THE LIFE OF FEMALE CRIMS (Bad Girls)

Member Name: jingles

Product:	Bad Girls
Date:	13/08/01 (477 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Excellent story lines and actors

Disadvantages: Have to wait for the new year to see the new series

The ITV drama set at Larkhall Prison, we the viewer become involved in watching the lives of the female prisoners, their interaction with the screws, and how they cope with their problematic lives.

I have watched Bad Girls from series one. One episode and l was well and truly hooked. Perhaps lm strange but l have always been fascinated with female prisons (or indeed prison life in general). I loved Prisoner CellBlock H as a student – l sat up to all hours just to get my daily fix! I’m always badgering David to take me to Armagh Woman’s Prison over here in N. Ireland, which has been closed but apparently they do tours! Perhaps lm just a FREAK <get it - FREAK – as in Cell Block H??? – Ah forget it! >

Any how to get back to Bad Girls, we are now approaching series four, and although the transmission date has not yet been scheduled, expect it early 2002 – something to brighten up those long winter evenings!

Maureen Chadwick is the lead writer alongside Ann McManus who holds down the lead scriptwriter role. I must commend them both on fantastic storylines and plots, which are screened to us!

THE CAST

Helen Stewart – Simone Lahib

An original character, joining in series one, as a fast-track graduate who had impressed the powers that be, to be appointed as Wing Governor of the now famous G-Wing. The old-timers and officers of the old school of thought were not happy about her appointment. Stewart really cares – she wants to make a difference in people’s lives. The plot involves her character having an affair with Nikki Wade – an inmate on the lifer’s floor. Her role has changed though throughout the life of the programme. We see her take a job at Area Level involving herself in a more proactive role in the lifers unit, and following a scandal with the No 1 Governor, Stubberfield and his subsequent resignation she becomes temporary No 1. At the en
d of series 3 Helen Stewart resigns from the prison service, Fenner finds out about her relationship with Nikki (which was at that point over!), she has mixed feelings about the relationship she has been having with the prison doctor. It all comes to a climax, when Nikki is released after a successful appeal, Helen meets her in a bar to congratulation her on being a free woman – and they end up snogging. I don’t know if it the last we see of Ms Stewart but here’s hoping not!

Nikki Wade – Mandana Jones

A loner, known for her lesbianism, intelligence, and the fact that she is not scared to stand up for what she believes in and if necessary take action. Nikki was given a life sentence for murder – she bottled a policeman who raped her then partner Trisha. She has a close relationship with the majority of inmates in G wing and when she speaks people listen. Helen Stewart encourages Nikki to study (she takes her exams in series 3) and to appeal against her sentence. The final episode in series three shows Nikki’s appeal being successful and her walking away a free woman. Helen and she end up snogging (lve said that before but a bit of lesbianism is good for my ratings!) but whether the relationship can be sustained remains to be seen.


Jim Fenner – Jack Ellis

Fenner – the male equivalent of the FREAK in Cellblock H. A senior officer on G-wing who feels hard done by when he is constantly passed over for the position of wing governor. He’s a bent dodgy officer involved in affairs with the inmates (most famously with Shell Dockley), violence against inmates, attacking other officers – Helen Stewart and indeed blackmail. Dockley at the start of series 3 almost kills him, but to the regret of many he is rescued. He embarks on an affair with Karen Betts (replacement wing governor) and at the end of series 3 she accepts his proposal of marriage – although this wont last
long if Helen Stewarts leaving plan works!

Karen Betts – Claire King

A new character to series 2, a well-known face from Emmerdale, Karen Betts is brought in to replace Helen Stewart. She is a firm but fair officer with 11 years of experience under her belt. Her only down fall it would seem is a soft spot for that crook Jim Fenner.

Sylvia Hollamby – Helen Fraser

Otherwise known as body bag – as her husband is a funeral director. She has no time for the inmates and is of the opinion a con can never change. Somewhat of a jobsworth and likes nothing better than to moan. We do have to feel sorry for her in series 3 though when Shell an Denny break into her home and hold her hostage during their escape attempts. Both she and her beloved husband Bobby suffer badly at their hands.

Shell Dockley – Debra Stephenson

Shell tends to think she is top dog of G-wing. She’s a manipulative, and self obsessed lifer. She has had an affair, which has gone sour with Jim Fenner and so desires to make him suffer. Firstly she writes to her wife tells her everything and then she tries to kill him. No one will take her seriously when she accuses him of rape – apart from Helen Stewart. Shell has had a tragic childhood, which has turned her into the bitch and bully, which lead her to murder. In series 3 Shell and Denny escape and make a bid for freedom, they even make it to Spain. We are yet to find out if they end up being extradited back to Britain.

Denny Blood – Alicia Eio

Serving a sentence for arson, Denny’s a gay confused and illiterate girl. She may seem as if she is Shell’s henchman, but underneath she has a conscious and feelings. We see Shaz another lifer, and Denny falling in love – they are both pranksters for whom everything seems to go wrong. Denny meets her real mum inside Larkhall and this is hard for her to come to terms with. Denny escap
es with Shell in series 3, leaving Shaz behind – we will have to wait until series four to see if they are reunited!

Yvonne Atkins – Linda Henry

Yvonne was set up by her crook husband, when she hired a hitman to kill his rival, only to find out that he was playing away. She is known to have money and she isn’t scared of flashing it about. It’s not long before she takes the role of top dog. Yvonnes not bad – she cares about the girls but no one dare try to put one over on her. In series 3 at her estranged hubby’s trial Yvonne tries to give evidence against him, hopefully putting him behind bars – instead she was portrayed as a jealous vengeful ex-wife, and he ends up being set free. Outside he is shot in the head in front of Yvonne. Authorities fell she is some how involved. We are yet to see the outcome. Series 4 should prove very eventful for Yvonne.

These are simply a few of the varied characters to be found in Larkhall, others include Josh and Crystal – who are expecting a baby but one is a screw and the others an inmate! Theres the 2 Julies who really are comical and the new lot known as the Peckham Boot Gang.

Series four should prove even more essential viewing and l for one cannot wait to see it screened! Story lines set up in the final series have yet to come to an end - how do Nikki and Helen get on in the outside world, do Chelle and Denny make a return visit to Larkhall; Crystal, Josh and the baby, how does Yvonne prove she was set up by the Peckham Boot Gang and when does Fenner finally get what he is due? Oh lm beside my self with anticipation!!

A website is available at www.badgirls.co.uk and also books on each series have been published.

Summary: