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Prisoner originals meet Wentworth cast

Prisoner's Top Dog meets the newest inmate as cast members meet for a screening of Wentworth.

wentw2It was a case of the original cast members of Prisoner ‘passing on the baton’ to the new Wentworth cast last night in Melbourne.

Val Lehman, Colette Mann, Fiona Spence, Patsy King, Elspeth Ballantyne and Carol Burns met Shareena Clanton, Danielle Cormack, Celia Ireland, Kate Atkinson and Aaron Jeffery at a screening of Episode One of the new Foxtel series.

TV Tonight was there to talk to the original cast members about their time on the iconic Australian soap and to hear their reactions to the new reimagining.

COLETTE MANN on whether it was hard to move on from Prisoner:

“I left after 3 years and it ran for 8. I made a conscious decision when I came out of Prisoner to do something completely different. I did The Don Lane Show for 3 years as a personality called Colette Mann so that I wouldn’t get branded with it –but I am.

“I got my very first fan letter at Neighbours the other day and I got very excited and opened it and it was all about Prisoner. ‘I love your character Doreen in Prisoner!’ from someone in England.

“I suppose I’m honoured that people still remember the character but I’m really thrilled that someone else is taking over the mantle. Lovely, beautiful Shareena Clanton is taking over the character of Doreen and then maybe when people call me ‘Doreen’ in the street I can say ‘I’m sorry, she’s not here anymore.’ ”

FIONA SPENCE on the risks of being typecast after playing Vera Bennett:

“If you’re in a successful show now people want you but back then it was out of myself and Louise Pajo for Carson’s Law. They didn’t choose me because they said I was too identifiable with Vera. But if you think about it, it’s ridiculous because (Carson’s Law) was a 20s show with 20s hair and costumes.

“I did the Prisoner tour all the way around (the UK) and the pantos. I played the Wicked Queen which was so wonderful. I toured the Prisoner play through all of Great Britain in the most beautiful theatres. It was just heaven.

“I’ve just done 8 weeks in Home and Away and 8 weeks in Rafters and I loved it and I’m back in the industry again. Those 16 weeks that I was on the same floor at Channel Seven were just a godsend for me.

On the new Foxtel series:

“I have every belief that it will be absolutely fabulous. I’ve always wanted to see the show in the 21st Century with the technology and the lighting.

“And so it should look like the 21st Century and so it should be bloody fantastic.”

VAL LEHMAN gives a quick review of the new series:

“I expected different and I got different. Spectacular performances. Another fabulous show with a lot of wonderful women –how could I not adore it?

“I had no idea what to expect. There will be some surprises for the Prisoner fans. It will still please some of the Prisoner followers –it might alienate some- but it will generate a whole new fanbase.

“I hope it gets the exposure that ours did and the success that we did because they really deserve it.

“It is a very interesting start to the development of the character that I played. Of course she couldn’t come into the show and immediately be Top Dog, because nobody could do that.”

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PATSY KING on her view of the new series:

“I was completely absorbed in the whole evening, and quite frightened at times. But I really thought it was superb and congratulations to the cast.

“I wasn’t thinking about Prisoner at the time I was just thinking about the show and where I was.

“I was quite prepared to judge it on its own merits because we’re in a different era now. When we did it it was the most extraordinary thing to have on television.

“I want to see the next episode and that’s a sure sign.”

On leaving Prisoner and the lifetime of recognition:

“Erica had done everything. She’d been sacked, kidnapped, she’s had terrorists.

“Only a week ago someone stopped me in Chapel Street and called out and I thought ‘Is that somebody I know?’ But they were watching it on YouTube.

“I still get mail and I still get recognised, so it’s incredible.”

CAROL BURNS on Wentworth:

“I had a good time. It was very generous, first of all, in its homage to Prisoner.

“Most of the time I was interested in these characters for who they are now and where they’re going. The whole ambience of a prison show now is totally different from what you could do in the 70s to what you can do now.

“The thing that interested me the most were the qualities of each of the individual actresses, and how they’ve blended together into an ensemble.

“One of the joys for an audience is to follow those individual storylines as they become stronger but be supported by the whole shape of the piece.

“I think Prisoner fans will take it to their hearts. I think it’s been pitched very well to engage the people who love Prisoner as a classic piece.

“It was the same in the early days of Prisoner where people would say ‘That character will be hated or loved’ and it wasn’t exactly as people said because the audience makes up their own mind.

“(The Wentworth cast) said they were very nervous about us coming tonight!”

There are already whispers of a second season in development and a possible German adaptation in discussion, but neither Foxtel nor FremantleMedia would confirm.

Wentworth premieres 8:30pm Wednesday May 1st on SoHo.

14 Responses

  1. I’m a big Prisoner fan and I love what show that is, but I’m really looking forward to seeing how the show will be re-interpreted in Wentworth. I suspect the key for fans of the original show might be to approach Wentworth as a completely new entity. Can’t wait.

  2. I am in the US and got hooked on the original series first run. I can’t wait to see Wentworth! Don’t know how I’m going to see it yet however I’ll find a way.

  3. I’m confused?? I went to tape this on my foxtel app and it is listing as showing on May 1st at 8.30pm on 3 stations…. 111 hits, Arena and Soho. Is it going to be played on all three stations all the time or is this a one off thing? I wanted to series link it but not sure which station will be playing it all the time?

  4. The problem for this Prisoner devotee is that the original looms so large that it is tough not to compare or expect from the new. But Kris, Celia et al are great actors. Great pic of the old meets new. Patsy looks no different, Elspeth looks great as does Carol.

  5. As an avid fan of the original, when I first heard about this remake, I wasn’t too sure. I felt it would be too glossy and to be blunt, well made.
    The shaky sets and such just went to show that great storylines, characters and acting rise above a limited budget, but as the airing date draws nearer I feel myself getting more excited.
    Thanks for the great article David. Great to catch up with some faves and loved the photos.
    All these actresses should be proud to have been a part of something that still has a huge following worldwide, something I’m sure not one of them could ever have imagined at the time.
    And the fact that Carol Burns’ Frankie was only in the first 20 episodes of the series shows just how memorable her performance of that character was.

  6. The original was great in its day and really looking forward to the new series but just don’t understand why they are using the existing characters names but they have no relevance to the old characters….. if the behind the scenes promo is anything to go by.

  7. the sad thing is Prisoner is a classic and has a cult following. Wentworth will either be amazing and remind people of why they love the show or will be a total disaster and leave the fans of the original scratching there head asking why?

    personally I think they should have created new characters and blended them with some of the older characters who would still be serving time today.

    let’s just hope foxtel can pull off another great Australian Drama,

    its a pity they decided not to continue with Spirited or make another season of Slide

  8. What a great interview! Just shows the impact Prisoner has had even to this day. I am anticipating this show more than any other I have for years.

    Hmm now there’s just the small problem of not having Foxtel but I’m hoping it comes out on DVD. Or they could show this and the original both together on free to air.

  9. I went to the same school as Shareena (one of her younger sisters was in the same year as me) and her whole family are just gorgeous people! I wish I had foxtel so I could watch this for support.

  10. I’m a fan of the original show. I watched it as a teenager in its first run, and in repeats on Foxtel for a while.
    But I have been so bombarded with promos for the new Wentworth, it has totally put me off watching. Overkill much?

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