The first season of Australian drama television series Prisoner (commonly known as Prisoner: Cell Block H) premiered on the then-known 0-10 Network on 26 February 1979 in Sydney and 27 February 1979 in Melbourne. The season contains 79 episodes and concluded on 28 November 1979.
Cast
Main
Patsy King as Erica Davidson Fiona Spence as Vera Bennett Peta Toppano as Karen Travers Kerry Armstrong as Lynn Warner Val Lehman as Bea Smith Carol Burns as Franky Doyle Elspeth Ballantyne as Meg Jackson Colette Mann as Doreen Anderson Sheila Florance as Lizzy Birdsworth Margaret Laurence as Marilyn Mason Mary Ward as Jeanette "Mum" Brooks Barry Quin as Greg Miller Richard Moir as Eddie Cook Don Barker as Bill Jackson Christine Amor as Jean Vernon Jim Smillie as Steve Wilson Lesley Baker as Monica Ferguson Gerard Maguire as Jim Fletcher
Central supporting
Amanda Muggleton as Chrissie Latham Sigrid Thornton as Roslyn Coulson Monica Maughan as Pat O'Connell
Recurring
Ronald Korosy as Marty Jackson Kirsty Child as Anne Yates Arianthe Galani as Mrs Bentley Anne Charleston/Gabrielle Hartley as Lorraine Watkins Billie Hammerberg as Valerie Richards Ann-Maree McDonald as Rosie Hudson Kim Deacon as Judith-Ann Watkins Louisa Pajo as Helen Masters Brandon Smith as James Brandon Frank Gallacher as Mr Bentley John Arnold as Doug Parker Terry Gill as Detective Inspector Jack Grace Beverly Dunn as Ethel Warner Ben Gabriel as Ted Warner Carmel Millhouse as Mary Healy/McCauley Patricia Kennedy as Miss McBride Sally Cahill as Barbara Davidson Margo McLennan as Catherine Roberts Tim Elliott as Ken Roberts Andrea Butcher as Sarah Roberts Penelope Stewart as Kathleen Leach Briony Behets as Susan Rice Bill Hunter as George Lucas David Bradshaw as Jason Richards/Frederick Rice Bryon Williams as Dr. Weissman Betty Lucas as Clara Goddard Joy Westmore as Joyce Barry Jude Kuring as Noeline Bourke Brian Granrott as Col Bourke Tracey-Jo Riley as Leanne Bourke Joanne Lehman as Yvonne
Deborra-Lee Furness as Connie Maria Mercedes as Irene Zervos Lakis Kanzipas as Alex Zervos Nadia Tass as Tessa Zervos Theo Tsalkitzakos as Stavros Judy Nunn as Joyce Martin Terry Emery as Vince Peter Finlay as Mac Judith Woodroffe as Julie Barker Penny Ramsay as Leila Fletcher Gary Files as Fred Ferguson Lynda Keane as Denise Crabtree ("Blossom") Kate Jason as Martha Eaves Carrillo Gantner as Peter Clements Colleen Clifford as Edith Wharton Lulu Pinkus as Melinda Cross Hu Pryce as Tom Burton Judith McGrath as Colleen Powell Reylene Pearce as Phyllis Hunt Judith Roberts as Carol Burton Liddy Clark as Bella Albrecht Robin Cuming as Jack Crosse Burt Cooper as Terry Mansini Pat Bishop as Antonia McNally Roz French as Glenys Buchanan Jeanie Drynan as Angela Jeffries Ian Smith as Ted Douglas Anne Haddy as Alice Hemmings David Letch as David O'Connell Rosie Sturgess as Mrs. Devlin Geoff Collins as Alex Fraser George Spartels as Herbie Ray Meagher as Geoff Butler
Episodes
Reception Viewership In 1979, Prisoner was the second most popular program in Australia, averaging at 1,494,000 viewers.
Accolades Penguin Award for Best Sustained Actress in a series – Carol Burns (1979) Logie Award for Best Lead Actress in a Series – Carol Burns (1980) Logie Award for Best New Drama Series – Prisoner (1980)
Home media
Select episodes from season one are available on both VHS and DVD formats.
+ Season one availabity Title Episodes Release date Format Country RatingClassification ratings:
Episodes 1 & 2 1993 VHS BBFC: 15 Episodes 3 & 4 1993 VHS BBFC: PG Episodes 5 & 6 1993 VHS BBFC: PG Episodes 7 & 8 1 February 1994 VHS BBFC: 15 Episodes 9 & 10 15 August 1994 VHS BBFC: PG Episodes 11 & 12 7 November 1994 VHS BBFC: PG Prisoner: 21–4 24 February 2003 VHS & DVD ACB: M 19 December 2006 DVD NR Volume 1 1–16 19 October 2006 DVD ACB: M Volume 2 17–32 19 October 2006 DVD ACB: M Volume 3 33–48 20 November 2006 DVD ACB: M Volume 4 49–64 20 November 2006 DVD ACB: M Volume 5 65–79 17 March 2007 DVD ACB: M The Complete Collection 1–79 29 September 2007 DVD ACB: M Volume 1 1–32 10 November 2008 DVD BBFC: 15 Volume 2 33–64 1 June 2009 DVD BBFC: 15 Volume 3 65–79 12 October 2009 DVD BBFC: 12 Volume 1–3 1–79 30 November 2009 DVD BBFC: 15 Volume 1 1–32 9 March 2011 DVD ACB: M Volume 2 1–64 9 March 2011 DVD ACB: M Volume 3 65–79 11 May 2011 DVD ACB: M The Complete Collection 1–79 5 October 2011 DVD ACB: M The Complete Season One 1–79 2 November 2016 DVD ACB: M
Streaming Prisoner began streaming on Network 10's service, 10Play from 1 January 2022. The complete first season is currently available to stream.
The series began streaming in the UK on Channel 5's service My5 on 1 September 2023, the first UK broadcast for 22 years. It reached the season finale (episode 79) on 20 October 2023. It also became available to stream on Pluto TV in November 2023. The first season also began broadcasting on TV, with 5Select from 20 December 2023, followed by That's TV 2 on 3 January 2024.
Notes
References