Sylvia Hollamby
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Sylvia Violet Hollamby (previously Nicholson; often referred to as BodyBag by the prisoners) is one of the longest-running characters in the award-winning prison drama series '' Bad Girls''. Portrayed by Helen Fraser from the first episode in 1999 until the last in 2006, Hollamby was the longest-serving
prison officer A prison officer (PO) or corrections officer (CO), also known as a correctional law enforcement officer or less formally as a prison guard, is a uniformed law enforcement official responsible for the custody, supervision, safety, and regulation ...
on the show with convicts Julie Johnston and Julie Saunders (
Kika Mirylees Kika Mirylees (born Christina Kika Le Fleming Mirylees; 23 September 1953) is a South African-born British actress and councillor. She is best known for her roles as Fliss in ''Not Going Out'' and Julie Johnston in '' Bad Girls'', Doc Newton i ...
and
Victoria Alcock Victoria Alcock (born 13 May 1968) is a British actress. Notable roles Alcock played the prisoner Julie Saunders in all eight series of the television drama series, ''Bad Girls (TV series), Bad Girls'' and Agnes Clarke in ''The House of Eliott'' ...
) being the only other characters to remain for all eight series.


Personality

While Sylvia is usually the most law-abiding of the generally corrupt prison staff, she is
racist Racism is the belief that groups of humans possess different behavioral traits corresponding to inherited attributes and can be divided based on the superiority of one Race (human categorization), race or ethnicity over another. It may also me ...
and intolerant of homosexuality. She constantly complains about her job and is usually most happy if sitting down with a cup of tea or reading a magazine rather than working. She hates almost all of the wing governors, usually the younger female ones, with her friend Jim Fenner being her favourite choice to hold the position. She hates all of the prisoners and treats them with
contempt In colloquial usage, contempt usually refers to either the act of despising, or having a general lack of respect for something. This set of emotions generally produces maladaptive behaviour. Other authors define contempt as a negative emotio ...
, regardless of how severe or tame their crime had been, apart from very rare occasions when she has been somewhat sympathetic towards them; she believes that "happiness is door shaped", showing her view that all prisoners should be on 24-hour lockdown, thus making life easier for the officers and especially her. She also believes that there should be closed visits, thus curtailing the drug problems that constantly blight prisons including Larkhall. She is not a fan of the "touchy feely prison warding" that was a feature of the progressive policies unsuccessfully implemented by governors such as Grayling; in her mind, "a con is a con is a con and they don't get any special treatment". Unsurprisingly, three attempts were made on her life: the prisoners pushing her down the stairs in series 2, Shell Dockley and Denny Blood almost burning her and her first husband, Bobby, and her second husband, Dr Malcolm Nicholson, attempting to kill her on their honeymoon. Despite her hostility towards the prisoners, two escaped inmates Bev Tull (
Amanda Barrie Amanda Barrie (born Shirley Anne Broadbent; 14 September 1935) is an English actress. She appeared in two of the '' Carry On'' films before being cast as Alma Halliwell in the ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street'', a role she played on and off ...
) and Phyl Oswyn (
Stephanie Beacham Stephanie Beacham (born 28 February 1947) is an English actress. In a career spanning six decades, she has a wide number of credits to her name on film, television, stage and radio in both the United Kingdom and the United States. Beacham beg ...
) saved her from being murdered by Dr Nicholson (
Philip McGough Philip McGough (born ) is a British actor from Penygraig, Wales, who is a former member of the Royal Shakespeare Company with many appearances on a variety of television programmes. Personal life In an interview with '' The Mirror'' in 2001, McGo ...
).


Storylines


Series 1

In the first episode, she is first seen ignoring a pregnant prisoner who is suffering a miscarriage. She despises all the prisoners and is extremely harsh on all the new arrivals. She orders a violent strip search to be placed on Nikki Wade (
Mandana Jones Jane Mandana Jones (born 26 February 1967) is a British-Iranian actress. She is known for her role as prisoner Nikki Wade in the series '' Bad Girls''. Early life From West London, Jones was born on 26 February 1967 to a Welsh father and an I ...
). She can't stand religious prisoner Crystal Gordan's constant guitar playing and singing. She is happy when the prisoners are forced to have closed visits. She mocks Rachel Hicks when she is sent to the 4-bed dorm with Denny, who is bullying her. She also makes digs at posh Monica Lyndsey, making derogatory references to her affluent background.


