Talking Prisoner (Matt Batten )

Talking Prisoner Cell Block H EP 28 – Part 2 Interview with Maggie Kirkpatrick (Joan “The Freak” Ferguson)
Welcome to Episode 28 – Part 2 of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with Maggie Kirkpatrick who played officer Joan “The Freak” Ferguson. In part 2 Maggie answered all fan questions. Maggie answered questions such as what it was like to  work on stage in the west end, working on Prisoner Cell Block H the musical with Lilly Savage (Paul O’Grady), her close relationship with Elspeth Ballantyne, Judith McGrath and Carole Skinner who played Nola McKenzie, Maggie discussed what it was like working with the different top dogs of Wentworth, questions about her book The Gloves are off, her work with the Aids events and helping raise money for these organisations that help people with Aids, the scene with Joy Westmore and the laughing gas balloons, and what she thought about being crowned one of the nastiest villains on TV. Talking Prisoner also launched the official Maggie Kirkpatrick Memorabilia collection which is exclusive to Talking Prisoner.
#cellblockh #prisoner #maggiekirkpatrick #joanferguson

Talking Prisoner Cell Block H  EP 29 Interview with Will Deumer (Crime Boss Lionel Fellowes)
Welcome to Episode 29 of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with the talented Will Deumer who played several roles in Prisoner but his most notable role Crime Boss Lionel Fellowes. Will has an extensive list of TV credits to his name such as Homicide, Division 4, Matlock Police, Cop Shop, Sons and Daughters, Carson’s Law, One Way Ticket, Stingers, Blue Heelers and Prisoner. We discussed with Will his life growing up in the Melbourne suburb of Northcote, his childhood growing up and how he broke into acting and what his school life was like. Will is also an amazing cook and shared his favourite meals with us that he likes to cook. We spoke about Wills time on Sons and Daughters playing Mr Bates and what it was like to work on that show. We also spoke to Will about his thoughts on why Prisoner is so popular today and how he is still remembered for his role as Lionel Fellowes. Will gave us some behind the scenes information about the very first episode of Prisoner (Episode 1) which we never knew. Will was able to share with us how he got the part of Lionel Fellowes and what he thought about playing a dangerous Crime Boss and his love for cigars and beautiful suits. Will was able to share a secret about Prisoner that Ken and Matt did not even know about what they were going to do with his character Lionel. We broke down episode 415 and what it was like to work with Maggie Kirkpatrick and Episode 542 working with Lois Ramsey and what his favourite storyline was. Will was generous with his time and answered all fan questions. Please like and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
#willdeumer #lionelfellows #prisoner #cellblockh #wentworth

Talking Prisoner Cell Block H EP 30 Interview with Sally McKenzie (Top Dog Roo Morgan)

Welcome to Episode 30 of Talking Prisoner (Cell Block H). Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with the talented Sally McKenzie who played Blackmoor Top Dog Roo Morgan. Sally is a NIDA graduate and has appeared in many Australian TV shows such as Special Squad, Rafferty’s Rules, Mother and Son, Cop Shop, The Flying Doctors and many more. We spoke to Sally about her life growing up as a child and her school life and how she broke into acting from a young age. Sally is also a Churchill Fellow and explained to us how she became a Churchill Fellow. Sally also played Elanor Rigby in Tv show Fat Cow Motel and spoke to us about her time on that show. Sally trained at The National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) and also directed a documentary called the acting class of 1977 which featured Mel Gibson, Judy Davis, Steve Bisley and Debra Lawrance. Sally is also has an extensive career in the theatre and has written and appeared in many plays which we also spoke about. We also spoke about the awards Sally has won and the Logie that she won for one episode of Cop Shop that she starred in. We spoke to Sally about her time on Prisoner and how she got the part of Top Dog Roo Morgan and what it was like to film the intense Riot scenes and her scenes with Ray Meagher who played Governor Craven. Sally answered all fan questions.

#sallymckenzie #cellblockh #prisoner #melgibson

Talking Prisoner Cell Block H EP 31 Interview with Sally Bourne (Kay Desmond)
Welcome to Episode 31 of Talking Prisoner Cell Block H. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with Sally Bourne who played Myra Desmond’s daughter Kay Desmond. Sally is not only an actress of film and television but also an accomplished theatre actress and known for many productions such as Annie, Les Mis, My Fair Lady, Jesus Christ Superstar, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Beautiful Game and Jerry Springer the opera. We spoke to Sally about her life growing up in an entertainment family and what it was like for her school. Sally’s Dad is Ernie Bourne who also starred in Prisoner as Mervin Pringle, We spoke in great length about Sally’s father and learned so much more about the legendary Ernie Bourne and some very funny stories. Sally discussed with us her current project she is working on called Mrs Prime Minister which also stars Jane Clifton (Margo Gaffney). Sally shared with us her memories of working with Julie Andrews and Judi Dench and what it was like to work with them both. We spoke about Sally’s special friendship with Prisoner and Neighbours icon Lucinda Cowden. Sally also appeared in the first ever stage production of Annie as Annie in Australia working with Nancye Hayes and what it was like to appear on the Don Lane show singing “Tomorrow” in front of 3 million people at the age of 12. We spoke about Sally’s time on Neighbours, and her time working with American singer-songwriter Madonna on 1996 film “Evita”. We discussed in great length about Sally’s time on Prisoner and what it was like to play those drug addiction scenes and working with Anne Phelan, Sally shared lots of special memories of her time on Prisoner and how hard it was to film those scenes at Wally’s house in the bush. Sally also answered all fan questions for us.
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#sallybourne #madonna #cellblockh #prisoner #erniebourne #evita

Talking Prisoner Cell Block H EP 32 Interview with Steve Bastoni (Peter McCormack) Wentworth (Don Kaplan)
Welcome to Episode 32 of Talking Prisoner Cell Block H. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with the talented Steve Bastoni. Steve is one of the small handful of Actors to spear both in Prisoner and Wentworth. Steve has a stellar career and has appeared in many well known TV shows and movies such as The Magistrate, G.P, Frankies House, The Heartbreak Kid, Police Rescue, Blue Murder, Stingers, The Crocodile Hunter, The Matrix Reloaded, The Alice, Neighbours, Underbelly, Fat Tony and Co, He is also a writer and producer. We spoke to Steve about his life growing up in Italy and then as a teenager growing up in Carlton, Melbourne and when he decided he wanted to be an actor. Steve shared with us his memories of working on Neighbours playing the role of Steve Parker and why he took the role, We also discussed in great length about his portrayal of Undercover Officer Michael Drury in cult classis series Blue Murder and the danger that came with shooting this series. Steve told us about his time on Prisoner and what it was like for him on the first day of shooting Prisoner working with Julia Blake. Steve also played Detective Don Kaplan in the hit Foxtel drama Wentworth which he shared his memories of working with the likes of Sigrid Thornton and Celia Ireland. Steve is the founder of the Peninsula Film Festival and told us about how that all started for him and why he created the festival. Steve also shared with us about his time on Police Rescue playing Yiannis “Angel” Angelopoulos and what it was like to do all his own stunts. Steve also starred along side Keanu Reeves in the Matrix Reloaded and was able to share his memories working on that movie. Steve answered all fan questions. Please like and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
 
#stevebastoni #wentworth #cellblockh #prisoner #keanureeves

Talking Prisoner “Presents” Neighbours EP 2 Interview with Lucinda Cowden (Melanie Pearson)
Welcome to Episode 2 of Talking Prisoner “Presents” Neighbours. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down in this special episode and spoke with Lucinda Cowden who plays Melanie Pearson in Australia’s longest running drama Neighbours. Lucinda also appeared in two episodes of Prisoner Cell Block H and many other well known Australian TV shows. We spoke with Lucinda about her life growing up and what it was like for her at school and her time that she spent in the UK. Lucinda is also a voice over artist, and she spoke to us about her time in the Koala Brothers. Lucinda discussed with us her two roles she had on Prisoner and working with Maggie Kirkpatrick (Joan Ferguson) and Gerda Nicolson (Ann Reynolds) and how she got the parts on Prisoner. Lucinda shared with us how she got the part for Melanie on Neighbours and what it was like to work with Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan, Guy Pearce, Anne Charleston, Myra De Groot, Paul Keane, Annie Jones and told us a little secret about her iconic laugh. Lucinda also discussed with us why she left Neighbours in 1991 and what she thought of her storylines with Mark Little (Joe Mangel) and what she thought about Mark Little’s storyline when he came back in 2005. Lucinda also shared with us what it is like to work with her close friends on Neighbours Alan Fletcher, Jackie Woodbourne, Colette Mann and Stefan Dennis. Lucinda shared with us her thoughts on her recent storylines being the love interest for Toadie Rebecchi played by Ryan Moloney and the differences working on Neighbours in the 80s compared to now. Lucinda answered all fan questions.
#lucindacowden #cellblockh #prisoner #neighbours #melaniepearson

Talking Prisoner “Presents” Neighbours EP 2 Interview with Lucinda Cowden (Melanie Pearson)
Welcome to Episode 2 of Talking Prisoner “Presents” Neighbours. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down in this special episode and spoke with Lucinda Cowden who plays Melanie Pearson in Australia’s longest running drama Neighbours. Lucinda also appeared in two episodes of Prisoner Cell Block H and many other well known Australian TV shows. We spoke with Lucinda about her life growing up and what it was like for her at school and her time that she spent in the UK. Lucinda is also a voice over artist, and she spoke to us about her time in the Koala Brothers. Lucinda discussed with us her two roles she had on Prisoner and working with Maggie Kirkpatrick (Joan Ferguson) and Gerda Nicolson (Ann Reynolds) and how she got the parts on Prisoner. Lucinda shared with us how she got the part for Melanie on Neighbours and what it was like to work with Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan, Guy Pearce, Anne Charleston, Myra De Groot, Paul Keane, Annie Jones and told us a little secret about her iconic laugh. Lucinda also discussed with us why she left Neighbours in 1991 and what she thought of her storylines with Mark Little (Joe Mangel) and what she thought about Mark Little’s storyline when he came back in 2005. Lucinda also shared with us what it is like to work with her close friends on Neighbours Alan Fletcher, Jackie Woodbourne, Colette Mann and Stefan Dennis. Lucinda shared with us her thoughts on her recent storylines being the love interest for Toadie Rebecchi played by Ryan Moloney and the differences working on Neighbours in the 80s compared to now. Lucinda answered all fan questions.
#lucindacowden #cellblockh #prisoner #neighbours #melaniepearson

Talking Prisoner Cell Block H EP 33 Interview with Lynda Stoner (Eve Wilder)
Welcome to Episode 33 of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with the amazingly talented Lynda Stoner. Lynda played vindictive inmate Eve Wilder who turned out to be the phantom lagger. Lynda appeared between episodes 574-600, Lynda has also appeared on other iconic Australian TV shows such as The Young Doctors (Kim Barrington), Cop Shop (Const. Amanda King) and many other shows. We discussed with Lynda her life growing up, school life, her time on the Young Doctors as Kim Barrington and why she left the Young Doctors. Lynda was also able to share some special memories of legendary actress Gwen Plumb, we discussed Lynda’s role on Cop Shop playing Constable Amanda King and how she got the part on Cop Shop and what it was like to film Crawford’s productions compared to a Grundy’s Production. Lynda shared her special memories working with Paula Duncan and the close friendship they still have until this day. We discussed in great length why Lynda left acting to purse and focus on animal rights and her role as Chief Executive of the charity Animal Liberation and living a vegan lifestyle. Lynda shared with Ken and Matt on how she was offered the role of Eve Wilder from then Producer Marie Trevor and her memories of working with Marie who is sadly no longer with us. We broke down some very important episodes with Lynda including Episode 586 when we see Eve violently try and murder Office Joyce Barry played by Joy Westmore, Lynda told us what it was like to film that scene and what it was like to shoot it with Joy Westmore, we then moved on to Episode 600 which was the great Lou Kelly riot and Eve meets her demise. Lynda told us what it was like to shoot the hanging scene and what steps they took to make that scene happen and shared with us on why she left the show and also the storyline the writers had planned for Lynda had she stayed on the show which would have taken the show in a completely different direction. Lynda answered all fan questions. Please like and subscribe to our YouTube Channel.
 
#lyndastoner #cellblockh #prisoner #evewilder #marietrevor

Welcome to Episode 34  of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with the talented Script Writer/Script Editor/Storyliner and Story Editor Coral Drouyn. Coral has been involved in the entertainment industry since a young child and is also an actress and singer. Coral is a huge part of the Australian TV industry working on shows such as Neighbours, Home and Away, Blue Heelers, Streetsmartz, Pacific Drive, Chuck Finn and is also responsible for saving the career of a Home and Away favourite which we spoke to Coral in great length about. Coral shared her memories with us growing up as a child, what it was like to have parents who were in show business and what it was like to come over to Australia in a boat. Coral talks in great length about her writing process for scripts and her passion for writing for tv shows and the lengths she went to making sure that her scripts were perfect. Coral shared with us the long hours she worked on shows the stress and toll it took on her and her family life. We spoke with Coral about how she was headhunted to come and save Home and Away and what she did to save the show and to fix the ratings. We also spoke about the ill fated soap “Arcade” where Coral played Consuela McPhee, Coral explained why this show did not work and some behind the scenes information that none of us ever knew about Arcade. We spoke in great depth about Corals time writing for Neighbours with Reg Watson. Coral wrote the final episode and one of the most heart breaking episodes of Blue Heelers where Maggie Doyle dies, Coral explains why they killed off Maggie and why Lisa McCune did not speak to her for two years. Coral also saved the career of Home and Away favourite Lynne McGranger who plays Irene Roberts, Coral told us why she kept Irene in the show when the writers wanted to write her out and the Australian Writers Award she won for writing Episode 3445 of Home and Away involving everyone’s favourite Alf Stewart played by Ray Meagher. Fans will be excited to know that Part 2 will be dedicated to all the characters Coral developed on Prisoner and fan questions. Please like and subscribe to the Talking Prisoner YouTube channel.
#homeandaway #coraldrouyn #neighbours #blueheelers

Welcome to Episode 34  of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with the talented Script Writer/Script Editor/Storyliner and Story Editor Coral Drouyn. Coral has been involved in the entertainment industry since a young child and is also an actress and singer. Coral is a huge part of the Australian TV industry working on shows such as Neighbours, Home and Away, Blue Heelers, Streetsmartz, Pacific Drive, Chuck Finn and is also responsible for saving the career of a Home and Away favourite which we spoke to Coral in great length about. Coral shared her memories with us growing up as a child, what it was like to have parents who were in show business and what it was like to come over to Australia in a boat. Coral talks in great length about her writing process for scripts and her passion for writing for tv shows and the lengths she went to making sure that her scripts were perfect. Coral shared with us the long hours she worked on shows the stress and toll it took on her and her family life. We spoke with Coral about how she was headhunted to come and save Home and Away and what she did to save the show and to fix the ratings. We also spoke about the ill fated soap “Arcade” where Coral played Consuela McPhee, Coral explained why this show did not work and some behind the scenes information that none of us ever knew about Arcade. We spoke in great depth about Corals time writing for Neighbours with Reg Watson. Coral wrote the final episode and one of the most heart breaking episodes of Blue Heelers where Maggie Doyle dies, Coral explains why they killed off Maggie and why Lisa McCune did not speak to her for two years. Coral also saved the career of Home and Away favourite Lynne McGranger who plays Irene Roberts, Coral told us why she kept Irene in the show when the writers wanted to write her out and the Australian Writers Award she won for writing Episode 3445 of Home and Away involving everyone’s favourite Alf Stewart played by Ray Meagher. Fans will be excited to know that Part 2 will be dedicated to all the characters Coral developed on Prisoner and fan questions. Please like and subscribe to the Talking Prisoner YouTube channel.
#homeandaway #coraldrouyn #neighbours #blueheelers

