Bad Girls (TV series)

Bad Girls
Bad Girls logo
Created by	Maureen Chadwick Ann McManus
Starring	Main cast Victoria Alcock Kika Mirylees Helen Fraser Jack Ellis Tracey Wilkinson Victoria Bush Alicya Eyo Linda Henry Claire King Isabelle Amyes James Gaddas Sharon Duncan Brewster Pauline Campbell Amanda Barrie Stephanie Beacham Kim Oliver Debra Stephenson Antonia Okonma Mandana Jones Lindsey Fawcett Tristan Sturrock Simone Lahbib Philip McGough Dannielle Brent Nathan Constance Nicola Stapleton Joe Shaw Paul Opacic Liz May Brice Lara Cazalet Kerry Norton Michael Elwyn Jennifer Ness Roland Oliver Charlotte Lucas Nicole Faraday Siobhán McCarthy Andrew Scarborough Eva Pope Rebecca Hazlewood Lisa Turner Kellie Bright Orlessa Atkins Ellie Haddington Angela Bruce Sid Owen Jane Lowe Amanda Donohoe
Country of origin	Vereinigtes Königreich
No. of series	8
No. of episodes	107 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer	Brian Park
Producers	Brian Park Claire Phillips David Crean Cameron Roach Rachel Snell Sharon Houlihan
Running time	60–90 Minutes
Production company	Shed Productions
Original release
Network	ITV
Release	1 June 1999 (1999-06-01) – 20 December 2006 (2006-12-20)
Related
Footballers' Wives (2002–2006) Bad Girls: The Musical (2006–2007)

Bad Girls is a British television drama series that was broadcast on ITV from 1 June 1999 to 20 December 2006 and starred Simone Lahbib (Helen Stewart), Mandana Jones (Nikki Wade), Debra Stephenson (Shell Dockley), Linda Henry (Yvonne Atkins), Jack Ellis (Jim Fenner) and many more throughout the eight-year run. The series was broadcast in 17 countries and was produced by Shed Productions, the company which later produced Footballers' Wives and Waterloo Road. It is set in the fictional women's prison of Larkhall, and features a mixture of serious and light storylines focusing on the prisoners and staff of G Wing. From 2010, the UK broadcast rights were bought by CBS Drama, and is repeated regularly – as of September 2012, the channel is re-running the series again in a late-night time slot.

Series

The first series of Bad Girls was shown on ITV in 1999, lasting 10 episodes. There have been eight series in total, ranging from 10 to 16 episodes. Christmas specials were produced in 2005 and 2006 and are now established as the final episodes of Series 7 and Series 8, respectively. All series have been shown on ITV, at 9 pm, on varying days but primarily Tuesdays and Thursdays. The 100th episode, part of Series 8, was shown on Thursday 3 August 2006 at 9 pm.

ITV axed Bad Girls after Series 8 and the 2006 Christmas Special was the final episode.

Shed closed a deal with US channel FX, for them to create their own version of Bad Girls. On 27 May 2008 it was announced that Alan Ball, executive producer of Six Feet Under would adapt Bad Girls for an American audience. A pilot script is to be penned by Nancy Oliver and Raelle Tucker for HBO with Ball as executive producer. Film and TV actress Michelle Rodriguez has signed on with the series. It has been revealed that the American version will remake the UK version, featuring the same storylines and characters.

The UK Digital channel CBS Drama began showing re-runs of the series from October 2010 to February 2011 broadcasting all the episodes of series 1 through to 7, however, for licensing reasons series 8 could not be broadcast by the channel until July 2011, after which, ITV's contracted broadcast rights of Bad Girls expired. After a re-run of series 1–7 from 7 March 2011 series 8 was finally aired. A popular staple of the channel's schedule, as of August 2012, CBS Drama are once again re-running the entire series. On 21 September 2012, Series 3 was being aired. The channel began running the series again from the beginning on 5 July 2013 in a new 12.10 AM time slot.

Sets

File:Larkhall Series 1-3.JPEG

An exterior shot of Oxford Prison, used in Bad Girls (Series 1–3)

HM Prison Oxford was used for the exterior shots that featured in Series 1–3 and for the interior shots the set was a replica of the prison's real wing set-up. For series 4–8 a replica exterior set of the prison was constructed, built to look similar to HM Prison Oxford, because the prison had been redeveloped into a hotel complex.

Location of HMP Prison Oxford

Setting

The exact location of the fictional HMP Larkhall was never revealed. Though it has been said to be within South London, no specific location was given. Several districts of the London area were referenced throughout the series run, these include: Peckham, Clapham, Acton, Catford, Streatham, Sydenham, Tooting, Stratford, Balham and Bethnal Green.

