Talking Prisoner

Welcome to Episode 6 of Corals Soapbox, where Coral Drouyn, a seasoned veteran of Australian television, delves into the depths of iconic TV shows. Coral's extensive resume includes work on beloved series like Neighbours, Home and Away, and, notably, Prisoner. As a script writer, Script Editor, Story Liner, and Story Editor on Prisoner, Coral shaped some of the show's most memorable characters and storylines.In this episode, Coral joins Matt to explore the captivating Barnhurst 5 storyline from Prisoner. They delve into Coral's creative process behind crafting these characters and the pivotal flashback episode 536, which Coral penned. They dissect why certain characters, like May Collins portrayed by Billie Hammerberg, may not have been as robust as others, while Coral reveals her original vision for the Barnhurst 5.Coral and Matt engage in a comprehensive discussion on each member of the Barnhurst 5, including Sonja Tallis, Jackie Woodburne, Kirsty Childs, Billie Hammerberg, and Debra Lawrance. They explore the complexities of characters like Nora Flynn and dissect the motivations behind their actions.Throughout the episode, Coral addresses fan questions, offering insights into the creative decisions behind the Barnhurst 5 storyline. Matt also shares his theories on why the Barnhurst 5 were introduced into the series at that particular time.In addition to their exploration of Prisoner's rich history, Coral and Matt touch on current events, including the Trial of President Donald Trump.Don't miss this captivating episode of Corals Soapbox, and be sure to like and subscribe to the Talking Prisoner YouTube Channel for more engaging content.

Introducing Our New Co-Host: Director Tim BurnsWe're thrilled to announce that Matt Batten will now be joined by a new co-host on Talking Prisoner—none other than independent filmmaker Tim Burns! With a portfolio of cinematic gems that encapsulate Australian culture and history, Tim is no stranger to compelling storytelling.His cult classic film, "Boronia Boys, perfectly captures the essence of Australian suburbia in the late 2000s. But that's just the tip of the iceberg. His creative prowess extends to a myriad of projects, including "Mondo Maniacs," "The Honey Suckle Sisters," "Sizzle 77," "Boronia Backpackers," "Moonlight and Magic," and "Nancy Nancy." His documentary "Prisoner Queen," featuring Prisoner cast member Jude Kuring, bridges his cinematic vision with the world of "Prisoner," making him a perfect addition to our show.Tim is no stranger to accolades, having won several awards, including honours from The Melbourne Underground Film Festival. A true collaborator, he has worked with numerous Prisoner cast members and has a reputation for "getting things done," as many in the industry will attest.With Tim on board, you can expect Talking Prisoner to level up in so many ways. The duo is already lining up some incredible guests and have a plethora of exciting plans in the pipeline to make the show even more engaging for all you Prisoner fans out there.So get ready to dive deeper into the world of "Prisoner" like never before, as Matt and Tim bring you unparalleled access and insight into one of Australia's most iconic television series.

Welcome to Episode 55 of Talking Prisoner, where your host, Matt Batten, has a profound conversation with Buddhist prison chaplain, Susan Shannon. Susan's remarkable career spans over four decades, with her most striking experiences centred around her work on death row at San Quentin Prison.In this episode, we delve deep into Susan's life story, from her childhood years to her conversion to Tibetan Buddhism. Susan reveals her unexpected love for the hit TV show, The Sopranos, and shares a bit about her personal hobbies.Our conversation transitions into her riveting journey at San Quentin Jail, from her very first day to her encounters with prison guards and inmates on death row. Susan recalls her initial visit to death row and describes the ambience that continues to stick with her.Susan details the establishment of her Buddhist prison group, discussing its origin and evolution. She courageously shares her insights on the crimes committed by inmates she has worked with and provides an up-close look at the reality of life on death row.Throughout the episode, we explore the challenges Susan faced in starting her chaplaincy within the prison system and her relentless efforts to make a difference. She reflects on the surreal experience of putting on a bullet/stab proof vest for the first time and her dedicated work with inmates on death row, particularly Albert 'Ru Al' Jones and Jarvis 'Jay' Masters.We delve into a typical day in the life of an inmate on death row, discussing everything from meals and education to security protocols. The impact of Covid-19 on prisons also forms a vital part of our conversation.Susan fondly reminisces about her meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and further unravels the harsh realities faced by inmates on death row.Join us for this stirring episode that offers a rare, heartfelt insight into prison chaplaincy and the world within death row. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe to our channel for more engaging discussions.#deathrow #susanshannon #prison #truecrime #podcast #prisonlife #sanquentin

