1. The steam from the show's iconic steam press was fake and produced by an out-of-shot crew member. Actress Kerry Armstrong played Lynn Warner (above) and was the very first inmate to feel its wrath!
2. Food served during was always cold! Needless to say, the cast was almost as unsatisfied with the prison meals as the characters!
3. While they made names for themselves starring in their famous roles as Bea Smith and Joan 'The Freak' Ferguson respectively, Val Lehman and Maggie Kirkpatrick auditioned for the role of Vera Bennett.
4. The late Carol Burns (left) took up smoking to play Franky Doyle and smoked up to 60 cigarettes a day during filming! Carol also gorged herself on steaks and sundaes to gain weight for the part.
5. Franky's death was such Prisoner, devastating fans across the world. In the United States, bikers even held a wake for the beloved character!
6. Both of Val's daughters appeared on the show! Cassandra played Bea's daughter Debbie, while Joanne played a schoolgirl named Yvonne (see bottom left).
7. The theme song sung 'On the Inside', was a Top 10 hit in Australia, reaching number four on the charts.
This story is from the February 21, 2022 edition of New Idea.
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This story is from the February 21, 2022 edition of New Idea.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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