Denny Blood Despite her tough exterior, Denny’s upbringing has left her desperate for love and attention, making her very easy to manipulate – and that’s something Shell Dockley is expert at doing. Denny is Shell’s “fixer” and not being the sharpest knife in the drawer she’s always willing to do Shell’s bidding without question. One day, however, she’s going to have to find a voice of her own… Shel Dockley Before sentencing Shell to life, the judge presiding over her trial described her as “evil personified”, a tag she never has a problem living up to. Whether it’s taxing another inmate for her drugs stash or the intimidation of a weaker prisoner, Shell displays an equal amount of cunning and ruthlessness to get her own way. She considers herself Jim Fenner’s right-hand woman and trades on the special privileges she gets for “services rendered”. Justin Mattison Justin is a new junior officer, a fresh young puppy dog who really does want to do good, and thinks that Helen is absolutely perfect, not only as Wing Governor, but maybe even something more... Bursting with integrity and rather shy, Justin is easily teased by the older women prisoners in particular. But as he firmly tells Yvonne, “if you want to screw a screw, you’ve picked the wrong one”. Noreen Biggs Recidivist old-timer Noreen regularly gets itchy fingers in the shops and can’t resist the thrill of picking up a few treats. As time’s gone on she’s more at home in prison than anywhere else and she’s been round the system so many times she knows exactly how to play it to her advantage. Noreen loves a “bit of bother” and is always ready to stoke a fight from the sidelines. Crystal Gordon As a bible-bashing Christian, Crystal often takes a critical view of her fellow inmates and believes that the prison regime is too soft – especially where drugs are concerned. She can be self-righteous and totally blind to her own self-contradictions and often comical as a result. But at heart she’s a kind and caring person who does believe in standing up for what’s right. Sylvia Hollomby As far as Sylvia is concerned “happiness is door-shaped” and it would make her life a hell of a lot easier if prisoners were just kept locked in their cells 24/7. She admires Jim Fenner immensely, and shares his conviction that the Wing Governor job should have gone to him instead of to Helen Stewart. She is, however, blind to the full extent of Jim’s misdemeanours with the prisoners, and would be genuinely shocked if she knew. Rachel Hicks When Rachel arrives at Larkhall as a first time offender she’s scared and isolated and distraught about the fact that her baby has been taken into care. She’s got “victim” written all over her and is easy prey for prison bully Shell Dockley. She naively trusts Jim Fenner to look after her, but soon discovers that his “special attention” isn’t quite the sort of protection she had imagined. Jim Fenner Jim’s a man who likes to run things in prison his own way, rather than by the book, and he’ll use whatever means necessary. He can easily justify his “pastoral” role with prisoners; the women have come on strong to him, he’s got what they need and he’s happy to give it to them. So where’s the harm? His unholy alliance with Shell Dockley keeps him in the picture about what’s happening on the wing as well as providing some “on the job” recreation. Helen Stewart As a graduate ‘fast-tracker’, Helen is held in contempt by old hands such as Fenner and Hollamby who both firmly believe that there is no substitute for experience and “jailcraft”. She’s idealistic and genuinely
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