Prisoners' Wives is a British television drama series created and written by Julie Gearey, produced by Tiger Aspect and set in Sheffield, South Yorkshire which revolves around four very different women, each struggling to cope with a significant man in her life serving time in prison.
The series premiered in the UK on BBC One on 31 January, 2012.
Prisoners' Wives premiered in South Africa on DStv's Sony Entertainment Television (SONY) channel on Monday 15 October 2012, at 20h30. See "Seasons" below for seasonal broadcast dates and times.
Season 2 premiered on SONY on Tuesday 23 April 2013, at 20h00. New episodes broadcast weekly. There are four episodes in the second season.
Season 1
Prisoners' Wives tells the story of four very different women, each struggling to cope with a significant man in her life serving time in prison.
Gemma, Francesca, Lou and Harriet are played by a strong and distinguished cast of female leads whose characters will clash and connect over the six episodes.
Written by Julie Gearey, this relationship-based ensemble drama is set and filmed in Sheffield and stars Emma Rigby, Polly Walker, Pippa Haywood and Natalie Gavin, supported by actors including Jonas Armstrong and Iain Glen.
Emma Rigby (Hollyoaks) plays Gemma; she has the perfect life - a perfect house, a perfect husband and a baby on the way. Despite a troubled upbringing, Gemma finally has the security and love she always craved... or so she thinks.
Her life comes crashing around her when armed police storm her house and arrest her husband on suspicion of murder. Steve is adamant of his innocence - but should Gemma believe him?
Polly Walker (Rome) plays Francesca; a colourful and glamorous career criminal's wife. She is happy to turn a blind eye to her husband's crimes and let him call the shots in exchange for a life of luxury while he's inside.
But when she goes from riches to rags, Francesca is forced to question a marriage that consists of two hours a week in a prison visits hall. Is a relationship worth fighting for when you haven't been touched in years - or can Francesca find happiness elsewhere?
Pippa Haywood (Green Wing) plays Harriet; a respectable middle-aged upstanding member of the local community. She led a quiet and sheltered life until her 'tough love' resulted in the imprisonment and estrangement of her only son.
She is desperate to connect with him, but how far will she cross the line in order to earn his forgiveness?
Natalie Gavin (The Arbour) is Lou; a devoted mother to 7-year-old Mason. Her boyfriend Sean is serving time on her behalf. Desperate to keep mother and son together, he took the rap for Lou's drug-dealing on the agreement that she would stop.
Trapped in a crime-ridden estate, Lou sees dealing as her way to escape - but if she's caught, she stands to lose everything.
Season 2
In the first season viewers were kept on the edge of their seats by writer Julie Gearey's gripping storylines. Every week the action-packed episodes drew the audience closer to each of the four women, Francesca, Harriet, Gemma and Lou and their unfurling stories.
In Season 2 viewers can look forward to the return of glamorous gangster's wife Francesca (Polly Walker) and long-suffering prisoner's Mum, Harriet (Pippa Haywood).
This time they are joined by two new characters: Kim (Sally Carman), a mother and the wife of a man falsely accused of a terrible crime and Aisling (Karla Crome), the gutsy teenage daughter of a repeat offender.
As each of the women struggles with the fall-out from their loved ones' imprisonment, viewers can expect even more crime and jeopardy, joy and laughter, sex and secrets.
Over four episodes viewers will enjoy an even more intense, high octane mix of thriller, romance, tension and wit.
This season Francesca is forced to confront the ugly reality of her husband's world. As the line blurs between criminal and criminal's wife, she and her family have to face devastating consequences.
Along with Harriet, Kim and Aisling's stories, Prisoners' Wives builds to an exhilarating finale.
Other well known faces to return include Iain Glen (Downton Abbey, Game Of Thrones) who plays Francesca's gangster husband Paul and David Bradley (Harry Potter, Mount Pleasant) who reprises his role as Frank, Francesca's father.
Adam Gillen (Benidorm, Fresh Meat) returns as Harriet's son Gavin and one of the UK's best loved and most popular actresses Anne Reid (Cemetery Junction, Upstairs, Downstairs) also joins the cast this season.
The series is executive produced for BBC One by Christopher Aird and for Tiger Aspect by Roanna Benn and Rebecca de Souza. Anna Ferguson is series producer. Prisoners' Wives is directed by Harry Bradbeer.
Seasons
Series exclusive to Sony Entertainment Television
Season 1 (6 episodes)
Premiere: 15 October 2012 | Finale: 19 November 2012 | Mondays, 20h30
Season 2 (4 episodes)
Premiere: 23 April 2013 | Finale: 14 May 2013 | Tuesdays, 20h00