Prisoner: Cell Block H

A list of all inmates of Wentworth Detention Centre in the television series Prisoner.

Listed in order of appearance:

Category: Image - :Val-Lehman.jpg|thumb|125px|Val Lehman as Bea "Queen Bea" Smith

* Bea "Queen Bea" Smith (Val Lehman - episodes 1-400), the tough and uncompromising top dog - the name given to the unofficial leader of the prisoner population - who ruled Wentworth's H Block with an iron fist. Bea was initially imprisoned for strangling her husband's mistress and then shot dead her cheating husband upon her release. Her teenage daughter Debbie (played by Val Lehman's real-life daughter Cassandra) had died from a heroin overdose while Bea was in prison, therefore Bea was renowned for her hatred of drug pushers and her hatred of prisoners who commit crimes against children. This characteristic, which is common in all prisons, was evident when Bea slammed the hot steam press on Lynn Warner's hand. She and Chrissie Latham were enemies at first (as Chrissie was originally on Franky Doyle' side in the first riot) but later, they became allies, especially against Margo Gaffney. Bea was transferred to Barnhurst but we were later told that she was killed during a riot.

* Doreen Anderson (Colette Mann - episodes 1-446), a childish and easily led, but generally well meaning prisoner who was briefly involved in a sexual relationship with Franky Doyle (Carol Burns). Thumb-sucking, teddy-bear clutching Doreen was a petty criminal, in and out of juvenile institutions before ending up at Wentworth, with a particular talent for forgery. During one stint at Wentworth, she married a young man named Kevin Burns, but they were divorced not long after she was raped. The end of her marriage nearly caused her to commit suicide. After her second stint at Wentworth she is released and never seen or heard from again.

* Lizzie Birdsworth (née Cameron) (Sheila Florence - episodes 1-418), an elderly, chain-smoking, alcoholic recidivist prisoner, who provided much of the series comic relief. At the series start, Lizzie had already served twenty years in prison. Working as a bush cook, she had in a drunken rage allegedly poisoned a group of sheep shearers who'd had the audacity to complain about her cooking. It was later learned someone else had added the poison to the food and Lizzie was released and awarded compensation. Unfortunately she was ill-equipped to fend for herself outside and quickly committed a series of crimes and was returned to prison. Lizzie was best known for her always present red cardigan sweater given to her by the prison's governor, Erica Davidson. Lizzie suffered from several heart attacks and her during her final time in hospital she was released

* Franky Doyle (Carol Burns - episode 1-20), an agitating lesbian bikie whose violent attitude stemmed from the fact that she was illiterate. Despite her popularity, she appears in only the first 20 episodes as she was shot and killed by a cop while on the run with Doreen.

* Karen Travers (Peta Toppano - episode 1-80), a middle-class school-teacher who had stabbed her abusive, adulterous husband to death in the shower when she had found him in bed with another woman after he had forced her to have an abortion. Karen's sentence was reduced from life to 2 years for good behaviour.

* Lynn Warner (Kerry Armstrong - episode 1-44), a young country girl who had come to the city to work as a nanny and arrived at Wentworth protesting her innocence at having kidnapped the baby in her care and buried him alive. She was brutally initiated into prison life, when Bea Smith, upon hearing about her crime, burned her hand "accidentally" with the press, giving rise to one of Prisoner's most iconic scenes. She returns and later is released for good. It was eventually discovered that the child's own mother had buried the child alive; which gave Lynn's innocence claims more credence.

* Jeanette "Mum" Brooks (Mary Ward - episode 1-204), an elderly, dignified long-term inmate who worked in the prison garden, well loved and respected by both prisoners and officers. "Mum" had committed euthanasia on her terminally ill husband and had served fifteen years at the start of the series. She helped with making newcomers to Wentworth get used to the prison routine. After her second stint at Wentworth we are told later that she has died of a heart attack.

* Marilyn Mason (Margaret Laurence - episode 1-16), the prison nymphomaniac, inside for soliciting and chiefly memorable for her erotic assignations with electrician Eddie Cook (Richard Moir) in the prison roof. She was released and assumingly still running Monica Ferguson's milk bar.

* Rosie Hudson (Anne-Maree McDonald - episodes 2-73), a pregnant prisoner who gives birth at Wentworth. One year later, she suffers a breakdown being unable to cope after her baby son is taken into care.

* Chrissie Latham (Amanda Muggleton - episodes 3-338), a lascivious prostitute who spent much of her time behind bars lamenting the fact that there were no men around. She murdered Bill Jackson, Meg's husband, with a pair of scissors during the show's first riot, but later on saved Meg herself from a brutal bashing by Margo Gaffney. At first, an enemy of Bea Smith, she later on became one of Bea's allies. She was eventually transferred to Barnhurst, like Bea herself later would be.

* Helen Masters (Louise Pajo - episodes 8-10), a businesswoman remanded to Wentworth for running down a child and whose haughty attitude alienates both staff and prisoners.

* Monica Ferguson (Lesley Baker - episodes 15-60), a brutish, hulking inmate inside for bashing her weaselly husband Fred (Gary Files). A friend of Bea Smith, except for one time when she took over as Top Dog for Bea during Bea's escape. After Bea's recapture, Monica wanted to remain Top Dog. After one scuffle with Smith and with her parole coming up, Monica backed down rather than risk not getting paroled.

* Barbara Davidson (Sally Cahill - episodes 17-24), the niece of governor Erica Davidson. Barbara is admitted to Wentworth on drug charges.

* Catherine Roberts (Margo McLennan - episodes 18-24), a middle-class housewife who runs down and kills the man who she thinks is the one who raped her teenage daughter.

* Susan Rice (Briony Behets - episodes 25-29), an emotionally fragile woman who shoplifts to gain attention from her pop star husband.

* Martha Eaves (Kate Jason - episodes 29-64), a dimwitted prisoner ridiculed by the other women, but who often acts as hired muscle for wannabe top dogs or those needing physical back-up.

* Noeline Burke (Jude Kuring - episodes 30-132), the head of a family of petty criminals usually inside for burglary and theft. An antagonist of both Bea Smith and Monica Ferguson. Noeline was famous for her refusal to take anything she considered charity. In Noeline's words "The Burkes don't take charity, we just take." She is later transferred to Barnhurst for her own safety.

* Clara Goddard (Betty Lucas - episodes 30-39), a genteel, flighty socialite remanded to Wentworth for embezzlement who gains considerable influence amongst the women. Sarcastically nicknamed "Madame Clara" by Bea Smith, jealous of the way Clara manages to usurp her authority as top dog of the prisoners. She was transferred to Fairlea.

* Kathleen Leach (Penny Stewart - episodes 30-149), background prisoner who sometimes played a bigger role in the series.

* Leanne Burke (Tracey-Jo Riley - episodes 33-121), Noeline Burke's daughter, who has inherited her mother's criminal tendencies. She fell to her death from the Prisoner Roof during Judy's Protest that Jock Stewart killed Sharon.

* Irene Zervos (Maria Mercedes - episodes 38-40), a young Greek woman admitted to Wentworth after being blackmailed into prostitution by a relative who is aware of her status as an illegal immigrant.

* Joyce Martin (Judy Nunn - episodes 40-48), the wife of an armed robber inside for being an accessory, and the only person who knows the location of the loot.

* Denise Crabtree (Lynda Keane - episodes 43-48), a tartly young woman who is the girlfriend of Monica Ferguson's husband Fred, but who turns out to be using him to get her hands on the stolen loot from the robbery committed by Joyce Martin's husband.

* Edith Wharton (Colleen Clifford - episodes 44-49), an elderly woman who is made homeless and ends up in Wentworth charged with vagrancy, bringing out the softer side of deputy governor Jim Fletcher. The night before her release Edith sadly dies in her sleep.

* Melinda Cross (Lulu Pinkus - episodes 47-58), a devious young woman and university student who is remanded to Wentworth after trying to blackmail the lecturer with whom she had been having an affair.

* Bella Albrecht (Liddy Clark - episodes 51-52), a remorseless child killer who had murdered her toddler daughter and arrives at Wentworth on remand, arousing the anger of the women, who despise those who harm children. She is drowned in a wash basin, and Martha Eaves is later found out to be the cullprit.

* Phyllis Hunt (Reylene Pearce - episodes 54-460), background prisoner who eventually takes on a larger role around the time of Bea Smith's departure from the series, turning nasty in the process. After messing up Reb's drugs scheme at the Wentworth Fete, Reb takes revenge and horribly bashes her with a wooden statue, leading her to have permanent brain damage.

* Antonia McNally (Pat Bishop - episodes 57-64), a cool, classy woman on remand for murder who takes over as top dog while Bea Smith is away in solitary confinement. Antonia is the wife of the head of the local underworld with friends in high places, therefore pressure is brought to bear on governor Erica Davidson to give her special privileges that further cements her high status amongst the prisoners. She was shot after her trial by Ros Coulson, Daughter of the women she killed.

* Roslyn Coulson (Sigrid Thornton - episodes 63-92), an idealistic young woman charged with killing the woman who had murdered her mother, Antonia McNally. She escaped with help from outside friend, who shot Erica Davidson but she was returned to Wentworth and transferred to another block so she could concentrate on her studying.

* 'Pat OConnell (Monica Maughan - episodes 65-110), an imprisoned mother separated from her young children, Pat had aided and abetted her husband and eldest son in an armed robbery.

* Janet Dominguez (Deidre Rubenstein - episodes 79-83), a terrorist brought to Wentworth awaiting extradition to the US to face charges in connection with the bombing of a South American official outside the UN building. Initially, she was held in solitary away from the other women. Ros Culson helped with an escape and was given an instant sleep powder to drug the guards while armed terrorists broke into the prison to free Janet. When she had the chance to escape she was shot and wounded by an officer.

* Caroline Simpson (Rosalind Speirs - episodes 89-114), a sophisticated middle-class woman who stabbed her abusive father to protect her mother, Vivienne Williams (Bernadette Gibson), from being beaten. Both Caroline and Vivienne are remanded to Wentworth, and Caroline becomes attracted to deputy governor Jim Fletcher, who as a result earned the nickname "Fletch the letch".

* Sharon Gilmour' (Margot Knight - episodes 90-116), a scheming, spoiled young woman imprisoned for drug dealing and an immediate enemy of Bea Smith. Sharons older girlfriend, Judy Bryant, deliberately had herself imprisoned to be with Sharon, only for Sharon to shamelessly manipulate her in her bid to become top dog. Sharon was pushed down the stairs by bent screw Jock Stewart, she died.

* Judy Bryant (Betty Bobbitt - episodes 91-534), an American ex-pat lesbian who deliberately committed a crime to join her lover Sharon Gilmour in prison. She was initially an agitator, but later became one of Bea's allies, as well as a long-term inmate. Judy ran Driscoll House, a Half-Way House for ex-criminals to get back on their feet. Judy was sent back to Wentworth after helping friend, Hazel Kent, kill herself while she was suffering from a terminal brain tumor. Served as a sort of "deputy Top Dog," to both Bea and Myra. She was later released to become a successful song writer.

* Margo Gaffney (Jane Clifton - episodes 92-448), one of a long line of agitators in the prison cellblock who generally played rival to the reigning top-dog. Margo took charge of all gambling inside Wentworth and was usually accompanied by her stooges "Lil and Bev" (played by extras Judith McLorinan and Kaye Chadwick). Margo went back and forth during the series run from a good to bad guy, usually leaning toward the bad side. One of Margo's most heinous acts was the bashing of guard Meg Morris, who was temporarily a prisoner for contempt of court, and this earned her the combined wrath of Bea and Chrissie (who ironically saved Meg, despite her killing Meg's first husband, Bill Jackson), and avenged her bashing, by tying her up and tarring and feathering her in the lavatory. Margo was also later bashed by Bea and Chrissie when it was discovered that she set the storeroom on fire with a Molotov cocktail at Wentworth, thus beginning the Great Fire at Wentworth, and lied about it to the cops. She later tries to frame Reb for attacking Myra Desmond but is found out and transferred to Blackmoore.

* Heather "Mouse" Trapp (Jentah Sobott - episodes 106-326), a rather timid young woman in and out for Wentworth for petty crime. She escapes and goes on the run with Judy Bryant after crawling through the tunnel during the pantomime. Later she returns to Wentworth and gets mixed up in the plans for the Great fire where she perishes in the flames and burns to death.

* Kerry Vincent (Penny Downie - episodes 112-124), a prisoner transferred to Wentworth because of her artistic talent but who turns out to be a mediocrity, exploited for her prisoner status.

* Helen Smart (Caroline Gillmer - episodes 118-441), a likable, amusing prostitute frequently sent to Wentworth for soliciting who becomes a useful contact for the women on the outside. Became good friends with Judy Bryant. Helen was known to the prison as "The 'tart' with a heart."

* Gail Summers (Susanne Howarth - episodes 124-133), a harassed housewife and neighbor of officer Meg Morris, driven to beating her young children because of an inability to cope. Remanded to Wentworth where she faces the anger of the other prisoners for being a "baby basher".

* Kay White (Sandy Gore - episodes 127-145), the administrator of a clothing factory where the women are out on work release. Kay arrives at Wentworth after embezzling the payroll, using it to finance her compulsive gambling habit. A fellow inmate struck Kay with an electric jug-kettle and she died of a blood-clot on the brain. (She was attacking Lizzie Birdsworth for fixing a game, In which Kay wasn't to happy about and Linda came in and hit her over the head with the kettle).

* Tracey Morris (Sue Devine - episodes 141-198), a young woman on remand accused of smuggling heroin into Australia but claims that she was set up by her gangster boyfriend. Tracey's father Bob becomes romantically involved with officer Meg Jackson.

* Hazel Kent (Belinda Davey - episodes 142-399), background prisoner whose situation is eventually explored. A generally decent sort, later episodes show Hazel as being a depressed, drunken loser, turning to the bottle after her partner leaves her for another woman, taking their children with him. Hazel was suffering from a brain tumour and asked Judy bryant to give her an overdose - leading to Judy's return to Wenthworth for her final stint.

* Jacki Nolan (Diane Craig - episodes 149-159), a sophisticated young woman who had escaped from Barnhurst years previously and lives under an alias. When her cover is blown, she is brought to Wentworth as a high profile inmate, with various groups campaigning for her release.

* Myra Desmond (Anne Phelan - episodes 154-552), a former prisoner who had worked with the Prison Reform Group before arriving back at Wentworth and replacing Bea Smith as the show's second long-running "top dog". She was a thoughtful but strong woman. But gave up her life for the safety of the other hostages of The Ballanger Siege.

* Anne Griffin (Rowena Wallace - episodes 160-167), a fragile young woman who is remanded to Wentworth protesting her innocence of a robbery charge. She became very worrying to viewers and was later carted off to a Secure Psychiatric Unit.

* Sandra Hamilton (Candy Raymond - episodes 173-180), an ambitious journalist who deliberately gets herself imprisoned to write a story about life behind bars.

* Evelyn Randall (Julia Blake - episodes 175-179), an eccentric, middle-aged woman and herbalist who is imprisoned for manslaughter after a patient died. Evelyn's arrival coincides with Wentworth being gripped by a mysterious disease and placed under quarantine conditions.

* Georgie Baxter (Tracy Mann - episodes 175-186), a violent, illiterate biker's moll whose aggression is caused by her deafness.

* Jeannie Baxter (Leila Hayes - episodes 180-183), Georgie Baxter's mother, who had neglected her as a child. Admitted to Wentworth for "living off immoral earnings" as a brothel madam.

* Marie Winter (Maggie Millar - episodes 197-471), a tough long-term prisoner who was top dog of country prison Barnhurst, specialising in pushing drugs. She escaped with help form Lou Kelly and The Freak by climbing over the fence in afternoon exercise and clinging onto a helicopter and flying away. Notably the best exit. We are told that a few days later she is captured and sent to Blackmoor.

* Michelle Parks (Nina Landis - episodes 209-213), an attractive young athlete with Olympic potential, Michelle is remanded to Wentworth charged with stealing from the office where she worked and once inside, literally runs rings around deputy governor Jim Fletcher.

* Lori Young (Susannah Fowle - episodes 209-347), a young girl who visits Wentworth searching for her biological mother who had given her up for adoption - Judy Bryant. Lori later deliberately gets herself imprisoned to spend more time getting to know her mother.

* Kathy Hall (Sue Jones - episodes 213-220), a woman imprisoned for theft who is heavily involved with the local underworld. Kathy knows too much, and attempts are made to silence her for good. But on her release she is run over by a hit and run driver and dies.

* Alison Page (Fay Kelton - episodes 215-227), troubled suburban prisoner inside for shoplifting and unhappy at being locked up with "common criminals".

* Andrea Hennessy (Bethany Lee - episodes 228-236), a student and political activist who is admitted to Wentworth after assaulting officer Colleen Powell during a demonstration outside the prison. To secure her release, her followers kidnap governor Erica Davidson.

* Linda Golman (Mary Charlston - episodes 228-236), associate of Andrea Hennessy who is remanded to Wentworth for her part in the kidnapping of governor Erica Davidson. She was found hanging in Andrea's cell. suicide but people wonder if Andrea hung her. she had changed after solitary and very very depressed.

* Sandy Edwards (Louise Le Nay - episodes 235-264), a cocky gangster's moll inside for murder. Briefly took over as top dog whilst Bea Smith was away in hospital. She later disappears after a fixed 'meeting' with Kate Peterson at the bins but when the girls are called in Kate returns instead of Kate.

* Kate Peterson (Olivia Hamnett - episodes 235-273), a former doctor who had poisoned her lover. A refined, intelligent and coolly self-reliant inmate. Kate was one of the few characters on the show who was a "good guy," and later turned "bad." Usually it was the other way around. She was later carted off to a nut-house when she tried to strangle her cell-mate Judy. (Notably an iconic scene).

* Susie Driscoll (Jacqui Gordon - episodes 260-302), a young girl who is admitted to Wentworth after she has escaped from all the juvenile institutions she has been placed in. Due to her young age and innocent nature, she is taken under the collective maternal wing of most of the women. She is later released to be with her real family.

* Faye Quin (Anne Lucas - episodes 285-352), a petty criminal inmate who attempts to take charge of all gambling at Wentworth. Frequently on Nola McKenzie's side. She is last seen being reduced to tears after being transferred to C-Block and reading a letter from her son, Billy.

