prison. The storylines include a mix of original inmates and staff from ''Prisoner,'' with characters also developed especially for ''Wentworth''. Foxtel told a reporter from ''
The Sydney Morning Herald ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' (''SMH'') is a daily Tabloid (newspaper format), tabloid newspaper published in Sydney, Australia, and owned by Nine Entertainment. Founded in 1831 as the ''Sydney Herald'', the ''Herald'' is the oldest continuous ...
'' that the original characters from ''Prisoner'' would have a contemporary interpretation in the new series. It was initially reported that none of the original cast from ''Prisoner'' would appear in the first season of ''Wentworth'', however,
Anne Charleston Anne Charleston (born 30 December 1942) is an Australian-born former actress prominent in television, radio and theatre, notable for her career locally and in the United Kingdom in both England and Ireland. She began her career on the stage in ...
, who had a number of small roles in the original series, made a cameo appearance as Liz Birdsworth's mother-in-law.
Alex Menglet Alex Menglet, born ''Alexei Menglet'' in Moscow, USSR, is an actor who has found success working in Australia. Early life Menglet was born in Moscow, USSR to parents Maya Menglet and Leonid Satanovskiy. He came from a theatrical family. As a ...
and Gloria Ajenstat, who played Ray Proctor and Tammy Fisher in the original series, will have guest roles in the new series. Foxtel revealed that the producers were looking at how they might incorporate the ''Prisoner'' theme tune, " On The Inside", into the new series.


Eight-season run

On 5 June 2013, it was confirmed that ''Wentworth'' had been renewed for a second season. A reporter for the
Australian Associated Press Australian Associated Press Ltd (AAP) is an Australian news agency. It was founded in 1935 by Keith Murdoch. AAP employs around 90 journalists who work in bureaus in all states and territories of Australia except the Northern Territory. It al ...
said production would begin later in the year, and the season would air in 2014. Porter stated: "We have assembled an extraordinary team of writers who can't wait to get started on series two. We have so many more stories to tell". In January 2014, it was announced that a third season of ''Wentworth'' had been ordered, before the second had aired. In a similar manner, a 12-episode fourth season was announced before the airing of the third season on 27 February 2015. It began airing from 10 May 2016. Cormack confirmed a fifth season had been commissioned on 19 July. The twelve-part series premiered on 4 April 2017. On 9 May 2017, Showcase announced that the series had been renewed for a sixth season, which premiered on 19 June 2018. A seventh season was commissioned in April 2018, before the sixth-season premiere, with filming commencing the following week and a premiere set for 28 May 2019. On 5 December 2018, it was confirmed that a 20-episode eighth season had been commissioned, with production beginning in late October 2019, with Part 1, featuring the first 10 episodes, premiering on 28 July 2020 and Part 2 in 2021. In October 2019, it was confirmed that the series would conclude following the second part of the eighth season in 2021, making it the longest-running hour drama series in Foxtel history, with a total of 100 episodes.


