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 Welcome to the OTI Newsdesk!
From this section of the site, we will keep you updated with all of the current goings-on in the world of Prisoner. From press releases to actress spotting, DVD release info to general gossip - On The Inside's Newsdesk is the place to check first for your important Prisoner news!
News will be added in date order, with the newest stories being listed first. Old news is now archived and viewable by clicking on the link at the bottom of the page. If you have any Prisoner news, please feel free to share it with us and we'll publish it on your behalf.
News relevant to a specific country will show the appropriate flag.
***2006 NEWS ARCHIVE***
14 DECEMBER 2006 : SEASON'S GREETINGS FROM OTI
Christmas is almost upon us again - we hope Santa is going to be good to everyone... how many Christmas stockings will be filled with Prisoner DVDs?
As we approach the big day and the lead up to 2007, we expect that news on the Prisoner front will be fairly quiet so this will probably the the last update of 2006 unless anything of major Prisoner interest happens!
Our forum will take it's annual Christmas break from 24th to 27th of December.
Check back in the new year as we review what has been a great 2006 for all Prisoner fans. Our best wishes to everyone over the festive season.
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4 DECEMBER 2006 : NEW U.S. DVD RELEASE 
Thanks to one of our regular Recroom members, we've just found out that Volume 2 of Prisoner Cell Block H is due to be released in the US before Christmas!
In a surprising move, A&E Home Video have decided to continue on from their '25th Anniversary' release (which was of course the Australian Volume 1 release from some time ago), and this 2nd release contains the following:
Volume 1: Episodes 1-4
Volume 2: Episodes 20, 165, 471 and 598
Volume 3: Episodes 247, 248, 586 and 667
Stills galleries
Interactive games
This release appears to be identical to the Australian "Prisoner Volume 2" release but the advantage is that it will work on US DVD players.
We don't have any further information relating to this release, however you can pre-order it now here!
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29 OCTOBER 2006 : WE'RE BACK ONLINE - SORRY FOR THE DELAY
Sorry, sorry, sorry!
We'd like to apologise to everyone who has tried to access the site over the last 5 days. During our move to new servers, things didn't go as smooth as expected which caused the site to disappear.
We're happy to say that we're back though, but please bear with us - some pages may not yet be available but do keep trying as we're continuing to upload everything again.
The Recroom forum should be back next week, it's taking a little longer due to having to restore backups of the data.
If you've emailed us over the last week and haven't received a reply, please email us again as our email servers were also down.
Thanks for your support and our apologies again.
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20 OCTOBER 2006 : VAL LEHMAN - INSTORE SIGNING AND DINNER INVITATION
To celebrate the forthcoming DVD release, Val Lehman will appear at two exclusive in store signings held in Sydney and Melbourne.
This will be Prisoner fans only opportunity to meet the series' leading lady Queen Bea Smith and have copies of the first two episodes autographed personally. As an added bonus there will be a Q&A to have all those must have questions answered.
Details are as follows:
Saturday 28th October - 12.00pm: Hum Records, Oxford Street, Darlinghurst
Saturday 4th November - 12.30pm: Borders, Chapel Street, South Yarra
For UK fans who would like to meet Val but can't travel the thousands of miles across the globe, Val will be visiting the UK next year and giving a limited number of fans the chance to dine in style with her at one of three exclusive venues - in Suffolk, The Midlands or Scotland.
Further details are still being finalised but please register your interest now to avoid missing out closer to the time.
Please email admin@val-lehman.com to be in with a chance of meeting Queen Bea herself at this very rare event. For a quicker response please detail the possible number of guests, which venue you are most interested in and any special diet requirements.
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17 OCTOBER 2006 : MEET MAGGIE MILLAR 
Star of Prisoner Maggie Millar, otherwise known as Marie Winter, will be displaying a number of her paintings and art-work at a special exhibition in Melbourne, Australia.
Maggie also recently appeared in the Aussie soap Neighbours as Reverend Rosie Hoyland, one of the most popular faces in the series at the time.
Maggie has been a keen artist for a number of years and would love to meet some of her fans on the day, so please turn up and say hello!