* Hannah Simpson (Julieanne Newbould - episodes 288-303), a young woman on remand for armed robbery who becomes the first unwilling object of officer Joan "The Freak" Ferguson's Sapphist lust.

* Donna Mason (Arkie Whiteley - episodes 290-303), a doomed heroin addict whom Bea Smith tries to help through cold turkey, reminded of her own deceased daughter Debbie. She later died when she injected herself with spiked drugs, She died in Bea Smith's arms.

* Maxine Daniels (Lisa Crittenden - episodes 297-392), a young biker frequently inside Wentworth for petty theft. She was shot dead by an officer while trying to escape the scene of a robbery.

* Barbara Fields (Susan Guerin - episodes 300-326), a devious middle-class woman who embezzled funds from the shoe factory where she worked. Barbara is the first Wentworth inmate to pose a threat to Joan Ferguson after she acquires the Freak's secret diaries full of incriminating evidence of the corrupt screw's dodgy dealings. During The Great Fire she tries to recover the diaries from Erica's office but collapses and dies.

* Paddy Lawson (Anna Hruby - episodes 304-339), a young woman charged with assault and a highly aggressive inmate. It is eventually discovered that Paddy suffers from claustrophobia. After this, she settles down and becomes a friend of Bea Smith. Paddy was viciously murdered by Nola McKenzie by drowning, earning her Bea's wrath.

* Penny Seymour (Joy Dunstan - episodes 307-309), a young woman imprisoned for prostitution. She fell victim of the Black Gloved Killer.

* Sally Dempster(Liz Harris - episodes 313-320), neurotic middle-class housewife who tries to run down her neglectful husband after an argument. Like Gail Summers, she too was given rough treatment by the other women, because she bashed her kid.

* Jeannie Stanton (Rona McLeod - episodes 325-329), pregnant prisoner whose baby is delivered by Bea Smith and Chrissie Latham in a men's prison (as the men rioted).

* Valerie Jacobs (Barbara Angell - episodes 330-332), an old friend of deputy governor Colleen Powell having stolen goods for her boyfriend to sell in his shop.

* Nola McKenzie (Carole Skinner - episodes 331-370), a vicious double murderer who had escaped from death row in Western Australia. Possibly Bea Smith's deadliest rival and the first inmate to actively collude with corrupt officer Joan "The Freak" Ferguson. She angered Bea after callously murdering Paddy Lawson by drowning her in a wash basin. She eventually tries to drive Bea crazy, until Bea eliminated her by shooting her with a Zip Gun.

* Trixie Mann (Anna Mizza - episodes 336-340), a young woman imprisoned for prostitution who becomes a brief offsider of Nola McKenzie. She was released.

* Janice Young (Catherine Wilkin - episodes 344-352), proud suburban wife and mother imprisoned for refusing to pay a court fine. Her husband Chris (Roger Oakley - episode ) becomes involved with deputy governor Colleen Powell while she is inside.

* Roxanne Bradshaw (Peppie D'Or - episodes 345-381), friend of Maxine Daniels who later arrives inside for receiving stolen goods. She is pregnant after agreeing to a surrogacy arrangement with a middle-class couple.

* Jill Clark (Kathleen Brinson - episodes 348-353), a departmental employee posing as an inmate in order to conduct a covert investigation of the prison.

* Lainie Dobson (Marina Finlay - episodes 354-366), tattoo-covered shoplifter who turns to drugs while inside. She tries to remove her tattoos by dipping her cut arms into caustic soda, she was released.

* Diane Henley (Rhonda Cressey - episodes 355-361), illiterate prisoner whose plight highlights the lack of educational facilities at Wentworth.

* Denise Tyler (Geraldene Morrow - episodes 361-367), working-class single mother on remand for apparently killing one of her sons.

* Zara Moonbeam (Ilona Rodgers - episodes 362-370), on remand for fraud. Zara claims to be a medium with "second sight" and becomes embroiled in a bizarre scheme by Joan Ferguson and Nola McKenzie to drive Bea Smith insane. Moonbeam was the proud owner of a disturbing Yorkshire accent.

* Tracey Belman (Alyson Best - episodes 368-372), paraplegic prisoner who poisoned her husband after a car crash which left her using a wheelchair. But Joan Ferguson proved everyone wrong when she caused Tracy to reveal she could walk and did not need a wheelchair.

* Maggie May Kennedy (Davina Whitehouse - episodes 371-376), geriatric drugs mule convicted for smuggling heroin. Turns out to be an old friend of Lizzie Birdsworth. She had, arguably, the most bizarre accent in the entire series, drifting between American slang, BBC English and Dame Edna.

* Carol Colsen (Merrin Canning - episodes 373-377), next door neighbour of Joan Ferguson and an abused housewife who finally snaps and kills her husband.

* Laura Gardiner/Brandy Carter (Roslyn Gentle - episodes 373-382), admitted to Wentworth as a surly, antagonistic prostitute, officer Meg Morris recognises her as a meek librarian. However, it is not simply a case of a woman living a double life as it soon becomes apparent that Laura/Brandy is schizophrenic...

* Sandra "Pixie" Mason (Judy McBurney - episodes 377-510), a flighty, romantic inmate initially admitted on bigamy charges. (Mason, addicted to weddings, had married a number of men.) She was cruelly raped by Frank Burke, but her friends and Joan Ferguson helped set up evil screw, Len Murphy, for the rape. She never recovered from her ordeal with Frank and is transferred to Ingleside.

* Petra Roberts (Penny Maegraith - episodes 383-407), a former teacher remanded to Wentworth charged with the murder of her abusive father. Is in love with prison doctor Scott Collins. Her storyline was basically a re-hash of the Karen Travers one from several years earlier. She was released.

* Sharon Smart (Liddy Clark - episodes 383-388), the younger sister of Helen Smart who becomes involved with a crooked religious cult.

* Lucy Ferguson (Yoni Prior - episodes 385-389), the niece of officer Joan Ferguson who arrives inside on drug charges.

* Glynis Ladd (Debbie Cumming - episodes 389-391), a prostitute and junkie.

* Rosemary Kaye (Jodie Yemm - episodes 391-402), naive country girl who comes to the city looking for work and ends up in Wentworth falsely accused of theft.

* Sonia Stevens (Tina Bursill - episodes 394-447), a cool vice queen who had operated a protection racket fleecing prostitutes whilst maintaining a cover as a policeman's wife. Imprisoned for heroin trafficking. She escaped and was last seen standing on a clifftop.

* Randi Goodlove (Zoe Bertram - episodes 394-414), a mercenary, high-class prostitute who crosses swords with officer Meg Morris when she tries to manipulate her son Marty (Andrew McKaige - episode ) into marriage as a cover for her prostitution. Randi fell victim of Murderous David Bridges, she was killed and stashed in the boiler room.

* Cass Parker (Babs McMillan - episodes 401-460), a gentle-natured farmer's daughter with a murderous bad temper. She was later carted off to a secure nut house, after attempting to strangle Dennis Crukshaunk, when he caused Bobbie Mitchell to miscarry her baby.

* Minnie Donovan (Wendy Playfair - episodes 405-437), an elderly woman who had been a foster carer and had organized her charges into a team of shoplifters. Became the series' most unorthodox top dog. The first of several Lizzie Birdsworth-lite characters. She is transferred to B-Block.

* Bobbie Mitchell (Maxine Klibingaitis - episodes 405-533), a streetwise and rebellious youngster and punk imprisoned for shoplifting and assault. Accused of pushing Reb over the catwalk but cleared of the charge and later released.

* Brenda Hewitt (Carmen Warrington - episodes 408-416), a talented forger working for the local underworld who is involved in a brief business partnership with Sonia Stevens while inside.

* Belinda Johns (Jane Turner - episodes 414-428), an embittered blind woman who gets herself imprisoned to take revenge on Sonia Stevens, whose protection racket partner left her blind after a bashing. She was transferred away from Sonia after an attempted bashing which involved a wrench.

* Sarah Higgins (Nell Johnson - episodes 416-499), Aryan-looking Visiting Justice notorious for her tough attitude and the harsh sentences she gives out to the prisoners. Sarah gets a taste of life on the other side of the bars when she is remanded on corruption charges.

* Reb Kean (Janet Andrewartha - episodes 422-589), a tough inmate who played rival to top dog Myra Desmond. She was born into money, but rebelled against her wealthy family. She was returned to Wentworth later in the series, a changed character following electric shock treatment. She is released after she is cleared of the attack on Joyce Barry.

* Mo Maguire (Bronwyn Gibbs - episodes 428-432), antagonistic remand prisoner protesting her innocence of a burglary charge.

* Camilla Wells (Annette Andre - episodes 429-432), a radio show hostess and journalist who arrives at Wentworth as a "celebrity" inmate for not paying a parking fine.

* Meryl King (Marilyn Maguire - episodes 429-432), a prostitute imprisoned for drug possession with links to the local underworld.

* Gloria Payne (Tottie Goldsmith - episodes 430-445), trouble-making inmate and early antagonist of new top dog Myra Desmond, having been her husband's mistress on the outside. She was last seen suffering in hospital after having boiling water tipped on her by Philis, attempting to frame Myra.

* Sarah Webster (Fiona Paul - episodes 433-441), a young single mother who finds herself remanded to Wentworth after sheltering her old friend Reb Kean while she is on the run.

* Alice "Lurch" Jenkins (Lois Collinder - episodes 448-692), a prisoner who, like many, graduated from a small non-speaking part into a more fleshed-out role. Her character, initially a thug, later mellowed and became an ali of Rita Connors after the riot she took part in, realizing Lou was no good for her and what she did was wrong. this was further solidified after Lou killed Alice's brother and mother. Lou was also raped by Alice's brother while escaped.

* Rachel Millsom (Kim Trengove - episodes 450-472), a young woman on remand for running down the man who ran down and killed her grandfather.

* Hannah Geldschmidt (Agnieszka Perepeczko - episodes 451-456), an East German Jewish concentration camp survivor and illegal immigrant who arrives at Wentworth awaiting extradition back to East Germany.

* Lou Kelly (Louise Siversen - episodes 452-616), a vicious prison thug — perhaps the most violent agitator in H Block, during the later years of the series. She held a riot in which she killed Eve Wilder the Phantom Lagger but she was later killed while in solitary ; being beaten to death with a glass bottle by Janet "Maggot" Williams. Lou escaped after the riot she caused by faking a murder attempt by cutting herself with knife, setting up Rita. While she escaped she was raped by Alice's brother and killed him and his mother.

* Leigh Templar (Virginia Hey - episodes 457-470), a glamorous fashion model remanded to Wentworth after killing her manager, who had been blackmailing her with some porn films she had made at the start of her career.

* Marlene "Rabbit" Warren (Genevieve Lemon - episodes 461-534), a juvenile prankster imprisoned for manslaughter after one of her practical jokes had gone tragically wrong. She is later released to be with husband, Matt Delaney.

* Dot Farrar (Alethea McGrath - episodes 462-486), an elderly, hypochondriac prisoner who had served years inside. Generally regarded as a nuisance by the other women.

* Edna Pearson (Vivean Gray - episodes 463-468), a genteel woman imprisoned for trying to poison her second husband. (Note: the episodes featuring Edna Pearson were edited to remove all her scenes after a woman who had been acquitted of a similar offense threatened to sue Grundy's, claiming similarities between the character and her own case. The complete storyline has been screened in certain subsequent international screenings but is missing from the SHOCK DVD release.)Most UK viewers saw Edna arrive, do very little and then disappear.

* Deirdre Kean (Anne Charleston - episodes 464-492), Reb Kean's estranged socialite mother who is remanded to Wentworth after helping her daughter to escape.

* Bev "The Beast" Baker (Maggie Dence - episodes 472-477), an infamous serial killer, dubbed "The Beast" by the tabloids, who terrifies both staff and inmates alike. When she went on the warpath in Wentworth, She killed Rob Summerton and soon after committed suicide by injecting herself with an empty hypodermic needle.

* Angela "Angel" Adams (Kylie Foster - episodes 477-488), a deceitful young prisoner who plays on a "little girl lost" facade as a cover for her genuine criminal activities. She was later sent to a psychiatric unit when her true colours began to show.

* Kerryn Davies (Jill Forster - episodes 485-495), a white-collar fraudster who finds it hard to cope being in prison and separated from her husband.

* Sam Greenway (Robyn Gibbes - episodes 495-520), a young arts student framed for drug possession. Later died when Lou set up for another inmate to be electrocuted through a door handle which Sam used first.

* Matt Delaney (Peter Bensley - episodes 499-533), one of a trio of male prisoners transferred to Wentworth for their own safety after they had foiled a mass breakout attempt.

* Geoff Macrae (Leslie Dayman - episodes 500-556), the unofficial top dog of the male inmates transferred from Woodridge men's prison. Becomes romantically involved with top dog Myra Desmond. He was last seen at Myra's funeral.

* Frank Burke (Trevor Kent - episodes 500-555), the last of the male Woodridge inmates moved to Wentworth, Frank is a convicted rapist and all-round villain. Raped Pixie Mason. He escaped and eventually took his revenge on Dennis by knee-capping him.

* Yemil Bakarta (Maria Mercedes - episodes 504-516), a Middle Eastern Islamic inmate charged with causing a car accident when attempting to escape from her brutal husband.

* Lexie Patterson (Pepe Trevor - episodes 509-650), a loud-mouth punk and card-shark, who spent her first few months in Boy George-style garb. (Note: With George's change in image and subsequent fall from favour occurring prior to Lexie's on-air debut in February 1985, these episodes already seemed dated at the time of first broadcast.) She is later released with Nancy McCormack.

* Ettie Parslow (Lois Ramsay - episodes 514-600), a senile old dear who turns out to have been imprisoned since the Second World War due to a bureaucratic mix-up. Develops a close relationship with officer Meg Morris when it turns out that Ettie nursed her as a new-born baby in prison. She was last seen begging to be let into Wentworth to see Julie Egbert on her birthday.

* Janice Grant (Jenny Ludlam - episodes 514-528), a sophisticated solicitor imprisoned for dangerous driving. It turns out that Janice is an alcoholic, suffering from withdrawal symptoms and dependent on buying prison home brew from other inmates.

* Sheila Brady (Colleen Hewett episodes 519-534), misfit remand inmate inside for heroin possession with a secret singing talent. She performed 'Pixie's Song', the only other piece of music ever to close an episode of the soap.

* Anita Selby (Diane Craig - episodes 526-536), a Catholic nun imprisoned for causing a disturbance at a nuclear disarmament demonstration. Anita's overall goodness and willingness to seek such virtue in others brought about a brief moral chaos to Wentworth, its prisoners and staff. In particular she proved to be the perfect character foil for cell mate Lou Kelly and evil officer Joan Ferguson. She was released on bail and last seen having a heart to heart with Joan Ferguson.

* Nora Flynn (Sonja Tallis - episodes 537-588), a long-term, self-reformed prisoner transferred from Barnhurst. She had served 23 years for her involvement in the thrill-kill murder of three hitch-hikers. Perhaps inspired by the situation of the Charles Manson gang members, despite appearing to be self-reformed Flynn is repeatedly denied parole. She executes a mysterious escape from prison. Later her murdered corpse is dumped outside the prison: it transpires that after her escape she had been hunted down and killed by an ex-policeman serial killer with a grudge against prisoners.

* May Collins (Billie Hammerberg - episodes 537-587), an earthy career criminal who was a famous cat burglar. Although getting on in years, May is a tough lady who watches out for the more vulnerable, younger prisoners. After her escape, she works with a gang to rob an art gallery and after much disagreement she is shot in her chest.

* Willie Beecham (Kirsty Child - episodes 537-682), May Collins' partner-in-crime. Willie was a fence on the outside and runs a bartering business in prison. Willie is something of a snob, and often antagonises the women with her supercilious attitude. She returned for a surprising, one-off appearance later in the series as an employee which Joan goes to see for a job.

* Julie "Chook" Egbert (Jackie Woodburne - episodes 537-628), a shy but highly intelligent young girl who had stolen from her workplace to help her terminally ill mother. She is transferred back to Barnhurst until her release so she can live with her new husband, Steve Ryan.

* Daphne Graham (Debra Lawrance - episodes 537-590), a garden-loving inmate who had been a juvenile offender before ending up in prison. It is later discovered that Daphne's crime and her subsequent self-harming in prison is linked to extreme PMT. She was released.

* Ruth Ballinger (Lindy Davies - episodes 538-552), the shady wife of an international drugs baron remanded to Wentworth with special privileges in the hope that she will assist the Federal Police with their efforts to nail her husband's drug trade. Ruth's time in the series climaxes in a three-episode-long terrorist siege when her husband sends a team of armed mercenaries to spring her from the prison. After the successful escape, she is caught at the airport and is transferred to Blackmoor. (Joan phones Cynthia Leach to have Ruth 'taken care of')

* Jenny Hartley (Jenny Lovell - episodes 540-588), a naive, wimpish young woman on remand protesting her innocence of the murder of her wealthy grandmother. Not one of the most endearing characters in the series.

* Queenie Marshall (Marilyn Rodgers - episodes 556-573), sassy prostitute who later becomes a friend to the women on the outside.

* Nikki Lennox (Vicki Mathias - episodes 568-574), the leader of a gang of juvenile delinquents sent to Wentworth to spend time with convicted criminals as part of a "scared straight" scheme. She became an enemy of Lexie Patterson when she cheated at a game of cards and they broke out in a fight.

* Cindy Moran (Robyn Frank - episodes 568-574), another juvenile offender sent to Wentworth to be "scared straight".

* Eve Wilder (Lynda Stoner - episodes 574-600), a beautiful, enigmatic socialite who arrives in Wentworth protesting her innocence at having allegedly shot the man she had been having an affair with. During her stay, she bashed guard Joyce Barry. She was killed by Lou Kelly by hanging during a riot. As she was found out to be the "Phantom Lagger"

* Rita "The Beater" Connors (Glenda Linscott - episodes 585-692), a spirited bikie, nicknamed "Rita the Beater" who arrives inside for grievous bodily harm and becomes the show's third long-running top dog. She also brought down The Freak. Stepped down from Top Dog when she attracted terminal cancer

* Barbie Cox (Jayne Healey - episodes 586-602), a daffy young woman whose vocabulary is limited to "Hi-de-hi!" and "Naughty, naughty!" As part of a running joke, it is never revealed why Barbie is in prison. She is released with Jesse Windon, but returns the following episode to throw tennis balls to the women, that were filled with alcohol.