Talking Prisoner Cell Block H EP 34 Part 2 Interview with Coral Drouyn (Script Writer/Story Editor)
Welcome to Episode 34 of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with the talented Script Writer/Script Editor/Storyliner and Story Editor Coral Drouyn. In part 1 we covered Corals time on Prisoner, Coral worked on prisoner for over 224 episodes and at one stage was running the entire writing office. Coral discussed with us how she began her time on Prisoner and her ambition to work on Prisoner in the earlier days of the show. Coral was able to run us through the writing process and how it all starts and the visits to the studios in Nunawading to look at the sets so the writing team knew what they were working with. Coral explained the differences between her roles as a Script Writer, Script editor, Storyliner and Story editor. Coral wrote fan favourite episode 369 (Bea Shoots Nola) and told us about her idea for this episode and why they killed off Carole Skinners character Nola McKenzie. We then discussed how Coral took hold of the character Joan Ferguson and the dark places she took Joan and where the idea for the black leather gloves came from and the story behind it (Fans will love this story) We moved on to Episode 391 which saw Wentworth go into lockdown with the inmates contracting Lassa Fever, Coral was responsible for storylining this episode and we asked her where her idea came from to lockdown Wentworth. Coral told us about her leaving the show and how her writing process starts. We were also very fortune to breakdown Corals characters that she developed and we found out who was originally going to play Rita Conners, This interview is jam packed with so much behind the scenes Prisoner information and we will be filming part 2 to answer all fan questions. Please like and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
#coraldrouyn #prisoner #cellblockh #wentworth

Talking Prisoner Cell Block H EP 34 Part 2 Interview with Coral Drouyn (Script Writer/Story Editor)
Welcome to Episode 34 of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with the talented Script Writer/Script Editor/Storyliner and Story Editor Coral Drouyn. In part 1 we covered Corals time on Prisoner, Coral worked on prisoner for over 224 episodes and at one stage was running the entire writing office. Coral discussed with us how she began her time on Prisoner and her ambition to work on Prisoner in the earlier days of the show. Coral was able to run us through the writing process and how it all starts and the visits to the studios in Nunawading to look at the sets so the writing team knew what they were working with. Coral explained the differences between her roles as a Script Writer, Script editor, Storyliner and Story editor. Coral wrote fan favourite episode 369 (Bea Shoots Nola) and told us about her idea for this episode and why they killed off Carole Skinners character Nola McKenzie. We then discussed how Coral took hold of the character Joan Ferguson and the dark places she took Joan and where the idea for the black leather gloves came from and the story behind it (Fans will love this story) We moved on to Episode 391 which saw Wentworth go into lockdown with the inmates contracting Lassa Fever, Coral was responsible for storylining this episode and we asked her where her idea came from to lockdown Wentworth. Coral told us about her leaving the show and how her writing process starts. We were also very fortune to breakdown Corals characters that she developed and we found out who was originally going to play Rita Conners, This interview is jam packed with so much behind the scenes Prisoner information and we will be filming part 2 to answer all fan questions. Please like and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
#coraldrouyn #prisoner #cellblockh #wentworth

Talking Prisoner Cell Block H EP 35 Interview with Kate Hood (Kath Maxwell)

Welcome to Episode 35 of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with the talented Kate Hood who played Inmate Kath Maxwell. Kate has appeared in many Tv shows and Movies including Constance, Mesmerized, Takeover, The Flood: Who will save our Children ?, Blue Heelers and Neighbours. Kate Spoke with us about those shows she has appeared in and also about her writing, directing and voice over work. Kate spoke in length about her production company she formed called Raspberry Ripple Productions that creates work to dissolve the divide between the mainstream and disability arts sectors which Kate is very passionate about. We spoke to Kate about her life growing up and where the love of acting came from and then we delved into Prisoner and how she got the part of Kath Maxwell. Kate spoke in great length about Prisoner and her audition and what it was like to shoot her scenes with the late great Peter Adams who played Acting Governor Bob Moran. We discussed her major storyline of euthanasia and what she did to prepare for the role and storyline. Kate also spoken in great detail about working with Taya Stratton who played Spider Simpson, and what it was like to work with Rosanne Hull-Brown who played Merle Jones. Kate told us how she felt when she found out Prisoner was ending and how she felt being Wentworth’s last Top Dog. We also discussed why Kate was not in the final ever scene of Prisoner. Kate also shared with us a very funny fan moment that happened to her when she was shooting Prisoner. Kate answered all fan questions. Please Subscribe to our YouTube channel.
 
#katehood #kathmaxwell #cellblockh #prisoner #wentworth

Talking Prisoner Cell Block H EP 36 Interview with Tottie Goldsmith (Inmate Gloria Payne)
Welcome to Episode 36 of Talking Prisoner Cell Blok H. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down the talented Tottie Goldsmith who played inmate Gloria Payne in Prisoner. Tottie is an icon of Australian Tv and theatre and has appeared in many TV shows such as The Young Doctors, The Henderson Kids, GP, All together Now, Fire, Stingers, Blue Heelers, Neighbours The Secret life of Us, Underbelly and so many more. We spoke to Tottie about her life growing up and spoke about her Dad Brian Goldsmith the nightclub king of Australia. We touched on Totties school life, her famous Aunty Olivia Newton-John and what she thought about Grease and Tottie also lets us in on a little secret of hers about John Travolta. Tottie spoke briefly about her time on the Henderson Kids and how she got the part on Neighbours and what it was like to work with Margot Robbie and her thoughts on the recent axing of Neighbours. Tottie also appeared in I’m a Celebrity get me out of here and told us all about the show and what it was like to appear in a show like that. We then spoke about Tottie’s time on Prisoner and how she got the part of Gloria Payne and what her first day was like. Tottie has very fond memories of working with Annie Phelan who played Top Dog Myra Desmond. We discussed her band the Chantoozies, We also discussed the charity work Tottie does and her work with the Big Umbrella Group. Tottie was able to answer all fan questions. Please like and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
 
#tottiegoldsmith #olivianewtonjohn #briangoldsmith #cellblockh #prisoner

Talking Prisoner Cell Block H EP 37 Interview with Linda Hartley (Inmate Roach Waters)
Welcome to Episode 37 of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with the talented Linda Harley who played inmate Rachel “Roach” Waters. Linda has never publicly spoken about her time on Prisoner so it was great to get her insight about the show and her character. Linda has appeared in many well known Aussie TV shows and Movies such as The Bush Gang, Cornflakes for Tea, Home, The Fire in the Stone, Carson’s Law, The Flying Doctors, Breakers, All Saints and well known for her three parts on Neighbours. We spoke to Linda about her time growing up as a child and her love for dancing at a young age and her school life. Linda spoke to us about her time on the Tv shows and Movies she has appeared in and what it is like to be still recognised for her role in Prisoner to this day. Linda is also married to John Clark who was in Neighbours co star Craig McLachlan’s band Check 1-2 and how the two of them met. We also discussed why Linda left the actin industry. Linda appeared in 27 episodes of Prisoner and we discussed her audition for the part of Roach and where the nickname of Roach came from. We broke down Linda’s first scene working with Gerda Nicholson, Lois Ramsey and what it was like to work with Shane Connor who played Bongo Conners. We spoke about the storyline that was proposed by Marie Trevor for Linda’s possible return to Prisoner after she set of on the boat and what it was like working with Ian Smith on Prisoner and Neighbours. Linda spoke to us about what it was like working with Nick Carrafa who played Mick on Prisoner. Linda worked closely with Glenda Linscott on Prisoner and was able to share her memories of working with Glenda on the show and behind the scenes. Linda answered all fan questions. Please like and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
 
#lindahartley #prisoner #cellblockh #wentworth #neighbours

Talking Prisoner “Presents” Neighbours Interview with Morgana O’Reilly (Bonus Easter Episode)
Welcome to our bonus Easter Episode of Talking Prisoner “Presents” EP 9. Host Matt Batten sat down with Morgana O’Reilly who is a Television and Film actress, Stand up Comedian and Playwright. Morgana is well known for her role in Neighbours playing Naomi Canning and Narelle Stang in Wentworth, she has also appeared in The Jaquie Brown Diaries, A Thousand Apologies, Piece of my heart, Sunny Skies, Housebound, Rake, Offspring, Secret Bridesmaids and is currently touring her new show “Stories about my body”. Morgana spoke to us about her life growing up, school life, what her parents thought about her getting into the industry. We spent some time talking about her hobbies, what life was like in lockdown for her and what it was like to work with Rebecca Gibney in “Wanted”. Morgana spoke to me in length about her time on Neighbours and what it was like working with Colette Mann and Stefan Dennis both who appeared in Prisoner and Ryan Moloney who plays Toadie, we spoke about her first day on set and her audition and why she did not want a long contract on the show. We then moved on to Wentworth and talked about her role as Narelle Stang and what it was like to work on the show and working with cast like Pamela Rabe, Kate Atkinson and her close friendship with Danielle Cormack. We spoke in great length about her new show Stories About My Body which is a new show that Morgana is touring at the moment and performing at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and what it is like working as a stand up comedian. We spoke about so much more and we are also going to giveaway two free tickets to Morgana’s show to two lucky viewers. Please like and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
#morganaoreilly #wentworth #neighbours #comedy #comedian

Welcome to Episode 38 of Talking Prisoner.  Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with Terrie Waddell who played inmate Lisa Mullins. Terri was in the final year of Prisoner and in the very last episode 692. Terrie has also appeared in Neighbours, A Country Practice, A Cry in the Dark, Golden Braid, Wedlocked, The Dame was loaded and Prisoner. We discussed Terries life growing up as a child and where her love for acting came from. Terrie told us about her time on Neighbours and her thoughts on the recent axing of the show. Terrie shared with us why she left acting and to become a Professor in the Department of Creative Arts and English, she shared with us her passion for writing and writing the book “The Lost Child Complex in Australian Film. We discussed Prisoner in great depth and what it was like for Terri to take over the character of Lisa Mullins from Nikki Paul and how she felt about getting the part and how quick it all happened. Terri had many scenes with Rosanne Hull-Brown who played Merle Jones and discussed with us what it was like working with Rosanne and working with Philip Hyde who played Officer Rodney Adams and gave us some behind the scenes on the attempted Rape scene with Peter Lindsay who played Spud. Terrie shared her memories of what it was like to work on Prisoner in its final year and how heavy the workload was with the long hours, We also asked Terrie if the show was to continue would she have like to have continued on longer as Lisa Mullins. Terrie had some scenes with the late Taya Stratton and shared her memories about Taya who played Spider Simpson. There has been lots of speculation and Rumours over the years that Terrie was pregnant when she was on Prisoner and Terri confirms with Ken and Matt the true story on Talking Prisoner. We also spoke about her memories on the last day of Prisoner working on Episode 692 and her scenes with Glenda Linscott, Terrie is a huge fan of Wentworth and shares her thoughts about the re-imagining of Prisoner, We spoke about so much more, Terrie was able to answer all fan questions. Please like and subscribe to our YouTube channel
 
#terriewaddell #prisoner #cellblockh #wentworth

Welcome to Episode 34 of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with the talented Script Writer/Script Editor/Storyliner and Story Editor Coral Drouyn. In this final episode with Coral we discussed why Coral was really sacked from Prisoner, this has never been public knowledge and we broke it first on Talking Prisoner. We also broke down episode 399 (The Death of Hazel Kent) and why Coral came up with that storyline and what the reason for it was to have Hazel written out of the show and how hard it was for Coral to write those scenes. In this episode Coral answered every fan question that was asked of her including other Tv shows she would have liked to have worked on, her time on the short lived soap “Arcade” Why Reylene Pearce (Phyllis Hunt) was written out the way she was, what Coral considered to be the Golden Era of Prisoner, why the disappearance of Nora Flynn and what she thought of Nora as Top Dog, Coral gave us her own personal insight as to why she wrote the scene for Kate Petersons “Tick Tick Tick” solitary scene and what she drew on for that scene, something she has never shared publicly before, This is a ground breaking Episode of Talking Prisoner with so much behind the scenes information that has never been made public before. Please like and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
 
#coraldrouyn #prisoner #cellblockh #wentworth #arcade

Welcome to Episode 39 of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with the amazingly talented Anna Hruby who played inmate Paddy Lawson. Anna has appeared in many Australian TV shows and Movies including Seven Little Australians, The Evil Touch, The Outsiders, The Sullivans, The Young Doctors, Chopper Squad, Case for the Defence, Skyways, Cathy's Child, The Journalist, The Restless Years, Cop Shop, Sporting Chance, Bellamy, Sons and Daughters, Rafferty's Rules, The Harp in the South, Fields of Fires, Poor Man's Orange, Fragments of War: The Story of Damien Parer, E-Street, The Flying Doctors, Big Ideas, A Country Practice, G.P., Janus, Police Rescue, Heartbreak High, Children's Hospital, Fireflies, All Saints and Blood Brothers. She is also very well known for her role as Headmistress, Judith Ackroyd in Home and Away from 1999-2000. We spoke to Anna about her life growing up and what it was like to come from such a big showbusiness family with her Mum being Joy Hruby who was a Actress, Producer, Film Maker, Author, Entertainer, Comedian and Agent with a career spanning more than 50 years. Anna was able to share her memories of working on Seven Little Australians and working with Len Teale and Ruth Cracknell. We then discussed her role on The Sullivans and playing Sandy Pearce on the Young Doctors, a role that led to Anna being expelled from school. We discussed her role as Tracy Kingsford on Sons and Daughters and one her well known roles as Judith Ackroyd on Home and Away and her memories of working on that show. Anna is also a very well known voice over artist and is also known as the Telstra lady, Anna also performed a Telstra voiceover message for us live on this interview. Anna shared her memories of working on Prisoner playing Paddy Lawson and how she got the role and some very funny stories about her first day on set and an even funnier one about Sheila Florance. We talked about the great fire escape episodes and the traumatic death scene with Nola killing Paddy. Anna told us why she left Prisoner even after she was asked to stay longer and renew her contact. We covered lots about Prisoner and Anna answered all fan questions. Please like and subscribe to our YouTube Channel.
 
#annahruby #joyhruby #cellblockh #prisoner #telstra #wentworth

Welcome to Episode 39 of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with the amazingly talented Anna Hruby who played inmate Paddy Lawson. Anna has appeared in many Australian TV shows and Movies including Seven Little Australians, The Evil Touch, The Outsiders, The Sullivans, The Young Doctors, Chopper Squad, Case for the Defence, Skyways, Cathy's Child, The Journalist, The Restless Years, Cop Shop, Sporting Chance, Bellamy, Sons and Daughters, Rafferty's Rules, The Harp in the South, Fields of Fires, Poor Man's Orange, Fragments of War: The Story of Damien Parer, E-Street, The Flying Doctors, Big Ideas, A Country Practice, G.P., Janus, Police Rescue, Heartbreak High, Children's Hospital, Fireflies, All Saints and Blood Brothers. She is also very well known for her role as Headmistress, Judith Ackroyd in Home and Away from 1999-2000. We spoke to Anna about her life growing up and what it was like to come from such a big showbusiness family with her Mum being Joy Hruby who was a Actress, Producer, Film Maker, Author, Entertainer, Comedian and Agent with a career spanning more than 50 years. Anna was able to share her memories of working on Seven Little Australians and working with Len Teale and Ruth Cracknell. We then discussed her role on The Sullivans and playing Sandy Pearce on the Young Doctors, a role that led to Anna being expelled from school. We discussed her role as Tracy Kingsford on Sons and Daughters and one her well known roles as Judith Ackroyd on Home and Away and her memories of working on that show. Anna is also a very well known voice over artist and is also known as the Telstra lady, Anna also performed a Telstra voiceover message for us live on this interview. Anna shared her memories of working on Prisoner playing Paddy Lawson and how she got the role and some very funny stories about her first day on set and an even funnier one about Sheila Florance. We talked about the great fire escape episodes and the traumatic death scene with Nola killing Paddy. Anna told us why she left Prisoner even after she was asked to stay longer and renew her contact. We covered lots about Prisoner and Anna answered all fan questions. Please like and subscribe to our YouTube Channel.
 
