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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.
***2007 ARCHIVE***
CLICK HERE for the latest news
22 NOVEMBER 2007 : NEED A CHRISTMAS PRESENT IDEA?
Christmas is almost with us again and if you're struggling to find a present for a loved one, or even if you'd like to treat yourself, we've got the answer!
On The Inside: An Intimate Portrait of Sheila Florance was published some time ago and tells the life story of the amazing woman who brought us Lizzie Birdsworth in Prisoner. Written by her former daughter-in-law, Helen Martineau, this book is one of the best we've read.
There are limited quantities still available of the biography and if you order direct from Helen, you'd be buying it at the discounted price of AUS $30.00 plus postage. Helen will also autograph the books if requested.
Don't leave it too late, order now - click on the link below to visit Helen's website.
Helen Martineau's website
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3 SEPTEMBER 2007 : PARIS HILTON TO STAR IN PRISONER MUSICAL?
Media website Digital Spy reports that the UK's Daily Star claims socialite and jailbird Paris Hilton is set to star in a new musical version of Prisoner.
This story was originally created on a joke news website, The Spoof, when Paris was sent to prison, and seems to have been taken seriously for some crazy reason.
We are aware of no plans to show another Prisoner musical so can not confirm that this story is genuine. Make up your own mind:
Digital Spy article 03/09/07
The Spoof article 25/06/07
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19 AUGUST 2007 : WE HIT THE HEADLINES! 
It doesn't happen very often, but OTI has featured in two popular newspapers this month.
We spoke to the nationwide Metro about the history of OTI and what we do, then were approached by The Sunday Sun in Tyne & Wear for a similar article.
Both articles are very tongue in cheek but mean no harm to fans or the series - we're happy to celebrate the popularity of Prisoner, even though nowadays it's quite dated so non viewers may be surprised at what all the fuss is about!
To view both articles please use the links below. The Metro's website can be accessed here and the Sunday Sun's here.
Metro Article 14/08/2007 (Spoiler alert!)
Sunday Sun Article 19/08/2007
NB - There are some small storyline errors in both articles.
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24 JULY 2007 : YOUR CHANCE TO OWN AN ORIGINAL PRISONER SKETCH
Maggie Millar has just completed a self portrait of herself as the nasty Marie Winter from Prisoner and is making this rare sketch available for a lucky fan to purchase!
This unique portrait is being made available to Prisoner fans before anyone else, so if you're interested - we recommend you make a move before it's too late!
Please direct all enquiries via email to admin@maggiemillar.net and details of prices will be sent by return.
Maggie's official website is located at www.maggiemillar.net.
Good luck!
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18 JUNE 2007 : ANNIE PHELAN RECEIVES QUEEN'S HONOUR
Prisoner star Annie Phelan (Myra Desmond) has featured in this year's Queen's Birthday Honours List.
Annie has supported a large number of charities over the years and receives an Order of Australia to acknowledge her work.
The current patron of the Australian charity Positive Women, Annie has increased the profile of people who are HIV positive, especially women, in the Australian community. Annie takes a keen interest in many of the members at Positive Women Victoria and many of them call her their friend.
Annie has touched many people’s lives over the past 40 years, not only by her acting, but by the generous giving of her time and knowledge.
We at OTI congratulate Annie on this well deserved award.
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19 MAY 2007 : WE OFFER TO SPONSOR THE GERDA NICOLSON AWARD
The Gerda Nicolson Award (for an Emerging Actress) was instituted in Gerda's name to commemorate her work in Australian theatre. Gerda of course wonderfully played governor Ann Reynolds in Prisoner.
Since her husband's death some years ago, the award has received no sponsorship so was unfortunately withdrawn.
We at OTI believe that Gerda was one of the finest actors to appear in Prisoner - indeed our website is dedicated to her memory (and that of Sheila Florance), so we have offered to sponsor the Gerda Nicolson Award in the future.
It is likely that if our offer is accepted, the award will consist of a crystal trophy - to replace the previous monetary prize offered in the past. Funding will be provided for this via our forthcoming Fan Club subcription fees, to be announced soon.
More details will be released as soon as we receive them.
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16 APRIL 2007 : DEATH OF JUSTINE SAUNDERS ANNOUNCED
Australia's movie and TV world is mourning the death of actor Justine Saunders, known to Prisoner fans as Pamela Madigan towards the end of the series.
Born in 1953, Justine had been battling against cancer for a number of years.
She was perhaps best known for roles in Fred Schepisi's 1978 movie The Chant of Jimmy Blacksmith, the 1981 TV mini-series Women of the Sun and the 1986 movie The Fringe Dwellers.
In more recent years, she appeared in the long-running police drama Blue Heelers, in the science fiction series Farscape and in ABC medical drama MDA.
Her last acting role was in 2004, alongside Barry Otto, in the stage play The Last Cab to Darwin.