The event will be held at the CAE Building - 96 Flinders Street on Friday 27 October at 6pm onwards.
To stay up to date with Maggie's latest news please visit her official website.
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25 SEPTEMBER 2006 : VAL LEHMAN MERCHANDISE NOW ON SALE
Fans of one of the stars of Prisoner may be interested to know that Val Lehman (Bea Smith), has recently released some previously unavailable merchandise via her official web site.
At present there are a handful of high quality photographs on sale, some of which are exclusive to Val's site.
Reproduction Bea Smith fan cards are also on sale at the very low price of £5.00 each and these can be signed especially for you by Val herself!
The latest new addition to Val's merchandise is the Top Dog Club T-Shirt, featuring the official logo designed by one of the TDC members! Great quality and Aussie made t-shirts again these can be signed by Val if required.
We at OTI have bought our own t-shirt and can confirm they are of the highest quality - and took just over a week to arrive here in the UK from Australia (Royal Mail take note!)
For prices and more details, please visit Val's website.
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19 SEPTEMBER 2006 : BAD GIRLS - ON PAROLE 
We know that a lot of Prisoner fans are also fans of the UK's Bad Girls...
Inspired Premiere Events are hosting the first ever Bad Girls fan convention in Manchester from 10-12 of November 2006. This amazing event will offer Bad Girls fans the opportunity to meet their favourite stars and enjoy what is going to be a fun filled weekend.
Bad Girls cast members attending will include: Liz May Brice (Pat Kerrigan), Victoria Alcock (Julie S), Kika Mirylees (Julie J), Victoria Bush (Tina), Antonia Okonma (Darlene), Helen Fraser (Sylvia), and Tracey Wilkinson (Di).
Plus, if you look hard enough, there may just be some Prisoner memorablila on show and for sale! Details on that soon.
For prices and more information, please visit this website!
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13 SEPTEMBER 2006 : DVD PRESS RELEASE
The official Press Release to announce the forthcoming Prisoner DVD's has been issued today.
As well as full and uncut episodes, we are being treated to a selection of Extras - including unseen photographs and interactive games!
One of the best features is that the fans can get involved and may even end up as part of the extras on one of the discs!
To read the press release in full and see larger copies of the official cover art please click here!
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9 AUGUST 2006 : GET WELL SOON MAGGIE!
Word has got to us that star of stage, screen and Prisoner, Maggie Kirkpatrick, has been recovering at home following a recent hospital operation.
Maggie has had to cancel her Collected Stories tour in order to rest, but she's making good progress - taking things easy, and hopes to be back working when she's fully recovered.
Maggie is a good friend of the OTI team and we send her our very best wishes and hope she's back on her feet again very soon.
Update 28/08/06: Maggie has made a full recovery and has already started working again!
Maggie's Official Website has further details: here.
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1 AUGUST 2006 : PRISONER - WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
From Partners in Crime
The hugely popular Channel 7 nostalgia show Where Are They Now? are planning to include a reunion segment on Prisoner, and fans are invited to attend the recording.
We have been liaising with one of the shows producers for the past few weeks and can guarantee this is going to be a belter of a show with a major surprise at the end.
Channel 7 have asked us to pass the following details:
Come join Mel & Kochie as they take a nostalgic look back at memorable TV shows, musicians, movies, commercials, sports people and events-- including some of the cast from PRISONER.
Date: Friday 25th of August
Time: Approximately 4pm - 8pm (To be advised closer to the date)
Where: Seven Network Studio in MOBBS LANE, Epping, SYDNEY.
COST: Free
Please note: audience members must remain for the entire recording of the show.
If you want to be in the audience, please email zgrant@seven.com.au or call 02 9877 7256 with the following information:
**Your full name
**A contact phone number
**Your email address
**The number of seats you want to reserve
**Please let us know if any of your guests will be under 16yrs of age.
Group bookings are welcome!
We will then get back to you with a confirmation of your booking.
We have been asked NOT to name the actors concerned as CH7 don't want to disappoint fans if there's a last minute hitch, but having seen the producer's wish-list of actors it will be well worth taking your autograph books along.
Naturally we will let you know when the screening date is confirmed.