#annahruby #joyhruby #cellblockh #prisoner #telstra #wentworth

Talking Prisoner Cell Block H EP 40 Interview with Colette Mann Inmate Doreen Anderson

Welcome to EP 40 of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with Colette Mann who played inmate Doreen Anderson. Colette has also been in many Australian TV shows and films, including The Champion, Between Wars, Cop Shop, Kitty and the Bagman, Always Afternoon, Outback Bound, The Flying Doctors, Stark, Snowy River: The McGregor Saga, The Client, JAG, Party of Five, The Dish, MDA, Blue Heelers, H.M.S. Pinafore and Fisk. Her theatre credits include Priscilla Queen of the Desert. She is also very well known for another big role as a series regular in Neighbours as Sheila Canning. We spoke to Colette about her life growing up and how she first got into acting and what it was like to work on shows like the Don Lane show and Good Morning Australia with Bert Newton and her time on Talkback radio. Colette was also in a three woman troupe called the mini Busettes with her Prisoner co stars Betty Bobbitt and Jane Clifton and spoke to us about how that troupe formed and what it was like working with Jane and Betty. We spoke in great length about her time in the movie Kitty and the bagman which Colette appeared in alongside Val Lehman. Colette told us about her first time on Neighbours in 1995 when she replaced Prisoner co star Caroline Gilmer who played Cheryl Starke who fell ill at the time. Colette also played Sheila Canning for over ten years on Neighbours and told us how she got the part and what it was like to work on Neighbours and why she left Neighbours (Talking Prisoner Exclusive). Colette also told us how she got the role of Doreen Anderson on Prisoner and what the audition was like. We discussed why she chose to leave the show and why she decided to come back for a guest appearance in 1984. Colette was able to share some beautiful memories of working alongside Sheila Florance and what it was like to shoot the escape scenes with Carol Burns who played Frankie Doyle dressed as nuns. Colette was also able to tell us why the Cameo of her, Fiona Spence and Val Lehman was not used on Wentworth. Please like and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

#colettemann #prisoner #cellblockh #wentworth #neighbours

Welcome to EP 41 of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with Glenda Linscott who played inmate Rita Connors. Glenda graduated from NIDA and has worked in all aspects of the performing arts industry. Alongside her considerable acting credits, she has not only been in theatre shows, but also directed them as well. Glenda is also a performance coach, actor trainer and voice-over artist. Her TV credits include: Mennotti, The Sullivans, Patrol Boat, The Cowra Breakout, A Country Practice, The Miraculous Mellops, Big Ideas, Janus, Soldier, Soldier, Murder Call, All Saints, Back Berner, Fergus McPhail, MDA, McLeod's Daughters, Underbelly: Infiltration, Winners and Losers, Neighbours, and the Miss Fisher Murder Mysteries. We spoke to Glenda about her life growing up and what lead her into acting and her time and NIDA and what it was like to study at NIDA. Glenda currently teaches at the Western Australian Academy of Performing arts (WAAPA) and spoke to us what it is like to teach. We spoke to Glenda about her time on the various TV shows that she has appeared on and how she got the part on Prisoner and what the audition was like for her. Glenda was able to share her memories of playing Dr Imogen “Tootsie” Soames in Murder Call and what it was like preparing for that role. We spoke in length about Glenda’s time on Prisoner and how she got the role of Top Dog Rita Conners and what the audition was like. Rita wore many tattoos on the show and she told us why they ended up showing less of her tattoos later in the show. Glenda shared with us about her heavy workload on the show and fainting on set one day from exhaustion and how tiring it could be playing Rita. Glenda shared some stories and memories of working with Ian Doig who played slasher and filming those scenes with the CB radios. We broke down some iconic scenes that Glenda appeared in including the fight against Joan Ferguson in the Lou Kelly Riot episodes and what it was like to film those episodes and we also discussed the Blackmoor period and working with Ray Meagher.
 
#glendalinscott #ritaconnors #cellblockh #wentworth

Talking Prisoner Cell Block H EP 42 Interview with Desiree Smith Officer Delia Stout
Welcome to Episode 42 of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with Desiree Smith who played Officer Delia Stout in the final year of Prisoner. Desiree appeared in forty two episodes of Prisoner and also appeared in Neighbours and in Australian movie the Delinquents alongside Kylie Minogue. Ken and Matt discussed with Desiree her life growing up, everything from home life and school and how she was able to get into acting. Desiree appeared in the 1989 Australian movie called the Delinquents which was directed by Chris Thomson and was Kylie Minogue’s first movie, Desiree spoke to Ken and Matt about this movie in great detail and how she got the part of Mavis and what it was like to work alongside Kylie Minogue, we then moved on to Neighbours, Desiree played Angela in Neighbours in 1985 and we spoke about Desiree’s time on Neighbours. Desiree was able to share with Ken and Matt about her time on Prisoner and how she got the part of playing Officer Delia Stout and what she thought about the officers uniform. Desiree was able to share with us what it was like to work with Philip Hyde who played Officer Rodney Adams and Michael Winchester who played Officer Marty Jackson and the storyline she would have liked to have seen for Delia and Marty. Desiree shared with us a story about Maggie Kirkpatrick and the Non-Smoking Green Room. Desiree talks about the similarities between her and Delia and we also spoke in detail about the work experience boat episodes and the sports day episodes. Desiree spoke about her favourite episode and storyline and what it was like to work with Rosanne Hull-Brown who played Merle Jones. Desiree was also able to share her memories on working with cast and crew who are no longer with us anymore such as Gerda Nicholson, Joy Westmore, Taya Straton, Justine Saunders, and Kendal Flanagan. We also spoke about why Delia Stout just disappeared from Wentworth. You will all be pleased to know that there is a part 2 in where Desiree is able to answer all fan questions. Please like and subscribe to our YouTube Channel.
#desireesmith #kylieminogue #neighbours #cellblockh

Talking Prisoner Cell Block H EP 42 Part 2 Interview with Desiree Smith Officer Delia Stout
Welcome to Episode 42 Part 2 of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with Desiree Smith who played Officer Delia Stout. Desiree appeared in forty two episodes of Prisoner and also appeared in Neighbours and in Australian movie the Delinquents alongside Kylie Minogue. In part 2 Ken and Matt talked more about Prisoner including some of the funny places that Desiree was recognised in public and a very funny fan story with a German man. Desiree talks about who she is still friends with from the show today and her special friendship with Prisoner star Shery Munks who played Brumby Tucker and Maxine Klibingaitis who played Bobbie Mitchell. Desiree talks about how surprised she is at how popular the show is so many decades later and the legion of fans that still watch the show. Desiree was able to answer all fan questions including what Desiree thought about her storylines becoming boring towards the end of the show and what some of her favourite storylines were. We spoke about the episode of Neighbours she appeared in alongside David Clencie and Darius Perkins and why there was no romance with Marty Jackson on Prisoner. Desiree spoke about the time she went back to visit the Wattle where they filmed the iconic boat episodes of Prisoner. Desiree is a passionate supporter of National Reconciliation Week which we discuss in detail. Please like and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
 
#desireesmith #neighbours #prisoner #cellblockh

Talking Prisoner Cell Block H EP 43 Interview with Wendy Playfair Inmate Minnie Donovan
Welcome to Episode 43 of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with Wendy Playfair who played Minnie Donovan. Ken and Matt spoke with Wendy about her childhood growing up and her love for her parents and what it was like for Wendy at school and her love for Chocolate. Wendy spoke about where her love for acting came from and why she loves and adore acting and gave some amazing advice about acting. Wendy spoke about her real age and a funny story about how she lied about her age when she appeared on tv and her children’s reaction to when they found out their Mums real age. We spoke to Wendy about her stellar career in Radio where she first started and the radio plays that she starred in and what it was like to work in radio compared to Television and what her technique for learning her lines were. Wendy was living in Sydney at the time of getting the part on Prisoner and talks about how Grundy’s flew her down to Melbourne for the part as Minnie Donovan and what her audition was like and why Wendy changed the character of Minnie once she started. Wendy spoke about Shelia Florance and how much she enjoyed working with the crew. Wendy had a funny story about a scene she shot with Maggie Kirkpatrick on Prisoner and how much she adored Maggie.  Wendy spoke about her time on Packed to the rafters and Accidents Happen with Geena Davis. Wendy spoke about her love and affection for her seven grandchildren. Wendy also shares a special message for all the fans. Please like and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
 
#wendyplayfair #cellblockh #prisoner #radio #minniedonovan

Talking Prisoner Cell Block H EP 44 Interview with Casting Director Jan Russ
Welcome to episode 44 of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with Legendary casting director Jan Russ. Jan is a highly respected Australian Casting Director known for her work on Prisoner and Neighbours. She is responsible for kick-starting the careers of some of Australia's best-known faces, such as Guy Pearce, Craig McLachlan, Stefan Dennis, Peter O'Brien, Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan, Jesse Spencer, Kym Valentine, Daniel McPherson, Holly Valance and Delta Goodrem to name but a few, as well as being a casting director she also played Maxine Daniels Mother in Prisoner and was the casting director on Prisoner for the last 18 months of the show. Jan also had an incredible 24-year career on Neighbours. We spoke to Jan about her life growing up and what her childhood and school life was like as well as learning how a free lunch with Ian Smith landed Jan the job as casting Director on Prisoner. Jan spoke about some of the cast that she auditioned for Prisoner and what it was like for her to work on the show for the last 18 months. Jan was able to share her memories of being offered the job on Neighbours by the show creator Reg Watson and told us what it was like to work with Reg and then when channel 7 axed Neighbours and moved to channel 10 for the next 37 years. Jan spoke about when she first met Kylie Minogue and why she let Hugh Jackman out of his contract for Neighbours. Jan spoke in depth about Neighbours and her process of how she would cast characters for the show and the dynamics of putting a family together on the show. We spoke to Jan about her thoughts on the ending of Neighbours. Jan shared with us her time on Prisoner and the differences working on Prisoner compared to Neighbours. We spoke to Jan about the current climate of Australian TV and what she thinks about it. In 2009 Fremantle Media decided to bring in an external casting agency and Jan was no longer required, Jan spoke to us how she felt about her exit from Neighbours and how she was treated during that time. Jan spoke with us in depth about her own personal emotional pain when she was forced to give up her child for adoption in the 1960s and how she only recently discussed this on Australian Story and why she only just recently publicly spoke about what she went through. Jan was able to answer all fan questions. Please like and subscribe to our YouTube channel and share these interviews where you can.
 
#hughjackman #janruss #neighbours #prisoner #kylieminogue #deltagoodrem

Talking Prisoner Cell Block H EP 45 Part 1 Interview with Pepe Trevor Inmate Lexie Patterson

Welcome to EP 45 of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with Pepe Trevor who played inmate Lexie Patterson. Pepe is an actress, journalist, award winning author and artist and has appeared in many Australian classic TV shows and Movies including, The Sullivans, Skyways, All the Green Years, I can jump puddles, Cop Shop, Every move she makes, Kelly, Colin Carpenter, Say a little Prayer, Janus, Correlli, Law of the land, Road to Nhill, Stingers, Fergus McPhail, Blue Heelers and MDA. Pepe has also written award winning books including Listening for small sounds and Another mans office. In this episode we discussed Pepe’s life growing up and living the life of a gypsy. Pepe’s Mum is the late great legendary TV Producer Marie Trevor who was a producer on Prisoner, Pepe was able to share many stories about her mum and her career and what it was like for her Mum working on Prisoner. Pepe shared with us about her work as an artist and where she draws inspiration from to paint. We spoke about Pepe’s books that she has written and where her ideas come from to write and how she felt when she won awards for her books. Pepe’s last role on TV was back in 2005 and she discussed why she has not been back on TV since then. We then discussed Pepe’s time on Prisoner and how she got the part of Lexie Patterson, many people think they know how Pepe got the role of Lexie so you will be surprised to hear how she got the role. Pepe shared her memories of meeting and knowing casting director Jan Russ and we spoke about Coral Drouyn creating the character of Lexie. Pepe spoke in depth about how long it took for hair and make up to achieve the Boy George look and what her personal thoughts were on the whole Boy George aspect. We also discussed Pepe’s close friendships on screen and off screen with Genevieve Lemon, Maxine Klibingaitis and Jackie Woodburne and how they were able to achieve that on screen chemistry that we saw on Prisoner. Pepe shared her memories of that iconic scene where Joan Ferguson cut Lexie’s hair and what it was like to shoot that scene and we also broke down the Terrorist episodes. Pepe spoke about her very close friendship with Louise Siversen who played Lou Kelly and what it was like to shoot her scenes with her and the phantom lagger storylines and who thought of the phantom lagger storyline. We also broke down Episode 598 where we Lexie escape from Wentworth throught the air condition ducts. This is Part one, please like and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

#marietrevor #pepetrevor #cellblockh #prisoner #janruss 

New Segment Talking Prisoner

We are excited to announce a new monthly segment called Corals Soapbox.

Coral Drouyn is an actress, singer and screenwriter/story editor best known for her work in television, including Prisoner, Arcade, Neighbours, Blue Heelers, Pacific Drive and Home and Away.

Coral is a huge part of the Australian TV Industry and has many more stories to share.

Every month we are going to discuss all the shows Coral has worked on, Story Ideas, Script Writing, Character creations, where her ideas come from, Why story’s work and don’t work and much more.

Please like and subscribe to the Talking Prisoner YouTube channel. #homeandaway #coraldrouyn #neighbours #blueheelers #prisoner

Talking Prisoner Cell Block H EP 46 Interview with Nicki Paull Inmate Lisa Mullins and Doris Cruickshank
Welcome to Episode 46 of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with Nicki Paull who played two roles on Prisoner, Doris Cruickshank and Lisa Mullins. Nicki is an Author, Voice Over artist and Counsellor. Nicki has appeared in many Australian classic TV shows and Movies including, A Thousand Skies, Return to Eden, Prisoner, Raw Silk, The Flying Doctors, Cluedo, Acropolis Now, GP, The Secret life of us, MDS, Blue Heelers, Paper Giants, and Winners and Losers. Ken and Matt spoke to Nicki about her life growing up on a farm and her time at school. Nicki shared with us where her love for acting came from and her current work as a fully accredited member of the ACA (Australian Counsellors Association) and her work as a counsellor and what it was like to start her own business just as the pandemic was starting in 2020. Nicki graduated from the Victorian College of Arts along with Prisoner cast member Pepe Trevor. Nicki lived with Pepe and her Mum Marie Trevor Prisoner producer and shared some memories with us about that time of her life. Nicki also appeared in Return to Eden which was created by Michael Laurence and starred Prisoner cast members Peta Toppano, James Smillie, and Wendy Playfair and told us why the shows ratings suffered towards the end of its run. Nicki also shared with us her memories of working on Neighbours and meeting casting Director Jan Russ and what it was like to work with Daniel MacPherson. Nicki appeared in 21 episodes of the Australian version TV show Cluedo as Miss Scarlett and shared her memories of working on that show along with Prisoner cast members, George Mallaby, Joy Westmore, Belinda Davey and Beverley Dunn. We then spoke about Nicki’s time on Prisoner and how she got the part of Doris Cruickshank and how she had to perfect a perfect British Yorkshire accent and what it was like to work with Nigel Bradshaw. Nicki was back on Prisoner in 1986 as Lisa Mullins but unfortunately her time was cut short on Prisoner due to illness which Nicki discusses in great detail on how she got sick and why the show could not wait for her to get better and how she would have loved to have stayed on the show much longer than she did. Nicki answered all fan questions. Please like and subscribe to the Talking Prisoner YouTube channel.
 