Cast

Main articles: List of Bad Girls characters and List of Bad Girls cast members

Character	Portrayed by	Series
		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
Helen Stewart	Simone Lahbib
Nikki Wade	Mandana Jones
Shell Dockley	Debra Stephenson
Jack Ellis	Jim Fenner
Denny Blood	Alicya Eyo
Rachel Hicks	Joanne Froggatt
Lorna Rose	Luisa Bradshaw-White
Dominic McAllister	Joe Shaw
Sylvia Hollamby	Helen Fraser
Julie Johnston	Kika Mirylees
Julie Saunders	Victoria Alcock
Zandra Plackett	Lara Cazalet
Monica Lindsay	Jane Lowe
Crystal Gordon	Sharon Duncan-Brewster
Yvonne Atkins	Linda Henry
Karen Betts	Claire King
Josh Mitchell	Nathan Constance
Di Barker	Tracey Wilkinson
Malcolm Nicholson	Philip McGough
Barbara Hunt	Isabelle Amyes
Shaz Wiley	Lindsey Fawcett
Gina Rossi	Lisa Turner
Mark Waddle	Paul Opacic
Buki Lester	Kim Oliver
Maxi Purvis	Kerry Norton
Tina O'Kane	Victoria Bush
Al McKenzie	Pauline Campbell
Neil Grayling	James Gaddas
Cassie Tyler	Kellie Bright
Roisin Connor	Siobhan McCarthy
Snowball Merriman	Nicole Faraday
Colin Hedges	Tristan Sturrock
Phyl Oswin	Stephanie Beacham
Bev Tull	Amanda Barrie
Kris Yates	Jennifer Ness
Selena Geeson	Charlotte Lucas
Frances Myers	Eva Pope
Natalie Buxton	Dannielle Brent
Darlene Cake	Antonia Okonma
Janine Nebeski	Nicola Stapleton
Arun Parmar	Rebecca Hazlewood
Keven Spiers	Andrew Scarborough
Pat Kerrigan	Liz May Brice
Joy Masterton	Ellie Haddington
Lou Stoke	Amanda Donohoe
Donny Kimber	Sid Owen
Rowan Dunlop	Colin Salmon
Mandy Goodhue	Angela Bruce

Key:

  Main

  Recurring

  Guest

  No appearance

Recurring and guest appearances

• Roland Oliver ... Simon Stubberfield (series 1–3)
• Oliver Fox ... Sean Parr (series 1)
• Timmy Lang ... Spenser Lindsey (series 1)
• Gideon Turner ... Robin Dunstan (series 1–2)
• Denise Black ... Jessie Devlin (series 1–2)
• Kim Taylforth ... Marilyn Fenner (series 2–3)
• Ivan Kaye ... Charlie Atkins (series 2 & 3)
• Danielle King ... Lauren Atkins (series 2, 3 –5)
• Jade Williams ... Rhiannon Dawson (series 2 & 4)
• Helen Schlesinger ... Tessa Spall (series 2 & 3)
• Alison Newman ... Renee Williams (series 2)
• Geoffrey Hutchings ... Bobby Hollamby (series 2, 3 & 5)
• Wendi Peters ... Pam Jolly (series 3)
• Steven Webb ... David Saunders (series 3 & 8)
• Kate Steavenson-Payne ... Charlotte Myddleton (series 3)
• Helen Grace ... Caroline Lewis (series 3)
• Kate O'Mara ... Virginia O'Kane (series 3)
• Maria Charles ... Noreen Biggs (series 4–5)
• Alex King ... Ritchie Atkins (series 4 –5)
• Zöe Lucker ... Tanya Turner (series 6)
• Francesca Fowler ... Laura Canning (series 7)
• Paul Henry ... Frank (series 7)
• Laura Rogers ... Sheena Williams (series 7)
• Laura Dos Santos ... Emira Al Jahani (series 8)
• Helen Modern ... Stella Gough (series 8)

Episodes

Main article: List of Bad Girls episodes

Series 1 (1999)

From the beginning, Bad Girls dealt with controversial subject matter. Early episodes of the first series included particularly shocking moments such as a pregnant prisoner miscarrying in her cell, Zandra Plackett being viciously strip-searched by fellow inmates for concealed drugs, and Rachel Hicks committing suicide due to being bullied. The central story arc of the first three series revolved around the developing romantic relationship between Nikki Wade, a prisoner serving a life sentence for the murder of a policeman who attempted to rape her girlfriend, and Helen Stewart, the Wing Governor who spent much of series one engaged to her boyfriend. Furthermore, the script, unwilling to compromise the realism of the programme, contained much strong language (for example, the reference to Nikki Wade as a "rug-muncher" and Denny Blood's gloating over the likelihood of Rachel Hicks having "singed her minge").