And now to other matters from the Partners in Crime camp, and we have recently received a number of emails concerning Priz Update #32, or rather the lack of it.
It seems our attempt to mail out the latest issue on July 14, from both sides of the planet, turned into a bit of a disaster.
Unfortunately our first 50 subscribers received the Update ten times, but some of our 2,500 other readers failed to receive it.
We have now sorted out that particular glitch, but if you didn't receive issue 32 of the Update just drop us an email and we will send you copy.
Keep Watching!
Roz and Simon
Partners in Crime is located online at partnersincrime.com.au.
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19 JULY 2006 : UPDATE FROM ROZ & SIMON @ PARTNERS IN CRIME
Just a quick update from Partners in Crime - first of all to apologise for the delay with the latest update newsletter. Unfortunately due to some electronic bugs in the system, the newsletter was not able to be sent out on time - but the problem is in hand so it will be sent out as soon as possible.
Secondly Roz has been invited to appear as a guest on the Kathy Bedford Drive Show on ABC Victoria to talk about the history of the fan club etc.
The show goes out live on Monday July 24th at around 4.40pm on the statewide Drive Time show.
So any fans in the Vic area can tune in to their local ABC radio, alternatively you may be able to listen online at www.abc.net.au, following the links to Regional Victoria.
Partners in Crime is located online at partnersincrime.com.au.
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13/15 JULY 2006 : PRISONER - MORE OFFICIAL DVD's ON THE WAY SOON!
The project headed by Prisoner star Val Lehman has finally been given the go-ahead after months and months of planning and uncertainty.
Shock DVD (the company behind the most recent releases) is pleased to announce the imminent release of the entire 692
episode series of PRISONER.
The series will be available as a series of 4 DVD sets to subscribers and
initial volumes will also be available through Australian and New Zealand
DVD retailers.
The first two volumes, each containing 16 episodes, will be
released in Australia in October 2006 with two more volumes available the
following month. It is anticipated the retail price for these volumes will
be AUS$50.00 each. What's more, early 2007 will see the release of the entire 692 episodes in
one box set.
The release is available to fans outside of Australia - either by way of subscription or to purchase from retail outlets in Australia (this may also include online stores however this not confirmed). DVD's are compatible with UK DVD players.
At present there are no plans to make this release commercially available in the UK but this may change in the future.
Prices for the box set are still to be confirmed.
Update: The episodes on the DVD release will be uncut and as originally broadcast on Australian television.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Please note that we here at the Official website have had no involvement in the planning of this DVD release so are unable to answer any further queries you may have. We will print any new news on this page of the site as soon as we get it so please keep checking back for more information.
Please do not email Shock DVD for further details as this will only cause further delays. Your main point of contact for queries will be the Val Lehman website.
Source: Val Lehman and Shock DVD via 'TDC' newsletter
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PRISONER on DVD:
All 692 episodes!
Bea Smith
(Val Lehman) |
26 JUNE 2006 : JANE CLIFTON - INTIMATE EVERY MONDAY!
You loved her work in Menopause – The Musical and Mum’s The Word...
You may even have glimpsed her through the bars in 30 year-old re-runs of cult soap Prisoner...
or tuned in when she graced the airwaves on local radio...
Now spend an intimate evening of music, chat, fun and games
with JANE CLIFTON (Margo Gaffney) and a smorgasbord of quirky guests.
Every Monday night from July 3rd from 8.30pm at Hardiman’s Hotel, 521 Macaulay Road, KENSINGTON.
Pop upstairs to Janie’s Room for a drink and maybe even something to eat and let Jane entertain you in the old fashioned cabaret way.
For further info visit: www.hardimans.com.au
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26 JUNE 2006 : NEWS FROM PARTNERS IN CRIME
The latest Partners in Crime News Update has been delayed due to ill health, but hopefully should be hitting mailboxes within the next 2 weeks.
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25 JUNE 2006 : PRISONER NOT RETURNING TO CANADIAN TV...YET 
As reported last year on OTI's Newsdesk, Prisoner was due to be included in part of the OUTtv schedules when they relaunched their station. OUTtv is the world's first GLBT television network to broadcast 24/7 providing news, information and entertainment.