#nickipaull #prisoner #cellblockh #wentworth #neighbours

Welcome to Episode 47 of Talking Prisoner. Host Matt Batten sat down with Patrea Smallacombe. Patrea has worked as a Script Writer, Script Editor, Story Editor and Storyliner. She wrote and co-wrote 10 episodes of Prisoner and was a part of the Storyline team from 1982-1983. She has worked on other Australian TV shows, including The Young Doctors, Neighbours and A Country Practice. Patrea moved to the UK in 1987 where she continued to work on high profile shows, such as Emmerdale, Children's Ward, Families, Playing the Field Peak Practice, Brookside, The Bill, Family Affairs, Coronation Street, EastEnders, Hollyoaks Later, River City, Casualty, Holby City, Hollyoaks and London Kills. Matt discussed with Patrea her life growing up in South Australia and her years at school and how she got into script writing for the Young Doctors working with her famous Aunty Betty Quinn who was also a writer on Prisoner. Patrea shared her memories of her Aunty and what it was like working with Reg Watson in the early years of Prisoner and working with Ian Bradley. Patrea recalls her time she was researching for Prisoner and visiting actual Prisoners and spoke about the time she visited the lady who Shelia Florence’s character was based on and how nervous she was at the time. Patrea was also able to share memories of working with Writer Denise Morgan. Patrea shares with us how she begins her writing process and what it is like to work on UK Soaps compared to Australian Soaps. Matt asks Patrea what it was like in the writers room of Prisoner and what it was like day to day writing for Prisoner and Patrea shares a story about how the had to re write the script several times for the entrance of Joan The Freak Ferguson. Patrea also worked on Neighbours for a period and shares her thoughts on the ending of the Australian Iconic show. Patrea also worked on UK show Brookside and we spoke about the show creator Phil Redmond and what it was like to work with Phil and on Brookside and the dark storylines on the show. Patrea was able to answer all fan questions. Please like and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
 
#patreasmallacombe #bettyquinn #coronationstreet #cellblockh #prisoner

Talking Prisoner Cell Block H EP 45 Part 2 Interview with Pepe Trevor Lexie Patterson
Welcome to Episode 45 Part 2 of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with Pepe Trevor for part 2. Pepe is an actress, journalist, award winning author and artist and has appeared in many Australian classic TV shows and Movies including, The Sullivans, Skyways, All the Green Years, I can jump puddles, Cop Shop, Every move she makes, Kelly, Colin Carpenter, Say a little Prayer, Janus, Correlli, Law of the land, Road to Nhill, Stingers, Fergus McPhail, Blue Heelers and MDA. Pepe has also written award winning books including Listening for small sounds and Another mans office. Pepe’s Mum is the late great legendary TV Producer Marie Trevor who was a producer on Prisoner. Pepe discussed her memories of working with Pocco the dog and shares a very special story about Pocco. We discussed the escape episodes when Lexi was on the run and ended up hiding out in a brothel which was ran by Mabel played by the late great Val Jellay, Pepe spoke about shooting those outside episodes and what it was like to shoot away from the prison. Ken and Matt broke down the episodes of Lexi’s pregnancy and what it was like to shoot those scenes. Pepe was able to share her memories of working with Pat Evison who played Jessie Windom and what she thought of those storylines with Pat. Pepe worked closely with Jackie Woodburne who played Julie Chook Egbert and shared her memories of working with Jackie and her special friendship. Ken and Pepe shared memories of working with Prisoner Director Kendal Flanigan and what it was like to work with most of the Prisoner Crew. Pepe spoke about her exit from Prisoner and the reasons for her time to come to an end on the show. Pepe shared her memories of Remembering the man and her close friendship with Tim Conigrave and John Caleo and what she thought of her portrayal of her by Sarah Snook in the movie. Pepe answered all fan questions, please like and subscribe to our YouTube Channel Talking Prisoner.
#pepetrevor #cellblockh #sarahsnook

Corals Soapbox EP 1
Welcome to Episode 1 of Corals Soapbox. Coral Drouyn was the Script Writer/Script Editor/Storyliner and Story Editor on Prisoner. Coral has been involved in the entertainment industry since a young child and is also an actress and singer. Coral is a huge part of the Australian TV industry working on shows such as Neighbours, Home and Away, Blue Heelers, Streetsmartz, Pacific Drive, Chuck Finn. In this episode Matt dropped a surprise question on Coral about the character Cynthia Leach who was played by the late great Beverley Dunn. Matt was curious to find out why we never saw more of Cynthia Leach on Prisoner and why we never saw Cynthia at Blackmoor which Coral explains to us why. This episode is focused on characters and the characters that Coral created on Prisoner, why she created them, why some don’t have a happy ending, how she structures characters, why we need that character, background story, emotional investment in a character and why some must be written out. Coral spoke with Matt why she had to write out Maurie Fields character Len Murphy and how characters like Len could start to overshadow the main characters like Joan Ferguson. Coral talks about the creation of Marlene Warren played by Genevieve Lemon, Coral talks about where the idea came from for creating Marlene, and why Coral gave Marlene the perfect ending with the marriage to Matt Delaney who was played by Peter Bensley. Coral wrote the wedding vows for the wedding and has a story behind where the vows came from and how popular the vows were at the time.  The subject of this character also brings up important discussion between Matt and Coral about body shaming. Coral and Matt spoke about the three male Prisoners coming into the show and why they came into the show. Coral talks about why fans either love or hate a character. Coral and Matt then discuss the creation of Lexi Patterson who was played by Pepe Trevor, Coral spoke about Marie Trevor’s thoughts on Pepe being cast for the part. Coral tells why she had Lexie dressed as Boy George and where the idea came from, Matt asked Coral’s thoughts on the escape storyline for Lexie as Coral had left Prisoner by that stage. The next character Coral talks about is Reb Kean who was played by Janet Andrewartha which was one of Corals favourite characters. Coral drew inspiration from James Dean and the movie Rebel Without a Cause and even had Janet have her hair cut to look like James and where the idea for Reb to be holding a comb with her. Coral tells a story that she has never told before about what the original storyline was meant to be for Trevor Kent played by Frank Burke and why Grundy’s would not allow Corals idea for her storyline. Please like and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
 
Small Error – Matt introduced this Episode as 44 when in fact it is Episode 1
 
#cellblockh #prisoner #homeandaway #coraldrouyn

Welcome to Episode 3 of Talking Prisoner “Presents” Neighbours. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with David Clencie who played Original Neighbours cast member Danny Ramsey, David was also the very first person to say the very first word on Neighbours in Episode 1. David has appeared in many well known Australian TV shows such as A Country Practice, Cop Shop, The Sullivans, I Can Jump puddles, Starting Out, Stingers, Blue Heelers and Neighbours. We discussed David’s life growing up as a child and his school life and how he got his break in acting. David is also a passionate Richmond Tigers Supporter and runs a huge Richmond Fan group which we discussed with him. David discussed with us what it was like to work on the Crawford’s production Cop Shop and how he got his part on Starting out which was a Reg Watson show. We then moved on to David’s part playing Steve Sullivan on the Sullivans and what it was like to work on that show. David appeared in Neighbours for over 172 episodes and was on the very first Episode when Neighbours was with Channel 7, we discussed how he got the part of Danny Ramsey and what it was like for him and the cast when channel 7 axed the show and Channel 10 picked the show up, he explained to us the differences of Channel 10 owning the show compared to channel 7 and what his working schedule was like each day shooting Neighbours. David worked with some very talented actors over the course of Neighbours including Alan Dale, Anne Haddy, Vivean Gray, Jason Donovan, and his close friend Darius Perkins who played the original Scott Robinson. David was also able to share some special memories of working with Francis Bell who played Max Ramsey and then working with Gary Files who played Tom Ramsey. David told us about the time he went back to Neighbours in 2005 for the 20th Anniversary episode and how he felt being back on the set of Neighbours. Please like and subscribe to our YouTube channel Talking Prisoner
 
#neighbours #jasondonovan #davidclencie #copshop

Welcome to Episode 48 Part 1 of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with Lisa Crittenden for her first ever exclusive interview about her career. Lisa appeared in 91 episodes of Prisoner. Lisa has an extensive list of credits to her name such as Australian classic TV shows and Movies, such as Power Without Glory, The Sullivans, Holiday Island, Bellamy, The Restless Years, A Country Practice, Carson's Law, Whose Baby, Rafferty's Rules, High Tide, Coverstory, Every Woman's Dream, Repeat Performance, Xena Warrior Princess and Short Cuts. Lisa also played the regular character of Leigh Palmer in Sons and Daughters from 1985-1986, Nurse Carrie Burton in Shortland Street in 1992 and had 3 different roles in Blue Heelers. Ken and Matt spoke to Lisa about her life growing up as a child in Spotswood Melbourne and her parents supporting her acting career from a young age even from appearing on talent shows such as Young Talent Time. Lisa spoke about her challenging times at school and what inspired her to start acting. Lisa was in Whose Baby in 1987 which was based on a true story and was able to share her memories of working on that show. Lisa played Sally Meredith on the Sullivans and had some amazing stories to share about her time on that show. We also spoke with Lisa about her time as Briony Thompson in the Restless Years and her two different roles on A Country Practice in 1982 and 1984. Lisa spoke about her move to New Zealand to appear as Carrie Burton on Shortland Street and where she met Prisoner Producer Ian Bradley for a second time as he was working on Shortland Street. Lisa shared an emotional story with Ken and Matt about the day she decided that she wanted to leave the acting industry and what she has been doing since. Lisa also played Gabrielle’s mother Hecuba in Xena Warrior Princess and spoke about her time on Xena. Part 1 is dedicated to Lisa’s life growing up, career and her memories working on all the shows she has appeared on with some talk about Prisoner. Part 2 will be dedicated exclusively to Prisoner and Lisa’s memories of Prisoner. Please like and subscribe to our YouTube Channel and share these interviews. This is Lisa’s first ever interview about her career and is a Talking Prisoner exclusive.
 
 
#lisacrittenden #xena #thesullivans #prisoner #cellblockh

Welcome to Episode 48 Part 1 of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with Lisa Crittenden for her first ever exclusive interview about her career. Lisa appeared in 91 episodes of Prisoner. Lisa has an extensive list of credits to her name such as Australian classic TV shows and Movies, such as Power Without Glory, The Sullivans, Holiday Island, Bellamy, The Restless Years, A Country Practice, Carson's Law, Whose Baby, Rafferty's Rules, High Tide, Coverstory, Every Woman's Dream, Repeat Performance, Xena Warrior Princess and Short Cuts. Lisa also played the regular character of Leigh Palmer in Sons and Daughters from 1985-1986, Nurse Carrie Burton in Shortland Street in 1992 and had 3 different roles in Blue Heelers. Part 2 is all about Prisoner and Lisa’s time on Prisoner. Ken and Matt spoke to Lisa about her first day on the set and a funny story about a chair she sat on in the green room. Lisa shares her memories of what it was like shooting her first scenes with Joy Westmore who played Officer Barry and how much she learnt from working with Maggie Kirkpatrick who played Joan Ferguson. Lisa spoke about working with legendary casting director Jan Russ who played Lisa’s on screen mum in Prisoner and also what it was like working with Darius Perkins who played Trevor Collins in the halfway house storylines. Lisa had many scenes with Sheila Florance and shares her memories of working with Sheila and her on screen boyfriend Spud played by Robert Forza and Alan Lee who played Tony Berman. We discussed the storyline surrounding Marina Finlay and Michael Cormick who played Lainie Dobson and Alan Farmer and what Lisa thought of that storyline. Lisa shares her memories working with Val Lehman and what she learnt as an actress from Val. Lisa had some great scenes with Carole Skinner who played Nola McKenzie and spoke about working with Carole and Betty Bobbitt. We discussed Lisa’s final scenes working with Lesley Baker who played Belle Tinker Peters and played Monica Ferguson in the early days of Prisoner. Lisa talks about her meeting with Ian Smith about Lisa finishing her time on Prisoner and much more. Lisa also answered all fan questions. Please like and subscribe to our Youtube channel.
 
#lisacrittenden #maggiekirkpatrick #carolskinner #prisoner #cellblockh #wentworth

Welcome to Episode 48 Part 1 of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with Lisa Crittenden for her first ever exclusive interview about her career. Lisa appeared in 91 episodes of Prisoner. Lisa has an extensive list of credits to her name such as Australian classic TV shows and Movies, such as Power Without Glory, The Sullivans, Holiday Island, Bellamy, The Restless Years, A Country Practice, Carson's Law, Whose Baby, Rafferty's Rules, High Tide, Coverstory, Every Woman's Dream, Repeat Performance, Xena Warrior Princess and Short Cuts. Lisa also played the regular character of Leigh Palmer in Sons and Daughters from 1985-1986, Nurse Carrie Burton in Shortland Street in 1992 and had 3 different roles in Blue Heelers. Part 2 is all about Prisoner and Lisa’s time on Prisoner. Ken and Matt spoke to Lisa about her first day on the set and a funny story about a chair she sat on in the green room. Lisa shares her memories of what it was like shooting her first scenes with Joy Westmore who played Officer Barry and how much she learnt from working with Maggie Kirkpatrick who played Joan Ferguson. Lisa spoke about working with legendary casting director Jan Russ who played Lisa’s on screen mum in Prisoner and also what it was like working with Darius Perkins who played Trevor Collins in the halfway house storylines. Lisa had many scenes with Sheila Florance and shares her memories of working with Sheila and her on screen boyfriend Spud played by Robert Forza and Alan Lee who played Tony Berman. We discussed the storyline surrounding Marina Finlay and Michael Cormick who played Lainie Dobson and Alan Farmer and what Lisa thought of that storyline. Lisa shares her memories working with Val Lehman and what she learnt as an actress from Val. Lisa had some great scenes with Carole Skinner who played Nola McKenzie and spoke about working with Carole and Betty Bobbitt. We discussed Lisa’s final scenes working with Lesley Baker who played Belle Tinker Peters and played Monica Ferguson in the early days of Prisoner. Lisa talks about her meeting with Ian Smith about Lisa finishing her time on Prisoner and much more. Lisa also answered all fan questions. Please like and subscribe to our Youtube channel.
 
#lisacrittenden #maggiekirkpatrick #carolskinner #prisoner #cellblockh #wentworth

Corals Soapbox Ep2

Welcome to Episode 2 of Corals Soapbox. Coral Drouyn has worked on some of Australia’s most iconic TV Shows and been responsible for some of the biggest storylines on many of our much-loved TV shows such as Neighbours, Home and Away, Blue Heelers, Streetsmartz, The Gerry Connolly Show, Pacific Drive and of course Prisoner. Coral worked on Prisoner as a script writer, Script Editor, Story Liner and Story Editor, and created some of the biggest characters ever to appear on Prisoner. Coral Drouyn and Matt Batten sit down for a chat each episode. In episode 2 they talk about news of the day including the recent decision in the Supreme court of the USA ROE v. Wade and Corals thoughts about this decision and why Prisoner never dealt with  any abortion storylines at the time. Coral talks about the Logies and Gold Logie winner Hamish Blake and her thoughts on Ray Meagher not winning gold this year. Coral won an AWGIE Award for Home and Away Episode 3445 and shows the award and talks about how she wrote Episode 3445 and the promise she made to Bevan Lee. Coral talks about the strangest place she wrote a script and talks about Pacific Drive and the battles she had with the producers on the show and why Simon Baker could not take a part on Pacific Drive. Coral talks about the character she would have loved to have played on Prisoner. Coral talks about Genevieve Lemon and her character Marlene Warren and how Coral sees herself in Marlene. In this episode we talk about Top Dogs and why Annie Phelan who played Myra Desmond had such a strong back story and why it was important that who is a long term top dog works well with the other characters on the show and what quality’s a top dog needs to have on Prisoner. Coral speaks about why and how she created Myra Desmond and why Annie Phelan left Prisoner. Coral spoke about why she made Wendy Playfair who played Minnie Donovan Top Dog when she did. Coral speaks about who originally was meant to play Rita Connors. We discuss why Maggie Millar never came back to reprise her role as Marie Winter in Prisoner. Coral also spoke about Officer Len Murphy played by Maurie Fields, Coral talks about why she gave Len such a strong back story. Please like and subscribe to our YouTube channel. #prisoner #coraldroyun #cellblockh #hamishblake 

Talking Prisoner Presents Sons and Daughters EP 4 Interview with Tom Richards David Palmer

Welcome to Episode 4 of Talking Prisoner Presents. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with Tom Richards who played David Palmer in Sons and Daughters. Tom has appeared in many other Australian TV Classics such as Homicide, Division 4, Ryan, Bluey, The Sullivans, The Box, Chopper Squad, Cop Shop, Bellamy, Richmond Hill, The Flying Doctors, A Country Practice, Water Rats, Big Sky, Murder Call and All Saints, he is most known for playing David Palmer on Sons and Daughters. We spoke to Tom about his life growing up as a child and some of his first jobs he had out of school. Tom explained to us how he got into acting and what it was like to be in the 1971 Theatre production “The Rose and the Ring” at the famous Twelfth theatre. Tom played Terry Young in Matlock Police and told us about his time on Matlock and what it was like to work with Paul Cronin who played Senior Constable Gary Hogan. Tom shared with us a story about Roger Moore and the Bond girls, an absolute exclusive to Talking Prisoner. We then moved on to long running drama Sons and Daughters. We spoke about how Tom got the part of the hot tempered David Palmer and told us about what it was like to work with Brian Blain who played Gordon Hamilton. Tom shared with us why he left Sons and Daughters in 1986 and to come back in 1987. Tom shared all his memories with us about Sons and Daughters including what it was like working with Rowena Wallace Pat the Rat, Leila Hayes who played Beryl Palmer and working with Prisoner favourite Lisa Crittenden who played his daughter Leigh. Tom shared with us about the trip to Belgium to meet the fans and what that experience was like. Tom answered all fan questions and so much more.

