The first series of Bad Girls

Bad Girls (TV series)

Bad Girls is an award-winning British television drama series that was broadcast on ITV from 1999 to 2006. It is produced by Shed Productions, the company which later produced Footballers' Wives and Waterloo Road...

premiered on ITV1

ITV1

ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their...

 on 1 June 1999 and ending on 3 August 1999. It consists of ten episodes. The show was produced by Shed Productions

Shed Productions

Shed Productions, part of the Shed Media Group, is an independent UK television production company, specialising in contemporary, original drama programming and content...

 as part of Shed Media

Shed Media

Shed Media Group is a British creator and distributor of television content. The Group produces long-running television brands in drama, factual, documentary, factual entertainment, and history....

. After the first episode aired, the show became an instant hit in Britain

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

. The show also became successful in several countries including America

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

, Australia

Australia

Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

 and Ireland

Ireland

Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...

.

The first series focuses on the growing relationship between new G-Wing governor, Helen Stewart and prisoner, Nikki Wade. Helen tries to show the prisoners that she on their side by taking matters such as miscarriage

Miscarriage

Miscarriage or spontaneous abortion is the spontaneous end of a pregnancy at a stage where the embryo or fetus is incapable of surviving independently, generally defined in humans at prior to 20 weeks of gestation...

, bullying and drugs

DRUGS

Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows are an American post-hardcore band formed in 2010. They released their debut self-titled album on February 22, 2011.- Formation :...

 seriously, where as the other officers, like Sylvia Hollamby don't take any interest in the prisoners' problems. Helen doesn't get the support she needs from her officers and tries to convince Nikki that she needs her help in running an orderly wing. This is when Nikki's attraction for Helen beging to grow. Other major storylines in the first series is top dog, Shell Dockley

Shell Dockley

Michelle "Shell" Dockley is a fictional character in the television drama series Bad Girls. She is portrayed by British actress Debra Stephenson. Shell Dockley was a lead character on the series, she was top dog on G-Wing in Larkhall prison...

's bullying against new prisoner Rachel Hicks

Rachel Hicks

Rachel Hicks is a fictional character on the television drama series Bad Girls. She is potrayed by actress Joanne Froggatt. Rachel only appeared in the first four episodes in the first series, even though she was a central character until near the first half of the series. Rachel was a...

, her drug dealing and her affair with senior officer Jim Fenner

Jim Fenner

James Graham "Jim" Fenner is a fictional character in the British television series Bad Girls, portrayed by Jack Ellis.Fenner is the Principal Prison Officer, working on 'G wing' at HMP Larkhall Women's Prison, and is a regular major character during seven out of eight series of Bad Girls...

 who also begins an affair with Rachel, as three become involved in a love triangle, Shell and her sidekick Denny Blood torture Rachel to the point where she commits suicide

Suicide

Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...

. New prisoner Zandra Plackett

Zandra Plackett

Zandra Plackett is a fictional character on the television series Bad Girls. She is portrayed by actress Lara Cazalet. Zandra made her first appearance on the second episode of series one, until her departure the ninth episode of series two. Zandra is a drug addict, serving ten months in prison...

 struggles to kick her drug habit, and things get worse when she discovers she's pregnant, and Monica Lindsey, another new prisoner on G-Wing, finds it hard to cope when she worries about her son, Spencer, who has down's syndrome, she worries about how he will cope and react to his mother's wrongful imprisonment.