Our Canadian correspondant has since found out however, that due to 'clearances being so high' for Prisoner the series does not yet have a place in their schedules.
We don't know if the series will ever make it's way over there but as soon as we do, we'll let you know.
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26 MAY 2006 : THE SOAP SHOW - LIVE ON AIR
A brand new online radio show has been launched today 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 talks about her roles in various television shows and her new passion for art - as well as her memories from Prisoner. Also featured are Alan Fletcher, Tony Adams and Roger Oakley.
Visit The Soap Show every Friday for the new weekly show - with the promise of even more Prisoner next week!
The Soap Show Website
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22 MAY 2006 : PLACE YOUR BIDS... EXCLUSIVE MEMORABILIA UP FOR GRABS!
There's a suddent heap load of Prisoner related memorabilia on sale or up for auction right now!
To begin with, a Prisoner Crew Member's Jumper and Bandana owned by Glenda Linscott is on sale via eBay. Normally we wouldn't recommend this particular auction site, but the seller is VERY well known to us so we can definitely advise you to place a bid if you're interested!
To view the auctions, CLICK HERE!
Plus, fresh from her recent appearances on Aussie television, Val Lehman is offering for auction some very special items.
A 2006 Logie Pack complete with personalised invite, keyring and photos is for sale. Also, a highly sought after Mont Blanc pen is up for grabs to the highest bidder!
For information on how to bid, please check out Val's website HERE!
OTI is not associated with any of the items mentioned in this piece
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22 MAY 2006 : VAL LEHMAN - WHO'S WHO OF AUSSIE WOMEN
From Val's official website:
Fans may be interested to learn that Val has been included in the latest edition of Who's Who of Australian Women, due to be published on 6th June 2006.
Val's biography will appear among those of 4,500 notable women representing Aviation, Business, Fashion, Advocacy, Journalism, Nursing, Architecture, Community Service, The Arts, Agriculture and Philanthropy. Each women featured has had a significant impact on Australian Society.
If anyone is interested in obtaining a copy for themselves please e-mail
subs@crowncontent.com.au
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30 APRIL 2006 : STRONG WOMEN OF TELEVISION EVENT
Here's a date for your diary if you want to have a great evening and at the same time support a worthy cause - Walsall Breast Cancer Care Group.
Saturday May 13 sees an evening of Prisoner, Xena, Bad Girls and Cagney & Lacey to name but a few, celebrating strong women on television. There's even a vote to show everyone's favourite episode of Prisoner on the big screen!
Held at the County Hotel Walsall for only £10 a ticket you will receive a buffet meal, be able to take part in a TV and General Knowledge Quiz and have access to the bar to buy as many drinks as you want to make the night even merrier!
Please email Ann (fests2@ntlworld.com) for further details and how to book.
For travel directions to the venue, check out www.countyhotelwalsall.co.uk.
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30 APRIL 2006 : PRISONER ANNIVERSARY PARTY PHOTO DISC ON SALE
The 2006 Prisoner Anniversary Party organised by fan organisation Partners in Crime was held this year in February in Australia.
The event was a huge success and featured star guest Glenda Linscott (Rita Connors) who had a great time and has already booked herself for future events!
If you couldn't manage to make it this year, or if you'd like some memories of the night, the Photo Disc is now on sale. With full permission from everyone involved, the disc contains a large selection of photgraphs taken by Roz and Simon at Partners in Crime throughout the night.
For more information please contact Roz Vecsey by email: roz@partnersincrime.com.au
Partners in Crime is located online at partnersincrime.com.au.
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30 APRIL 2006 : 2006 TV WEEK LOGIE AWARDS
This year's Logie Awards are nearly upon us, and to celebrate 50 years of Australian TV the broadcast will include a retrospective of 50 years of Oz drama.
The segment will be presented by Lorraine Bayley and Paul Cronin from The Sullivans, and members of the Prisoner cast have also been asked to take part.
The Logie awards take place at Crown Casino in Melbourne on Sunday May 7 and will be transmitted on Channel 9 that evening. So if you're going to be in Melbourne get yourself down to Crown if you want to get a glimpse of the arrivals!
