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2006 was a very busy year in the world of Prisoner. Here's some of the highlights and items of interest from the year in question, taken from our newsdesk.
January
 Wentworth to disappear?
Word got to us in January that the famous Global Television studios which currently house Neighbours and were the setting for Prisoner all of those years ago, had been sold and could possibly be knocked down!
Thankfully, this internet rumour was just that - and there are no current plans to remove Wentworth from the streets of Melbourne.
 The Saga Continues...
"Is it ever going to happen?" have been your cries ever since plans were announced to have an all Australian television channel in the UK. Unfortauntely nobody seems to know!
DownUnderTv is planned, but not confirmed so in all honesty - your guess is as good as ours!
February
 Prisoner DVDs - a possibility?
Following the announcement by Val Lehman that an Australian production company was interested in releasing the whole series on DVD, we all got very excited when we heard that they were in talks with FremantleMedia about making the dream a reality!
News was very sketchy so we just had to sit and wait... that didn't stop a whole host of chinese whispers doing the circuits though!
 Glenda Linscott - Guest of Honour!
Aussie business venture Partners in Crime had a great night in February when they hosted their regular Prisoner Anniversary party in Melbourne.
Guest of Honour was Glenda Linscott who played Rita Connors and a great night was had by all - a BBQ, quiz session and various screenings of Prisoner were part of the event.
March
 Don't buy illegal Prisoner DVDs
In March OTI made the unprecedented decision to publically advise Prisoner fans not to use eBay when looking for episodes on tape. The famous auction website has led to a number of unscrupulous sellers making a profit of television recorded episodes transferred onto DVD.
FremantleMedia are aware and continue to stop sellers in their tracks.
 Put Yourself in Maggie's Shoes!
Maggie Millar, Prisoner's Marie Winter, donated a pair of her shoes to 'MAG's Give Landmines the Boot' auction and helped raise money for this worthy cause.
The sandals donated by Maggie were worn on Neighbours, in her role as Rosie Hoyland and the auction was a great success.
April
Strong Women of Television event features Prisoner
In aid of Walsall Breast Cancer Care Group, it was announced at the end of April that an evening full of fun and famous females would be held to raise money for this worthy cause.
Featuring an episode of Prisoner on the big screen, as well as cast members from Xena, Bad Girls and Cagney & Lacey, the night in May was well attended by many fans.
May
Bea Smith lives!
In a brilliant night dedicated to a celebration of Australian television, a very special new sketch of Doreen and Bea was shown prior to the introduction of an award, and had been specially recorded for the night.
It featured Bea (somehow surviving the fire of Barnhurst) and Doreen in the Logies laundry room talking about how they could nick a trophy!
The Soap Show is launched
A brand new online radio show was launched in May dedicated to current and classic British & Aussie soaps.
One of the first guests on the show was Maggie Millar who of course played Marie Winter in Prisoner. Maggie talked about her roles in various television shows and her new passion for art - as well as her memories from Prisoner.
June
No Prisoner for Canada
After months and months of uncertainty, it finally became apparent that Prisoner was not going to see a re-screening in Canada.
Our Canadian contact has been in touch regularly with the GLBT network OUTtv and although it was initially looking hopeful, the cost to the television station was too high which meant no Prisoner.
July
Success!
Finally, the news that all Prisoner fans had been waiting for - the series will be released in full onto DVD! Everyone's hard work had paid off - fans for supporting the project and Val Lehman for being the public face of it.
Prisoner: Cell Block H will be released on DVD every month - and a box set is due to be released in 2007, although no worldwide release is planned which means the discs have to be bought from Australia.
August
Well wishes for Maggie
Prisoner star Maggie Kirkpatrick (Joan Ferguson) was forced to take some time out of her schedules to recover from an operation.
Following her recovery, Maggie made no secrets of the fact that the surgery was to remove a tumour from her colon - she took this opportunity to try and make people more aware of their body and to see their GP if they had any doubts.
Prisoner stars reunited
Maggie made a full recovery and appeared as part of the Prisoner reunion on the Australian series "Where Are They Now?".
Also featured were Val Lehman, Amanda Muggleton, Peta Toppano and Carol Burns who took a nostalgic look back at the series that they're most remembered for. It was great to see the 5 ladies all back together and looking so well.
September
Val launches new merchandise
Val Lehman launched a selection of previously unavailable merchandise via her website, as well as a new t-shirt promoting her Top Dog Club.
A great collection of photographs featuring Val were on sale and the logo for the club was designed by one of the fans in a special competition - what a great prize, to see your own work on an official t-shirt! Well done!
October
Maggie gets her own exhibition!
Star of Prisoner Maggie Millar, otherwise known as Marie Winter, displayed a number of her paintings and art-work at a special exhibition in Melbourne, Australia.
Maggie, who has a keen interest in art, met a number of her fans during the event at Flinders Street on the 27th October. If you didn't manage to make it, check out her web site for examples of her work.
DVD promotion begins
With the forthcoming release of Prisoner on DVD, Val Lehman took to the road to make some in-store appearances to help promote the DVDs.
She met up with fans in Hum Records and Borders and took time to sign the covers of the DVDs to the star-struck fans that travelled to see her. She also announced details of a visit to the UK in 2007.
November
OTI attends Bad Girls event
We were also let out of our cages last year, as we attended the Manchester convention of the popular Bad Girls television series.
OTI provided an interesting exhibition featuring original Prisoner uniforms, props, photographs, mugshots and merchandise. The event was an interesting one and it was great to meet everyone who talked to us.
December
 Surprise DVD announcement for US fans!
Right towards the end of the year, just as everyone was getting ready to stuff the turkey we were told that a second DVD release was due in the US!
Set two is a repackaged 'Prisoner: Volume 2' which was originally released in Australia but a welcome release for fans in the States who have also been crying out for more DVDs ever since the program stopped airing over there.
So that's it! A really busy year, dominated by DVD news. Thanks to everyone for your support - 2007 is expected to be even more busy!
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