Series 2

She is in trouble with Governor Karen Betts (
Claire King Jayne Claire King (born Jayne Claire Seed; 10 January 1962) is an English actress. She is known for her roles as Kim Tate in the ITV soap opera ''Emmerdale'' since 1989, and as Karen Betts in '' Bad Girls'' from 2000 until 2004. She has appe ...
) after she places a mental patient, "Mad" Tessa Spall ( Helen Schlesinger), onto G-Wing, believing her to be Barbara "Babs" Hunt (
Isabelle Amyes Isabelle Amyes (born 13 June 1950) is an English actress best known for her role as Barbara Hunt in the British TV drama '' Bad Girls'' from 2000 to 2003. Another prominent role was as Fanny in '' Love in a Cold Climate'' (1980). Her various g ...
), whom she sends to the psychiatric unit, which the prisoners refer to as the "muppet wing". As punishment, Karen forces her to take on a strict fitness regime in the prison grounds; the prisoners ridicule her over this. When she discovers Julie Johnston is illegally receiving a visit from her children - after her husband got a court order preventing her from seeing them - she terminates the visit leaving Julie devastated. The prisoners decide that they have had enough of Sylvia's abuse of her authority and push her down the stairs. Sylvia is demoted from Senior Prison Officer to Prison Officer, because she allows Shaz Wiley ( Lindsey Fawcett) and Denny Blood (
Alicya Eyo Alicya Eyo (born 16 December 1975) is an English actress, best known for her roles as Denny Blood in the ITV prison drama series '' Bad Girls'' and Ruby Haswell in the ITV soap opera ''Emmerdale''. Early life Eyo was born on 16 December 1975 ...
) to lock her in their cell and enter the canteen kitchen. She and her husband, Bobby, (
Geoffrey Hutchings Geoffrey Hutchings (8 June 1939 – 1 July 2010) was an English stage, film and television actor. Early life and career Hutchings was born in Dorchester, Dorset, England. After attending Hardye's School, he studied French and Physical Educat ...
) later celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary in the Prison Officers' Club, where a drink spiked with
ecstasy Ecstasy most often refers to: * Ecstasy (emotion), a trance or trance-like state in which a person transcends normal consciousness * Religious ecstasy, a state of consciousness, visions or absolute euphoria * Ecstasy (philosophy), to be or stand o ...
causes her to reveal her true feelings to him. Later that night, her close friend Jim Fenner ( Jack Ellis) is stabbed in the stomach by Shell Dockley (
Debra Stephenson Deborah Lee Duffield (' Stephenson; born 4 June 1972), known professionally as Debra Stephenson, is an English actress, comedian, impressionist and singer, best known for her roles as Diane Powell in '' Playing the Field'' (1999–2000), Shell ...
).


Series 3

Sylvia is determined to make Shell pay for nearly killing Fenner. She is furious when Shell is allowed back on G-Wing, so has her transferred to the mental health wing. She makes Shell share a cell with "Mad" Tessa; however, Tessa appears to become infatuated by Shell. When Sylvia sees her plan is not working, she tells another mental patient, "Podger" Pam (
Wendi Peters Wendi Louise Peters (born 29 February 1968) is an English actress. Peters began her acting career in theatre, with appearances in various productions including '' The Scarlet Pimpernel'' (1991), '' Guys and Dolls'' (1991), '' Into the Woods'' ...
), that Shell has stolen her medication and then lets Pam into the shower where Shell is. Pam brutally beats up Shell, while a delighted Sylvia looks on. Fenner eventually helps Shell escape, along with Denny and her girlfriend, Shaz; however they lose Shaz, who is subsequently caught and returned to prison. Shell and Denny wear wigs to conceal their identities and break into the Hollamby residence. When Sylvia returns home, they take her hostage and force her to dress as a French maid and serve them cocaine on a tray. When her undertaker husband returns home, they take him hostage, too. They also take some of the Hollambys' money and Shell wrecks Sylvia's priceless ornaments, before Sylvia tries to explain to them that what she does is just a job and that she doesn't really enjoy tormenting the prisoners. Shell and Denny laugh hysterically at this, knowing that Sylvia loves her authority and, that night, they tie Bobby and Sylvia up. The next morning, when Shell discovers Bobby has tried to break free, she places him in a coffin in their garage, and forces Sylvia to nail the coffin shut and to pour petrol over it. After tying Sylvia to the garage door, Shell sets the coffin on fire. As the police arrive, Shell and Denny make a run for it in Bobby's hearse and leave to go to Spain with false passports. After Sylvia eventually returns to work, she receives a phone call from Shell, impersonating a mattress saleswoman, and asks Sylvia if her husband would prefer to sleep in a black coffin instead. Sylvia becomes terrified, as she realises Shell is on the other end of the phone. The call is traced and Shell and Denny are arrested on a boat; however, they make one last escape and jump into the sea, being presumed dead afterwards.