* Nancy McCormack (Julia Blake - episodes 589-650), a demure, dignified housewife imprisoned for killing her abusive husband. In fact, Nancy is covering up for her son, who had accidentally killed his father during a fight. She is released alongside Lexie Patterson.

* Jessie Windom (Pat Evison - episodes 589-620), a no-nonsense, resourceful former brothel madam who deliberately gets herself imprisoned in order to search for the daughter she gave away years before - Lexie Patterson. She is released and later takes Lexie's son until Lexie is released.

* Ida Brown (Paddy Burnet - episodes 592-691), Rita Connors' formidable elderly auntie involved with her niece's biker gang. She is last seen visiting Rita in 691.

* "Roach" Waters (Linda Hartley - episodes 595-643), a young punk inside for armed robbery. "Roach" (real name Rachel) is the girlfriend of Rita Connors' brother Bongo (Shane Connor). She escaped while on work release.

* Janet "Maggot" Williams (Christine Earle - episodes 599-639), a second-rate prison thug who becomes an offsider to a number of the wannabe top dogs at Wentworth. She murdered Lou Kelly. She is later transferred to A-Block following a bashing from Kath Maxwell.

* Kath Maxwell (Kate Hood - episodes 601-692), a middle-class woman committed for killing her terminally sick, handicapped daughter. Initially brutalised by the other women, Kath toughens up and becomes Rita Connors' main rival for the top dog position. She is the last top dog of the series.

* Vicki McPherson (Rebecca Dines - episodes 608-692), a wisecracking inmate who becomes an ally to Kath Maxwell and "Spider" Simpson.

* Lorelei Wilkinson (Paula Duncan - episodes 623-677), a vivacious con-woman imprisoned for posing as a policewoman. She was transferred to Ingleside Mental Institution after stabbing Ernest Craven, in which she became mentally unstable.

* Merle Jones (Rosanne Hull-Brown - episodes 625-692), a mentally disabled, illiterate prisoner initially regarded as a figure of fun by the other women, but finds friendship from inmate Kath Maxwell. She escaped with Kath but was left behind after an injury and sent to a Pyschiatric Hospital but returned to Wentworth where Kath made several attmps to make up with her but, they eventually made up in 691.

* Rose "Spider" Simpson (Taya Straton - episodes 649-686), a sneering career criminal who takes charge of all rackets and contraband trading at Wentworth. She was transferred to Barnhurst.

* Lisa Mullins (Nicki Paull/Terrie Waddell - episodes 651-692), a young woman arrested for operating a prostitution and blackmail racket on the outside. (Note: Lisa was played by Nikki Paul for her first six episodes. When Paul suddenly became ill, the part was taken over by Terrie Waddell).

* Wendy Glover (Julieanne Newbould - episodes 651-659), an undercover policewoman sent into Wentworth to shadow endangered inmate Lisa Mullins and to gather information about her case.

* Sarah West (Kylie Belling - episodes 658-668), a fiery, impulsive Aboriginal inmate who suffers from abuse from racist prisoners but who starts to fight back. She was transferred to Barnhurst.

* Michelle "Brumby" Tucker (Sheryl Munks - episodes 665-692), a young prisoner first seen at Blackmoor prison. A misfit and a troublemaker.

* Margaret "Spike" Marsh (Victoria Rowland - episodes 665-691), "Brumby"'s best friend at Blackmoor who was framed for heroin trafficking. "Spike" was a university student studying the sciences before being imprisoned and has kept her middle-class background hidden from the other prisoners. She was released to be with her parents.

* "Stud" Wilson (Peter Lindsay - episodes 668-684), male former Blackmoor inmate transferred to Wentworth after Blackmoor is burnt down following a riot. A convicted rapist and an underling of evil governor Ernest Craven.

* Harry Grosvenor (Mike Bishop - episodes 679-692), former male Blackmoor prisoner moved to Wentworth, becoming a love interest for Alice Jenkins. He was transferred to Barnhurst.

A list of all prison staff at the Wentworth Detention Centre in the television series Prisoner.

Listed in order of appearance:

* Erica Davidson (Patsy King - episodes 1-454), the prison's governor. Sometimes, nicknamed "Davo", Davidson was a former barrister with political connections and notable events during her Governorship were the arrival of her niece on drug charges, her doomed romance with dodgy businessman Andrew Reynolds and her kidnap at the request of inmate Andrea Hennessey. A few months after her resignation she returned - working for the department itself - and was highly instrumental in investigating and eventually stopping the first corrupt regime of temporary governor, Joan Ferguson.

* Vera Bennett (Fiona Spence - episodes 1-224), the acid-tongued senior prisoner officer aged and embittered beyond her years by caring for her demanding invalid mother. She believed that Erica's and Meg's progressive methods were wrong, and that the prisoners needed discipline and authority. Her nickname was "Vinegar Tits". Despite their differences, Vera counted Meg as perhaps her only friend. Although she was harsh, she was not corrupt like her successor Joan Ferguson. She left after a failed romance with officer Terry Harrison to become Governor of Barnhurst prison, and she was referred to in later years - still Governor of Barnhurst in the final year of the series. (She is mentioned after The Fire and Riot at Barnhurst, which marks the end of an era ; Bea Smith's death)

* Meg Jackson (Elspeth Ballantyne - episodes 1-692), one of the prison's senior officers. Born in a prison herself, Jackson was often sympathetic to inmate needs, hoping to rehabilitate the prisoners, though she was no pushover. Despite their vast differences in prison ideology, she and Vera Bennett were close friends. The departures of inmates Bea Smith in September 1983 and Lizzie Birdsworth in February 1984 left Meg as the show's only remaining original cast member. Meg continued until the end of the series, making her the only main character seen through the show's entire run. Meg had a heated rivalry with corrupt guard Joan "The Freak" Ferguson, which stemmed from Meg's stint in Wentworth as a prisoner. (Meg sensed that The Freak was corrupt and it was proven.) Meg was also friendly with fellow guards Colleen Powell and Joyce Barry. She became Deputy Governor after Colleen left Wentworth. She was eventually joined by her son, Marty Jackson, who shared his mother's compassion towards the prisoners, although he too wasn't known for being a pushover. She had a close relationship with aged inmate, Ettie Parslow (Lois Ramsay) after it was discovered that the old dear had nursed her when she was a baby.

* Greg Miller (Barry Quin - episodes 1-110), handsome prison doctor who had had a relationship with inmate Karen Travers years before she was imprisoned at Wentworth. He and Karen later marry and move to Queensland.

* Anne Yates (Kirsty Child - episodes 1-29), a corrupt officer who does favours for the prisoners in exchange for cash. Is forced to resign after being caught selling contraceptives to Marilyn Mason. She is subsequently admitted to Wentworth as a prisoner in on drug charges. Despised by the other prisoners she hides from them in a laundry dryer, and dies of suffocation after Vera slams the door shut not realising Yates was hiding inside.

* Jean Vernon (Christine Amor - episodes 14-56), a young, idealistic social worker appointed welfare officer at Wentworth. The character is written out with little explanation.

* Joyce Barry (Joy Westmore - episodes 29-692), usually friendly but somewhat ineffectual officer who eventually marries the prison chef Mervin Pringle (Ernie Bourne). Possibly best remembered for her kidnap at the hands of vicious Lou Kelly, the brutal bashing at the hands of femme fatale Eve Wilder and her comic moments including her tap dancing classes and her ineptitude. Lou threatened and attacked Joyce whilst she was serving a stint as acting governor.

* Jim Fletcher (Gerard Maguire - episodes 40-256), the prison's male deputy governor, a stern, authoritarian ex-army man who had a tendency to fall in love with some of his more attractive charges. He later resigned.

* Colleen Powell (Judith McGrath - episodes 48-456), a senior prison officer who rose to prominence after Vera Bennett's departure and was deputy governor for much of Ann Reynolds' administration. Between the period following Vera's departure (Episode 225) and the arrival of Joan Ferguson (287), Colleen was a nasty and aggressive officer who was extremely unpopular with both the staff and inmates. Once Joan Ferguson arrived however, she settled down and was more nicer to the staff and prisoners. She was noted for her sarcastic, dry sense of humor, and was nicknamed 'Po-Face' by the inmates, and while she was very firm, she was also unscrupulously fair. Colleen left a few months after her family were killed by a car bomb intended for Rick Manning. Her position of deputy governor was taken over by Meg Morris, to Joan Ferguson's disgust.

* Ted Douglas (Ian Smith - episodes 61-382), the pompous, generally disliked representative of the Department Of Corrective Services, forever visiting Wentworth to demand that governor Erica Davidson increase security. A partnership with elusive criminal Lionel Fellowes eventually led to his unceremonious downfall.

* Paul Reid (George Mallaby - episodes 85-130), a liberal-minded social worker who also has problems at home thanks to his wayward son Tony (John Higginson).

* Jock Stewart (Tommy Dysart - episodes 114-258), a sinister, vicious officer who bullies the women. Murdered Sharon Gilmour sparking a long running storyline where Judy Bryant strives for revenge. He later tries to attack Judy 'again' but he falls down a flight of stairs and is paralysed.

* Agnes Forster (Lois Ramsay - episodes 135-140), a dotty old lady who arrives as a social worker, and seems more interested in her cat Butchie and drinking tea than actually doing any work. Sometimes, her advice would cause more stress on the prisoners than not. A prime example was with Doreen Anderson, which nearly led to her committing suicide; and losing a letter that would have allowed Lizzie Birdsworth to visit her ailing granddaughter, Josie, led up to Erica reprimanding her, and her resignation.

* Stuart Gillespie (Wynn Roberts - episodes 160-168), a stern departmental overseer who comes to inspect the running of the prison and antagonises both inmates and officers with his officious attitude.

* Sid Humphries (Edward Hepple - episodes 169-222), an elderly man who works as a part-time handyman at Wentworth and develops a romantic attachment with inmate Lizzie Birdsworth.

* David Andrews (Serge Lazareff - episodes 171-194), a teacher who arrives at Wentworth to run a new educational facility for the women.

* Terry Harrison (Brian Hannan - episodes 199-223), a male officer and old friend of Jim Fletcher's who is transferred to Wentworth and becomes romantically involved with Vera Bennett. He is later shot.

* Janet Conway (Kate Sheil) - episodes 232-274), a newly trained officer who had previously spent time in Wentworth as a remand prisoner twelve years before. She later quits.

* Steve Faulkner (Wayne Jarratt - episodes 245-316), handsome male officer, frequently accused of sleeping with some of the women. His attempt to bring about the downfall of Joan Ferguson leads to his resignation.

* Ian Mahoney (Peter Curtin) - episodes 257-274), brought in to help the inmates with a printing press project. After a brief flirtation with Meg, he becomes romanticly involved with Janet Conway and they both eventually leave Wentworth to become married.

* Joan Ferguson (Maggie Kirkpatrick - episodes 287-692), a sadistic and corrupt lesbian prison officer known to the prisoners as "the Freak". Infamous for the body searches she conducts using her trademark black leather gloves. She was perhaps the most corrupt and villainous guard at Wentworth (even more so than Vera Bennett) and she had an arch-rival in senior guard, Meg Morris (Jackson) who saw Joan as she always had thought she was, when Meg was a prisoner herself. She also had a rivalry with prison governor Ann Reynolds. Joan spent two long stints as Acting Governor - both times she implemented a severe regime that alienated herself from both prisoners and officers alike. One of those regimes was stopped by her former superior, Erica Davidson. She also had a tendency to antagonize her fellow guards, she and Meg battled for the post of deputy governor, which Meg won; and was once soundly slapped in the face by Joyce Barry after she insulted her fiance, Mervin Pringle.

* Neil Murray (Adrian Wright - episodes 305-320), a male nurse who takes over medical duties at Wentworth and develops a sinister attachment to inmate Chrissie Latham.

* Ann Reynolds (Gerda Nicolson - episodes 364-692), who replaced Erica Davidson as governor of the prison. Her nickname was "Reyno". A former social worker, she was a progressive governor, who believed in rehabilitation. She had a rival in Joan Ferguson, whom was Acting governor in her absence, and she instituted two severe regimes, which angered both prisoners and staff, one of which was stopped by Ann's predecessor, Erica Davidson. Ann suffered breast cancer during her run as Governor, failed romances with the hermetic Wally Wallace and bikie preacher Dan Moulton and kidnap and persecution at the hands of an angry relative of an ex-prisoner that led to famous Episode 500 cliffhanger.

* Scott Collins (Tim Elston - episodes 383-418), a new handsome prison doctor who is secretly in love with prisoner Petra Roberts.

* David Bridges (David Waters - episodes 408-417), a male officer who is sensitive to the women's problems to the point that he begins to systemically "set them free" with the prisoners assuming that he is helping them to escape. His intentions are rather more sinister, as the elderly Lizzie Birdsworth discovers in an end-of-season cliffhanger episode... Cass later beheads him.

* Rick Manning (Andy Anderson - episodes 421-458), a tough male officer who had previously been in the police force.

* Stan Dobson (Brian James - episodes 425-513), an elderly prison officer who worked at Wentworth before his retirement. Stan later returned to Wentworth as a general handyman.

* Jonathan Edmonds (Bryan Marshall - episodes 448-455), a psychologist granted permission to conduct research at Wentworth, whose activities take a sinister turn when they involve experiments in mind control through hypnosis.

* Dennis Cruckshank (Nigel Bradshaw - episodes 457-560), a Yorkshireman who had worked in borstals in England before arriving at Wentworth as an officer. He was later tracked down by Frank Burke, and was kneecapped.

* Heather Rodgers (Victoria Nicholls - episodes 461-484), a well-meaning but naive "rookie" officer straight out of training school.

* Pat Slattery (Dorothy Cutts - episodes 473-690), who takes over Joyce Barry's role in the series as a well-meaning but incompetent background officer.

* Len Murphy (Maurie Fields - episodes 493-511), a former officer at Woodridge men's prison, Len was a sinister, murderous male counterpart to "The Freak".

* Mervin Pringle (Ernie Bourne - episodes 523-691), prison cook well liked by the women. Fell in love with and married officer Joyce Barry.

* Pippa Reynolds (Christine Harris - episodes 539-604), Governor Ann Reynolds' spirited, fashion-conscious daughter who teaches an art class at Wentworth and starts a tempestuous relationship with lawyer Ben Fulbright.

* Terri Malone (Margot Knight - episodes 540-576), bisexual young officer who temporarily became Joan Ferguson's live-in lover.

* Steve Ryan (Peter Hayes - episodes 592-628), a well-meaning doctor who secretly conducts research at Wentworth posing as a general handyman and subsequently falls in love with young Julie Egbert.

* Bob Moran (Peter Adams - episodes 595-620), a tough Vietnam veteran who was a temporary stand-in for Ann Reynolds in the governor's chair.

* Marty Jackson (Michael Winchester - episodes 625-692), the son of Meg Jackson, who had followed his mother into the prison officers' profession and shared her compassionate attitude towards the women, although, like his mother, he wasn't a pushover either. (Note: The character of Marty Jackson had appeared in the series on two previous occasions. He was played by Ronald Korosy during the opening episodes and by Andrew McKaige for two stints during the 1983 run.)

* Rodney Adams (Philip Hyde - episodes 630-692), a sneaky, self-serving trainee officer, generally despised by both prisoners and staff.

* Delia Stout (Desiree Smith - episodes 630-679), dedicated trainee officer who harbours a secret crush on colleague Marty Jackson.

* Pamela Madigan (Justine Saunders - episodes 653-668), a social worker and old friend of governor Ann Reynolds.

* Ernest Craven (Ray Meagher - episodes 665-672), the evil governor of corrupt high security prison Blackmoor.

* Tom Lucas (John McTernan - episodes 687-692), maverick teacher who arrives at Wentworth to tutor the women, forming particular friendships with prisoners Merle Jones and Kath Maxwell.

A list of all prison staff at the Wentworth Detention Centre in the television series Prisoner.

Listed in order of appearance:

* Erica Davidson (Patsy King - episodes 1-454), the prison's governor. Sometimes, nicknamed "Davo", Davidson was a former barrister with political connections and notable events during her Governorship were the arrival of her niece on drug charges, her doomed romance with dodgy businessman Andrew Reynolds and her kidnap at the request of inmate Andrea Hennessey. A few months after her resignation she returned - working for the department itself - and was highly instrumental in investigating and eventually stopping the first corrupt regime of temporary governor, Joan Ferguson.

* Vera Bennett (Fiona Spence - episodes 1-224), the acid-tongued senior prisoner officer aged and embittered beyond her years by caring for her demanding invalid mother. She believed that Erica's and Meg's progressive methods were wrong, and that the prisoners needed discipline and authority. Her nickname was "Vinegar Tits". Despite their differences, Vera counted Meg as perhaps her only friend. Although she was harsh, she was not corrupt like her successor Joan Ferguson. She left after a failed romance with officer Terry Harrison to become Governor of Barnhurst prison, and she was referred to in later years - still Governor of Barnhurst in the final year of the series. (She is mentioned after The Fire and Riot at Barnhurst, which marks the end of an era ; Bea Smith's death)

* Meg Jackson (Elspeth Ballantyne - episodes 1-692), one of the prison's senior officers. Born in a prison herself, Jackson was often sympathetic to inmate needs, hoping to rehabilitate the prisoners, though she was no pushover. Despite their vast differences in prison ideology, she and Vera Bennett were close friends. The departures of inmates Bea Smith in September 1983 and Lizzie Birdsworth in February 1984 left Meg as the show's only remaining original cast member. Meg continued until the end of the series, making her the only main character seen through the show's entire run. Meg had a heated rivalry with corrupt guard Joan "The Freak" Ferguson, which stemmed from Meg's stint in Wentworth as a prisoner. (Meg sensed that The Freak was corrupt and it was proven.) Meg was also friendly with fellow guards Colleen Powell and Joyce Barry. She became Deputy Governor after Colleen left Wentworth. She was eventually joined by her son, Marty Jackson, who shared his mother's compassion towards the prisoners, although he too wasn't known for being a pushover. She had a close relationship with aged inmate, Ettie Parslow (Lois Ramsay) after it was discovered that the old dear had nursed her when she was a baby.

* Greg Miller (Barry Quin - episodes 1-110), handsome prison doctor who had had a relationship with inmate Karen Travers years before she was imprisoned at Wentworth. He and Karen later marry and move to Queensland.

