Talking Prisoner
The Talking Prisoner YouTube channel is a fascinating dive into the world of Prisoner, also known as Prisoner: Cell Block H, a beloved Australian TV drama series that aired from 1979 to 1986. The series was a trailblazer in its time, portraying life inside a women's minimum-security prison with unflinching honesty and remarkable depth of character. Its legacy persists today, with a dedicated fanbase around the world.
Talking Prisoner, hosted by Matt Batten, has become the go-to platform for enthusiasts of the series. It offers fans an unprecedented chance to get up close and personal with the personalities behind their favourite characters. The channel boasts a wealth of interviews with the series’ cast and crew, each offering unique anecdotes, insightful commentary, and a closer look at the making of this groundbreaking show.
Talking Prisoner
Talking Prisoner Cell Block H EP 28 Interview with Maggie Kirkpatrick (Officer Joan Ferguson) Part 1
Welcome to Episode 28 (Part 1) of Talking Prisoner. Hosts Ken Mulholland and Matt Batten sat down with the talented Maggie Kirkpatrick who played Officer Joan Ferguson. Maggie appeared in over 400 episodes of Prisoner but also has a career spanning several decades appearing in shows such as Cop Shop, Jonah, Richmond Hill, Home and Away, All Saints, Eden and Prisoner, also a veteran of the Theatre playing Madame Morrible in Wicked for seven years and 1600 performances. This is Part 1, we spoke to Maggie about her life growing up as a child and losing her dad at such a young age and when she first broke into acting. We discussed the many TV shows that she has appeared in such as Richmond Hill which was created by Reg Watson who created Prisoner and working alongside Ross Higgins, Paula Duncan, Tim Elston, Gwen Plumb and Amanda Muggleton on Richmond Hill and her shock at the show being axed at the time. We also spoke to Maggie about one of her first jobs as an Usherette at the Civic Theatre. We spoke with Maggie about the Beach Hotel which at the time was owned by Arthur Greenhalgh. Maggie shared with us how she got one of the most iconic roles on Australian TV Joan “The Freak” Ferguson and that Prisoner Producer Ian Bradley created the character and Maggie being his first choice for Joan Ferguson and how she first auditioned for the role of Vera Bennett which ended up going to Fiona Spence. Maggie shared a very funny story with us about the late great Sheila Florance and what it was like working with her and Gerda Nicholson. Maggie told us about the storylines that she did not agree with and the ones that she suggested to the writers and what it was like to work with Prisoner Director Kendal Flanagan. We discussed Maggie’s hair change and the time that Sammy Davis Jr visited the set of Prisoner and what it was like to celebrate her birthday with him in Las Vegas. Maggie shared with us her thoughts on Wentworth and Pamela Rabe playing the role of Joan Ferguson. We broke down some episodes with Maggie including 413 where Joan is sent on a horrible acid trip and kills her dog, which Ken was able to share some behind the scenes information that we did not know, more to come for Part 2 of this amazing episode.
#joanferguson #maggiekirkpatrick #cellblockh #prisoner