Prisoner Cell Block H - Bea's departure

[MsPerogi]

Bea Val Lehman should have been transfered to Barnhurst (written out of the series) much earler in the Series. Long before the Maggie Kirtpatrick took over Fiona Spences role. Bea with the red hair was a Lag on the series. There were plenty of dime a dozen actors who could have done the the part!

[TOSHT2011]

I watched this loyally on channel 3 (itv) late at night when i was as a kid watched it on channel 5 2 its a awesome soap kicks shit out of shite gay i mean neighbours & pisses on home & a gay i mean away bring it back!!!!

[seekyefirst]

old memories

[RockAndRollMassacre]

sadistic cow

[DaveyC95]

Rubbish! Bea Smith was the most famous character in the series, then Lizzie and then Joan.

[DaveyC95]

Rubbish. Bea Smith was the most famous character in the series, then Lizzie and then Joan.

[Tarrant1976]

Maggie Kirkpatrick did for "Prisoner" what Heather Locklear did for "Melrose Place" that is send the ratings through the roof! Prisoner was pretty big before "The Freak" arrived but in the months prior to her arrival (first half of 1982) the show had fallen into a bit of a rut and ratings were down.

[TheFreak287]

Ferguson is most featured because she is the most famous character in the series (along with Meg) whether u like her or not. And Maggie Kirkpatrick is an awsum actress who made the role her own, nobody could have done it better xx

[Tarrant1976]

@TheFreak287 Interestingly Maggie auditioned for the role of Vera Bennett when the show was first being put together but Fiona Spence scored the part of Vera instead. Kinda glad she did as the Freak may not have existed otherwise. Fate works in weird ways :)

[Tarrant1976]

Shame they didn't show Bea arriving at Barnhurst with her old nemesis Vera Bennett who was Governor of Barnhurst by then.

[adeyp]

I think they should have at least played some sad istrrumental music in this scene. I always wanted Bea to turn up in the last episode when the Freak was in jail and she say to her"In the end, I had to win"I know they killed her off in the Barnhurst fire but she could have faked her death.

[DaveyC95]

c) Sorry i meant role, it is early in the morning. What annoys me is that OTI website and other reference sources for Prisoner always picture Joan,like on imbd. She didn't make the show and didn't come in until the well in to the fourth year. Myself and many other people hated her and thought she was overrated, although as a person i like Maggie,she is warm and sincere.

[DaveyC95]

b) Maggie Kirkpatrick has said in interviews that most of her best scenes on her stint on the show were with Val. They worked well together, and have also been interviewed together many times. Val has said that Maggie gave the show a shot in the arm. Yes she tired of the roll, but not one person made Prisoner because Joan became a pantomime villain in the end, and a parody. The show ran out of steam.

[DaveyC95]

Sorry but Myra was not as good as Bea. Val Lehman injected humour into the character, with a list of one-liners as long as your arm. Myra always looked care worn and miserable. Daughter on drugs like Bea's daughter, she couldn't take on everyone on her own as has been suggested. Bea got Kay,Joan,Franky,Nola with the soldering iron etc. Myra copied,but got Geoff to help her brand Frank. Zip Gun with Lou,sound familiar. She was OK. Bea was unpredictable and edgy, Myra was not.

[edmilfan69]

(3) might just be a cheap Bea-clone, but Anne Phelan really brought so much more to the character. Her fight style was more intense and brutal than Bea's and she really made the role good. The Myra-Reb era was brilliant. My favourite alongside the Sandy-Bea-Kate-Marie era. I wasn't a Lou Kelly fan, hated the Alice character, and thought the Barnhurst5 and most other support-characters and storylines after Myra-Reb's era were either dull or just repeats.

[edmilfan69]

(2) ... I think Val herself commented on feeling she'd done all she could with Bea and was tired of playing her and the direction she was going in. Considering she was little more than a common-day housewife/mother on the outside, her character was brilliantly written, acted, and developed; they got a lot of mileage from her and Val's portrayal. It was time for a new era. Sonia was a crap character I thought, and the succession of others that followed also bored me. I was concerned Myra ...