Welcome to Episode 56 of Talking Prisoner where your host, Matt Batten, enjoys a sit-down with Lynne McGranger, best known for her role as Irene Roberts on the long-running soap, Home and Away. With nearly three decades on the show, Lynne proudly holds the title of longest-serving female cast member.Before capturing our hearts as Irene, Lynne graced several other Australian TV shows such as The Flying Doctors, Skirts, Street Angels, Seven Deadly Sins, and Sky Trackers. In this episode, Lynne recounts her journey from her humble beginnings in Sydney, her time as a school teacher, and how she landed her enduring part on Home and Away.We delve into the mystery surrounding Jacqy Phillips's departure and why she didn't continue as Irene. Lynne shares her insightful thoughts on the end of Neighbours and the future of free-to-air TV. With a fondness for theatre acting, Lynne has appeared in many pantomimes over the years which are also discussed in our conversation.In the 1980s, Lynne was part of the comedy group, The Natural Normans, performing alongside Denise Scott, Sally-Anne Upton, and Lynda Gibson. Lynne reminisces about the laughs and the learning during her comedy stint.In 2014, Lynne put on her dancing shoes for Dancing with the Stars, emerging as the runner-up. We chat about the intense schedule of learning to dance and the unforgettable experiences on the show. Lynne shares her journey of penning down her book, “Me, Myself and Irene,” and the process that led to its creation.Interestingly, Lynne reveals that she discovered through a radio interview with Jonesy and Amanda that her character Irene was set to be axed in 2002. Fortunately, Coral Drouyn, a Prisoner Writer who had been hired to boost Home and Away's ratings, saved Irene, believing her character had many storylines left to explore.Lynne also shares cherished memories of working with Chris Hemsworth who played Kim Hyde on Home and Away and a hilarious encounter with a fan during dinner with Ray Meagher after a long day of shooting.Don't forget to like and subscribe to our YouTube channel to ensure you never miss an episode of Talking Prisoner! #lynnemcgranger #homeandaway #chrishemsworth #neighbours

Talking Prisoner EP 54 Interview with Governor Eddie Mullins Mountjoy Prison Welcome to Episode 54 of Talking Prisoner where our host, Matt Batten, has an enlightening conversation with Governor Eddie Mullins of Mountjoy Prison in Ireland.In this episode, Eddie shares his life's journey that led him to the prison service in 1991 and his eventual ascension to the role of governor. Our conversation delves into various aspects of prison life, including the rehabilitation process, the prevalence of weapons, and the day-to-day lives of inmates.We also explore the realities of serving as a governor, how Eddie manages to distance himself from the inmates' crimes, and the struggles ex-inmates face in finding employment due to Ireland's spent convictions scheme. Governor Mullins sheds light on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on prison life, the role of education and health in prisons, and the quality of prison food. We also discuss the intricate dynamics of the court system, sentencing procedures, and the oftentimes complicated relationship between politicians and the prison system. Additionally, Eddie shares the uplifting story of Mountjoy's prison choir and teases some exclusive news about the next chapter of his career.Join us for this compelling conversation and don't forget to like and subscribe to our channel for more deep dives into the world of True Crime #mountjoy #truecrime #prison #eddiemullins #ireland