* Anne Yates (Kirsty Child - episodes 1-29), a corrupt officer who does favours for the prisoners in exchange for cash. Is forced to resign after being caught selling contraceptives to Marilyn Mason. She is subsequently admitted to Wentworth as a prisoner in on drug charges. Despised by the other prisoners she hides from them in a laundry dryer, and dies of suffocation after Vera slams the door shut not realising Yates was hiding inside.

* Jean Vernon (Christine Amor - episodes 14-56), a young, idealistic social worker appointed welfare officer at Wentworth. The character is written out with little explanation.

* Joyce Barry (Joy Westmore - episodes 29-692), usually friendly but somewhat ineffectual officer who eventually marries the prison chef Mervin Pringle (Ernie Bourne). Possibly best remembered for her kidnap at the hands of vicious Lou Kelly, the brutal bashing at the hands of femme fatale Eve Wilder and her comic moments including her tap dancing classes and her ineptitude. Lou threatened and attacked Joyce whilst she was serving a stint as acting governor.

* Jim Fletcher (Gerard Maguire - episodes 40-256), the prison's male deputy governor, a stern, authoritarian ex-army man who had a tendency to fall in love with some of his more attractive charges. He later resigned.

* Colleen Powell (Judith McGrath - episodes 48-456), a senior prison officer who rose to prominence after Vera Bennett's departure and was deputy governor for much of Ann Reynolds' administration. Between the period following Vera's departure (Episode 225) and the arrival of Joan Ferguson (287), Colleen was a nasty and aggressive officer who was extremely unpopular with both the staff and inmates. Once Joan Ferguson arrived however, she settled down and was more nicer to the staff and prisoners. She was noted for her sarcastic, dry sense of humor, and was nicknamed 'Po-Face' by the inmates, and while she was very firm, she was also unscrupulously fair. Colleen left a few months after her family were killed by a car bomb intended for Rick Manning. Her position of deputy governor was taken over by Meg Morris, to Joan Ferguson's disgust.

* Ted Douglas (Ian Smith - episodes 61-382), the pompous, generally disliked representative of the Department Of Corrective Services, forever visiting Wentworth to demand that governor Erica Davidson increase security. A partnership with elusive criminal Lionel Fellowes eventually led to his unceremonious downfall.

* Paul Reid (George Mallaby - episodes 85-130), a liberal-minded social worker who also has problems at home thanks to his wayward son Tony (John Higginson).

* Jock Stewart (Tommy Dysart - episodes 114-258), a sinister, vicious officer who bullies the women. Murdered Sharon Gilmour sparking a long running storyline where Judy Bryant strives for revenge. He later tries to attack Judy 'again' but he falls down a flight of stairs and is paralysed.

* Agnes Forster (Lois Ramsay - episodes 135-140), a dotty old lady who arrives as a social worker, and seems more interested in her cat Butchie and drinking tea than actually doing any work. Sometimes, her advice would cause more stress on the prisoners than not. A prime example was with Doreen Anderson, which nearly led to her committing suicide; and losing a letter that would have allowed Lizzie Birdsworth to visit her ailing granddaughter, Josie, led up to Erica reprimanding her, and her resignation.

* Stuart Gillespie (Wynn Roberts - episodes 160-168), a stern departmental overseer who comes to inspect the running of the prison and antagonises both inmates and officers with his officious attitude.

* Sid Humphries (Edward Hepple - episodes 169-222), an elderly man who works as a part-time handyman at Wentworth and develops a romantic attachment with inmate Lizzie Birdsworth.

* David Andrews (Serge Lazareff - episodes 171-194), a teacher who arrives at Wentworth to run a new educational facility for the women.

* Terry Harrison (Brian Hannan - episodes 199-223), a male officer and old friend of Jim Fletcher's who is transferred to Wentworth and becomes romantically involved with Vera Bennett. He is later shot.

* Janet Conway (Kate Sheil) - episodes 232-274), a newly trained officer who had previously spent time in Wentworth as a remand prisoner twelve years before. She later quits.

* Steve Faulkner (Wayne Jarratt - episodes 245-316), handsome male officer, frequently accused of sleeping with some of the women. His attempt to bring about the downfall of Joan Ferguson leads to his resignation.

* Ian Mahoney (Peter Curtin) - episodes 257-274), brought in to help the inmates with a printing press project. After a brief flirtation with Meg, he becomes romanticly involved with Janet Conway and they both eventually leave Wentworth to become married.

* Joan Ferguson (Maggie Kirkpatrick - episodes 287-692), a sadistic and corrupt lesbian prison officer known to the prisoners as "the Freak". Infamous for the body searches she conducts using her trademark black leather gloves. She was perhaps the most corrupt and villainous guard at Wentworth (even more so than Vera Bennett) and she had an arch-rival in senior guard, Meg Morris (Jackson) who saw Joan as she always had thought she was, when Meg was a prisoner herself. She also had a rivalry with prison governor Ann Reynolds. Joan spent two long stints as Acting Governor - both times she implemented a severe regime that alienated herself from both prisoners and officers alike. One of those regimes was stopped by her former superior, Erica Davidson. She also had a tendency to antagonize her fellow guards, she and Meg battled for the post of deputy governor, which Meg won; and was once soundly slapped in the face by Joyce Barry after she insulted her fiance, Mervin Pringle.

* Neil Murray (Adrian Wright - episodes 305-320), a male nurse who takes over medical duties at Wentworth and develops a sinister attachment to inmate Chrissie Latham.

* Ann Reynolds (Gerda Nicolson - episodes 364-692), who replaced Erica Davidson as governor of the prison. Her nickname was "Reyno". A former social worker, she was a progressive governor, who believed in rehabilitation. She had a rival in Joan Ferguson, whom was Acting governor in her absence, and she instituted two severe regimes, which angered both prisoners and staff, one of which was stopped by Ann's predecessor, Erica Davidson. Ann suffered breast cancer during her run as Governor, failed romances with the hermetic Wally Wallace and bikie preacher Dan Moulton and kidnap and persecution at the hands of an angry relative of an ex-prisoner that led to famous Episode 500 cliffhanger.

* Scott Collins (Tim Elston - episodes 383-418), a new handsome prison doctor who is secretly in love with prisoner Petra Roberts.

* David Bridges (David Waters - episodes 408-417), a male officer who is sensitive to the women's problems to the point that he begins to systemically "set them free" with the prisoners assuming that he is helping them to escape. His intentions are rather more sinister, as the elderly Lizzie Birdsworth discovers in an end-of-season cliffhanger episode... Cass later beheads him.

* Rick Manning (Andy Anderson - episodes 421-458), a tough male officer who had previously been in the police force.

* Stan Dobson (Brian James - episodes 425-513), an elderly prison officer who worked at Wentworth before his retirement. Stan later returned to Wentworth as a general handyman.

* Jonathan Edmonds (Bryan Marshall - episodes 448-455), a psychologist granted permission to conduct research at Wentworth, whose activities take a sinister turn when they involve experiments in mind control through hypnosis.

* Dennis Cruckshank (Nigel Bradshaw - episodes 457-560), a Yorkshireman who had worked in borstals in England before arriving at Wentworth as an officer. He was later tracked down by Frank Burke, and was kneecapped.

* Heather Rodgers (Victoria Nicholls - episodes 461-484), a well-meaning but naive "rookie" officer straight out of training school.

* Pat Slattery (Dorothy Cutts - episodes 473-690), who takes over Joyce Barry's role in the series as a well-meaning but incompetent background officer.

* Len Murphy (Maurie Fields - episodes 493-511), a former officer at Woodridge men's prison, Len was a sinister, murderous male counterpart to "The Freak".

* Mervin Pringle (Ernie Bourne - episodes 523-691), prison cook well liked by the women. Fell in love with and married officer Joyce Barry.

* Pippa Reynolds (Christine Harris - episodes 539-604), Governor Ann Reynolds' spirited, fashion-conscious daughter who teaches an art class at Wentworth and starts a tempestuous relationship with lawyer Ben Fulbright.

* Terri Malone (Margot Knight - episodes 540-576), bisexual young officer who temporarily became Joan Ferguson's live-in lover.

* Steve Ryan (Peter Hayes - episodes 592-628), a well-meaning doctor who secretly conducts research at Wentworth posing as a general handyman and subsequently falls in love with young Julie Egbert.

* Bob Moran (Peter Adams - episodes 595-620), a tough Vietnam veteran who was a temporary stand-in for Ann Reynolds in the governor's chair.

* Marty Jackson (Michael Winchester - episodes 625-692), the son of Meg Jackson, who had followed his mother into the prison officers' profession and shared her compassionate attitude towards the women, although, like his mother, he wasn't a pushover either. (Note: The character of Marty Jackson had appeared in the series on two previous occasions. He was played by Ronald Korosy during the opening episodes and by Andrew McKaige for two stints during the 1983 run.)

* Rodney Adams (Philip Hyde - episodes 630-692), a sneaky, self-serving trainee officer, generally despised by both prisoners and staff.

* Delia Stout (Desiree Smith - episodes 630-679), dedicated trainee officer who harbours a secret crush on colleague Marty Jackson.

* Pamela Madigan (Justine Saunders - episodes 653-668), a social worker and old friend of governor Ann Reynolds.

* Ernest Craven (Ray Meagher - episodes 665-672), the evil governor of corrupt high security prison Blackmoor.

* Tom Lucas (John McTernan - episodes 687-692), maverick teacher who arrives at Wentworth to tutor the women, forming particular friendships with prisoners Merle Jones and Kath Maxwell.

Patsy King was born in 1929, and is a Melbourne-based theatre actor. During the 1970s, she also appeared in many Australian television series, including: Power Without Glory, Homicide, Division 4, Hunter, Bellbird, The Sullivans, Chopper Squad, Bluey, Out of Love, Good Morning Mr Doubleday, The Long Arm, Adventure Island, and Play School. Her best-known role was that of prison governor Erica Davidson in the cult soap opera Prisoner, a role she played from 1979 to 1983, with guest reappearances in 1984.

Her stage credits include Elvira in Blithe Spirit, Margaret in Absurd Person Singular, Helena in A Lovely Sunday for Creve Coeur, Helen in Half a Sixpence, Angelica in Love for Love, and Erica in Prisoner Cell Block H: The Stage Play. She earned the Erik Award for her portrayal of Agnes in Fourposter. King has attended many Prisoner cast reunions, and appeared on the documentary "On The Inside" which was based on the series' haunting theme tune.

A list of all inmates of Wentworth Detention Centre in the television series Prisoner.

Listed in order of appearance:

Category: Image - :Val-Lehman.jpg|thumb|125px|Val Lehman as Bea "Queen Bea" Smith

* Bea "Queen Bea" Smith (Val Lehman - episodes 1-400), the tough and uncompromising top dog - the name given to the unofficial leader of the prisoner population - who ruled Wentworth's H Block with an iron fist. Bea was initially imprisoned for strangling her husband's mistress and then shot dead her cheating husband upon her release. Her teenage daughter Debbie (played by Val Lehman's real-life daughter Cassandra) had died from a heroin overdose while Bea was in prison, therefore Bea was renowned for her hatred of drug pushers and her hatred of prisoners who commit crimes against children. This characteristic, which is common in all prisons, was evident when Bea slammed the hot steam press on Lynn Warner's hand. She and Chrissie Latham were enemies at first (as Chrissie was originally on Franky Doyle' side in the first riot) but later, they became allies, especially against Margo Gaffney. Bea was transferred to Barnhurst but we were later told that she was killed during a riot.

* Doreen Anderson (Colette Mann - episodes 1-446), a childish and easily led, but generally well meaning prisoner who was briefly involved in a sexual relationship with Franky Doyle (Carol Burns). Thumb-sucking, teddy-bear clutching Doreen was a petty criminal, in and out of juvenile institutions before ending up at Wentworth, with a particular talent for forgery. During one stint at Wentworth, she married a young man named Kevin Burns, but they were divorced not long after she was raped. The end of her marriage nearly caused her to commit suicide. After her second stint at Wentworth she is released and never seen or heard from again.

* Lizzie Birdsworth (née Cameron) (Sheila Florence - episodes 1-418), an elderly, chain-smoking, alcoholic recidivist prisoner, who provided much of the series comic relief. At the series start, Lizzie had already served twenty years in prison. Working as a bush cook, she had in a drunken rage allegedly poisoned a group of sheep shearers who'd had the audacity to complain about her cooking. It was later learned someone else had added the poison to the food and Lizzie was released and awarded compensation. Unfortunately she was ill-equipped to fend for herself outside and quickly committed a series of crimes and was returned to prison. Lizzie was best known for her always present red cardigan sweater given to her by the prison's governor, Erica Davidson. Lizzie suffered from several heart attacks and her during her final time in hospital she was released

* Franky Doyle (Carol Burns - episode 1-20), an agitating lesbian bikie whose violent attitude stemmed from the fact that she was illiterate. Despite her popularity, she appears in only the first 20 episodes as she was shot and killed by a cop while on the run with Doreen.

* Karen Travers (Peta Toppano - episode 1-80), a middle-class school-teacher who had stabbed her abusive, adulterous husband to death in the shower when she had found him in bed with another woman after he had forced her to have an abortion. Karen's sentence was reduced from life to 2 years for good behaviour.

* Lynn Warner (Kerry Armstrong - episode 1-44), a young country girl who had come to the city to work as a nanny and arrived at Wentworth protesting her innocence at having kidnapped the baby in her care and buried him alive. She was brutally initiated into prison life, when Bea Smith, upon hearing about her crime, burned her hand "accidentally" with the press, giving rise to one of Prisoner's most iconic scenes. She returns and later is released for good. It was eventually discovered that the child's own mother had buried the child alive; which gave Lynn's innocence claims more credence.

* Jeanette "Mum" Brooks (Mary Ward - episode 1-204), an elderly, dignified long-term inmate who worked in the prison garden, well loved and respected by both prisoners and officers. "Mum" had committed euthanasia on her terminally ill husband and had served fifteen years at the start of the series. She helped with making newcomers to Wentworth get used to the prison routine. After her second stint at Wentworth we are told later that she has died of a heart attack.

* Marilyn Mason (Margaret Laurence - episode 1-16), the prison nymphomaniac, inside for soliciting and chiefly memorable for her erotic assignations with electrician Eddie Cook (Richard Moir) in the prison roof. She was released and assumingly still running Monica Ferguson's milk bar.

* Rosie Hudson (Anne-Maree McDonald - episodes 2-73), a pregnant prisoner who gives birth at Wentworth. One year later, she suffers a breakdown being unable to cope after her baby son is taken into care.

* Chrissie Latham (Amanda Muggleton - episodes 3-338), a lascivious prostitute who spent much of her time behind bars lamenting the fact that there were no men around. She murdered Bill Jackson, Meg's husband, with a pair of scissors during the show's first riot, but later on saved Meg herself from a brutal bashing by Margo Gaffney. At first, an enemy of Bea Smith, she later on became one of Bea's allies. She was eventually transferred to Barnhurst, like Bea herself later would be.

* Helen Masters (Louise Pajo - episodes 8-10), a businesswoman remanded to Wentworth for running down a child and whose haughty attitude alienates both staff and prisoners.

* Monica Ferguson (Lesley Baker - episodes 15-60), a brutish, hulking inmate inside for bashing her weaselly husband Fred (Gary Files). A friend of Bea Smith, except for one time when she took over as Top Dog for Bea during Bea's escape. After Bea's recapture, Monica wanted to remain Top Dog. After one scuffle with Smith and with her parole coming up, Monica backed down rather than risk not getting paroled.

* Barbara Davidson (Sally Cahill - episodes 17-24), the niece of governor Erica Davidson. Barbara is admitted to Wentworth on drug charges.

* Catherine Roberts (Margo McLennan - episodes 18-24), a middle-class housewife who runs down and kills the man who she thinks is the one who raped her teenage daughter.

* Susan Rice (Briony Behets - episodes 25-29), an emotionally fragile woman who shoplifts to gain attention from her pop star husband.

* Martha Eaves (Kate Jason - episodes 29-64), a dimwitted prisoner ridiculed by the other women, but who often acts as hired muscle for wannabe top dogs or those needing physical back-up.

* Noeline Burke (Jude Kuring - episodes 30-132), the head of a family of petty criminals usually inside for burglary and theft. An antagonist of both Bea Smith and Monica Ferguson. Noeline was famous for her refusal to take anything she considered charity. In Noeline's words "The Burkes don't take charity, we just take." She is later transferred to Barnhurst for her own safety.

* Clara Goddard (Betty Lucas - episodes 30-39), a genteel, flighty socialite remanded to Wentworth for embezzlement who gains considerable influence amongst the women. Sarcastically nicknamed "Madame Clara" by Bea Smith, jealous of the way Clara manages to usurp her authority as top dog of the prisoners. She was transferred to Fairlea.

* Kathleen Leach (Penny Stewart - episodes 30-149), background prisoner who sometimes played a bigger role in the series.

* Leanne Burke (Tracey-Jo Riley - episodes 33-121), Noeline Burke's daughter, who has inherited her mother's criminal tendencies. She fell to her death from the Prisoner Roof during Judy's Protest that Jock Stewart killed Sharon.

* Irene Zervos (Maria Mercedes - episodes 38-40), a young Greek woman admitted to Wentworth after being blackmailed into prostitution by a relative who is aware of her status as an illegal immigrant.

* Joyce Martin (Judy Nunn - episodes 40-48), the wife of an armed robber inside for being an accessory, and the only person who knows the location of the loot.

* Denise Crabtree (Lynda Keane - episodes 43-48), a tartly young woman who is the girlfriend of Monica Ferguson's husband Fred, but who turns out to be using him to get her hands on the stolen loot from the robbery committed by Joyce Martin's husband.

* Edith Wharton (Colleen Clifford - episodes 44-49), an elderly woman who is made homeless and ends up in Wentworth charged with vagrancy, bringing out the softer side of deputy governor Jim Fletcher. The night before her release Edith sadly dies in her sleep.

* Melinda Cross (Lulu Pinkus - episodes 47-58), a devious young woman and university student who is remanded to Wentworth after trying to blackmail the lecturer with whom she had been having an affair.

* Bella Albrecht (Liddy Clark - episodes 51-52), a remorseless child killer who had murdered her toddler daughter and arrives at Wentworth on remand, arousing the anger of the women, who despise those who harm children. She is drowned in a wash basin, and Martha Eaves is later found out to be the cullprit.