Other storylines to feature prominently in series one included the pregnancy of a young drug addict Zandra Plackett, the appeal of wrongly-imprisoned Monica Lindsay (frequently referred to as "posh bitch" by other characters) and the illicit relationship between Jim Fenner, the male senior officer and Shell Dockley, the resident bully and drug dealer, serving life for murder. Series 1 was produced by Brian Park.

Series 2 (2000)

Nikki and Helen's relationship deepens with Helen resigning from the Wing Governor's post and working as a new liaison officer for prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment, encouraging Nikki to continue her education and appeal against her sentence. Shell's background was examined in some detail, with harrowing scenes describing childhood abuse. Zandra's tragic story finally comes to a close when she dies from a brain tumour. For light relief, Yvonne Atkins, the gangster's moll, set up "Babes Behind Bars", a sex-hotline staffed by the prisoners with smuggled in mobile phones, playing such characters as "Whiplash Wanda", "Saucy Sonia" and "Vicky the virgin bride". Series two ended on a double cliffhanger, with Nikki escaping from Larkhall to be with Helen, leaving Helen to agonise over whether to contact the police, and Shell luring Fenner to her cell for sex, where she reaches under her bed for a broken bottle. Series 2 was produced by Brian Park.

Series 3 (2001)

Series 3 picks up where Series 2 left off. Jim and Shell are in bed together and Nikki, dressed in a nurse's uniform, is at Helen's house after escaping. Shell stabs Jim with a broken bottle that she had brought back from Sylvia's party, with Jim bleeding to death, Shell is in demand and soon finds herself back on top as Top Dog. New officer, the flirtatious and vivacious Gina Rossi arrives on G-Wing and soon locks horns with several inmates and staff alike. Young crack addicted prostitute, Buki Lester, arrives and lands Denny in danger when a piercing goes wrong. Nikki Wade also suffers from heartbreak when her on and off relationship with Helen comes to an end, while she is staring her appeal in the face.

The third series saw a high turnover of short-term characters and storylines, but also chronicled the spectacular escape of Shell and Denny Blood to the Costa Del Sol in Spain getting revenge on Sylvia and her husband along the way; Yvonne's top dog status being challenged by Maxi Purvis, the head of the "Peckham Boot Gang"; prison officer Di Barker's struggles as a home carer for her disabled mother and an upbeat finale of Helen and Nikki finally committing to their relationship when Nikki's appeal is successful and she is released from prison. Series 3 was produced by Brian Park.

Series 4 (2002)

Following on from one of the several cliffhangers from series three, Yvonne in the frame for Virginia's murder there is a game of cat and mouse between her and Fenner while the real culprits continue their reign over G-Wing. But it's not long before Yvonne is ruling the roost again, when Denny Blood returns in the nick of time and aids Yvonne is her bid to prove her innocence. She arrives with Roisin Connor and Cassie Tyler, imprisoned for fraud and in a lesbian relationship complicated not only by their being behind bars, but by Roisin's being a married mother-of-two. The stress of G-Wing mounts for Karen, especially when she and Fenner split, but the stress is no longer her problem when she is demoted to basic officer and he is promoted to Wing Governor by Neil Grayling, the new Governing Governor of Larkhall, who developed an attraction to Jim Fenner. The series tackled domestic violence within the relationship of Di Barker and Barry Pearce and teenage junkie Buki Lester's battle for the right to see her disabled son, Lennox. The bitter hatred between Maxi Purvis and Shaz Wylie grows and ends in tragedy following a brutal fight. Crystal gives birth in the four bed dorm to a daughter but soon loses her faith in religion when another baby in the prison dies. Rhiannon Dawson, Julie Johnston's daughter arrives on the wing and the Julies are soon facing an additional sentence when the truth about Rhiannon's relationship with her boyfriend, Damion, is revealed. Yvonne and Karen find themselves at war when Yvonne's son, Richie, is revealed to be having a relationship with Karen. This is later revealed as a decoy, as his real girlfriend is new devious inmate, Snowball Merriman, whom Richie is helping to escape from Larkhall. The fourth series ended with the prison library being obliterated as part of an escape plan by Snowball, resulting in a fire that left several inmates trapped and fighting for their lives.

Series 4 was produced by Claire Phillips.

