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The Liver Birds

2024-05-12T20:46:53Z

Vodkamad: /* Main */

{{Short description|British TV sitcom (1969–1996)}}
{{other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox television
| image = Liver Birds screenshot.jpg
| caption = [[Polly James]] (left) and [[Nerys Hughes]]
| genre = [[Sitcom]]
| creator = [[Carla Lane]] [[Myra Taylor (scriptwriter)|Myra Taylor]]
| starring = [[Polly James]] (1969–1974, 1996) [[Pauline Collins]] (1969) [[Nerys Hughes]] (1971–1979, 1996) [[Elizabeth Estensen]] (1975–1979)
| writer = [[Carla Lane]] [[Myra Taylor (scriptwriter)|Myra Taylor]] Lew Schwarz Jack Seddon David Pursall
| theme_music_composer =
| opentheme =
| endtheme =
| composer =
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
| num_series = 10
| num_episodes = 86
| list_episodes =
| runtime = 24 minutes
| network = [[BBC One|BBC1]]
| first_aired = {{Start date|1969|04|14|df=y}}
| last_aired = {{End date|1978|12|29|df=y}}
| first_aired2 = {{Start date|1996|05|06|df=y}}
| last_aired2 = {{End date|1996|06|24|df=y}}
}}

'''''The Liver Birds''''' is a British [[sitcom]], set in [[Liverpool]], [[North West England]], which aired on [[BBC One|BBC1]] from April 1969 to December 1978, and again in 1996. The show was created by [[Carla Lane]] and [[Myra Taylor (scriptwriter)|Myra Taylor]]. The two Liverpudlian housewives had met at a local writers club and decided to pool their talents. Having been invited to London by [[Michael Mills (British producer)|Michael Mills]], the BBC's then Head of Comedy, and asked to write about two women sharing a flat, Mills brought in sitcom expert [[Sydney Lotterby]] to work with the writing team.

Lotterby had previously worked with [[Eric Sykes]] and [[Sheila Hancock]], and on ''[[The Likely Lads]]''. For the Liver Birds, Carla Lane wrote most of the episodes, Taylor co-writing only the first two series. The pilot was shown on 14 April 1969 as an episode of ''[[Comedy Playhouse]]'', the BBC's breeding ground for sitcoms at the time.<ref name="ComedyConnections">BBC ''Comedy Connections''</ref>

==Premise==
The series charted the ups and downs of two "dolly birds" sharing a flat on Liverpool's Huskisson Street, concentrating on the two young single women's dealings with boyfriends, work, parents and each other. Dressed in the best 1970s fashions, they looked for romance in a loose female equivalent of ''[[The Likely Lads]]''.

==History==
The pilot and Series 1 starred [[Pauline Collins]] as Dawn and [[Polly James]] as Beryl Hennessey. In Series 2, [[Nerys Hughes]] debuted as Sandra Hutchinson, replacing Dawn for the rest of the programme's run. The Beryl-and-Sandra pairing is generally regarded as the programme's best period. Beryl was the more 'common' one, while Sandra was soft-spoken and more refined, due to the influence of her snobbish, overbearing mother ([[Mollie Sugden]]).

Carla Lane drew on her own mother for the character – "Mrs Hutchinson, I think she was my mother. I'm sure she was my mother". Beryl's 'common' mother (the Hennesseys live in [[Bootle]], a [[working class]] district north of the city) was played by Sheila Fay. Future ''[[Emmerdale]]'' actor [[Elizabeth Estensen]] as Carol Boswell replaced Beryl from Series 5 onwards.

The title comes from the name given to two [[Liver bird|sculpted birds]] perched on top of the [[Royal Liver Building]] at [[Pier Head]] in the city of [[Liverpool]]. [[Michael Mills (British producer)|Michael Mills]], who commissioned the series, came up with the title, although it was initially disliked by Carla Lane.<ref name="ComedyConnections" /> [[The Scaffold]] – a pop group whose line-up comprisesd [[John Gorman (entertainer)|John Gorman]], later of ''[[Tiswas]]'' fame, poet [[Roger McGough]], and [[Mike McCartney]] – sang the title song.

Both the pilot and all four episodes from series 1 (originally aired in 1969) are missing, presumed [[Lost television broadcast#Wiping|wiped]] in their entirety, however, the opening titles (including some footage from one of the missing episodes) still exist.

The first series was stopped after four episodes because [[Polly James]]' hectic schedule—working every evening on ''[[Anne of Green Gables - The Musical|Anne of Green Gables]]'' in the [[West End theatre|West End]], then rehearsing all day for the TV show—was proving too much. By the time James was available again, [[Pauline Collins]] had moved to [[LWT]]'s ''[[Upstairs, Downstairs (1971 TV series)|Upstairs, Downstairs]]''. The producer [[Sydney Lotterby]] remembered having worked with [[Nerys Hughes]] on ''[[The Likely Lads]]'' and, wrongly believing the Welsh actress was from Liverpool, asked her to read for a part in ''The Liver Birds''. (Neither actress really had a Liverpool accent: James was from [[Oswaldtwistle]],<ref>"Liverpool birds", ''Radio Times'', 5–11 February 1972</ref> near [[Blackburn]], and Hughes was from [[Rhyl]].) Impressed with Hughes' reading, he offered her the part of Sandra, and the new series, in colour, began. The first episode of the second series aired on 7 January 1971. The actresses got on well together. "The rapport between Polly and myself was fairly instant. It was excellent. It happened in a twinkling really." said Hughes later, and James added, "We just fitted together. We learned our lines sipping [[Pernod]] milkshakes."<ref name="BBCtvComedy">BBCtv ''Comedy Connections''</ref>

Following the second series, [[Myra Taylor (scriptwriter)|Myra Taylor]], who missed her family, stopped writing for the show. With 13 episodes commissioned for the third series, Michael Mills felt that the writing duties would be too much for Lane to handle alone, so he handed six episodes to the writing duo of Jack Seddon and David Pursall. This writing arrangement finished at the end of the third series.<ref name="BBCtvComedy" />

Carla Lane became sole writer for the fourth series. She felt it was now time for the Liver Birds to start thinking about longer-term relationships with men. [[John Nettles]] played Paul, Sandra's (frustrated) boyfriend, and [[Jonathan Lynn]] played Robert, Beryl's boyfriend. "I always wanted The Liver Birds not to be too keen about marriage—not to down it—but not to be out to get a boyfriend to marry," Lane explained. Beryl's mother (Sheila Fay) voiced the critical view: "Man is the dog, and woman is the bone. He eats the best of you, and buries the rest of you, and when his dish is empty—he'll dig you up again." This would be the last series with Beryl; as [[Polly James]] explained: "The reason I left the programme in the end was that I felt I was in danger of caricaturing what was already a pretty outrageous character."<ref>Speaking on ''Comedy Connections'' BBC tv</ref>

Producer Sydney Lotterby had to find a new leading actress to keep the series going after Polly James' departure. In 1971 he'd replaced Pauline Collins with Nerys Hughes, and Hughes herself spotted her potential new flatmate: 'I went to see a musical in town--[[Willy Russell]]'s, ''John, Paul, George, Ringo..and Bert'', and saw [[Elizabeth Estensen]].' Lotterby saw the performance at Hughes' suggestion, and asked Estensen to audition for the part. 'She was loud, and abrasive, and exactly what I wanted,' said Lotterby. So Beryl, the bouncy blonde, was replaced by feisty, flame-haired Carol.<ref>''Comedy Connections'' BBCtv</ref> Now into the fifth series, Carla Lane expanded her range from single life to family life and introduced Carol's relatives: the Boswells. "They were a close family—they were a dysfunctional family" said Estensen, and they included Carol's brother Lucien, played by native-Liverpudlian [[Michael Angelis]]; her father Mr. Boswell played by [[Ray Dunbobbin]]; and her mother Mrs. Boswell played initially by Eileen Kennally and later [[Carmel McSharry]]. Carla Lane's later series [[Bread (TV series)|''Bread'']] revolved around the Boswell family and, in interviews, Lane agreed that the two families were probably related.

In 1996, 17 years after the final episode of the classic original series was broadcast, the BBC revived the series, reuniting Beryl and Sandra as they coped with the aftermath of their respective failed marriages.

As the BBC's own website admits, some liberties were taken with continuity: [[Carmel McSharry]], who had played Carol's mother in series 8-9 returned transformed into Beryl's mother, and Carol's rabbit-obsessed brother Lucien Boswell, played by [[Michael Angelis]], became Beryl's brother Lucien Hennessey.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/liverbirds/|title=BBC – Comedy – The Liver Birds|publisher=BBC}}</ref> The revival was not a ratings success and only lasted one series.

== Cast and characters ==
===Main===
* [[Pauline Collins]] as Dawn (Pilot & Series 1)
* [[Polly James]] as Beryl Hennessey (Pilot & Series 1–4,10)
* [[Nerys Hughes]] as Sandra Hutchinson (Series 2–10)
* [[Elizabeth Estensen]] as Carol Boswell (Series 5–9)

===Recurring===
* [[Mollie Sugden]] as Mrs. Hutchinson (Series 2–10)
* Sheila Fay as Mrs. Hennessey (Series 2–4)
** [[Carmel McSharry]] as Mrs. Hennessey (Series 10)
* Ivan Beavis as Mr. Hutchinson (Series 2–4)
** [[William Moore (actor)|William Moore]] as Mr. Hutchinson (Series 8)
* [[Cyril Shaps]] as Mr. Hennessey (Series 2–3)
** John Mckelvey as Mr. Hennessey (guest Series 5)
** [[Bill Dean]] as Mr. Hennessey (Series 10)
* [[Paula Wilcox]] as Gloria (Series 2–3)
* [[John Nettles]] as Paul (Series 3–7)
* [[Jonathan Lynn]] as Robert (Series 5)
* [[Patrick McAlinney]] as Father O'Leary (Series 4–8)
* Eileen Kennally as Mrs. Boswell (Series 5–7)
** Carmel McSharry as Mrs. Boswell (Series 8–9)
* [[Ray Dunbobbin]] as Mr. Boswell (Series 4–9)
* [[Michael Angelis]] as Lucien Boswell (Series 5–10)
* Jack Le White as Grandad (Series 5–6, 8–9)
* Jackie Fishel as Barbara (Series 5–6, 8–9)
* [[Tom Chadbon]] as Derek Paynton (Series Series 8–9)
* [[Lee Oakes]] as Gwyn (Series 10)
* Geoffery Leesley as Rex (Series 10)

== Episodes ==

{{Series overview
| infoA =
| caption = Series

| color0S = #A3C1AD
| link0S = #Pilot (1969)
| linkT0S = Pilot
| start0S = {{Start date|1969|4|14|df=y}}
| infoA0 =

| color1 = #A2A2D0
| link1 = #Series 1 (1969)
| episodes1 = 4
| start1 = {{Start date|1969|7|1|df=y}}
| end1 = {{End date|1969|8|25|df=y}}

| color2 = #fc9
| link2 = #Series 2 (1971)
| episodes2 = 12
| start2 = {{Start date|1971|1|7|df=y}}
| end2 = {{End date|1971|3|25|df=y}}

| color3 = #EFBBCC
| link3 = #Series 3 (1972)
| episodes3 = 13
| start3 = {{Start date|1972|2|11|df=y}}
| end3 = {{End date|1972|5|5|df=y}}

| color4 = #FCE883
| link4 = #Series 4 (1974)
| episodes4 = 13
| start4 = {{Start date|1974|1|2|df=y}}
| end4 = {{End date|1974|4|3|df=y}}

| color5 = #B9D9EB
| link5 = #Series 5 (1975)
| episodes5 = hide
| episodes5A = 7
| start5A = {{Start date|1975|9|5|df=y}}
| end5A = {{End date|1975|10|17|df=y}}
| episodes5B = Special
| start5B = {{Start date|1975|12|23|df=y}}
| end5B = start

| color6 = #A8E4A0
| link6 = #Series 6 (1976)
| episodes6 = 5
| start6 = {{Start date|1976|2|13|df=y}}
| end6 = {{End date|1976|3|12|df=y}}

| color7 = #F6EABE
| link7 = #Series 7 (1976)
| episodes7 = hide
| episodes7A = 8
| start7A = {{Start date|1976|10|17|df=y}}
| end7A = {{End date|1976|12|5|df=y}}
| episodes7B = Special
| start7B = {{Start date|1976|12|22|df=y}}
| end7B = start

| color8 = #C2B280
| link8 = #Series 8 (1977)
| episodes8 = hide
| episodes8A = 7
| start8A = {{Start date|1977|9|23|df=y}}
| end8A = {{End date|1977|11|4|df=y}}
| episodes8B = Special
| start8B = {{Start date|1977|12|23|df=y}}
| end8B = start

| color9 = #EDC9AF
| link9 = #Series 9 (1978)
| episodes9 = 6
| start9 = {{Start date|1978|11|24|df=y}}
| end9 = {{End date|1978|12|29|df=y}}

| color10 = #D6CADD
| link10 = #Series 10 (1996)
| episodes10 = 7
| start10 = {{Start date|1996|5|6|df=y}}
| end10 = {{End date|1996|6|24|df=y}}
}}

=== Pilot (1969) ===
{{Episode table|background=#A3C1AD |overall=5|forceoverall=y|title=26|director=14|writer=14|airdate=16|aux2=18|aux2T=Archival Status |country=UK|episodes=
{{Episode list
| Title = [[Comedy Playhouse#ep72|Comedy Playhouse: The Liver Birds]]
| DirectedBy = [[Bernard Thompson (director)|Bernard Thompson]]
| WrittenBy = [[Carla Lane]], [[Myra Taylor (scriptwriter)|Myra Taylor]], Lew Schwarz
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1969|4|14|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=Comedy Playhouse presenting: The Liver Birds| url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/033cdcd536e843278bf159d1cb675e21| website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=24 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 1
| Aux2 = Missing
| ShortSummary = The first episode of the eighth series of ''Comedy Playhouse''.
| LineColor = A3C1AD
}}
}}

=== Series 1 (1969) ===
{{Episode table|background=#A2A2D0 |overall=5|series=5|title=26|director=14|writer=14|airdate=16|aux2=18|aux2T=Archival Status|country=UK|episodes=
{{Episode list
| Title = Potent Perfume aka An Interesting Condition
| DirectedBy = [[Bernard Thompson (director)|Bernard Thompson]]
| WrittenBy = [[Carla Lane]], [[Myra Taylor (scriptwriter)|Myra Taylor]], Lew Schwarz
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1969|7|25|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title= Fri 25th Jul 1969, 20:20 on BBC One London | url= https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/f363c70cf4ec40b4af43245daa80c064 | website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=24 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 2
| EpisodeNumber2 = 1
| Aux2 = Missing
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = A2A2D0
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = The Photographer
| DirectedBy = Bernard Thompson
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane, Myra Taylor, Lew Schwarz
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1969|8|1|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title= Fri 1st Aug 1969, 20:20 on BBC One London | url= https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/e50bc7d936c140ec87877b956703d9d6 | website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=24 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 3
| EpisodeNumber2 = 2
| Aux2 = Missing
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = A2A2D0
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Aristocracy And Crime
| DirectedBy = Bernard Thompson
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane, Myra Taylor, Lew Schwarz
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1969|8|8|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title= Fri 8th Aug 1969, 20:20 on BBC One London | url= https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/f2adeac25e35424e87cbfa6dd19cf937 | website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=24 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 4
| EpisodeNumber2 = 3
| Aux2 = Missing
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = A2A2D0
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Torremolinos, Costa Del Sol Or Southport?
| DirectedBy = Bernard Thompson
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane, Myra Taylor, Lew Schwarz
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1969|8|15|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title= Fri 15th Aug 1969, 20:20 on BBC One London | url= https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/73bd5a13451c4e5ab7eaf47114111b77 | website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=24 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 5
| EpisodeNumber2 = 4
| Aux2 = Missing
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = A2A2D0
}}
}}

=== Series 2 (1971) ===
{{Episode table|background=#fc9 |overall=5|series=5|title=26|titleR={{efn|There are two different episode listings for Series 2. Sources that list the series always do so in air date order, though the two contradictory listings are both still used. This alternative listing is as follows:
# The New Flat
# The Good Samaritans
# The Holiday Fund aka Housekeeping
# Look Before You Leap
# The Wedding
# Three's a Crowd
# The Proposal aka The Engagement
# The Man Downstairs aka The New Neighbour
# The Dog
# Grandad
# Mother's Day
# Promotion}}|director=14|writer=14|airdate=16|country=UK|episodes=
{{Episode list
| Title = The Wedding
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = [[Carla Lane]], [[Myra Taylor (scriptwriter)|Myra Taylor]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1971|1|7|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Thu 7th Jan 1971, 19:45 on BBC One London| url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/2fb4d83fd1754ee391ec92e08f5ef829| website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 6
| EpisodeNumber2 = 1
| ShortSummary = Beryl's sister Gloria ([[Paula Wilcox]]) is having second thoughts about marrying Ernie Titlark ([[Barrie Rutter]]); "It didn't work for you, why should it work for me?" she asks her mother. "Because I married a slob." "How do you know Ernie isn't a slob?" asks her father ([[Cyril Shaps]]). "Well, they're all slobs—but you've got to marry them to find out," her mother replies. Carla Lane said she "always liked writing weddings because they're really funny, aren't they?--and ridiculous, let's face it." In the BBC programme ''Comedy Connections'' producer Sydney Lotterby had said, "we weren't even allowed to talk about the pill—which is quite ridiculous, I mean, it was happening, but there we are." In fact, it's mentioned in this episode: Sandra says 'Remember your mum when Gloria got engaged, "Oh, my daughter! my innocent little daughter!"' Beryl: 'Yeah, and there was our Gloria scoffin' her [[Combined oral contraceptive pill|pill]] with her elevenses.'
| LineColor = fc9
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Look Before You Leap
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane, Myra Taylor
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1971|1|14|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Thu 14th Jan 1971, 19:45 on BBC One London| url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/48393e07eb4644678a5e4804b0aab279| website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 7
| EpisodeNumber2 = 2
| ShortSummary = Sandra is depressed over a misunderstanding with boyfriend Peter ([[Derek Fowlds]]) and Beryl, worried that she might do something stupid, tries to help.
| LineColor = fc9
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = The Holiday Fund aka Housekeeping
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane, Myra Taylor, Lew Schwarz
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1971|1|21|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Thu 21st Jan 1971, 19:45 on BBC One London| url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/ceeb1a935f5847c29ab31992880be468| website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 8
| EpisodeNumber2 = 3
| ShortSummary = Finding their 'Holiday Fund' short of the money they will need to get to Spain for '10 days in torrid [[Torremolinos]], 10 nights of madness in the Mediterranean,' the girls consider selling Beryl's antique night [[commode]]. [[Ken Jones (actor)|Ken Jones]] appears. (In this episode Polly James fell victim to Carla Lane's eccentric choice of set décor: "We had in our flat, we had a commode. Things would go wrong and we were not allowed to stop." Nerys Hughes: "She was meant to have sat down on the commode and I'd forgotten to put the lid down." Polly James: "And I sat down and went right down into it." Hughes momentarily cracks up, but they carry on with the scene.)
| LineColor = fc9
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = The Proposal aka The Engagement
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane, Myra Taylor
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1971|1|28|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Thu 28th Jan 1971, 19:45 on BBC One London| url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/428d897d203447fd93999fd95e88f29f| website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 9
| EpisodeNumber2 = 4
| ShortSummary = Sandra thinks she's in love with Danny ([[Tim Wylton]]) and wants Beryl to be out of the way when he's around. Beryl tries going to the cinema, then decides to take pity on fellow tenant Gerry ('All he ever does is go to the [[laundrette]], or talk to his cat') and visits him, which makes Gerry think she fancies him. Meanwhile, Danny seems interested in just one thing ('I'd like to think that you weren't just physical—but, well, mental').
| LineColor = fc9
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = The Good Samaritans
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane, Myra Taylor
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1971|2|4|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Thu 4th Feb 1971, 19:45 on BBC One London| url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/12d39d1412364795ac39523ed0046d8b| website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 10
| EpisodeNumber2 = 5
| ShortSummary = Sandra and Beryl agree to look after another tenant's cat while he visits his parents for the weekend. Also: Sandra reads [[Bertrand Russell]]'s ''Sceptical Essays'' and vows to be 'considerate and understanding and ready to serve humanity', but the effort to be [[Good Samaritan]]s makes life awkward.
| LineColor = fc9
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Three's a Crowd
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane, Myra Taylor
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1971|2|11|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Thu 11th Feb 1971, 19:45 on BBC One London| url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/0d81f83246d44f9f852222ac5038ed16| website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 11
| EpisodeNumber2 = 6
| ShortSummary = Sandra's actress friend Victoria visits. She likes their 'so beautifully tatty' place, but her demands get on Beryl's nerves. [[Christopher Timothy]] and [[Joe Gladwin]] appear in this episode.
| LineColor = fc9
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = The New Neighbour aka The Man Downstairs
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane, Myra Taylor
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1971|2|18|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Thu 18th Feb 1971, 19:45 on BBC One London| url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/f5886c99c9c2420da356442b666aab2e| website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 12
| EpisodeNumber2 = 7
| ShortSummary = Suave Derek ([[Ronald Allen]]) moves into the house and excites Beryl's and Sandra's interest. They waste no time introducing themselves and when they learn that he spends his weekends in [[Llandudno]], at his parents' guest house, they separately decide to follow him there. [[Carol Cleveland]] appears. (In this episode Sandra says to Beryl at one point: "I'm the handle-with-care sort, and you're the smash-and-grab sort." According to Carla Lane this reflected the ''Lane/Taylor'' writing team. "We knew we had to have one, one way, and one the other, and you had it on a plate. ''Myra/Carla''. Polly was Myra, full of the devil, said what she thought. I was from a nice family and a little bit sort of ''Oh no you can't do that''. I became Sandra. We used each other as characters.")
| LineColor = fc9
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = The New Flat
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane, Myra Taylor, Lew Schwarz
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1971|2|25|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Thu 25th Feb 1971, 19:45 on BBC One London| url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/1c628826fe6e41ad860b185bc4c2d766| website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 12
| EpisodeNumber2 = 8
| ShortSummary = The women find themselves arguing, blame their cramped conditions, and try moving to a bigger property in [[Allerton, Liverpool|Allerton]]. But when they find they need a third flatmate to make the rent, they end up back in Huskisson Street. [[Ken Platt]], [[Nicholas Smith (actor)|Nicholas Smith]], [[Patricia Shakesby]] and [[Veronica Doran]] all appear in this episode.
| LineColor = fc9
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = The Dog
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane, Myra Taylor
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1971|3|4|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Thu 4th Mar 1971, 19:45 on BBC One London| url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/91be48531abb441a9f37533c04292db3| website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 14
| EpisodeNumber2 = 9
| ShortSummary = Just as Sandra brings home a stray dog, Mr Barrett ([[John Sharp (actor)|John Sharp]]) tells Beryl that the landlord ([[Aubrey Morris]]) is about to make an inspection—and animals are against the rules.
| LineColor = fc9
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Grandad
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane, Myra Taylor
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1971|3|11|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Thu 11th Mar 1971, 19:45 on BBC One London| url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/5a9eb4f8543246e98e09ed338526d9cf| website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 15
| EpisodeNumber2 = 10
| ShortSummary = Beryl and Sandra are looking forward to a free Saturday when Mrs Hutchinson telephones, asking Sandra to look after her grandad ([[Jack Woolgar]]) in their house in [[Hunts Cross]] while Mr and Mrs Hutchinson go to visit Aunt Dorothy. [[Damaris Hayman]] appears in this episode.
| LineColor = fc9
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Mother's Day
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane, Myra Taylor
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1971|3|18|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Thu 18th Mar 1971, 19:45 on BBC One London| url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/8a9a3bf0c17642748d58bdbc4aacf1be| website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 16
| EpisodeNumber2 = 11
| ShortSummary = Beryl and Sandra have both invited their mothers over for [[Mother's Day|Mothering Sunday]], but will they get on? And will they like their presents—plastic flowers and a [[lorgnette]]? (The episode opens with Beryl singing [[Burt Bacharach]] and [[Hal David]]'s ''[[Anyone Who Had a Heart (song)|Anyone Who Had A Heart]]'', a hit for [[Liverpool]]-born singer [[Cilla Black]].)
| LineColor = fc9
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Promition
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane, Myra Taylor
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1971|3|25|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Thu 25th Mar 1971, 19:45 on BBC One London| url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/bda0dcb7fdc24e0985201cfc550835e8| website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 17
| EpisodeNumber2 = 12
| ShortSummary = Sandra gets promoted, becoming Beryl's supervisor. Beryl receives [[elocution]] lessons from Mrs. Duval ([[Fabia Drake]]), but this gets her into trouble when a posh customer ([[Diana King (actress)|Diana King]]) believes she's making fun of her. [[Robert Raglan]] appears in this episode. (Fabia Drake had, at the age of 16, been sent to an expensive French finishing school Meudon-val-Fleury, where she learned the science and craft of superb enunciation from Georges le Roy, a life member of the great [[Comédie-Française]]. "I began to acquire an instrument that gave me the ability to speak very fast indeed while retaining complete clarity.")<ref>Fabia Drake ''Blind Fortune'', p.40 {{ISBN|0-7183-0455-1}}</ref>|
}}
| LineColor = fc9
}}