Casting

On 4 October 2012, a reporter for ''
The West Australian ''The West Australian'' is the only locally edited daily newspaper published in Perth, Western Australia. It is owned by Seven West Media (SWM), as is the state's other major newspaper, ''The Sunday Times''. It is the second-oldest continuousl ...
'' revealed that Celia Ireland and Kate Atkinson had joined the cast of ''Wentworth'', while Shareena Clanton would make her acting debut as Doreen Anderson.
Danielle Cormack Danielle Cormack (born 26 December 1970 )is a New Zealand stage and screen actress. She was one of the original cast members of the long-running soap opera ''Shortland Street'', though she is also known for her role as the Amazon Ephiny in th ...
was cast in the role of Beatrice "Queen Bea" Smith and she stated, "I am absolutely rapt to be part of the reboot of such an iconic drama. ''Prisoner'' left an indelible mark on fans and I really hope that the re-imagining of this series will be just as popular with viewers now as it was back then." Actors
Robbie Magasiva Robbie Joseph Magasiva (born 26 August 1972) is a Samoan-New Zealand actor who has starred in several films and as a member of the Naked Samoans comedy troupe. He has also appeared on television and in theatre, and was the co-presenter of New ...
and
Aaron Jeffery Aaron C. Jeffery is a Logie Award-winning New Zealand-Australian actor. He is best known for his roles as Terry Watson in '' Water Rats'', as Alex Ryan in '' McLeod's Daughters'', and as Matt "Fletch" Fletcher in '' Wentworth''. Personal life ...
play corrections officers in the detention centre. David Knox from
TV Tonight TV Tonight is an Australian-based website which features reviews, news and programming information related to television in Australia as well as OzTAM ratings information. The site was started by television critic David Knox in 2007 after li ...
revealed that
Nicole da Silva Nicole da Silva is an Australian stage, film and television actress, best known for her roles as Stella Dagostino in the series '' Rush'' (2008–2011), and as Franky Doyle in the show ''Wentworth'' (2013–2018, 2019). She has made appearance ...
,
Kris McQuade Kris McQuade (born 1952) is an Australian actress who has had many film, television and theatre roles. Career McQuade's film credits include '' The Love Letters from Teralba Road'', '' Kostas'', '' Fighting Back'', '' Lonely Hearts'', '' Goodby ...
,
Catherine McClements Catherine McClements is an Australian stage, film, and television actress, and television presenter. She is known for her TV roles in '' Water Rats'' and '' Tangle'', for which she won Logie Awards, and has performed in stage productions for th ...
and
Leeanna Walsman Leeanna Walsman is an Australian actress. She is best known for her role as Zam Wesell in '' Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones'' (2002), and for her roles in the 2000 film '' Looking for Alibrandi'' and the television series '' We ...
had also joined the cast. Following the end of the first season, it was revealed that iconic ''Prisoner'' character Joan "The Freak" Ferguson, a sadistic, lesbian prison officer, would be introduced in the second season. Porter commented, "''Prisoner'' offered up a very rich well of amazing characters to draw upon and the ''Wentworth'' writers are very excited about revisiting the character of prison officer Joan 'The Freak' Ferguson in our second season." On 21 September 2013, it was confirmed that
Pamela Rabe Pamela Rabe (born Pamela June Koropatnick; 30 April 1959) is a Canadian–Australian actress and theatre director. A graduate of the Playhouse Acting School in Vancouver, Rabe is best known for her appearances in the Australian films '' Sirens ...
had been cast as "The Freak". McQuade, McClements and Walsman did not reprise their respective roles of Jacs Holt, Meg Jackson and Erica Davidson for the second season. Katrina Milosevic, who portrays Susan "Boomer" Jenkins, was upgraded to the main cast. Actresses
Pia Miranda Pia Miranda is an Australian actress. Her career was launched with her role in the 2000 feature film '' Looking for Alibrandi'', an Australian film based on the novel of the same name by Melina Marchetta. She is also known for her roles as K ...
,
Libby Tanner Elizabeth Tanner (born 1970) is an Australian stage and television actress best known for her roles as Bronwyn Craig in the television series '' All Saints'' and as Bridget Westfall in '' Wentworth''. Early life Tanner grew up in Victoria, Aus ...
and
Tammy MacIntosh Tammy MacIntosh (born 16 February 1970) is an Australian actress known for portraying Dr. Charlotte Beaumont in the medical drama '' All Saints'' and Jool in the TV series ''Farscape''. She is also known for her roles on television series '' The ...
joined the cast from the third season as inmate Jodie Spiteri, psychologist Bridget Westfall, and vigilante Karen "Kaz" Proctor, respectively.