Series 5 (2003)

File:Yvonne Atkins.JPEG

Popular long-time character Yvonne Atkins is left to die after Jim Fenner locks her in the old hanging cell (Series 5)

The fifth series of Bad Girls saw the brief return of a recaptured and pregnant Shell Dockley to G-Wing. Jim Fenner pimps Shell by offering her money to give the male officers a handjob. After the baby's birth, a screw tries to force her to have sex, when she violently refuses, Jim makes it seem as if she tried to smother her baby. Shell is carted of to a mental home and her baby is taken into care. The "Costa Cons", Bev Tull and Phyl Oswyn arrive. There is good news for Denny, who is transferred to an open prison. The ongoing feud between Jim Fenner and Wing Governor Karen Betts reaches its climax as Fenner ruthlessly frames Karen for a hit-and-run accident in which a man dies. Julie Saunders is diagnosed with breast cancer and takes the decision to take her chances without chemotherapy treatment. Barbara Hunt marries the former prison chaplain, Henry – bad news for Sylvia, who had set her sights on Henry after she was widowed when her husband committed suicide. New prison officer Selena Geeson and new inmate Kris Yates are in a relationship. Kris is taking the rap for killing her abusive father in order to spare her younger sister, the real culprit. Fenner's nefarious ways continue as he kills Yvonne Atkins as she tries to escape Larkhall, by ensuring that she will be trapped in the "hanging cell", a small room beneath the main prison that is blocked off from the outside world. Series 5 was produced by David Crean.

Series 6 (2004)

Tanya Turner crosses over from sister show Footballers' Wives to endure a short stay at Larkhall (Series 6)

With G-Wing thinking their ex top dog has escaped HMP Larkhall Kris finds Yvonne's corpse after she tries to follow the same way out. But as it is all blocked off she tells Selena who she found. Selena then tells Neil she found Yvonne. Yvonne's death shocks G-Wing. In her absence, Phyl Oswyn is G-Wing "top dog" for a short time before being stopped in her tracks by new wing governor Frances Myers.

Frances Myers soon begins a feud with new inmate Natalie Buxton, in prison for organising a prostitution ring using underage girls. The other girls are disgusted with Natalie and Al plans to beat her up, but she turns the tables and beats Al up. Natalie soon makes the other girls believe she is innocent.

The series features a crossover with Shed Productions' other hit series, Footballers' Wives, with the glamorous character of Tanya Turner enduring a spell on G-Wing for three special episodes that aired over consecutive nights in May 2004. Later Tanya is soon released, after striking a deal with Frances. During her time on G-Wing, Tanya was accused of poisoning her fellow inmates with rhubarb, with Al McKenzie dying from her illness, however it was soon uncovered that Bev and Phyl were actually responsible.

Kris Yates's sister, Milly, commits suicide after Selena puts her under pressure to confess to her father's killing (in self-defence) in order to free her sister. Kris and Selena split and Kris sleeps with Natalie Buxton but the couple are reconciled and the series ends with the cliffhanger of Kris and Selena protesting in London about the injustice of Kris being behind bars.

Jim Fenner marries Neil's ex-wife Di. As Neil and Karen are sure Jim has something to do with the hit and run Karen was accused of, they hire a private investigator to prove Karen's innocence. Jim is proven to have been the person who was running away from where Karen's car was dumped that night. Jim is later arrested on his and Di's wedding day. Series 6 was produced by Cameron Roach.

Series 7 (2005)

This series does not follow up on the Series 6 cliffhanger and Kris and Selena neither feature nor are mentioned in this series. Series 7 sees a big cast upheaval with original officer Jim Fenner leaving along with two other long standing characters (Di Fenner and Malcolm Nicholson)

Di Fenner, Jim Fenner's wife, lies to ensure he is released from prison and Fenner returns, not only to G-Wing, but as G-Wing Governor. When the Costa Cons escape to Spain, Neil is demoted to G-Wing Governor and Fenner promoted to Governing Governor. Before Fenner can start his new job, he is murdered in the "hanging cell" during a memorial service for Yvonne Atkins. The police have a host of suspects to choose from, including new bisexual lifer, Pat Kerrigan, a woman who is in jail for murdering her abusive boyfriend and is a recent transfer from Alberton prison. Kerrigan had already managed to develop a feud with Fenner over his treatment of Sheena Williams and her son, Dylan. The increasingly mentally unstable Julie Johnston later reveals that she committed the crime to exact vengeance against Fenner for all his past crimes, in particular, the death of Yvonne. However, it is Fenner's widow Di who is arrested, charged and remanded in custody for the offence. New Governing Governor Joy Masterton arrives and indicates she will instigate a tough regime at Larkhall.