Series 4

Sylvia is overjoyed when she discovers Denny and Shell were never found in the sea, and believed to be dead; she and Bobby holiday in the same place where they "died". Much to her horror, Denny is found alive and extradited back to G-Wing. Sylvia is less afraid of Denny, and warns her she will get revenge on her and that she will wish she was as "dead as Dockley". Sylvia is briefly promoted to Wing Governor, and, on the day when inspectors arrive at Larkhall, she discovers
Maxi Purvis Overview ;Notes Series 1 Helen Stewart *Portrayed by Simone Lahbib *Appears in: Series 1–3 Helen Stewart is Wing Governor of G-Wing, whose authority is seldom respected by the prisoners. After a personal struggle with her sexuality, t ...
(
Kerry Norton Kerry Norton (born 11 October 1972) is a British actress and singer. Early life Norton was born and brought up in her home town of Sunbury-on-Thames. Education Norton was educated at Sunbury Manor School, a state comprehensive school, and now ...
) dead; not wanting the inspectors to see, she hides the body in the prison chapel, but it is later discovered. Although Al McKenzie (Pauline Campbell) helped Maxi kill herself by giving her toilet roll to choke herself on, Maxi's enemy Shaz becomes a suspect. Sylvia immediately has her transferred to another prison; however, she has done this as more of a punishment for Shaz's girlfriend, Denny. Denny runs to attack Sylvia and is sent down the block; Sylvia then throws toilet roll at her and tells her to do the same as Maxi.


Series 5

Sylvia's worst fears become reality, as Shell is found alive and heavily pregnant in
Amsterdam Amsterdam ( , ; ; ) is the capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, largest city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It has a population of 933,680 in June 2024 within the city proper, 1,457,018 in the City Re ...
; she is extradited back to G-Wing. Things go from bad to worse when she discovers Bobby is badly in financial debt. Bobby commits suicide by gassing himself in his own hearse. Two new inmates, Bev Tull and Phyl Oswyn - who have tricked Denny into believing Bev is a
medium Medium may refer to: Aircraft *Medium bomber, a class of warplane * Tecma Medium, a French hang glider design Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''The Medium'' (1921 film), a German silent film * ''The Medium'' (1951 film), a film vers ...
and has contacted her dead girlfriend, Shaz - trick Sylvia into thinking they can contact Bobby, as long as she pays them with gin. Sylvia later develops feelings for the Rev. Henry Mills (
Michael Elwyn Michael Elwyn (born 23 August 1942) is a Welsh actor, notable for his work in film ('' Shadow Man''), stage ('' The Audience'', as Anthony Eden) and television (''Stella''). Elwyn was born in Pontypridd. He is the partner of actress Alison Stea ...
); however, Henry falls in love with prisoner Babs Hunt, who is due for release. Henry and Babs get married in the prison chapel on Babs' last day inside.


Series 6

Sylvia constantly makes racist remarks about
Jamaica Jamaica is an island country in the Caribbean Sea and the West Indies. At , it is the third-largest island—after Cuba and Hispaniola—of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean. Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, west of Hispaniola (the is ...
n prisoner Darlene Cake (
Antonia Okonma Antonia Okonma (born 24 July 1982) is a British actress. She is best known for playing the role of Darlene Cake in the ITV series ''Bad Girls'' from 2004–2006. Early life Antonia Okonma was born and raised in London. She was born into a ...
). When new Wing Governor Frances Myers (
Eva Pope Eva Rebecca Pope (born 16 November 1967) is an English actress, best known for her portrayal of longest-serving headmistress Rachel Mason in '' Waterloo Road'', and appearances in ''Coronation Street'', '' Dream Team'', '' Bad Girls'' and '' H ...
) discovers this, she forces Sylvia to make a public apology to Darlene in front of the other prisoners; this, once again, makes Sylvia a laughing stock. When Frances sparks a war with Phyl over drugs, Sylvia is forced to take Phyl's breakfast to her. Phyl is infuriated to discover that her meals will be reduced to bread and water from now on, so throws the glass of water in Sylvia's face. She then tells Sylvia she wants to speak to Frances. Sylvia then develops feelings for Dr. Malcolm Nicholson; at the wedding of Fenner and Di Barker (
Tracey Wilkinson Tracey Wilkinson is an English actress primarily known for her role as Di Barker in the series '' Bad Girls''. She joined the prison drama in Series 2 as a caring prison officer new to G-Wing, but by the end of her time on the programme in Series ...
), she catches the bouquet and asks Nicholson if he believes in fate.