Saunders, from the Kanomie clan of Keppel Island, received an Order of Australia in 1991 for services to the performing arts and to the National Aboriginal Theatre.
She also helped establish the Black Theatre and in setting up the Aboriginal National Theatre Trust in 1987.
A private service will be held this week and the statement said a memorial service would be held in Sydney in the near future, in accordance with her wishes.
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21 MARCH 2007 : MARGOT KNIGHT - APPEARING ON STAGE IN SYDNEY 
Best known as Sharon Gilmour or Terri Malone in Prisoner, actress Margot Knight brings her play 'Controlled Crying' to Sydney next month.
The play is for any parent who has ever wished that Super Nanny might pay them a visit, for anyone who has ever been part of a family. It has all the richest elements of the drama of the cycle of life - birth, death, braces and boyfriends. All with a good dose of humour.
At the heart of the play is a couple, trying to raise their child Millie without making a mistake. Impossible, maybe, but every parent has to try...
Some excellent reviews have been received from the Melbourne press, so if you're in the area please try and see it.
April 24th – May 12th 2007
Downstairs Theatre, Seymour Theatre Centre
(Cnr. City Rd & Cleveland St. Chippendale)
Previews: 24th April at 6.30 pm AND April 26th at 1.30pm
Opens: 26th April 8pm.
Season: Tuesdays 6.30 pm, Weds to Sats at 8pm til 12th May.
Saturday matinees: 5th and 12th May at 2pm.
Tickets: $30/25 conc. Groups 6 + $25 Previews: $20
Bookings: 9351 7940
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8 MARCH 2007 : STAR SPOTTING AT MEMORABILIA
Star of Prisoner Val Lehman (Bea Smith) will be making a return appearance at this month's Memorabilia event in Birmingham.
Memorabilia is a popular exhibition and has been running for years, where fans of cult TV and sport can mingle with their favourite stars. Other guests include Ian Wright (Footballer and TV presenter), Colin Baker (Doctor Who) and Toyah Willcox (Musician).
Val will be selling a number of photos along with other bits and pieces from her career. Autographs will also be available for a small charge (charges will be made by all celebrities).
The event is on the weekend of 31 March / 1 April at the N.E.C. in Birmingham.
For tickets, prices and more information check out www.memorabilia.co.uk.
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27 FEBRUARY 2007 : PRISONER PARTY 2007 - THANK YOU MESSAGE
Simon and I would just like to say a very big thank you to Travis, Corrine and their friends at the Inkerman Palace for making this years party such a huge success.
For the third year running these devoted Priz fans have opened up their home (and their hearts) to a bunch of strangers and allowed us to abuse all of their facilities in the name of Priz, their blood is worth bottling!
It was Trav and Corrine who did all the hard work on the day, our only contribution was to ring round a few "names" in our contact books and persuade them to turn up on the day, and ALL the credit should go to the Inkerman Palace and the wonderful actors who joined us.
Since arriving home I've received calls from all of the actors who came along, and they have asked me to pass on their thanks to everyone concerned....those girls certainly know how to party!
Cheers
Roz and Simon
Partners in Crime
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2 FEBRUARY 2007 : PRISONER PARTY 2007
Aussie Prisoner association Partners in Crime have released details of their annual Prisoner Party and it sounds like it's going to be a night full of fun as usual.
So far FOUR cast members are confirmed to be attending on the evening - Maxine Klibingaitis (Bobbie Mitchell), Kylie Foster (Angel Adams), Reylene Pearce (Phyllis Hunt) and Barbara Jungwirth (Lorna Young), plus there's a possibility of more names being announced soon.
Episodes of the series will be screened as well as the regular Prisoner Quiz which has become very popular and quite competative over the years! There's also a disco so you can expect to be partying through the night!
DATE: SATURDAY 24 FEBRUARY 07
TIME: 3pm til late
VENUE: The Inkerman Palace, St.Kilda, VIC.
TICKETS: $65 including full bbq and goody bag!
To book your ticket please email roz@partnersincrime.com.au.
!!!AUTOGRAPHS!!!
For fans unable to attend the party, Partners in Crime are offering the opportunity to order signed photos of the cast members who will be attending.
Photos will be subject to availability but will be standard black and white postcard size shots of the relevant actor, either in character or publicity shot, or as part of a group shot.
To place an order for a personalised, autographed photo please send an email to roz@partnersincrime.com.au.
For UK based fans the cost is £5 each (photo, P+P standard Airmail)
For Oz based fans the cost is $7 each (photo, P+P within Australia)
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23 JANUARY 2007 : A BUSY YEAR AHEAD...
Welcome to 2007 - previous news has now been archived. Click on the link below to view it.
2007 promises to be another busy year, especially as we have another batch of Prisoner volumes on DVD to look forward to.
Keep checking back here for the best in Prisoner news, as it happens...
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