Bad girls. Series one

Inspired by the success of Australia’s “Prisoner” comes the British production of “Bad girls”, also set in a woman’s only prison. Governor of G Ward is Helen Stewart (Simone Lahbib), a boss with a conscience unafraid of standing up for the rights of the prisoners. The core group of women comprise of: Rachel (Joanne Froggatt), first timer, victimised and vulnerable, Shell (Debra Stephenson), a lifer and the toughest woman on the ward, Denny (Alicia Eyo), Shell’s faithful sidekick and occasional lover, Nikki (Mandana Jones) a thinking lesbian who isn’t afraid to speak her mind and has unresolved sexual tension with the Governor, and the Julies, 2 women called Julie fond of finishing one another’s sentences. An engrossing mix of violence inflicted by women towards women and the inadequacies of the prison system, it also attempts to capture the vagary of relationships and emotions experienced by women who share confined quarters and are without civil liberties. Devised by Maureen Chadwick, Eileen Gallagher and Ann McManus, this award winning series is now in its 5th season. For more information, visit the official website http://www.badgirls.co.uk