Welcome to Episode 53 of Talking Prisoner, where we shine the spotlight on the creative genius behind Prisoner's hauntingly beautiful theme song, 'On the Inside'. Our special guest today is none other than the legendary Allan Caswell, a luminary in the Australian country music scene with a Golden Guitar, multiple chart-topping hits, and over 900 songs to his credit. Although he never made an on-screen appearance in Prisoner, his contribution to the series' atmosphere and mood through 'On the Inside' is indelible. The song not only reached platinum status in Australia, but it also topped the UK singles chart, forever linking Allan to the iconic series.In this in-depth conversation, host Matt Batten uncovers Allan's early life and school years, his impressive music portfolio, and his unique experiences performing in diverse locations like LA, Nashville, East Timor, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Allan also delves into the recognition he's earned through his eight Golden Guitar awards. A significant portion of the interview is dedicated to exploring the history of 'On the Inside': how it came to be, Grundy's initial approach to Allan, how Lyn Hamilton came to lend her voice to it, and the fascinating fact that the original Prisoner theme song was supposed to be 'Unchained Melody'. Allan imparts valuable wisdom for aspiring songwriters, candidly discusses the current state of the industry, and examines the impact streaming platforms like Spotify have had on music creation and consumption. Join us in this captivating episode as we delve into the life and career of a country music legend. Please like, subscribe, and hit the bell icon on our YouTube channel to keep up with future Talking Prisoner interviews. Enjoy the conversation!" #ontheinside #allancaswell #lynhamilton #prisoner #cellblockh

Welcome to this special episode of Talking Prisoner. Today, we're thrilled to host our guest, Louise Siversen, as we discuss her new theatre production, 'Under Ms Archer,' currently playing at St. Martin's Theatre in South Yarra. Under Ms Archer is a unique blend of drama and comedy that brings a 21st-century woman face-to-face with a medieval man, sparking a culture war that takes no prisoners. In this episode, Louise and I delve into the genesis of the show, the inspiration behind it, and the experience of performing again post-Melbourne lockdowns. This theatrical performance features two of Melbourne's favorite actors, Louise Siversen, known for her roles in House Husbands, Prisoner, Love Me, MTC Noises Off, and Peter Houghton, recognized for his performances in The Pitch, Shakespeare in Love, Killing Time. Both actors are fresh off their recent collaboration in MTC’s hit comedy, 'Heartbreak Choir.' Under Ms Archer has already made its mark, with Stage UK calling it a 'comic and performing tour de force... Great invention and extraordinary physicality... A virtuoso piece of acting, delivered with great bravura.' Over the last four decades, Louise has built a formidable reputation in Australian Film, Theatre, and TV productions. Her leading roles in shows like PRISONER, THE FLYING DOCTORS, BOOTLEG, CHANCES, EUGENIE SANDLER P.I, HIGH FLYERS, SHORTCUTS, NEIGHBOURS, STINGERS, THE SECRET LIFE OF US, HALIFAX F.P, JANUS, BACKBERNER, HOUSE HUSBANDS, FIVE BEDROOMS, LOVE ME, among others, have made her one of the country's most recognisable actors, celebrated for her dynamic comedic and dramatic portrayals. Under Ms Archer is now in its final week at St. Martin's Theatre. Don't miss out on this spectacular show. Tickets are available at www.undermsarcher.com. See you there