=== Series 3 (1972) ===
{{Episode table|background=#EFBBCC |overall=5|series=5|title=26||director=14|writer=14|airdate=16|country=UK|episodes=
{{Episode list
| Title = One's a Crowd
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = [[Carla Lane]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1972|2|11|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Fri 11th Feb 1972, 19:40 on BBC One London| url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/a995a3f5d6ad4416b80b5dd2d9aa447e| website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 18
| EpisodeNumber2 = 1
| ShortSummary = Beryl and Sandra leave their 'grotty bedsit' and move to ''Beech View'', "a highly desirable residence". They go to 'O'Connor's Tavern' to hear poets reading their poetry—including [[Roger McGough]] (reading from his collection ''After the Merrymaking''), and Sandra's favourite, Neville Kane (Neville Aurelius). Back at their flat, neighbour Mrs. Knowsley ([[Joyce Grant]]) asks Sandra to sign a petition to evict an "undesirable character". Beryl doesn't approve: "I'm surprised at you signing it Sand, you're usually so kind and considerate...we've signed a petition to get a fella we don't even know out of his flat"--and Sandra is dismayed when the target of the petition turns out to be Neville Kane. (Horace James, [[John Lyons (actor)|John Lyons]], Frederick Bennett, Patti Brooks, Patrick Durkin and Maxine Casson appear in this episode).
| LineColor = EFBBCC
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Birds on the Dole
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Jack Seddon, David Pursall
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1972|2|18|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Fri 18th Feb 1972, 19:40 on BBC One London| url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/70961c38be6a416abefeac4a2b91c529| website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 19
| EpisodeNumber2 = 2
| ShortSummary = Beryl and Sandra are out of work—on the [[Unemployment benefits|dole]]. The landlord's agent, Mr. Hockle (Artro Morris), is checking the [[inventory]], and their month in advance is due a week Saturday. The girls need money and get down to the [[Public employment service|Labour Exchange]] to sign on. Sandra thinks this is begging, and tries to go ''[[Anonymity|incognito]]'', but the sanguine Beryl meets her Uncle Dermot ([[Ken Jones (actor)|Ken Jones]]), Cousin Hughey ([[Brian Pettifer]]) and Uncle Jack ([[Bill Dean]]). The Hennesseys' loud behaviour leads to a scuffle in the queue. (At one point when Beryl and Sandra are standing in the street, [[Liverpool Cathedral]] rises up in the background while they are speaking next to a [[red telephone box]]. Both the cathedral and the iconic red phone box were designs of [[Sir Giles Gilbert Scott]].) [[John Ringham]] and [[Norman Shelley]] also appear in this episode, which was one of the six Seddon/Pursall-written episodes of Series 3.
| LineColor = EFBBCC
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Good Little Girls Should Be in Bed
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1972|2|25|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Fri 25th Feb 1972, 19:40 on BBC One London| url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/service_bbc_one_london/1972-02-25#at-19.40| website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 20
| EpisodeNumber2 = 3
| ShortSummary = Beryl is with new boyfriend Robert (Colin Bell) in [[Sefton Park]]. He asks her to spend the night with him before he has to return to London in the morning. Beryl seeks Sandra's advice, telling her he's cultured--'likes books and paintings and old buildings.' Sandra tells her to go--'After all, you've got nothing to lose.' 'Cheeky cow,' says Beryl, but she decides to spend the night with Robert—but things go wrong when Robert disappears to buy some alcohol. ([[Susan Littler]], Ann Michelle, Anthony Verner, Constance Reason and [[Julia Breck]] appear in this episode).
| LineColor = EFBBCC
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Birds on Strike
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Jack Seddon, David Pursall
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1972|3|3|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Fri 3rd Mar 1972, 19:40 on BBC One London| url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/e4debd7730814825bf151523ce4cab96| website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 21
| EpisodeNumber2 = 4
| ShortSummary = Beryl shows Sandra slides of her days with a boyfriend, Roy, before he left again to sea—Beryl and Roy outside [[Lewis's]], Beryl and Roy by the [[Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral|Mersey Funnel]], Beryl and Roy on the [[New Brighton, Merseyside|New Brighton]] ferry—and the final one: Beryl at the dock gates with Frank, a man she'd met right after waving goodbye to Roy and with whom she has arranged a meeting for the next Sunday! Back at work at Blandings Cosmetics, Jim Royle ([[Clive Swift]]), a [[union steward|shop steward]], knowing the Hennessey family's strong [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] tradition, asks Beryl to speak at a mass meeting calling for strike action—on that same Sunday. ([[John Junkin]] appears in this episode).
| LineColor = EFBBCC
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Fell-A-Day Girl
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1972|3|10|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Live Birds Fri 10th Mar 1972, 19:45 on BBC One London| url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/2890fcd6e446426e9be68b2d831a10fe| website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 22
| EpisodeNumber2 = 5
| ShortSummary = Beryl declares that she's a "fella-a-day" girl; meanwhile, Sandra's smitten with a new guy, Paul, until he doesn't ring her as he had promised. Robert phones Beryl—up from London he wants them to rendezvous in David's flat (David's in Majorca). When a very pregnant, depressed Gloria turns up, Beryl puts her with Sandra so they can cheer each other up. But still unable to leave the flat, Beryl invites Robert over. Then her mother arrives.
| LineColor = EFBBCC
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Birds and Bottom Drawers
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Jack Seddon, David Pursall
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1972|3|17|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Fri 17th Mar 1972, 19:40 on BBC One London| url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/c3b42579efbe4ad2ad8e08f047e19557| website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 23
| EpisodeNumber2 = 6
| ShortSummary = Sandra eagerly reads her horoscope in her weekly magazine ''Young and Lovely'', as soon as it's delivered by the paperboy (actor Brian Sweeney, also of ''Z Cars''), who seems to have taken a shine to her. When her horoscope tells her green will be her lucky colour, she'll be caught by a handsome stranger, and a marriage proposal may be in the air, Sandra heads out to the shops all dressed in green. After unsuccessfully making eyes at several men on the streets of Liverpool, all she manages to buy is a 'hope chest'--a large bottom-drawer-style chest in which to store her future household linens. Later she deliberately gets caught shoplifting just to meet the good-looking store detective—and receives a shy proposal from her young paperboy as he delivers her next issue of 'Young and Lovely'.
| LineColor = EFBBCC
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = The Christening
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1972|2|24|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Fri 24th Mar 1972, 19:40 on BBC One London| url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/009cd4af06a7411ba177dfc4f2adf7b6| website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 24
| EpisodeNumber2 = 7
| ShortSummary = Beryl's sister Gloria ([[Paula Wilcox]]) calls round to invite Beryl and Sandra to be godmothers to her new baby girl. But Beryl threatens to not even attend the service because it will be at an Anglican church and "the Hennesseys have always driven on the Catholic side of the road." Later, the girls are looking after the baby when the Anglican vicar [[John Quayle (actor)|(John Quayle)]] calls round and seems to take a fancy to Sandra, much to Beryl's amusement. Indecision as to the baby's name right up to the moment of christening brings a timid Beryl into the church after all to declare that the baby should be named 'Beryl' after her.
| LineColor = EFBBCC
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Birds on Horseback
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Jack Seddon, David Pursall
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1972|3|31|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Fri 31st Mar 1972, 19:30 on BBC One London| url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/e0f4bf869e8d48dfadf96d6df0fb5f10| website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 25
| EpisodeNumber2 = 8
| ShortSummary = The morning after a party at their flat, the girls need to redecorate their bedroom. Beryl invites round a former schoolmate who is now a decorator, and he does the job for free in the misguided anticipation of romance once the work is over. Meanwhile, Sandra's posh new man is involved in the local hunt and the girls go riding to try to impress him, but Sandra's horse leads her right into a large pond! This happens to be the last straw for the stable owner, who decides to sell the unpredictable horse to the catfood factory. Concerned, Beryl and Sandra buy the horse themselves and end up selling him to a farmer for a profit, some of which they spend cooking a luxurious meal for Beryl's decorator friend to thank him for his time and work.
| LineColor = EFBBCC
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = St Valentine's Day
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1972|4|7|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Fri 7th Apr 1972, 19:40 on BBC One London| url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/245595d644ac4ec590a640684c762849| website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 26
| EpisodeNumber2 = 9
| ShortSummary = Beryl is depressed because she's feeling old and none of her romances seem to last longer than a week, so she visits the doctor's surgery and is given some tranquilisers. With St Valentine's Day approaching, Sandra and her workmates hatch a plan to make Beryl feel better by sending her many Valentine's cards. The next morning, Beryl also receives in the post a single red rose with an anonymous invitation to the local Italian restaurant that evening. Sandra has to convince Beryl to go, but later finds out it was actually a joke played on Beryl by one of the factory workers. However, at the restaurant Beryl does meet a good-looking man; unfortunately all the tranquilisers she's been taking interfere with their date. [[Keith Chegwin]] makes a 10-second appearance as a schoolboy in the doctor's waiting room.
| LineColor = EFBBCC
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Birds in the Club
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Jack Seddon, David Pursall
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1972|4|14|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Fri 14th Apr 1972, 19:40 on BBC One London| url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/72e641bc5d4d4fbbaf33a9c4543f6694| website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 27
| EpisodeNumber2 = 10
| ShortSummary = Beryl and Sandra are at [[Hunts Cross]] Rugby Club: Sandra's there because of Rupert. Beryl's not too impressed--"the fellas are more interested in beer and rugby than girls" and thinks footballers would be a better bet. Sandra gets picked to represent the rugby club in the Miss [[Shorts|Hot Pants]] 1972 Competition. (Beryl, a Catholic, identifies as an [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] supporter in this episode and it is sometimes supposed that there is a religious root to the [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]--[[Everton F.C.|Everton]] rivalry, with Everton usually thought of as the Catholic team. In fact, both teams can trace their roots to St. Domingo [[Methodist]] Chapel.)<ref>Peter Lupson ''Thank God for Football'' {{ISBN|978-1-902694-30-6}}</ref> Snatches of "Beg, Steal, or Borrow" ([[The New Seekers]]) and "Save It" ([[Gilbert O'Sullivan]]) can be heard in this episode.
| LineColor = EFBBCC
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = The Driving Test
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1972|4|28|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Fri 28th Apr 1972, 19:40 on BBC One London| url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/9f7c616e58bd420081ee6c1d9aa397b1| website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 28
| EpisodeNumber2 = 11
| ShortSummary = Spending an evening with the boss's son Aubrey ([[Clive Francis]]), Sandra's worried about Beryl; it's nearly midnight and she's not back from a [[tandem bicycle]]-ride with her boyfriend Johnny ([[Jonathan Lynn]]). When Beryl finally arrives, worn out from a trip to [[Rhyl]] and back, she decides she wants them to buy the second-hand car they've been talking about and Aubrey says he'll teach them to drive.
| LineColor = EFBBCC
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Liverpool Or Everton
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Jack Seddon, David Pursall
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1972|5|5|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Fri 5th May 1972, 19:40 on BBC One London| url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/8b54c723c86847afa05254967dd0a257| website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 29
| EpisodeNumber2 = 12
| ShortSummary = Sandra is with Joe ([[Bill Kenwright]]) when Beryl returns from an Everton match with her Uncle Dermot and a couple of other Everton fans and they argue with Liverpool-fan Joe, who is also captain of the works team at ''Blandings Cosmetics''. The girls go to watch a match—in which Joe scores an own-goal and his team loses 7–0. Angered at Beryl's mockery of his performance, he challenges her to do better as captain of an all-woman team from the packing department. Beryl accepts the challenge and the team is trained by Uncle Dermot ([[Ken Jones (actor)|Ken Jones]]). [[Bill Kenwright]], a lifelong supporter and future chairman of Everton F.C., played a Liverpool F.C. supporter in this episode.<ref>Brian Viner, ''Nice to See It, To See It, Nice'' {{ISBN|978-0-7432-9585-7}} p. 135</ref>
| LineColor = EFBBCC
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = The Parrot
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1972|5|12|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=Fri 12th May 1972, 19:40 on BBC One London| url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/d05c60dcbdff4f26ac4d33cb63a411e6| website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 30
| EpisodeNumber2 = 13
| ShortSummary = Just as Sandra goes [[vegetarian]] and starts collecting for the [[RSPCA]], her mother asks her to look after the family's pet parrot, Napoleon, 'just for a couple of days', but Beryl isn't happy—she doesn't want [[psittacosis]]. When the phone rings, it's a wrong-number call: a suicidal man (Christopher Sandford) trying to reach [[the Samaritans]]; but Beryl, who answered, is concerned and invites him round for a chat. [[Felix Bowness]] appears.
| LineColor = EFBBCC
}}
}}

=== Series 4 (1974) ===
{{Episode table|background=#FCE883 |overall=5|series=5|title=26||director=14|writer=14|airdate=16|country=UK|episodes=
{{Episode list
| Title = Anybody Here Seen Thingy?
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = [[Carla Lane]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1974|1|2|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Wed 2nd Jan 1974, 19:40 on BBC One London| url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/fc3d592a7f4240c5a400999d3e7aff18| website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 31
| EpisodeNumber2 = 1
| ShortSummary = Beryl receives a pet hamster, Thingy, for her birthday. When the pregnant Thingy goes missing, the girls hunt for her, even chasing after the dustbin-men on their weekly rounds in the streets outside the flat. Thingy eventually turns up as Beryl's surprise birthday party begins—she has made a nest for herself and her newborn litter in the hat that is Beryl's birthday gift from Sandra's mother ([[Mollie Sugden]]).
| LineColor = FCE883
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Friends at First Sight
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1974|1|9|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Wed 9th Jan 1974, 19:40 on BBC One London| url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/0d0c5d2f47c94028b03fabb5a779f317| website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 32
| EpisodeNumber2 = 2
| ShortSummary = Sandra's brother Derek ([[Lewis Fiander]]) arrives from Australia. He's a keep-fit fanatic and soon takes Beryl out for a morning jog around the local park, where talk turns to love as the pair share their latest relationship woes. Meanwhile Sandra and her parents become concerned when they find Derek's Australian marriage certificate and attempt to warn Beryl not to become too involved with him. In the end, Derek receives a cable from his wife telling him she does love him, and Beryl receives a phone call from her boyfriend Robert in London.
| LineColor = FCE883
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Life is Just a Bowl of Sugar
| DirectedBy = [[Ray Butt]]
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1974|1|16|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Wed 16th Jan 1974, 19:40 on BBC One London| url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/8be2dedfa4b34cf9823d0e64744a3735| website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 33
| EpisodeNumber2 = 3
| ShortSummary = Sandra has bought a cut-glass sugar bowl with money given to her by Paul. When Beryl points out "we dip our spoons straight in the bag", Sandra tells her she hopes the bowl will become part of a home she'll share with Paul and wonders about taking him to Hunts Cross to visit her parents, "a happily-married couple"--would he find the idea of marriage more attractive then? But just then the "happily-married couple" in question show up at the flat—talking about getting a divorce. What's the problem? 'I'm married to it,' says Mrs Hutchinson. ('It' is played by [[Ivan Beavis]].)
| LineColor = FCE883
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Where's Beryl
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1974|1|23|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds: Where's Beryl? Wed 23rd Jan 1974, 19:40 on BBC One London| url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/a5735dd4bd5c4fbe9db356b00bee24ff| website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 34
| EpisodeNumber2 = 4
| ShortSummary = Sandra wants to go to London for the weekend, and convinces Beryl to go too—after all, their boyfriends Robert and Paul ([[John Nettles]]) are there. When they arrive, Sandra gets a bright spacious room opposite Paul but Beryl gets a poky room at the top of the hotel. 'By the time I leave here I'll be on nodding terms with [[British European Airways|B.E.A.]]', she tells Sandra. She can't make contact with Robert, and Paul disapproves of the amount of [[cleavage (breasts)|cleavage]] Sandra has on show—so it's not the girls' dream weekend. the girls were hoping for. ([[Avril Angers]] and [[Fidelis Morgan]] appear in this episode.)
| LineColor = FCE883
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Girl Saturday
| DirectedBy = Ray Butt
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1974|2|6|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Wed 6th Feb 1974, 19:40| url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/54d4db5ccacf44a2a4f0c13408c8bfd0| website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 35
| EpisodeNumber2 = 5
| ShortSummary = Beryl discovers that she needs glasses and the receptionist ([[Jeanne Mockford]]) tells her they'll be ready on Saturday—the day Robert will arrive for a week in Liverpool after several weeks away. Beryl worries that he won't like her in glasses; besides, her face can't be covered with things--'it's too small.' (John Dunbar and [[John Rudling]] appear in this episode.)
| LineColor = FCE883
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Pack Up Your Troubles
| DirectedBy = Ray Butt
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1974|2|13|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Wed 13th Feb 1974, 19:40| url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/56e814d50cbd41349795b51b39b2c8f5| website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 36
| EpisodeNumber2 = 6
| ShortSummary = The girls are planning a holiday—Beryl wants [[Blackpool]], Sandra fancies pony-trekking in the [[Pennines]]. Meanwhile, Sandra's parents have temporarily separated, and when the girls pop round to Sandra's late one evening, Mum ([[Mollie Sugden]]) has a gentleman caller, bearing flowers! But the new man in her life turns out to be a thief, the ice melts between Sandra's parents when they encounter each other at the girls' flat and the girls decide on Blackpool for themselves and give their Pennines holiday to Sandra's parents as a second honeymoon.
| LineColor = FCE883
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Have Hen Will Travel
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1974|2|20|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Wed 20th Feb 1974, 19:40| url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/277cb321a5c94a27aef6391a216a768a| website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 37
| EpisodeNumber2 = 7
| ShortSummary = Beryl's persistent oversleeping leads to the girls getting sacked from their hand-cream-factory jobs. After looking for new jobs, the pair decide to take "a holiday with pay" working as labourers on a small farm in [[Caerphilly]], [[Wales]]. Unsurprisingly this work isn't ideal for the girls, as they struggle to milk Myfanwy the Cow on their first day. The last straw comes when the farmer (Jack Walters) asks them to kill Henrietta the Hen for their evening meal. Managing to fool him with some frozen chicken from the local shop, the girls pack their bags and head for home, with two new feathered pets in tow – Henrietta and her sister Gwynneth.
| LineColor = FCE883
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Love Is...
| DirectedBy = [[Douglas Argent]]
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1974|2|27|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Wed 27th Feb 1974, 19:40| url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/2867cf3e6db542159d132b043a0ea384| website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 38
| EpisodeNumber2 = 8
| ShortSummary = Life is looking up for Sandra as she gets a new job as a kennelmaid ("£15 a week!") and a marriage proposal from boyfriend Paul ([[John Nettles]]). Beryl however is feeling down on her luck ("No job, no boyfriend, no fixed abode...") as everything she touches seems to go wrong and she realises her flat-sharing days with single girl Sandra may be numbered. A visit to Beryl's mum puts doubts in Sandra's mind as to the realities of married life ("Man is the dog, Woman is the bone—he eats the best and buries the rest...") and that night she phones Paul to say she's not ready for marriage just yet. Seconds later however Beryl's boyfriend Robert rings up with a surprise...
| LineColor = FCE883
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Anyone for Freedom?
| DirectedBy = Douglas Argent
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1974|3|6|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Wed 6th Mar 1974, 19:40| url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/3464288dabb34085b2f65c306690c562| website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 39
| EpisodeNumber2 = 9
| ShortSummary = Robert must come up from London to propose to Beryl in person. Excitedly they set the venue as the local Apollo Greek restaurant that night. For the rest of the day Sandra helps Beryl look at engagement rings and choose a new dress. She even offers marital advice ("Life is like a pack of cards, sex is the [[ace]]..", "More like the [[joker (playing card)|joker]]!" Beryl retorts). Sandra's boyfriend Paul ([[John Nettles]]) attempts a proposal of his own again, but Sandra chooses to wear the ring on her right hand as a "friendship ring". Meanwhile, disaster strikes in the restaurant toilets when both Beryl's new dress and her old clothes are stolen while she is changing. Robert gets drunker and drunker as he awaits her arrival; finally she appears in a spare Greek waiter's costume. When they finally meet, Robert proposes and Beryl accepts. But when the Greek singer gives the bride-to-be a congratulatory kiss, Robert starts a fight and ends the night in a police cell while the girls compare their new rings back at their flat.
| LineColor = FCE883
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Follow That Ring
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1974|3|13|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Series 4, Episode 10: Follow That Ring Wed 13th Mar 1974, 19:40| url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/p03ywy3d| website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 40
| EpisodeNumber2 = 10
| ShortSummary = The girls have been seeing their respective boyfriends for the weekend. Beryl is slowly getting used to her "unlucky" red engagement ring, but then loses it while making Sandra a trifle. There follows a mad rush to the local hospital—involving Sandra's parents, Sandra's boyfriend, and Beryl's mum—as Sandra has swallowed the ring in a mouthful of trifle. They all wait together at the hospital while the doctor ([[Geoffrey Palmer (actor)|Geoffrey Palmer]]) removes the ring from Sandra's [[oesophagus]]. The episode ends with Beryl heading for London on the train so boyfriend Robert can put the ring on her finger again—and mistakenly ending up on the train to [[Glasgow]].
| LineColor = FCE883
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = The Bride That Went Away
| DirectedBy = Douglas Argent
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1974|3|20|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Wed 20th Mar 1974, 18:50| url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/05d54bb8eede4a9ab4cd035d956a4b07| website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 41
| EpisodeNumber2 = 11
| ShortSummary = Beryl and Robert's wedding is a week away and the girls and their mums are talking of wedding plans when Robert phones with more good news: he's been promoted to area manager at work and will be moving back to Liverpool to live. But that night, after Sandra describes Robert as "Ugly Handsome," Beryl dreams of a wedding where Robert puts handcuffs on her at the altar instead of a ring; she wakes up with cold feet about the marriage and goes AWOL. When Paul ([[John Nettles]]) hears that Sandra's alone in the flat, he immediately rushes round to move his belongings in! Sandra tries to dissuade him and coaxes him to help her scour the streets of Liverpool searching for Beryl. While they're out, Robert arrives on the London train with a bad back; he's resting back at the girls' flat when a rainswept Beryl eventually arrives home again...but in what state of mind?
| LineColor = FCE883
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Let Sleeping Dogs Lie
| DirectedBy = Ray Butt
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1974|3|27|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Wed 27th Mar 1974, 19:40| url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/0f1c0319cf884e3ab5c3e17ebf24dd71| website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 42
| EpisodeNumber2 = 12
| ShortSummary = Robert is sleeping on Beryl and Sandra's settee for the week before his wedding, now that he has found a job in Liverpool. This is fine until Sandra agrees to do a favour for Mrs. Sayers ([[Edna Doré]]) and offers a home for the weekend to ''Skip'', a large [[St. Bernard (dog)|St. Bernard]], who takes up residence on the settee. So Robert gets to share Beryl's room. 'I know how we'll calm you down. We'll give you a [[sleeping pill]]', says Sandra. But Mrs Hutchinson and Beryl's mother hear about Robert's whereabouts and show up with Father O'Leary ([[Patrick McAlinney]]).
| LineColor = FCE883
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = And Then There Was One
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1974|4|3|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Wed 3rd Apr 1974, 19:40| url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/6c774f21837a4c869ba977f8f43e8413| website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 43
| EpisodeNumber2 = 13
| ShortSummary = Not everything is running smoothly in the build-up to Beryl's wedding to Robert ([[Jonathan Lynn]]): the carnations have turned up a day early; there's a stork on the wedding cake; the dog's run off with the ham; and the only presents she's received so far are a sexy pink nightie from Sandra and 6 steam irons. Then there's the mystery woman who keeps ringing up for Robert—and has written him an important-looking letter. When the girls visit this woman, they notice that she is pregnant! There's a poignant moment as Beryl says goodbye to the girls' flat for the last-ever time, as she is staying at her mum's house on the night before the wedding. Next morning, true to the theme of the wedding so far, kids let down the tyres of the wedding limousines so the girls and their parents have to resort to using a double-decker bus and a removal van to get to the church in time. At the altar Robert finally opens the mystery letter and reveals to an excited Beryl that it contains honeymoon tickets for two to [[Majorca]].
| LineColor = FCE883
}}
}}