Please like and subscribe to our YouTube Channel Talking Prisoner

#sonsanddaughters #davidplamer #tomrichards

Welcome to Episode 50 of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with Brett Popplewell who is the head of Production scripted at Fremantle Media. Brett has a career in Film and Television spanning over 30 years and has performed the role of Executive producer and line producer on Emmy award winning shows such as Salems lot, Nightmares and Dreamscapes, The Starter wife. Brett also worked as a Producer and Assistant Director on shows such as Water Rats, E-Street, The Alice, The Man from snowy river, Wentworth, Prisoner, Mc Leods Daughters and co-created AFI Winner Bastard Boys. Brett is responsible for over 200 hours of award winning drama and $250 Million worth of Australian and International Productions. Ken and Matt spoke to Brett about his life growing up and what his life was like at school, his first job out of school and how he got his start in the Australian Tv and Film industry. Brett spoke about his passion for flying planes and scuba diving. Brett shares his memories working as an assistant director on Australian movie Melvin, Son of Alvin which was the sequel to Alvin Purple which was written by Prisoner legend Alan Hopgood. Brett shares his memories of working on E-Street as a producer for three years and what it was like to work with show creator Forrest Redlich and directors like Rod Hardy, Sean Nash, Tony Osicka and Leigh Spence. Brett spoke about the challenges of shooting a show like E-Street and why he thinks it was cancelled. Brett shares some stories about his time on Water Rats as an assistant director and the fun he had on that show working with Colin Friels and the amazing stunts they would shoot on the show. Brett co created Bastard Boys in 2007 and shares his memories of shooting that show and working with the workers that were sacked by Patrick Corporation at the time. Brett worked on Wentworth as a line producer in 2016 and shares story’s about the production of Wentworth and what it was like to work on Wentworth with Executive Producer Jo Porter and in Season 7 when the show was axed and how the fans had so much to do with Foxtel commissioning Season 8 of Wentworth. Brett spoke about the challenges of producing shows through covid and how Fremantle Media set the example to the rest of the world how to continue working safely during a pandemic. Brett shares his thoughts on the future of Free to air tv and his job as the head of Scripted Production at Fremantle Media. Please like and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
 
#wentworth #prisoner #cellblockh #fremantlemedia #brettpopplewell

Welcome to Episode 3 of Corals Soapbox. Coral Drouyn has worked on some of Australia’s most iconic TV Shows and been responsible for some of the biggest storylines on many of our much-loved TV shows such as Neighbours, Home and Away, Blue Heelers, Streetsmartz, The Gerry Connolly Show, Pacific Drive and of course Prisoner. Coral worked on Prisoner as a script writer, Script Editor, Story Liner and Story Editor, and created some of the biggest characters ever to appear on Prisoner. Coral Drouyn and Matt Batten sit down for a chat each episode. In episode 3 they talk about the homelessness crisis in Australia and the exorbitant retirement income that politicians receive each year all whilst we have a homelessness crisis in the world. Coral and Matt then discuss the controversial Edna Pearson episodes on Prisoner. We discuss the case of Emily Perry in South Australia. Mrs Emily Perry was charged with two counts of attempting to murder Ken Perry, her third husband. The prosecution alleged that between July and November 1978, and again between February and October 1979, she administered poison to him with the intention of killing him. Mrs Perry was convicted on both counts and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment with hard labour. There was no evidence directly implicating her, and no suggestion that she had poisoned her husband unintentionally. So as to establish a ‘course of conduct’, the prosecution relied on inferences that she had also been responsible for the deaths of three other people with whom she had had a close relationship. Coral discusses the similarities between this real-life case, the Edna Pearson Episodes and why Emily Perry started legal action against Grundy’s and why most scenes had to be cut from the show. Matt also discusses with Coral Episode 463 when Edna first arrives in Wentworth and all the other storylines that were happening in that episode including Marie Winter becoming Top Dog, Bobby losing her baby, Meg taken hostage. Matt talks to Coral about how Vivean Grey who played Edna Pearson felt about the character at the time and how long Coral intended for Vivean to stay on the show had the legal action not happen. Please like and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
#coraldrouyn #emilyperry #viveangrey #cellblockh

Welcome to Episode 6 of Talking Prisoner Presents. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with the amazing Karina Arroyave who has had a career spanning over 30 years and has appeared in many Tv shows and Movies such as The Equalizer, Lean on Me, As the World Turns, New York Undercover, The Practice, Law and Order, Chicago Hope, Judging Amy, Empire, 24, NYPD Blue, 187, Blue Bloods, Bull, Law and Order Special Victims unit, Orange is the New Black, The Blacklist and so many more. We spoke to Karina about her life growing up and where the love of acting came from and how she first developed the passion for acting. We discussed her life living in New York and what it has been like to work during the Covid-19 Pandemic. Karina shared with us her memories of working on cult Movie Lean on Me and what it was like to shoot that movie and work with Morgan Freeman and getting to meet Joe Clark. Karina shared her memories of working with acclaimed Film Director John Avildsen who directed movies like Rocky, The Karate Kid, Lean on Me, Cry Uncle, Save the Tiger and what John meant to Karina and their special friendship. Karina also starred alongside Michael Douglas in the movie Falling Down and shared with us what it was like working with Michael and Director Joel Schumacher. We spoke to Karina about her friendship with Legendary actor Phillip Seymour Hoffman and her other stand out movie 187 which Karina worked alongside Samuel L Jackson, we broke down some scenes from this movie and discussed in detail. Karina shared her advice for upcoming actors trying to get into the entertainment industry. We then moved to Orange is the New Black, Karina appeared in six powerful episodes centred around immigration and child separation and what it was like to play the part of Karla Cordova. We discussed what a typical day was like on the set of Orange and how she got the part on the show. We discussed the problem of Immigration in the USA and Karla’s thoughts on the current immigration situation and what she drew on to play those powerful scenes in Orange. We broke down some episodes with Karina Episode 5 Minority Report, Episode 11 God Bless America, and that powerful scene in the kitchen when Karla speaks to her children who have been adopted out. We then spoke about working with James Spader on the Blacklist. Karina was very giving of her time and was such an amazing person to learn about her career and life. Please like and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
 
#karinaarroyave #orangeisthenewblack  #michaeldouglas  #morganfreeman  #jamesspader

Talking Prisoner Corals Soapbox EP 4
Welcome to Episode 3 of Corals Soapbox. Coral Drouyn has worked on some of Australia’s most iconic TV Shows and been responsible for some of the biggest storylines on many of our much-loved TV shows such as Neighbours, Home and Away, Blue Heelers, Streetsmartz, The Gerry Connolly Show, Pacific Drive and of course Prisoner. Coral worked on Prisoner as a script writer, Script Editor, Story Liner and Story Editor, and created some of the biggest characters ever to appear on Prisoner. Coral Drouyn and Matt Batten sit down for a chat each episode. In episode 4 they talk about why some Prisoner fans are upset that each episode of Corals Soapbox is not solely dedicated to Prisoner. Coral and Matt discuss Shane Crawford and the role he was given on the theatre production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and what Coral thinks about an ex footballer given a theatre role. Coral shares her thoughts on the current affairs of Ex President Trump, We talk about David E Kelly’s new Netflix series The Lincoln Lawyer. The rest of the episode is dedicated to two characters that Coral created, Bev Baker played by Maggie Dence and Officer David Bridges played by David Waters. Coral talks about why she created Bev Baker and why the character was so dark and why she was only in the show for six episodes and why Bev had the ending she had. Coral walks us through the process of the writer’s room on Prisoner and how the episodes were created and written and how many of the writers were freaked out by the Bev Baker character. Coral breaks down the character Officer David Bridges and why she created him. Please like and subscribe to our YouTube channel
#coraldrouyn #prsioner #cellblockh #wentworth

Talking Prisoner Presents EP 5 Interview with Mat Stevenson
Welcome to Episode 5 of Talking Prisoner “Presents”. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with Home and Away legend mat Stevenson. Matt has appeared in many Australian TV shows including Blue Heelers, All Saints, Offspring, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries and Home and Away from 1989 to 1994 and played Adam Cameron. We discussed Mat’s life growing up as a child and his love for acting coming from his bike rides to look at the Channel 10 building and how he got his break into acting. Mat also appeared in Neighbours prior to Home and Away and told us what it was like to work with Prisoner Writer Ian Smith. Mat is also a fan of Prisoner and discussed with us what he likes about the show. Mat discussed that he auditioned for Wentworth, and we also discussed with Mat about his recent interview on Channel Ten’s The Project about the journey of his daughter Grace. We discussed in depth about Mat’s time on Home and Away appearing in over 518 episodes and how he got the part of Adam Cameron. Mat told us what he thought of his character Adam and what it was like to work with the likes of Dannii Minogue, Less Hill, Ray Meagher, Sharyn Hodgson, Nicolle Dickson, Norman Coburn, Peter Vroom, and shared with us special memories about his close friendship with Dieter Brummer. We spoke about the famous storyline of his character killing of fan favourite Bobby Marshall and what it was like to shoot those scenes and what the public reaction was like at the time. Mat answered all fan questions, Please like and subscribe to our YouTube Channel.
 
#matstevenson #homeandaway #adamcameron #prisoner #danniiminogue

Corals Soapbox EP 5 Welcome to Episode 3 of Corals Soapbox. Coral Drouyn has worked on some of Australia’s most iconic TV Shows and been responsible for some of the biggest storylines on many of our much-loved TV shows such as Neighbours, Home and Away, Blue Heelers, Streetsmartz, The Gerry Connolly Show, Pacific Drive and of course Prisoner. Coral worked on Prisoner as a script writer, Script Editor, Story Liner and Story Editor, and created some of the biggest characters ever to appear on Prisoner. Coral Drouyn and Matt Batten sit down for a chat each episode. In episode 5 they talk about the news of the week including the passing of Queen Elizabeth and the people of the UK in mourning, Coral shares her thoughts on if Australia should become a republic or not. Coral and Matt discuss best and worst storylines of Prisoner in which fans were able to post their favourite and least favourite storylines. Coral breaks down why a storyline works and why a storyline can fail and goes in to great detail. The storylines that Coral discussed were, Pixie Masons rape storyline, The Kate Peterson story, Zara Moonbeam and Bea Smith, Hazel Kent Euthanasia, Brandy/Laura multiple personality’s, Nora Flynn becoming Top Dog, Joan Ferguson and Shane, Jenifer Hartley and her Grandma. Coral goes into great depth on each of these storylines and why she wrote them, why she created them, why they worked and why some did not work. Coral and Matt also share their views on the Jury selection process in the court systems of Australia and the United states. Please like and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
#cellblockh #prisoner #coraldrouyn

Interview with Betty Bobbitt and Anne Phelan
Welcome to this special episode of Talking Prisoner. This interview has never been made public,  This episode is devoted to the memory of Betty Bobbitt and Anne Phelan. Betty played Judy Bryant between 1980 to 1985 in 429 episodes and Anne played Top Dog Myra Desmond. It was shot as a promo for the charity event on January 21, 2000, at The Forum theatre in Melbourne. Anne was on the organizing committee of the 21st Anniversary reunion party for Prisoner and fans had flown in from around the world and raised money for Aids charities. It was recorded in Betty's living room by the Director (and boom operator) Chris Adshead, you can even hear the trams going past in the background. The cameraman is Noel Penn and the interviewer is journalist Kim Wilson. Barrie Pullen who was the cameraman on Prisoner managed to get the Beta tapes from Chris and convert them to what you will see in this 37-minute interview. Betty and Anne discuss how they got their roles on Prisoner and why they think the show is so popular. Anne shares a very funny story about Elspeth Ballantyne and floor manager Ray Lindsay. Anne talks about her favourite scenes she filmed on Prisoner and what it was like to shoot her final scenes with Betty and how she felt when Betty left the show. Betty shares a very funny story about her son and both Betty and Anne talk about how fond they were of the cast and crew of Prisoner and the special comradery they all shared between them. Anne talks about why she left Prisoner and the special friendships they both had with the non-speaking extras on Prisoner. Anne talks about the preparations for putting together the 2000 Prisoner event and the cast Anne and Betty were looking forward to seeing again and the fans that flew in from around the world for this spectacular event. Lots of behind-the-scenes footage of this interview at the end. A big Thank you to Ken Mulholland and Barrie Pullen for allowing Talking Prisoner to present this amazing interview to all the fans and a big thank you to Chris Adshead, Noel Penn, and Kim Wilson as without you we would never have seen this interview.
#bettybobbitt #annephelan #prisoner #cellblockh

Welcome to Episode 7 of Talking Prisoner Presents, where hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten had an engaging conversation with the legendary Australian TV actor, Shane Withington. Boasting a career spanning over four decades, Shane is best known for his roles as Brendan Jones in A Country Practice and John Palmer in Home and Away.
In this insightful interview, Shane shares his childhood experiences and the origins of his passion for acting. As an avid sailor, he also recounts some adventurous sailing tales that could easily be mistaken for scenes from Home and Away.
Shane delves into his time on A Country Practice, discussing the audition process for the role of Nurse Brendan Jones, working with the show's beloved actors, and the intricacies of shooting the iconic series. He also touches on one of the most memorable death scenes in Australian television history: the passing of Molly.
The conversation shifts to Shane's encounter with David Bowie and his amusing anecdote about their meeting. He then speaks about his experience working on Out of The Blue, his role as Simon Wilson, and the story behind the conclusion of Willing and Abel, a show he worked on with fellow A Country Practice alumni Grant Dodwell.
Currently appearing in Home and Away for the past 13 years and over 1600 episodes, Shane shares insights into his character John Palmer and his initial appearance on the show in 2006 as Colin Page. He also talks about working with co-stars like Sonia Todd, Ray Meagher, and other notable cast members, as well as offering valuable advice for aspiring actors seeking to break into the industry.
Shane's personal life intertwines with his on-screen story, as he is married to Anne Tenney, who played his wife Molly in A Country Practice. He opens up about their meeting, Anne's departure from the show, and his decision to remain for an additional six months. Finally, Shane addresses questions submitted by fans, offering a comprehensive and entertaining look into his life and career.
 
#homeandaway #shanewithington #acountrypractice #davidbowie

Talking Prisoner Cell Block H  EP 52 Interview with Susan Guerin Barbara Fields

Welcome to Talking Prisoner Episode 52! Join hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten as they sit down with Susan Guerin, famous for her role as the memorable inmate Barbara Fields in Prisoner. Susan contributed her talents to 26 unforgettable episodes in 1982, ending her journey with the series finale of the year. Beyond Prisoner, Susan has made notable appearances in Sara Dane, Cop Shop, and the TV movie, Robbery Under Arms.

In this heartfelt and insightful episode, Susan opens up about her life journey, from her childhood in South Australia to managing her mother's mental illness. She candidly discusses her successful venture as a restaurant owner and her career transition into nursing after acting. Susan's rich and varied career also includes her time in radio plays and her experience landing the role of Barbara Fields on the iconic Australian show, Prisoner.