Talking Prisoner Cell Block H  EP 52 Interview with Susan Guerin Barbara FieldsWelcome to Talking Prisoner Episode 52! Join hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten as they sit down with Susan Guerin, famous for her role as the memorable inmate Barbara Fields in Prisoner. Susan contributed her talents to 26 unforgettable episodes in 1982, ending her journey with the series finale of the year. Beyond Prisoner, Susan has made notable appearances in Sara Dane, Cop Shop, and the TV movie, Robbery Under Arms.In this heartfelt and insightful episode, Susan opens up about her life journey, from her childhood in South Australia to managing her mother's mental illness. She candidly discusses her successful venture as a restaurant owner and her career transition into nursing after acting. Susan's rich and varied career also includes her time in radio plays and her experience landing the role of Barbara Fields on the iconic Australian show, Prisoner.Dive deep into Susan's experience on Prisoner, as she shares the behind-the-scenes of the audition process, working with the legendary cast including Val Lehman, Maggie Kirkpatrick, Colette Mann, Wayne Jaratt, and Sheila Florance. Listen as Susan reflects on her character, Barbara, her weekly commute to Melbourne for shooting the show, and a hilarious anecdote about Sheila Florance.The episode is jam-packed with details about Susan's involvement in the dramatic fire episodes of Prisoner, her relationship with co-star Anna Hruby, and the reasons behind her exit from the show. As always, we've included fan questions, all answered by Susan herself.Don't forget to like and subscribe to our YouTube channel for more exclusive interviews and content.#prisoner #cellblockh #susanguerin #maggiekirkpatrick

Welcome to Episode 7 of Talking Prisoner Presents, where hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten had an engaging conversation with the legendary Australian TV actor, Shane Withington. Boasting a career spanning over four decades, Shane is best known for his roles as Brendan Jones in A Country Practice and John Palmer in Home and Away.In this insightful interview, Shane shares his childhood experiences and the origins of his passion for acting. As an avid sailor, he also recounts some adventurous sailing tales that could easily be mistaken for scenes from Home and Away.Shane delves into his time on A Country Practice, discussing the audition process for the role of Nurse Brendan Jones, working with the show's beloved actors, and the intricacies of shooting the iconic series. He also touches on one of the most memorable death scenes in Australian television history: the passing of Molly.The conversation shifts to Shane's encounter with David Bowie and his amusing anecdote about their meeting. He then speaks about his experience working on Out of The Blue, his role as Simon Wilson, and the story behind the conclusion of Willing and Abel, a show he worked on with fellow A Country Practice alumni Grant Dodwell.Currently appearing in Home and Away for the past 13 years and over 1600 episodes, Shane shares insights into his character John Palmer and his initial appearance on the show in 2006 as Colin Page. He also talks about working with co-stars like Sonia Todd, Ray Meagher, and other notable cast members, as well as offering valuable advice for aspiring actors seeking to break into the industry.Shane's personal life intertwines with his on-screen story, as he is married to Anne Tenney, who played his wife Molly in A Country Practice. He opens up about their meeting, Anne's departure from the show, and his decision to remain for an additional six months. Finally, Shane addresses questions submitted by fans, offering a comprehensive and entertaining look into his life and career. #homeandaway #shanewithington #acountrypractice #davidbowie

Interview with Betty Bobbitt and Anne Phelan Welcome to this special episode of Talking Prisoner. This interview has never been made public,  This episode is devoted to the memory of Betty Bobbitt and Anne Phelan. Betty played Judy Bryant between 1980 to 1985 in 429 episodes and Anne played Top Dog Myra Desmond. It was shot as a promo for the charity event on January 21, 2000, at The Forum theatre in Melbourne. Anne was on the organizing committee of the 21st Anniversary reunion party for Prisoner and fans had flown in from around the world and raised money for Aids charities. It was recorded in Betty's living room by the Director (and boom operator) Chris Adshead, you can even hear the trams going past in the background. The cameraman is Noel Penn and the interviewer is journalist Kim Wilson. Barrie Pullen who was the cameraman on Prisoner managed to get the Beta tapes from Chris and convert them to what you will see in this 37-minute interview. Betty and Anne discuss how they got their roles on Prisoner and why they think the show is so popular. Anne shares a very funny story about Elspeth Ballantyne and floor manager Ray Lindsay. Anne talks about her favourite scenes she filmed on Prisoner and what it was like to shoot her final scenes with Betty and how she felt when Betty left the show. Betty shares a very funny story about her son and both Betty and Anne talk about how fond they were of the cast and crew of Prisoner and the special comradery they all shared between them. Anne talks about why she left Prisoner and the special friendships they both had with the non-speaking extras on Prisoner. Anne talks about the preparations for putting together the 2000 Prisoner event and the cast Anne and Betty were looking forward to seeing again and the fans that flew in from around the world for this spectacular event. Lots of behind-the-scenes footage of this interview at the end. A big Thank you to Ken Mulholland and Barrie Pullen for allowing Talking Prisoner to present this amazing interview to all the fans and a big thank you to Chris Adshead, Noel Penn, and Kim Wilson as without you we would never have seen this interview.#bettybobbitt #annephelan #prisoner #cellblockh