Main cast

Cast	Character
Simone Lahbib Simone Lahbib Simone Lahbib , born 6 February 1965 in Stirling, Scotland is a Scottish actor who has received widespread recognition for her portrayal of strong, emotionally charged characters....	Helen Stewart
Mandana Jones Mandana Jones Mandana Jones is a British actress best known for her role as prisoner Nikki Wade on the British television series Bad Girls.-Biography:Mandana Jones was born on 26 February 1967 to a Welsh father and an Iranian mother. She is the youngest of three, having two older brothers...	Nikki Wade
Debra Stephenson Debra Stephenson Debra Stephenson is an English actress, comedian, impressionist and singer.-Career:At the age of fourteen Stephenson appeared on BBC TV's Opportunity Knocks, winning her way through to the All-Winners' Final, broadcast live from the London Palladium...	Shell Dockley Shell Dockley Michelle "Shell" Dockley is a fictional character in the television drama series Bad Girls. She is portrayed by British actress Debra Stephenson. Shell Dockley was a lead character on the series, she was top dog on G-Wing in Larkhall prison...
Jack Ellis	Jim Fenner Jim Fenner James Graham "Jim" Fenner is a fictional character in the British television series Bad Girls, portrayed by Jack Ellis.Fenner is the Principal Prison Officer, working on 'G wing' at HMP Larkhall Women's Prison, and is a regular major character during seven out of eight series of Bad Girls...
Lara Cazalet Lara Cazalet Lara Imogen Leonora Cazalet is an English actress, known for portraying Zandra Plackett in Bad Girls and Annie Quick in New Street Law.-Background:...	Zandra Plackett Zandra Plackett Zandra Plackett is a fictional character on the television series Bad Girls. She is portrayed by actress Lara Cazalet. Zandra made her first appearance on the second episode of series one, until her departure the ninth episode of series two. Zandra is a drug addict, serving ten months in prison...
Alicya Eyo Alicya Eyo Alicya Eyo is a British theatre, film and television actress. She is best known for portraying Denny Blood in the award winning and critically acclaimed prison drama series Bad Girls.-Early life:...	Denny Blood
Luisa Bradshaw-White Luisa Bradshaw-White Luisa Bradshaw-White is an English actress, best known for her roles on Holby City and This Life.-Career:...	Lorna Rose
Joe Shaw Joe Shaw (actor) Joe Shaw is an English actor.He is probably most well known for his role as officer Dominic McAllister in the ITV drama series Bad Girls and his minor role in the film Junk. He is the son of actor Martin Shaw....	Dominic McAllister
Helen Fraser Helen Fraser Helen Fraser is an English actress, a familiar face in many television comedies and dramas from the early 1960s to the present. She is now living in Halesworth, Suffolk.-Career:...	Sylvia Hollamby
Sharon Duncan-Brewster	Crystal Gordon
Victoria Alcock Victoria Alcock Victoria Alcock is a British actress who played the prisoner Julie Saunders on the television drama series, Bad Girls and Agnes Clarke in The House of Eliott. She currently resides in Bromley, Kent.-Filmography:-External links:...	Julie Saunders
Kika Mirylees Kika Mirylees Kika Mirylees is a South African-born British actress.-Biography:She has played Angela Snow in The Darling Buds of May, and Doc Newton in Red Dwarf....	Julie Johnston
Jane Lowe Jane Lowe Jane Lowe is a British actress. She is perhaps best known for her role as prisoner Monica Lindsay in the first season of the hit British drama series, Bad Girls.-Biography:...	Monica Lindsay
Joanne Froggatt Joanne Froggatt - Early life, education and early career :Born and raised in the village of Littlebeck, Froggatt left her family home at the age of 13 to attend the Redroofs Theatre School in Maidenhead, Berkshire. In 1996, she made her TV début in the long-running ITV drama, The Bill, and shortly afterwards...	Rachel Hicks Rachel Hicks Rachel Hicks is a fictional character on the television drama series Bad Girls. She is potrayed by actress Joanne Froggatt. Rachel only appeared in the first four episodes in the first series, even though she was a central character until near the first half of the series. Rachel was a...
Linda Henry Linda Henry Linda Henry is an English actress, best known for her roles as Yvonne Atkins in the ITV television drama Bad Girls and Shirley Carter in the BBC's soap opera EastEnders.- Early life :...	Yvonne Atkins

Guest cast

• Oliver Fox as Sean Parr
• Roland Oliver as Simon Stubberfield
• Eugene Walker as Officer Blakeson
• Timmy Lang as Spencer Lindsay
• Gideon Turner as Robin Dunstan
• Daryl Fisher as Mrs Hicks
• Ashley Miller as Carol Byatt
• Penny Ryder as Nellie Snape
• Shelley Longworth
  Shelley Longworth
  Shelley Longworth is a British comedy actress and voicover artist. More recently appearing in ITV's hit Benidorm, she has appeared in the comedy sketch shows Tittybangbang on BBC Three and Angelo's on Five, voiced characters in the children's TV show 'Fimbles' and has recently finished filming her...
  
   as Ms Wall
• Susan Aderin as Ms Carter
• Pauline Whitaker as Nun

• Victoria Pritchard as Trisha
• Vinny Dhillon as Clinic Nurse
• Sheila Ruskin
  Sheila Ruskin
  Sheila Ruskin is an English actress.She is possibly best known for playing Vipsania in the 1976 BBC adaptation of I, Claudius but is also remembered by fans of Doctor Who for her performance as Kassia in the 1981 serial The Keeper of Traken, and by Blake's 7 fans as Alta 1 in the 1979 episode...
  
   as Mrs Dunstan
• David Case as Chaplain
• Denise Black
  Denise Black
  Denise Black is an English actress, best known for playing Denise Osbourne in the ITV1 soap Coronation Street and Hazel Tyler in Channel 4 TV's Queer As Folk in 1999 and 2000, written by Russell T Davies. After attending Portsmouth's Girls Public Day School, she studied Psychology at London...
  
   as Jessie Devlin
• Jean Ainslie as Sister Jill
• Ian Flintoff as Vicar
• Jane Galloway as Mary
• Andrew Frame as Officer Donegan
• Alistair Stewart
  Alistair Stewart
  Alistair McLeod Stewart was a Co-operative Commonwealth Federation member of the Canadian House of Commons. He was born in Buckhaven, Scotland and became a chartered accountant by career....
  