[edmilfan69]

(1) I loved Bea, but I did feel that every dimension to her character and storyline had been explored by the time she left, even though I was shocked when she eventually left. After the excitement of the Nola episodes, it was looking to fall into the pattern of "back to normal then". Also, Bea's character in wit and brute force matched Joan, and their relationship had gone to such extremes, they couldn't have kept them both in it much longer without one having to kill the other one off for good

[DaveyC95]

The ratings dropped once Bea left the show. Val Lehman and Sheila Florance quit at the same time, but the producers persuaded Sheila to stay for two reasons. Firstly the loss of two of the best and most pivatol characters at the same time would alienate the viewers and secondly to give Lizzie a good exit. I hated the the exit Val got. The show went on a steady decline and when Glenda Linscott joined as Rita,she gave an interview stating that the show was due to be axed.

[NolaMckenzie]

poor leaving story line for bea they could of wrote her out a bit better

Myra had the best send off!

[coffeegulper905]

@NolaMckenzie

Never understood why they killed Bea (off-screen) in that fire. It really wasn't necessary. But then so many other tragic endings on "PRISONER". Some characters could've had happier endings, but no, they'd bring them back only to kill them off or have them land up in jail again---only to be transferred. Lots of tragic endings. :(

[michellesvideosuk]

This is one episode I can't watch anymore as I hated it when they got rid of Bea, it wasn't the same after that, I rather have Vera in the show that the Freak anyday, I cannot stand the Freak.

[coffeegulper905]

@michellesvideosuk

I totally agree! Although there were some high points here & there along the way (after Bea left), it just wasn't the same. It was especially jarring once Judy, Lizzie, Myra, Pixie, etc., left the series. Lots of new characters, just not the same "attachment".

[AlbieGray]

Ferguson, if you had the nerve to be so smart mouthed around the wrong person, you'd have had that cell door SLAMMED on your rotten hand! You may have thought you ruled Wentworth, but you're nothing more than an overinflated egocentric bully!

[rakiims]

does any one know if this progammes is still shown on any tv channel?

[coffeegulper905]

@rakiims

I can't honestly say, but I don't think so. I think that if the series was rerun even TODAY, there'd be a loyal audience. They'd probably rerun it late at night, but still, that would be something.

You can always find full episodes for download, though. That's how I got to see the remainder of the series. They stopped showing it here in 1983 before they even showed episode 200!

[JollyMunkie]

That was beautiful.

[Vauthier]

Oh, Hub, you're so silly. You think you can try and use the "opinion" comment to refute someone's facts. If Rita had been so popular, then why did the ratings vanish when she was on? And as for her selling out tickets to anything, was she the only person from Prisoner? If so, then those people were simply fans of hers, but clearly there weren't enough to keep Prisoner on the air. And anyone can sell out events. You failed to tell us how many tickets were in fact sold.

[Hubastanka]

No idea how many tickets were sold. But I know two major events were held for her this year, and both sold out. So on the basis of that, a hell of alot.

And yes, she was the only person from Prisoner at these events. It was a Glenda Linscott event :-)

[Vauthier]

lol and yet again, you dodge the question. Allow me to repeat myself so that everyone can see you avoid it again. HOW DID YOU REFUTE THE FACTS I POSTED ABOUT PRISONER BOMBING ONCE BEA, JUDY, AND MYRA LEFT?

[32scooter]

Bea Smith was such a central character in the show that I think she should have had a better exit. Letting the Freak get another one up on her was a lousy end to a great character..I didn't like this at all.

[leamgem]

Long overdue exit from 'Queen' Bea. The show had its highlights during these first 300 episodes or so, but Bea's character had become well and truly tiresome at this point. More interesting characters emerged and the subsequent dynamics of the characters improved - especially with Joan and her 'projects'.

[Arcradia]

At Least THE FREAK got her comuppance in the End Rita Conners Finnish what Bea Started Watch the End Clip

[bcrocker33]

where are all of Bea's clothes. she wore other clothes several times.

[TheJoker27780]

Why would she need them in Barnhurst? Different prison uniform over there.