Meanwhile, Natalie Buxton has taken over as G-Wing's new top dog. When Natalie and the other inmates find out that new inmate Arun Parmar is a transsexual, Natalie makes her life hell until Pat Kerrigan, annoyed by Natalie's bullying of Arun, beats Buxton in a fight and demands she leave Arun alone. Pat develops a romance with recovering drug addict and single mother Sheena Williams before managing to expose Natalie, despite her denials to the contrary, as having been involved in the prostitution of under age girls. Series 7 was produced by Rachel Snell.

File:Pat and Natalie.JPEG

Rivals Pat Kerrigan and Natalie Buxton in their final battle, resulting in Natalie's death (Series 8)

Series 8 (2006)

The series begins with the arrival of Emira Al Jahani, a Muslim whose husband is a suspected terrorist. When Neil Grayling and a prisoner die and other prisoners fall ill, Emira is accused of biological terrorism. However, it is later established that Neil has died of a previously undiscovered heart condition and the sickness on the wing has been caused by an outbreak of Legionnaire's Disease caused by a faulty air-conditioning unit. New G-Wing governor Lou Stoke (Amanda Donohoe) develops a romance with the prison doctor Rowan Dunlop (Colin Salmon), not knowing he is married; she also tries to find her missing sister. Meanwhile, Pat is sickened by Natalie's use of a child in smuggling drugs into the prison and plans to get rid of her for good. Pat devises a plan in which she will trick Natalie into trying to escape, but Natalie realises she is being tricked and a fight ensues, which ends when Pat hits Natalie over the head with a rock. With the help of the two Julies, Pat disposes of Natalie's body in the sewers beneath the prison, making it seem as if Natalie has indeed escaped from Larkhall. Inmate Janine Nebeski and new prison officer Donny Kimber embark on a romance which leaves her pregnant. With help from Bev, Phyl and Tina, Janine gives birth in her cell and names the baby after Bev. Long-term inmate Tina O'Kane is released for the second time but, as before, she struggles to adapt to life in the outside world and commits another crime. She takes a bank hostage with a toy gun where a man suffers a heart attack; she is re-imprisoned again. Joy Masterton's long-lost daughter Stella Gough turns up as an inmate at the prison, but is shipped out after taking her mother hostage. Darlene Cake is tricked into killing new inmate Catherine Earlham's husband and tries to commit suicide, but is saved by Donny. Natalie Buxton's spirit returns in the last episode to haunt Sylvia and teach her the error of her ways. Series 8 was produced by Sharon Houlihan.

Bad Girls: The Musical

See also: Bad Girls: The Musical

A musical comedy adaptation, based on the characters and storylines of series 1, including the events of the death of inmate, Rachel Hicks, and the relationship between Wing Governor Helen Stewart and lifer, Nikki Wade. The musical originates with the same creative staff which worked on the television program. Maureen Chadwick and Ann McManus, of Shed Productions, are the book writers of the musical, and Kath Gotts, composer for Bad Girls series 2 – 4, is the composer-lyricist. The first full production of the musical premiered at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in May – June 2006. A West End production began a run at the Garrick Theatre in August 2007, closing in November 2007 (four months earlier than intended). A DVD version of the musical has since been released. A national tour of Bad Girls The Musical has been ruled out.

American version

HBO is developing a U.S. remake, with the same characters and same storylines. Shed Productions has been involved in talks since as early as 2002 regarding a US version of Bad Girls. In 2006 it was announced that FX would be bringing an American version of Bad Girls to US screens, but Shed subsequently vetoed FX's original pilot script after the show was given a "really gritty and unpleasant" feel like that of Oz.

In 2008, Eileen Gallagher, CEO of Shed Productions’ parent company Shed Media, announced that HBO bought the rights to the show from FX. HBO's version of Bad Girls is being developed with creative input from Six Feet Under writer Alan Ball, and it will be written by Nancy Oliver and Raelle Tucker. According to Gallagher, the HBO team will be sticking very closely to the characters and story lines from the original show.

In February 2012, it was confirmed that NBC would be developing an American remake version of Bad Girls. The pilot episode is expected to be aired in either 2013 or 2014.

Bad Girls around the world

Land	Broadcaster	Series shown
Australien	Seven Network	Series 1–3. No plans to show Series 4–8
	UK.TV	Series 1–4. No plans to show Series 5–8
Belgien	vtm	Series 1–4
Bosnien und Herzegowina	TVSA	Series 1–8
	NTV Amna
Kanada	OUTtv
Estland	Kanal 2
Finnland	Nelonen
Frankreich	NT1	Series 1–7
	AB1	Series 1–6
Irland	TV3	Series 1–8
Luxemburg	RTL9	Series 1–7
Montenegro	TV Vijesti	Series 1–8
Neuseeland	TV ONE
Serbien	Košava	Series 1–4
Schweden	TV4 (Sweden)	Series 1–2
Südafrika	M-NET	Series 1–8
Georgien	rustavi 2
UK	ITV
	ITV2
	ITV3	Series 1–3
	Five Life	Series 4
	CBS Drama	Series 1–8
USA	BBC America	Series 1 and 10 episodes of Series 2
	LOGO	Series 1–8

