The first season of the crime drama television series Wentworth originally aired on SoHo in Australia. The season consisted of 10 episodes and aired between 1 May and 3 July 2013. It was executively produced by FremantleMedia's director of drama Jo Porter. The series is a remake of Prisoner, which aired on Network Ten from 1979 to 1986. Lara Radulovich and David Hannam developed Wentworth from Reg Watson's original concept. The season was shot over four months from 10 October 2012.
The show is set in modern-day Victoria, Australia and focuses on the fictional women's prison Wentworth. The central characters in the prison are inmates Bea Smith (Danielle Cormack), Franky Doyle (Nicole da Silva), Doreen Anderson (Shareena Clanton), Liz Birdsworth (Celia Ireland), Jacs Holt (Kris McQuade) and prison officers Vera Bennett (Kate Atkinson), Matthew Fletcher (Aaron Jeffery), Will Jackson (Robbie Magasiva), Erica Davidson (Leeanna Walsman) and Meg Jackson (Catherine McClements).
The season received generally favourable reviews from critics. The first episode of Wentworth attracted 244,000 viewers, making it the most watched Australian drama series premiere in Foxtel history. The complete first season was released on DVD and Blu-ray in Australia on 18 November 2013.
Cast
Regular Danielle Cormack as Bea Smith Nicole da Silva as Franky Doyle Kris McQuade as Jacs Holt Leeanna Walsman as Governor Erica Davidson Kate Atkinson as Deputy Governor Vera Bennett Celia Ireland as Liz Birdsworth Shareena Clanton as Doreen Anderson Aaron Jeffery as Matthew "Fletch" Fletcher senior officer Robbie Magasiva as Will Jackson senior officer Catherine McClements as Meg Jackson
Recurring Katrina Milosevic as Sue "Boomer" Jenkins Ra Chapman as Kim Chang Georgia Flood as Debbie Smith Jacqueline Brennan as Linda Miles Martin Sacks as Derek Channing Ally Fowler as Simone "Simmo" Slater Jada Alberts as Toni Goodes Jake Ryan as Harry Smith Reef Ireland as Brayden Holt Melitta St Just as Megan Summers Benne Harrison as Roz Jago Rondah Dam as Pip Turner
Episodes
Production Wentworth was announced by Foxtel on 4 March 2012. Developed by Lara Radulovich and David Hannam from the original concept by Reg Watson, it is produced by Fremantle's new head of drama, Jo Porter, and is filmed in Melbourne. FremantleMedia Chief Executive Asia Pacific, Ian Hogg, said: "An entire generation of Australians grew up watching Prisoner and another is about to do the same with Wentworth."
Filming The ten-part season began filming in Melbourne for five months from 10 October 2012 and the shoot employed 300 cast and crew. Wentworth is filmed on a purpose built set in the suburb of Clayton.
Reception Ratings
Accolades
Australian Screen Editors (2013) Nominated: Best Editing in a Television Drama — Philip Watts AACTA Awards (2014) Nominated: Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama — Kris McQuade Nominated: Best Television Drama Series — Wentworth - Jo Porter & Amanda Crittenden ASTRA Awards (2014) Won: Most Outstanding Drama — Wentworth Nominated: Most Outstanding New Talent — Shareena Clanton Nominated: Most Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor — Danielle Cormack Won: Most Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor — Nicole da Silva Nominated: Most Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor — Kris McQuade Nominated: Most Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor — Aaron Jeffery Nominated: Most Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor — Robbie Magasiva Equity Ensemble Awards (2014) Nominated: Equity Award for Most Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series — Cast of Wentworth Logie Awards (2014) Nominated: Logie Award for Most Outstanding Drama Series — Wentworth Nominated: Logie Award for Most Outstanding Actress — Danielle Cormack Nominated: Logie Award for Most Outstanding Newcomer — Shareena Clanton
Home media Title Release Country DVD Blu-ray Region Ref(s) Additional
Notes
References