===Series 5 (1975)===
{{Episode table|background=#B9D9EB |overall=5|series=5|title=26||director=14|writer=14|airdate=16|country=UK|episodes=
{{Episode list
| Title = It Takes All Kinds
| DirectedBy = [[Ray Butt]]
| WrittenBy = [[Carla Lane]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1975|9|5|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds It Takes All Kinds Fri 5th Sep 1975, 20:30| url= https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/df054adbdb284d6c92f94ba1e811641b | website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=27 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 44
| EpisodeNumber2 = 1
| ShortSummary = Sandra only has one serious flatmate applicant: the brash, common Carol ([[Elizabeth Estensen]]), who Sandra doesn't really take to—until her mum ([[Mollie Sugden]]) phones after another row with Sandra's dad and announces she plans to move in with Sandra herself! Suddenly Carol looks a lot better...
| LineColor = B9D9EB
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Look After the Children
| DirectedBy = Ray Butt
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1975|9|12|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Fri 12th Sep 1975, 20:30| url= https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/6a1fe95bd46d415eb2dbfa0f8e63ba76 | website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=27 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 45
| EpisodeNumber2 = 2
| ShortSummary = Carol meets Sandra's mum who tells her about her latest marital problems and the nice new man she has recently met at a local hotel. That night the girls head to the hotel to stop Sandra's mum doing anything she may regret later. They finally succeed in disrupting the whole evening—only to discover that the "mystery man" was Sandra's dad.
| LineColor = B9D9EB
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = You've Got To Laugh
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1975|9|19|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Fri 19th Sep 1975, 20:30| url= https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/a8c88915c49b4f60b2903a2eeef9a300 | website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=27 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 46
| EpisodeNumber2 = 3
| ShortSummary = The girls are fed up of having to visit the launderette each week because they have no washing machine. Carol's brother Lucien ([[Michael Angelis]]) calls round to announce that their Uncle Billy has died and Carol may be due some money in the will. Sandra is excited when a new washing machine is delivered to the house whilst she is spending some time there with boyfriend Paul ([[John Nettles]])--but Carol has only inherited £2, so they have to sell the washing machine to Carol's mother, who got the lion's share of the will...
| LineColor = B9D9EB
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Love is a Many stupid Thing
| DirectedBy = Ray Butt
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1975|9|26|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds: Love is a Many Stupid Thing Fri 26th Sep 1975, 20:30| url= https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/929efe2118e242a89bd165d8a25eb118 | website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=27 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 47
| EpisodeNumber2 = 4
| ShortSummary = Sandra becomes a vegetarian and joins an animal-rights march through the streets of Liverpool. She meets a good-looking man there called Bill and stays out with him until the small hours of the night, to the annoyance of her boyfriend Paul who was waiting in his car outside her flat to see what time she finally got home. The snag: Bill is a former boyfriend of Carol's and when he calls round to the flat Sandra realises her and Carol both fancy the same man...
| LineColor = B9D9EB
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Dinner for Three
| DirectedBy = Ray Butt
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1975|10|3|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds: Dinner For Three Fri 3rd Oct 1975, 20:30| url= https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/1661b2a13a4541bc90e3aa9994028ec7 | website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=27 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 48
| EpisodeNumber2 = 5
| ShortSummary = When Sandra realizes that Carol is hurt by Sandra seeing Bill, she decides to break it off. But Carol later has a change of heart and sets the pair up on a blind date at the local bistro. Unfortunately, Bill reveals he was only pretending to be vegetarian; he actually has a job driving cattle to the slaughterhouse. When Sandra, hurt, rushes home, she discovers that Carol has lined up a date with Sandra's own previous boyfriend ([[John Nettles]]).
| LineColor = B9D9EB
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = The Lily and the Dandelion
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1975|10|10|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Fri 10th Oct 1975, 20:30| url= https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/2cbd2e3d2e1942d4bc357fc3a7d2ca81 | website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=27 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 49
| EpisodeNumber2 = 6
| ShortSummary = Sandra has taken to feeding the local pigeons while out sunbathing, to the annoyance of the flats' residents. They finally call the council in to place cages on the roof to trap and remove the 'vermin'. Sandra, upset, sets some of them free, keeping one poorly specimen in a parrot cage in her flat until it gets better. Carol isn't happy, rows with her ("The Lily and the Dandelion never grow on the same patch..."), and temporarily goes back to her parents. Sandra ends up trapped on the roof when someone takes her ladder away; she has to be rescued by the local police, who warn her not to interfere with the pigeons anymore.
| LineColor = B9D9EB
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Everybody is Beautiful
| DirectedBy = Ray Butt
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1975|10|17|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Fri 17th Oct 1975, 20:00| url= https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/1b4b3a022f8a497cad49b42b44208977 | website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=27 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 50
| EpisodeNumber2 = 7
| ShortSummary = Carol would like some money to go to London to search for the father she hasn't seen in 5 years. Suddenly the £50 prize money for a beauty contest held at the biscuit factory where she works seems irresistible. With Sandra's help and her boyfriend Paul's ([[John Nettles]]) encouragement, she tries a series of increasingly unsuccessful beauty treatments before deciding not to enter the contest after all—and gets a beautiful surprise.
| LineColor = B9D9EB
}}
{{Episode table/part|subtitle=Special|c=#B9D9EB}}
{{Episode list
| Title = In Every Street
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1975|12|23|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds: In Every Street Tue 23rd Dec 1975, 20:25| url= https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/d842427dcc784874a5e0a5322d5b8fa3 | website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=27 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 51
| EpisodeNumber2 = {{abbr|S|Special}}
| ShortSummary = The First Christmas-themed episode
| LineColor = B9D9EB
}}
}}

===Series 6 (1976)===
{{Episode table|background=#A8E4A0 |overall=5|series=5|title=26||director=14|writer=14|airdate=16|country=UK|episodes=
{{Episode list
| Title = Facing Up to Life
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = [[Carla Lane]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1976|2|13|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds: Facing Up to Life Fri 13th Feb 1976, 20:00| url= https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/38ac42fafe3b4f9e8659534ad52d0fd3 | website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=27 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 52
| EpisodeNumber2 = 1
| ShortSummary = Sandra and Carol take tranquillisers to cope with "Nervous exhaustion".
| LineColor = A8E4A0
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Maypole
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1976|2|20|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Fri 20th Feb 1976, 20:00| url= https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/c164593cf98348abb65620aad07da296 | website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=27 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 53
| EpisodeNumber2 = 2
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = A8E4A0
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Honey
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1976|2|27|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Fri 27th Feb 1976, 20:00| url= https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/c4457461afa6432785958abe091180cf | website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=27 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 54
| EpisodeNumber2 = 3
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = A8E4A0
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = The Never-Ending End
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1976|3|5|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds: The Never-ending End Fri 5th Mar 1976, 20:00| url= https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/8815d001b07846f68044af0761feb08c | website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=27 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 55
| EpisodeNumber2 = 4
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = A8E4A0
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Badgers and Otters
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1976|3|12|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds: Badgers and Otters Fri 12th Mar 1976, 20:30| url= https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/ebe2a75df9854275988443af944746da | website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=27 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 56
| EpisodeNumber2 = 5
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = A8E4A0
}}
}}

===Series 7 (1976)===
{{Episode table|background=#F6EABE |overall=5|series=5|title=26||director=14|writer=14|airdate=16|country=UK|episodes=
{{Episode list
| Title = Friends and Lovers
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = [[Carla Lane]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1976|10|17|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Sun 17th Oct 1976, 20:15 | url= https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/1d5ec20446454b7ea819d445787e3f46 | website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=27 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 57
| EpisodeNumber2 = 1
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = F6EABE
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = She Dreams A Lot
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1976|10|24|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Sun 24th Oct 1976, 20:15 | url= https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/524076a4f7b94bc6ab7fc810cffd169e | website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=27 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 58
| EpisodeNumber2 = 2
| ShortSummary = Sandra has a premonition that death is imminent.
| LineColor = F6EABE
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = A Mark on the World
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1976|10|31|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Sun 31st Oct 1976, 20:15 | url= https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/5caa21db3d784d06b98902c250d12c34 | website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=27 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 59
| EpisodeNumber2 = 3
| ShortSummary = When a mugger gives her a stolen handbag, Sandra is thrust into the limelight when onlookers think that she wrestled it from him.
| LineColor = F6EABE
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Love 'Em – And Almost Leave 'Em
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1976|11|7|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Sun 7th Nov 1976, 20:15 | url= https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/873d2aecd3074ae6b59193626cc2efb5 | website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=27 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 60
| EpisodeNumber2 = 4
| ShortSummary = In this episode, The girls receive a visit from Carol's pregnant cousin Aveline (Judith Lloyd), Which brings up the issues of men, babies...and marriage.
| LineColor = F6EABE
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Oh' The Shame of It
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1976|11|14|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Sun 14th Nov 1976, 20:15 | url= https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/c9b355217798463fa7745700ea52d1e2 | website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=27 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 61
| EpisodeNumber2 = 5
| ShortSummary = Carol has a new boyfriend but neither Sandra or Carol's family think much of him.
| LineColor = F6EABE
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Cry Please
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1976|11|21|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Sun 21st Nov 1976, 20:15 | url= https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/b0fdcbb730d44190addf94aedec75a29 | website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=27 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 62
| EpisodeNumber2 = 6
| ShortSummary = Carol is too much in love to notice that her new man might be trying to change her.
| LineColor = F6EABE
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = The 'Nearly' Hat
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1976|11|28|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Sun 28th Nov 1976, 20:15 | url= https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/ebbc314171654779aa666346d4c2a968 | website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=27 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 63
| EpisodeNumber2 = 7
| ShortSummary = Sandra and Carol decide to try their hand at market trading in order to buy something for their mothers.
| LineColor = F6EABE
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Yellow and Green Make Blue
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1976|12|5|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Sun 5th Dec 1976, 20:15 | url= https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/475f7cba61924c9f863adbee9da90252 | website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=27 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 64
| EpisodeNumber2 = 8
| ShortSummary = The girls decide to decorate the flat, but their furniture is stolen from the hallway.
| LineColor = F6EABE
}}
{{Episode table/part|subtitle=Special|c=#F6EABE}}
{{Episode list
| Title = It Insists on Coming Once a Year
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1976|12|22|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Wed 22th Dec 1976, 22:00 | url= https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/02cc3c9ce3c248ae80a54720a7d3a385 | website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=27 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 65
| EpisodeNumber2 = {{abbr|S|Special}}
| ShortSummary = The Second Christmas-themed episode
| LineColor = F6EABE
}}
}}

===Series 8 (1977)===
{{Episode table|background=#C2B280 |overall=5|series=5|title=26||director=14|writer=14|airdate=16|country=UK|episodes=
{{Episode list
| Title = Something Beginning
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = [[Carla Lane]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1977|9|23|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Fri 23rd Sep 1977, 20:30 | url= https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/6ff127366085462f990b5f2b19999873 | website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=27 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 66
| EpisodeNumber2 = 1
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = C2B280
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = The Flower Picker
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1977|9|30|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Fri 30th Sep 1977, 20:30 | url= https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/fd058538f2c44f3f9549be760c78fec1 | website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=27 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 67
| EpisodeNumber2 = 2
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = C2B280
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = You've No Idea What I've Been Through
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1977|10|7|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Fri 7th Oct 1977, 20:30 | url= https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/c707119b70e94876a376d85d1439a158 | website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=27 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 68
| EpisodeNumber2 = 3
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = C2B280
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = God Bless Us and Save Us
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1977|10|14|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Fri 14th Oct 1977, 20:30 | url= https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/c002ba86983b44d88d08fecbbc6c2458 | website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=27 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 69
| EpisodeNumber2 = 4
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = C2B280
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = They Decide Up There What Goes on Down Here
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1977|10|21|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds: They Decide Up There What Goes On Down Here Fri 21st Oct 1977, 20:30 | url= https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/0721ee26cf834343a9caa3a8b7fa4514 | website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=27 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 70
| EpisodeNumber2 = 5
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = C2B280
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = The Edge
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1977|10|28|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Fri 28th Oct 1977, 20:30 | url= https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/ca2c50d727014afca53f4d5b375ace69 | website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=27 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 71
| EpisodeNumber2 = 6
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = C2B280
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = The Struggle
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1977|11|4|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds: The Struggle Fri 4th Nov 1977, 20:25 | url= https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/cfca0b62621c49639c78d0becd0c25ca | website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=27 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 72
| EpisodeNumber2 = 7
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = C2B280
}}
{{Episode table/part|subtitle=Special|c=#C2B280}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Open Your Eyes – And It Still Hasn't Gone
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1977|12|23|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds: The Struggle Fri 23rd Dec 1977, 20:25 | url= https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/10685cf67c2143aa88489bb34e29d69a | website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=27 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 73
| EpisodeNumber2 = {{abbr|S|Special}}
| ShortSummary = The third and final Christmas-themed special
| LineColor = C2B280
}}
}}

===Series 9 (1978)===
{{Episode table|background=#EDC9AF |overall=5|series=5|title=26||director=14|writer=14|airdate=16|country=UK|episodes=
{{Episode list
| Title = There's No Place Like Away From Home
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = [[Carla Lane]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1978|11|24|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Fri 24th Nov 1978, 20:30 | url= https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/5d1d55fb95714632815c34d1649c550a | website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=27 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 74
| EpisodeNumber2 = 1
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = EDC9AF
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = The Sixth Day
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1978|12|1|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Fri 1st Dec 1978, 20:30 | url= https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/7f45018d7c56409db93112f8349eba54 | website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=27 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 75
| EpisodeNumber2 = 2
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = EDC9AF
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Various Kinds of Old
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1978|12|8|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Fri 8th Dec 1978, 20:30 | url= https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/4c8c0e0eaed449e884934306440c0e0b | website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=27 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 76
| EpisodeNumber2 = 3
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = EDC9AF
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Weeds
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1978|12|15|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds: Weeds Fri 15th Dec 1978, 20:30 | url= https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/53228e44e3fd40c9b83b1fcc6513a45a | website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=27 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 77
| EpisodeNumber2 = 4
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = EDC9AF
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Somewhere To Live ... Somewhere To Love
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1978|12|22|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Fri 22nd Dec 1978, 20:30 | url= https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/39732b56e1c743edb5eda14b6978388f | website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=27 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 78
| EpisodeNumber2 = 5
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = EDC9AF
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = The Best Things in Life Are Not Free
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1978|12|29|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Fri 29th Dec 1978, 20:30 | url= https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/ae0b63a466494547a9cf0bfaf461ae56 | website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=27 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 79
| EpisodeNumber2 = 6
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = EDC9AF
}}
}}

===Series 10 (1996)===
{{Episode table|background=#D6CADD |overall=5|series=5|title=26||director=14|writer=14|airdate=16|country=UK|episodes=
{{Episode list
| Title = Hello Again
| DirectedBy = Angela de Chastelai Smith
| WrittenBy = [[Carla Lane]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1996|5|6|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Mon 6th May 1996, 20:30 | url= https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/55018b43059f48bd84ead18cb15178e2 | website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=27 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 80
| EpisodeNumber2 = 1
| ShortSummary = Beryl and Sandra are back together, bruised by what life has offered them and refusing to admit to middle age.
| LineColor = D6CADD
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Mrs. Boswell Comes to Call
| DirectedBy = Angela de Chastelai Smith
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1996|5|13|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Mon 13th May 1996, 20:30 | url= https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/86605f6696604a9caaab80f33aca12f7 | website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=27 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 81
| EpisodeNumber2 = 2
| ShortSummary = Secrets rise to the surface when Beryl and Sandra settle down with a bottle of wine.
| LineColor = D6CADD
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Spare the Tree!
| DirectedBy = Angela de Chastelai Smith
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1996|5|20|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Mon 20th May 1996, 20:30 | url= https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/f19d0e7ca6bc4a97aef6a74d4b8370fa | website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=27 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 82
| EpisodeNumber2 = 3
| ShortSummary = Beryl and Sandra join a demonstration to save a tree, but Beryl is taken aback when Sandra assumes the role of revolutionary leader and sends the peaceful demonstrators into battle.
| LineColor = D6CADD
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = On the Town
| DirectedBy = Angela de Chastelai Smith
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1996|5|26|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Sun 26th May 1996, 20:20 | url= https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/65e4776413ba4ee69c45453a2c8b1cf6 | website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=27 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 83
| EpisodeNumber2 = 4
| ShortSummary = In an effort to cheer themselves up, Sandra and Beryl go out on the town.
| LineColor = D6CADD
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Going into Hospital
| DirectedBy = Angela de Chastelai Smith
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1996|6|3|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Mon 3rd May 1996, 20:30 | url= https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/267e63ce31164bc5b0d6708f1e81d193 | website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=27 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 84
| EpisodeNumber2 = 5
| ShortSummary = Beryl urges Sandra to spend a week with Rex while her mother is in hospital. Meanwhile, Gwyn goes on the run.
| LineColor = D6CADD
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Out of Hospital
| DirectedBy = Angela de Chastelai Smith
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1996|6|17|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Mon 17th May 1996, 20:30 | url= https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/1150135fa7e74f3b9ce3e542650c5983 | website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=27 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 85
| EpisodeNumber2 = 6
| ShortSummary = When Sandra's mother went into hospital Sandra had passionate nights with Rex in her home, but now Mrs Hutchinson is back, Sandra's life quickly reverts to normal. For Beryl there is some comfort when she gets a call from Gwyn, her runaway son; and Mrs Hennesey turns to God for her lottery numbers.
| LineColor = D6CADD
}}
{{Episode list
| Title = Moving Out?
| DirectedBy = Angela de Chastelai Smith
| WrittenBy = Carla Lane
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1996|6|24|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds Mon 3rd Jun 1996, 20:30 | url= https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/267e63ce31164bc5b0d6708f1e81d193 | website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=27 February 2024}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 86
| EpisodeNumber2 = 7
| ShortSummary = The recently reunited friends have a furious row about their mothers after Beryl's noise disturbs Sandra's fantasy about her beloved Rex. Beryl decides to move out of Sandra's house. Is this the end of the two women's friendship?
| LineColor = D6CADD
}}
}}

==Broadcast==
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Broadcast schedule
|-
! Series
! Episodes
! Timeslot
|-
| align="center" colspan="2"|Pilot
| Monday 7.30 pm
|-
| align="center"|1
| align="center"|4
| Fridays 8.20 pm
|-
| align="center"|2
| align="center"|12
| Thursdays 7.45 pm
|-
| align="center"|3
| align="center"|13
| Fridays 7.40 pm • 7.45 pm (episode 5) • 7.30 pm (episode 8)
|-
| align="center"|4
| align="center"|13
| Wednesdays 7.40 pm • 6.50 pm (episode 11)
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center"|5
| align="center"|7
| Fridays 8.30 pm • 8.00 pm (episode 7)
|-
| align="center"|Special
| Tuesday 8.25 pm
|-
| align="center"|6
| align="center"|5
| Fridays 8.00 pm • 8.30 pm (episode 5)
|-
| align="center" rowspan="2"|7
| align="center"|8
| Sundays 8.15 pm
|-
| align="center"|Special
| Wednesday 10.00 pm
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center"|8
| align="center"|7
| Fridays 8.30 pm • 8.25 pm (episode 7)
|-
| align="center"|Special
| Friday 8.25 pm
|-
| align="center"|9
| align="center"|6
| Fridays 8.30 pm
|-
| align="center"|10
| align="center"|7
| Mondays 8.30 pm • Sunday 8.20 pm (episode 4)
|}

==Other media==
===Christmas Night with the Stars===
On 25 December 1972, a ''Liver Birds'' short was broadcast as part of ''[[Christmas Night with the Stars]]'', a programme shown annually on Christmas night, when leading BBC performers appeared in short versions of their series, typically 5–10 minutes long.<ref>{{cite web| title=Christmas Night with the Stars| url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/p05qs23x| website=[[BBC Genome Project]]| access-date=27 February 2024}}</ref>

=== Musical adaptation ===
In 2018, the series was adapted into a musical production entitled, ''Liver Birds Flying Home''. Lyrics were by Barb Jungr; music by Mike Lindup; book by Barb Jungr, George Seaton & Linda McDermott; and the play was directed by Benji Sperring.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-04-15|title=Liver Birds Flying Home|url=https://www.seabrights.com/liver-birds-flying-home/|access-date=2020-07-14|website=Seabright Productions|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Liver Birds Flying Home|url=https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Performing-Arts/LiverBirdsMusic/about/|access-date=2020-07-14|website=facebook.com|language=en}}</ref>

== DVD releases ==
Only the second series was released on DVD, by Universal Playback in the UK in 2003. It has since gone out of print, with retailers such as Amazon only listing used copies, and was notable for placing the episodes in production order rather than transmission order (resulting in some continuity errors).

The Liver Birds: The Complete Second Series was released in Australia, in a set containing the correct transmission order, on 14 January 2010 via [[Madman Entertainment]].<ref>{{cite web| title=The Liver Birds: Series 2 [Region 4]| url=https://www.fishpond.com.au/Movies/Liver-Birds-Series-2-Nerys-Hughes/9322225072619| website=fishpond.com.au| access-date=29 February 2024}}</ref>

In January 2013, it was announced that [[Acorn Media UK]] had obtained the rights to release The Liver Birds onto DVD. The Liver Birds Collection One (containing The Complete Second Series, this time, in Transmission Order) was released on 8 April 2013.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bva.org.uk/node/1985992|work=BVA.org|title=Liver Birds: Collection One|date=2 January 2013|access-date=2 January 2013}}</ref>

The Liver Birds: Collection Two (containing The Complete Third Series) was released on 7 July 2014.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.acorndvd.com/liver-birds-collection-two.html|work=[[Acorn Media UK]]|title=The Liver Birds:Collection Two|date=15 February 2014|access-date=15 February 2013}}</ref>

A 4-disc set, (consisting both Collections ONE and TWO) was later released on 26 October 2015, So far Series 2 and 3 have been released onto DVD, but Acorn has no plans to release any further series.

* Collection One – (The Complete 2nd Series – Bonus, Exclusive Interview) – Released 8 April 2013.
* Collection Two – (The Complete 3rd Series) – Released 7 July 2014.

==Notes==
{{noteslist}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

{{Portal|1960s|1990s|BBC}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/l/liverbirdsthe_7774165.shtml BBC Comedy Guide]
* {{Screenonline TV title|id=524007|name=The Liver Birds}}
* {{British Comedy Guide|tv|the_liver_birds}}
* {{IMDb title|0063924|The Liver Birds}}
* [http://www.phill.co.uk/comedy/liver/index.html ''The Liver Birds''] at British TV Resources

{{Carla Lane}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Liver Birds, The}}
[[Category:1969 British television series debuts]]
[[Category:1979 British television series endings]]
[[Category:1996 British television series debuts]]
[[Category:1996 British television series endings]]
[[Category:1960s British sitcoms]]
[[Category:1970s British sitcoms]]
[[Category:1990s British sitcoms]]
[[Category:BBC television sitcoms]]
[[Category:Comedy Playhouse]]
[[Category:British English-language television shows]]
[[Category:Lost BBC episodes]]
[[Category:Television shows set in Liverpool]]
[[Category:British television series revived after cancellation]]
[[Category:Television shows shot in Liverpool]]

List of Prisoner characters – inmates

2023-11-05T20:04:15Z

Vodkamad: /* Characters list */

{{Short description|none}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{One source|date=February 2023}}
{{cleanup |reason=Uses contractions, may need general copyedit for tone. |date=April 2020}}
}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:List of ''Prisoner'' characters – inmates}}
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2012}}

This is a list of all inmates of the fictitious Wentworth Detention Centre in the [[television]] series ''[[Prisoner (TV series)|Prisoner]]'', known as '''Prisoner: Cell Block H''' in The United States and Britain and '''Caged Women''' in Canada. Note that episode numbers cited are for first and last appearances; many characters had spells where they were absent for long periods of time and subsequently returned. Also, characters' appearances in recaps are not included if they died in the previous episode, unless their corpse is seen at the beginning of the next episode (e.g. Paddy Lawson):