Dive deep into Susan's experience on Prisoner, as she shares the behind-the-scenes of the audition process, working with the legendary cast including Val Lehman, Maggie Kirkpatrick, Colette Mann, Wayne Jaratt, and Sheila Florance. Listen as Susan reflects on her character, Barbara, her weekly commute to Melbourne for shooting the show, and a hilarious anecdote about Sheila Florance.

The episode is jam-packed with details about Susan's involvement in the dramatic fire episodes of Prisoner, her relationship with co-star Anna Hruby, and the reasons behind her exit from the show. As always, we've included fan questions, all answered by Susan herself.

Don't forget to like and subscribe to our YouTube channel for more exclusive interviews and content.

#prisoner #cellblockh #susanguerin #maggiekirkpatrick

Welcome to this special episode of Talking Prisoner. Today, we're thrilled to host our guest, Louise Siversen, as we discuss her new theatre production, 'Under Ms Archer,' currently playing at St. Martin's Theatre in South Yarra.
 
Under Ms Archer is a unique blend of drama and comedy that brings a 21st-century woman face-to-face with a medieval man, sparking a culture war that takes no prisoners. In this episode, Louise and I delve into the genesis of the show, the inspiration behind it, and the experience of performing again post-Melbourne lockdowns.
 
This theatrical performance features two of Melbourne's favorite actors, Louise Siversen, known for her roles in House Husbands, Prisoner, Love Me, MTC Noises Off, and Peter Houghton, recognized for his performances in The Pitch, Shakespeare in Love, Killing Time. Both actors are fresh off their recent collaboration in MTC’s hit comedy, 'Heartbreak Choir.'
 
Under Ms Archer has already made its mark, with Stage UK calling it a 'comic and performing tour de force... Great invention and extraordinary physicality... A virtuoso piece of acting, delivered with great bravura.'
 
Over the last four decades, Louise has built a formidable reputation in Australian Film, Theatre, and TV productions. Her leading roles in shows like PRISONER, THE FLYING DOCTORS, BOOTLEG, CHANCES, EUGENIE SANDLER P.I, HIGH FLYERS, SHORTCUTS, NEIGHBOURS, STINGERS, THE SECRET LIFE OF US, HALIFAX F.P, JANUS, BACKBERNER, HOUSE HUSBANDS, FIVE BEDROOMS, LOVE ME, among others, have made her one of the country's most recognisable actors, celebrated for her dynamic comedic and dramatic portrayals.
 
Under Ms Archer is now in its final week at St. Martin's Theatre. Don't miss out on this spectacular show. Tickets are available at www.undermsarcher.com. See you there

Welcome to Episode 53 of Talking Prisoner, where we shine the spotlight on the creative genius behind Prisoner's hauntingly beautiful theme song, 'On the Inside'.
 
Our special guest today is none other than the legendary Allan Caswell, a luminary in the Australian country music scene with a Golden Guitar, multiple chart-topping hits, and over 900 songs to his credit. Although he never made an on-screen appearance in Prisoner, his contribution to the series' atmosphere and mood through 'On the Inside' is indelible. The song not only reached platinum status in Australia, but it also topped the UK singles chart, forever linking Allan to the iconic series.
In this in-depth conversation, host Matt Batten uncovers Allan's early life and school years, his impressive music portfolio, and his unique experiences performing in diverse locations like LA, Nashville, East Timor, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Allan also delves into the recognition he's earned through his eight Golden Guitar awards.
 
A significant portion of the interview is dedicated to exploring the history of 'On the Inside': how it came to be, Grundy's initial approach to Allan, how Lyn Hamilton came to lend her voice to it, and the fascinating fact that the original Prisoner theme song was supposed to be 'Unchained Melody'.
 
Allan imparts valuable wisdom for aspiring songwriters, candidly discusses the current state of the industry, and examines the impact streaming platforms like Spotify have had on music creation and consumption.
 
Join us in this captivating episode as we delve into the life and career of a country music legend. Please like, subscribe, and hit the bell icon on our YouTube channel to keep up with future Talking Prisoner interviews. Enjoy the conversation!"
 
#ontheinside #allancaswell #lynhamilton #prisoner #cellblockh

Talking Prisoner EP 54 Interview with Governor Eddie Mullins Mountjoy Prison

Welcome to Episode 54 of Talking Prisoner where our host, Matt Batten, has an enlightening conversation with Governor Eddie Mullins of Mountjoy Prison in Ireland.

In this episode, Eddie shares his life's journey that led him to the prison service in 1991 and his eventual ascension to the role of governor.

Our conversation delves into various aspects of prison life, including the rehabilitation process, the prevalence of weapons, and the day-to-day lives of inmates.

We also explore the realities of serving as a governor, how Eddie manages to distance himself from the inmates' crimes, and the struggles ex-inmates face in finding employment due to Ireland's spent convictions scheme.

Governor Mullins sheds light on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on prison life, the role of education and health in prisons, and the quality of prison food. We also discuss the intricate dynamics of the court system, sentencing procedures, and the oftentimes complicated relationship between politicians and the prison system.

Additionally, Eddie shares the uplifting story of Mountjoy's prison choir and teases some exclusive news about the next chapter of his career.

Join us for this compelling conversation and don't forget to like and subscribe to our channel for more deep dives into the world of True Crime

#mountjoy #truecrime #prison #eddiemullins #ireland

Welcome to Episode 56 of Talking Prisoner where your host, Matt Batten, enjoys a sit-down with Lynne McGranger, best known for her role as Irene Roberts on the long-running soap, Home and Away. With nearly three decades on the show, Lynne proudly holds the title of longest-serving female cast member.
Before capturing our hearts as Irene, Lynne graced several other Australian TV shows such as The Flying Doctors, Skirts, Street Angels, Seven Deadly Sins, and Sky Trackers. In this episode, Lynne recounts her journey from her humble beginnings in Sydney, her time as a school teacher, and how she landed her enduring part on Home and Away.
We delve into the mystery surrounding Jacqy Phillips's departure and why she didn't continue as Irene. Lynne shares her insightful thoughts on the end of Neighbours and the future of free-to-air TV. With a fondness for theatre acting, Lynne has appeared in many pantomimes over the years which are also discussed in our conversation.
In the 1980s, Lynne was part of the comedy group, The Natural Normans, performing alongside Denise Scott, Sally-Anne Upton, and Lynda Gibson. Lynne reminisces about the laughs and the learning during her comedy stint.
In 2014, Lynne put on her dancing shoes for Dancing with the Stars, emerging as the runner-up. We chat about the intense schedule of learning to dance and the unforgettable experiences on the show. Lynne shares her journey of penning down her book, “Me, Myself and Irene,” and the process that led to its creation.
Interestingly, Lynne reveals that she discovered through a radio interview with Jonesy and Amanda that her character Irene was set to be axed in 2002. Fortunately, Coral Drouyn, a Prisoner Writer who had been hired to boost Home and Away's ratings, saved Irene, believing her character had many storylines left to explore.
Lynne also shares cherished memories of working with Chris Hemsworth who played Kim Hyde on Home and Away and a hilarious encounter with a fan during dinner with Ray Meagher after a long day of shooting.
Don't forget to like and subscribe to our YouTube channel to ensure you never miss an episode of Talking Prisoner!
 
#lynnemcgranger #homeandaway #chrishemsworth #neighbours

Welcome to Episode 55 of Talking Prisoner, where your host, Matt Batten, has a profound conversation with Buddhist prison chaplain, Susan Shannon. Susan's remarkable career spans over four decades, with her most striking experiences centred around her work on death row at San Quentin Prison.
In this episode, we delve deep into Susan's life story, from her childhood years to her conversion to Tibetan Buddhism. Susan reveals her unexpected love for the hit TV show, The Sopranos, and shares a bit about her personal hobbies.
Our conversation transitions into her riveting journey at San Quentin Jail, from her very first day to her encounters with prison guards and inmates on death row. Susan recalls her initial visit to death row and describes the ambience that continues to stick with her.
Susan details the establishment of her Buddhist prison group, discussing its origin and evolution. She courageously shares her insights on the crimes committed by inmates she has worked with and provides an up-close look at the reality of life on death row.
Throughout the episode, we explore the challenges Susan faced in starting her chaplaincy within the prison system and her relentless efforts to make a difference. She reflects on the surreal experience of putting on a bullet/stab proof vest for the first time and her dedicated work with inmates on death row, particularly Albert 'Ru Al' Jones and Jarvis 'Jay' Masters.
We delve into a typical day in the life of an inmate on death row, discussing everything from meals and education to security protocols. The impact of Covid-19 on prisons also forms a vital part of our conversation.
Susan fondly reminisces about her meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and further unravels the harsh realities faced by inmates on death row.
Join us for this stirring episode that offers a rare, heartfelt insight into prison chaplaincy and the world within death row. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe to our channel for more engaging discussions.
#deathrow #susanshannon #prison #truecrime #podcast #prisonlife #sanquentin

Introducing Our New Co-Host: Director Tim Burns
We're thrilled to announce that Matt Batten will now be joined by a new co-host on Talking Prisoner—none other than independent filmmaker Tim Burns! With a portfolio of cinematic gems that encapsulate Australian culture and history, Tim is no stranger to compelling storytelling.
His cult classic film, "Boronia Boys, perfectly captures the essence of Australian suburbia in the late 2000s. But that's just the tip of the iceberg. His creative prowess extends to a myriad of projects, including "Mondo Maniacs," "The Honey Suckle Sisters," "Sizzle 77," "Boronia Backpackers," "Moonlight and Magic," and "Nancy Nancy." His documentary "Prisoner Queen," featuring Prisoner cast member Jude Kuring, bridges his cinematic vision with the world of "Prisoner," making him a perfect addition to our show.
Tim is no stranger to accolades, having won several awards, including honours from The Melbourne Underground Film Festival. A true collaborator, he has worked with numerous Prisoner cast members and has a reputation for "getting things done," as many in the industry will attest.
With Tim on board, you can expect Talking Prisoner to level up in so many ways. The duo is already lining up some incredible guests and have a plethora of exciting plans in the pipeline to make the show even more engaging for all you Prisoner fans out there.
So get ready to dive deeper into the world of "Prisoner" like never before, as Matt and Tim bring you unparalleled access and insight into one of Australia's most iconic television series.

Welcome to Episode 6 of Corals Soapbox, where Coral Drouyn, a seasoned veteran of Australian television, delves into the depths of iconic TV shows. Coral's extensive resume includes work on beloved series like Neighbours, Home and Away, and, notably, Prisoner. As a script writer, Script Editor, Story Liner, and Story Editor on Prisoner, Coral shaped some of the show's most memorable characters and storylines.

In this episode, Coral joins Matt to explore the captivating Barnhurst 5 storyline from Prisoner. They delve into Coral's creative process behind crafting these characters and the pivotal flashback episode 536, which Coral penned. They dissect why certain characters, like May Collins portrayed by Billie Hammerberg, may not have been as robust as others, while Coral reveals her original vision for the Barnhurst 5.

Coral and Matt engage in a comprehensive discussion on each member of the Barnhurst 5, including Sonja Tallis, Jackie Woodburne, Kirsty Childs, Billie Hammerberg, and Debra Lawrance. They explore the complexities of characters like Nora Flynn and dissect the motivations behind their actions.

Throughout the episode, Coral addresses fan questions, offering insights into the creative decisions behind the Barnhurst 5 storyline. Matt also shares his theories on why the Barnhurst 5 were introduced into the series at that particular time.

In addition to their exploration of Prisoner's rich history, Coral and Matt touch on current events, including the Trial of President Donald Trump.

Don't miss this captivating episode of Corals Soapbox, and be sure to like and subscribe to the Talking Prisoner YouTube Channel for more engaging content.

Episode 64: Interview with David Waters - Officer David Bridges

Welcome to Episode 64 of Talking Prisoner!

In this special episode, Host and Producer Matt Batten sits down with the incredible David Waters, who portrayed Officer David Bridges on Prisoner: Cell Block H.

Matt and David discuss David’s early life growing up in the UK and his journey to Australia. They dive into David's theatre background, sharing fascinating stories of working with several Prisoner cast members on stage, including a special memory with Carol Burns (Frankie Doyle).

The conversation continues with insights into David's audition for Prisoner, how he landed the role of Officer David Bridges, and what it was like shooting his first scene in the officer’s staff room. David also reveals why he wanted to stay on the show longer than his initial 10-week stint and the steps he considered taking to extend his role.

Iconic moments from his time on the show are discussed, including the unforgettable scene with Babs McMillan in the garden shed. David reflects on his time working with legends like Sheila Florance and Maggie Kirkpatrick and shares his thoughts on his character and his experience on Prisoner.

Throughout the episode, fan questions are answered, and we also learn about David’s life beyond Prisoner in the restaurant industry.

Production:

David Waters – Officer David Bridges
Matt Batten – Host, Creator, Producer, and Writer
Don’t miss this insightful interview with David Waters. Be sure to like, comment, and subscribe to our channel for more behind-the-scenes stories and interviews!

Episode 1 – Talking PRISONER
Welcome to the first episode of Talking PRISONER. Host Matt Batten interviewed Host Ken Mulholland who was the Cameraman on Prisoner from Season 1 to the last episode in Season 8. We discussed what the Talking PRISONER Podcast/YouTube is about, Kens life growing up, his introduction to working behind the scenes in Television, how he started in TV, working on Australia’s most iconic TV show “PRISONER” what it was like working with Carol Burns, Shelia Florence and everything that went on behind the scenes of Prisoner. Please subscribe to our YouTube channel and like our FaceBook page. Talking PRISONER is going to feature cast and crew, we have some amazing guests upcoming, so stay tuned for our special guest on Episode 2.

Welcome to the second episode of Talking PRISONER. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down and spoke with Legendary actor Gerard Maguire who played Wentworth Detention Centres first male officer and Deputy Governor Jim Fletcher. We spoke about Gerard’s early career, graduating from NIDA, how he got the part of Jim Fletcher, why he would have liked to have seen Jim become Governor of Wentworth, why he left Prisoner, the dangerous stunts he performed on Prisoner, and what it was like working with legendary actress’s like Patsy King, Val Lehman, Collette Mann. We broke down Gerard’s first episode on Prisoner in Season 1 Episode 40 and the famous Sandy Edwards riots which Gerard played a huge part in. We also spoke to Gerard about life after Prisoner and if he was ever asked to come back to Prisoner, a very funny story about being recognised at a nudist beach as Mr Jim Fletcher and Gerard’s life living in America. It is a fascinating interview where we learn about Gerard’s life. Please subscribe to our YouTube channel and like our Facebook page.
#gerardmaguire #patsyking #cellblockh #vallehman #wentworth

Welcome to the third episode of Talking PRISONER. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with the beautiful Ros Gentle who played Inmate Laura Gardiner/Brandy Carter/Susan who had a multiple personality disorder. We spoke in great length about her childhood growing up, becoming a primary school teacher, and then quitting teaching to studying at the National Institute of Dramatic art (NIDA) and training under the legendary Betty Williams. We spoke about her audition for Prisoner and what she does to prepare for auditions and something painful that happened on set on her first day, what it was like to play three characters on the show including a Librarian/ Prostitute and socialite and what research she drew on for the three multiple personalities. We also broke down some Episodes she was on from Season 5 Episode 47 and if she was ever asked to come back to Wentworth and her time on the latest American Crime Story “The people VS OJ Simpson” and working with Kenneth Choi and Cuba Gooding Jr. Please subscribe to our YouTube channel and like our Facebook page.
#wentworth #cellblockh #rosgentle #brandycarter

Welcome to the fourth episode of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down and spoke with award winning producer Ian Bradley. We spoke to Ian about his life growing up in England, when he arrived in Sydney Australia, where his love of Television came from, the many jobs he had throughout his life. We spoke in great depth about his time on Prisoner, how he took it over from Episode 2 from Reg Watson, How Lizzie was only intended to be an extra at the start, the story behind the real life Frankie Doyle, How he created the Joan “The Freak” Ferguson, the process of making Prisoner, how he created the set of Prisoner, His thoughts on the new Wentworth, his time working with writer Denise Morgan, his four pillar structure, we breakdown episode 3 of Prisoner and why Bill Jackson was killed and we ask the question that everyone has been asking “What happened to Sandy Edwards” please subscribe to our YouTube channel and like our FaceBook page.
www.talkingprisoner.com
Facebook.com/talkingprisoner
#cellblockh #prisoner #ianbradley #carolburns #frankiedoyle #wentworth

