Wentworth
Season 5 M-Net (*101) 23:00 Drama
It’s a hard-knock life behind bars in Aussie prison drama Wentworth (2013current) and things aren’t any better for the women inmates in season 5. “Our writing team are taking them in different directions this time,” says Pamela Rabe, who plays psychotic Ferguson. “They are out of control – even the prison wardens are nervous around the ‘ladies’ this time.”
Season 4 ended with fan-favourite Bea (Danielle Cormack) stabbed dead in the fictional Wentworth Correctional Facility and “there is going to be a riot when the girls come to terms with it,” teases Pamela. “It’s not going to be pretty! Especially for Bea’s inmate girlfriend Allie (Kate Jenkins), who was in a coma in season 4.” That’s a hint that Allie could be “willing to give up her life to avenge Bea,” explains Kate. “We were in tears while filming Danielle’s final scenes and I’ve used that to bring out Allie’s grief.”
And just like in action show Prison Break (2005-current; Mondays, M-Net at 19:00), the characters are scheming at every corner to climb the hierarchy. “There is an escape plan in just about every episode. The inmates control different sections of the prison and try find a way out – and they don’t mind who they kill to do it,” hints Pamela. “Even when Ferguson is in trouble, she is still in the right frame of mind – for who she is – to threaten the others.”
So will Ferguson survive season 5? The others want her dead, teases Pam, “But are they willing to face someone nicknamed ‘The Freak’ and do it themselves? Maybe… maybe not…”