[bcrocker33]

not my point. i know that. other women come in there with suitcases even though they don't need them. she would have taken a case after all her years at wentworth.

i am trying to catch up to find out why she was transferred and why the uniforms changed to that awful beige from grey and blue. i am jumping all over. :)

[TheJoker27780]

What other women? Give me some examples. Only women who come in for the first time have suitcases.

You're also forgetting that most of Bea's things would have been burned in the fire.

[bcrocker33]

Off the top of my head Peterson and another rich woman, shoot i cannot remember her name. those women would leave with a suitcase too though wouldn't they?

this is true...the fire.

still, i think she would have had more than a box when leaving. but it was fast and made it look good.

[sussexking]

Bea was transferred because Joan and Sonia Stevens had been setting Bea up on a number of charges, including gambling (which she did not have a part of). It was all part of a plan to also go over Ann Reynolds's head and have her transferrred, which she did. Bea would not have had a suitcase, because, a, the wentworth fire, and b, her escape to Sydney before the whole Nola MacKenzie saga.

The uniforms were upgraded before the great wentworth fire.

[zx5010]

When I first saw this scene I thought that they got rid of Val, however, she might have decided that she'd had enough of the show. I think Bea Smith was the one who made that show. It was never the same when she left. I think Val was the iltimate great as far as this show's concerned.

[TheJoker27780]

That's a huge insult to the show if you think just one character made it great. Pretty weak show if it needed one character to make it good.

Not to mention it's a huge slap in the face to the dozens of other great actors in it.

[Vauthier]

lol, Joker, come on, you're going nuts with this issue. It is a fact that a majority of Prisoner fans preferred the years with Bea to the years without her. Stop trying to force us to believe that it was just as good or better without her because we don't feel that way. Bea rocked and the show was amazing when she was on it. After she left, it almost seemed like a different show, though I did like the Myra-Judy years. But Lurch, Rita, Lori, Lexie, Joyce Barry? HELL NO.

[Hubastanka]

Joker already won the battle. You know he's right. That's why you had to call in your mate for help on the other video. You couldn't handle the facts.

But since you're so big on numbers, the official Prisoner website had TWO event with Glenda Linscott this year, who played Rita, and both events were sold out in record time. Wow, she must have been popular :)

So your OPINION that Rita, or any of the later characters were bad, is just that, YOUR opinion.

Hahahahahahaha.

[Vauthier]

oh I think you have already lost, hence the majority that are against your opinion and not just my friends. Notice the posts from many others? And since you feel the need to say anything, I am still waiting on an answer from you. You have continued to dodge it everytime, but I am calling you out right here and now. You say that you refuted the facts I posted, but I never once saw any refutal. Please, enlighten me and the others on how the facts were incorrect.

[Hubastanka]

Wrong. I have won. I've been winning from the get go. That's why you called your friend in for help. You were out of your depth.

And what are you calling me on? Read back over our entire debate history. I refuted everything you said successfully time and again. I love that it embitters you so much that you can't let it go though.

Hahahaha sore loser :-)

[Vauthier]

right on, zx, Val was one of the major factors of Prisoner that made it such a success. The character itself and the wonderful acting behind it were brilliant. I just recently found out that they killed her character off screen because the producers couldn't get Val to come back and they wanted the fans to accept this and the new direction the show was going in. Big mistake, as only twenty or so episodes later they killed off Myra. Then the show went downhill FAST.

[Spikeyjaycee]

While its very sad that bea was going, the acting by Lizzie is so comical - she should have got an oscar for overacting!!!!

[madmayfan]

yeah and the treak taunting an old woman like that

[Scrabbler27]

I watched the clip when an inmate battered the female guard in this one with a bar.. Good drama

[crevrath]

I hate this scene as one of the Best ever Prisoner Characters left. A very dissapointing exit as well. I know it woz Val Lehmans Decision to leave but the writers could have thought of a more Heroic exit to tribute the character. It was reported they asked her back several times and Val Declined, which was why they prob gave her an off screen death in Barnhurst to seal the lid of the character.....Weep RIP Bea

[Aspergianstar2009]

The reason they did not do a full exit is that they thought she would change her mind. So they left it open for Val to return until I think it was 100 episodes later when we learned she died in a fire at barnhurst

[AlbieGray]

For that bloody bit of perfidy, that rotten Freak should have been transferred to Siam! She was totally cold-blooded, and one of the biggest clods there was! All my sympathy was for Bea and Lizzie.