Sigrid Thornton Sigrid Madeline Thornton (born 12 February 1959) is an Australian film and television actress. Her television work includes ''Prisoner'' (1979–80), '' All the Rivers Run'' (1983), '' SeaChange'' (1998–2019) and '' Wentworth'' (2016–2018) ...
, who played Ros Coulson on ''Prisoner'', joined the cast for season four, not reprising her former role, but playing another ''Prisoner''-based character, Sonia Stevens, a character originally played by
Tina Bursill Tina Bursill (born 24 July 1951) is an Australian actress. She played Louise Carter on the television series '' Skyways'' (1979–1981) and Sonia Stevens on ''Prisoner'' (1983–1984). She played Meryl Knight in the Nine Network drama series ' ...
in ''Prisoner''. Bursill herself would be featured in a recurring role in the show's eighth season as Eve Wilder, a role originally played by
Lynda Stoner Lynda Stoner (born 10 September 1953) is an Australian former actress, most notable for her roles on the small screen on television soap operas and serials is an animal rights activist.
. In November 2015,
Kate Jenkinson Kate Ellen Jenkinson (born 24 August 1981) is an Australian actress, known for her various roles on '' The Wedge'', as well as her role of Kendall Quinn on '' Super Fun Night''. She is known for her role as Allie Novak in the Australian TV ser ...
and
Bernard Curry Bernard Curry (born 27 March 1974) is an Australian actor, best known for his role as Jake Stewart in '' Wentworth'', Luke Handley in ''Neighbours'' and Hugo Austin in ''Home and Away''. Early life Alongside his actor brothers Stephen and And ...
were announced to be appearing in the show as Allie Novak, an inmate, and Jake Stewart, a correctional officer, respectively. In April 2018, it was announced that Indigenous Australian actress
Leah Purcell Leah Maree Purcell (born 14 August 1970) is an Aboriginal Australian stage and film actress, playwright, film director, and novelist. She made her film debut in 1999, appearing in Paul Fenech's ''Somewhere in the Darkness'', which led to rol ...
had joined the cast as Rita Connors, a role originally played by Glenda Linscott in ''Prisoner''. Also joining the cast were
Susie Porter Susie Porter (born 1970 or 1971) is an Australian television, film and theatre actress. She made her debut in the 1996 film '' Idiot Box'', before rising to prominence in films including '' Paradise Road'' (1997), '' Welcome to Woop Woop'' (1997 ...
as criminal matriarch Marie Winter, a role originally played by
Maggie Millar Maggie Millar (born 6 January 1941) is an Australian actress, artist and writer. She has a distinguished acting career in theatre – appearing onstage with the Old Vic Company, the Melbourne Theatre Company and others – and in television, wi ...
in ''Prisoner'', and
Rarriwuy Hick Rarriwuy Hick (born ) is an Aboriginal Australian award-winning actress, known for her roles in the television series ''Redfern Now'', '' Cleverman'', '' Wentworth'' and '' True Colours''. Early life and education Hick was born around 1991 i ...
as young boxer Ruby Mitchell.
Shane Connor Shane Connor (born 3 April 1959) also billed/credited as Shane Feeney-Connor, is an Australian actor, who has had extensive experience in stage, television and film productions, both locally and internationally in the United Kingdom and United St ...
also joined the cast in a recurring role. In Season 7,
Morgana O'Reilly Morgana O'Reilly (born 19 August 1985) is a New Zealand film, television and theatre actress. She has appeared in several theatre productions and created the one-woman play ''The Height of the Eiffel Tower'', which she performed at the Edinburgh ...
, Rick Donald, and
David de Lautour David Hugh de Lautour (born 28 November 1982) is a New Zealand television actor, producer and director. He was born in Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand and attended King's College, then The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) to w ...
were introduced. In June 2020, it was announced that
Marta Dusseldorp Marta Dusseldorp is an Australian stage, film and theatre actress. Her television credits include ''BlackJack'', ''Crownies'' (and its spin-off '' Janet King''), ''Jack Irish'' and '' A Place to Call Home''. She is also a producer, as co-found ...
would be joining the cast of season 8 as Sheila Bausch, a lead figure in a cult who is charged with nine counts of murder. In October 2019, it was announced that the eighth season would introduce three new cast members;
Kate Box Kate Box (born 28 October 1979) is an Australian stage, film, and television actress. She is known for her roles as Nicole Vargas in ''Rake,'' Lou Kelly in '' Wentworth'', and as Dulcie Collins in '' Deadloch''. Early life and education Kate ...
, Zoe Terakes, and Jane Hall have been cast as Lou Kelly, Reb Keane, and Ann Reynolds, respectively.