* Phyllis Hunt (Reylene Pearce - episodes 54-460), background prisoner who eventually takes on a larger role around the time of Bea Smith's departure from the series, turning nasty in the process. After messing up Reb's drugs scheme at the Wentworth Fete, Reb takes revenge and horribly bashes her with a wooden statue, leading her to have permanent brain damage.

* Antonia McNally (Pat Bishop - episodes 57-64), a cool, classy woman on remand for murder who takes over as top dog while Bea Smith is away in solitary confinement. Antonia is the wife of the head of the local underworld with friends in high places, therefore pressure is brought to bear on governor Erica Davidson to give her special privileges that further cements her high status amongst the prisoners. She was shot after her trial by Ros Coulson, Daughter of the women she killed.

* Roslyn Coulson (Sigrid Thornton - episodes 63-92), an idealistic young woman charged with killing the woman who had murdered her mother, Antonia McNally. She escaped with help from outside friend, who shot Erica Davidson but she was returned to Wentworth and transferred to another block so she could concentrate on her studying.

* 'Pat OConnell (Monica Maughan - episodes 65-110), an imprisoned mother separated from her young children, Pat had aided and abetted her husband and eldest son in an armed robbery.

* Janet Dominguez (Deidre Rubenstein - episodes 79-83), a terrorist brought to Wentworth awaiting extradition to the US to face charges in connection with the bombing of a South American official outside the UN building. Initially, she was held in solitary away from the other women. Ros Culson helped with an escape and was given an instant sleep powder to drug the guards while armed terrorists broke into the prison to free Janet. When she had the chance to escape she was shot and wounded by an officer.

* Caroline Simpson (Rosalind Speirs - episodes 89-114), a sophisticated middle-class woman who stabbed her abusive father to protect her mother, Vivienne Williams (Bernadette Gibson), from being beaten. Both Caroline and Vivienne are remanded to Wentworth, and Caroline becomes attracted to deputy governor Jim Fletcher, who as a result earned the nickname "Fletch the letch".

* Sharon Gilmour' (Margot Knight - episodes 90-116), a scheming, spoiled young woman imprisoned for drug dealing and an immediate enemy of Bea Smith. Sharons older girlfriend, Judy Bryant, deliberately had herself imprisoned to be with Sharon, only for Sharon to shamelessly manipulate her in her bid to become top dog. Sharon was pushed down the stairs by bent screw Jock Stewart, she died.

* Judy Bryant (Betty Bobbitt - episodes 91-534), an American ex-pat lesbian who deliberately committed a crime to join her lover Sharon Gilmour in prison. She was initially an agitator, but later became one of Bea's allies, as well as a long-term inmate. Judy ran Driscoll House, a Half-Way House for ex-criminals to get back on their feet. Judy was sent back to Wentworth after helping friend, Hazel Kent, kill herself while she was suffering from a terminal brain tumor. Served as a sort of "deputy Top Dog," to both Bea and Myra. She was later released to become a successful song writer.

* Margo Gaffney (Jane Clifton - episodes 92-448), one of a long line of agitators in the prison cellblock who generally played rival to the reigning top-dog. Margo took charge of all gambling inside Wentworth and was usually accompanied by her stooges "Lil and Bev" (played by extras Judith McLorinan and Kaye Chadwick). Margo went back and forth during the series run from a good to bad guy, usually leaning toward the bad side. One of Margo's most heinous acts was the bashing of guard Meg Morris, who was temporarily a prisoner for contempt of court, and this earned her the combined wrath of Bea and Chrissie (who ironically saved Meg, despite her killing Meg's first husband, Bill Jackson), and avenged her bashing, by tying her up and tarring and feathering her in the lavatory. Margo was also later bashed by Bea and Chrissie when it was discovered that she set the storeroom on fire with a Molotov cocktail at Wentworth, thus beginning the Great Fire at Wentworth, and lied about it to the cops. She later tries to frame Reb for attacking Myra Desmond but is found out and transferred to Blackmoore.

* Heather "Mouse" Trapp (Jentah Sobott - episodes 106-326), a rather timid young woman in and out for Wentworth for petty crime. She escapes and goes on the run with Judy Bryant after crawling through the tunnel during the pantomime. Later she returns to Wentworth and gets mixed up in the plans for the Great fire where she perishes in the flames and burns to death.

* Kerry Vincent (Penny Downie - episodes 112-124), a prisoner transferred to Wentworth because of her artistic talent but who turns out to be a mediocrity, exploited for her prisoner status.

* Helen Smart (Caroline Gillmer - episodes 118-441), a likable, amusing prostitute frequently sent to Wentworth for soliciting who becomes a useful contact for the women on the outside. Became good friends with Judy Bryant. Helen was known to the prison as "The 'tart' with a heart."

* Gail Summers (Susanne Howarth - episodes 124-133), a harassed housewife and neighbor of officer Meg Morris, driven to beating her young children because of an inability to cope. Remanded to Wentworth where she faces the anger of the other prisoners for being a "baby basher".

* Kay White (Sandy Gore - episodes 127-145), the administrator of a clothing factory where the women are out on work release. Kay arrives at Wentworth after embezzling the payroll, using it to finance her compulsive gambling habit. A fellow inmate struck Kay with an electric jug-kettle and she died of a blood-clot on the brain. (She was attacking Lizzie Birdsworth for fixing a game, In which Kay wasn't to happy about and Linda came in and hit her over the head with the kettle).

* Tracey Morris (Sue Devine - episodes 141-198), a young woman on remand accused of smuggling heroin into Australia but claims that she was set up by her gangster boyfriend. Tracey's father Bob becomes romantically involved with officer Meg Jackson.

* Hazel Kent (Belinda Davey - episodes 142-399), background prisoner whose situation is eventually explored. A generally decent sort, later episodes show Hazel as being a depressed, drunken loser, turning to the bottle after her partner leaves her for another woman, taking their children with him. Hazel was suffering from a brain tumour and asked Judy bryant to give her an overdose - leading to Judy's return to Wenthworth for her final stint.

* Jacki Nolan (Diane Craig - episodes 149-159), a sophisticated young woman who had escaped from Barnhurst years previously and lives under an alias. When her cover is blown, she is brought to Wentworth as a high profile inmate, with various groups campaigning for her release.

* Myra Desmond (Anne Phelan - episodes 154-552), a former prisoner who had worked with the Prison Reform Group before arriving back at Wentworth and replacing Bea Smith as the show's second long-running "top dog". She was a thoughtful but strong woman. But gave up her life for the safety of the other hostages of The Ballanger Siege.

* Anne Griffin (Rowena Wallace - episodes 160-167), a fragile young woman who is remanded to Wentworth protesting her innocence of a robbery charge. She became very worrying to viewers and was later carted off to a Secure Psychiatric Unit.

* Sandra Hamilton (Candy Raymond - episodes 173-180), an ambitious journalist who deliberately gets herself imprisoned to write a story about life behind bars.

* Evelyn Randall (Julia Blake - episodes 175-179), an eccentric, middle-aged woman and herbalist who is imprisoned for manslaughter after a patient died. Evelyn's arrival coincides with Wentworth being gripped by a mysterious disease and placed under quarantine conditions.

* Georgie Baxter (Tracy Mann - episodes 175-186), a violent, illiterate biker's moll whose aggression is caused by her deafness.

* Jeannie Baxter (Leila Hayes - episodes 180-183), Georgie Baxter's mother, who had neglected her as a child. Admitted to Wentworth for "living off immoral earnings" as a brothel madam.

* Marie Winter (Maggie Millar - episodes 197-471), a tough long-term prisoner who was top dog of country prison Barnhurst, specialising in pushing drugs. She escaped with help form Lou Kelly and The Freak by climbing over the fence in afternoon exercise and clinging onto a helicopter and flying away. Notably the best exit. We are told that a few days later she is captured and sent to Blackmoor.

* Michelle Parks (Nina Landis - episodes 209-213), an attractive young athlete with Olympic potential, Michelle is remanded to Wentworth charged with stealing from the office where she worked and once inside, literally runs rings around deputy governor Jim Fletcher.

* Lori Young (Susannah Fowle - episodes 209-347), a young girl who visits Wentworth searching for her biological mother who had given her up for adoption - Judy Bryant. Lori later deliberately gets herself imprisoned to spend more time getting to know her mother.

* Kathy Hall (Sue Jones - episodes 213-220), a woman imprisoned for theft who is heavily involved with the local underworld. Kathy knows too much, and attempts are made to silence her for good. But on her release she is run over by a hit and run driver and dies.

* Alison Page (Fay Kelton - episodes 215-227), troubled suburban prisoner inside for shoplifting and unhappy at being locked up with "common criminals".

* Andrea Hennessy (Bethany Lee - episodes 228-236), a student and political activist who is admitted to Wentworth after assaulting officer Colleen Powell during a demonstration outside the prison. To secure her release, her followers kidnap governor Erica Davidson.

* Linda Golman (Mary Charlston - episodes 228-236), associate of Andrea Hennessy who is remanded to Wentworth for her part in the kidnapping of governor Erica Davidson. She was found hanging in Andrea's cell. suicide but people wonder if Andrea hung her. she had changed after solitary and very very depressed.

* Sandy Edwards (Louise Le Nay - episodes 235-264), a cocky gangster's moll inside for murder. Briefly took over as top dog whilst Bea Smith was away in hospital. She later disappears after a fixed 'meeting' with Kate Peterson at the bins but when the girls are called in Kate returns instead of Kate.

* Kate Peterson (Olivia Hamnett - episodes 235-273), a former doctor who had poisoned her lover. A refined, intelligent and coolly self-reliant inmate. Kate was one of the few characters on the show who was a "good guy," and later turned "bad." Usually it was the other way around. She was later carted off to a nut-house when she tried to strangle her cell-mate Judy. (Notably an iconic scene).

* Susie Driscoll (Jacqui Gordon - episodes 260-302), a young girl who is admitted to Wentworth after she has escaped from all the juvenile institutions she has been placed in. Due to her young age and innocent nature, she is taken under the collective maternal wing of most of the women. She is later released to be with her real family.

* Faye Quin (Anne Lucas - episodes 285-352), a petty criminal inmate who attempts to take charge of all gambling at Wentworth. Frequently on Nola McKenzie's side. She is last seen being reduced to tears after being transferred to C-Block and reading a letter from her son, Billy.

* Hannah Simpson (Julieanne Newbould - episodes 288-303), a young woman on remand for armed robbery who becomes the first unwilling object of officer Joan "The Freak" Ferguson's Sapphist lust.

* Donna Mason (Arkie Whiteley - episodes 290-303), a doomed heroin addict whom Bea Smith tries to help through cold turkey, reminded of her own deceased daughter Debbie. She later died when she injected herself with spiked drugs, She died in Bea Smith's arms.

* Maxine Daniels (Lisa Crittenden - episodes 297-392), a young biker frequently inside Wentworth for petty theft. She was shot dead by an officer while trying to escape the scene of a robbery.

* Barbara Fields (Susan Guerin - episodes 300-326), a devious middle-class woman who embezzled funds from the shoe factory where she worked. Barbara is the first Wentworth inmate to pose a threat to Joan Ferguson after she acquires the Freak's secret diaries full of incriminating evidence of the corrupt screw's dodgy dealings. During The Great Fire she tries to recover the diaries from Erica's office but collapses and dies.

* Paddy Lawson (Anna Hruby - episodes 304-339), a young woman charged with assault and a highly aggressive inmate. It is eventually discovered that Paddy suffers from claustrophobia. After this, she settles down and becomes a friend of Bea Smith. Paddy was viciously murdered by Nola McKenzie by drowning, earning her Bea's wrath.

* Penny Seymour (Joy Dunstan - episodes 307-309), a young woman imprisoned for prostitution. She fell victim of the Black Gloved Killer.

* Sally Dempster(Liz Harris - episodes 313-320), neurotic middle-class housewife who tries to run down her neglectful husband after an argument. Like Gail Summers, she too was given rough treatment by the other women, because she bashed her kid.

* Jeannie Stanton (Rona McLeod - episodes 325-329), pregnant prisoner whose baby is delivered by Bea Smith and Chrissie Latham in a men's prison (as the men rioted).

* Valerie Jacobs (Barbara Angell - episodes 330-332), an old friend of deputy governor Colleen Powell having stolen goods for her boyfriend to sell in his shop.

* Nola McKenzie (Carole Skinner - episodes 331-370), a vicious double murderer who had escaped from death row in Western Australia. Possibly Bea Smith's deadliest rival and the first inmate to actively collude with corrupt officer Joan "The Freak" Ferguson. She angered Bea after callously murdering Paddy Lawson by drowning her in a wash basin. She eventually tries to drive Bea crazy, until Bea eliminated her by shooting her with a Zip Gun.

* Trixie Mann (Anna Mizza - episodes 336-340), a young woman imprisoned for prostitution who becomes a brief offsider of Nola McKenzie. She was released.

* Janice Young (Catherine Wilkin - episodes 344-352), proud suburban wife and mother imprisoned for refusing to pay a court fine. Her husband Chris (Roger Oakley - episode ) becomes involved with deputy governor Colleen Powell while she is inside.

* Roxanne Bradshaw (Peppie D'Or - episodes 345-381), friend of Maxine Daniels who later arrives inside for receiving stolen goods. She is pregnant after agreeing to a surrogacy arrangement with a middle-class couple.

* Jill Clark (Kathleen Brinson - episodes 348-353), a departmental employee posing as an inmate in order to conduct a covert investigation of the prison.

* Lainie Dobson (Marina Finlay - episodes 354-366), tattoo-covered shoplifter who turns to drugs while inside. She tries to remove her tattoos by dipping her cut arms into caustic soda, she was released.

* Diane Henley (Rhonda Cressey - episodes 355-361), illiterate prisoner whose plight highlights the lack of educational facilities at Wentworth.

* Denise Tyler (Geraldene Morrow - episodes 361-367), working-class single mother on remand for apparently killing one of her sons.

* Zara Moonbeam (Ilona Rodgers - episodes 362-370), on remand for fraud. Zara claims to be a medium with "second sight" and becomes embroiled in a bizarre scheme by Joan Ferguson and Nola McKenzie to drive Bea Smith insane. Moonbeam was the proud owner of a disturbing Yorkshire accent.

* Tracey Belman (Alyson Best - episodes 368-372), paraplegic prisoner who poisoned her husband after a car crash which left her using a wheelchair. But Joan Ferguson proved everyone wrong when she caused Tracy to reveal she could walk and did not need a wheelchair.

* Maggie May Kennedy (Davina Whitehouse - episodes 371-376), geriatric drugs mule convicted for smuggling heroin. Turns out to be an old friend of Lizzie Birdsworth. She had, arguably, the most bizarre accent in the entire series, drifting between American slang, BBC English and Dame Edna.

* Carol Colsen (Merrin Canning - episodes 373-377), next door neighbour of Joan Ferguson and an abused housewife who finally snaps and kills her husband.

* Laura Gardiner/Brandy Carter (Roslyn Gentle - episodes 373-382), admitted to Wentworth as a surly, antagonistic prostitute, officer Meg Morris recognises her as a meek librarian. However, it is not simply a case of a woman living a double life as it soon becomes apparent that Laura/Brandy is schizophrenic...

* Sandra "Pixie" Mason (Judy McBurney - episodes 377-510), a flighty, romantic inmate initially admitted on bigamy charges. (Mason, addicted to weddings, had married a number of men.) She was cruelly raped by Frank Burke, but her friends and Joan Ferguson helped set up evil screw, Len Murphy, for the rape. She never recovered from her ordeal with Frank and is transferred to Ingleside.

* Petra Roberts (Penny Maegraith - episodes 383-407), a former teacher remanded to Wentworth charged with the murder of her abusive father. Is in love with prison doctor Scott Collins. Her storyline was basically a re-hash of the Karen Travers one from several years earlier. She was released.

* Sharon Smart (Liddy Clark - episodes 383-388), the younger sister of Helen Smart who becomes involved with a crooked religious cult.

* Lucy Ferguson (Yoni Prior - episodes 385-389), the niece of officer Joan Ferguson who arrives inside on drug charges.

* Glynis Ladd (Debbie Cumming - episodes 389-391), a prostitute and junkie.

* Rosemary Kaye (Jodie Yemm - episodes 391-402), naive country girl who comes to the city looking for work and ends up in Wentworth falsely accused of theft.

* Sonia Stevens (Tina Bursill - episodes 394-447), a cool vice queen who had operated a protection racket fleecing prostitutes whilst maintaining a cover as a policeman's wife. Imprisoned for heroin trafficking. She escaped and was last seen standing on a clifftop.

* Randi Goodlove (Zoe Bertram - episodes 394-414), a mercenary, high-class prostitute who crosses swords with officer Meg Morris when she tries to manipulate her son Marty (Andrew McKaige - episode ) into marriage as a cover for her prostitution. Randi fell victim of Murderous David Bridges, she was killed and stashed in the boiler room.

* Cass Parker (Babs McMillan - episodes 401-460), a gentle-natured farmer's daughter with a murderous bad temper. She was later carted off to a secure nut house, after attempting to strangle Dennis Crukshaunk, when he caused Bobbie Mitchell to miscarry her baby.

* Minnie Donovan (Wendy Playfair - episodes 405-437), an elderly woman who had been a foster carer and had organized her charges into a team of shoplifters. Became the series' most unorthodox top dog. The first of several Lizzie Birdsworth-lite characters. She is transferred to B-Block.

* Bobbie Mitchell (Maxine Klibingaitis - episodes 405-533), a streetwise and rebellious youngster and punk imprisoned for shoplifting and assault. Accused of pushing Reb over the catwalk but cleared of the charge and later released.

* Brenda Hewitt (Carmen Warrington - episodes 408-416), a talented forger working for the local underworld who is involved in a brief business partnership with Sonia Stevens while inside.

* Belinda Johns (Jane Turner - episodes 414-428), an embittered blind woman who gets herself imprisoned to take revenge on Sonia Stevens, whose protection racket partner left her blind after a bashing. She was transferred away from Sonia after an attempted bashing which involved a wrench.

* Sarah Higgins (Nell Johnson - episodes 416-499), Aryan-looking Visiting Justice notorious for her tough attitude and the harsh sentences she gives out to the prisoners. Sarah gets a taste of life on the other side of the bars when she is remanded on corruption charges.

* Reb Kean (Janet Andrewartha - episodes 422-589), a tough inmate who played rival to top dog Myra Desmond. She was born into money, but rebelled against her wealthy family. She was returned to Wentworth later in the series, a changed character following electric shock treatment. She is released after she is cleared of the attack on Joyce Barry.