Home Media

Vereinigtes Königreich

Contender & 2entertain releases:

Bad Girls was originally released in the United Kingdom on VHS format by home entertainment group, Contender. The first series consisted of three volumes, which began releasing on 5 June 2000 to coincide with series two's television airings. Series two, three and four all consisted of four volumes. In addition to this, they all received complete boxsets. Series five was the final series to be released on VHS, which again consisted of four volumes, amd later as a complete boxset. Several of the VHS sets did contain special features.

On 18 June 2001, Contender began releasing Bad Girls on DVD format for the first time. Series one was released in a four disc DVD set, comprising all ten episodes and a number of special features including the Documentary, Bad Girls in Oxford, Cast Interviews with Simone Lahbib, Mandana Jones, Debra Stephenson, Jack Ellis, Alicya Eyo, Victoria Alcock and Kika Mirylees, an Outtakes reel, a Fan Featurette, Bad Girls Book Signing, a Photo Library and a Commentary Track on Episode 10.

Series two was released on 1 October 2001, with all 13 episodes on a four disc set and special features including two photo galleries; a Behind the Scenes gallery and pictures from The National TV Awards, the Documentary, Bad Girls in South Africa, with Simone Lahbib, Mandana Jones, Lara Cazalet and Joe Shaw, Deleted Scenes and Cast and Producer Biographies.

Series three was released on 25 March 2002, consisting of a 16 episodes over 4 discs, and a fifth disc containing several special features; an Interactive Map of Larkhall Prison, an Outtakes reel, and a "Prison File" which contains Behind the Scenes footage, Subsidiary Character Profiles (guest characters) and Cast Interviews with Sharon Duncan Brewster, Victoria Bush, Pauline Campbell, Jack Ellis, Claire King, Simone Lahbib, Nathan Constance, Helen Fraser, Lara Cazalet, Kika Mirylees, Lindsey Fawcett, Mandana Jones, Tracey Wilkinson and Linda Henry. In addition to this, an audio CD was included as a sixth disc containing the soundtrack (incidental music) of the series.

The first three series from Contender were not released in their original formats. Each contained the cropped 4:3 full frame versions, transferred from the VHS formats, and not their original 16:9 (1.78:1) formats, from which they were produced. Additionally, all three series had their recaps at the start of each episodes removed, which the exception of the first and fifth episodes of series three, which did contain recaps, also, the "Next Time on Bad Girls" scenes were removed from series three (they were not produced for the first and second series).

Series four was the final series to be released by Contender as home entertainment company 2entertain acquired the rights to release further series. Series four was released on 9 June 2003 and contained all 16 episodes on four discs, and for the first time remained unedited, unlike the previous series; it contained its original 16:9 format and the recaps and "Next Time on Bad Girls" scenes remained intact. A fifth disc contained the special features which included, Series One: Feature Length Version, an Outtakes reel, Tour of the New Exterior Set – hosted by Jack Ellis, an International Promo Trailer, Fan Event with Simone and Mandana, Photo Gallery and PC Wallpapers.

2entertain began releasing the series in 2004, bringing a new style of artwork. Series five was released on 23 August 2004 in a four DVD set containing all 16 episodes. Unfortunately it was not very big on special features, which only contained an Outtakes reel and a Photo Gallery, but for the first time did contain a subtitle track.

Series six was released on 25 June 2005 in a 3 DVD set Containing all 12 episodes and a number of special features including, an Outtakes reel, The King of Larkhall (a scene for an episode with Colin Hedges performing as Elvis), Cast Interviews with Tristan Sturrock, Antonia Okonma, Amanda Barrie and James Gaddas, Tanya Turner – The Ultimate Bad Girl (an interview with Zöe Lucker), and Bad Girls The Musical. The special features did not contain Bad Girls Most Wanted, a behind the scenes show, hosted by Jack Ellis, which counted down the top 10 Bad Girls, it originally aired after the series six finale in 2004. This also marked the final time that a Bad Girls release saw multiple special features.

Series seven was released on 7 August 2006 and contained all 13 episodes on a 4 DVD set. Special features include a Photo Gallery, and the 2005 Christmas Special (episode 13), which is now established as the series seven finale.