Filming

Foxtel confirmed that ''Wentworth'' would not be shot at the original ATV-10 studios in
Nunawading, Victoria Nunawading () is an Eastern suburbs (Melbourne), eastern suburb of Melbourne, Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia, 18 km (11 miles) east of Melbourne's Melbourne central business district, Central Business District, located within the ...
where ''Prisoner'' was filmed. ''Wentworth'' was instead filmed on a purpose-built set in the suburb of Clayton. The shoot employed 300 cast and crew. The ten-part season began filming for four months from 10 October 2012. ''Wentworth'' began airing on
Foxtel NXE Australia Pty Ltd, trading as the Foxtel Group, is an Australian pay television company that operates cable television, direct-broadcast satellite, direct broadcast satellite television, and IPTV streaming services. It was formed in April ...
's
SoHo SoHo, short for "South of Houston Street, Houston Street", is a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan, New York City. Since the 1970s, the neighborhood has been the location of many artists' lofts and art galleries, art installations such as The Wall ...
channel from 1 May 2013. Filming for the second season began on 23 September 2013 and wrapped on 13 February 2014. The second season began airing on 20 May 2014. Production for the third season resumed in March and filming was completed in late July. In the same month, it was announced that the property in which ''Wentworth'' was filmed had been sold, and the set would be knocked down. A new alternative was being sought and a ''TV Week'' reporter commented that it was unclear if the loss of the set would be written into future storylines. The third season began airing on 7 April 2015. Production on the fourth season began in the second half of 2015. The fifth season was filmed in Melbourne from August 2016. On 9 May 2017, Showcase announced that the series had been renewed for a sixth season, which began filming a week later. On March 18, 2020, TV Tonight confirmed production of the second part of the eighth and final season was suspended due to the
coronavirus outbreak The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
. The 10-episode first part of eighth season is still scheduled to air from July 2020. Filming for the second part of the eighth and final season was completed on 4 September 2020.


Theme song

The original ''Wentworth'' theme music was composed by rock musician
Richard Pleasance Richard Arnold Pleasance is an Australian rock musician and producer. He was a founding member of Boom Crash Opera on guitar, bass guitar, vocals and as a songwriter in 1985; they released three albums before Pleasance left in 1992. Their hit Au ...
for the show's instrumental opening theme to the first season. In season two, a new variant of the theme was composed with the introduction of lyrics comprising the theme song "You Don't Know Me", performed by Pleasantville, with the vocals supplied by Pleasance's wife Michelle. An orchestrated instrumental version, with differs from the opening theme, served as the ending theme throughout the show's run. For the eight season, a new updated variant of the original instrumental theme music, along with a new end theme will be introduced, while the lyrics will be dropped entirely.


Direction

A number of directors worked on the series over the eight seasons, with Kevin Carlin undertaking the direction of 32 episodes. Other directors included
Steve Jodrell Steve Jodrell is an Australian director of theatre, film and television. He began his career in the theatre before moving into film.
,
Dee McLachlan Dee McLachlan (born Duncan McLachlan; January 1953) is a film director, producer and writer from St Kilda, Victoria. Under her assigned name, McLachlan directed such films as ''Scavengers (film), Scavengers'', ''The Double 0 Kid'', ''Running Wi ...
and Beck Cole.