* Mo Maguire (Bronwyn Gibbs - episodes 428-432), antagonistic remand prisoner protesting her innocence of a burglary charge.

* Camilla Wells (Annette Andre - episodes 429-432), a radio show hostess and journalist who arrives at Wentworth as a "celebrity" inmate for not paying a parking fine.

* Meryl King (Marilyn Maguire - episodes 429-432), a prostitute imprisoned for drug possession with links to the local underworld.

* Gloria Payne (Tottie Goldsmith - episodes 430-445), trouble-making inmate and early antagonist of new top dog Myra Desmond, having been her husband's mistress on the outside. She was last seen suffering in hospital after having boiling water tipped on her by Philis, attempting to frame Myra.

* Sarah Webster (Fiona Paul - episodes 433-441), a young single mother who finds herself remanded to Wentworth after sheltering her old friend Reb Kean while she is on the run.

* Alice "Lurch" Jenkins (Lois Collinder - episodes 448-692), a prisoner who, like many, graduated from a small non-speaking part into a more fleshed-out role. Her character, initially a thug, later mellowed and became an ali of Rita Connors after the riot she took part in, realizing Lou was no good for her and what she did was wrong. this was further solidified after Lou killed Alice's brother and mother. Lou was also raped by Alice's brother while escaped.

* Rachel Millsom (Kim Trengove - episodes 450-472), a young woman on remand for running down the man who ran down and killed her grandfather.

* Hannah Geldschmidt (Agnieszka Perepeczko - episodes 451-456), an East German Jewish concentration camp survivor and illegal immigrant who arrives at Wentworth awaiting extradition back to East Germany.

* Lou Kelly (Louise Siversen - episodes 452-616), a vicious prison thug — perhaps the most violent agitator in H Block, during the later years of the series. She held a riot in which she killed Eve Wilder the Phantom Lagger but she was later killed while in solitary ; being beaten to death with a glass bottle by Janet "Maggot" Williams. Lou escaped after the riot she caused by faking a murder attempt by cutting herself with knife, setting up Rita. While she escaped she was raped by Alice's brother and killed him and his mother.

* Leigh Templar (Virginia Hey - episodes 457-470), a glamorous fashion model remanded to Wentworth after killing her manager, who had been blackmailing her with some porn films she had made at the start of her career.

* Marlene "Rabbit" Warren (Genevieve Lemon - episodes 461-534), a juvenile prankster imprisoned for manslaughter after one of her practical jokes had gone tragically wrong. She is later released to be with husband, Matt Delaney.

* Dot Farrar (Alethea McGrath - episodes 462-486), an elderly, hypochondriac prisoner who had served years inside. Generally regarded as a nuisance by the other women.

* Edna Pearson (Vivean Gray - episodes 463-468), a genteel woman imprisoned for trying to poison her second husband. (Note: the episodes featuring Edna Pearson were edited to remove all her scenes after a woman who had been acquitted of a similar offense threatened to sue Grundy's, claiming similarities between the character and her own case. The complete storyline has been screened in certain subsequent international screenings but is missing from the SHOCK DVD release.)Most UK viewers saw Edna arrive, do very little and then disappear.

* Deirdre Kean (Anne Charleston - episodes 464-492), Reb Kean's estranged socialite mother who is remanded to Wentworth after helping her daughter to escape.

* Bev "The Beast" Baker (Maggie Dence - episodes 472-477), an infamous serial killer, dubbed "The Beast" by the tabloids, who terrifies both staff and inmates alike. When she went on the warpath in Wentworth, She killed Rob Summerton and soon after committed suicide by injecting herself with an empty hypodermic needle.

* Angela "Angel" Adams (Kylie Foster - episodes 477-488), a deceitful young prisoner who plays on a "little girl lost" facade as a cover for her genuine criminal activities. She was later sent to a psychiatric unit when her true colours began to show.

* Kerryn Davies (Jill Forster - episodes 485-495), a white-collar fraudster who finds it hard to cope being in prison and separated from her husband.

* Sam Greenway (Robyn Gibbes - episodes 495-520), a young arts student framed for drug possession. Later died when Lou set up for another inmate to be electrocuted through a door handle which Sam used first.

* Matt Delaney (Peter Bensley - episodes 499-533), one of a trio of male prisoners transferred to Wentworth for their own safety after they had foiled a mass breakout attempt.

* Geoff Macrae (Leslie Dayman - episodes 500-556), the unofficial top dog of the male inmates transferred from Woodridge men's prison. Becomes romantically involved with top dog Myra Desmond. He was last seen at Myra's funeral.

* Frank Burke (Trevor Kent - episodes 500-555), the last of the male Woodridge inmates moved to Wentworth, Frank is a convicted rapist and all-round villain. Raped Pixie Mason. He escaped and eventually took his revenge on Dennis by knee-capping him.

* Yemil Bakarta (Maria Mercedes - episodes 504-516), a Middle Eastern Islamic inmate charged with causing a car accident when attempting to escape from her brutal husband.

* Lexie Patterson (Pepe Trevor - episodes 509-650), a loud-mouth punk and card-shark, who spent her first few months in Boy George-style garb. (Note: With George's change in image and subsequent fall from favour occurring prior to Lexie's on-air debut in February 1985, these episodes already seemed dated at the time of first broadcast.) She is later released with Nancy McCormack.

* Ettie Parslow (Lois Ramsay - episodes 514-600), a senile old dear who turns out to have been imprisoned since the Second World War due to a bureaucratic mix-up. Develops a close relationship with officer Meg Morris when it turns out that Ettie nursed her as a new-born baby in prison. She was last seen begging to be let into Wentworth to see Julie Egbert on her birthday.

* Janice Grant (Jenny Ludlam - episodes 514-528), a sophisticated solicitor imprisoned for dangerous driving. It turns out that Janice is an alcoholic, suffering from withdrawal symptoms and dependent on buying prison home brew from other inmates.

* Sheila Brady (Colleen Hewett episodes 519-534), misfit remand inmate inside for heroin possession with a secret singing talent. She performed 'Pixie's Song', the only other piece of music ever to close an episode of the soap.

* Anita Selby (Diane Craig - episodes 526-536), a Catholic nun imprisoned for causing a disturbance at a nuclear disarmament demonstration. Anita's overall goodness and willingness to seek such virtue in others brought about a brief moral chaos to Wentworth, its prisoners and staff. In particular she proved to be the perfect character foil for cell mate Lou Kelly and evil officer Joan Ferguson. She was released on bail and last seen having a heart to heart with Joan Ferguson.

* Nora Flynn (Sonja Tallis - episodes 537-588), a long-term, self-reformed prisoner transferred from Barnhurst. She had served 23 years for her involvement in the thrill-kill murder of three hitch-hikers. Perhaps inspired by the situation of the Charles Manson gang members, despite appearing to be self-reformed Flynn is repeatedly denied parole. She executes a mysterious escape from prison. Later her murdered corpse is dumped outside the prison: it transpires that after her escape she had been hunted down and killed by an ex-policeman serial killer with a grudge against prisoners.

* May Collins (Billie Hammerberg - episodes 537-587), an earthy career criminal who was a famous cat burglar. Although getting on in years, May is a tough lady who watches out for the more vulnerable, younger prisoners. After her escape, she works with a gang to rob an art gallery and after much disagreement she is shot in her chest.

* Willie Beecham (Kirsty Child - episodes 537-682), May Collins' partner-in-crime. Willie was a fence on the outside and runs a bartering business in prison. Willie is something of a snob, and often antagonises the women with her supercilious attitude. She returned for a surprising, one-off appearance later in the series as an employee which Joan goes to see for a job.

* Julie "Chook" Egbert (Jackie Woodburne - episodes 537-628), a shy but highly intelligent young girl who had stolen from her workplace to help her terminally ill mother. She is transferred back to Barnhurst until her release so she can live with her new husband, Steve Ryan.

* Daphne Graham (Debra Lawrance - episodes 537-590), a garden-loving inmate who had been a juvenile offender before ending up in prison. It is later discovered that Daphne's crime and her subsequent self-harming in prison is linked to extreme PMT. She was released.

* Ruth Ballinger (Lindy Davies - episodes 538-552), the shady wife of an international drugs baron remanded to Wentworth with special privileges in the hope that she will assist the Federal Police with their efforts to nail her husband's drug trade. Ruth's time in the series climaxes in a three-episode-long terrorist siege when her husband sends a team of armed mercenaries to spring her from the prison. After the successful escape, she is caught at the airport and is transferred to Blackmoor. (Joan phones Cynthia Leach to have Ruth 'taken care of')

* Jenny Hartley (Jenny Lovell - episodes 540-588), a naive, wimpish young woman on remand protesting her innocence of the murder of her wealthy grandmother. Not one of the most endearing characters in the series.

* Queenie Marshall (Marilyn Rodgers - episodes 556-573), sassy prostitute who later becomes a friend to the women on the outside.

* Nikki Lennox (Vicki Mathias - episodes 568-574), the leader of a gang of juvenile delinquents sent to Wentworth to spend time with convicted criminals as part of a "scared straight" scheme. She became an enemy of Lexie Patterson when she cheated at a game of cards and they broke out in a fight.

* Cindy Moran (Robyn Frank - episodes 568-574), another juvenile offender sent to Wentworth to be "scared straight".

* Eve Wilder (Lynda Stoner - episodes 574-600), a beautiful, enigmatic socialite who arrives in Wentworth protesting her innocence at having allegedly shot the man she had been having an affair with. During her stay, she bashed guard Joyce Barry. She was killed by Lou Kelly by hanging during a riot. As she was found out to be the "Phantom Lagger"

* Rita "The Beater" Connors (Glenda Linscott - episodes 585-692), a spirited bikie, nicknamed "Rita the Beater" who arrives inside for grievous bodily harm and becomes the show's third long-running top dog. She also brought down The Freak. Stepped down from Top Dog when she attracted terminal cancer

* Barbie Cox (Jayne Healey - episodes 586-602), a daffy young woman whose vocabulary is limited to "Hi-de-hi!" and "Naughty, naughty!" As part of a running joke, it is never revealed why Barbie is in prison. She is released with Jesse Windon, but returns the following episode to throw tennis balls to the women, that were filled with alcohol.

* Nancy McCormack (Julia Blake - episodes 589-650), a demure, dignified housewife imprisoned for killing her abusive husband. In fact, Nancy is covering up for her son, who had accidentally killed his father during a fight. She is released alongside Lexie Patterson.

* Jessie Windom (Pat Evison - episodes 589-620), a no-nonsense, resourceful former brothel madam who deliberately gets herself imprisoned in order to search for the daughter she gave away years before - Lexie Patterson. She is released and later takes Lexie's son until Lexie is released.

* Ida Brown (Paddy Burnet - episodes 592-691), Rita Connors' formidable elderly auntie involved with her niece's biker gang. She is last seen visiting Rita in 691.

* "Roach" Waters (Linda Hartley - episodes 595-643), a young punk inside for armed robbery. "Roach" (real name Rachel) is the girlfriend of Rita Connors' brother Bongo (Shane Connor). She escaped while on work release.

* Janet "Maggot" Williams (Christine Earle - episodes 599-639), a second-rate prison thug who becomes an offsider to a number of the wannabe top dogs at Wentworth. She murdered Lou Kelly. She is later transferred to A-Block following a bashing from Kath Maxwell.

* Kath Maxwell (Kate Hood - episodes 601-692), a middle-class woman committed for killing her terminally sick, handicapped daughter. Initially brutalised by the other women, Kath toughens up and becomes Rita Connors' main rival for the top dog position. She is the last top dog of the series.

* Vicki McPherson (Rebecca Dines - episodes 608-692), a wisecracking inmate who becomes an ally to Kath Maxwell and "Spider" Simpson.

* Lorelei Wilkinson (Paula Duncan - episodes 623-677), a vivacious con-woman imprisoned for posing as a policewoman. She was transferred to Ingleside Mental Institution after stabbing Ernest Craven, in which she became mentally unstable.

* Merle Jones (Rosanne Hull-Brown - episodes 625-692), a mentally disabled, illiterate prisoner initially regarded as a figure of fun by the other women, but finds friendship from inmate Kath Maxwell. She escaped with Kath but was left behind after an injury and sent to a Pyschiatric Hospital but returned to Wentworth where Kath made several attmps to make up with her but, they eventually made up in 691.

* Rose "Spider" Simpson (Taya Straton - episodes 649-686), a sneering career criminal who takes charge of all rackets and contraband trading at Wentworth. She was transferred to Barnhurst.

* Lisa Mullins (Nicki Paull/Terrie Waddell - episodes 651-692), a young woman arrested for operating a prostitution and blackmail racket on the outside. (Note: Lisa was played by Nikki Paul for her first six episodes. When Paul suddenly became ill, the part was taken over by Terrie Waddell).

* Wendy Glover (Julieanne Newbould - episodes 651-659), an undercover policewoman sent into Wentworth to shadow endangered inmate Lisa Mullins and to gather information about her case.

* Sarah West (Kylie Belling - episodes 658-668), a fiery, impulsive Aboriginal inmate who suffers from abuse from racist prisoners but who starts to fight back. She was transferred to Barnhurst.

* Michelle "Brumby" Tucker (Sheryl Munks - episodes 665-692), a young prisoner first seen at Blackmoor prison. A misfit and a troublemaker.

* Margaret "Spike" Marsh (Victoria Rowland - episodes 665-691), "Brumby"'s best friend at Blackmoor who was framed for heroin trafficking. "Spike" was a university student studying the sciences before being imprisoned and has kept her middle-class background hidden from the other prisoners. She was released to be with her parents.

* "Stud" Wilson (Peter Lindsay - episodes 668-684), male former Blackmoor inmate transferred to Wentworth after Blackmoor is burnt down following a riot. A convicted rapist and an underling of evil governor Ernest Craven.

* Harry Grosvenor (Mike Bishop - episodes 679-692), former male Blackmoor prisoner moved to Wentworth, becoming a love interest for Alice Jenkins. He was transferred to Barnhurst.

A list of all inmates of Wentworth Detention Centre in the television series Prisoner.

Listed in order of appearance:

Category: Image - :Val-Lehman.jpg|thumb|125px|Val Lehman as Bea "Queen Bea" Smith

* Bea "Queen Bea" Smith (Val Lehman - episodes 1-400), the tough and uncompromising top dog - the name given to the unofficial leader of the prisoner population - who ruled Wentworth's H Block with an iron fist. Bea was initially imprisoned for strangling her husband's mistress and then shot dead her cheating husband upon her release. Her teenage daughter Debbie (played by Val Lehman's real-life daughter Cassandra) had died from a heroin overdose while Bea was in prison, therefore Bea was renowned for her hatred of drug pushers and her hatred of prisoners who commit crimes against children. This characteristic, which is common in all prisons, was evident when Bea slammed the hot steam press on Lynn Warner's hand. She and Chrissie Latham were enemies at first (as Chrissie was originally on Franky Doyle' side in the first riot) but later, they became allies, especially against Margo Gaffney. Bea was transferred to Barnhurst but we were later told that she was killed during a riot.

* Doreen Anderson (Colette Mann - episodes 1-446), a childish and easily led, but generally well meaning prisoner who was briefly involved in a sexual relationship with Franky Doyle (Carol Burns). Thumb-sucking, teddy-bear clutching Doreen was a petty criminal, in and out of juvenile institutions before ending up at Wentworth, with a particular talent for forgery. During one stint at Wentworth, she married a young man named Kevin Burns, but they were divorced not long after she was raped. The end of her marriage nearly caused her to commit suicide. After her second stint at Wentworth she is released and never seen or heard from again.

* Lizzie Birdsworth (née Cameron) (Sheila Florence - episodes 1-418), an elderly, chain-smoking, alcoholic recidivist prisoner, who provided much of the series comic relief. At the series start, Lizzie had already served twenty years in prison. Working as a bush cook, she had in a drunken rage allegedly poisoned a group of sheep shearers who'd had the audacity to complain about her cooking. It was later learned someone else had added the poison to the food and Lizzie was released and awarded compensation. Unfortunately she was ill-equipped to fend for herself outside and quickly committed a series of crimes and was returned to prison. Lizzie was best known for her always present red cardigan sweater given to her by the prison's governor, Erica Davidson. Lizzie suffered from several heart attacks and her during her final time in hospital she was released

* Franky Doyle (Carol Burns - episode 1-20), an agitating lesbian bikie whose violent attitude stemmed from the fact that she was illiterate. Despite her popularity, she appears in only the first 20 episodes as she was shot and killed by a cop while on the run with Doreen.

* Karen Travers (Peta Toppano - episode 1-80), a middle-class school-teacher who had stabbed her abusive, adulterous husband to death in the shower when she had found him in bed with another woman after he had forced her to have an abortion. Karen's sentence was reduced from life to 2 years for good behaviour.

* Lynn Warner (Kerry Armstrong - episode 1-44), a young country girl who had come to the city to work as a nanny and arrived at Wentworth protesting her innocence at having kidnapped the baby in her care and buried him alive. She was brutally initiated into prison life, when Bea Smith, upon hearing about her crime, burned her hand "accidentally" with the press, giving rise to one of Prisoner's most iconic scenes. She returns and later is released for good. It was eventually discovered that the child's own mother had buried the child alive; which gave Lynn's innocence claims more credence.

* Jeanette "Mum" Brooks (Mary Ward - episode 1-204), an elderly, dignified long-term inmate who worked in the prison garden, well loved and respected by both prisoners and officers. "Mum" had committed euthanasia on her terminally ill husband and had served fifteen years at the start of the series. She helped with making newcomers to Wentworth get used to the prison routine. After her second stint at Wentworth we are told later that she has died of a heart attack.

* Marilyn Mason (Margaret Laurence - episode 1-16), the prison nymphomaniac, inside for soliciting and chiefly memorable for her erotic assignations with electrician Eddie Cook (Richard Moir) in the prison roof. She was released and assumingly still running Monica Ferguson's milk bar.

* Rosie Hudson (Anne-Maree McDonald - episodes 2-73), a pregnant prisoner who gives birth at Wentworth. One year later, she suffers a breakdown being unable to cope after her baby son is taken into care.