[kormoran78]

Poor Lizzie... It's a pity Val Lehman left the tv series. This scene is the last great performance by Bea Smith (my favourite character).

[Knasterreal1]

poor old Lizzie this scene always makes me cry

[mwbaker1979]

Could never understand why Lizzie was not transferred to Barnhurst too, because after all barnhurst was supposed to be a lower security person, mind you it had Marie Winter !! So maybe I was wrong

[Knasterreal1]

The freak wanted to torture Lizzie thats why.

[joanferguson]

I find that idea very appealing ;-D

[laminage]

Because The Freak threatened Bea that if she left, Lizzie would be taken care of, and if Bea stayed something bad would happen to her. I felt bad for Bea, but hey "Payback's A Mutha" and considering how she played Queen Bea all of those years, she should have remembered she would get "De Throned" eventually.

[bcrocker33]

but it was an empty threat? fergo wouldn't really hurt lizzie would she?

[Hammersley1967]

Hurt Lizzie?

That's nothin' to that lousy, rotten, stinkin' BITCH!!!

[narcissusdark]

yes she would, and yes she did

[countkostaki]

Well throughout the series they kept referring to Barnhurst as a higher security prison, yet early on in the series they said it was lower security, so I can guess you can take your pick lol. There was one reference to Beachmore (where Jim Fletcher took his governorship) and then at the end of the series run Blackmore was a big part of the show, supposedly the highest security of them all.

[kzbxvz]

Bea was a really good caracter, but the serie could outlive her and moved on and became better and better for each year.

[Vauthier]

it didn't become better and better. it survived after she left because of Judy and Myra, who was basically written in much the same way as Bea's character. Once those two were gone, the show sank, both ratings and critically. Lurch as a main character? Ugh! Joyce Barry as one of the main officers? SHUDDER! If the show hadn't have had as many viewers as it did when Bea was on the show, it would have been canceled instantly when she left. Instead, the ratings slowly slid. after myra left, CRASHED

[TheJoker27780]

I'm not trying to convince you of anything, mate. I'm stating my opinion. Trying to change people's minds is pointless and fruitless. Everyone is entitled to believe what they like.

If I was going to try and change anyone's mind over anything, it would be on a serious subject. Not Prisoner.

[Vauthier]

then how come this is the 5th post you have replied to someone saying the show was better with Bea, saying," No, it was better without her!" we get it... you liked the show better without her. But more people liked it with her.

[TheJoker27780]

The same reason you engaged in a lengthy discussion about it. You're a Prisoner fan. You enjoy discussing it.

[Vauthier]

actually, I was watching the videos and reading the many people discussing how much they loved Bea. But then you always pop up and say the same thing about how the show wasn't as good with her, only got better without her, the ratings didn't slip. All of these are opinions, not facts. Like your little friend Hub, who claims he refuted the facts when he didn't, both of you simply repeat yourselves over and over.

[mistofoles]

Anybody remember Lizzie in "Mad Max"??

[AlbieGray]

"She's Mine, the whole prison's all mine! And there's nothing you can do to stop it!" Famous last words from one of the nastiest women in all of penal history! The Freak would make Vera Bennett look like a saint!

[jpww1979]

Babs McMillan was Miss Vaughan in ep 174 and has we all know Cass Parker, cannot believe they are the same woman.

[Knasterreal1]

She wasnt the only one doing several characters.

[tigerwoman]

Sad.

[AlbieGray]

In this scene, I really hate the Freak and how callous she was towards Bea, and how gloating she was towards Bea about going to Barnhurst. It is heartbreaking how Lizzie reacts towards this; and I hate how the Freak was so cruel towards her!

[polythenepam1978]

oh how i remember Beas exit....poor old lizzie

[garymonc]

this is when the show went down hill when she left!