==Characters list==
{|class="wikitable"
| Character
| Actor
| Brief
|-
| '''Sally Lee'''
| [[Lisa Aldenhoven]] – episode 1
| The first ever prisoner seen in the series, being chased through the corridors by officers Meg Jackson and Vera Bennett, after freaking out on drugs, supplied by cold officer Ann Yates. Later in the episode Sally is found to have hanged herself in her cell. The show's first halfway house (a boarding house for recently released prisoners) is later named in her honour.
|-
| '''Frieda Joan "Franky" Doyle'''
| [[Carol Burns]] – episode 1–20
| An agitating [[lesbian]] [[Outlaw motorcycle club|bikie]] who suffers ferocious outbursts when she becomes angry. Her violent attitude stems in part from the fact that she is [[illiterate]]. She falls in love with fellow inmate Karen Travers, who does not appreciate her advances; however, the pair eventually strike up a friendship when Karen begins teaching Franky how to read. Despite her immense popularity with viewers, Franky appears in only the first 20 episodes (due to actress Carol Burns choosing to leave as the series was extended from a sixteen-part serial to an ongoing soap opera); after her brother Gary ([[Greg Stroud]]) is killed in a tractor accident, and feeling jaded by Karen after Franky takes her friendship to mean something more, Franky escapes the prison with Doreen and Lizzie. Although Lizzie is forced to turn back due to her weak heart, Franky and Doreen go on the run, even posing as nuns before Franky is shot dead by a policeman. Despite Franky's short run on the show, the character is mentioned numerous times over the next couple of hundreds of episodes.
|-
| '''Karen Mary Travers''' (née Healy)
| [[Peta Toppano|Peita Toppano]] – episode 1–80
| Karen Travers is a middle-class school-teacher who had stabbed her abusive, adulterous husband to death. Initially Karen offers up little defence for her actions (which had led to her being given a life sentence), only later does it emerge that, as well as the physical and mental abuse she refused to report, she had returned from having the [[abortion]] that her husband had forced her to have, only to find him in bed with another woman, which ultimately sees her sentence reduced to two years. Arriving at the prison, as well as being intimidated by the [[sexual harassment]] of Franky Doyle (whom she later manages to befriend), she is reunited with Dr. Greg Miller, who is now working as the prison doctor at Wentworth, whom she previously had a close relationship with before getting married. The pair have a close friendship within Wentworth at times, but also grow apart during the course of the 1979 season. With her sentence reduced, Karen is permitted to have day release to study at University; during this time she has a brief relationship with lawyer Steve Wilson, who defends her in court. Although given a two-year sentence, Karen is given parole from Wentworth by the end of the 1979 season. After several false starts, she is befriended by prisoner rights campaigner Angela Jeffries ([[Jeanie Drynan]]), who ultimately puts Karen in charge of the show's first halfway house. Karen runs the house for a short time towards the end of the 1979 season, with the newly released Doreen Anderson as the first tenant, but during this time, Greg confesses his love for her and the two resume their relationship. In the 1979 season finale, Karen is shot by Pat O'Connell (see separate entry)'s son David, who believes that Greg was responsible for his mother's re-arrest and mistakenly shoots Karen instead of Greg. With Karen narrowly escaping death and badly scared, Greg makes plans for them to start afresh in Queensland; Karen is last seen in episode 80, recovering from her wounds; Greg (and, off-screen, Karen) leaving the series a few episodes later. When Greg makes a brief return appearance in episode 107, we hear that Karen is recovering well and the pair have now married. She's lastly mentioned in episode 201 by a psychiatrist who tries to jog back Bea's memory who ended up with a serious case of [[amnesia]] from a car accident from her transfer back to Wentworth after her temporary stay at Barnhurst.
|-
| '''Lynnette Jane "Lynn" Warner – "Wonk"'''
| [[Kerry Armstrong]] – episode 1–44,
| Lynn is a young, rather naïve country girl who had come to the city to work as a nanny and arrived at Wentworth protesting her innocence at having kidnapped the baby in her care and buried him alive. She was brutally initiated into prison life, when Bea Smith, upon hearing about her crime, burned her hand "accidentally" with the press, giving rise to one of Prisoner's most iconic scenes. Lynn gains the nickname "Wonky Warner" (or just "Wonk") from some of the other women, especially Doreen, due to her being perceived as mentally unbalanced due to her supposed crimes. It is eventually discovered that the child's own mother had buried the child alive; clearing Lynn of her accused crime. However, upon her release, Lynn runs away from her parents' farm with Doug Parker, also an ex-convict, whom she marries, and reluctantly becomes involved with an armed hold-up, which leaves Doug dead and Lynn back inside (as well as losing the unborn baby she was carrying after being raped as a nanny). During her second spell in Wentworth, she became part of the new work release program, working during the day at a local garden centre for Syd Butterfield ([[Alan Rowe (Australian actor)|Alan Rowe]]), and getting close with Syd's son Geoffrey ([[David Cameron (actor)|David Cameron]]) in the process, much to the chagrin of Syd. Both Lynn's work program and parole are jeopardised when she is caught trying to smuggle letters out of the prison, which she insists she has never seen before. It eventually emerges that they were planted by Doreen, who has developed a crush on Lynn, and is scared of her leaving her. After serving her time Lynn is finally released again, though on her release day, she is kidnapped by thugs who confused her with Monica Ferguson (who is released on the same day and who knew the whereabouts of some stolen loot). After being rescued by the police, Lynn presumably returns to her parents' farm, and this is the last we see of the character (we hear of her sending a Christmas present to Doreen in episode 75). She is lastly mentioned in episode 203 by return prisoner Jeanette "Mum" Brooks (see below) who mentions Bea burning her hand on the steam press.
|-
| '''Gladys Anne "Marilyn" Mason'''
| [[Margaret Laurence (actress)|Margaret Laurence]] – episode 1–16
| The prison nymphomaniac, inside for soliciting and chiefly memorable for her erotic assignations with electrician Eddie Cook ([[Richard Moir]]) in the prison roof. Upon release she moves in with Eddie, determined to get a decent job and go straight, but, hard up for money, reluctantly turns back to prostitution, leading to a bust up with Eddie and being sent to Wentworth once again. As Marilyn is released a second time, Bea eventually sets the pair straight, convincing Monica Ferguson to let them run her [[milk bar]]. We hear in episodes 42–44 of Monica selling the shop to Marilyn and Eddie, and they presumably happily continue running it. During a storyline in which Bea becomes attracted to prison visitor Ken Pearce ([[Tom Oliver]]) between episodes 105 and 116, there are several references to Marilyn and Eddie's romantic liaisons in the prison.
|-
| '''Doreen May Anderson (later Burns)'''
| [[Colette Mann]] – episodes 1–446
| A childish, easily led but generally well-meaning prisoner who was briefly involved in a sexual relationship with Franky Doyle. Thumb-sucking, teddy-bear-clutching Doreen was a petty criminal, in and out of juvenile institutions before ending up at Wentworth, with a particular talent for forgery. After Franky's death she firstly became tough and butch like Franky was and tried to bully people around, later she became close friends with Lizzie and Bea; their friendship was one of the driving forces behind the first 300 episodes' success. She was released twice in the series; after her first release she is arrested for stealing and on her second, she steals Chrissie's baby from the hospital. In 1980 during the time she was out of the prison, she fell in love with Kevin Burns whom she married, but they were divorced not long after she was raped during her second stint in the prison during a work release scheme. The end of her marriage nearly caused her to commit suicide. She was the first victim of the Freak's 'black glove' treatment in 1982, just prior to her release. She made a few appearances in 1983 when, during Bea's escape, Doreen put her up in Sydney. Although the first to initially leave the series of the main three, she was also the last to be seen – when in 1984, she got herself put back in prison to try to avoid a marriage she had somehow agreed to. Doreen’s return was more as comic relief and to bring back an old favourite following the departures of Lizzie and Bea.
|-
| '''Elizabeth Josephine "Lizzie" Birdsworth''' (née Cameron)
| [[Sheila Florance]] – episodes 1–418, featured in flashback in episode 420),
| An elderly, chain-smoking, alcoholic recidivist prisoner, who provided much of the series comic relief. At the series start, Lizzie had already served twenty years in prison. Working as a bush cook, she had in a drunken rage allegedly poisoned a group of six sheep shearers who'd had the audacity to complain about her cooking, with four of them dying. It was later learned someone else had added the fatal dose of poison to the food (she put in enough to make them sick) and Lizzie was released and awarded compensation. Unfortunately she was ill-equipped to fend for herself outside, quickly committed a series of crimes and was returned to prison. A fraud and her daughter looking for money pretended to be Lizzie's family which Paul Reid and Kevin Burns discover. We later find out Lizzie knew all along that they weren't her real family and she wanted to spend time with them. Marcia (Lizzie's fake daughter) tells Lizzie that she was her daughter's best friend at the orphanage and that Lizzie's real daughter died in a car crash. The fake family: Marcia and Josie later left to go to the United States where Josie was to undergo an operation. Lizzie was recognisable for her always present red cardigan sweater given to her early on in the show's run by the prison's governor, Erica Davidson. Lizzie suffered from several heart attacks and during her final time in hospital she was released to be with her real family: The Charltons.
|-
| {{anchor|Bea Smith}}'''Beatrice Alice "Bea" Smith'''
| [[Val Lehman]] – episodes 1–400),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwwentworth.co.uk/bea.htm|title=Bea Smith (Val Lehman)|accessdate=5 January 2018|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010130031100/http://www.wwwentworth.co.uk/bea.htm|archivedate=30 January 2001}}</ref>
| The first ever top dog – the name given to the uncaring and sadistic leader of the prisoner population – who rules Wentworth's H Block with an iron fist. Bea was initially imprisoned for strangling her husband's mistress and then shot dead her cheating husband upon her release. Her teenage daughter Debbie (played by Val Lehman's real-life daughter Cassandra) had died from a heroin overdose in 1977 while Bea was in prison, after Bea's husband had evicted her from his home. Because of her daughters' death, Bea was renowned for her hatred of drug pushers and her hatred of prisoners who commit crimes against children and everyone followed her lead. This characteristic, which is common in all prisons, was evident when Bea slammed the hot steam press on Lynn Warner's hand. Her hatred towards both drug pushers and users softens later in the series where she attempts to help a fellow inmate to beat her drug addiction. She and Chrissie Latham were enemies at first (as Chrissie was originally on Franky Doyle's side in the first riot) but later they became allies, especially against Margo Gaffney. Bea was Joan Ferguson's first of three major enemies. Any chance of Bea's parole was foiled after shooting and killing Nola Mckenzie in a hospital bed. Bea escaped a total of three times throughout the series, although the second escape was unplanned. Bea's last rival for top dog was Sonia Stevens. Bea was transferred to Barnhurst, and her reign of terror at Wentworth's H Block was finally over. There are many references after Bea's transfer especially when Lizzie compares Bea's top dog qualities to Minnie Donovan's top dog qualities including the code of lagging when Minnie lagged on Sonia Stevens in a plan to soil Joan Ferguson. Bea writes a letter saying "Vinegar Tits is worse than ever" when Cass is transferred from Barnhurst Lizzie says "Our best mate Bea Smith was transferred" Cass said that she heard Bea arrived. In episodes 536–537 we hear there was a Barnhurst riot and there were eight transfers - Myra asks Nora Flynn if they brought Bea. Nora tells Myra that she was killed in the riot trying to stop it, but Ann tells Meg that she "burnt" to death. Bea's death was probably the biggest killed-off screen event of the show, and many viewers assumed that there was hope that Val Lehman would return to the show though the actress claimed she refused several offers.
|-
| '''Jeanette Mary "Mum" Brooks'''
| [[Mary Ward (actress)|Mary Ward]] – episode 1–204
| An elderly, dignified long-term inmate who worked in the prison garden, well loved and respected by both prisoners and officers. "Mum" had committed euthanasia on her terminally ill husband and had served fifteen years at the start of the series. She helped with making newcomers to Wentworth get used to the prison routine. In Episode 2, she is released but has nowhere to live, and after spending a brief spell living with her daughter, Lorraine Watkins ([[Anne Charleston]]), who cannot accept that Mum killed her father and does not like an ex-criminal being around her family, Mum shoplifts to deliberately get sent back to Wentworth. However, by episode 16, she is again released, this time under the care of new parole officer Jean Vernon, who sets Mum up in a little [[flat (housing)|flat]] with her pregnant granddaughter Judith-Ann ([[Kim Deacon]]) (whom Mum grew close to during her awkward stint living with her daughter), at which point Mum is written out of the series (as with Carol Burns, Mary Ward did not wish to commit to an ongoing serial). However, Mum and Judith-Ann appear again in episodes 30–33, when they unwittingly become involved with the escaped Bea (this storyline was conceived in part after requests from viewers to see what had happened to Mum). Mum and Judith-Ann are visited again in a storyline running from episode 61–67. Mum is in poor health, but overworking in order to support Judith-Ann’s imminent birth. Meg (who is still visiting Mum) convinces Greg to tend to her who, in turn, convinces Karen (now released) to stay with Mum and Judith-Ann after Mum's short spell in hospital until the child is born. Mum's estranged daughter Lorraine (now played by [[Gabrielle Hartley]]) eventually re-appears on the scene, and after seeing Judith-Ann’s baby, offers to make amends, and asks Judith-Ann and Mum to come back home and live with her. Mum is seen one more time later in the series for yet another storyline in episodes 199–204, reappearing in episode 199 when Bea – who has lost her memory in a crash while being transported back from Barnhurst – finds her once more. After another brief stint at Wentworth for aiding Bea, we are told a couple of years later in episode 388 that she has died of a heart attack, but left $20,000 to the prisoners. In episode 539, Governor Ann Reynolds persuades new prisoner Daphne Graham to tend to Mum's old rose garden to make new again that wore out after six years.
|-
| '''Rosie Hudson'''
| [[Anne-Maree McDonald]]) – episodes 2–73) (seen in recap of 74)
| A young prisoner who is heavily pregnant at the start of the series and gives birth during the riot of episodes 3–4. After giving birth, the character disappears from the series (being moved to the maternity block), but reappears in episodes 70–73. With her baby coming up to his first birthday (once again, not tallying with real time), she is in denial that he will be taken away from her by foster parents once he turns one. As a result, she suffers a breakdown, part of which, during a security alert, she punches the pregnant Chrissie in the stomach, endangering Chrissie's baby. Rosie is not seen again after these events, being taken into psychiatric care, this causes a lot of tension between the prisoners.
|-
| '''Lorna Young'''
| [[Barbara Jungwirth]] – episodes 2-692
| One of the longest serving background characters: she appears regularly throughout the whole run of the series. Her first speaking contribution (and in a surprisingly posh voice) is in episode 120, which is the first time the name Lorna is used for her. Later credits include episode 215 for an argument with Doreen over TV in the recreation room;
episodes 219 and 250 where her only line appears to be bleating like a sheep;
episode 253 where she criticises Bea for framing Marie Winter; and episode
293 when she contributes a present to use for the frame up on Joan. She gets the springs for the "bomb" to embarrass Joan. In episode 549 she replies "Yes, Miss Ferguson" whilst delivering food to solitary.
|-
| '''Tina Murray'''
| [[Hazel Henley]])– episodes 2-692
| Prisoner in Wentworth. The actress is one of the background characters throughout the whole series, though not always with this name. She is first called Murray in episode 206. She usually isn't given lines, and so is only credited for episodes 593 and 607.
|-
| '''Christine Angela "Chrissie" Latham'''
| [[Amanda Muggleton]] – episodes 3-338
| A lascivious prostitute who spent much of her time behind bars lamenting the fact that there were no men around. She murdered Bill Jackson, Meg's husband, with a pair of scissors during the show's first riot. She returned in episode 065 after being in Barnhurst where it is discovered she became pregnant in custody. Chrissie keeps the baby to avoid a bashing from Bea, and her daughter Elizabeth (named after Lizzie Birdsworth) becomes Chrissie's main focus causing her to turn over a new leaf. Whilst trying to protect or keep Elizabeth from being put into homes, Chrissie tried many stunts including running away interstate with the baby. Upon her return to Wentworth, new officer Joan 'The Freak' Ferguson begins work. It is here where Joan is often dangling the idea of visits with her daughter that causes Chrissie to reveal Bea's plans to set up the Freak. When Joan admits to Chrissie she will stand up in court and give bad character references at a custody hearing, Chrissie lashes out. During this fight we see the full extent of what the Freak is capable of and Chrissie becomes hospitalised at the hands of the Freak’s first real bashing. At first an enemy of Bea Smith, she later on became one of Bea's allies. She was eventually transferred to Barnhurst, as Bea herself later would be.
|-
| '''Helen Masters'''
| [[Louise Pajo]] – episodes 8–10
| An international businesswoman who was well known in the media due to her cosmetics enterprise remanded to Wentworth for running down and killing a child in a hit and run. She had denied all involvement and was found innocent although it was revealed that she was secretly guilty and had been driving the car when heavily intoxicated. Her haughty attitude alienates both staff and prisoners. She subsequently won over many of the prisoners, including Bea, as she demanded better conditions and promised to campaign for such when she was released. However, on a television interview after she was released she turned on the prisoners, saying they deserved all they got, humiliating Bea.
|-
| '''Monica "Monnie" Ferguson'''
| [[Lesley Baker]] – episodes 15–60
| A brutish, hulking inmate inside for bashing her weaselly husband Fred ([[Gary Files]]). A friend of Bea Smith (though the pair often argued) after the pair had previously been cellmates in another prison, she initially acts as a sidekick to her (at which point the character was a semi-regular), but upon Bea's escape, takes over as Top Dog herself, using very heavy-handed tactics and upsetting many of the women. After Bea's recapture, Monica attempts to remain Top Dog, leading to a brief power struggle. After one scuffle with Smith in which Meg Jackson is injured, and with her parole coming up, Monica backs down rather than risk not getting paroled. However, with her release, she agrees to recover Joyce Martain's hidden loot from a payroll heist in return for a cut, in order to pay of husband Fred's gambling debts; but Fred has exaggerated his debts in order to get money out of her and run off with his fancy girl Denise "Blossom" Crabtree (see separate entry). When Monica finds out, distraught after she had done so much to make a fresh go with him, she bashes him, and is sent to Wentworth once again (and the loot is recovered soon after). During her second stint in Wentworth, Monica becomes involved in a couple of minor escapades (such as exploiting Deputy Governor Jim Fletcher's [[haemophobia]] with Bea), but for the most part tries to keep out of trouble in order to get her parole. Towards the end of her sentence, with Bea in solitary, Monica finds herself at odds with criminal mastermind Toni McNally (see separate entry), whom she refuses to bow down to, while Toni and henchman Martha suspect Monnie of tipping off Vera with information about Toni's smuggling booze and drugs into the prison (although just how much Monica has told Vera, if anything, is never made overtly clear). Monica's parole seems doomed when she finally flips over Martha's taunts and lashes out, until Officer Jackson speaks up for her in front of Governor Davidson, saying that she believes the incident was a setup to ruin Monica's parole. Erica decides to release Monnie, who is planning to start afresh in a new state, and it is the last time the character is seen in the series.
|-
| '''Barbara Davidson'''
| [[Sally Cahill (Australian actress)|Sally Cahill]] – episodes 17–24
| The niece of governor Erica Davidson. Admitted to Wentworth on drug charges, a seemingly girly, innocent persona covers the fact that she is calculating and sly. She strikes up a partnership with Vera, which includes framing Monica Ferguson for possession of drugs. She is eventually transferred to Barnhurst after Doreen's bullying pushes her to dousing her cell in petrol and threatening to set herself alight, leading Erica to realise that it is unrealistic to have a close relation in Wentworth without risk of either special treatment or bullying. She is mentioned last in episode 215.
|-
| '''Catherine Roberts'''
| [[Margo McLennan]] – episodes 18–24
| A middle-class housewife who runs down and kills the man who raped her teenage daughter. After she is sentenced, striking up a friendship with Bea in the process, the character just disappears, and it is later revealed she has been moved to another block in episode 28. It is assumed her husband Ken sends their daughter away to stay with her aunt, though this is never revealed one way or the other a once Catherine's character disappears, so does the story.
|-
| '''Phyllis Hunt'''
| [[Reylene Pearce]] – episodes 21–460
| Background prisoner who eventually takes on a larger role around the time of Bea Smith's departure from the series, turning nasty in the process. After messing up Reb's drugs scheme at the Wentworth Fete, Reb takes revenge and horribly bashes her with a wooden statue, leading her to have permanent brain damage. Her boyfriend takes revenge on Ann Reynolds.
|-
| '''Susan Rice'''
| [[Briony Behets]] – episodes 25–29
| An emotionally fragile woman sent to Wentworth after being caught [[shoplifting]]. As Officer Jackson becomes concerned about Susan's mental state, it becomes apparent that Susan is angry at a (fictional) pop star Jason Richards for taking her husband Fredrick away from her, destroying their marriage. It ultimately transpires that Richards is actually the [[stage name]] of Fredrick, and they are one and the same. Upon release, Susan invades a TV interview with "Richards", throwing acid in his face, before being taken away to a secure psychiatric unit.
|-
| '''Martha Eaves'''
| [[Kate Jason]] – episodes 29–64
| A dimwitted, burly prisoner ridiculed by the other women, but who often acts as hired muscle for wannabe top dogs or those needing physical back-up. She is involved in two notable storylines: the first comes in episodes 50–52 when, after constantly being bullied and belittled by the other woman for being stupid, she tries to befriend child murderer Bella Albrecht (see separate entry), who is hated by the other women for her crime. However, after Martha overhears Bella saying that she too thinks Martha is stupid, Martha attacks her in the shower blocks and drowns her. When Martha returns from solitary in episode 58, she starts working for criminal mastermind Antonia McNally, who uses Martha's muscle to take over Bea's position while Bea is in solitary. Eventually, as the other women begin to become disillusioned with McNally and start to side with Bea to go up against Vera Bennett and Jim Fletcher, Martha wants her and Toni to join in on the act - but Toni wants no part of it due to her trial. She tells Martha that she could join them in the act if she wants to which she does. Although not written out of the series in any real manner, Martha is not seen after the conclusion of the McNally storyline in episode 64. In episode 128, Noeline Burke is scaring another woman accused of "baby bashing", Gail Summers, by telling her that Martha killed the previous such inmate and was sent to the loony bin as a result, which seemingly conflicts with Martha's involvement in the McNally storyline. (It might be presumed that Noeline was just trying to cause trouble).
|-
| '''Noeline Burke'''
| [[Jude Kuring]] – episodes 30–132,
| The head of a family of petty criminals usually inside for burglary and theft. An antagonist of both Bea Smith and Monica Ferguson, Noeline was famous for her refusal to take anything she considered charity. In Noeline's words, "The Burkes don't take charity, we just take." When she comes back to Wentworth she is very upset over Leanne Burke (see separate entry)'s death; she blames the officers for it and she doesn't understand that it was a tragic accident. She is later transferred to Barnhurst for her own safety. Note that Noeline's surname varies between Burke and Bourke in different sources; it is pronounced on-screen as "Burke".
|-
| '''Clara Goddard'''
| [[Betty Lucas]] – episodes 30–39
| A genteel, flighty socialite who initially planned to start a Halfway House for ex-prisoners, but ended up being remanded to Wentworth for embezzlement, where she gains considerable influence amongst the women, especially in the escaped Bea's absence. Sarcastically nicknamed "Madame Clara" and "[[Tinker Bell|Tinkerbell]]" by Bea when she returns, jealous of the way Clara manages to usurp her authority as Top Dog of the prisoners. During an examination of the running of the prison, the V.J. orders that Clara be moved to a dedicated remand section at Fairlea due to lack of remand facilities at Wentworth.
|-
| '''Kathleen Leach'''
| [[Penny Stewart]] – episodes 30–149
| Beginning as a background prisoner (often uncredited), Kathleen went on to be involved with two notable plot lines. She is put in to share a cell with Ros Coulson in episode 80, in the middle of Ros planning to escape with terrorist Janet Dominguez. Kathleen tries to convince her not to, fearing that the terrorists will kill the officers, but Ros escapes anyway during the botched break-out. Kath is last seen during this storyline in episode 89, being questioned by the police, and presumably goes on to be released. The character returns in episode 143, seemingly arrested on a short sentence for prostitution, but has in fact been put inside as a plant by Tracey Morris' "boyfriend" Joe to make sure that Tracey will not testify against him. When Tracey realises that Joe has been using her, Kathleen is given orders to kill Tracey; unable to carry out the instructions, she goes to Bea for help. Bea purposely scalds Kathleen's hand in the laundry steam press (episode 147), putting Kathleen out of action and sending her off to hospital, with a valid "excuse" to her employers for being unable to carry out her orders. The last time she is seen, she is telling Doreen that she can give her a fat lip if she sees her on the outside, due to a previous argument the two had in the recreation room earlier on.
|-
| '''Leanne Burke'''
| [[Tracey-Jo Riley]]– episodes 33–121),
| Noeline Burke's daughter, who has inherited her mother's criminal tendencies. She first is seen visiting Noeline with her rather slow brother Col ([[Brian Granrott]]) in episode 33, telling her about the problems they are facing without her. Leanne returns in episode 50, where her mother and she are caught trying to rob a building. Although Leanne escapes charge, Noeline is once again sent to Wentworth, and Leanne meets Welfare Officer Jean Vernon while visiting. Jean gives her the address of the apartment she shares with Meg if she needs guidance – only for Leanne to rob the place with a young man she has met, Denny ([[Tony Mahood]]). However, Jean is determined to try to set Leanne on the straight and narrow, and convinces Meg to let Leanne move in with them while they find Leanne a steady job. Leanne constantly abuses this trust, infuriating Meg; Jean continually convinces Meg to give Leanne "one more chance", until eventually, in episode 55/6, Leanne and Denny are caught trying to hold up a service station. Leanne disappears from the series at this point, and it is not clear what she is charged with (she is not sent to Wentworth). The character finally arrives at Wentworth in episode 120 charged with [[petty larceny]]. Although some of the other women are sceptical of Leanne as she is Noeline's daughter, she quickly becomes good friends with Judy, and is very active with helping arrange the riot to demand that murderous officer Jock Stewart be brought to justice. However, in episode 121, when the riot takes to the prison roof, Leanne falls to her death while trying to wave a banner for the gathering media to see. Note that, like mother Noeline, Leanne's surname varies between Burke and Bourke in different sources; it is pronounced on-screen as "Burke".
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| '''Irene Zervos'''
| [[Maria Mercedes (actor)|Maria Mercedes]] – episodes 38–40
| A young Greek woman admitted to Wentworth after being blackmailed into prostitution by a relative who is aware of her status as an illegal immigrant. Her brother and his wife were also illegal immigrants. Matters are complicated further by the fact that Irene does not speak English, leaving Karen, with only a smattering of basic Greek, trying to translate for her. Upon her release she was arrested by federal authorities at the gate of the prison due to her illegal status.
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| '''Joyce Martin'''
| [[Judy Nunn]] – episodes 40–48
| The wife of an armed robber inside for being an accessory, and the only person who knows the location of the loot. After her husband forcibly tries to have her abducted from the prison grounds to force her into revealing the loot's location to him, Joyce makes a deal with Monica, who is due for release, for Monica to retrieve the stash in return for giving Monica a cut. Heavies hired by Joyce's husband try to snatch Monica, but mistakenly grab Lynn, who is released on the same day. The loot is eventually recovered when Jim Fletcher double-crosses Denise Crabtree (see below entry) to find the stashed key to unlock the loot. With the storyline having run its course, Joyce is moved to D Block in episode 48, the last time the character is seen. Her husband was in the army with Jim Fletcher.
|-
| '''Denise "Blossom" Crabtree'''
| [[Lynda Keane]] – episodes 43–48
| A tarty young woman who is the girlfriend of Monica Ferguson's husband Fred, but who turns out to be using him to get her hands on the stolen loot from the robbery committed by Joyce Martin's husband. When she winds up in Wentworth, Monica is angry to find that she has been having an affair with Fred; while Denise, when released, tries to seduce Jim Fletcher into helping her after the key to the loot was stashed in the prison. However, Jim double-crosses her, and hands the loot into the police.
|-
| '''Edith "Edie" Wharton'''
| [[Colleen Clifford]] – episodes 44–49
| An elderly, kindly woman who is made homeless with her partner Horrie. Horrie dies after the pair spend the night sleeping rough, and Edith ends up charged with a minor vandalism crime (against the shelter who refused to take them in) and ends up in Wentworth charged with vagrancy. Edie's stay in the prison brings out the softer side of deputy governor Jim Fletcher, who goes out of his way to see that she is comfortable and cared for. Lizzie quickly strikes up a close friendship with her, and they enjoy talking about the old days. With a roof over her head, regular meals and with the new friends she has made, Edith does not want to leave Wentworth to go to the shabby bedsit that Jean Vernon has arranged, but dies in her sleep the night before she is due to be released, leaving Lizzie contemplating the prospect of dying in prison herself. With no relations or estate to pay for Edie's funeral, Jim Fletcher quietly steps in to pay for the funeral himself, out of the reward for recovering Joyce Martin's stolen loot.
|-
| '''Melinda Cross'''
| [[Lulu Pinkus]] – episodes 47–58
| A devious young woman who is a student at the same university as Karen. She tries to blackmail Tom ([[Hu Pryce]]), her lecturer with whom she has been having an affair, with intimate pictures of them, demanding money else she will show the pictures to Tom's wife. When Tom's wife does find out she informs the police, and after being caught in the act of receiving a pay-off, Melinda is arrested and sent to Wentworth awaiting trial. She is pregnant with Tom's child, and after a brief spell in Wentworth, escapes conviction by convincing the Judge that she was only acting out of desperation of wanting the father of her baby. However, once released, she tells Greg (who has just opened up his own practice after leaving his job at the prison) that the story was just a convenient excuse, and that she plans to have an [[abortion]], putting Greg in an awkward position as it means that Melinda committed [[perjury]]. The newly released Karen very briefly moves in with Melinda, but after Melinda goes elsewhere to have an abortion after Greg refuses to help, and does it under Karen's name, Karen leaves to live elsewhere; this is the last time Melinda is seen in the series.
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| '''Bella Swan Albrecht'''
| [[Liddy Clark]] – episodes 51–52
