The third season of Australian drama television series Prisoner (commonly known as Prisoner: Cell Block H) premiered on Network Ten on 4 February 1981. It consists of 81 episodes and concluded on 11 November 1981.
The season is notable for the conclusion to the tunnel escape storyline which ended the previous season; the departure of Vera Bennett ("Vinegar Tits") when she accepts the position of governor of Barnhurst; the kidnapping of Erica Davidson; the arrival of new prisoners Sandy Edwards, Kate Peterson and former inmate and top dog of H Block – Marie Winter; Bea Smith's amnesia, and later, her mysterious illness which sees her step down as top dog, only to be replaced by Sandy Edwards.
Cast
Main
Patsy King as Governor Erica Davidson Fiona Spence as Vera Bennett Val Lehman as Bea Smith Elspeth Ballantyne as Meg Morris Colette Mann as Doreen Burns Sheila Florance as Lizzy Birdsworth Gerard Maguire as Jim Fletcher Betty Bobbitt as Judy Bryant Judith McGrath as Colleen Powell
Special guest Mary Ward as Jeanette "Mum" Brooks
Central supporting
Amanda Muggleton as Chrissie Latham Serge Lazareff as David Andrews Olivia Hamnett as Kate Petersen Louise Le Nay as Sandy Edwards Kate Sheil as Janet Conway Wayne Jarratt as Steve Falkner Maggie Millar as Marie Winter
Recurring
Julia Blake as Evelyn Randall Mary Charleston as Linda Golman Jane Clifton as Margo Gaffney Tommy Dysart as Jock Stewart Susannah Fowle as Lori Young Caroline Gillmer as Helen Smart Brian Hannan as Terry Harrison Anthony Hawkins as Bob Morris Leila Hayes as Jeannie Baxter Edward Hepple as Sid Humphrey Bethany Lee as Andrea Hennessy Alan Hopgood as Albert "Wally" Wallace Sue Jones as Kathy Hall Fay Kelton as Alison Page Nina Landis as Michelle Parks Michael Long as Mick O'Brien Tracey Mann as Georgie Baxter Ned Manning as Nick Clarke Tom Oliver as Ken Pearce Candy Raymond as Sandra Hamilton Wynn Roberts as Stuart Gillespie Gael Andrews as Sister Johnson Paul Bertram as Mr. Williamson Ernie Bourne as Peter Hope John Bowman as Henry Aileen Britton as Florence Marne Christine Calcutt as Mrs. O'Reagan Paul Colombani as Martin Richards Deborah Coulls as Micki Wallace Peter Cummins as Hartman Belinda Davey as Hazel Kent Peter De Salis as Mr. Martin Stefan Dennis as Peter Richards Rod Densley as Gerry Sue Devine as Tracey Morris Laurie Dobson as Paul Tranter Beverly Dunn as Mrs. Mitchell Marion Edwards as Mrs. Reid Maureen Edwards as Officer Bailey Jennifer Finch as Susan Page Simon Finch as Chris Page Stuart Finch as Don Page John Frawley as James Marne
Bill Garner as Det. Sgt. Ross Jon Geros as Mike the Bike Terry Gill as Det. Insp. Grace Vince Gill as Wayne Bradshaw Paul Glen as John Fitzwater Hannah Govan as Mrs. Dyson Kirsty Grant as Samantha Gary Gray as Dr. Marsden Diane Greentree as Sister Franklin Liddy Holloway as Sister Hainer Denzil Howson as Mr. Muirhead Tim Hughes as Bazza Amanda Irving as Janet Brian James as Dr. Kennedy Barbara Jungwirth as Lorna Young Paul Karo as Det. Sgt. Rouse Jackie Kelleher as Gwen Hill Bruce Kerr as Gorgon Humphrey Debra Lawrence as Sally Dean Alix Longman as Janie Chapman Dina Mann as Debbie Pearce Kerry McGuire as Arna Johannsen Joan Millar as Brenda Latham Chris Milne as Tony Morton David Nettheim as Mr. Carter Gerda Nicolson as Mrs. Roberts Helen Noonan as Wendy Scott Reylene Pearce as Phyllis Hunt Anne Phelan as Myra Desmond Valma Pratt as Matron Swartz Peter Regan as Dr. Granger Ian Smith as Ted Douglas Jon Sidney as Colin Lester Trudy Simms as Dinah Walford Jentah Sobott as Heather "Mouse" Trapp Kate Turner as Ricky Joy Westmore as Joyce Barry Bryon Williams as Dr. Weissman Myrtle Woods as Amelia Humber John Wregg as Mr. Golman Paul Young as Captain Barton William Zappa as Del Latham
Episodes
Accolades Logie Award for Best Lead Actress in a series – Val Lehman (1982) Logie Award for Most Popular Actress – Val Lehman (1982) Logie Award for Most Popular Drama Series – Prisoner (1982)
Home media The following is a list of DVD sets which contain individual episodes from season three or the complete season as a whole.
Title Episode(s) Release date Format Country Rating Prisoner 166 18 February 2002 VHS & DVD ACB: M 22 September 2003 DVD BBFC: 15 30 November 2004 DVD NR Volume 11 166–176 18 August 2007 DVD ACB: M Volume 12 177–192 20 August 2007 DVD ACB: M The Complete Collection 166–246 29 September 2007 DVD ACB: M Volume 13 193–208 20 October 2007 DVD ACB: M Volume 14 209–224 20 October 2007 DVD ACB: M Volume 15 225–240 3 November 2007 DVD ACB: M Volume 16 241–246 3 November 2007 DVD ACB: M Volume 6 166–192 21 February 2011 DVD BBFC: 15 Volume 7 193–224 18 April 2011 DVD BBFC: 15 Volume 8 225–246 27 June 2011 DVD BBFC: 15 The Complete Season Three 166–246 8 February 2017 DVD ACB: M
Notes
References