* Chrissie Latham (Amanda Muggleton - episodes 3-338), a lascivious prostitute who spent much of her time behind bars lamenting the fact that there were no men around. She murdered Bill Jackson, Meg's husband, with a pair of scissors during the show's first riot, but later on saved Meg herself from a brutal bashing by Margo Gaffney. At first, an enemy of Bea Smith, she later on became one of Bea's allies. She was eventually transferred to Barnhurst, like Bea herself later would be.

* Helen Masters (Louise Pajo - episodes 8-10), a businesswoman remanded to Wentworth for running down a child and whose haughty attitude alienates both staff and prisoners.

* Monica Ferguson (Lesley Baker - episodes 15-60), a brutish, hulking inmate inside for bashing her weaselly husband Fred (Gary Files). A friend of Bea Smith, except for one time when she took over as Top Dog for Bea during Bea's escape. After Bea's recapture, Monica wanted to remain Top Dog. After one scuffle with Smith and with her parole coming up, Monica backed down rather than risk not getting paroled.

* Barbara Davidson (Sally Cahill - episodes 17-24), the niece of governor Erica Davidson. Barbara is admitted to Wentworth on drug charges.

* Catherine Roberts (Margo McLennan - episodes 18-24), a middle-class housewife who runs down and kills the man who she thinks is the one who raped her teenage daughter.

* Susan Rice (Briony Behets - episodes 25-29), an emotionally fragile woman who shoplifts to gain attention from her pop star husband.

* Martha Eaves (Kate Jason - episodes 29-64), a dimwitted prisoner ridiculed by the other women, but who often acts as hired muscle for wannabe top dogs or those needing physical back-up.

* Noeline Burke (Jude Kuring - episodes 30-132), the head of a family of petty criminals usually inside for burglary and theft. An antagonist of both Bea Smith and Monica Ferguson. Noeline was famous for her refusal to take anything she considered charity. In Noeline's words "The Burkes don't take charity, we just take." She is later transferred to Barnhurst for her own safety.

* Clara Goddard (Betty Lucas - episodes 30-39), a genteel, flighty socialite remanded to Wentworth for embezzlement who gains considerable influence amongst the women. Sarcastically nicknamed "Madame Clara" by Bea Smith, jealous of the way Clara manages to usurp her authority as top dog of the prisoners. She was transferred to Fairlea.

* Kathleen Leach (Penny Stewart - episodes 30-149), background prisoner who sometimes played a bigger role in the series.

* Leanne Burke (Tracey-Jo Riley - episodes 33-121), Noeline Burke's daughter, who has inherited her mother's criminal tendencies. She fell to her death from the Prisoner Roof during Judy's Protest that Jock Stewart killed Sharon.

* Irene Zervos (Maria Mercedes - episodes 38-40), a young Greek woman admitted to Wentworth after being blackmailed into prostitution by a relative who is aware of her status as an illegal immigrant.

* Joyce Martin (Judy Nunn - episodes 40-48), the wife of an armed robber inside for being an accessory, and the only person who knows the location of the loot.

* Denise Crabtree (Lynda Keane - episodes 43-48), a tartly young woman who is the girlfriend of Monica Ferguson's husband Fred, but who turns out to be using him to get her hands on the stolen loot from the robbery committed by Joyce Martin's husband.

* Edith Wharton (Colleen Clifford - episodes 44-49), an elderly woman who is made homeless and ends up in Wentworth charged with vagrancy, bringing out the softer side of deputy governor Jim Fletcher. The night before her release Edith sadly dies in her sleep.

* Melinda Cross (Lulu Pinkus - episodes 47-58), a devious young woman and university student who is remanded to Wentworth after trying to blackmail the lecturer with whom she had been having an affair.

* Bella Albrecht (Liddy Clark - episodes 51-52), a remorseless child killer who had murdered her toddler daughter and arrives at Wentworth on remand, arousing the anger of the women, who despise those who harm children. She is drowned in a wash basin, and Martha Eaves is later found out to be the cullprit.

* Phyllis Hunt (Reylene Pearce - episodes 54-460), background prisoner who eventually takes on a larger role around the time of Bea Smith's departure from the series, turning nasty in the process. After messing up Reb's drugs scheme at the Wentworth Fete, Reb takes revenge and horribly bashes her with a wooden statue, leading her to have permanent brain damage.

* Antonia McNally (Pat Bishop - episodes 57-64), a cool, classy woman on remand for murder who takes over as top dog while Bea Smith is away in solitary confinement. Antonia is the wife of the head of the local underworld with friends in high places, therefore pressure is brought to bear on governor Erica Davidson to give her special privileges that further cements her high status amongst the prisoners. She was shot after her trial by Ros Coulson, Daughter of the women she killed.

* Roslyn Coulson (Sigrid Thornton - episodes 63-92), an idealistic young woman charged with killing the woman who had murdered her mother, Antonia McNally. She escaped with help from outside friend, who shot Erica Davidson but she was returned to Wentworth and transferred to another block so she could concentrate on her studying.

* 'Pat OConnell (Monica Maughan - episodes 65-110), an imprisoned mother separated from her young children, Pat had aided and abetted her husband and eldest son in an armed robbery.

* Janet Dominguez (Deidre Rubenstein - episodes 79-83), a terrorist brought to Wentworth awaiting extradition to the US to face charges in connection with the bombing of a South American official outside the UN building. Initially, she was held in solitary away from the other women. Ros Culson helped with an escape and was given an instant sleep powder to drug the guards while armed terrorists broke into the prison to free Janet. When she had the chance to escape she was shot and wounded by an officer.

* Caroline Simpson (Rosalind Speirs - episodes 89-114), a sophisticated middle-class woman who stabbed her abusive father to protect her mother, Vivienne Williams (Bernadette Gibson), from being beaten. Both Caroline and Vivienne are remanded to Wentworth, and Caroline becomes attracted to deputy governor Jim Fletcher, who as a result earned the nickname "Fletch the letch".

* Sharon Gilmour' (Margot Knight - episodes 90-116), a scheming, spoiled young woman imprisoned for drug dealing and an immediate enemy of Bea Smith. Sharons older girlfriend, Judy Bryant, deliberately had herself imprisoned to be with Sharon, only for Sharon to shamelessly manipulate her in her bid to become top dog. Sharon was pushed down the stairs by bent screw Jock Stewart, she died.

* Judy Bryant (Betty Bobbitt - episodes 91-534), an American ex-pat lesbian who deliberately committed a crime to join her lover Sharon Gilmour in prison. She was initially an agitator, but later became one of Bea's allies, as well as a long-term inmate. Judy ran Driscoll House, a Half-Way House for ex-criminals to get back on their feet. Judy was sent back to Wentworth after helping friend, Hazel Kent, kill herself while she was suffering from a terminal brain tumor. Served as a sort of "deputy Top Dog," to both Bea and Myra. She was later released to become a successful song writer.

* Margo Gaffney (Jane Clifton - episodes 92-448), one of a long line of agitators in the prison cellblock who generally played rival to the reigning top-dog. Margo took charge of all gambling inside Wentworth and was usually accompanied by her stooges "Lil and Bev" (played by extras Judith McLorinan and Kaye Chadwick). Margo went back and forth during the series run from a good to bad guy, usually leaning toward the bad side. One of Margo's most heinous acts was the bashing of guard Meg Morris, who was temporarily a prisoner for contempt of court, and this earned her the combined wrath of Bea and Chrissie (who ironically saved Meg, despite her killing Meg's first husband, Bill Jackson), and avenged her bashing, by tying her up and tarring and feathering her in the lavatory. Margo was also later bashed by Bea and Chrissie when it was discovered that she set the storeroom on fire with a Molotov cocktail at Wentworth, thus beginning the Great Fire at Wentworth, and lied about it to the cops. She later tries to frame Reb for attacking Myra Desmond but is found out and transferred to Blackmoore.

* Heather "Mouse" Trapp (Jentah Sobott - episodes 106-326), a rather timid young woman in and out for Wentworth for petty crime. She escapes and goes on the run with Judy Bryant after crawling through the tunnel during the pantomime. Later she returns to Wentworth and gets mixed up in the plans for the Great fire where she perishes in the flames and burns to death.

* Kerry Vincent (Penny Downie - episodes 112-124), a prisoner transferred to Wentworth because of her artistic talent but who turns out to be a mediocrity, exploited for her prisoner status.

* Helen Smart (Caroline Gillmer - episodes 118-441), a likable, amusing prostitute frequently sent to Wentworth for soliciting who becomes a useful contact for the women on the outside. Became good friends with Judy Bryant. Helen was known to the prison as "The 'tart' with a heart."

* Gail Summers (Susanne Howarth - episodes 124-133), a harassed housewife and neighbor of officer Meg Morris, driven to beating her young children because of an inability to cope. Remanded to Wentworth where she faces the anger of the other prisoners for being a "baby basher".

* Kay White (Sandy Gore - episodes 127-145), the administrator of a clothing factory where the women are out on work release. Kay arrives at Wentworth after embezzling the payroll, using it to finance her compulsive gambling habit. A fellow inmate struck Kay with an electric jug-kettle and she died of a blood-clot on the brain. (She was attacking Lizzie Birdsworth for fixing a game, In which Kay wasn't to happy about and Linda came in and hit her over the head with the kettle).

* Tracey Morris (Sue Devine - episodes 141-198), a young woman on remand accused of smuggling heroin into Australia but claims that she was set up by her gangster boyfriend. Tracey's father Bob becomes romantically involved with officer Meg Jackson.

* Hazel Kent (Belinda Davey - episodes 142-399), background prisoner whose situation is eventually explored. A generally decent sort, later episodes show Hazel as being a depressed, drunken loser, turning to the bottle after her partner leaves her for another woman, taking their children with him. Hazel was suffering from a brain tumour and asked Judy bryant to give her an overdose - leading to Judy's return to Wenthworth for her final stint.

* Jacki Nolan (Diane Craig - episodes 149-159), a sophisticated young woman who had escaped from Barnhurst years previously and lives under an alias. When her cover is blown, she is brought to Wentworth as a high profile inmate, with various groups campaigning for her release.

* Myra Desmond (Anne Phelan - episodes 154-552), a former prisoner who had worked with the Prison Reform Group before arriving back at Wentworth and replacing Bea Smith as the show's second long-running "top dog". She was a thoughtful but strong woman. But gave up her life for the safety of the other hostages of The Ballanger Siege.

* Anne Griffin (Rowena Wallace - episodes 160-167), a fragile young woman who is remanded to Wentworth protesting her innocence of a robbery charge. She became very worrying to viewers and was later carted off to a Secure Psychiatric Unit.

* Sandra Hamilton (Candy Raymond - episodes 173-180), an ambitious journalist who deliberately gets herself imprisoned to write a story about life behind bars.

* Evelyn Randall (Julia Blake - episodes 175-179), an eccentric, middle-aged woman and herbalist who is imprisoned for manslaughter after a patient died. Evelyn's arrival coincides with Wentworth being gripped by a mysterious disease and placed under quarantine conditions.

* Georgie Baxter (Tracy Mann - episodes 175-186), a violent, illiterate biker's moll whose aggression is caused by her deafness.

* Jeannie Baxter (Leila Hayes - episodes 180-183), Georgie Baxter's mother, who had neglected her as a child. Admitted to Wentworth for "living off immoral earnings" as a brothel madam.

* Marie Winter (Maggie Millar - episodes 197-471), a tough long-term prisoner who was top dog of country prison Barnhurst, specialising in pushing drugs. She escaped with help form Lou Kelly and The Freak by climbing over the fence in afternoon exercise and clinging onto a helicopter and flying away. Notably the best exit. We are told that a few days later she is captured and sent to Blackmoor.

* Michelle Parks (Nina Landis - episodes 209-213), an attractive young athlete with Olympic potential, Michelle is remanded to Wentworth charged with stealing from the office where she worked and once inside, literally runs rings around deputy governor Jim Fletcher.

* Lori Young (Susannah Fowle - episodes 209-347), a young girl who visits Wentworth searching for her biological mother who had given her up for adoption - Judy Bryant. Lori later deliberately gets herself imprisoned to spend more time getting to know her mother.

* Kathy Hall (Sue Jones - episodes 213-220), a woman imprisoned for theft who is heavily involved with the local underworld. Kathy knows too much, and attempts are made to silence her for good. But on her release she is run over by a hit and run driver and dies.

* Alison Page (Fay Kelton - episodes 215-227), troubled suburban prisoner inside for shoplifting and unhappy at being locked up with "common criminals".

* Andrea Hennessy (Bethany Lee - episodes 228-236), a student and political activist who is admitted to Wentworth after assaulting officer Colleen Powell during a demonstration outside the prison. To secure her release, her followers kidnap governor Erica Davidson.

* Linda Golman (Mary Charlston - episodes 228-236), associate of Andrea Hennessy who is remanded to Wentworth for her part in the kidnapping of governor Erica Davidson. She was found hanging in Andrea's cell. suicide but people wonder if Andrea hung her. she had changed after solitary and very very depressed.

* Sandy Edwards (Louise Le Nay - episodes 235-264), a cocky gangster's moll inside for murder. Briefly took over as top dog whilst Bea Smith was away in hospital. She later disappears after a fixed 'meeting' with Kate Peterson at the bins but when the girls are called in Kate returns instead of Kate.

* Kate Peterson (Olivia Hamnett - episodes 235-273), a former doctor who had poisoned her lover. A refined, intelligent and coolly self-reliant inmate. Kate was one of the few characters on the show who was a "good guy," and later turned "bad." Usually it was the other way around. She was later carted off to a nut-house when she tried to strangle her cell-mate Judy. (Notably an iconic scene).

* Susie Driscoll (Jacqui Gordon - episodes 260-302), a young girl who is admitted to Wentworth after she has escaped from all the juvenile institutions she has been placed in. Due to her young age and innocent nature, she is taken under the collective maternal wing of most of the women. She is later released to be with her real family.

* Faye Quin (Anne Lucas - episodes 285-352), a petty criminal inmate who attempts to take charge of all gambling at Wentworth. Frequently on Nola McKenzie's side. She is last seen being reduced to tears after being transferred to C-Block and reading a letter from her son, Billy.

* Hannah Simpson (Julieanne Newbould - episodes 288-303), a young woman on remand for armed robbery who becomes the first unwilling object of officer Joan "The Freak" Ferguson's Sapphist lust.

* Donna Mason (Arkie Whiteley - episodes 290-303), a doomed heroin addict whom Bea Smith tries to help through cold turkey, reminded of her own deceased daughter Debbie. She later died when she injected herself with spiked drugs, She died in Bea Smith's arms.

* Maxine Daniels (Lisa Crittenden - episodes 297-392), a young biker frequently inside Wentworth for petty theft. She was shot dead by an officer while trying to escape the scene of a robbery.

* Barbara Fields (Susan Guerin - episodes 300-326), a devious middle-class woman who embezzled funds from the shoe factory where she worked. Barbara is the first Wentworth inmate to pose a threat to Joan Ferguson after she acquires the Freak's secret diaries full of incriminating evidence of the corrupt screw's dodgy dealings. During The Great Fire she tries to recover the diaries from Erica's office but collapses and dies.

* Paddy Lawson (Anna Hruby - episodes 304-339), a young woman charged with assault and a highly aggressive inmate. It is eventually discovered that Paddy suffers from claustrophobia. After this, she settles down and becomes a friend of Bea Smith. Paddy was viciously murdered by Nola McKenzie by drowning, earning her Bea's wrath.

* Penny Seymour (Joy Dunstan - episodes 307-309), a young woman imprisoned for prostitution. She fell victim of the Black Gloved Killer.

* Sally Dempster(Liz Harris - episodes 313-320), neurotic middle-class housewife who tries to run down her neglectful husband after an argument. Like Gail Summers, she too was given rough treatment by the other women, because she bashed her kid.

* Jeannie Stanton (Rona McLeod - episodes 325-329), pregnant prisoner whose baby is delivered by Bea Smith and Chrissie Latham in a men's prison (as the men rioted).

* Valerie Jacobs (Barbara Angell - episodes 330-332), an old friend of deputy governor Colleen Powell having stolen goods for her boyfriend to sell in his shop.

* Nola McKenzie (Carole Skinner - episodes 331-370), a vicious double murderer who had escaped from death row in Western Australia. Possibly Bea Smith's deadliest rival and the first inmate to actively collude with corrupt officer Joan "The Freak" Ferguson. She angered Bea after callously murdering Paddy Lawson by drowning her in a wash basin. She eventually tries to drive Bea crazy, until Bea eliminated her by shooting her with a Zip Gun.

* Trixie Mann (Anna Mizza - episodes 336-340), a young woman imprisoned for prostitution who becomes a brief offsider of Nola McKenzie. She was released.

* Janice Young (Catherine Wilkin - episodes 344-352), proud suburban wife and mother imprisoned for refusing to pay a court fine. Her husband Chris (Roger Oakley - episode ) becomes involved with deputy governor Colleen Powell while she is inside.

* Roxanne Bradshaw (Peppie D'Or - episodes 345-381), friend of Maxine Daniels who later arrives inside for receiving stolen goods. She is pregnant after agreeing to a surrogacy arrangement with a middle-class couple.

* Jill Clark (Kathleen Brinson - episodes 348-353), a departmental employee posing as an inmate in order to conduct a covert investigation of the prison.

* Lainie Dobson (Marina Finlay - episodes 354-366), tattoo-covered shoplifter who turns to drugs while inside. She tries to remove her tattoos by dipping her cut arms into caustic soda, she was released.

* Diane Henley (Rhonda Cressey - episodes 355-361), illiterate prisoner whose plight highlights the lack of educational facilities at Wentworth.

* Denise Tyler (Geraldene Morrow - episodes 361-367), working-class single mother on remand for apparently killing one of her sons.

* Zara Moonbeam (Ilona Rodgers - episodes 362-370), on remand for fraud. Zara claims to be a medium with "second sight" and becomes embroiled in a bizarre scheme by Joan Ferguson and Nola McKenzie to drive Bea Smith insane. Moonbeam was the proud owner of a disturbing Yorkshire accent.

* Tracey Belman (Alyson Best - episodes 368-372), paraplegic prisoner who poisoned her husband after a car crash which left her using a wheelchair. But Joan Ferguson proved everyone wrong when she caused Tracy to reveal she could walk and did not need a wheelchair.

* Maggie May Kennedy (Davina Whitehouse - episodes 371-376), geriatric drugs mule convicted for smuggling heroin. Turns out to be an old friend of Lizzie Birdsworth. She had, arguably, the most bizarre accent in the entire series, drifting between American slang, BBC English and Dame Edna.