Series eight was released on 26 December 2006, not long following the final episode, since the release meant it was not going to coincide with a new series on television, it was decided that it should have an early release. It contains all 11 episodes on a 3 DVD set. The special features include a Photo Gallery and the 2006 Christmas Special (episode 11), which is now established as the series eight finale.

In 9 October 2006, a DVD boxset from Contender comprising the first four series were released in an 18 DVD set and the CD which was included with series three. The Series five to eight boxset was released by 2entertain in a 14 DVD set on 22 October 2007. A complete boxset could not be commissioned due to both distribution companies owing rights to different series.

In addition, a title had been inserted at the beginning of each episode, something which did not exist on screen in television airings, but only in TV guide listings. On DVD, from series one to four, each episode contained a title and was included in the first scene when the titles appeared. Series five to eight did not contain titles, but did have its series number and episode number included below the Bad Girls title for those episodes.

Each of these releases are out of print, as home entertainment company Acorn Media has acquired the rights to all eight series.

Acorn Media releases:

In 2011 Acorn Media began releasing Bad Girls on DVD from the very beginning. Each series contains newly commissioned artwork, some of the series also contain less discs than in the previously releases. Series one has been given new certificate by the BBFC, previously given an '18' for disturbing scenes of violence, it has now been reduced to a '15' certificate. Also for the first time, series one to three has been released in their original widescreen format, and they contain subtitles, as does series four, which were previously not included. In 2012, Bad Girls: The Complete Collection was released on 2 July, for the first time all eight series are included in a complete boxset.

• Bad Girls: The Complete Series One – 7 February 2011
• Bad Girls: The Complete Series Two – 18 April 2011
• Bad Girls: The Complete Series Three – 4 July 2011
• Bad Girls: The Complete Series Four – 5 September 2011
• Bad Girls: The Complete Series Five – 3 October 2011
• Bad Girls: The Complete Series Six – 26 December 2011
• Bad Girls: The Complete Series Seven – 20 February 2012
• Bad Girls: The Complete Series Eight – 2 April 2012
• Bad Girls: The Complete Collection – 2 July 2012

Australien

In Australia, each series has been released by distribution company Shock Records. All eight series have been released twice by Shock. The first releases contain the same artwork as Contender and 2Entertain's artwork in the UK, with the exception of series seven and eight which contain their own style of artwork. The New releases contain brand new artwork on all eight series.

Vereinigte Staaten

Bad Girls: The Complete First Season was release in the United States on May 9, 2006 via CAPITAL ENTERTAINMENT ENTERPRISES in a 3 DVD set. It was released in its original widescreen aspect ratio of 1.78:1 with the recaps intact. The set also contains a 'Slang Dictionary' so that American viewers can understand the British slang in which the character of the series use.

Ratings

Series 1

Episode	Date	Total Viewers	ITV Weekly Ranking
1	1 June 1999	7,990,000	17
2	8 June 1999	7,390,000	16
3	15 June 1999	6,360,000	18
4	22 June 1999	6,860,000	17
5	29 June 1999	7,050,000	19
6	6 July 1999	7,020,000	14
7	13 July 1999	7,670,000	12
8	20 July 1999	7,600,000	15
9	27 July 1999	7,320,000	12
10	3 August 1999	7,660,000	14

Series 2

Episode	Date	Total Viewers	ITV Weekly Ranking
1	4 April 2000	9,440,000	14
2	11 April 2000	8,530,000	13
3	18 April 2000	8,210,000	11
4	25 April 2000	8,120,000	12
5	2 May 2000	8,260,000	16
6	9 May 2000	7,700,000	11
7	16 May 2000	9,300,000	11
8	23 May 2000	8,980,000	8
9	30 May 2000	9,490,000	9
10	6 June 2000	9,240,000	10
11	13 June 2000	9,130,000	8
12	27 June 2000	8,500,000	8
13	4 July 2000	8,810,000	10

Series 3

Episode	Date	Total Viewers	ITV Weekly Ranking
1	20 March 2001	9,420,000	16
2	27 March 2001	8,490,000	17
3	3 April 2001	8,590,000	14
4	10 April 2001	9,100,000	12
5	17 April 2001	8,600,000	14
6	24 April 2001	8,840,000	13
7	1 May 2001	8,510,000	11
8	8 May 2001	9,140,000	6
9	15 May 2001	9,100,000	9
10	22 May 2001	8,400,000	6
11	29 May 2001	8,600,000	11
12	5 June 2001	8,410,000	9
13	12 June 2001	8,460,000	13
14	19 June 2001	8,180,000	10
15	26 June 2001	8,120,000	11
16	3 July 2001	8,150,000	10