[narcissusdark]

no, the show got better.

[janaughty]

what a bitch that freak , so sad this one was

[joeyz100]

Bea......arrrrggggg

[unlocked1evil1]

ohhh maggie kirkpatrick, you were a naughty one, but i loved your work, but who could go past good 'ol bea smith, the best top dog by far, rita close second

[markh8slife]

lol good proggramme but bit sad too

lol i remember it like yesterday

lizzie birsworth loved like a fuckin monkey

pg tips monkey pmsl

[u2atomicbomb]

i really wanted Bea to win but if you think about it the series would never have been as good if the freak was taken down this early in the series. it was because of the loss of such a great character that that made this show great.

[xfallenfaeriex]

I have met Val twice. Last time in Broadstairs, Kent. She is lovely and well mannered. Reserved at times yes. Met Elspeth Ballantyne. Horrible. Sorry i am too busy to us kids. CRIMN01 talks through his rear end.

[janaughty]

i loved cell block h this was so sooooooooooo sad poor bea loved her to bits great

[DamianoCunegodagreat]

What is this!!??I thought H Block Prison was where all the IRA guys were put in Northern Ireland??!

[CRIMNO1]

You thought wrong

[balmbra911]

The Freak = Psycho Bitch, I love her!!

[XxFuNkEyMoNkEySxX]

Doesn't Bea get killed in a riot in Bahurst?

[mwbaker1979]

yes she does

[MusicJunkie777]

Think they mean camp :)

Whole show was camp - but who's complaining? =D

[Fronika]

Love ya Bea.

[chr1ssboy]

its all a bit gay, no?

[Xihymn]

In what respect "gay"?

[67psych2]

@chr1ssbLOL!! Prisoner rules!! It might be a bit camp at times(Erica Davidson) but so what! Im not actually sure what GAY means these days anyway,Is it HAPPY,as in 1950's term or Homosexual or GAY as in Teenage talk in Britain for SAD!!!

[grahamm69]

Oh The Freak would of made Bea into dog food

The Freak rocks go Joan!!!!!!!!

[xfallenfaeriex]

It was not overacted/badly acted. In the following episode 401 Lizzie is banging on the metal gate after Bea.Sheila Florance(Lizzie) actually broke her arm doing that. Which is why her arm is in plaster until she leaves in 418. Val left in May 1983. Sheila in the July 1983,because best mate Val left. FACT. Not end of year cliffhanger.

[CRIMNO1]

Sheila filmed her last scenes in July 83 but the end of season was aired as a cliffhanger NOV 83 (it was lizzie discovering a body and having a heart attack) - FACT

[harshmistress]

The Freak was afraid of Bea, wasn't she. They were equals on each side of the bars. Just that BEA was more intelligent.

[CRIMNO1]

Bea was the first challenge for the Freak at Wentworth and as u say she met her match - i so wish the freak didnt get the last word :(

[harshmistress]

But the Freak got caught in the end? Perhaps Bea died and didn't find out? Bea had lot's of potensial for other good leaderpositions outside prisons, and the Freak had potensial for beeing a fine criminal.

[MandyMarmite]

Bea was long dead by the time The Freak got sent down.

[arthurvcat]

the freak rules

[danjanhol]

poor arl Lizzie,how her old ticker stood this i dont know BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA­!

[stewarty22]

Bea Smith - The One and only Top Dog!!!

[djbethell]

ha ha ha hilarious. I always loved the bad/over-acting and the high drama. Sad but still laughed my head off at the end.

[ALPHABETTY]

rumour has it, by the time they filmed the last episode of prisoner, Lizzie Birdsworth was nearly 200 years, she is dead now in real life and actually lived to a ripe old age of 219 !

[CRIMNO1]

rumour is incorrect, Lizzie left 2 and half years before series ended to live with her family in London, Lizzie was involved in the 1983/84 season finale

[CRIMNO1]

I would have took my chance and slaughtered the Freak lol

[rfa1956]

it brought a tear to my eye

[PaulJMC2007]

Classic Prisoner

[CRIMNO1]

this clip is beyond words. Sheila and Vals emotions are genuine.