Release


Broadcast

''Wentworth'' has been sold to more than 90 countries. On 2 April 2013, it was confirmed that
TVNZ Television New Zealand (, "Te Reo Tātaki" meaning "The Leading Voice"), more commonly referred to as TVNZ, is a New Zealand state-owned media company and Crown entity. The company operates a television network, streaming service, and news se ...
had signed a deal to broadcast ''Wentworth'' in New Zealand. Later that month, it was announced that ''Wentworth'' would be broadcast on Channel 5 in the UK. The head of acquisitions for the channel, Kate Keenan, commented "''Wentworth'' will be a great addition to Channel 5's drama output this autumn. This compelling cast of female characters packs an emotional punch and will appeal to the Channel 5 viewers who love our range of crime output from dramas to factual series." A trailer for the series began airing on the channel and its website in August 2013 and premiered on Channel 5 on 28 August. Channel 5 also re-titled the show, ''Wentworth Prison''. The second season began on Channel 5 on 3 September 2014 and season Three, which commenced broadcast on 22 July 2015, concluded with a two-hour season finale which consisted of episodes 11 and 12 of the season on 30 September 2015. Season four of ''Wentworth'' premiered on Channel 5 on 27 June 2016. In July, following declining ratings, the series was moved from its Monday night timeslot on Channel 5 to Tuesdays on sister channel
5Star 5Star (stylized as 5STAR) is a British free-to-air television channel owned by Channel 5 Broadcasting Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Paramount Global, which is grouped under Paramount Networks UK & Australia division. It originally laun ...
. Season 5 premiered on 5Star on 23 May 2017. Season 6 of ''Wentworth'' premiered on 5Star on 23 June 2018, just four days following the Australian premiere; however, the series was moved to Saturday nights at 10:00 pm. The seventh season premiered on 8 June 2019 in the same Saturday night timeslot as the previous season. The eighth season premiered on 5 August 2020 in a Wednesday night 10:00 pm timeslot. The second part of the season began on the same day as Australia, 24 August 2021, on
5STAR 5Star (stylized as 5STAR) is a British free-to-air television channel owned by Channel 5 Broadcasting Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Paramount Global, which is grouped under Paramount Networks UK & Australia division. It originally laun ...
in the UK. The series premiered in the
Republic of Ireland Ireland ( ), also known as the Republic of Ireland (), is a country in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe consisting of 26 of the 32 Counties of Ireland, counties of the island of Ireland, with a population of about 5.4 million. ...
broadcasting as ''Wentworth'' on
TV3 Channel 3 or TV 3 may refer to: Television *Canal 3 (Burkina Faso), a commercial television channel in Burkina Faso * Canal 3 Niger, a commercial television channel in Niger * Canal 3 (Guatemala), a commercial television channel in Guatemala * Can ...
from June 2014. Season 2 premiered on TV3 on 15 January 2015. In Canada the first two seasons broadcast on
Aboriginal Peoples Television Network Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) is a group of Television in Canada, Canadian Specialty channel, specialty television channels based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The channels broadcast programming produced by or highlighting Indigenous p ...
in late 2015. Although the series has a strong fan base in many countries, Angela Perez of Australia Network News said, in 2016, that Foxtel was considering cancelling the show fter the then current fourth seasondue to audiences viewing new episodes via pirate websites following the Australian premiere. Foxtel stated that the piracy is "a serious problem in terms of recouping money to help pay for future seasons". ABC 1 started broadcasting ''Wentworth'' from season 1 in April 2018, with repeats being aired through ABC Iview.


Streaming

In December 2014, ''Wentworth'' first premiered on
Netflix Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...
in the United States and added seasons one and two to its streaming service. In April 2016 the third season was released to US audiences via the platform. Season 4 was released on Netflix in July 2016, season 5 in June 2017, season 6 in September 2018, season 7 in July 2018, part one of season 8 in September 2020 and part two of season 8 in October 2021. The show features on the “50 Best TV Shows on Netflix” list according to Netflix Life. Seasons one to three are available to view via
Amazon Video Amazon Prime Video, known simply as Prime Video, is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming television service owned by Amazon. The service primarily distributes films and television series produced or co-produced by ...
in the U.S. In the United Kingdom, all nine seasons are available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video, while additional services include
Google Play Google Play, also known as the Google Play Store, Play Store, or sometimes the Android Store (and was formerly Android Market), is a digital distribution service operated and developed by Google. It serves as the official app store for certifie ...
and
YouTube YouTube is an American social media and online video sharing platform owned by Google. YouTube was founded on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim who were three former employees of PayPal. Headquartered in ...
. In Australia, Foxtel Now provides a catch-up service for the ''Wentworth'', while the series is made available for catch-up viewing via
TVNZ OnDemand TVNZ+ (), formerly known as TVNZ OnDemand, is an over-the-top New Zealand television and video on demand streaming service offered by TVNZ. It offers a variety of free content, such as news updates and programmes seen on TVNZ channels. TVNZ+ o ...
in New Zealand and My5 in the United Kingdom for a limited time following initial broadcast. As of 2021, all eight seasons are available to stream in the UK on Amazon Prime Video, and again via My5 where it holds unlimited streaming rights until 2023.