Series 7

Sylvia finally gets some good news when she discovers that her Aunt Margaret has died and left her a palatial, antique-stuffed house in Hampstead in her will. Nicholson hears about this and pretends to reciprocate her feelings for him. They later get married, and
honeymoon A honeymoon is a vacation taken by newlyweds after their wedding to celebrate their marriage. Today, honeymoons are often celebrated in destinations considered exotic or romantic. In a similar context, it may also refer to the phase in a couple ...
on the
Costa del Sol The Costa del Sol (; literally "Coast of the Sun") is a region in the south of Spain in the Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Andalusia, comprising the coastal towns and communities along the coastline of the Province of ...
, unaware that Phyl and Bev, who recently escaped from Larkhall are staying in the hotel room next door. Nicholson ties her up and attempts to inject her with an empty syringe thus creating an air bubble and bringing on an
embolism An embolism is the lodging of an embolus, a blockage-causing piece of material, inside a blood vessel. The embolus may be a blood clot (thrombus), a fat globule (fat embolism), a bubble of air or other gas (air embolism, gas embolism), amniotic ...
. Phyl and Bev, despite their hatred towards her, save her, and Phyl shoots Nicholson dead while describing him as a "loathsome little man". After the murder, Bev and Phyl are on their way out of the hotel with the diamonds they found with the gun that Phyl killed Nicholson with. Just as they are about to exit the hotel, Sylvia appears on the balcony screaming, leading to a startled Bev to drop the diamonds, and she is violently arrested. Phyl, however, escapes. A few weeks later, Phyl is captured again and is sent back to Larkhall. Following both Bev and Phyl's returns, Sylvia pays them both back with a bottle of gin each. That Christmas, new Governing Governor of Larkhall, Joy Masterton ( Ellie Haddington), orders for all the staff to come to work in fancy dress. Sylvia comes to work as
Florence Nightingale Florence Nightingale (; 12 May 1820 – 13 August 1910) was an English Reform movement, social reformer, statistician and the founder of modern nursing. Nightingale came to prominence while serving as a manager and trainer of nurses during th ...
. Joy then orders Sylvia to take Phyl down to the cellar to fix the boiler and electricity as they are not working. There, Sylvia thanks Phyl yet again for saving her from Nicholson's evil clutches. They encounter dozens of rats, and, while in the room with the boiler, Sylvia suffers a
panic attack Panic attacks are sudden periods of intense fear and Comfort, discomfort that may include palpitations, otherwise defined as a Tachycardia, rapid, Arrhythmia, irregular Heart rate, heartbeat, Hyperhidrosis, sweating, chest pain or discomfort, s ...
after finding a rat underneath her dress. She subsequently falls down the steps to the cellar, knocking herself unconscious and blocking the door, leaving Phyl trapped. After the boiler and electricity are fixed, the flickering lights force Sylvia to come round and let Phyl out of the room. When they return indoors from the freezing cold snow storm outside, Joy then gives Sylvia orders to find Chaplain Christy Mackay (Gaynor Howe), who has been murdered in the shower by new inmate Miranda Miles (Nicola Redmond). Sylvia's screams alert the entire prison, leading to Joy and Kevin Spiers (Andrew Scarborough) to investigate. Following this, Miranda is sent to a psychiatric hospital.


Series 8

Sylvia has been promoted once again to Wing Governor. As
Christmas Christmas is an annual festival commemorating Nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a Religion, religious and Culture, cultural celebration among billions of people Observance of Christmas by coun ...
approaches, she keeps the women locked in their cells, making them hate her even further. She also disapproves of her openly homosexual son Bobby Darren's relationship with a man, which causes a further rift between her and her son. She is unaware that evil inmate Natalie Buxton (
Dannielle Brent Dannielle Brent (born 19 September 1979), also known as Danielle Brent, is a British actress best known for her roles on ''Hollyoaks'' as Gina Patrick and Natalie Buxton in '' Bad Girls''. Early life Brent was accepted into the Italia Conti ...
) was recently killed and her body dumped in the prison sewers. She suffers a Scrooge-like dream when the ghost of Natalie appears to her and shows her that she is just as hated as she was; she shows Sylvia how happy everyone, including her son, would be after hearing she was dead, she then takes Sylvia down to the sewers, where her own decomposing corpse is, but the corpse Sylvia sees is that of herself. She later makes peace with her son and gives the prisoners a happy Christmas, but tells them not to get too used to her good nature, as it's "business as usual" tomorrow. She then dances with her son and the inmates. This was the last episode.


Reception

Sylvia has become one of the most popular characters on the show, and, despite the character's bigoted views, she has become somewhat of a
gay icon A gay icon is a public figure who is regarded as a cultural icon by members of the LGBTQ community. Such figures usually have a devoted LGBTQ fanbase and act as allies to the LGBTQ community, often through their work, or they have been "openly app ...


The last ever episode centred on the character as the longest-serving officer. {{DEFAULTSORT:Hollamby, Sylvia Bad Girls (TV series) Fictional prison officials Television characters introduced in 1999 English female characters in television Fiction about police misconduct Female villains