Bad Girls (series 1)

The first series of '' Bad Girls'' premiered on ITV on 1 June 1999, and ended on 3 August 1999. It consists of ten episodes. The show was produced by Shed Productions as part of Shed Media. After the first episode aired, the show became an instant hit in the United Kingdom. The show also became successful in several countries including the United States, Australia and Republic of Ireland.

Storylines

The first series focuses on the growing relationship between new G-Wing governor Helen Stewart and prisoner Nikki Wade. Helen tries to show the prisoners that she on their side by taking matters such as miscarriage, bullying and drugs seriously, whereas the other officers, like Sylvia Hollamby, don't take any interest in the prisoners' problems. Helen doesn't get the support she needs from her officers and tries to convince Nikki that she needs her help in running an orderly wing. This is when Nikki's attraction for Helen begins to grow. Other major storylines in the first series is top dog, Shell Dockley's bullying against new prisoner Rachel Hicks, her drug dealing and her affair with senior officer Jim Fenner who also begins an affair with Rachel, as they become involved in a love triangle, Shell and her sidekick Denny Blood torture Rachel to the point where she takes her own life. New prisoner Zandra Plackett struggles to kick her drug habit, and things get worse when she discovers she's pregnant. Monica Lindsay, another new prisoner on G-Wing, finds it hard to cope when she worries about how her son, Spencer, who has Down's syndrome, will deal with his mother's wrongful imprisonment.

Cast

Main

* Simone Lahbib as G-Wing Governor Helen Stewart
* Mandana Jones as Nicola "Nikki" Wade
* Debra Stephenson as Michelle "Shell" Dockley
* Jack Ellis as James "Jim" Fenner
* Alicya Eyo as Daniella "Denny" Blood
* Luisa Bradshaw-White as Lorna Rose
* Joe Shaw as Dominic McAllister
* Lara Cazalet as Zandra Plackett
* Jane Lowe as Monica Lindsay
* Sharon Duncan Brewster as Crystal Gordon
* Helen Fraser as Sylvia Hollamby
* Victoria Alcock as Julie Saunders
* Kika Mirylees as Julie Johnston
* Joanne Froggatt as Rachel Hicks

Recurring

* Oliver Fox as Sean Parr
*Roland Oliver as Simon Stubberfield
*Eugene Walker as Officer Blakeson
* Timmy Lang as Spencer Lindsay
* Gideon Turner as Robin Dunstan
*Denise Black as Jessie Devlin
*Victoria Pritchard as Trisha
* Linda Henry as Yvonne Atkins

Guest

* Ashley Miller as Carol Byatt
*Penny Ryder as Nellie Snape
*Shelley Longworth as Ms Wall
* Susan Aderin as Ms Carter
* Pauline Whitaker as Nun
*Daryl Fisher as Mrs Hicks
*Vinny Dhillon as Clinic Nurse
*Sheila Ruskin as Mrs Dunstan
* David Case as Chaplain
* Jean Ainslie as Sister Jill
* Ian Flintoff as Vicar
* Jane Galloway as Mary
* Andrew Frame as Officer Donegan
*Alastair Stewart as Newsreader/Himself

Episodes

Reception

Ratings

Home media

The first series of ''Bad Girls'' has been released in the United Kingdom via Condender Entertainment Group on VHS and DVD. It has also been released on DVD in Australia by Shock Records and in the United States and Canada from Capital Entertainment.

The original UK DVD release contains a cropped 4:3 fullscreen aspect ratio, as well as the omission of all recaps at the beginning of episodes, while the soundtrack that was used as part of original broadcasts were replaced for home media due to copyright. The original Australian release is exact to the UK set. The U.S. release, which contains different artwork, released the series in its original 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio.

The series was re-released in both UK and Australia, complete with all recaps and the 16:9 aspect ratio reinstated, from Acorn Media and Shock Records, respectively.

References

External links

*
*List o
Bad Girls episodes
at Epguides

{{National Television Award for Outstanding Drama Series

1999 British television seasons
01