Home media

In Australia, ''Wentworth'' is available on both DVD and Blu-ray formats. The first season was released via
Shock Records Shock Records was an Australian independent record label, branded with the logo Shock or Shock Australia. Founded in 1988, it traded as Shock Records Pty. Ltd, and its publishing arm as Shock Music Publishing Pty. Ltd. Its most prominent sublab ...
, while subsequent seasons have been made available from its current distribution company,
Roadshow Entertainment Roadshow Entertainment (formerly known as Roadshow Home Video from 1982–1993) is an Australian home video, production and distribution company that is a division of Village Roadshow (formerly Roadshow Home Video and Roadshow Entertainment) th ...
. Under the "Wentworth Prison" title, the series was initially available in the United Kingdom from Fremantle Home Entertainment for the first three seasons; after which, the British company Network acquired all rights to release the series. In the UK, the series was only available on DVD, however, it was, for the first time, made available on Blu-ray for its seventh season in 2019, and again for its eighth season in 2020. Additionally, multiple season sets are available on DVD and Blu-ray in Australia, and only on DVD in the UK. As of 2018, the multiple sets are only available on DVD in Australia and are no longer being released in the UK. In the United States, ''Wentworth'' was released on DVD via Acorn Media. The first three seasons have been made available and it is currently not known if subsequent seasons will follow. ;Key : = Indicates availability only on DVD : = Indicates availability on both DVD & Blu-ray


Reception

The show has received critical acclaim throughout its run. Following a screening of the pilot episode for the media in February 2013, Ben Pobjie from ''
The Age ''The Age'' is a daily newspaper in Melbourne, Australia, that has been published since 1854. Owned and published by Nine Entertainment, ''The Age'' primarily serves Victoria (Australia), Victoria, but copies also sell in Tasmania, the Austral ...
'' called ''Wentworth'' "a triumph". He praised the writing and the cast, saying "So rarely in Australian TV do we see well-written characters collide with dead-on casting and tense, atmospheric direction as they have here." He added that ''Wentworth'' is "a powerful, almost cinematic drama" with its own identity, that incorporates "echoes" of the original ''Prisoner'' series. Holly Byrnes, writing for the ''
Herald Sun The ''Herald Sun'' is a Conservatism, conservative daily tabloid newspaper based in Melbourne, Australia, published by The Herald and Weekly Times, a subsidiary of News Corp Australia, itself a subsidiary of the American Rupert Murdoch, Murd ...
'', quipped "this brilliant retelling picks up where the pioneering series left off and then takes the kind of shocking plot detours contemporary TV viewers would expect from award-winning US dramas like ''
Breaking Bad ''Breaking Bad'' is an American crime drama television series created and produced by Vince Gilligan for AMC (TV channel), AMC. Set and filmed in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the series follows Walter White (Breaking Bad), Walter White (Bryan Cran ...
'' or ''
Sons of Anarchy ''Sons of Anarchy'' is an American Action film, action crime drama television series created by Kurt Sutter for FX (TV channel), FX. Originally aired from September 3, 2008, to December 9, 2014, ''Sons of Anarchy'' follows the lives of a close-k ...
''." Byrnes also praised the cast's performances, particularly Cormack. Following its North American debut the critics drew comparisons with US prison dramedy ''
Orange Is the New Black ''Orange Is the New Black'' (sometimes abbreviated to ''OITNB'') is an American comedy-drama television series created by Jenji Kohan for Netflix. The series is based on Piper Kerman's memoir '' Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Pr ...
'', though Liz Raftery of ''
TV Guide TV Guide is an American digital media In mass communication, digital media is any media (communication), communication media that operates in conjunction with various encoded machine-readable data formats. Digital content can be created, vi ...
'' said she believed the show was more gritty and did not "sugarcoat" prison life. They branded it "edge-of-your-seat television" and singled out Sue 'Boomer' Jenkins as one of the show's standout characters and reasons to watch. Margaret Lyons from ''
New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...
'' magazine called it a "ruthlessly dark drama" similar to ''
Breaking Bad ''Breaking Bad'' is an American crime drama television series created and produced by Vince Gilligan for AMC (TV channel), AMC. Set and filmed in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the series follows Walter White (Breaking Bad), Walter White (Bryan Cran ...
'', a comparison which ''TV Guide's'' critics also made. Lyons added that ''Wentworth's'' careful plotting of storylines gave meaningful payoffs and triumphed into making it a "smart and competent" series. Gerard O'Donovan from ''
The Daily Telegraph ''The Daily Telegraph'', known online and elsewhere as ''The Telegraph'', is a British daily broadsheet conservative newspaper published in London by Telegraph Media Group and distributed in the United Kingdom and internationally. It was found ...
'' opined that the show has a cast of "fabulously strong, variably humane female characters." They believed it did not try to appeal to "mainstream tastes", adding "the series sticks more closely to its violent, soapy, sexploitation Prisoner: Cell Block H roots than is strictly necessary in 2016." O'Donovan branded it a rare example of fictional work portraying lesbianism as "not only normal, but the norm." He concluded the show depicts a world in which "women hold virtually all the power, albeit to no obviously edifying ends." Matt Baylis from the ''
Daily Express The ''Daily Express'' is a national daily United Kingdom middle-market newspaper printed in Tabloid (newspaper format), tabloid format. Published in London, it is the flagship of Express Newspapers, owned by publisher Reach plc. It was first ...
'' criticised the show for not being original and having a "mandatory number of unnecessary scenes". They preferred the original series ''Prisoner'' and accused ''Wentworth'' of being everything the original was not. The first episode of ''Wentworth'' attracted 244,000 viewers, making it the most watched Australian drama series premiere in Foxtel history. The UK premiere of the show attracted 1.67 million viewers, a 10.3% share of the audience for the 10pm time slot.