For full details about this years awards show plus all other Logie news log on to the TV Week website at tvweek.ninemsn.com.au.
Partners in Crime is located online at partnersincrime.com.au.
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30 MARCH 2006 : PUT YOURSELF IN MAGGIE'S SHOES!
Celebrities from across the world and from every field have generously shown their support of 'MAG's Give Landmines the Boot' Auction by donating items of footwear to raise money and awareness to clear landmines and unexploded bombs.
Maggie Millar (Marie Winter in Prisoner) has dontated a pair of sandals that she wore on Neighbours, in her role as Rosie Hoyland.
To place a bid and help raise money for this worthy cause click here!
Visit Maggie Millar's Official Website too!
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26 MARCH 2006 : MESSAGE FROM PARTNERS IN CRIME
From Roz Vecsey:
"Partners in Crime would like to apologise for the delay in sending out the Prisoner Fan Base News Update, this is due to the recent bushfires in Snake Valley, Victoria.
Thankfully our house is intact but we have experienced smoke and water damage, which has also affected telephone lines and internet connection.
We have also been devoting our spare time to helping the local wildlife which has been injured/displaced by the fire, so as you can imagine Prisoner stuff has taken the back seat for a while.
The next News Update is now scheduled for mid-April, and believe me, it will be well worth the wait!"
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12 MARCH 2006 : PRISONER ON EBAY
OTI does not recommend eBay for Prisoner: Cell Block H DVD's.
There are so many illegal 'pirate' copies of the series and subsequent specials going around that it's spoiling things for fans who want to buy something original.
It has also come to our attention that a number of eBay members have been using graphics and text copied directly from this website alongside their illegal auctions selling episodes of Prisoner on DVD which have been taped from the television.
We would like to make it clear that OTI is NOT associated in any way with these auctions and ask that you do not purchase any unofficial 'pirate' copies of the series.
We shall be forwarding the details of all eBay sellers abusing their membership to FremantleMedia who are very strict about their copyrighted material being sold without permission - so a warning to anyone who is selling illegal DVD's of the series: remove them now before you are prosecuted.
All current official DVD releases of Prisoner are available via our Video & DVD Info page - link to the left. As a result of this, all advertisements for eBay on this website will be removed in due course.
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12 MARCH 2006 : DOWN UNDER TV UPDATE
We've recently been in touch with Down Under TV to ask if they have plans to show Prisoner when their channel is launched on digital television here in the UK.
At present, they are still unable to confirm if the channel is going ahead so weren't able to give us any details as to what is planned for their schedules. However, they did say that Prisoner is definitely on their 'wish list' so hopefully when the channel does launch we will see Wentworth back on television again.
Keep watching this page for more news.
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28 FEBRUARY 2006 : VAL LEHMAN: "ANY BUDDING ARTISTS?"
Val Lehman's Top Dog Club has been such a success that it needs a logo to use on future items of merchandise such as t-shirts which will be available to members of the club.
Val has used this as an opportunity to give members of the TDC a chance to design a logo which could be used for the club and will be chosen by the very lady herself from all entries.
If you're not already a TDC member and would like to take part in this unique opportunity, head down to her official website and sign up!
The Official Val Lehman website is at val-lehman.com.
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14 FEBRUARY 2006 : PRISONER ANNIVERSARY PARTY 2006
Firstly, apologies for bringing you this news so late but we just had to let you know about the forthcoming Prisoner Anniversary Party organised by the Partners in Crime organisation in Australia.
This annual event will be held in St Kilda's Inkerman Palace again and promises to be another memorable evening - complete with BBQ, Prize Quiz and screenings of Prisoner throughout the night.
Guest of honour this year is none other than Glenda Linscott who of course played Rita Connors in Prisoner.
The party is taking place on Saturday 25 February 2006 from 2pm and if you'd like to receive further details please email Roz Vecsey as soon as possible - there may still be some availability.
Glenda will be signing photos for fans unable to attend the party, please email Roz for further details
Partners in Crime is located online at partnersincrime.com.au.
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14 FEBRUARY 2006 : DVD NEWS UPDATE
A quick update for everyone who has been asking about the DVD campaign, recently spear-headed by Val Lehman.