   as Newsreader/Himself

Episodes

#	Episode	Writer	Director	Original airdate	Viewing figure
1	Them and Us	Maureen Chadwick	Mike Adams	1 June 1999	7,990,000
As the inmates rehearse for a fashion show, a miscarrying inmate almost dies in her cell. Helen is forced into an alliance with difficult prisoner Nikki Wade. A smelly inmate returns and upsets everyone with her nasty habits and Fenner plays dangerous games with Shell and Rachel.
2	Drug Wars	Maureen Chadwick	Mike Adams	8 June 1999	7,390,000
Helen takes a tough stance on drugs. New inmate Monica Lindsey is in for a complete culture shock but quickly proves that she's no pushover. An old inmate returns to the wrath of Denny and Shell.
3	Love Rival	Phil Ford	Laurence Moody	15 June 1999	6,360,000
Jim takes advantage of his authority and begins to regret it when Shell bullies Rachel. Zandra is heartbroken when she is dumped by her fiance, while she is organising her wedding.
4	The Victim	Martin Allen	Laurence Moody	22 June 1999	6,860,000
Rachel's troubles increase, when her mother gives her daughter to foster care causing Rachel to completely breakdown and commit suicide on the wing and Zandra makes a bid for freedom.
5	Tangled Web	Louisa Page	Laurence Moody	29 June 1999	7,050,000
Nikki and Shell finally come to blows following Rachels death. Helen investigates Rachel's death and all the evidence points to a cover-up involving Principal Officer Fenner. Nikki struggles to come to terms with her growing feelings for Helen.
6	A Big Mistake	Tom Higgins	Jim O'Hanlon	6 July 1999	7,020,000
New prisoner, Jessie Devlin arrives at Larkhall and uncovers a past she thought closed forever. Zandra blackmails Officer Lorna Rose into bringing drugs into Larkhall.
7	Playing with Fire	Ann McManus	Jim O'Hanlon	13 July 1999	7,670,000
Nikki makes a desperate bid to show Helen how much she loves her. Shell is stripped of her privileges when drugs are found in her cell and someone's going to pay.
8	Falling Apart	Sally Wainwright	Mike Adams	20 July 1999	7,600,000
Monica's thoughts turn suicidal when she learns some terrible news about her son. The Julies hatch a plan to bring some good cheer to Larkhall, in the form of wine.
9	Pay Back Time	Martin Allen	Mike Adams	27 July 1999	7,320,000
Shell teams up with Crystal, who believes Shell has changed for good. Shell takes her full revenge on Lorna and nearly ruins Helen's career in the process. Helen struggles unsuccessfully to resist Nikki's charms.
10	Love Hurts	Maureen Chadwick	Mike Adams	3 August 1999	7,660,000
Helen has to tell Sean a few home truths while they organise their wedding. Sean later turns up at Larkhall with a lighter and white spirit. Monica hears some good news about her appeal. Shell spills the beans about her affair with Fenner - to his wife.

Release

In the UK, series one was originally released in VHS

VHS

The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....

 format in three volumes. The DVD

DVD

A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....

 was released in the UK on 18 June 2011. It was re-released in the UK on 7 February 2011 by Acorn Media UK

Acorn Media UK

Acorn Media UK is a DVD publisher which distributes and sells home video products with a particular focus on British television.- Company history :The company was founded in 1997 when Lesley Fromant set up a branch of parent company Acorn Media in the UK....

, with brand new packaging. The re-release was also released in a boxset along with series two on 7 February 2011. Series one was also released as part of a series one-four boxset on 9 October 2006.

In Australia, series one has been released three times on DVD, the first being on 24 March 2003 containing the same packaging as the first UK DVD release. The second release was part of the complete boxset consisting of all eight series which was released on 10 November 2010. The third was released on 12 January 2011, as a separate edition from the complete boxset.

The DVD was released in America on 7 June 2011 containing its own style of cover packaging. It was released as "The Complete First Season", and was the only series of Bad Girls to be released in America.

Bad Girls: Series One
Set Details			Special Features
10 episodes 4-disc set 3-disc set (re-release) 4:3 aspect ratio 16:9 aspect ratio (re-release) Subtitles: no Language: English (stereo)			Documentary: Bad Girls in Oxford Commentary Track: Episode 10 Cast Interviews: Simone Lahbib (Helen) Mandana Jones (Nikki) Debra Stephenson (Shell) Jack Ellis (Jim) Alicya Eyo (Denny) Helen Fraser (Sylvia) Victoria Alcock (Julie S) Kika Mirylees (Julie J) Outtakes Fan Featurette: Bad Girls Book Signing Photo Library
Release Dates
7 June 2005	18 June 2001 7 February 2011 (re-release)	24 March 2003 12 January 2011 (re-release)