| A remorseless child killer who had murdered her toddler daughter – which she saw as getting in the way of her securing a relationship – and arrives at Wentworth on remand. The officers attempt to keep her crime under wraps, knowing it will anger the other women who despise those who harm children, but word soon leaks out after Bea dupes visiting psychologist Peter Clements into revealing why she is really in Wentworth. Although Bella tries to strike up a friendship with Karen, her only real 'friend' comes in Martha Eaves, feeling lonely after bullying by the other woman. Bella winds up attacked in the shower block and drowned in a wash basin; Martha is later found out to be the culprit. She's later mentioned in episode 277 by Lizzie when the women feel that a new prisoner who have arrived and placed in solitary that they aren't being told about or allowed to see due to possibly being dangerous. Lizzie then refers to the prisoner possibly doing something similar to Bella's crime of killing children due to her possibly doing something big they're not being let on about.
|-
| '''Antonia "Toni" McNally'''
| [[Pat Bishop]] – episodes 57–64
| A cool, classy woman on remand for the murder of the woman who was having an affair with her husband, and who tries to buy the women's favour and take over as Top Dog while Bea Smith is away in solitary confinement. Antonia is the wife of the head of the local underworld with friends in high places – amongst other things, she pulls strings to have Jim Fletcher given leave to get him off her back – and pressure is brought to bear on governor Erica Davidson to give her special privileges that further cements Toni's high status amongst the prisoners. Toni also starts smuggling in [[contraband]], including booze and drugs, and hires Martha Eaves as her muscle and lackey. When Bea is released from solitary, the two briefly strike up an uneasy alliance, until Bea learns that Toni has been smuggling in drugs, at which point the two become involved in a power struggle. By this point, though, Governor Davidson takes temporary leave and the other women begin to side with Bea to go up against Vera Bennett and Jim Fletcher who are now in charge of the prison. Toni however refuses to take part in this. Shortly after, Antonia is sent for trial, but is let off after thugs hired by her intimidate the only witness into giving a false statement. Walking free from court, she is shot by Ros Coulson, the daughter of the woman Toni killed, and dies soon after.
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| '''Roslyn Louise "Ros" Coulson'''
| [[Sigrid Thornton]] – episodes 63–92
| An idealistic young woman in her last year at convent school, who first appears in episode 63 claiming to be a relation of Antonia McNally. However, Ros is actually the daughter of the woman McNally murdered. When McNally escapes conviction, Ros fatally shoots her, seeing it as justified. Once sentenced, the gentle Ros's attitude quickly changes, as she believes she has done nothing wrong. She orchestrates an escape, arranging a distraction, allowing her to stow away in a visiting van. She seeks refuge at the newly opened halfway house, but – despite Doreen's pleas – Karen turns her away, telling her that if they were found harbouring a fugitive, it would destroy the whole project. Ros tries the [[brothel]] where her late mother worked, but when an associate of McNally's tries to force her into prostitution, she flees, and is captured soon after. Back in Wentworth, she is won over by terrorist Janet Dominguez, who plans to escape and offers to take Ros with her in return for Ros's help. The terrorist break-out doesn't go as planned; Ros saves Governor Davidson from being fatally shot, and escapes on her own; following a tip-off from Chrissie, she is re-captured a while later. After this, Ros, with encouragement from Erica, begins to see that her attitude will not get her anywhere, and under the guidance of welfare officer Paul Reid, begins studying. To aid her in this, Erica has her moved to a quieter block with some other studying prisoners, in episode 92 – the last time the character is seen. When Doreen gets married at the prison in episode 116, she mentions asking permission for Ros to be a guest, but the character does not appear. In episode 158, while giving a pep talk to Doreen, Erica mentions that Ros got her qualification. She is lastly mentioned in episode 176 when prisoner Evelyn Randall offers Lizzie some of her homemade tea that helps a person sleep easily; to which Lizzie tells her how she wishes that can put the prison staff to sleep for a while like how Roslyn did in episode 81 with some drugs in an attempt to escape from Wentworth with terrorist Janet Dominguez (see below) that was unfortunately unsuccessful.
|-
| '''Patricia Mary Theresa "Pat" O'Connell'''
| [[Monica Maughan]] – episodes 65–110
| A level headed, kind hearted middle-aged mother who is transferred from Barnhurst along with Chrissie Latham in episode 65. She is inside for aiding and abetting her criminal husband in an armed robbery (although, confusingly, on the character's first mention before her transfer, in episode 60, we hear that she is charged for driving a car through a shop window that had repossessed her furniture, something that is never mentioned again). Pat is being forced to go through with a divorce from her husband in order to give her a better chance of keeping her children, and is determined to keep out of trouble so that she might get her parole by Christmas and be reunited with her son and daughter. Despite jeopardising her parole by meeting with her eldest son David, who is also in prison and visiting Wentworth on a work party, Pat is paroled and reunited with her youngest children in time for Christmas. However, around this time David escapes from prison, which leads to a police shoot-out when he tries to visit her, resulting in Pat being returned to Wentworth because the police are convinced she was in cahoots with David. This leaves David jaded at Dr. Greg Miller, whom he is certain tipped the police off, prompting him to try to shoot Greg but wounding Karen in error. Unable to cope in prison, David kills himself soon after. Pat's kind nature comes through when she insists that Bea not attack the pregnant Chrissie, and with both Doreen and Lizzie on release, she becomes Bea's main sidekick for a spell. Pat is eventually released when her sentence is reduced on appeal and she is given parole; she is last seen when Paul Reid drives her home with her kids.
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| '''Janet Rose Dominguez'''
| [[Deidre Rubenstein]] – episodes 79–83
| A terrorist brought to Wentworth awaiting extradition to the US to face charges in connection with the bombing of a South American official outside the UN building. She is held in solitary away from the other women, as the officers do not want her interacting with or influencing the other women, but she wins over Ros Coulson, who is being held in the adjoining solitary cell. Ros helps aid an escape and is given an instant sleep powder to drug the guards while armed terrorists brake into the prison to free Janet. However, the break-out does not go according to plan, and Dominguez is shot and wounded trying to escape. She is taken away from Wentworth on a stretcher soon after, accompanied by federal police. She's mentioned in episode 277 by Lizzie after the women are surprised a letter they had written and sent to a newspaper wasn't published in it. This led to Lizzie believing that terrorist could have been responsible for it and refers to Janet.
|-
| '''Caroline Margaret Simpson'''
| [[Rosalind Speirs]] – episodes 89–114
| Arrives at the Halfway House with her fragile mother Vivienne (see below entry), who is seeking shelter from her abusive husband but is turned away. Soon after, when her father's violent temper boils over and he threatens to kill her mother with a shotgun, Caroline fatally stabs him. Caroline convinces Vivienne that they must say intruders killed him, but their story is soon exposed and they end up in Wentworth awaiting trial. Once inside, Officer Jim Fletcher shows an interest in Caroline, subtly at first, but it is soon noticed by the other women (reinforcing his nickname "Fletch the Letch"), although Caroline does not return his advances. Caroline's estranged, possessive ex-husband Michael ([[Peter Ford (Australian actor)|Peter Ford]]) offers to pay bail, but she refuses to bow down to his terms; while Michael becomes jaded at Jim, whom he sees as coming between Caroline and himself. Although Jim also offers to pay bail Caroline refuses, not wanting to be in his debt, but when Vivienne's frail state of health worsens, Caroline finally agrees. Eventually Jim bails Caroline out too; when she moves into the Halfway House, she continues seeing him and she finally returns his advances, and the pair begin a romantic relationship, even though Jim is breaking the terms of Caroline's bail. When Michael and Geoff Butler ([[Ray Meagher]]) (who is bitter at Jim for turning him in to the police over a previous incident) join forces, Butler dupes Michael – who insists that he wants no-one badly hurt – into delivering a bomb to Jim's motel room, it kills Jim's wife and children. This puts a severe strain on Caroline and Jim's relationship, with him telling her after the explosion that he blames her. When Vivienne and Caroline finally go to trial and are released on good behaviour bonds, she visits him one last time and they part on reasonable terms. This parting scene with Jim, before she goes to stay with Michael's sister, is Caroline's last appearance in the series. Note: Although billed as Caroline, many characters, including her own mother, pronounced her name as ''Carolyn''.
|-
| '''Vivienne Anne Williams'''
| [[Bernadette Gibson]] episodes 89–114,
| The mother of Caroline (see above entry), who is suffering at the hands of her abusive husband. After Caroline kills him in self-defence, the pair arrive at Wentworth, where Vivienne's fragile health worsens. Eventually, it is Lizzie (who at the time is on release and visits to see Bea) who recognises Vivienne and Caroline from seeking shelter at the Halfway House, adding some support to their claims of abuse, and Vivienne is released awaiting trial. However, once home, the strain of events is too much for Vivienne and she tries to commit [[suicide]], after which she is put into a care home, not seen for a few episodes. Eventually, in episode 114, Vivienne and Caroline come up for trial, and their charges are reduced to [[manslaughter]], allowing them to be freed on good behaviour bonds.
|-
| '''Sharon Gilmour'''
| [[Margot Knight]] – episodes 90–116
| A scheming, spoiled young woman who is imprisoned for drug dealing after a police raid where she was selling dope to a group of youths (including Social Worker Paul Reid's son Tony (John Higginson)). Being a drug dealer, not to mention a vindictive trouble-stirrer, Sharon immediately becomes an enemy of Bea. Despite having a lover, Judy Bryant (see separate entry), on the outside, Sharon becomes involved in a romantic relationship with Chrissie Latham, and the pair work together for a time to become Top Dog(s) while Bea is in isolation. Jealous of this romantic relationship, Judy purposely gets herself arrested so she can be inside with Sharon, but Sharon uses her spiteful ways to manipulate Judy as she does with everyone else. With Chrissie moved to maternity to be with her baby, Sharon later starts vicious rumours that Kerry Vincent (see separate entry) is a "lagger" (informant) after Kerry turns down her romantic advances. Judy finally becomes tired of Sharon's scheming, [[Psychological manipulation|manipulative]] ways and puts an end to their relationship. When Sharon witnesses corrupt officer Jock Stewart ([[Tommy Dysart]]) blackmailing and physically attacking Doreen, she tries to strike up working deal with him – she'll keep quiet about what she has seen in return for him protecting her. Soon after, she is found at the bottom of a flight of stairs with her neck broken. Judy, Bea and Kerry are all suspects, but it was Jock who murdered her.
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| '''Judith Francis "Judy" Bryant'''
| [[Betty Bobbitt]] – episodes 91-534
| An American ex-pat lesbian who deliberately committed a crime to join her lover Sharon Gilmour in prison. She was initially an agitator, but later became one of Bea's allies, as well as a long-term inmate. Judy ran Driscoll House, a Half-Way House for ex-criminals to get back on their feet. Judy was sent back to Wentworth after helping friend, Hazel Kent, kill herself while she was suffering from a terminal brain tumour. Served as a sort of "deputy Top Dog," to both Bea and Myra. She was later released to become a successful songwriter.
|-
| '''Lilian "Lil" Stokes'''
| [[Judith McLorinan]] – episodes 91–392,
| The smaller one of Margo Gaffney's goons. Most of her appearances come without a speaking part. She is first seen in episode 91 briefly in the background with Margo Gaffney's bigger goon: Bev Covelli. Lil has her first big scene when she helps Margo and Bev give Sharon a "haircut". In her last appearance she dies when the prison is under quarantine, in deputy governor Colleen Powell's arms.
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| '''Margo Jane Gaffney'''
| [[Jane Clifton]] – episodes 92–448
| One of a long line of agitators in the prison cell block who generally played rival to the reigning top-dog. Margo took charge of all gambling inside Wentworth and was usually accompanied by her stooges "Lil and Bev" (played by extras Judith McLorinan and Kaye Chadwick). Margo went back and forth during the series run from a good to bad guy, usually leaning toward the bad side. One of Margo's most heinous acts was the bashing of guard Meg Morris, who was temporarily a prisoner for contempt of court, and this earned her the combined wrath of Bea and Chrissie (who ironically saved Meg, despite her killing Meg's first husband, Bill Jackson), and avenged her bashing by tying her up and tarring and feathering her in the lavatory. Margo was also later bashed by Bea and Chrissie when it was discovered that she set the storeroom on fire with a [[Molotov cocktail]] at Wentworth, thus beginning the Great Fire at Wentworth, and lied about it to the cops. She later tries to frame Reb for attacking Myra Desmond but is found out and transferred to Blackmoore. Note: In the character's second appearance, in episode 93, her surname is given as Dempsey, not Gaffney.
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| '''Bernadette'''
| [[Anne Phelan]] – episodes 94–95
| A dopey background prisoner who appears to be good mates with Top Dog Bea Smith.
|-
| '''Heather "Mouse" Trapp'''
| [[Jentah Sobott]] – episodes 106*-326
| A rather timid young woman in and out for Wentworth for petty crime. She escapes and goes on the run with Judy Bryant after crawling through the tunnel during the pantomime. Later she returns to Wentworth and gets mixed up in the plans for the Great Fire where she perishes in the flames and burns to death. * – Note: although first credited in episode 106, Sobott had been appearing as an uncredited extra in the series for some time beforehand (first seen in Episode 67). The character – with no dialogue – is first referred to as "Mouse" in episode 100. it's revealed she dies in the Great Fire in episode 326/327
|-
| '''Kerry Vincent'''
| [[Penny Downie]] – episodes 112–124
| A young prisoner transferred to Wentworth to give her room to let her artistic talent flourish. Some of the women are sceptical of the special treatment that Kerry is given, such as being given a double cell to herself to give her room to do her paintings. Bea in particular does not take to her after she finds that Kerry's transfer was arranged by Ken Pearce ([[Tom Oliver]]), whom Bea has developed a crush on. As we learn more about Kerry, we hear that she is a former prostitute who is inside after violently attacking a client. Kerry's agent is David Austin ([[Rod Mullinar]]), a smarmy art dealer who is exploiting Kerry's status as a prisoner to drum up publicity and sell her work for huge profit. Kerry tries to get on with the other women, but they turn on her when malicious Sharon Gilmour starts spreading rumours of her being a "lagger" (informant) after Kerry turned down her romantic advances. During this period, Kerry also gives Vera a painting that she intends to destroy, only for Austin to concoct a story of Vera bribing it out of Kerry in order to give him more publicity, nearly costing Vera her job until Jock Stewart helps her set things straight with Austin; as a result, Austin is banned from visiting her at Wentworth. Kerry is given parole in episode 117 and set up in a small studio [[flat (housing)|flat]], but only on the proviso that she does not see Austin. Kerry is oblivious to his manipulating her and continues seeing him, and becomes jealous of other women he is seeing. This leads her to several drunken benders, the last of which results in her smashing David over the head with an ashtray, causing her to think she has killed him. She plans to flee the area; Helen Smart (see separate entry)'s [[pimp]] sells her some drugs to calm her down, but she takes them with alcohol, nearly killing her. When David finds her in this state, instead of calling for medical aid, he takes her paintings instead. Helen discovers Kerry and alerts Parole Officer Paul Reid just in time; after she is out of danger, he arranges that her parole not be cancelled if she agrees to be treated in a [[sanatorium]]. Kerry agrees to this, and it is the last time she is seen in the series.
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| '''Helen Pamela Smart'''
| [[Caroline Gillmer]] – episodes 118–441
| A likeable, amusing prostitute frequently sent to Wentworth for soliciting who becomes a useful contact for the women on the outside. Became good friends with Judy Bryant. Helen was known to the prison as "The 'tart' with a heart." Attempted victim of the leather gloved killer, she also helps Judy a lot with Driscoll House. Her younger sister Sharon becomes involved with a cult so Helen kidnaps her and tries to de-program her. Sharon stabs and murders one man who was helping causing Helen to be admitted to Wentworth for kidnapping – her first offence other than prostitution. She later develops a tropical disease brought in by Glynis Ladd whilst Wentworth is under quarantine. She was sent to Barnhurst after her trial. She returns to Wentworth and her last episode sees her transferred to B Block after being part of a practical joke on Joan Ferguson and she is never seen again.
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| '''Gail Audery Summers'''
| [[Susanne Howarth]] – episodes 124–133
| A harassed, downtrodden housewife who becomes Meg's new neighbour when Meg moves to a new apartment. Meg soon becomes concerned when she hears Gail's young children constantly crying and ferocious arguments between Gail and her short-tempered husband Tim ([[Jeremy Higgins]]); when Meg notices bruises on the children she believes that Tim is abusing them, but when after some debating she goes with Welfare Officer Paul Reid and the Police to intervene, Gail breaks down and confesses that it is her that has been abusing the children, driven to it being unable to cope being left with them all day with no help or support from Tim. She is sent to Wentworth on remand, where she instantly faces the anger of the other women when they find what she is in for, branding her a "baby basher". Eventually, a talk from Captain Barton (standing in for the departed Paul Reid) convinces her to stand up for herself; she gives an emotional speech to the other women telling them how she simply could not cope but loves her children, after which the women ease up on her. Gail goes to trial and is given a suspended sentence, on condition that she seek help. She moves away to join a support group.
|-
| '''Kay Frances White'''
| [[Sandy Gore]] – episodes 127–145
| The sly administrator of Andrew Reynolds's clothing factory, where a work scheme has been arranged with Wentworth for some of the prisoners. Kay places several large bets with bookie Margo (and holds out on paying up the money she owes), and agreeing to help Judy make a dress for an escape attempt. With suspicion on her for a series of thefts from the factory, she sets up Noeline to take the blame to try to get Mr. Reynolds off of her back. Soon after, her long-running embezzlement of company funds to fund her compulsive gambling habit is uncovered when she "borrows" payroll money to place a large bet, in hope of making back the money she has taken from the company, but she is caught in the act, and sent to Wentworth awaiting trial. There, she tries to use her gambling addiction as a claim that she needs psychiatric help in order to escape charge, but having got on the wrong side of the women over the cancellation of the work program and her generally manipulative attitude, Bea orchestrates a scheme to expose that Kay is still willingly gambling; the plot is successful and Kay does not escape charge, returning to Wentworth as an inmate with a five-year sentence. From this point, Kay's manner only gets more extreme – she opens her own book to overtake Margo's, and using very heavy-handed methods to secure bets. This leads to Bea being sent to solitary after giving Kay a "bashing", and in Bea's absence, Kay makes a move to be Top Dog. Judy, with help from Lizzie and others, plans to put Kay's racket out of action by placing large bets that she can't possibly afford to cover. After this backfires, they record a dog race from the radio on Tracey Morris's tape recorder, place a huge bet with Kay (knowing the outcome) and doctor the newspaper's racing page accordingly, and play the tape back next day as if it were live. The scheme works, but when Kay "borrows" Tracey's tape recorder and realises she's been set up, she goes frantic and violently attacks Lizzie in her cell, nearly strangling her until Linda Jones smashes Kay over the head with a kettle jug to save Lizzie, leaving Kay unconscious and covered in blood. She later dies from a blood clot on the brain. Lizzie stows Linda away from the scene and insist that she herself must take the blame (for more on this, see Linda Jones's profile, below).
|-
| '''Linda Mary Jones'''
| [[Elaine Cusick]] – episodes 140–150
| First introduced as an existing prisoner who is working as a runner for Margo's betting racket, Linda also has concerns when her son Danny ([[Darren Sole]]) is unhappy living with her overbearing, bullying sister while she is inside and runs away. Officer Fletcher later tracks down Danny and offers to take him in to live with him until Linda gets her parole; Danny's behaviour at first causes some trouble, but Jim soon licks him into shape and the pair form a close bond. Meanwhile, Kay White, starting her own more heavy-handed bookie racket, forces Linda into acting as runner for her, something that Linda reluctantly does. When the women try to put Kay out of action with a gambling con, Kay flips out at Lizzie and tries to strangle her in her cell; Linda arrives and smashes Kay over the head with a kettle jug, leaving Kay unconscious. Lizzie manages to stow Linda away before any officers arrive on the scene, and insists that she take the rap for it instead, both in return for Linda saving her life, and concerned about her being reunited with Danny. Linda wants to tell Erica what really happened, but Lizzie insists she keep quiet. Kay later dies, but Lizzie convinces the V.J. that she was behind Kay's injuries, allowing Linda to get her parole and be reunited with Danny, leaving to live in the new apartment that Danny and Jim have organised. However, a few episodes after Linda's departure, a jaded Doreen goes to Mrs. Davidson and tries to tell her the real circumstances of Kay's death. Erica sends Jim Fletcher to visit Linda and question her, but she convinces him that Lizzie's version is correct. She attends Lizzie's trial, where Lizzie – expecting an 18-month extension to her sentence for manslaughter – is given a heavy sentence.
|-
| '''Tracey Morris'''
| [[Sue Devine]] – episodes 141–198 & (Michelle Thomas – episodes 463–464),
| A young woman on remand accused of smuggling heroin into Australia but claims that she was set up by her gangster boyfriend. Tracey's father Bob becomes romantically involved and marries officer Meg Jackson. She returned in episode 463, landing herself on her ex-step mother and creating problems when she and her boyfriend held Meg hostage.
|-
| '''Hazel Jean Kent'''
| [[Belinda Davey]] – episodes 142–399 Flashbacks in episode 534),
| A background prisoner whose situation is eventually explored. A generally decent sort, later episodes show Hazel as being a depressed, drunken loser, turning to the bottle after her partner leaves her for another woman, taking their children with him. Hazel was suffering from a brain tumour and asked Judy Bryant to give her an overdose – leading to Judy's return to Wentworth for her final stint.
|-
| '''Sarah Forrest / Jacqueline Mary "Jacki" Nolan'''
| [[Diane Craig]] – episodes 149–159
| A classy, sophisticated and well spoken woman that Jim meets at a party. They arrange to see more of each other, and, trying to impress her and not put her off about his job, Jim tells her that he works as a building contractor. Sarah is part-owner of an interior design business, and offers Jim a business deal, much to the disdain of Sarah's haughty partner, Julian ([[Peter Stratford]]). After Sarah and Jim spend the night together, Sarah finds Jim's Prison Officer jacket and flees, and when he visits her at the interior design business, she is very cold towards him and tells him that the relationship is over. At the same time, Erica is thinking of having some home decorating done, and Meg mentions that she has heard Jim has an interior design friend. Although Jim tries to put her off, Erica visits Sarah's business and seems to recognise her. Soon after, she realises that she is actually Jacki Nolan, who escaped from Barnhurst a few years previously, and is now using Sarah Forrest as an alias. Erica convinces Jim to try to persuade Jacki to turn herself in; Jim is unsure what to do and stalls, but Jacki turns herself in on her own accord. Sent to Wentworth, Sarah and Jim try to play down their relationship to both Erica and the other inmates. Jim joins Erica at a Prisoners Reform Group meeting, where the group comes up with a high-profile publicity campaign to get Jacki pardoned – insisting that she has self-rehabilitated and that her successful business proves this – amongst other propaganda. Julian has his own campaign to get Jacki pardoned, and warns Jim to keep away else it will ruin the whole petition. Jacki faces going back to Barnhurst, but she is loath to as she was molested by a bullying lesbian officer (who some fans have theorised may have been Joan Ferguson) during her previous sentence, hence her escape in the first place. With increasing media attention over the case, Jacki is just about to be transferred to Barnhurst when her pardon comes through. She leaves Wentworth, presumably to resume running the business with Julian, and never to see Jim again.
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| '''Myra June Desmond'''
| [[Anne Phelan]] – episodes 154–552
| A former prisoner who had worked with the Prison Reform Group before arriving back at Wentworth and replacing Bea Smith as the show's second long-running "Top Dog". She was a thoughtful but strong woman who gave up her own life for the safety of the other hostages during The Ballanger Siege. Before the siege, Desmond organised a scheme to set up Joan Ferguson by bashing Lou Kelly and then framing Joan for the assault. The scheme worked until inmate Anita Selby revealed the truth to then-Governor Ann Reynolds. Reynolds then reinstated Ferguson and introduced a stricter security regime at the prison. She later confronted Desmond and told her that she would no longer recognise her as Top Dog. She also threatened Desmond with a transfer to Blackmoor if she caused any more trouble.
|-
| '''Anne Griffin'''
| [[Rowena Wallace]] – episodes 160–167
| A seemingly meek, timid young woman sent to Wentworth for robbing a shopkeeper at knife-point. She insists that she is innocent, and the money found on her when she was arrested was loaned to her by her friend Megan; however, no trace (or even proof of existence) can be found of Megan and so with no alibi, Anne is to await trial. Soon after Anne's arrival, Bea is attacked from behind in the corridor, and it eventually emerges that Anne was responsible (not liking Bea's authority over the other inmates); Bea plans her revenge but Judy persuades her to hold off, convincing her that Anne is mentally unwell. Anne tries to convince the authorities that Megan has written to her, giving her the alibi she needs, but it turns out that Anne wrote the letter herself. As Erica realises that Anne needs psychiatric help, various details come to light about Anne's abusive upbringing, her imaginary friend Megan, and the baby she later had that died, also called Megan, which has left Anne in a very confused state. Anne is inside during the big tunnel escape plan of the end of the 1980 season; after the other woman realise Anne is unreliable, they try to cover up all proof of the escape plans, telling her it was merely a prank, in fear that she might inform the officers. Things come to a head during the escape attempt (episode 165); Judy, Mouse, Doreen and another inmate; Irene Nagel, make their escape, but Lizzie decides at the last minute to join Doreen, leading both down into the tunnels, and Bea after her trying to call her back. As the tunnels collapse, trapping Bea, Lizzie and the injured Doreen, Anne deliberately covers the cover to the tunnel (with a "grave" for Megan) to stop them from getting out, leaving them trapped in the collapsed tunnel for several days. Eventually Mouse is recaptured, and raises the alarm, leading the officers to rescue Bea and the others. Bea plans to kill Anne for what she did, but Dr. Weisman by this time certifies her to be mentally unbalanced, and she is led away to a psychiatric hospital before Bea can exact her revenge.
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| '''Irene Nagel'''
| Heather Howard - episode 165
| An inmate who joins in on the escape from Wentworth at the last minute. She was mentioned by Judy as being in on the escape in episode 163, though her name was mentioned way before in episode 126 as one of the first of the women to attend the Reynolds clothing factory job. She didn't speak any lines and just followed the escape instructions with the other escapees. She was the one who inadvertently caused the tunnel collapse by slipping and grabbing hold of an old rickety support beam that couldn't hold her weight. The tunnel collapsed, killing her. It's implied that her body was dug out and in episode 167, Erica Davidson was on the phone to inform one of her relatives of her death.
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| '''Sandra "Sandy" Hamilton'''
| [[Candy Raymond]] – episodes 173–180
| A new prisoner who arrives claiming to be inside for the first time after being caught driving with expired tax. However, Bea and others soon become suspicious as, for a supposed first timer, Sandra seems very familiar with prisoner etiquette, and asks a lot of questions, particularly around and concerning Judy. They suspect her to be an undercover police officer after information about Judy's recent escape and recapture. Suspicions are heightened even more when she convinces the Governor to move her into Judy's cell, and she even tries making seductive advances towards Judy; but after Bea and Judy put the heavy on her, she confesses that she is actually a newspaper [[journalist]] who deliberately got herself put inside to try to get the [[Scoop (term)|scoop]] on Judy's escape. When Evelyn Randall (see below profile) arrives in episode 175, Sandra offers to write an article about how Evelyn has been unjustly imprisoned in return for Evelyn getting information with her; when Bea and the women plant Evelyn's stolen file in Sandra's cell, Sandra is sent to isolation. When the prison is struck by an unidentified disease (episodes 177–179), and the isolation cells are needed to bed [[quarantine]]d officers, Sandra is returned to the women, where she becomes very scared of becoming infected, after seeing her mother waste away some years earlier, and even tries to escape during a food pick-up, leaving Jim Fletcher threatening to shoot her if she does not return for fear of her infecting people outside the prison. With the mysterious disease "cured" in episode 179, Sandra finds herself framed for scarring Evelyn in a fire [[booby trap]] under Evelyn's bed, which will stop any chances of her imminent release; Sandra strikes up a deal with Bea, for Bea to prove she was innocent, in return for Sandra writing an exposé on poor prison conditions when she is released. However, after she is released in episode 180, she instead writes a story written around her and her time inside, neglecting to mention the conditions she promised to expose.
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| '''Evelyn Randall'''
| [[Julia Blake]] – episodes 175–179 seen in recap of 180)
| Referred to as 'Evie' only by Lizzie, she is an eccentric, middle-aged [[herbalist]] who arrives with other new prisoners Jennie Armstrong and Georgie Baxter (see separate profiles). She has been accused of manslaughter after poisoning one of her patients but insists that she is innocent and has a grudge against conventional medicine, insisting that everyone should see that herbal remedies are the true cure. Her haughty attitude soon gets Bea's back up, but most of the other prisoners take a liking to her, annoying Bea even more. When an under-the-weather Doreen asks Evelyn for a remedy, she falls ill, leading Bea to believe that Evelyn has poisoned her; but Evelyn finds that Doreen has mistakenly heated the remedy first, which has resulted in Doreen falling sick. Soon after, a mysterious bug breaks out in the prison; it is assumed to be a tropical disease brought in by Jenny Armstrong, who had just returned from overseas. As many prisoners and officers fall dangerously ill and Wentworth is quarantined, Evelyn insists that her herbal remedies could find a cure, as conventional doctors struggle to find the cause. The other prisoners even start to believe her, when one of her secretly brewed remedies begins to heal the very ill Meg; but it eventually emerges that Evelyn was behind the "disease", lacing people's food with enough special ingredients to cause them to fall sick, giving her the opportunity to "heal them" and prove herself. When the other women find out, Bea insists that they do not take action straight away, instead biding their time and making Evie nervous. A booby trap fire using [[Turpentine|turps]] placed under Evelyn's bed badly scalds her, seeing her led away to hospital in episode 179. She is not seen after this because Erica organised a transfer to Barnhurst for the day after, and although Bea was aware that the booby trap was placed, it was only designed that it would scare her. It is never fully revealed how Evie came to be so badly scalded, although is suggested that Bea did not authorise the incident.