The production company involved in the possibility of getting the series released onto DVD has been thrilled at everyone's response and now has the confirmation that it was looking for - there is a genuine interest in making this a reality. They are now in talks with FremantleMedia in the hope that some arrangement can be made.
There's literally nothing else that we can do apart from wait for some good news to be coming our way about the series being released onto DVD this year.
As soon as we hear anything we'll let you know so please don't waste your time emailing us for more news just yet... because there isn't any!
Stay tuned.
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14 FEBRUARY 2006 : VAL JELLAY MAKES A FULL RECOVERY
Aussie actress Val Jellay (Mabel Morgan in Prisoner - and wife of the late Maurie Fields who played officer Len Murphy) has recently undergone major surgery for cancer.
Val was most recently seen by fans of Neighbours as Connie O'Rourke - the mother of character Lyn Scully (Janet Andrewartha).
Partners in Crime report that Val has since made a full recovery and is out of hospital and back in the market for work.
Val is one of Australia's true veterans of acting and it's great to hear that she's back to her old self again. We hope to see her back on stage very soon, doing what she does best!
Partners in Crime is located online at partnersincrime.com.au.
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14 FEBRUARY 2006 : THANK YOU!
Thanks to everyone for your congratulations messages regarding OTI becoming the Official Prisoner Cell Block H fan club. We're so pleased that we have everyone's support - keep watching the Welcome section of the site for more news as it is released.
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2 FEBRUARY 2006 : PRISONER IN THE NEWS
Following from previous news (below) that new TV channel Down Under TV is still apparently going ahead, it looks as if this has been confirmed as a small article featuring the famous Joan Ferguson photo appeared in the recent issue of television magazine Inside Soap.
The future for Prisoner returning this year looks very promising, especially if the national press have picked up on it.
We'll keep you posted... stay tuned.
Thanks to Recroom member D for scanning the article - to view a larger version just click on the picture to the right.
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21 JANUARY 2006 : DOWN UNDER TV TO GO AHEAD?
From Digital Spy:
Plans to launch a channel dedicated to Australian TV shows are still on, according to this week's Broadcast.
'Down Under TV' - from Thomas Cook TV operators Enteraction - is being lined up for a launch on Sky this summer.
The broadcaster is in negotiations with a number of distributors to air shows such as Neighbours, Home and Away and Cell Block H and is also expected to commission a number of Aussie lifestyle and travel shows.
The original article can be read at the Digital Spy website here: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds28256.html.
We will keep you informed as to any further details regarding Prisoner being included on the line-up. This is the most positive news we have received so far!
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18 JANUARY 2006 : WENTWORTH TO DISAPPEAR FOREVER?
Word has reached us that the Channel 10 studios used to film Prisoner - and the building used as Wentworth have been sold.
The Global Television studios in Nunawading - Melbourne, have been sold and the future looks uncertain as to who has bought them and exactly what is going to happen to the buildings housed there.
Neighbours is currently filmed inside the original Wentworth building (which in real life is the actual studio building) and we believe that the folks of Ramsay Street are moving to the Channel 7 studios to record the series - however this doesn't mean that Neighbours will be broadcast on a different channel.
In a worst-case-scenario for fans, depending on the new owners, the whole site could be re-developed and even demolished.
Please note that details are currently very sketchy and nothing has yet been officially confirmed so please keep visiting this site for more news as we get it.
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18 JANUARY 2006 : ON THE INSIDE NEEDS YOU!
It's now 2006 and OTI has been online for around 8 years or so. As the site continues to grow and grow, we're running out of hands to do things!
We're currently looking for a number of dedicated fans to join the OTI team and help us update sections of the site such as Character Profiles, Episode Reviews and our new Where Are They Now? pages.
If you think you've got what it takes to continue what we've started in those sections, please let us know. We have very big plans for OTI this year, and while we aren't able to offer any payment for your help, you will be part of the internet's busiest and most popular Prisoner web site online! We might even give you your own Prisoner Cell Block H email address!
Please let us know if you think you can help. Click on the 'Get in Touch' link to the left and drop us an email. We look forward to hearing from you!
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