Jump to: Theme Tune

Prisoner is quite unlike a lot of other TV series in that there is no actual opening theme tune. Instead, after a brief recap of the previous episode, a selection of 4 inmate mugshots is displayed on-screen and the action continues straight away. Mugshots were taken for most major characters - some of which didn't even make it on screen. We bring you the definitive Mugshot list complete with details on when each image was first used. Episodes 001 and 002 The first two episodes' opening titles were slightly extended, probably to introduce the series easier. We see Karen Travers, Lyn Warner and Bea Smith on the outside going about their normal lives, then the prison gate slams shut and we see their mugshots and prisoner numbers.                                     Episodes 003 to 692 From the third episode, Prisoner reduced the opening titles to show a total of 4 mugshots featuring three characters that were currently in the series. Generally we saw the front shot of one of the main characters followed by side shots of two others - initially using the characters of Karen, Lyn and Bea as above. Here, in order, are 'clean' mugshots that were featured throughout the rest of the series. Episode numbers of their first appearance on the opening titles are in brackets. Doreen Anderson (013) Franky Doyle (013) Lizzie Birdsworth (049) Doreen Burns (081) Judy Bryant (307) Judy Bryant (307) Judy Bryant (317) Judy Bryant (317) Nola McKenzie (335) Nola McKenzie (335) Lainie Dobson (353) Lainie Dobson (353) Tracey Belman (368) Tracey Belman (368) Maxine Daniels (373) Maxine Daniels (373) Pixie Mason (393) Pixie Mason (393) Sonia Stevens (397) Sonia Stevens (397) Bobbie Mitchell (419) Bobbie Mitchell (419) Sonia Stevens (419) Cass Parker (442) Cass Parker (442) Myra Desmond (448) Reb Kean (463) Reb Kean (463) Marlene Warren (515) Marlene Warren (515) Lexie Patterson (535) Lexie Patterson (535) Lou Kelly (535) Myra Desmond (539) Myra Desmond (539) Lou Kelly (539) Nora Flynn (539) Nora Flynn (553) Julie Egbert (593) Alice Jenkins (617) Rita Connors (627) Kath Maxwell (647) Kath Maxwell (651) Mugshot Trivia 49 different mugshot pictures were used, excluding the colour ones in episodes 1-2. 25 characters were featured in total over the years. The longest run of the same images was for episodes 81 to 306, using Doreen, Lizzie and Bea. Judy Bryant had two sets of mugshots taken - the first ones in front of a brick wall. Lainie Dobson was the only prisoner to be featured before she appeared in the series. Rare & Unseen Mugshots During the series' run, a number of mugshots and similar style images were taken of the various characters - some of which never made it the final series. Here are a selection of some that were not seen on-screen: Bea Smith Chrissie Latham Chrissie Latham Doreen Burns Franky Doyle Judy Bryant Julie Egbert Julie Egbert Lou Kelly Marilyn Mason Marlene Warren Merle Jones 'Mum' Brookes Nola McKenzie Rita Connors Theme Tune The closing theme tune 'On The Inside' was played over the closing credits on all but one of the 692 episodes (we'll come back to that later). Wonderfully sung by Lynne Hamilton (who also sung on a handful of other theme tunes), 'On The Inside' was written by Allan Caswell especially for the series. When the original cast first heard it, word has it that there were tears aplenty because the lyrics were so appropriate. In the early days, we were lucky enough to hear many different versions of the theme tune - sometimes also featured as background music in some scenes. There was even a moment when Judy Bryant played a very simple version of it on the piano in the Recroom during a scene! Of course, in true television style, we never heard the full version of the song and normally heard it arranged as Verse 1, Chorus, Verse 3, New Chorus. Plus, the version of the theme tune was scaled down in the UK and we rarely got the whole of the New Chorus played. This was due to the adverts on the credits, which British TV stations didn't like to show! The track was released as a single here in the UK in 1989 - check out the sleeves! It did incredibly well in the singles charts and made it into the top 5 and we even managed to get an appearance from Lynne Hamilton singing live on Top of the Pops! The original 7" vinyl release of the single is still fairly easy come by these days and you may be lucky and find a copy at a car boot sale where they seem to pop up now and again! Keep a hold of your copy if you have one! Earlier, we mentioned that the theme tune was played at the end of all but one episode. Why was this then? Pixie's Song. Judy Bryant's last storyline in the series was when she was snapped up as a songwriter after penning Pixie's song, which was almost stolen by fellow prisoner, Sheila Brady. Judy fell in love with best friend Pixie Mason and decided to write a song about her - which wasn't meant to be shown to anyone. Well to cut a long story short, the song was recorded and Judy was released from jail. To mark this occasion, they played Pixie's song at the end of the credits. As usual, we didn't get to hear the whole lot through but you can now download what we did manage to hear! FULL LYRICS TO "ON THE INSIDE" written by ALLAN CASWELL, performed by LYNNE HAMILTON Verse 1 He used to give me roses I wish he could again But that was on the outside And things were different then Verse 2 We build our world together With a love so clear and strong But that was on the outside Where did I go wrong? Chorus On the inside the sun still shines And the rain falls down But the sun and rain are prisoners too When morning comes around Verse 3 Last night I dreamed we were together Sharing all the love we'd known 'Til I had to face the nightmare Of waking up alone (Repeat Chorus) New Chorus On the inside the roses grow They don't mind the stoney ground But the roses here are prisoners too When morning comes around Verse 4 He used to give me roses I wish he could again But that was on the outside And things were different then LISTEN TO THE THEME TUNE »Standard TV Version (.ZIP) - Closing theme as played at the end of most episodes »Instrumental TV Version (.ZIP) - Instrumental version as played at the end of some episodes »Full Version (.ZIP) - Full version sung by Lynne Hamilton (temporarily unavailable) »Alternative Instrumental (.MP3) - As played at the end of episode 4 »Alternative Instrumental (.WMA) - Similar to above version »Cover Version (.MP3) - Performed by The Living End »Midi Version (.MID) - To use on your PC or mobile phone »Pixie's Song (.WAV) - As played over the end credits We have purposely only made low-quality versions of the tracks available. Please do not reproduce them for commercial use. Copyright remains with original holders.

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