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| '''Jennie Armstrong'''
| [[Sally Cooper (actress)|Sally Cooper]] – episode 175
| A young, naïve prisoner brought to Wentworth at the same time as Georgie Baxter and Evie Randall, and emerges from the prison truck covered in blood and terrified after being attacked by Georgie. While in the prison hospital recovering, she explains to Lizzie that she is only in prison after not paying a minor traffic fine, thinking that prison sounded "fun". Lizzie scares her about prison life, leading Jennie to quickly decide to pay the fine and get out. However, very soon after prisoners and staff being to fall dangerously ill; it is suspected that Jennie might have been the cause, as she has just returned from [[Africa]] and might have brought a rare disease back with her. Jennie is only ever seen in episode 175; after her release, police try to find her to trace the "disease", until it is finally discovered that Evelyn Randall is behind the matter, lacing people's food with poison.
|-
| '''Georgina "Georgie" Baxter'''
| [[Tracy Mann]] – episodes 175–186
| A violent, illiterate biker's moll who arrives in a prison van with Jennie Armstrong and Evelyn Randall in episode 175, and who has viciously attacked Armstrong during the journey. Georgie is immediately put in solitary and stays there after a series of volatile outbursts. Several inmates and staff alike compare her to Franky Doyle. Prison teacher David Andrews ([[Serge Lazareff]]) convinces Governor Davidson to let him see Georgie to try to get to the root of her behaviour, and suggests putting Georgie in with Judy, who can more than take care of herself, and Judy becomes Georgie's first real friend inside. During the mysterious "plague" that sweeps through the prison (176–178), Georgie stays at Judy's bedside and tends to her, but once the mystery disease has passed, Judy misinterprets Georgie's caring friendship and makes a pass at her, sending Georgie into a rage and seeing her sent to another stint in solitary (despite Judy's trying to explain to the Governor that it was her own mistake). Visiting Georgie in solitary once again, David realises that Georgie suffers from a severe hearing impediment, which has led her to misunderstand many things through life and believe people are laughing at her. Georgie soon undergoes an operation and her hearing remarkably improves. Once back at Wentworth, David suggests putting Georgie in with Bea (and Lizzie), which angers Doreen for being turfed out of her old cell, igniting a never-ending feud between the pair. Bea soon takes Georgie under her wing, but when Doreen is sent to solitary for a fight that Georgie instigated, Judy and Bea clash after Bea let Doreen take the blame. This leads to a big split between Judy and Bea, with various prisoners taking each side, and which Georgie, still furious at Judy's advances, works in the middle of to deliberately inflame even further. During this time, Georgie's mother Jeannie (see separate profile) also arrives at the prison for running a brothel, but Georgie wants nothing to do with her; while in David's classes, he begins teaching the illiterate Georgie how to read. By this time, Georgie's chance for parole is coming up, but David puts in a recommendation that she not yet be realised so that he can ensure she continues with her education. When the women discover this from Vera, they boycott David's classes, but a positive word to the V.J. from Meg, who has found Georgie a job, as well as David backing down his request so long as it is ensured Georgie continues her education outside, sees Georgie get her parole. Georgie leaves to live with biker friend "Mike the Bike" ([[Jon Geros]]), who had visited her inside several times, but finding the shabby [[flat (housing)|flat]] a mess and that the bullying Mike only wants her for sex, Georgie storms out. After this bust up, Meg can't find her when she is due to take her to the first day of the new job working in a supermarket, and goes to the store to apologise to the manager, only to find that Georgie has turned up on her own accord and is happily hard at work, and seems to be making a real go of going straight and putting her problems behind her.
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| '''Jean Nancy "Jeannie" Baxter'''
| [[Leila Hayes]] – episodes 180–183
| Georgie Baxter's mother, who had neglected and belittled her as a child. She first appears when visiting Georgie after her operation in episode 180, which results in an argument between the pair. The following episode, Jeannie is admitted to Wentworth for "living off immoral earnings" as a brothel madam. She immediately falls on the wrong side of Bea, who has taken Georgie under her wing and is determined to see that she gets an education and goes straight, and Georgie wants nothing to do with her. Before Jeannie is released, she tries to apologise to Georgie for her treatment, but Georgie doesn't want to know. However, just as Jeannie is leaving, Georgie convinces David Andrews to let her see her mother, and the pair part on amicable terms, with Georgie even calling her "Mum" for the first time.
|-
| '''Marie Winter'''
| [[Maggie Millar]] – episodes 197–471
| A tough long-term prisoner who was Top Dog of country prison Barnhurst, specialising in pushing drugs. She escaped with help from Lou Kelly and The Freak by climbing over the fence in afternoon exercise and clinging onto a helicopter and flying away. We are told that a few days later she is captured and sent to Blackmoor.
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| '''Michelle Parks'''
| [[Nina Landis]] – episodes 209–213
| An attractive young athlete with Olympic potential, Michelle is remanded to Wentworth charged with stealing from the office where she worked and once inside, literally runs rings around deputy governor Jim Fletcher.
|-
| '''Lori Young'''
| [[Susannah Fowle]] – episodes 209–347
| A young girl who visits Wentworth searching for her biological mother who had given her up for adoption – Judy Bryant. Lori later deliberately gets herself imprisoned to spend more time getting to know her mother.
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| '''Dinah Walford'''
| [[Trudy Simms]] – episodes 213–223,
| A middle-aged woman who arrives with Kathy Hall (see below). She is imprisoned for soliciting and sentenced to two weeks imprisonment. She is sent over to D-block. While on cleaning duty in the hallways alone, she pulls an alarm in episode 215 to help keep the prison officers busy while an attack is made on prisoner Kathy Hall. Bea and Judy both suspect she was responsible for the attack after a briefly questioning her whereabouts during the incident, as she was around when Kathy was attacked. However, she is released on parole in episode 215 before Bea got the chance to question her some more. However Bea informs Kathy about the possible thought of Dinah being responsible for the attack as well as the other threats she's gotten before hand. Kathy would later inform this to her ex-husband Terry Harrison who works at the Wentworth prison, but still remains in denial on it as she doesn't know Dinah. In episode 216, Harrison confronts Walford after looking for her on the street who denies knowing anything about the attack. Instead, she would take him to see a male friend of hers who threatens to beat him up. As it would turn out however, she is indeed the one who attacked Kathy to keep her silent about something she knew about illegal business going on in a [[pawn shop]] she went to one night involving Dinah and her gangster friends. In episode 223, she and some of her gangster friends confront Terry Harrison to help them with some business. After one of them witness a conversation between him and Inspector Grace outside of Wentworth, this is looked at the wrong way and Terry is soon killed during a hit-and-run.
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| '''Kathy Hall'''
| [[Sue Jones (actress)|Sue Jones]] – episodes 213–220
| A woman imprisoned for theft who is heavily involved with the local underworld. She's also the ex-wife of prison officer Terry Harrison (Brian Hannan) who works at the prison during her time there. She also falls victim to harmful attempts by prisoner Dinah Walford (see above) which is unknown at first, to silence her for good on something she knows about illegal business that goes on at the pawn shop Dinah and her friends hang out at that Kathy went to visit one night. After Dinah's release on parole, Bea informs Kathy that she expects Dinah was responsible, and strangely after Dinah is released on parole, the harmful attempts stop, but Kathy still remains in denial on Dinah until Terry Harrison confronts her after being beaten up by Dinah's friends. Kathy admits to being in the pawn shop they hang out at, where she met a man named John who made some secretive business with them. Upon the time of her release, she tries to pull schemes around the prison to keep her from the possible danger on her life on the outside but is unsuccessful. In episode 220 unknowingly to her, Terry Harrison decided to set her up to have her killed as revenge for ending their relationship and losing his unborn child Kathy was pregnant with while having a relationship with another man who was abusive. Terry informs the pawn shop manager by phone (not knowing it's Harrison) on the date of Kathy's release. When she is released towards the end of the episode, she is run over by a hit-and-run driver and dies. Her body is discovered in episode 221 by a prison guard on duty and is taken away by an ambulance.
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| '''Alison Page'''
| [[Fay Kelton]] – episodes 215–227
| A troubled suburban prisoner inside for shoplifting and unhappy at being locked up with "common criminals". She strikes out at some of the other women resulting in some conflict with them, most importantly bumping heads with Doreen. In episode 216 she tries to commit suicide by electrocuting herself but is found by Bea in time and taken to the prison hospital where she recovers. When she does, she is put into sharing a cell with Judy Bryant who isn't pleased. She is also given permission by the Governor to work in the reception area which angers the other women who feels she is being given "special treatment". Bea uses this as a way to get information in exchange for her protection from the other women. But Alison feels uncomfortable doing this and is requested a transfer to the isolation block to be by herself. In the meantime she faces family trouble with her 15-year-old son Chris acting out at school and running away from home temporarily unable to cope with her imprisonment. When her husband Don gets into an accident at work, their teenage son and 10-year-old daughter Susan are fostered by ex-prisoner Myra Desmond. On the day her children are taken care of by their father again who gets out of the hospital, Myra gives Alison some advice on how to cope with the other women in prison when she visits them a couple weeks before her release. This convinces Alison to transfer back to H block to reconcile with the other women and apologises for acting as though she was better than them and they forgive her. Afterwards she clashes in with a newly bitter prison officer Colleen Powell a few times, leading to an assault by Powell to which Alison strikes back at her. Powell presses assault charges, possibly causing Alison to have a longer stay at Wentworth. However Powell decides to drop the charges after the women decide to go on strike regarding the issue, much to Powell's dismay. Alison is then released.
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| '''Andrea Hennessy'''
| [[Bethany Lee]] – episodes 228–236
| A student and political activist who is admitted to Wentworth after assaulting officer Colleen Powell during a demonstration outside the prison. She tries to fight for "true freedom" on the inside such as leaving messages written all over her cell and the rec room; causing her to quickly bump heads with the other women inside. To secure her release, two of her followers kidnap governor Erica Davidson and keep her tied up at their hideout. However, their hideout is discovered by the police who shoot one of the women, killing her. The other, Linda Golman (see below), is taken to Wentworth in episode 233. After her friend Linda commits suicide in her cell, Andrea is pressured by new incoming prisoner Sandy Edwards resulting in the two having a fight. She is later transferred to E block for her own protection.
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| '''Linda Golman'''
| [[Mary Charleston]] – episodes 230–236
| An associate of Andrea Hennessy, who is remanded to Wentworth for her part in the kidnapping of governor Erica Davidson. She changes after being placed in solitary and ends up being very, very depressed. She was then found hanging in Andrea's cell, which is looked at as a suicide, but people wonder if Andrea actually hanged her, which she denies.
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| '''Sandy Edwards'''
| [[Louise Le Nay]] – episodes 235–264
| A cocky gangster's moll, inside for murder. She briefly takes over as Top Dog whilst Bea Smith is away in hospital, inciting a riot with the help of Kate Peterson. During this riot she makes advances to officer Steve Faulkner, who is held hostage. After the riot, the two have an affair. She later disappears after a fixed 'meeting' with Kate Peterson at the rubbish bins, but when the girls are called in Kate returns instead of Sandy. Helen overhears Kate's charge: the murder of Sandy Edwards.
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| '''Kathryn Elaine "Kate" Peterson ("Doc")'''
| [[Olivia Hamnett]] – episodes 235–273
| A former general physician who had poisoned her lover. A refined, intelligent and coolly self-reliant inmate, Kate was one of the few characters on the show that was a "good guy", who later turned "bad". Gently sitting on the fence whilst being involved with lagging to screws, lagging to cops, murder, trafficking drugs, fraud and bribery. Acted as though she was untouchable. She left Wentworth for a mental institution for the criminally insane after being given a death sentence from the rest of the women, realising she had burned all her bridges and succumbing to mental illness, which many of the women had predicted she would do, given that she was more educated than anyone else to fake it.
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| '''Susan Elaine "Susie" Driscoll'''
| [[Jacqui Gordon]] – episodes 260–302|
| A young girl who is admitted to Wentworth after she has escaped from all the juvenile institutions she has been placed in. She spent most of her time in Wentworth trying to escape. Due to her young age and innocent nature, she is taken under the collective maternal wing of most of the women, including the sarcastic guard, Colleen Powell. She is later released on her 17th birthday and eventually is led by Donna Mason into prostitution. She is the first resident of the halfway house run by Judy Bryant, which is later named 'Driscoll House'. She eventually moves to the country to live with Joanne Slater.
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| '''Jackie Louise Donahue'''
| [[Catherine Lynch]] – episodes 261–290
| A young prostitute who is picked up by a middle-aged man named Ron Crosby in episode 261 and goes back with him to his motel in a taxi driven by prisoner Judy Bryant (now on parole) - who witnesses Crosby treating Jackie in a harsh manner during the ride. When they get to the motel, Jackie changes her mind going with him which leads to Judy fighting Crosby off who tries to take Jackie with him. During this, Jackie robs the wallet off of him taking all the money inside of it, and leaves the empty wallet in Judy's taxi. When Crosby goes to the police and press charges on both Judy and Jackie for assault and robbery, the police then arrive and search through the home Judy's been staying at and finds the empty wallet in her possession. This leads to Judy being sent back to Wentworth when she is suspected of assaulting and robbing Ron Crosby. Jackie later turns up in Wentworth for a two-week stay on remand on a soliciting charge in episode 280. Judy recognises her and is angry due to her being the cause of her being back in Wentworth. She clashes with the other women in particular Bea Smith who convinces her to tell the Governor the truth about the whole incident to let Judy off. When Jackie decides to write a written confession on what happened, she gets bashed by Doreen and Margo – angering Judy who feels Jackie wouldn't confess now. However Jackie does decides to sign a written confession on the whole incident and Judy is released from Wentworth. She is released from her remand in episode 283 but is seen again in episode 290 when prisoner Susie Driscoll is released and meets her on the street. Jackie takes her for dinner and introduces her to another prostitute Donna Mason.
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| '''Joanne Slater'''
| [[Carole Yelland]] – episodes 273–302
| Imprisoned for parking violations, Susie Driscoll believes her to be her birth mother, however to stop Susie from escaping, the women let Susie believe it. Joanne offers for Susie to stay with her and her family out on their farm.
|-
| '''Carol Francis Lewis'''
| [[Elizabeth Crosby (actress)|Elizabeth Crosby]]– episodes 276–284
| A young woman imprisoned for shooting her husband Doug, who in turn was responsible for kidnapping prison officer Colleen Powell's daughter Jenny along with his friend Mel. While Jenny was held captive, Carol made sure she was well protected. While trying to contact her parents at their hideout to let them know she was alright, Doug catches her and beats her unconscious. After he rapes Jenny, Carol awakens and scratches Doug. In episode 279, Doug, Mel, and Carol flee from their hideout to stay at a hotel while the police were on to them taking Jenny with them. That night, Carol was fed up with Doug's actions and kills him, later telling Mel to take Jenny and dump her in the middle of nowhere for her protection. Jenny makes her way to the police station and is reunited with her parents. Carol is then sent to Wentworth for killing her husband. Despite saving her daughter, Powell finds her to be just as guilty as her husband by not acting against him sooner. Carol is mistreated by Powell who forces her to do massive chores while she is on remand. Powell goes as far as sabotaging Carol's work efforts on two occasions to turn the women against her; costing them their buy up privileges. This happens temporarily, but prisoner Margo Gaffney has always been convinced that Powell was behind sabotaging Carol and took every chance defending her. Soon, Carol convinces the other women to put the pieces together and they soon start to believe her. Bea confronts Powell who denies everything and threatens to put a charge on her. Carol receives a letter from Jenny who thanks her for helping her out which angers Powell who takes it from her and burns it to keep her from using at her upcoming trial. At the trial, Lewis pleads guilty and Jenny testifies at her trial and tells the truth about her helping her and Doug abusing Carol. Carol gets sentenced to three years which upsets Powell. For her own protection. Carol is transferred over to Barnhurst along with Margo Gaffney due to her gambling activities.
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| '''Faye Quinn'''
| [[Anne Lucas]] – episodes 285–352
| A petty criminal inmate who attempts to take charge of all gambling at Wentworth and the first inmate to actively collude with corrupt officer Joan "The Freak" Ferguson. By episode 287 she's operating as the prison bookie, replacing Margo who's just been transferred to Barnhurst. She is then transferred to another block in episode 313 but makes a return in episode 340. She is pressured by Nola McKenzie to front for her insurance racket and provide cash for Nola's deals. She is released in episode 346 after Joan has forced her to lag on Nola's dealing, and goes to live with her mother, but can't keep away from her old racing friends. Her sister Glynis ([[Kirsty Child]]) forbids her to see her nephew Billy who soon turns out to really be her own son. After she gets involved with stealing VCRs from her job, she is caught and returns to Wentworth. She is last seen being reduced to tears after being transferred to C Block and reading a letter from her son, Billy.
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| '''Hannah Simpson'''
| [[Julieanne Newbould]] – episodes 288–303
| A young woman on remand for armed robbery who becomes the first unwilling object of officer Joan "The Freak" Ferguson's Sapphic lust. While she is there, Joan repeatedly has her put in solitary to put pressure on her which makes her unable to take part in an escape planned for her by Duncan Campbell. She was transferred to Barnhurst after her court hearing.
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| '''Donna Mason'''
| [[Arkie Whiteley]] – episodes 290–303
| A doomed heroin addict and prostitute who leads Susie Driscoll astray and manipulates her into joining prostitution. Bea Smith tries to help her get clean cold turkey, as she reminded of her own late daughter Debbie. She later dies in Bea’s arms when she injected herself with spiked drugs.
|-
| '''Maxine Daniels'''
| [[Lisa Crittenden]] – episodes 297–391
| A young biker frequently inside Wentworth for petty theft. She escaped with Lucy Ferguson but was shot dead by a security guard whilst on the run and trying to escape the scene of a robbery.
|-
| '''Barbara Fields'''
| Susan Guerin – episodes 300–326)
| A devious middle-class woman imprisoned after being caught with [[embezzled]] funds from the shoe factory where she worked. Barbara is the first Wentworth inmate to pose a threat to Joan Ferguson after she acquires the Freak's secret diaries full of incriminating evidence of the cold screw's dodgy dealings. During the Great Fire she tries to recover the diaries from Erica's office but collapses and dies.
|-
| '''Paddy Lawson'''
| [[Anna Hruby]] – episodes 304–339
| A highly aggressive young woman imprisoned for assaulting a colleague after they got locked into a storage room together during an office party. It is eventually discovered that Paddy's violent behaviour is a result of claustrophobia. After this, she settles down and becomes a good friend of Bea Smith. After Paddy exposed escaped murderer Nola McKenzie's involvement in a bank robbery, McKenzie callously murdered Paddy by drowning, incurring Bea's wrath.
|-
| '''Penny Seymour'''
| [[Joy Dunstan]] – episodes 307–309
| A young woman imprisoned for prostitution. After she was released, she fell victim of the Black Gloved Killer who broke her neck and left her dead in an alley.
|-
| '''Tina Lee Gibson'''
| [[Debbie Cumming]] – episodes 310–311
| A young woman sentenced for seven days in Wentworth for prostitution. She arrives with returning prisoner Helen Smart and afterwards soon bumps heads with Joan Ferguson who lets her in on her dislike for prostitutes. Both she and Helen are released together where Tina then goes back on the streets. She then becomes the second victim of the Black Gloved Killer.
|-
| '''Sally Dempster'''
| [[Liz Harris]] – episodes 313–320
| A neurotic, alcoholic middle-class housewife imprisoned trying to run down her neglectful husband after an argument in episode 316. Like Gail Summers, she too was given rough treatment by the other women after she revealed she abused her daughter Michelle. She attempts suicide in her cell but is saved by Colleen Powell. Colleen makes Sally's husband realise that his selfish behaviour provoked Sally's actions and in episode 320 he gets Sally released and they reconcile and she reunites with their daughter.
|-
| '''Jeannie Stanton'''
| [[Rona McLeod]] – episodes 325–329
| A pregnant prisoner whose baby is delivered by Bea Smith and Chrissie Latham in a men's prison (as the men rioted).
|-
| '''Valerie Jacobs'''
| [[Barbara Angell]] – episodes 330–332
| An old friend of Deputy Governor Colleen Powell having stolen goods for her boyfriend to sell in his shop.
|-
| '''Jean Carter'''/'''Nola McKenzie'''
| [[Carole Skinner]] – episodes 331–369,
| A double murderer who had escaped from death row in Western Australia. Possibly Bea Smith's deadliest rival. She is first introduced as Jean Carter, who takes refuge at Judy's halfway house, however she gets arrested for knocking a cop unconscious at the house, who was coming close to revealing her true identity. It was later revealed at Wentworth and why she faced a death penalty in Western Australia; for killing a cop there. She angered Bea after callously murdering Paddy Lawson by drowning her in a wash basin. Bea brands Nola with a soldering iron. She eventually tries to drive Bea insane with the aid of the Freak and Zara Moonbeam, until Bea eliminated her by shooting her with a Zip Gun.
|-
| '''Trixie Mann'''
| [[Anna Mizza]] – episodes 311–340
| A young woman imprisoned for prostitution who becomes a brief offsider of Nola McKenzie. She was released.
|-
| '''Ruth Shaw'''
| [[Mary Murphy (Australian actor)|Mary Murphy]] – episodes 343–537
| A prisoner first seen showing hatred towards Nola McKenzie after Bea tells the prisoners that she had branded her in revenge of her killing Paddy. Shaw is later caught with some of Nola's stolen cigarettes taken from the storage room given to her by Faye Quinn who is trying to sell items to make money for her and Nola while operating an insurance scheme. After her appearances during the Nola McKenzie storyline, Shaw makes more frequent appearances on the show playing minor roles until episode 537.
|-
| '''Janice Young'''
| [[Catherine Wilkin (actor)|Catherine Wilkin]] – episodes 344–352,
| A proud suburban wife and mother imprisoned for refusing to pay a court fine. Her husband Chris ([[Roger Oakley]]) becomes involved with deputy governor Colleen Powell while she is inside.
|-
| '''Roxanne Bradshaw'''
| [[Peppie D'Or]] – episodes 345–381
| A friend of Maxine Daniels who is the courier when Maxine, Nola and the Freak are smuggling goods into the prison. She is later admitted to Wentworth for receiving stolen goods and is pregnant after agreeing to a surrogacy arrangement with a middle-class couple. Once she gives birth, she is transferred to Barnhurst.
|-
| '''Jill Clark'''
| [[Katy Brinson]] – episodes 348–353
| A departmental employee posing as an inmate in order to conduct a covert investigation of the prison.
|-
| '''Lainie Dobson'''
| [[Marina Finlay]] – episodes 354–366
| A tattoo-covered shoplifter who turns to drugs while inside. She is admitted with 'Ellen' Farmer and the two are thought to be having a homosexual relationship, however it is discovered that 'Ellen' is really Allan. She tries to remove her tattoos by dipping her cut arms into caustic soda. She was released.
|-
| '''Allan "Ellen" Farmer'''
| [[Michael Cormick]] – episodes 354–360,
| A shy woman who is brought to Wentworth alongside Lainie Dobson. Lainie first refers to her as shy. Joan later finds Ellen and Lainie in bed together, Joan assumes it's a homosexual relationship. in the shower blocks Helen Smart discovers that Ellen is a man. He claims that the police had a mix-up and then just went with it. Meg discovers that Ellen is Allan after Maxine tries to seduce him. He is later released so the department does not face causing a mix-up like that. Judy later visits him to make sure he is still waiting for Lainie.
|-
| '''Diane Henley'''
| [[Rhonda Cressey]] – episodes 355–361
| An illiterate prisoner whose plight highlights the lack of educational facilities at Wentworth. She is taught to read by the prison's new teacher John Maxwell who stays for a brief time period.
|-
| '''Denise Tyler'''
| [[Geraldene Morrow]] – episodes 361–367
| A working-class single mother on remand for apparently killing one of her sons. It is later revealed by Judy she was covering for her other eight-year-old son and is therefore released.
|-
| '''Zara Moonbeam'''
| [[Ilona Rodgers]] – episodes 362–370
| On remand for fraud. Zara claims to be a medium with "second sight" and becomes embroiled in a scheme by Joan Ferguson and Nola McKenzie to drive Bea Smith insane. She was released.
|-
| '''Tracey Belman'''
| [[Alyson Best]] – episodes 368–372
| A paraplegic prisoner who poisoned her husband after a car crash which left her using a wheelchair. Joan is assigned special care of Tracey, but after learning Joan is a lesbian, she accuses her of attempting to kiss her when she is awoken from a nightmare. Joan Ferguson proved everyone wrong when she caused Tracy to reveal she could walk and did not need a wheelchair. She is sentenced to three years and transferred to Barnhurst.
|-
| '''Maggie May Kennedy (née Mullins)'''
| [[Davina Whitehouse]] – episodes 371–376
| A geriatric drug mule convicted for smuggling heroin, who turns out to be an old friend of Lizzie Birdsworth. At first convinces the women she was carrying diamonds, however after her and Bea smuggle out a letter to the newspaper regarding imprisonment of older people, it is revealed that this was at least the third time but the first time she was caught. She applies for an extradition back to the USA where she believes her "press friends" will help her get a release. When she receives the extradition order, Ted Douglas informs her it is on condition that she carries out her full twenty-year sentence.
|-
| '''Carol Colsen'''
| [[Merrin Canning]] – episodes 373–377
| The next-door neighbour of Joan Ferguson and an abused housewife who finally snaps and kills her husband as Joan enters the house. She holds her daughter Jill and Joan hostage. Once admitted to Wentworth, the women don't look favourably upon her for threatening her daughter. Joan takes Jill under her wing and brings her in to see her mother, but upon Jill's rejection, Carol hangs herself in her cell with her stockings.
|-
| '''Laura Gardiner/Brandy Carter'''
| [[Roslyn Gentle]] – episodes 373–382
| Admitted to Wentworth as a surly, antagonistic prostitute named Brandy, officer Meg Morris recognises her as a meek librarian named Laura. After Laura tries to commit suicide in an attempt to get a rid of Brandy, a third personality emerges after recovery who calls herself Susan. However, it is not simply a case of a woman living a triple life as it soon becomes apparent that Laura/Brandy is schizophrenic. During a psychiatric examination, Laura manages to "get rid" of Brandy (though the whereabouts regarding "Susan" are never covered) and is sent off to a mental hospital.
|-
| '''Frances Harvey '''
| [[Wanda Davidson]] – episodes 373–525
| A tough heavy who is introduced as a halfway house resident but ends up in Wentworth without an explanation in episode 384. She bashes Hannah Geldschmidt with Alice Jenkins in episode 453 and is responsible for killing Sarah Higgins later on, but the case gets closed and she is never charged with the murder. Her last appearance is as a punch-bag when Myra Desmond bashes Lou Kelly's heavies to isolate her.
|-
| '''Sandra Louise "Pixie" Mason'''
| [[Judy McBurney]] – episodes 377–510 recap episode 534
| A flighty, romantic inmate initially admitted on [[bigamy]] charges. She applied for a job on the outside and still kept the job after the owners found out that she was a prisoner. Pixie was cruelly raped by Frank Burke, but her friends and Joan Ferguson helped set up evil screw, Len Murphy, for the rape. She never recovered from her ordeal with Frank and was transferred to Ingleside.
|-
| '''Gerri Doogan'''
|[[Deborah Kennedy]] – episodes 381–382)
| Brought to Wentworth on soliciting charges, but she is really a plant attempting to recover the photo of Lionel Fellowes paying a bribe. Bea tricks her into exposing her hand too soon by pretending to have hidden the photo in a lump of modelling clay.
|-
| '''Petra Roberts'''
| [[Penny Maegraith]]– episodes 383–407
| A former teacher remanded to Wentworth for murdering her father. It is revealed he raped her and her younger sister. She was engaged to prison doctor Scott Collins. Once her sister is found dead, Petra reveals that she was actually not the murderer, but covered for her younger sister. Her storyline was basically a re-hash of the Karen Travers one from several years earlier. She was released.
|-
| '''Sharon Smart'''
| [[Liddy Clark]] – episodes 383–388
| The younger sister of Helen Smart who becomes involved with a crooked religious cult. When Helen, Judy, a former cult member and deprogramming man lock her in the Driscoll House attic to help de-program her, she stabs and kills the man helping. She is charged and ultimately convicted of murder but is sentenced to probation due to being held against her will.
|-
| '''Lucy Ferguson'''
| [[Yoni Prior]] – episodes 385–389
| The niece of officer Joan Ferguson who arrives inside on drug charges. She breaks into Joan's house, persuades her to let her stay while she looks for a job and to lend her money to buy new clothes for an interview. She buys drugs, which she and her boyfriend hide in Joan's house until they can deal them. Lucy is arrested for possession but comes in under the last name "Walker" to keep hidden her relationship with Joan, but uses this to blackmail her in the process so she'll do her favours. She manages to escape from Wentworth in a laundry truck along with Maxine Daniels with the help of Joan herself.
|-
| '''Glynis Ladd'''
| [[Debbie Cumming]] – episodes 389–391
| A dealer and junkie who admits she has previously been inside Barnhurst. She develops the tropical disease [[Lassa fever]] causing Wentworth to be locked under quarantine. Shortly after, she dies.
|-
| '''Rosemary Kaye'''
| [[Jodie Yemm]] – episodes 391–402
| A naïve country girl who comes to the city looking for work and has all of her money stolen. Wally then sends her to a boarding house where she is sexually harassed by Rod Miller, a supermarket manager and one of the residents of the boarding house; after she bashes him with an ashtray, he presses charges against her and she ends up in Wentworth on remand. After Wally manages to convince Rod to drop the charges against her, she is released and returns to the country to get married.
|-
| '''Sonia Elizabeth Stevens'''
| [[Tina Bursill]] – episodes 394–447
| A cool vice queen who had operated a protection racket fleecing prostitutes whilst maintaining cover as a policeman's wife. Imprisoned for heroin trafficking and soon took over as Top Dog before Bea was sent to Barnhurst. Her position was taken over by Minnie Donovan for a short time while Judy and Helen ensured Sonia would not return to be Top Dog. She escaped and was last seen standing on a clifftop, but we later see bullets through the window of her car which might explain she was shot down by the criminal Renner or by her husband Eddie's people.