Series 4

Episode	Date	Total Viewers	ITV Weekly Ranking
1	28 February 2002	7,560,000	13
2	7 March 2002	6,830,000	17
3	14 March 2002	7,300,000	15
4	21 March 2002	7,330,000	12
5	28 March 2002	6,820,000	15
6	4 April 2002	6,990,000	16
7	11 April 2002	6,920,000	17
8	18 April 2002	7,100,000	18
9	25 April 2002	7,120,000	14
10	2 May 2002	6,900,000	11
11	9 May 2002	7,430,000	11
12	16 May 2002	7,120,000	12
13	23 May 2002	7,350,000	12
14	30 May 2002	6,590,000	14
15	6 June 2002	6,330,000	14
16	13 June 2002	7,130,000	13

Series 5

Episode	Date	Total Viewers	ITV Weekly Ranking
1	8 May 2003	8,360,000	17
2	15 May 2003	7,880,000	15
3	22 May 2003	7,630,000	12
4	29 May 2003	6,920,000	11
5	5 June 2003	7,100,000	14
6	12 June 2003	6,620,000	12
7	19 June 2003	6,760,000	12
8	26 June 2003	6,360,000	14
9	3 July 2003	6,530,000	13
10	10 July 2003	6,570,000	13
11	17 July 2003	6,570,000	13
12	24 July 2003	6,530,000	15
13	31 July 2003	6,560,000	15
14	7 August 2003	6,430,000	14
15	14 August 2003	6,540,000	14
16	21 August 2003	6,780,000	13

Series 6

Episode	Date	Total Viewers	ITV Weekly Ranking
1	14 April 2004	7,940,000	14
2	21 April 2004	8,250,000	13
3	28 April 2004	7,510,000	15
4	5 May 2004	7,780,000	11
5	10 May 2004	7,750,000	13
6	17 May 2004	7,870,000	11
7	18 May 2004	7,220,000	19
8	19 May 2004	7,800,000	14
9	2 August 2004	6,270,000	10
10	9 August 2004	5,920,000	15
11	16 August 2004	5,570,000	15
12	23 August 2004	6,670,000	12

Series 7

Episode	Date	Total Viewers	ITV Weekly Ranking
1	10 May 2005	6,210,000	12
2	17 May 2005	6,050,000	17
3	24 May 2005	5,640,000	15
4	31 May 2005	5,050,000	20
5	7 June 2005	4,840,000	20
6	14 June 2005	5,560,000	14
7	21 June 2005	5,180,000	15
8	28 June 2005	4,800,000	18
9	5 July 2005	5,510,000	16
10	12 July 2005	5,780,000	16
11	19 July 2005	5,580,000	15
12	26 July 2005	5,490,000	15
13	19 December 2005	7,160,000	13

Series 8

Episode	Date	Total Viewers	ITV Weekly Ranking
1	13 July 2006	5,400,000	11
2	20 July 2006	4,470,000	14
3	27 July 2006	4,410,000	15
4	3 August 2006	4,180,000	16
5	10 August 2006	4,280,000	15
6	17 August 2006	4,870,000	15
7	24 August 2006	5,000,000	17
8	31 August 2006	4,560,000	17
9	7 September 2006	4,620,000	18
10	14 September 2006	4,980,000	22
11	20 December 2006	5,130,000	16

Awards and nominations

Year	Award Show	Kategorie	Recipient(s)	Result
2000	National Television Awards	Most Popular Actress	Debra Stephenson	Nominated
		Most Popular Drama	—	Won
	TV Quick Awards	Best Loved Drama	—	Won
2001	National Television Awards	Most Popular Actress	Debra Stephenson	Nominated
		Most Popular Drama	—	Won
	TV Quick Awards	Best Loved Drama	—	Won
		Best Actress	Debra Stephenson	Won
2002	National Television Awards	Most Popular Drama	—	Nominated
	TV Quick Awards	Best Loved Drama	—	Won
		Best Actress	Claire King	Won
2003	National Television Awards	Most Popular Drama	—	Nominated
	TV Quick Awards	Best Loved Drama	—	Won
		Best Actress	Claire King	Won
2004	National Television Awards	Most Popular Drama	—	Nominated
	TV Quick Awards	Best Actor	Jack Ellis	Won
2005	National Television Awards	Most Popular Drama	—	Nominated
2006	National Television Awards	Most Popular Drama	—	Nominated

External links

Please do not add any links to fanfiction sites or commercial ventures to this article. These links will be removed.

• Bad Girls Official website
• Bad Girls page on Logo
• Shed Insider, fan-site of Shed Productions' programs.
• Bad Girls Annex Media studies site on Bad Girls
• The Soap Show, information on Bad Girls The Musical and cast interviews.
• Bad Girls at IMDb
• Template:Tv.com show