Ratings


Accolades

''Wentworth'' has received several awards and nominations since its debut in 2013. The series has received 24
Logie Award The TV Week Logie Awards (known colloquially as The Logies) is an annual ceremony celebrating and honouring the best shows and stars in Television in Australia, Australian television, sponsored and organised by the magazine ''TV Week''. The eve ...
nominations, winning seven in total, in which Danielle Cormack, Celia Ireland and Pamela Rabe have been recipients respectively, while the show has won the award for Most Outstanding Drama Series in 2015, 2018 and 2019 respectively, and for Most Popular Drama Program in 2018. The shows has also received nominations and wins from the
AACTA Awards The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards, known as the AACTA Awards, are presented annually by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). The awards recognise excellence in the cinema of Australia, film and ...
, the
ASTRA Awards The ASTRA Awards were the annual awards for the Australian subscription television industry. According to the Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association (ASTRA), the awards "recognise the wealth of talent that drives the Austr ...
,
Australian Directors Guild The Australian Directors' Guild (ADG) is an industry guild representing the interests of film, television, commercials and digital media directors, including documentary makers and animators, throughout Australia. With its headquarters in Sydney ...
Awards, and Australian Writers Guild Awards, while additional nominations have come from the Australian Screen Editors and the
Equity Awards The Equity Ensemble Awards (or Equity Awards) are an Australian awards system, that is an accolade presented by The Equity Foundation, the performers branch of the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA). The awards have been presented annua ...
.


Adaptations


See also

* '' Bad Girls'', British drama with a similar premise


References


External links

* * * {{Portal bar, Television, Australia, Crime, LGBTQ, 2010s 2013 Australian television series debuts 2021 Australian television series endings 2010s Australian drama television series 2020s Australian drama television series 2010s prison television series 2020s prison television series 2010s LGBTQ-related drama television series 2020s LGBTQ-related drama television series Australian English-language television shows Australian prison television series Australian LGBTQ-related television shows Television shows set in women's prisons Lesbian-related television shows Serial drama television series Showcase (Australian TV channel) original programming SoHo (Australian TV channel) original programming Television about mental health Television productions suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic Television series by Fremantle (company) Australian television series reboots Television shows about alcohol abuse Television shows about drugs Television shows about murder Television shows about rape Television shows filmed in Australia Television shows set in Melbourne Transgender-related television shows