* Carol Colsen (Merrin Canning - episodes 373-377), next door neighbour of Joan Ferguson and an abused housewife who finally snaps and kills her husband.

* Laura Gardiner/Brandy Carter (Roslyn Gentle - episodes 373-382), admitted to Wentworth as a surly, antagonistic prostitute, officer Meg Morris recognises her as a meek librarian. However, it is not simply a case of a woman living a double life as it soon becomes apparent that Laura/Brandy is schizophrenic...

* Sandra "Pixie" Mason (Judy McBurney - episodes 377-510), a flighty, romantic inmate initially admitted on bigamy charges. (Mason, addicted to weddings, had married a number of men.) She was cruelly raped by Frank Burke, but her friends and Joan Ferguson helped set up evil screw, Len Murphy, for the rape. She never recovered from her ordeal with Frank and is transferred to Ingleside.

* Petra Roberts (Penny Maegraith - episodes 383-407), a former teacher remanded to Wentworth charged with the murder of her abusive father. Is in love with prison doctor Scott Collins. Her storyline was basically a re-hash of the Karen Travers one from several years earlier. She was released.

* Sharon Smart (Liddy Clark - episodes 383-388), the younger sister of Helen Smart who becomes involved with a crooked religious cult.

* Lucy Ferguson (Yoni Prior - episodes 385-389), the niece of officer Joan Ferguson who arrives inside on drug charges.

* Glynis Ladd (Debbie Cumming - episodes 389-391), a prostitute and junkie.

* Rosemary Kaye (Jodie Yemm - episodes 391-402), naive country girl who comes to the city looking for work and ends up in Wentworth falsely accused of theft.

* Sonia Stevens (Tina Bursill - episodes 394-447), a cool vice queen who had operated a protection racket fleecing prostitutes whilst maintaining a cover as a policeman's wife. Imprisoned for heroin trafficking. She escaped and was last seen standing on a clifftop.

* Randi Goodlove (Zoe Bertram - episodes 394-414), a mercenary, high-class prostitute who crosses swords with officer Meg Morris when she tries to manipulate her son Marty (Andrew McKaige - episode ) into marriage as a cover for her prostitution. Randi fell victim of Murderous David Bridges, she was killed and stashed in the boiler room.

* Cass Parker (Babs McMillan - episodes 401-460), a gentle-natured farmer's daughter with a murderous bad temper. She was later carted off to a secure nut house, after attempting to strangle Dennis Crukshaunk, when he caused Bobbie Mitchell to miscarry her baby.

* Minnie Donovan (Wendy Playfair - episodes 405-437), an elderly woman who had been a foster carer and had organized her charges into a team of shoplifters. Became the series' most unorthodox top dog. The first of several Lizzie Birdsworth-lite characters. She is transferred to B-Block.

* Bobbie Mitchell (Maxine Klibingaitis - episodes 405-533), a streetwise and rebellious youngster and punk imprisoned for shoplifting and assault. Accused of pushing Reb over the catwalk but cleared of the charge and later released.

* Brenda Hewitt (Carmen Warrington - episodes 408-416), a talented forger working for the local underworld who is involved in a brief business partnership with Sonia Stevens while inside.

* Belinda Johns (Jane Turner - episodes 414-428), an embittered blind woman who gets herself imprisoned to take revenge on Sonia Stevens, whose protection racket partner left her blind after a bashing. She was transferred away from Sonia after an attempted bashing which involved a wrench.

* Sarah Higgins (Nell Johnson - episodes 416-499), Aryan-looking Visiting Justice notorious for her tough attitude and the harsh sentences she gives out to the prisoners. Sarah gets a taste of life on the other side of the bars when she is remanded on corruption charges.

* Reb Kean (Janet Andrewartha - episodes 422-589), a tough inmate who played rival to top dog Myra Desmond. She was born into money, but rebelled against her wealthy family. She was returned to Wentworth later in the series, a changed character following electric shock treatment. She is released after she is cleared of the attack on Joyce Barry.

* Mo Maguire (Bronwyn Gibbs - episodes 428-432), antagonistic remand prisoner protesting her innocence of a burglary charge.

* Camilla Wells (Annette Andre - episodes 429-432), a radio show hostess and journalist who arrives at Wentworth as a "celebrity" inmate for not paying a parking fine.

* Meryl King (Marilyn Maguire - episodes 429-432), a prostitute imprisoned for drug possession with links to the local underworld.

* Gloria Payne (Tottie Goldsmith - episodes 430-445), trouble-making inmate and early antagonist of new top dog Myra Desmond, having been her husband's mistress on the outside. She was last seen suffering in hospital after having boiling water tipped on her by Philis, attempting to frame Myra.

* Sarah Webster (Fiona Paul - episodes 433-441), a young single mother who finds herself remanded to Wentworth after sheltering her old friend Reb Kean while she is on the run.

* Alice "Lurch" Jenkins (Lois Collinder - episodes 448-692), a prisoner who, like many, graduated from a small non-speaking part into a more fleshed-out role. Her character, initially a thug, later mellowed and became an ali of Rita Connors after the riot she took part in, realizing Lou was no good for her and what she did was wrong. this was further solidified after Lou killed Alice's brother and mother. Lou was also raped by Alice's brother while escaped.

* Rachel Millsom (Kim Trengove - episodes 450-472), a young woman on remand for running down the man who ran down and killed her grandfather.

* Hannah Geldschmidt (Agnieszka Perepeczko - episodes 451-456), an East German Jewish concentration camp survivor and illegal immigrant who arrives at Wentworth awaiting extradition back to East Germany.

* Lou Kelly (Louise Siversen - episodes 452-616), a vicious prison thug — perhaps the most violent agitator in H Block, during the later years of the series. She held a riot in which she killed Eve Wilder the Phantom Lagger but she was later killed while in solitary ; being beaten to death with a glass bottle by Janet "Maggot" Williams. Lou escaped after the riot she caused by faking a murder attempt by cutting herself with knife, setting up Rita. While she escaped she was raped by Alice's brother and killed him and his mother.

* Leigh Templar (Virginia Hey - episodes 457-470), a glamorous fashion model remanded to Wentworth after killing her manager, who had been blackmailing her with some porn films she had made at the start of her career.

* Marlene "Rabbit" Warren (Genevieve Lemon - episodes 461-534), a juvenile prankster imprisoned for manslaughter after one of her practical jokes had gone tragically wrong. She is later released to be with husband, Matt Delaney.

* Dot Farrar (Alethea McGrath - episodes 462-486), an elderly, hypochondriac prisoner who had served years inside. Generally regarded as a nuisance by the other women.

* Edna Pearson (Vivean Gray - episodes 463-468), a genteel woman imprisoned for trying to poison her second husband. (Note: the episodes featuring Edna Pearson were edited to remove all her scenes after a woman who had been acquitted of a similar offense threatened to sue Grundy's, claiming similarities between the character and her own case. The complete storyline has been screened in certain subsequent international screenings but is missing from the SHOCK DVD release.)Most UK viewers saw Edna arrive, do very little and then disappear.

* Deirdre Kean (Anne Charleston - episodes 464-492), Reb Kean's estranged socialite mother who is remanded to Wentworth after helping her daughter to escape.

* Bev "The Beast" Baker (Maggie Dence - episodes 472-477), an infamous serial killer, dubbed "The Beast" by the tabloids, who terrifies both staff and inmates alike. When she went on the warpath in Wentworth, She killed Rob Summerton and soon after committed suicide by injecting herself with an empty hypodermic needle.

* Angela "Angel" Adams (Kylie Foster - episodes 477-488), a deceitful young prisoner who plays on a "little girl lost" facade as a cover for her genuine criminal activities. She was later sent to a psychiatric unit when her true colours began to show.

* Kerryn Davies (Jill Forster - episodes 485-495), a white-collar fraudster who finds it hard to cope being in prison and separated from her husband.

* Sam Greenway (Robyn Gibbes - episodes 495-520), a young arts student framed for drug possession. Later died when Lou set up for another inmate to be electrocuted through a door handle which Sam used first.

* Matt Delaney (Peter Bensley - episodes 499-533), one of a trio of male prisoners transferred to Wentworth for their own safety after they had foiled a mass breakout attempt.

* Geoff Macrae (Leslie Dayman - episodes 500-556), the unofficial top dog of the male inmates transferred from Woodridge men's prison. Becomes romantically involved with top dog Myra Desmond. He was last seen at Myra's funeral.

* Frank Burke (Trevor Kent - episodes 500-555), the last of the male Woodridge inmates moved to Wentworth, Frank is a convicted rapist and all-round villain. Raped Pixie Mason. He escaped and eventually took his revenge on Dennis by knee-capping him.

* Yemil Bakarta (Maria Mercedes - episodes 504-516), a Middle Eastern Islamic inmate charged with causing a car accident when attempting to escape from her brutal husband.

* Lexie Patterson (Pepe Trevor - episodes 509-650), a loud-mouth punk and card-shark, who spent her first few months in Boy George-style garb. (Note: With George's change in image and subsequent fall from favour occurring prior to Lexie's on-air debut in February 1985, these episodes already seemed dated at the time of first broadcast.) She is later released with Nancy McCormack.

* Ettie Parslow (Lois Ramsay - episodes 514-600), a senile old dear who turns out to have been imprisoned since the Second World War due to a bureaucratic mix-up. Develops a close relationship with officer Meg Morris when it turns out that Ettie nursed her as a new-born baby in prison. She was last seen begging to be let into Wentworth to see Julie Egbert on her birthday.

* Janice Grant (Jenny Ludlam - episodes 514-528), a sophisticated solicitor imprisoned for dangerous driving. It turns out that Janice is an alcoholic, suffering from withdrawal symptoms and dependent on buying prison home brew from other inmates.

* Sheila Brady (Colleen Hewett episodes 519-534), misfit remand inmate inside for heroin possession with a secret singing talent. She performed 'Pixie's Song', the only other piece of music ever to close an episode of the soap.

* Anita Selby (Diane Craig - episodes 526-536), a Catholic nun imprisoned for causing a disturbance at a nuclear disarmament demonstration. Anita's overall goodness and willingness to seek such virtue in others brought about a brief moral chaos to Wentworth, its prisoners and staff. In particular she proved to be the perfect character foil for cell mate Lou Kelly and evil officer Joan Ferguson. She was released on bail and last seen having a heart to heart with Joan Ferguson.

* Nora Flynn (Sonja Tallis - episodes 537-588), a long-term, self-reformed prisoner transferred from Barnhurst. She had served 23 years for her involvement in the thrill-kill murder of three hitch-hikers. Perhaps inspired by the situation of the Charles Manson gang members, despite appearing to be self-reformed Flynn is repeatedly denied parole. She executes a mysterious escape from prison. Later her murdered corpse is dumped outside the prison: it transpires that after her escape she had been hunted down and killed by an ex-policeman serial killer with a grudge against prisoners.

* May Collins (Billie Hammerberg - episodes 537-587), an earthy career criminal who was a famous cat burglar. Although getting on in years, May is a tough lady who watches out for the more vulnerable, younger prisoners. After her escape, she works with a gang to rob an art gallery and after much disagreement she is shot in her chest.

* Willie Beecham (Kirsty Child - episodes 537-682), May Collins' partner-in-crime. Willie was a fence on the outside and runs a bartering business in prison. Willie is something of a snob, and often antagonises the women with her supercilious attitude. She returned for a surprising, one-off appearance later in the series as an employee which Joan goes to see for a job.

* Julie "Chook" Egbert (Jackie Woodburne - episodes 537-628), a shy but highly intelligent young girl who had stolen from her workplace to help her terminally ill mother. She is transferred back to Barnhurst until her release so she can live with her new husband, Steve Ryan.

* Daphne Graham (Debra Lawrance - episodes 537-590), a garden-loving inmate who had been a juvenile offender before ending up in prison. It is later discovered that Daphne's crime and her subsequent self-harming in prison is linked to extreme PMT. She was released.

* Ruth Ballinger (Lindy Davies - episodes 538-552), the shady wife of an international drugs baron remanded to Wentworth with special privileges in the hope that she will assist the Federal Police with their efforts to nail her husband's drug trade. Ruth's time in the series climaxes in a three-episode-long terrorist siege when her husband sends a team of armed mercenaries to spring her from the prison. After the successful escape, she is caught at the airport and is transferred to Blackmoor. (Joan phones Cynthia Leach to have Ruth 'taken care of')

* Jenny Hartley (Jenny Lovell - episodes 540-588), a naive, wimpish young woman on remand protesting her innocence of the murder of her wealthy grandmother. Not one of the most endearing characters in the series.

* Queenie Marshall (Marilyn Rodgers - episodes 556-573), sassy prostitute who later becomes a friend to the women on the outside.

* Nikki Lennox (Vicki Mathias - episodes 568-574), the leader of a gang of juvenile delinquents sent to Wentworth to spend time with convicted criminals as part of a "scared straight" scheme. She became an enemy of Lexie Patterson when she cheated at a game of cards and they broke out in a fight.

* Cindy Moran (Robyn Frank - episodes 568-574), another juvenile offender sent to Wentworth to be "scared straight".

* Eve Wilder (Lynda Stoner - episodes 574-600), a beautiful, enigmatic socialite who arrives in Wentworth protesting her innocence at having allegedly shot the man she had been having an affair with. During her stay, she bashed guard Joyce Barry. She was killed by Lou Kelly by hanging during a riot. As she was found out to be the "Phantom Lagger"

* Rita "The Beater" Connors (Glenda Linscott - episodes 585-692), a spirited bikie, nicknamed "Rita the Beater" who arrives inside for grievous bodily harm and becomes the show's third long-running top dog. She also brought down The Freak. Stepped down from Top Dog when she attracted terminal cancer

* Barbie Cox (Jayne Healey - episodes 586-602), a daffy young woman whose vocabulary is limited to "Hi-de-hi!" and "Naughty, naughty!" As part of a running joke, it is never revealed why Barbie is in prison. She is released with Jesse Windon, but returns the following episode to throw tennis balls to the women, that were filled with alcohol.

* Nancy McCormack (Julia Blake - episodes 589-650), a demure, dignified housewife imprisoned for killing her abusive husband. In fact, Nancy is covering up for her son, who had accidentally killed his father during a fight. She is released alongside Lexie Patterson.

* Jessie Windom (Pat Evison - episodes 589-620), a no-nonsense, resourceful former brothel madam who deliberately gets herself imprisoned in order to search for the daughter she gave away years before - Lexie Patterson. She is released and later takes Lexie's son until Lexie is released.

* Ida Brown (Paddy Burnet - episodes 592-691), Rita Connors' formidable elderly auntie involved with her niece's biker gang. She is last seen visiting Rita in 691.

* "Roach" Waters (Linda Hartley - episodes 595-643), a young punk inside for armed robbery. "Roach" (real name Rachel) is the girlfriend of Rita Connors' brother Bongo (Shane Connor). She escaped while on work release.

* Janet "Maggot" Williams (Christine Earle - episodes 599-639), a second-rate prison thug who becomes an offsider to a number of the wannabe top dogs at Wentworth. She murdered Lou Kelly. She is later transferred to A-Block following a bashing from Kath Maxwell.

* Kath Maxwell (Kate Hood - episodes 601-692), a middle-class woman committed for killing her terminally sick, handicapped daughter. Initially brutalised by the other women, Kath toughens up and becomes Rita Connors' main rival for the top dog position. She is the last top dog of the series.

* Vicki McPherson (Rebecca Dines - episodes 608-692), a wisecracking inmate who becomes an ally to Kath Maxwell and "Spider" Simpson.

* Lorelei Wilkinson (Paula Duncan - episodes 623-677), a vivacious con-woman imprisoned for posing as a policewoman. She was transferred to Ingleside Mental Institution after stabbing Ernest Craven, in which she became mentally unstable.

* Merle Jones (Rosanne Hull-Brown - episodes 625-692), a mentally disabled, illiterate prisoner initially regarded as a figure of fun by the other women, but finds friendship from inmate Kath Maxwell. She escaped with Kath but was left behind after an injury and sent to a Pyschiatric Hospital but returned to Wentworth where Kath made several attmps to make up with her but, they eventually made up in 691.

* Rose "Spider" Simpson (Taya Straton - episodes 649-686), a sneering career criminal who takes charge of all rackets and contraband trading at Wentworth. She was transferred to Barnhurst.

* Lisa Mullins (Nicki Paull/Terrie Waddell - episodes 651-692), a young woman arrested for operating a prostitution and blackmail racket on the outside. (Note: Lisa was played by Nikki Paul for her first six episodes. When Paul suddenly became ill, the part was taken over by Terrie Waddell).

* Wendy Glover (Julieanne Newbould - episodes 651-659), an undercover policewoman sent into Wentworth to shadow endangered inmate Lisa Mullins and to gather information about her case.

* Sarah West (Kylie Belling - episodes 658-668), a fiery, impulsive Aboriginal inmate who suffers from abuse from racist prisoners but who starts to fight back. She was transferred to Barnhurst.

* Michelle "Brumby" Tucker (Sheryl Munks - episodes 665-692), a young prisoner first seen at Blackmoor prison. A misfit and a troublemaker.

* Margaret "Spike" Marsh (Victoria Rowland - episodes 665-691), "Brumby"'s best friend at Blackmoor who was framed for heroin trafficking. "Spike" was a university student studying the sciences before being imprisoned and has kept her middle-class background hidden from the other prisoners. She was released to be with her parents.

* "Stud" Wilson (Peter Lindsay - episodes 668-684), male former Blackmoor inmate transferred to Wentworth after Blackmoor is burnt down following a riot. A convicted rapist and an underling of evil governor Ernest Craven.

* Harry Grosvenor (Mike Bishop - episodes 679-692), former male Blackmoor prisoner moved to Wentworth, becoming a love interest for Alice Jenkins. He was transferred to Barnhurst.

Sheila Florance (24 July 1916 - 12 October 1991) was an Australian film and television actress.

After working in theatre in London and appearing on Australian television, Florance played small roles in several Australian films of the 1970s, including Mad Max (1979). She won two Logie Awards for her portrayal the elderly murderer, Lizzie Birdsworth, in the television series Prisoner.

She left the series in 1984, and continued to work sporadically in Australian films. Her final performance, as a woman dying of cancer in A Womans Tale'' (1991), was filmed while she was suffering from cancer herself. She won the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, a week before her death from cancer.