Corals Soapbox EP 5 Welcome to Episode 3 of Corals Soapbox. Coral Drouyn has worked on some of Australia’s most iconic TV Shows and been responsible for some of the biggest storylines on many of our much-loved TV shows such as Neighbours, Home and Away, Blue Heelers, Streetsmartz, The Gerry Connolly Show, Pacific Drive and of course Prisoner. Coral worked on Prisoner as a script writer, Script Editor, Story Liner and Story Editor, and created some of the biggest characters ever to appear on Prisoner. Coral Drouyn and Matt Batten sit down for a chat each episode. In episode 5 they talk about the news of the week including the passing of Queen Elizabeth and the people of the UK in mourning, Coral shares her thoughts on if Australia should become a republic or not. Coral and Matt discuss best and worst storylines of Prisoner in which fans were able to post their favourite and least favourite storylines. Coral breaks down why a storyline works and why a storyline can fail and goes in to great detail. The storylines that Coral discussed were, Pixie Masons rape storyline, The Kate Peterson story, Zara Moonbeam and Bea Smith, Hazel Kent Euthanasia, Brandy/Laura multiple personality’s, Nora Flynn becoming Top Dog, Joan Ferguson and Shane, Jenifer Hartley and her Grandma. Coral goes into great depth on each of these storylines and why she wrote them, why she created them, why they worked and why some did not work. Coral and Matt also share their views on the Jury selection process in the court systems of Australia and the United states. Please like and subscribe to our YouTube channel.#cellblockh #prisoner #coraldrouyn

Talking Prisoner Presents EP 5 Interview with Mat StevensonWelcome to Episode 5 of Talking Prisoner “Presents”. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with Home and Away legend mat Stevenson. Matt has appeared in many Australian TV shows including Blue Heelers, All Saints, Offspring, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries and Home and Away from 1989 to 1994 and played Adam Cameron. We discussed Mat’s life growing up as a child and his love for acting coming from his bike rides to look at the Channel 10 building and how he got his break into acting. Mat also appeared in Neighbours prior to Home and Away and told us what it was like to work with Prisoner Writer Ian Smith. Mat is also a fan of Prisoner and discussed with us what he likes about the show. Mat discussed that he auditioned for Wentworth, and we also discussed with Mat about his recent interview on Channel Ten’s The Project about the journey of his daughter Grace. We discussed in depth about Mat’s time on Home and Away appearing in over 518 episodes and how he got the part of Adam Cameron. Mat told us what he thought of his character Adam and what it was like to work with the likes of Dannii Minogue, Less Hill, Ray Meagher, Sharyn Hodgson, Nicolle Dickson, Norman Coburn, Peter Vroom, and shared with us special memories about his close friendship with Dieter Brummer. We spoke about the famous storyline of his character killing of fan favourite Bobby Marshall and what it was like to shoot those scenes and what the public reaction was like at the time. Mat answered all fan questions, Please like and subscribe to our YouTube Channel. #matstevenson #homeandaway #adamcameron #prisoner #danniiminogue

