Fallout (Wentworth)

Wentworth Season 8

Company type	Television season
Industry	Television
Founded	July 28, 2020 (2020-07-28)
Headquarters	Australia
Products	Wentworth (TV series)

The eighth installment of the Australian drama series Wentworth debuted on Fox Showcase on 28 July 2020. This concluding season, consisting of twenty episodes, was divided into two segments: Wentworth: Redemption, which featured the initial ten episodes broadcast in 2020, and Wentworth: The Final Sentence, encompassing the final ten episodes that aired beginning 24 August 2021. The storyline picks up following the events of the previous season's siege, centering on how both inmates and staff work to restore their lives. A significant plot point includes the return of Joan Ferguson, who reveals the circumstances behind her survival after being buried alive by Will Jackson.

Season eight introduced four principal new characters: Ann Reynolds (portrayed by Jane Hall), Lou Kelly (Kate Box), Judy Bryant (Vivienne Awosoga), and Reb Keane (Zoe Terakes). Additionally, special guest appearances were made by Marta Dusseldorp as Sheila Bausch and Tina Bursill as Eve Wilder.

In markets such as Canada and the United Kingdom, the latter half of season eight was promoted independently as a ninth season.

Main

• Leah Purcell as Rita Connors
• Kate Jenkinson as Allie Novak
• Katrina Milosevic as Susan "Boomer" Jenkins
• Robbie J Magasiva as Governor Will Jackson
• Bernard Curry as Jake Stewart
• Rarriwuy Hick as Ruby Mitchell
• Susie Porter as Marie Winter
• Kate Box as Lou Kelly
• Jane Hall as Ann Reynolds
• Zoe Terakes as Reb Keane
• Vivienne Awosoga as Judy Bryant
• Kate Atkinson as Vera Bennett
• Pamela Rabe as Joan Ferguson

Special guest

• Marta Dusseldorp as Sheila Bausch
• Tina Bursill as Eve Wilder
• Gary Sweet as Dale Langdon

Recurring

• David de Lautour as Dr. Greg Miller
• Jacquie Brennan as Deputy Governor Linda Miles
• Peter O'Brien as Tony Cockburn
• Emily Havea as Mon Alson
• Louisa Mignone as Zaina Saad
• Alexandra Schepisi as Cynthia Rattray
• Dion Mills as Joe Hoxon
• Marco Chiappi as Liam Skinner
• Tom Wren as Dominic Slade
• Kevin Harrington as Officer Roberts
• Alex Andreas as Detective Kanellis
• Mereoni Vuki as Detective McKenner
• Cecilia Low as Officer Deng
• Nicholas Farnell as Detective Jones
• Patrick Harvey as Detective Morelli
• Cle Morgan as Carla Sturgess
• Lana Williams as Kath Maxwell
• Greg Fryer as Blair Mitchell

Production

Filming for the eighth season of Wentworth commenced in October 2019. This season is comprised of twenty episodes under the title "Redemption," with the initial ten installments airing in 2020 and the remaining episodes released in 2021.

Brian Walsh, Foxtel’s Executive Director of Television, commended the series for its exceptional standing within Foxtel’s Australian drama portfolio, praising both the creative team and ensemble cast.

Among the new additions to the cast were Kate Box, who took on the role of Lou Kelly—a former top dog recognized for her aggressive methods; Jane Hall, portraying Ann Reynolds, the authoritative general manager appointed after the siege; and Zoe Terakes playing Reb Keane, a transgender inmate and Lou’s romantic interest. Vivienne Awosoga joined the cast in the role of Judy Bryant. These characters originally appeared in the series Prisoner, with their original actors acknowledged. In June 2020, it was revealed that Marta Dusseldorp would portray Sheila Bausch, a cult figure accused of mass murder, theft, and arson. Later that year, Tina Bursill was cast to play Eve Wilder for episodes airing in 2021; Bursill had previously played Sonia Stevens in Prisoner, while Eve Wilder was originally portrayed by Lynda Stoner.

Awards

Equity Ensemble Awards

• Nomination: Most Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series – Wentworth (Season 8, Part 1)

TV Tonight Awards

• Recipient: TV Tonight Award for Best Australian Drama Series – Wentworth (Season 8, Part 1)

International distribution

The eighth season debuted in Australia on Fox Showcase on 28 July 2020, followed by its UK premiere on 5STAR on 5 August. In New Zealand, the series is available through TVNZ's TVNZ 2 channel and the TVNZ OnDemand streaming platform.

Initially, Season 8, Part 2 was scheduled to air in Germany starting 21 July 2021 on Sky Atlantic, featuring two episodes per week. However, after Foxtel announced the Australian release date of 24 August, Sky Atlantic postponed its broadcast to follow the Australian premiere.

The latter half of Season 8 launched concurrently with Australia on 24 August 2021 on 5STAR in the United Kingdom.

Home media

Title	Release Date	Region	Formats		References
			DVD	Blu-ray
Wentworth: Season 8, Part 1: Redemption	25 November 2020	Australia − Template:Center	Template:Ya	Template:Ya
Wentworth: Season 8, Part 2: The Final Sentence	2 February 2022		Template:Ya	Template:Ya
Wentworth Prison: Season Eight, Part One	23 November 2020	Template:Country data UK − Template:Center	Template:Ya	Template:Ya
Wentworth Prison: Season Eight, Part Two	22 November 2021		Template:Ya	Template:Ya

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