Talking Prisoner

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 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

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 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 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

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 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