Talking Prisoner Corals Soapbox EP 4Welcome to Episode 3 of Corals Soapbox. Coral Drouyn has worked on some of Australia’s most iconic TV Shows and been responsible for some of the biggest storylines on many of our much-loved TV shows such as Neighbours, Home and Away, Blue Heelers, Streetsmartz, The Gerry Connolly Show, Pacific Drive and of course Prisoner. Coral worked on Prisoner as a script writer, Script Editor, Story Liner and Story Editor, and created some of the biggest characters ever to appear on Prisoner. Coral Drouyn and Matt Batten sit down for a chat each episode. In episode 4 they talk about why some Prisoner fans are upset that each episode of Corals Soapbox is not solely dedicated to Prisoner. Coral and Matt discuss Shane Crawford and the role he was given on the theatre production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and what Coral thinks about an ex footballer given a theatre role. Coral shares her thoughts on the current affairs of Ex President Trump, We talk about David E Kelly’s new Netflix series The Lincoln Lawyer. The rest of the episode is dedicated to two characters that Coral created, Bev Baker played by Maggie Dence and Officer David Bridges played by David Waters. Coral talks about why she created Bev Baker and why the character was so dark and why she was only in the show for six episodes and why Bev had the ending she had. Coral walks us through the process of the writer’s room on Prisoner and how the episodes were created and written and how many of the writers were freaked out by the Bev Baker character. Coral breaks down the character Officer David Bridges and why she created him. Please like and subscribe to our YouTube channel#coraldrouyn #prsioner #cellblockh #wentworth

Welcome to Episode 6 of Talking Prisoner Presents. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with the amazing Karina Arroyave who has had a career spanning over 30 years and has appeared in many Tv shows and Movies such as The Equalizer, Lean on Me, As the World Turns, New York Undercover, The Practice, Law and Order, Chicago Hope, Judging Amy, Empire, 24, NYPD Blue, 187, Blue Bloods, Bull, Law and Order Special Victims unit, Orange is the New Black, The Blacklist and so many more. We spoke to Karina about her life growing up and where the love of acting came from and how she first developed the passion for acting. We discussed her life living in New York and what it has been like to work during the Covid-19 Pandemic. Karina shared with us her memories of working on cult Movie Lean on Me and what it was like to shoot that movie and work with Morgan Freeman and getting to meet Joe Clark. Karina shared her memories of working with acclaimed Film Director John Avildsen who directed movies like Rocky, The Karate Kid, Lean on Me, Cry Uncle, Save the Tiger and what John meant to Karina and their special friendship. Karina also starred alongside Michael Douglas in the movie Falling Down and shared with us what it was like working with Michael and Director Joel Schumacher. We spoke to Karina about her friendship with Legendary actor Phillip Seymour Hoffman and her other stand out movie 187 which Karina worked alongside Samuel L Jackson, we broke down some scenes from this movie and discussed in detail. Karina shared her advice for upcoming actors trying to get into the entertainment industry. We then moved to Orange is the New Black, Karina appeared in six powerful episodes centred around immigration and child separation and what it was like to play the part of Karla Cordova. We discussed what a typical day was like on the set of Orange and how she got the part on the show. We discussed the problem of Immigration in the USA and Karla’s thoughts on the current immigration situation and what she drew on to play those powerful scenes in Orange. We broke down some episodes with Karina Episode 5 Minority Report, Episode 11 God Bless America, and that powerful scene in the kitchen when Karla speaks to her children who have been adopted out. We then spoke about working with James Spader on the Blacklist. Karina was very giving of her time and was such an amazing person to learn about her career and life. Please like and subscribe to our YouTube channel. #karinaarroyave #orangeisthenewblack  #michaeldouglas  #morganfreeman  #jamesspader

