When Sarah Bassiuoni started as a note-taker on the second series of the ABC’s 'The Heights', she seized the opportunity to write an episode on spec.
When the gates of Wentworth Correctional Centre open on the final season, three weeks have passed since the shivving of Allie (Kate Jenkinson). With Allie’s attacker still at large, no one, least of all the H1 family, realise that they have a terrorist and would-be murderer, Judy Bryant (Vivienne Awosoga), in their midst.
When the prison gates open on season 8 two new heritage characters arrive on the prison bus, Lou ‘Fingers’ Kelly (Kate Box) and Reb Keane (Zoe Terakes); also entering the building is new General Manager Ann Reynolds (Jane Hall). In episode three, young British hacktivist Judy Bryant (Vivienne Awosoga) joins the inmates and immediately wins the support of the women, and later in the series new character Sheila Bausch (Marta Dusseldorp) enters the compound on remand for mass murder.
When 'Wentworth' returns in 2020, the prison community is still reeling from the aftermath of the bloody siege with a new leader at the helm and four heritage characters from the original Prisoner series set to enter the compound.
Leading Australian actress Marta Dusseldorp will join the stellar ensemble cast for Season 8 playing Sheila Bausch who comes to 'Wentworth' on remand for the murder of nine people at True Path, a cult-like lifestyle retreat. Highly intelligent, charismatic and manipulative, Sheila worked as the personal secretary for True Path’s founder, Dr Mendel (Brian Vriends).
The government's review of local content quotas should result in a funding and regulatory framework that protects Australian stories, voices and jobs, according to Fremantle CEO Chris Oliver-Taylor.
With the future of Australian drama under the microscope in wake of relaxed local content quotas, there was always going to be added interest in the ABC's 2022 slate.
The ABC has commissioned two new live-action children's series, Aquarius Films' 'Parent Up' and Fremantle Australia's 'The PM’s Daughter'.