Welcome to the fifth episode of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down and spoke with the amazing Louise Siversen. We spoke to Louise about her life growing up and how her parents were pushing for Louise to be a Lawyer and not an actress. Louise’s love for theatre and acting and how she got the part of Lou Kelly, one of Wentworth’s most violent inmates, we spoke about what it was like to play Lou and the intense scenes that she had to shoot and one storyline that she did not agree with, we also spoke about the famous Lou Kelly riot and how she felt when she pulled the chair out from the phantom lager Eve Wilder. Louise also spoke with us about what it was like to work with the late great Maurie Fields, Peter Adams, Gerda Nicolson, Joy Westmore and Anne Phelan, and her close friendship with Lois Collinder who played Lou’s sidekick Alice “Lurch” Jenkins. Louise was able to also share with us some secrets about that famous hairstyle that Lou had. Please subscribe to our YouTube channel and like our FaceBook page
www.talkingprisoner.com
#cellblockh #louisesiversen #wentworth #prisoner

Welcome to the sixth episode of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down and spoke with Talented actress and voice over artist Sheryl Munks. We spoke in depth with Sheryl about her life growing up, from a very young age wanting to perform on stage and tv, how she got the part of Brumby Tucker on Prisoner and how there was lots of other aspiring actors who wanted the part and signing to well known agency at the time Frog Management. Sheryl spoke with us about the famous Blackmoor riots and working with Ray Meagher, how she learned her lines and holding a gun for the first time. What it was like to film the final ever episode of Prisoner and how the cast and crew were all like a family to her. Sheryl also spoke about what it was like working with Glenda Linscott, Rosanne Hull-Brown, Maggie Kirkpatrick, Kate Hood and Gerda Nicolson and also working with Shelia Florance but not on Prisoner. Please subscribe to our YouTube channel and like our Facebook page www.talkingprisoner.com
#cellblockh #sherylmunks #wentworth #prisoner

Welcome to the seventh episode of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with Louise Siversen who played Lou Kelly in this special episode which is a Q & A. You may remember back in Episode 5 that we ran out of time for most of the fan questions, all fan questions are answered in this episode. We spoke with Louise about her thoughts on Kate Box’s portrayal of Lou Kelly on the new Wentworth, how physical it was to be Lou Kelly, the hanging scene of Eve Wilder played by Lynda Stoner, who she is still on contact with from the cast of Prisoner, Why she left Prisoner and what she thought of her final scene, what the food was really like at Wentworth, working with Janet Andrewartha who played Reb Keane, why her leg was crossed over in her final scene. Please subscribe to our YouTube channel and like our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram page
 
#loukelly #louisesiversen #cellblockh #prisoner #katebox

Welcome to the eighth episode of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with one of Australia’s most successful and enduring performers Maria Mercedes. We spoke in depth about Maria’s life growing up as a child, the racism that she experienced towards her and her family, how she always wanted to pursue acting and performing from a very young age, why she is an animal activist and eats a plant based diet, Maria also shares with us how she got two parts on Prisoner and a very funny story about Shelia Florance, what it was like in the early days of Prisoner and the later seasons when she came back as Yemil. We also spoke about her experience working with Kerry Armstrong and Peta Toppano and how she would have loved to have stayed longer and develop the part of Yemil more, please subscribe to our YouTube channel and like our FaceBook page.
#cellblockh #prisoner #mariamercedes #wentworth

Welcome to the ninth episode of Talking Prisoner. This is a special tribute episode to Betty Bobbitt who played Judy Bryant in 429 episodes of Prisoner. Chris spoke with us about his beautiful mum Betty, what it was like growing up as a child, Betty’s commitment to her fans even in her later years, why Betty left Prisoner and what she thought of her exit from Prisoner, auditioning for the role of Bea Smith, Chris gave us an insight into how Betty remembered her lines and how his Mum cooked amazing dinners complete with dress ups at the dinner table. Chris told us about his crush on a certain cast member from Prisoner and what it was like going to the logies with Val Lehman. This is a great episode with an amazing insight into the lady that gave us Judy Bryant – RIP Betty Bobbitt
#bettybobbitt #chrishill #cellblockh #prisoner

Welcome to the tenth episode of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with Prisoner Crew member Barrie Pullen. We spoke to Barrie about his life growing up and gaining his behind the scenes experience with theatre productions knocking back an electricians apprenticeship to take a job at Crawford’s to work on many TV shows such as Young Talent Time, Holiday Island, Prisoner, The Logies and many other well known tv shows, Barrie spoke to us about everything behind the scenes of Prisoner and what it was like on his first day on the set of Prisoner at the age of 22 and the one cast member that really cut him some slack being so new. Barrie also spoke to us about the day of the Russel Street bombings, a near miss in a helicopter accident and nearly meeting the queen back in the 1980s, what it was like to film major breaking news story’s and so much more. Please subscribe to our YouTube channel and like our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter page.
 
#barriepullen #prisoner #cellblockh #logies

Welcome to part 1 of Episode 11 of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with the amazingly talented Val Lehman who played Top Dog Queen Bea for 376 Episodes, We spoke to Val about her childhood and growing up as an only child, her school life, how she got into acting and how she got the part of Queen Bea on Prisoner, Val discussed with us how she remembered her lines, working with Carol Burns, some great story’s about Sheila Florance, working with Maggie Kirkpatrick and Betty Bobbitt, her favourite writer on Prisoner and why she cut her hair, Val also discussed why the writers on Prisoner wrote in the storyline of Bea Smith escaping to Sydney and what it was like working with Collette Mann for the Sydney storyline, we discussed her life after Prisoner and what it was like trying to find work and Val gives some great advice to aspiring up and coming actors who want to get into the industry and much more.
#vallehman #beasmith #wentworth #prisoner

Welcome to Part 2 of Episode 11 of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down for part 2 of our interview with Val Lehman who played Iconic Top Dog Bea Smith. As we ran out of time in part 1, Val graciously came back for part 2 to answer all the fan questions that had been posted to the Talking Prisoner Facebook Page. We spoke about why Sheila Florence left the series, working with Carole Skinner, what it was like to have her real life daughter work with her, working with Wayne Jarratt, and lots more fan questions.
#vallehman #beasmith #wentworth #prisoner

Welcome to the twelve episode of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with actress, writer, producer Anne Lucas. We spoke to Anne about her life growing up, when she moved to Australia, How she met her husband Prisoner producer Ian Bradley, what it was like to work on the Tv show Bellbird with Shelia Florance and a story about Shelia coming close to losing her life on the set of Bellbird, What her thoughts on Prisoner were when Ian first told her about the show, Anne also discussed how she became a script writer and script editor on Prisoner and how the part of Faye Quinn was created due to another cast member having to leave the show, What it was like to work in the writing department of Prisoner, We also spoke with her about the iconic fire episode of Prisoner Season 5 Episode 1 that Anne wrote for, Anne also shared with us a special story about her life after the birth of her child Lucas. Lots of laughs, lots of behind the scenes talk about Prisoner and a funny story about Ian Bradley writing an episode of Prisoner on Annes Feet.
 
#annelucas #prisoner #cellblockh #ianbradley

Welcome to the twelve episode (Part 2) of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with actress, writer, producer Anne Lucas. We spoke to Anne about her life growing up, when she moved to Australia, How she met her husband Prisoner producer Ian Bradley, what it was like to work on the Tv show Bellbird with Shelia Florance and a story about Shelia coming close to losing her life on the set of Bellbird, What her thoughts on Prisoner were when Ian first told her about the show, Anne also discussed how she became a script writer and script editor on Prisoner and how the part of Faye Quinn was created due to another cast member having to leave the show, What it was like to work in the writing department of Prisoner, We also spoke with her about the iconic fire episode of Prisoner Season 5 Episode 1 that Anne wrote for, Anne also shared with us a special story about her life after the birth of her child Lucas. Lots of laughs, lots of behind the scenes talk about Prisoner and a funny story about Ian Bradley writing an episode of Prisoner on Annes Feet.
 
#annelucas #prisoner #cellblockh #ianbradley

Welcome to the thirteenth episode of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with award winning artist Marina Finlay who played inmate Lainie Dobson. We spoke in depth about Marina’s childhood growing up, her parents, what it was like for Marina studying at the National Institute of Drama (NIDA) whilst Hugo Weaving was there, she also spoke about her time learning to paint with award winning artist Judy Cassab and what it was like to live in Paris. Marina also discussed about her time on Prisoner and what her thoughts were on her character Lainie Dobson and the storyline and her close friendship with Carole Skinner who played Nola McKenzie and what it was like to have all those tattoos, We also discussed her first day and how she felt shooting her first scenes on Prisoner. We also spoke about Marinas amazing career as an artist. Please subscribe to our YouTube channel and like our FaceBook page.
 
#marinafinlay #cellblockh #prisoner #wentworth

Welcome to Episode 14 of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with the talented Reylene Pearce who played Phyllis Hunt. We spoke to Reylene about her early childhood and growing up in St Kilda, how she appeared in the very first episode of Prisoner but not as Phyllis, how she started as an extra on Prisoner and then becoming a central character and how that happened, we spoke in depth about the Glee Club storylines and her character taking a child hostage on Prisoner, her special friendships with some of the cast members from Prisoner and some beautiful story’s about Betty Bobbitt and the practical jokes she use to play on some cast members, Reylene also just recently watched the last episode of Prisoner and gives us her thoughts on it and also tells us some secrets about the food in the Wentworth dining room and what it was also like to shoot the scenes in the Wentworth showers. Reylene also shares a funny story about legendary singer Marc Hunter from Dragon. Please subscribe to our YouTube channel and like our FaceBook page.
 
#reylenepearce #prisoner #talkingprisoner #cellblockh

Welcome to Episode 15 of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with the talented Margot Knight who played inmate Sharon Gilmore and then in later episodes Officer Terri Malone. We spoke with Margot about her childhood growing up, Margot talks about how she landed the part of Sharon Gilmore and what it was like to work so closely with Betty Bobbitt who played Judy Bryant, we broke down some episodes with her and the famous Jock Stewart scenes, working with Tommy Dysart and then how she was invited back to play Officer Terri Malone and what it was like to work with Maggie Kirkpatrick on Prisoner, we also broke down some episodes with Margot and the scenes as Terri Malone and what it was like to play an officer rather than an inmate. Margot also spoke with us about playing two characters on Neighbours Tracey Cox and Jean Richards at the time that Kylie Minogue, Guy Pearce, Alan Hopgood and Jason Donovan were on Neighbours and the episodes that she wrote for Neighbours including the iconic episode where Todd Landers was hit by a car and died. Margot was able to also answer all the amazing fan questions.
#margotknight #prisoner #neighbours #cellblockh

Welcome to part 1 of Episode 16 of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with the legendary Sean Nash who was a Writer and Director on Prisoner. Sean has has written and directed shows such as Home and Away, Neighbours, E-Street, Paradise Beach, Cop Shop, Breakers, Paradise Beach and many more. Sean directed many episodes of Prisoner including the last two episodes and the iconic Episode 692 of Prisoner which we discuss in great length, what it was like on the final day, directing Maggie Kirkpatrick in her final scenes, how other ideas for endings were being talked about, how the cast were on the final days, sets being literally torn down as the final episode was being directed. We also discussed Sean’s life growing up as a child and how he would sweep floors as a job at Crawford’s and work for free to just get his foot in the door. Sean also told us about what it was like to shoot the famous boat episodes on Prisoner and the riot scenes at Blackmoor with Ray Meagher as Governor Craven and the challenges shooting between two locations with Blackmoor. We discussed Cop Shop, Carson’s Law and working with Lorraine Bayly, how he got his job on Prisoner, Sean also directed the amazing fight scene between Joan Ferguson and Len Murphy, which we also speak about and so much more. Please subscribe to our YouTube channel and like the Talking Prisoner Facebook page. Part 2 next week where we discuss more Prisoner, The reason for the Prisoner Flashback Episode, E-Street, Home and Away and all Fan Questions.
 
#seannash #prisoner #raymeagher #cellblockh #homeandaway

Welcome to part 2 of Episode 16 of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with Sean Nash who was a Writer and Director on Prisoner. In Part 2 we discuss directing the very last two episodes of Prisoner Episode 691 and 692 and how other directors were wanting to swap with Sean so they could shoot the very last episodes. We also discussed Episode 536 which was the flashback episode, why they shot the flashback episode and why the Rec room had an extra wall added for this episode only. We also spoke to Sean in great length about another show he directed and wrote for called E-Street, working with Forrest Redlich who created E-Street, the Werewolf and gangster storylines and where Forrest drew inspiration from for his storylines. We touched on Home and Away, Paradise Beach and answered all fan questions.
 
#seannash #prisoner #estreet #homeandaway

Talking Prisoner EP 17 Interview with Louise Le Nay (Sandy Edwards)
Welcome to the Seventeenth episode of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with Louise Le Nay who played inmate Sandy Edwards. We spoke to Louise about her childhood growing up, what she was like at school and what it was like to get into the National institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) and learning at NIDA. Louise told us all about what it was like to work with Ross Higgins on Kingswood Country and then to play Barbara Hill on Neighbours when it was on Channel Seven and what it was like when Seven axed Neighbours, and what it was like to work with Anne Haddy and writing the scenes surrounding her death. Louise spoke to us in depth about Prisoner, her audition, working with Wayne Jarratt and Olivia Hamnett and what it was like to shoot the Great Sandy Edwards Riot and why the writers made her Top Dog whilst Bea Smith (Val Lehman) was in hospital and we spoke in great length on why Louise left the show and that the producers wanted her to stay. We also asked Louise about one of the biggest conspiracy theories on Prisoner – What really happened to Sandy Edwards and Louise’s personal thoughts on what happened to Sandy. Please subscribe to our Youtube channel and like our FaceBook page.
#sandyedwards #talkingprisoner #cellblockh #neighbours #louiselenay

Talking Prisoner EP 17 Interview with Louise Le Nay (Sandy Edwards)
Welcome to the Seventeenth episode of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with Louise Le Nay who played inmate Sandy Edwards. We spoke to Louise about her childhood growing up, what she was like at school and what it was like to get into the National institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) and learning at NIDA. Louise told us all about what it was like to work with Ross Higgins on Kingswood Country and then to play Barbara Hill on Neighbours when it was on Channel Seven and what it was like when Seven axed Neighbours, and what it was like to work with Anne Haddy and writing the scenes surrounding her death. Louise spoke to us in depth about Prisoner, her audition, working with Wayne Jarratt and Olivia Hamnett and what it was like to shoot the Great Sandy Edwards Riot and why the writers made her Top Dog whilst Bea Smith (Val Lehman) was in hospital and we spoke in great length on why Louise left the show and that the producers wanted her to stay. We also asked Louise about one of the biggest conspiracy theories on Prisoner – What really happened to Sandy Edwards and Louise’s personal thoughts on what happened to Sandy. Please subscribe to our Youtube channel and like our FaceBook page.
#sandyedwards #talkingprisoner #cellblockh #neighbours #louiselenay

Talking Prisoner EP 18 Interview with Kath Gordon (Officer Joanne Riley)
Welcome to Episode 18 of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with the talented Kath Gordon. We spoke to Kath about her childhood growing up and where her passion and love for acting came from and the play she first saw as a child that made her decide that she wanted to be an actor. Kath also told us about her time at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute and becoming best friends with Angelina Jolie and what it was like to train at the prestigious school. Kath also shared with us some information about Prisoner that no one else knows even Ken and Matt were not aware. Kath spoke about working with the likes of Joy Westmore, Maggie Kirkpatrick, Judith McGrath and how she got the part on Prisoner, her thoughts on why Officer Riley was not given a bigger part and why she turned down a role to star on Foxtel’s highest rating drama Wentworth. We also breakdown the episodes Kath appeared in including the one where Lou Kelly took her hostage, Kath also talks to us about her teaching acting and what productions her students have starred in.
 