Welcome to Episode 3 of Corals Soapbox. Coral Drouyn has worked on some of Australia’s most iconic TV Shows and been responsible for some of the biggest storylines on many of our much-loved TV shows such as Neighbours, Home and Away, Blue Heelers, Streetsmartz, The Gerry Connolly Show, Pacific Drive and of course Prisoner. Coral worked on Prisoner as a script writer, Script Editor, Story Liner and Story Editor, and created some of the biggest characters ever to appear on Prisoner. Coral Drouyn and Matt Batten sit down for a chat each episode. In episode 3 they talk about the homelessness crisis in Australia and the exorbitant retirement income that politicians receive each year all whilst we have a homelessness crisis in the world. Coral and Matt then discuss the controversial Edna Pearson episodes on Prisoner. We discuss the case of Emily Perry in South Australia. Mrs Emily Perry was charged with two counts of attempting to murder Ken Perry, her third husband. The prosecution alleged that between July and November 1978, and again between February and October 1979, she administered poison to him with the intention of killing him. Mrs Perry was convicted on both counts and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment with hard labour. There was no evidence directly implicating her, and no suggestion that she had poisoned her husband unintentionally. So as to establish a ‘course of conduct’, the prosecution relied on inferences that she had also been responsible for the deaths of three other people with whom she had had a close relationship. Coral discusses the similarities between this real-life case, the Edna Pearson Episodes and why Emily Perry started legal action against Grundy’s and why most scenes had to be cut from the show. Matt also discusses with Coral Episode 463 when Edna first arrives in Wentworth and all the other storylines that were happening in that episode including Marie Winter becoming Top Dog, Bobby losing her baby, Meg taken hostage. Matt talks to Coral about how Vivean Grey who played Edna Pearson felt about the character at the time and how long Coral intended for Vivean to stay on the show had the legal action not happen. Please like and subscribe to our YouTube channel.#coraldrouyn #emilyperry #viveangrey #cellblockh

Welcome to Episode 50 of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with Brett Popplewell who is the head of Production scripted at Fremantle Media. Brett has a career in Film and Television spanning over 30 years and has performed the role of Executive producer and line producer on Emmy award winning shows such as Salems lot, Nightmares and Dreamscapes, The Starter wife. Brett also worked as a Producer and Assistant Director on shows such as Water Rats, E-Street, The Alice, The Man from snowy river, Wentworth, Prisoner, Mc Leods Daughters and co-created AFI Winner Bastard Boys. Brett is responsible for over 200 hours of award winning drama and $250 Million worth of Australian and International Productions. Ken and Matt spoke to Brett about his life growing up and what his life was like at school, his first job out of school and how he got his start in the Australian Tv and Film industry. Brett spoke about his passion for flying planes and scuba diving. Brett shares his memories working as an assistant director on Australian movie Melvin, Son of Alvin which was the sequel to Alvin Purple which was written by Prisoner legend Alan Hopgood. Brett shares his memories of working on E-Street as a producer for three years and what it was like to work with show creator Forrest Redlich and directors like Rod Hardy, Sean Nash, Tony Osicka and Leigh Spence. Brett spoke about the challenges of shooting a show like E-Street and why he thinks it was cancelled. Brett shares some stories about his time on Water Rats as an assistant director and the fun he had on that show working with Colin Friels and the amazing stunts they would shoot on the show. Brett co created Bastard Boys in 2007 and shares his memories of shooting that show and working with the workers that were sacked by Patrick Corporation at the time. Brett worked on Wentworth as a line producer in 2016 and shares story’s about the production of Wentworth and what it was like to work on Wentworth with Executive Producer Jo Porter and in Season 7 when the show was axed and how the fans had so much to do with Foxtel commissioning Season 8 of Wentworth. Brett spoke about the challenges of producing shows through covid and how Fremantle Media set the example to the rest of the world how to continue working safely during a pandemic. Brett shares his thoughts on the future of Free to air tv and his job as the head of Scripted Production at Fremantle Media. Please like and subscribe to our YouTube channel. #wentworth #prisoner #cellblockh #fremantlemedia #brettpopplewell