|-
| '''Randi Goodlove'''
| [[Zoe Bertram]] – episodes 394–414
| A mercenary, high-class prostitute who crosses swords with officer Meg Morris when she tries to manipulate her son Marty ([[Andrew McKaige]]) into marriage as a cover for her prostitution. Randi fell victim to murderous officer David Bridges; she was killed and stashed high above the infrastructure in the boiler room which is never discovered by the staff or prisoners.
|-
| '''Cass Parker'''
| [[Babs McMillan]] – episodes 401–460 Recap ep 534),
| A gentle-natured farmer's daughter imprisoned for manslaughter. She is introduced when she is transferred from Barnhurst (where she was initially incarcerated) after killing an officer there. She is taken to Wentworth to finish her sentence and it soon becomes apparent that her docile demeanour hides a violent temper and a tendency to lose control. During her time, she decapitated murderous officer David Bridges with a garden spade when he tried to kill her. She subsequently became friends with both Minnie Donovan and Bobbie Mitchell. She was later transferred to a mental hospital after attempting to strangle officer Dennis Cruikshank when he caused Bobbie to miscarry her baby.
|-
| '''Louise Jane 'Lou' Kelly'''
| [[Louise Siversen]] – episodes 404–616
| A vicious prison thug and perhaps the most violent agitator in H Block during the later years of the series. She starts out as a background prisoner making casual appearances before being put into the spotlight in episode 452. She led a riot in which she killed Eve Wilder, the Phantom Lagger, but was later killed while in solitary, being beaten to death with a glass bottle by Janet "Maggot" Williams. Lou escaped after the riot she caused by faking a murder attempt by cutting herself with a knife, setting up Rita Connors. While she escaped she was raped by Alice Jenkins's brother and killed him and his mother.
|-
| '''Minerva Edith "Minnie" Donovan'''
| [[Wendy Playfair]] – episodes 405–437
| An elderly woman who had been a foster carer and had organised her charges into a team of shoplifters. Became the series' most unorthodox Top Dog. She is transferred to B Block after spending an 'escape day' with Bobbie Mitchell in a country town following the glee club singing competition.
|-
| '''Roberta "Bobbie" Mitchell'''
| [[Maxine Klibingaitis]] – episodes 405–533
| A streetwise and rebellious youngster and punk imprisoned for shoplifting and assault. Accused of pushing Reb over the catwalk but cleared of the charge. Bobbie is eventually released in episode 513. She later returns for a special one-off appearance for Marlene's wedding in episode 533.
|-
| '''Brenda Hewitt'''
| [[Carmen Warrington]] – episodes 408–416
| A talented forger working for the local underworld who is involved in a brief business partnership with Sonia Stevens while inside.
|-
| '''Belinda Margaret Johns'''
| [[Jane Turner]] – episodes 414–428
| An embittered blind woman who gets herself imprisoned to take revenge on Sonia Stevens, whose protection racket partner left her blind after a bashing. She was transferred to another cell block and away from Sonia after an attempted bashing which involved a wrench.
|-
| '''Sarah Higgins - "Hangin' Higgins"'''
| Nell Johnson – episodes 416–499
| Visiting Justice notorious for her tough attitude and the harsh sentences she gives out to the prisoners. Sarah gets a taste of life on the other side of the bars when she is remanded on corruption charges. Tried by the inmates and shunned. She is then found with her throat slit, which turns out to have been done by prisoner Frances Harvey.
|-
| '''Alice "Lurch" Jenkins'''
| [[Lois Collinder]] – episodes 419–692
| A prisoner who, like many, graduated from a small non-speaking part into a more fleshed-out role. Alice makes her spotlight appearance in episode 448. Her character, initially a thug, later mellowed and became an ally of Rita Connors after the riot she took part in, realising Lou was no good for her and what she did was wrong. This was further consolidated after Lou killed Alice's brother and mother. Lou was also raped by Alice's brother while escaped.
|-
| '''Marge Briggs'''
| [[Christine Best]] – episodes 419–534
| Transferred from D block by Joan to act as muscle for Sonia. She manages to goad Cass into a fight. Seen over a year later as a prisoner waiting for her parole decision and mentions Hazel to Judy. Despite her bitter comments, Alice tells us later she does get parole.
|-
| '''Rebecca Anne "Reb" Kean'''
| [[Janet Andrewartha]] – episodes 422–589
| A tough inmate who played rival to Top Dog Myra Desmond. She was born into money, but rebelled against her wealthy family. She also pushed Joan Ferguson off the catwalk in self-defence and was also pushed off the catwalk by Marie Winter. She was transferred to Blackmoor after attacking Myra and assaulted Joan swearing to her that she will be back. She was returned to Wentworth later in the series, a changed character following electric shock treatment and a bashing from evil Blackmoor officer Cynthia Leech. She is released after she is cleared of the attack on Joyce Barry.
|-
| '''Mo Maguire'''
| [[Bronwyn Gibbs]] – episodes 428–432
| Antagonistic remand prisoner protesting her innocence of a burglary charge. She was released along Camilla Wells.
|-
| '''Camilla Wells'''
| [[Annette Andre]] – episodes 429–432
| A radio show hostess and journalist who arrives at Wentworth as a "celebrity" inmate for not paying a parking fine. She was released.
|-
| '''Meryl King'''
| [[Marilyn Maguire]]– episodes 429–432
| A prostitute imprisoned for drug possession with links to the local underworld. She was released and later shot dead.
|-
| '''Gloria Payne'''
| [[Tottie Goldsmith]] – episodes 430–445
| A trouble-making inmate and early antagonist of new Top Dog Myra Desmond, having been her husband's mistress on the outside. She was last seen suffering in hospital after having boiling water tipped on her by Phyllis, attempting to frame Myra.
|-
| '''Sarah Webster'''
| [[Fiona Paul]] – episodes 433–441
| A young single mother who finds herself remanded to Wentworth after sheltering her old friend Reb Kean while she is on the run. She is later released when she was cleared of a murder charge.
|-
| '''Diana Hardy'''
| Julia Gardner – episode 445
| A remand prisoner put into uniform by Meg due to her pill-induced amnesia. She is quickly transferred to another prison.
|-
| '''Rachel Millsom'''
| [[Kim Trengove]] – episodes 450–472
| A young woman whose story began on the outside before she is sent to Wentworth. She is introduced as working at a goods shop with her elderly father and soon begins a relationship with officer Rick Manning. In episode 454 her father is hit and killed by a drunk driver named Trevor Priest. Priest tries to manipulate Rachel by offering her money and condolences in return for her not having him prosecuted. Rachel testifies against him but he manipulates the court and is found not guilty. After a final confrontation with Priest outside court, Rachel runs him over and kills him at the end of episode 457. She is remanded to Wentworth and is subsequently transferred to a prison farm in episode 472 after her trial to continue her sentence.
|-
| '''Hannah Geldschmidt'''
| [[Agnieszka Perepeczko]] – episodes 451–456
| An East German Jewish concentration camp survivor and illegal immigrant who arrives at Wentworth awaiting extradition back to East Germany.
|-
| '''Leigh Templar'''
| [[Virginia Hey]] – episodes 457–470
| A glamorous fashion model remanded to Wentworth after killing her manager, who had been blackmailing her with some porn films she had made at the start of her career. After Ann Reynolds is dismissed from the prison thanks to Joan Ferguson and scheming inmate Marie Winter, Templar uses her influence to get her reinstated, thanks in part to Ann saving her life during the riot started by Winter. As a result, Templar gets a two-year probation bond and leaves the prison with high gratitude from Ann.
|-
| '''Marlene "Rabbit" Warren (later Delaney)'''
| [[Genevieve Lemon]] – episodes 461–534
| A juvenile prankster imprisoned for manslaughter after a practical joke of throwing stones at cars went tragically wrong. When new officer Heather Rogers is introduced to the women, Marlene realises that they went to the same school together and makes her a target for her practical jokes. Another joke intended for Marie Winter earns her first bashing, when she loosens Marie's bed so that it will collapse and finds her stash of drugs. Marie then forces Marlene to give her information on Heather and her family which she uses to blackmail Heather to smuggle drugs into the prison for her. Marlene starts running books on whatever comes to her mind, including Pixie's knowledge of the Bible and cockroach racing. Her father’s gift of the Guinness Book of World Records gives her the idea to start a charity fundraising waltzing marathon to support deaf children. Marlene falls in love with and marries Matt Delaney (one of the Woodridge prisoners who had been transferred to Wentworth temporarily). After the ceremony Marlene is released and Matt is sent to a prison farm to serve the remainder of his sentence.
|-
| '''Dot Farrar'''
| [[Alethea McGrath]] – episodes 462–486
| An elderly, hypochondriac prisoner who had served years inside. Generally regarded as a nuisance by the other women. After being poisoned by fellow prisoner Angela Adams, she was transferred to the prison farm.
|-
| '''Edna May Pearson'''
| [[Vivean Gray]] – episodes 463–468
| A genteel woman imprisoned for trying to poison her second husband. Most UK viewers saw Edna arrive, do very little and then disappear. (Note: the episodes featuring Edna Pearson were edited to remove all her scenes after a woman who had been acquitted of a similar offence threatened to sue Grundy's, claiming similarities between the character and her own case. The complete storyline has been screened in certain subsequent international screenings but is missing from the SHOCK DVD box set release. However, recently all the Edna Pearson episodes have been re-released uncut on their own DVD set from SHOCK). Edna appeared all sweet and genteel, having hated being called a poisoner. She gets most of the women, and even officers, onside by convincing them she is innocent. She tells the women her first husband died by taking poison after dealing with illness, which she claims was suicide and the reason she was arrested for apparently attempting to poison her second husband which she swears she hasn't done. The women mostly still believe she is innocent and support Edna with her appeal to get her released, however when she lets something slip to Marlene which makes it clear she did indeed poison her husband she then tries to poison Marlene multiple times despite Marlene not even hearing what Edna had said. She also accidentally poisons Alice and Frances by lacing drink which was meant for Marlene. In episode 468 Meg Morris tells Edna her appeal has been successful and she is being released immediately with no further charges. Only once Edna has gone (ep 469) do Marlene and the others put together the pieces and realise Edna was indeed as guilty as hell.
|-
| '''Diedre Kean'''
| [[Anne Charleston]] – episodes 464–492
| Reb Kean's estranged socialite mother, first seen when she tries to persuade Reb to see her father who is dying of multiple sclerosis. She visits Reb when she is hospitalised after a bashing from Marie Winter to tell her that her father has left all her money to her and she helps her escape, but worried that she might die without medical treatment she informs the police of her whereabouts and ends up in Wentworth with Reb. Whilst she is in Wentworth she is tortured by Frances, Alice and Lou but Reb refuses to help her and even joins in by salting her food and pushing her face into it. Myra eventually manages to persuade Reb to take notice of her mother after she is severely beaten by some of the women. Reb and Diedre reconcile just before someone mysteriously posts her bail and she is released. When Lou Kelly escapes, she seeks refuge with Diedre and holds her hostage in her house and later visits Reb to tell her what happened.
|-
| '''Beverly "Bev The Beast" Baker'''
| [[Maggie Dence]] – episodes 472–477
| An infamous serial killer, dubbed "The Beast" by the tabloids, who terrifies both staff and inmates alike as it transpires she hurts and kills people simply because it gives her a 'high'. After a reign of terror inside Wentworth (which includes cutting open Bobbie's hands with a razor and deliberately burning Judy Bryant with a soldering iron), she eventually kills new social worker Rob Summerton by stabbing him with a knitting needle. Soon after this, Bev commits suicide by injecting herself with an empty hypodermic needle in front of Judy Bryant and Ann Reynolds.
|-
| '''Angela "Angel" Adams'''
| [[Kylie Foster]] – episodes 477–488
| A "sweet and innocent" young girl imprisoned for her involvement in her boyfriend’s crimes signing fraudulent dole cheques. She turns out to be a vicious and manipulative monster. Whilst in Wentworth she takes an interest in the social worker Phil Cleary who was dating Meg and sets her up to be raped. Mrs Adams, her grandmother visits her in Wentworth to reveal her true colours to Mrs Reynolds and her suspicions that the fire in which Angela's parents were killed was started deliberately. She was ostracised by the women and had all of her hair chopped off after she poisoned fellow prisoner Dot Farrar. After stabbing The Freak and putting caustic soda in the women's shampoo bottles she was transferred to a psychiatric hospital.
|-
| '''Kath Deacon'''
| Michele Sargent – episodes 481–557
| One of Lou Kelly's gang. Lures Myra to be set-up for the murder of Joan Ferguson, which is unsuccessful.
|-
| '''Kerryn Adele Davies'''
| [[Jill Forster]] – episodes 485–495
| A white-collar fraudster who finds it hard to cope being in prison and separated from her husband. Hangs herself after going through "the change" and being rejected by her husband.
|-
| '''Samantha "Sam" Greenway'''
| Robyn Gibbes – episodes 495–520
| A young arts student framed for drug possession. While she is in prison, she asks for her real parents to be traced and finds out that her real name is Julie Ann Cameron. After being denied permission to see her mother, she escapes from Wentworth to visit her and meets her sister Sally as well. Sally is happy to see Sam but her mother tells Sam that she wants nothing to do with her and orders her to leave. A heartbroken Sam promptly turns herself in and is taken back to Wentworth where Ann Reynolds admits that shortly after Sam's incarceration, she talked to her mother who said adamantly that she did not want to see Sam. Ann said she didn't tell Sam this because she thought Sally could convince her mother to come around. Sally later visits Sam to try to explain about why her mother rejected her and says she can still be her sister but Sam tells Sally that if she doesn't have a mother then she doesn't have a sister either. Shortly after this, Sam died when she was electrocuted by a wired door handle which had been set up for Myra by Lou Kelly and Alice Jenkins.
|-
| '''Matt Delaney'''
| [[Peter Bensley]] – episodes 499–533
| One of a trio of male prisoners transferred to Wentworth for their own safety after they had foiled a mass break-out attempt. A softer touch than the other two male prisoners, he is suspected of being gay, however eventually falls in love and marries Marlene Warren.
|-
| '''Geoff Macrae'''
| [[Leslie Dayman]] – episodes 500–556
| The unofficial Top Dog of the male inmates transferred from Woodridge men's prison. Becomes romantically involved with Top Dog Myra Desmond. He was last seen at Myra's funeral.
|-
| '''Francis Joseph "Frank" Burke'''
| [[Trevor Kent]] – episodes 500–555
| The last of the male Woodridge inmates moved to Wentworth, Frank is a convicted rapist and all-round villain. Raped Pixie Mason. He escaped and eventually took his revenge on Dennis Cruikshank by shooting him, leaving him paralysed.
|-
| '''Yemil Bakarta'''
| [[Maria Mercedes (actor)|Maria Mercedes]] – episodes 504–516
| A Middle Eastern Islamic inmate charged with causing a car accident when attempting to escape from her brutal husband. Attacks Dennis Cruickshank, believing it to be Frank Burke, although Judy takes the blame. She is released on a bond, but later sends a letter to Ann telling her that Judy was innocent to pave the way for her release.
|-
| '''Alexis "Lexie" Patterson'''
| [[Pepe Trevor]] – episodes 509–650
| A loud-mouth punk and card-shark, who spent her first few months in [[Boy George]]-style garb. (Note: With George's change in image and subsequent fall from favour occurring prior to Lexie's on-air debut in February 1985, these episodes already seemed dated at the time of first broadcast.) Meets her real mother inside for the first time, Jessie Windom. Suspected of being the Phantom lagger, Lexie escapes and is hunted down by the same killer of Nora Flynn. She is later released with Nancy McCormack and given a very social farewell from Rita, Alice and Lorelei.
|-
| '''Ethel May "Ettie" Parslow'''
| [[Lois Ramsay]] – episodes 514–600)
| A senile old dear who turns out to have been imprisoned since the Second World War due to a bureaucratic mix-up. Develops a close relationship with officer Meg Morris when it turns out that Ettie nursed her as a newborn baby in prison. After getting released and $250,000 compensation, she manages to get herself put back inside by accidentally shooting a police officer. Is released again, and decides to run a halfway house, where Ann Reynolds briefly works. She was last seen begging to be let into Wentworth to see Julie Egbert on her birthday.
|-
| '''Janice Mary Grant'''
| [[Jenny Ludlam]] – episodes 514–528
| A sophisticated solicitor imprisoned for dangerous driving. It turns out that Janice is an alcoholic suffering from withdrawal symptoms. Lou Kelly quickly catches onto her alcoholism and supplies her with methylated spirits. Despite Myra and Ettie's attempts to sober her up, she manages to get alcohol from Lou, Alice and Frank. Janice takes an interest in Ettie's case and reveals to her that she has been imprisoned for 45 years without a trial and pushes for her to be compensated. Alice and Lexie force her to drink grain alcohol and she is sent to a psychiatric ward, where Ettie pays for her to receive the best possible treatment.
|-
| '''Sheila "Shelly" Brady'''
| [[Colleen Hewett]] episodes 519–534)
| A misfit remand inmate inside for heroin possession with a secret singing talent. The women struggle with her 'odour' initially. Found not guilty and released – but is seen on TV by Judy shortly after, having turned 'Pixie's Song' into a chart hit. Judy tries to sue her until they come to an agreement that she will write an album of songs for Sheila and join her on tour. Last seen driving off with Judy for stardom. Her version of 'Pixie's Song', is the only other piece of music ever to close an episode of the series.
|-
| '''Anita Selby'''
| [[Diane Craig]] – episodes 526–536),
| A Catholic nun imprisoned for causing a disturbance at a nuclear disarmament demonstration. Anita's overall goodness and willingness to seek such virtue in others brought about a brief moral chaos to Wentworth, its prisoners and staff. In particular she proved to be the perfect character foil for cellmate Lou Kelly and evil officer Joan Ferguson. She was released on bail and last seen having a heart to heart with Joan Ferguson.
|-
| '''Nora Flynn'''
| [[Sonja Tallis]] – episodes 537–588)
| A long-term, self-reformed prisoner transferred from Barnhurst. She acts as the new Top Dog after the death of Myra Desmond. She had served 23 years for her involvement in the thrill-kill murder of three hitch-hikers. Perhaps inspired by the situation of the Charles Manson gang members, despite appearing to be self-reformed Flynn is repeatedly denied parole. When she arrives she has already escaped once from prison, and in doing so managed to get herself pregnant, but a scuffle with Lou denies Nora her dream of becoming a mother. Later learns her mother has died, and with little left to live for, she executes a mysterious escape from prison. Later her murdered corpse is dumped outside the prison: it transpires that after her escape she had been hunted down and killed by an ex-policeman serial killer with a grudge against prisoners.
|-
| '''"Auntie" May Collins'''
| [[Billie Hammerberg]] – episodes 537–587)
| An earthy career criminal who was a famous cat burglar. Although getting on in years, May is a tough lady who watches out for the more vulnerable, younger prisoners. After her "escape", she works with a gang to rob an art gallery and after much disagreement she is shot in her chest.
|-
| '''Wilhelmina "Willie" Beecham'''
| [[Kirsty Child]] – episodes 537–682
| May Collins' partner-in-crime. Willie was a fence on the outside and runs a bartering business in prison. Willie is something of a snob, and often antagonises the women with her supercilious attitude. When offered the opportunity of a full pardon, May and Willie worked with the police to try to expose a new criminal syndicate, when May was shot and killed, Willie made sure everyone at Wentworth knew and left the series feeling she no longer had anyone who cared for her. She returned for a surprising, one-off appearance later in the series as an employee which Joan goes to see for a job.
|-
| '''Julie "Chook" Egbert (later Ryan)'''
| [[Jackie Woodburne]] – episodes 537–628),
| A shy but highly intelligent young girl who had stolen from her workplace to help her terminally ill mother who later dies. She is transferred back to Barnhurst until her release so she can live with her new husband, Steve Ryan.
|-
| '''Daphne "Daffy" Graham'''
| [[Debra Lawrance]] – episodes 537–590
| A garden-loving inmate who had been a juvenile offender before ending up in prison. It is later discovered that Daphne's crime and her subsequent self-harming in prison is linked to extreme PMT. Ben Fulbright, later to marry Pippa Reynolds, fought for her release on these grounds and she left Wentworth. Briefly was seen on TV making her case known to the public. Acts as 'PA' to Ruth Ballinger during her time in Wentworth.
|-
| '''Ruth Ballinger'''
| [[Lindy Davies]] – episodes 538–552
| The shady wife of an international drugs baron remanded to Wentworth with special privileges in the hope that she will assist the Federal Police with their efforts to nail her husband's drug trade. One of the few prisoners to really ruffle the feathers of The Freak when she discovers among her crimes she was involved with child pornography. Ruth's time in the series climaxes in a three-episode-long terrorist siege when her husband sends a team of armed mercenaries to spring her from the prison. After the successful escape, she is caught at the airport and is transferred to Blackmoor. (Joan phones Cynthia Leach to have Ruth 'taken care of'). Seen as ruthless and cold, the only other prisoner to seemingly 'soften' Ruth up during her spell in Wentworth is [[Daphne Graham]] as Daphne acts as a sort of PA to Ruth and Ruth seems to genuinely hold some care for her; for instance, whilst giving free handouts to the fellow women, Daphne is given a whole cell full of plants in return for her work.
|-
| '''Jennifer Elise "Jenny" Hartley'''
| [[Jenny Lovell]] – episodes 540–588
| A young woman on remand protesting her innocence of the murder of her wealthy grandmother. Initially introduced as a friend of Pippa Reynolds, she is also a professional piano player, who teaches Daphne Graham to play. Shortly after her arrival at Wentworth, a group of terrorists break into the prison to help Ruth Ballinger escape and torture her by putting an unloaded gun to her head and pulling the trigger. After she finds out that her lawyer is being paid off by her aunt to conceal evidence, she fires him and appoints a detective, Howard Simmons suggested by May Collins who investigates the case. Grows in strength and character through her time in the prison. She was released after her uncle was arrested for murdering her aunt and confessed to her grandmothers murder. She was last seen when she decides to leave Ann's house to look for a flat of her own.
|-
| '''Queenie Marshall'''
| [[Marilyn Rodgers]] – episodes 556–573
| Sassy prostitute who later becomes a friend to the women on the outside when they need her help to ensure that Nikki Lennox does not end up in prison. Queenie also led to Andrew Fry's resignation as he was known as her "best" customer.
|-
| '''Nicole "Nikki" Lennox'''
| [[Vicki Mathios]] – episodes 568–574
| The self-imposed leader of the juvenile delinquents sent to Wentworth to spend time with convicted criminals as part of a "scared straight" scheme. She became an enemy of Lexie Patterson when she cheated at a game of cards and they broke out in a fight. Nora, May & Willie teamed up with Queenie Marshall on the outside to make sure she would never return to the prison.
|-
| '''Cindy Moran'''
| [[Robyn Frank]] – episodes 568–574
| Another juvenile offender sent to Wentworth to be "scared straight". Attacked May, discovered Daphne having hanged herself amongst other things that worked to ensure she would not return to prison.
|-
| '''Lisa Snell'''
| Liza Bermingham - episodes 568-569
| Another juvenile offender sent to Wentworth to be "scared straight". Couldn't cope with life on the inside and asked Ann Reynolds to send her home.
|-
| '''Joanna "Jo" James'''
|Nicole Dixon - episodes 568–569)
| Another juvenile offender sent to Wentworth to be "scared straight". Forced to participate in the robbery of a pharmacy by Nikki and was caught by the police, whilst Nikki made her escape. Transferred to a young offenders' centre.
|-
| '''Eve Marie Wilder'''
| [[Lynda Stoner]] – episodes 574–600
| A beautiful, but sinister socialite who arrives in Wentworth protesting her innocence at having shot the man she had been having an affair with, claiming she mistook him for a burglar. Her innocent act gains her enough popularity with the women to be asked to host a beauty/talent contest. After her first solicitor Adrian Forster tells her the police can't find any bullets where she claims to have shot Robin, Eve asks for another solicitor and gets appointed David Adams. Eve finds out from Pippa Reynolds that David's marriage has just broken up and a flashback occurs where we find out that Eve really shot Robin after he told her that their love affair was over. Eve starts manipulating David Adams by flirting with him and persuades him to go to her apartment and destroy any incriminating evidence. After she finds out that officer Joyce Barry has been listening in on their conversations she batters her unconscious with the door, drags her into a cell and bashes her with a kettle, letting Reb Kean take the blame. She tries to convince David to finish her off whilst she is in a coma but he can't go through with it and leaves a note for Ann Reynolds before shooting himself in front of Eve. A series of notes are later found around the prison informing the officers of the prisoners activity signed "the phantom lagger", and Eve joins forces with Lou Kelly to try to discover the identity of the phantom lagger. Eve starts trading information with Joan Ferguson. Unfortunately, Alice overhears one conversation between Eve and Joan in which Eve admits that she was the phantom lagger. As a result, Eve is killed by Lou Kelly by hanging during the riot of episode 600.
|-
| '''Rita "The Beater" Connors'''
| [[Glenda Linscott]] – episodes 585–692
| A spirited bikie, nicknamed "Rita the Beater" who arrives inside for grievous bodily harm and becomes the show's third long-running Top Dog. She also brought down The Freak. Stepped down from Top Dog when she contracted terminal cancer.
|-
| '''Barbara "Barbie" Cox'''
| [[Jayne Healey]] – episodes 586–602
| A daffy young woman whose vocabulary is limited to "Hi-de-hi!" and "Naughty, naughty!" As part of a running joke, it is never revealed why Barbie is in prison. She is released with Jesse Windon, but returns the following episode to throw tennis balls, filled with alcohol, to the women.
|-
| '''Nancy May McCormack'''
| [[Julia Blake]] – episodes 589–650
| A demure, dignified housewife imprisoned for killing her abusive husband. In fact, Nancy is covering up for her son, who had accidentally killed his father during a fight. She is released alongside Lexie Patterson.
|-
| '''Jessie Windom'''
| [[Pat Evison]] – episodes 589–620
| A no-nonsense, resourceful former brothel madam who deliberately gets herself imprisoned in order to search for the daughter she gave away years before – Lexie Patterson. She is released and later takes Lexie's son until Lexie is released.
|-
| '''Ida Brown'''
| [[Paddy Burnet]] – episodes 592–691
| Rita Connors' formidable elderly auntie involved with her niece's biker gang. She is last seen visiting Rita in 691.
|-
| '''Fay Donnelly'''
| [[Maud Clark]] – episodes 594–601
| Tall lanky prisoner, a crony of Lou Kelly's.
|-
| '''Rachel "Roach" Waters'''
| [[Linda Hartley]] – episodes 595–643
| A young punk inside for armed robbery. "Roach" is the girlfriend of Rita Connors' brother Bongo ([[Shane Connor]]). She escaped while on work release.
|-
| '''Wendy Stone'''
| [[Vivien Davies]] – episodes 598–601
| Short prisoner with wild hair (and teeth) supporting Lou Kelly together with Faye Donnelly during the riots. She is first seen in episode 598, and bashes Julie badly in episode 600, which results in Julie and Dr. Steve becoming involved when he gives her medical attention. When the riots ended Wendy and Faye got transferred to D Block and never returned.
|-
| '''Janet "Maggot" Williams'''
| [[Christine Earle]] – episodes 599–639
| A second-rate prison thug who becomes an offsider to a number of the wannabe Top Dogs at Wentworth. She murdered Lou Kelly. She is later transferred to A Block following a bashing from Kath Maxwell.
|-
| '''Katherine Lorraine "Kath" Maxwell'''
| [[Kate Hood]] – episodes 601–692
| A middle-class woman committed for killing her terminally ill, handicapped daughter. Initially brutalised by the other women, Kath toughens up and becomes Rita Connors' main rival for the Top Dog position. She is the last Top Dog of the series.
|-
| '''Vicki McPherson'''
| [[Rebecca Dines]] – episodes 608–692
| A wisecracking inmate who becomes an ally to Kath Maxwell and "Spider" Simpson.
|-
| '''Lurlene "Lorelei" Wilkinson'''
| [[Paula Duncan]] – episodes 623–677
| A vivacious con-woman imprisoned for posing as a policewoman. She was transferred to Ingleside Mental Institution after stabbing Ernest Craven, in which she became mentally unstable.
|-
| '''Merle "Loony" Jones'''
| [[Rosanne Hull-Brown]] – episodes 625–692
| A mentally disabled, illiterate prisoner initially regarded as a figure of fun by the other women, but finds friendship from inmate Kath Maxwell. She escaped with Kath but was left behind after an injury and sent to a psychiatric hospital; was subsequently returned to Wentworth where Kath made several attempts to make up with her – they eventually reconciled in episode 691.
|-
| '''Margie Anson'''
| [[Samantha Carter (actress)|Samantha Carter]] – episodes 645–691
| Prisoner beaten up by Kath and Vicki as part of Kath's bid to take over Top Dog. She backs off from helping Spider unload contraband when van is searched and keeps nit while Spike fixes up the playback of Lisa's tape of Rodney.
|-
| '''Rose "Spider" Simpson'''
| [[Taya Straton]] – episodes 649–686
| A sneering career criminal who takes charge of all rackets and contraband trading at Wentworth. also became jealous of Spike Marsh. She was transferred to Barnhurst.
|-
| '''Lisa Marie Mullins'''
| [[Nicki Paull]]/[[Terrie Waddell]] – episodes 651–692
| A young woman arrested for operating a prostitution and blackmail racket on the outside. (Note: Lisa was played by Nikki Paul for her first six episodes. When Paul suddenly became ill, the part was taken over by Terrie Waddell).
|-
| '''Wendy Glover'''
| [[Julieanne Newbould]] – episodes 651–659),
| An undercover policewoman whose real name is Tricia Haynes, sent into Wentworth to shadow endangered inmate Lisa Mullins and to gather information about her case. When the women find out Wendy receives a very nasty bashing and they write a tattoo on her forehead reading "cop." She is last seen visiting Lisa to tell her that her boyfriend Lester is dead. During her last appearance, it is revealed that Wendy Glover is an alias and her real name is Tricia Haynes.
|-
| '''Sarah West'''
| [[Kylie Belling]] – episodes 658–668)
| A fiery, impulsive Aboriginal inmate who suffers from abuse from racist prisoners, especially from Spider and Vicki who tie her up and paint her white, and to get back at the women, Sarah sets up a tripod releasing poisonous fumes of hydrochloric acid through the air conditioning. Rita eventually gets through to Sarah and Pamela manages to trace her foster parents, who tell Sarah the truth about her real parents, her mother has died and her father is a white alcoholic. She was transferred to Barnhurst for her own safety after Craven's threats to Pamela.
|-
| '''Michelle "Brumby" Tucker'''
| [[Sheryl Munks]] – episodes 665–692)
| A young prisoner first seen at Blackmoor prison. A misfit and a troublemaker.
|-
| '''Margaret "Spike" Marsh'''
| [[Victoria Rowland]] – episodes 665–691)
| "Brumby"'s best friend at Blackmoor who was framed for heroin trafficking. "Spike" was a university student studying the sciences before being imprisoned and has kept her middle-class background hidden from the other prisoners. She was released to be with her parents.
|-
| '''Billy Slocum'''
| [[Glennan Fahey]] – episodes 668–684
| Blackmoor prisoner transferred to Wentworth after the fire there, and first seen when Merle tries to trade comics with him. Craven lets him and Stud Wilson into solitary to rape Lorelei, and when the women find out they were responsible, they are held hostage in a store room for some mental torture with a razor. He was transferred back to Blackmoor.
|-
| '''"Stud" Wilson'''
| [[Peter Lindsay (actor)|Peter Lindsay]] – episodes 668–684
| Male former Blackmoor inmate transferred to Wentworth after Blackmoor is burnt down following a riot. A convicted rapist and an underling of evil governor Ernest Craven. He was transferred back to Blackmoor.
|-
| '''Harry Grosvenor'''
| [[Mike Bishop (actor)|Mike Bishop]] – episodes 679–692
| Former male Blackmoor prisoner moved to Wentworth, becoming a love interest for Alice Jenkins. He was transferred to Barnhurst in the last episode telling Alice that he loves her.
|-
| '''Helen Stephens'''
| [[Anna McCrossin]] - episode 692),
| The last prisoner of the series. Transferred from Barnhurst and was impressed by the way Kath handled Rodney Adams.
|}

