Returning: Wentworth

Wentworth returns for its 8th season in late July.

Joining the cast this season are Kate Box (Upright, Les Norton, Rake) as former top dog Lou Kelly; Zoe Terakes (Janet King, The End) is trans character Rebel ‘Reb’ Keane, Jane Hall (Neighbours, House Husbands) is the new General Manager, Ann Reynolds and Vivienne Awosoga (Neighbours, The Time of our Lives) as Judy Bryant.

As previously confirmed the show also sees the return of Pamela Rabe as Joan ‘The Freak’ Ferguson.

Foxtel previously announced a June return for the show, along with a Foxtel Con fan event which obviously cannot proceed under current restrictions.

Wentworth, still the reigning Most Outstanding Drama at the Logie Awards, is available on Foxtel and Foxtel Now but not on Binge.

Wentworth’s season 7 finale had fans on the edge of their seats with a siege that saw inmates murdered by a corrupt guard, new life born amongst the chaos and a much loved inmate take her final breath all before the final jaw dropping scene revealing Joan ‘The Freak’ Ferguson is very much alive.

When Wentworth returns in 2020, the prison community is still reeling from the aftermath of the bloody siege with a new leader at the helm and four heritage characters from the original Prisoner series set to enter the compound.

International broadcasters including 5STAR (UK) and TVNZ (New Zealand) are scheduled to roll out the next chapter within days of Foxtel’s unveiling, with many more global territories set to follow.

Season 8 cast includes: Leah Purcell (Rita Connors),  Pamela Rabe (Joan ‘The Freak’ Ferguson), Kate Atkinson (Vera Bennett), Katrina Milosevic (Sue ‘Boomer’ Jenkins), Robbie Magasiva (Will Jackson), Kate Jenkinson (Allie Novak), Bernard Curry (Jake Stewart), Rarriwuy Hick (Ruby Mitchell) and Susie Porter (Marie Winter) along with new cast members Kate Box (Lou Kelly), Jane Hall (Ann Reynolds), Zoe Terakes (Rebel ‘Reb’ Keane), Vivienne Awosoga (Judy Bryant) and support cast Jacquie Brennan (Linda Miles) and David de Lautour (Dr. Greg Miller).

Wentworth is a Fremantle production for Foxtel with Fremantle Director of Scripted, Jo Porter and Foxtel’s Senior Drama Consultant, Penny Win as executive producers. Pino Amenta is series producer for season eight. The directors are Kevin Carlin, Beck Cole, Fiona Banks, Corrie Chen, Roger Hodgman and Mat King. The writers are John Ridley, Kim Wilson, Pete McTighe, Max Conroy and Marcia Gardner, who is both script producer and writer.  Season 8 is supported by funding from Film Victoria.

8.30pm Tuesday July 28 on FOX Showcase.

Updated.