#kathgordon #leestrasburg #angelinajolie #prisoner

Talking Prisoner EP 19 Interview with Maggie Millar (Marie Winter)
Welcome to Episode 19 of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with award winning artist and actor Maggie Millar who played inmate Marie Winter. Maggie spoke with us about her early life growing up, school, what subjects she enjoyed the most, her time at RADA (Royal Academy of Dramatic Art) In London with people such as Vivien Leigh, Alan Rickman, Anthony Hopkins, Joan Collins, Roger Moore and how she was accepted into this prestigious school. We also discussed some of the shows Maggie appeared on such as Bellbird and what it was like to work with her on screen husband Alan Hopgood, we then spoke about Prisoner and how she got the part on the ground breaking drama and shooting her first scenes with Val Lehman (Bea Smith) at prison Barnhurst and then what it was like to come back to Wentworth for a further 36 episodes. We broke down some iconic episodes such as the Sandy Edwards riot, working with Louise Le Nay in the riot episodes, Marie Winters riot, the amazing scene on the staircase during the riot where she pushed Reb Keane played by Janet Andrewartha over the stairs, and why they had to re shoot the great Marie Winter escape and what her thoughts were on her exit, we also discuss why she was not asked back as a series regular. Maggie also shared with us her memories working with Maggie Kirkpatrick who played officer Joan Ferguson. We managed to get through all the fan questions and Maggie even did the trademark Marie Winter laugh for us.
 
#rada #maggiemillar #cellblockh #prisoner #mariewinter

Talking Prisoner EP 20 Interview with Rod Hardy Prisoner (Director)
Welcome to Episode 20 of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with International Tv and Film Director Rod Hardy. Rod directed the second episode of Prisoner ever to go to air plus many more episodes thereafter. We spoke with Rod about his life growing up and how he got into the Tv and Film industry and starting out at Crawford Productions. Rod told us about how he got his start on Prisoner working with Reg Watson and Ian Bradley, we spoke about episodes that he directed and the Great Tunnel escape and working with Fiona Spence, he also shared his memories of working with the late great Paul Cronin on the Sullivans, directing shows like Neighbours, E-Street, Cop Shop,  moving to the United States in 1992 to further his career, he also shared with us a funny story about directing Buffalo girls and working with Melanie Griffith, Anjelica Huston and Leiv Schreiber, we touched on his international career directing shows like The Practice, JAG, The X-Files, Saving Grace and Battlestar Galactica and what it was like to shoot the re-make of the 1952 movie High Noon starring Tom Skerritt. Please subscribe to our YouTube channel and like the Talking Prisoner FaceBook Page.
 
#rodhardy #cellblockh #prisoner #anjelicahuston #fionaspence #leivschreiber

Welcome to Episode 21 of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with international performer Michael Cormick. Michael is a singer and has a hugely successful and prolific career I musical theatre both in Australia, Uk and Europe. Michael spoke to us about his life growing up as a child and what led him to the arts. We spoke with Michael in depth about his career in theatre performing in Europe, Rome, Paris and Cyprus and his first audition in London with Andrew Lloyd Webber and what it was like to play the Beast in Beauty and the Beast with Hugh Jackman and director Robert Jess Roth. Michael shared his memories with us about his performing at Melbourne’s Carols by Candlelight and working with Marina Prior, Michael also had a guest come on Talking Prisoner which Ken and Matt had no prior warning about and this guest is someone that all Prisoner fans and Australian Television fans will know, Michael shared his memories of working with Bert Newton and when he first appeared on New Faces. Michael shared some secrets with us about Prisoner that were not know to anyone, how he got his part on Prisoner, what he thought of his character and the storylines for Ellen/Alan. We also broke down Episodes 354, 355 and 360 with Michael and his memories of those episodes. We spoke with Michael about a special project he has been working on called the Byron Supper Club.
 
#michaelcormick #marinaprior #hughjackman #cellblockh

Talking Prisoner EP 22 Interview with Kim Trengove (Rachel Milsom)
Welcome to Episode 22 of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with the talented Kim Trengove who played inmate Rachel Milsom. We discussed in length with Kim the countries she lived in as a child, her close relationship with her father Alan Trengove who was the founder of the Australian Tennis Magazine and working for her father, we also discussed Kim’s school life and what led her to acting and where the passion came from for acting and other shows that she had worked on such as Cop Shop, the Last outlaw and the Sullivans. Kim also talked to us about shows she performed in Sydney and having dinner with a member from the Beatles and this certain member from the Beatles flirting with her. Kim also wrote an episode for Neighbours that starred Prisoner cast Lesley Baker and Caroline Gillmer and her work with Neighbours bad boy Paul Robinson played by Stefan Dennis. We spoke to Kim about how she got the role of Rachel Milsom on Prisoner and working with Ron Shand, we broke down and discussed Prisoner Episodes that Kim appeared in and spoke about what went on behind the scenes with her episodes and working closely with Andy Anderson who played Officer Rick Manning and why her character was written into the show. Kim also discussed with us the scenes she shot with Maggie Millar who played Marie Winter and what it was like on her last day of shooting Prisoner. Kim also answered all fan questions.
#kimtrengove #prisoner #cellblockh #alantrengove #thebeatles

Merry Christmas to all our fans
Talking Prisoner EP 23 Interview with Lois Collinder (Alice “Lurch” Jenkins)
Welcome to Episode 23 of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with the talented Lois Collinder who played Alice “Lurch” Jenkins. We spoke with Lois in length about her life growing up in Port Melbourne, dancing and performing from a very young age in pantomimes and performing in the original Wirth Bros Circus and what it was like to work at the iconic Melbourne department store “Georges” for 20 years. Lois also spoke about shows that she worked on such as Halifax F.P, Underbelly (Tell them Lucifer was here) and what it was like to work with Lois Ramsey on Prisoner and an classic Australian movie called Crackerjack. Lois spoke with us in detail about her part on Prisoner, how she got the audition, how her character went from a background inmate to a series regular, Lois also told us how the nickname Lurch started and which director on Prisoner gave her the nickname “Lurch”. We broke down some iconic episodes that Lois appeared in including the fan favourite Episode 582 the Fashion parade, The Lou Kelly riots, the Terrorists siege, the arrival of Rita Connors, the boat episodes (Told us something very funny about the boat episodes), and the iconic last episode 692. Lois was very gracious with her time and gave us so much information behind the scenes of Prisoner and you will all want to know if Lois did an encore of South American Way.
#loiscollinder #alicejenkins #prisoner #cellblockh

Talking Prisoner EP 24 Interview with Michael Winchester (Marty Jackson)
Welcome to EP 24 of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with the talented Michael Winchester who played Prison Officer Marty Jackson son of Meg Morris. We spoke to Michael about his life growing up and how he got into acting and how a chance gig got him a part on Cop Shop. We spoke in great length about Michael’s time on Prisoner and how he got the part playing the third Marty Jackson on Prisoner, working  closely with Elspeth Ballantyne who played his on-screen Mum and Prisoner Veteran Meg Jackson/Morris. Michael also spoke about his scenes with Rosanne Hull-Brown who played inmate Merle Jones. We also spoke about the fan favourite episodes “The Boat Episode” and the famous “Blackmoor Riots” Michael gave us all the behind the scenes information about these two episodes and what it was like to really jump of that boat and swim into the Port Phillip bay and working with legendary actor Ray Meagher who played Blackmoor Governor Ernest Craven and what it was like to shoot that intense scenes with Ray and also working with Philip Hyde who played Prison Officer Rodney Adams. We also spoke about his time on Sons and Daughters and the movie Michael wrote, produced, and appeared in “Bathing Franky” which starred Henri Szeps and Maria Venuti. Michael also answered all fan questions.
#martyjackson #michaelwinchester #cellblockh #prisoner

Talking Prisoner EP 25 Interview with Alan Hopgood (Wally Wallace)

Welcome to Episode 25 of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down and spoke with Actor, Author, Producer, Writer and leading playwright Alan Hopgood who played Wally Wallace on Prisoner. We spoke in great length to Alan about his life growing up, how he got into acting from a very young age and about his time at the University of Melbourne and his first television play The Sound of Thunder. Alan spoke to us about his time on Bellbird in which he appeared in 872 episodes as Dr Reed and told us lots of behind the scenes information about Bellbird. Alan is a leading playwright and wrote a play called “And the Big Men Fly” which also starred Elspeth Ballantyne and was able to give us all the behind the scenes about this successful play. We spoke in great length about a movie Alan wrote called Alvin Purple which was a box office smash hit back in 1973 and where he got the idea to write it. We spoke in length about Alans time on Prisoner playing Wally Wallace and working alongside Betty Bobbitt and Gerda Nicholson and how he got the part of Wally and what he thought about his character Wally. Alan spoke to us about his time on Neighbours playing Lassiters Hotel owner Jack Lassiter and working alongside Stefan Dennis (Paul Robinson) We also spoke to Alan about him receiving an order of Australia for his services to the performing arts and raising awareness in Men’s health through his book and plays. Please subscribe to our YouTube channel.

#alanhopgood #prisoner #cellblockh #neighbours #bellbird

Talking Prisoner “Presents” EP 1 Interview with Mal Walden
Welcome to Episode 1 of Talking Prisoner “Presents”. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with legendary news reader Mal Walden. Mal has a media career spanning six decades and was the main presenter of Melbourne’s Seven national news and Ten Eyewitness news. We spoke with Mal in great length about his childhood growing up, school life, and the start of his career at radio station 3YB in Warrnambool. Mal spoke to us about how he started at Network 7 and what it was like to be a reporter in the 1970s and replacing Brian Naylor as the chief news presenter at Seven and working with his mentor John Maher. Mal flew to Darwin to cover the news of Cyclone Tracy in 1974 and told us how he was sending the footage back to Melbourne via a Private Jet so channel seven could run the story. We spoke in length about Mal’s sacking from channel seven and the huge public outcry that followed with his sacking from Seven and a very funny story about a taxi driver driving Mal’s replacement to channel seven. Mal was able to share a story with us about his time meeting Princess Diana and a funny story that she had told him, We also spoke about Mal’s time presenting the news at channel 10 and what he thinks about the news now. Mal was one of the first people to broadcast the news in Australia about the assassination of John F Kennedy and told us how he found out that JFK had been assassinated. We spoke about the 8 Million dollar defamation law suit that was against Mal and how it all started and his special friendships with Brian Naylor and David Johnston. Mal told us about the time he did a favour for Chopper Read and what it was like to cover the news of the Ash Wednesday fires in 1983. Mal had many more story’s for us, please enjoy and subscribe to our page.
#malwalden #news #jfk #princessdiana

Talking Prisoner Cell Block H EP 26 Interview with Debra Lawrance (Officer Dean/Daphne Graham)
Welcome to Episode 26 of Talking Prisoner Cell Block H. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with the amazingly talented Debra Lawrance who played three roles in Prisoner – A Nurse, Officer Sally Dean, and Inmate Daphne Graham. Debra shared with us her memories of growing up as a child and where her love for acting came from. We spoke to Debra about her time at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) training alongside Mel Gibson, Steve Bisley, Judy Davis and Robert Menzies. Debra shared with us how she got the three roles on Prisoner and what it was like working with the cast of Prisoner and being a part of the Barnhurst five, we broke down some episodes of Prisoner with Debra and she spoke to us in depth about Episode 553 in where Daphne Graham was threatening to jump of the roof of the prison and gave us all the behind the scenes information about that emotional scene. Debra spoke about her thoughts on the PMS storylines for Daphne and working alongside Kevin Summers who played her Lawyer. We were also very fortunate to speak to Debra about her time on Home and Away playing Pippa Ross and also found out that a cast member from Prisoner also auditioned for the role of Pippa, Debra told us what it was like to play the third Pippa (Behind the scenes information that we never knew about Pippa) and working alongside Katie Ritchie and Ray Meagher and what it was like to work with her on screen husband who became her real life husband Dennis Coard who played Michael Ross. Debra also starred in Wentworth and was able to talk to us about her time on Foxtel’s highest rating drama.
#debralawrance #homeandaway #prisoner #cellblockh #Pippaross

Talking Prisoner Cell Block H EP 27 Interview with Kylie Belling (Inmate Sarah West)
 
We acknowledge the traditional custodians of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay my respects to them and their cultures; and to Elders both past and present.

Welcome to Episode 27 of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with the very talented Kylie Belling. Kylie played inmate Sarah West in the last year of Prisoner and had some very heavy storylines. Kylie spoke with us in great length with us about her life growing up in Melbourne with her adoptive parents and siblings, and what her time at school was like. Kylie is also a qualified secondary school teacher and spoke with us about that part of her life. We spoke about the part of playing “Ruby” in the indigenous Australian play “Stolen” and what it was like to tour internationally. Sarah graduated from the Victorian college of the arts along with her Prisoner castmates Philip Hyde (Rodney Adams) and Taya Stratton (Spider Simpson) and spoke with us about her time at VCA. Kylie also told us about the time she spent at the Dame Phyllis Frost Correctional Centre. Kylie played Sharon Herbert in the TV show The Flying Doctors and told us what it was like working with Maurie Fields (Len Murphy Prisoner) and Val Jellay, we also touched on Kylies time as the Co-Founder and Artistic director of the IIbijerri Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Co-Operative and more recently her time as Senior Manager for First Peoples for Creative Victoria. Kylie was also in the hit movie the Sapphires along with Jessica Mauboy and Deborah Mailman, she spoke in detail about her time on this movie. We then spoke in great length about her time on “Prisoner” and how she got the of Sarah West and how Justine Saunders (Pamela Madigan) was pivotal in having the role of Sarah West created. Kylie spoke with us about the iconic scene in the Rec Room and her famous line “Rec Room, eh ? Lets wreck it and how fans would say it to her outside of Prisoner, we broke down some of the episodes that Kylie appeared and what it was like working with her friend Taya Stratton and filming those racist scenes with her and shared a funny behind the scenes story about Maggie Kirkpatrick. We also spoke about the racism issues still facing Australia today. Kylie was also able to answer all fan questions.
#kyliebelling #sarahwest #cellblockh #jessicamauboy

Welcome to Episode 28 (Part 1) of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with the talented Maggie Kirkpatrick who played Officer Joan Ferguson. Maggie appeared in over 400 episodes of Prisoner but also has a career spanning several decades appearing in shows such as Cop Shop, Jonah, Richmond Hill, Home and Away, All Saints, Eden and Prisoner, also a veteran of the Theatre playing Madame Morrible in Wicked for seven years and 1600 performances. This is Part 1, we spoke to Maggie about her life growing up as a child and losing her dad at such a young age and when she first broke into acting. We discussed the many TV shows that she has appeared in such as Richmond Hill which was created by Reg Watson who created Prisoner and working alongside Ross Higgins, Paula Duncan, Tim Elston, Gwen Plumb and Amanda Muggleton on Richmond Hill and her shock at the show being axed at the time. We also spoke to Maggie about one of her first jobs as an Usherette at the Civic Theatre. We spoke with Maggie about the Beach Hotel which at the time was owned by Arthur Greenhalgh. Maggie shared with us how she got one of the most iconic roles on Australian TV Joan “The Freak” Ferguson and that Prisoner Producer Ian Bradley created the character and Maggie being his first choice for Joan Ferguson and how she first auditioned for the role of Vera Bennett which ended up going to Fiona Spence. Maggie shared a very funny story with us about the late great Sheila Florance and what it was like working with her and Gerda Nicholson. Maggie told us about the storylines that she did not agree with and the ones that she suggested to the writers and what it was like to work with Prisoner Director Kendal Flanagan. We discussed Maggie’s hair change and the time that Sammy Davis Jr visited the set of Prisoner and what it was like to celebrate her birthday with him in Las Vegas. Maggie shared with us her thoughts on Wentworth and Pamela Rabe playing the role of Joan Ferguson. We broke down some episodes with Maggie including 413 where Joan is sent on a horrible acid trip and kills her dog, which Ken was able to share some behind the scenes information that we did not know, more to come for Part 2 of this amazing episode.
#joanferguson #maggiekirkpatrick #cellblockh #prisoner