Melissa Doyle ‘I'M PROBABLY A TOTAL PAIN...'

In the new reality series Australia Behind Bars, the popular presenter takes us inside our prison system

Melissa Doyle jokingly admits that she’s “probably a total pain in the butt” when it comes to constantly being on the lookout for stories to tell, but that trait is what motivated her to be involved with new factual series Australia Behind Bars. For one thing, it allowed the popular presenter, who turns 52 this week, to gain “an insight into something I didn’t know anything about”. As the show’s title suggests, it takes viewers inside three Australian prisons, sharing the experiences of both the inmates and the correctional officers who work there.

What was the most fascinating thing about the show for you?

What I really like about this program is that we have an insight into the prisoners – who they are and why they’re there, and what some of them are doing to make sure they can get out and never come back. But there’s also an insight into the guards and why they work in this field… what are the challenges they face every day?

What can viewers expect to see?