Talking Prisoner Presents Sons and Daughters EP 4 Interview with Tom Richards David PalmerWelcome to Episode 4 of Talking Prisoner Presents. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with Tom Richards who played David Palmer in Sons and Daughters. Tom has appeared in many other Australian TV Classics such as Homicide, Division 4, Ryan, Bluey, The Sullivans, The Box, Chopper Squad, Cop Shop, Bellamy, Richmond Hill, The Flying Doctors, A Country Practice, Water Rats, Big Sky, Murder Call and All Saints, he is most known for playing David Palmer on Sons and Daughters. We spoke to Tom about his life growing up as a child and some of his first jobs he had out of school. Tom explained to us how he got into acting and what it was like to be in the 1971 Theatre production “The Rose and the Ring” at the famous Twelfth theatre. Tom played Terry Young in Matlock Police and told us about his time on Matlock and what it was like to work with Paul Cronin who played Senior Constable Gary Hogan. Tom shared with us a story about Roger Moore and the Bond girls, an absolute exclusive to Talking Prisoner. We then moved on to long running drama Sons and Daughters. We spoke about how Tom got the part of the hot tempered David Palmer and told us about what it was like to work with Brian Blain who played Gordon Hamilton. Tom shared with us why he left Sons and Daughters in 1986 and to come back in 1987. Tom shared all his memories with us about Sons and Daughters including what it was like working with Rowena Wallace Pat the Rat, Leila Hayes who played Beryl Palmer and working with Prisoner favourite Lisa Crittenden who played his daughter Leigh. Tom shared with us about the trip to Belgium to meet the fans and what that experience was like. Tom answered all fan questions and so much more.Please like and subscribe to our YouTube Channel Talking Prisoner#sonsanddaughters #davidplamer #tomrichards 

Corals Soapbox Ep2Welcome to Episode 2 of Corals Soapbox. Coral Drouyn has worked on some of Australia’s most iconic TV Shows and been responsible for some of the biggest storylines on many of our much-loved TV shows such as Neighbours, Home and Away, Blue Heelers, Streetsmartz, The Gerry Connolly Show, Pacific Drive and of course Prisoner. Coral worked on Prisoner as a script writer, Script Editor, Story Liner and Story Editor, and created some of the biggest characters ever to appear on Prisoner. Coral Drouyn and Matt Batten sit down for a chat each episode. In episode 2 they talk about news of the day including the recent decision in the Supreme court of the USA ROE v. Wade and Corals thoughts about this decision and why Prisoner never dealt with  any abortion storylines at the time. Coral talks about the Logies and Gold Logie winner Hamish Blake and her thoughts on Ray Meagher not winning gold this year. Coral won an AWGIE Award for Home and Away Episode 3445 and shows the award and talks about how she wrote Episode 3445 and the promise she made to Bevan Lee. Coral talks about the strangest place she wrote a script and talks about Pacific Drive and the battles she had with the producers on the show and why Simon Baker could not take a part on Pacific Drive. Coral talks about the character she would have loved to have played on Prisoner. Coral talks about Genevieve Lemon and her character Marlene Warren and how Coral sees herself in Marlene. In this episode we talk about Top Dogs and why Annie Phelan who played Myra Desmond had such a strong back story and why it was important that who is a long term top dog works well with the other characters on the show and what quality’s a top dog needs to have on Prisoner. Coral speaks about why and how she created Myra Desmond and why Annie Phelan left Prisoner. Coral spoke about why she made Wendy Playfair who played Minnie Donovan Top Dog when she did. Coral speaks about who originally was meant to play Rita Connors. We discuss why Maggie Millar never came back to reprise her role as Marie Winter in Prisoner. Coral also spoke about Officer Len Murphy played by Maurie Fields, Coral talks about why she gave Len such a strong back story. Please like and subscribe to our YouTube channel. #prisoner #coraldroyun #cellblockh #hamishblake 

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 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