==See also==
* [[List of Prisoner characters – prison staff]]
* [[List of Prisoner characters - miscellaneous]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Prisoner (TV series)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Prisoner characters - inmates}}
[[Category:Lists of Prisoner (TV series) characters]]

List of Prisoner characters – inmates

2023-06-09T19:22:41Z

Vodkamad: /* Characters list */

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{{DISPLAYTITLE:List of ''Prisoner'' characters – inmates}}
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2012}}

This is a list of all inmates of the fictitious Wentworth Detention Centre in the [[television]] series ''[[Prisoner (TV series)|Prisoner]]'', known as '''Prisoner: Cell Block H''' in The United States and Britain and '''Caged Women''' in Canada. Note that episode numbers cited are for first and last appearances; many characters had spells where they were absent for long periods of time and subsequently returned. Also, characters' appearances in recaps are not included if they died in the previous episode, unless their corpse is seen at the beginning of the next episode (e.g. Paddy Lawson):

==Characters list==
{|class="wikitable"
| Character
| Actor
| Brief
|-
| '''Sally Lee'''
| [[Lisa Aldenhoven]] – episode 1
| the first ever prisoner seen in the series, being chased through the corridors by officers Meg Jackson and Vera Bennett, after freaking out on drugs, supplied by cold officer Ann Yates. Later in the episode Sally is found to have hanged herself in her cell. The show's first Halfway House (a boarding house for recently released prisoners) is later named in her honour.
|-
| '''Frieda Joan "Franky" Doyle'''
| [[Carol Burns]] – episode 1–20
| an agitating [[lesbian]] [[Outlaw motorcycle club|bikie]] who suffers ferocious outbursts when she becomes angry. Her violent attitude stems in part from the fact that she is [[illiterate]]. She falls in love with fellow inmate Karen Travers, who does not appreciate her advances; however, the pair eventually strike up a friendship when Karen begins teaching Franky how to read. Despite her immense popularity with viewers, Franky appears in only the first 20 episodes (due to actress Carol Burns choosing to leave as the series was extended from a sixteen-part serial to an ongoing soap opera); after her brother Gary ([[Greg Stroud]]) is killed in a tractor accident, and feeling jaded by Karen after Franky takes her friendship to mean something more, Franky escapes the prison with Doreen and Lizzie. Although Lizzie is forced to turn back due to her weak heart, Franky and Doreen go on the run, even posing as nuns before Franky is shot dead by a policeman. Despite Franky's short run on the show, the character is mentioned numerous times over the next couple of hundreds of episodes.
|-
| '''Karen Mary Travers''' (née Healy)
| [[Peta Toppano|Peita Toppano]] – episode 1–80
| Karen Travers, is a middle-class school-teacher who had stabbed her abusive, adulterous husband to death. Initially Karen offers up little defence for her actions (which had led to her being given a life sentence), only later does it emerge that, as well as the physical and mental abuse she refused to report, she had returned from having the [[abortion]] that her husband had forced her to have, only to find him in bed with another woman, which ultimately sees her sentence reduced to two years. Arriving at the prison, as well as being intimidated by the [[sexual harassment]] of Franky Doyle (whom she later manages to befriend), she is reunited with Dr. Greg Miller, who is now working as the prison doctor at Wentworth, whom she previously had a close relationship with before getting married. The pair have a close friendship within Wentworth at times, but also grow apart during the course of the 1979 season. With her sentence reduced, Karen is permitted to have day release to study at University; during this time she has a brief relationship with lawyer Steve Wilson, who defends her in court. Although given a two-year sentence, Karen is given parole from Wentworth by the end of the 1979 season. After several false starts, she is befriended by prisoner rights campaigner Angela Jeffries ([[Jeanie Drynan]]), who ultimately puts Karen in charge of the show's first Halfway House. Karen runs the house for a short time towards the end of the 1979 season, with the newly released Doreen Anderson as the first tenant, but during this time, Greg confesses his love for her and the two resume their relationship. In the 1979 season finale, Karen is shot by Pat O'Connell (see separate entry)'s son David, who believes that Greg was responsible for his mother's re-arrest and mistakenly shoots Karen instead of Greg. With Karen narrowly escaping death and badly scared, Greg makes plans for them to start afresh in Queensland; Karen is last seen in episode 80, recovering from her wounds; Greg (and, off-screen, Karen) leaving the series a few episodes later. When Greg makes a brief return appearance in episode 107, we hear that Karen is recovering well and the pair have now married. She's lastly mentioned in episode 201 by a psychiatrist who tries to jog back Bea's memory who ended up with a serious case of [[amnesia]] from a car accident from her transfer back to Wentworth after her temporal stay at Barnhurst.
|-
| '''Lynnette Jane "Lynn" Warner – "Wonk"'''
| [[Kerry Armstrong]] – episode 1–44,
| Lynn is a young, rather naïve country girl who had come to the city to work as a nanny and arrived at Wentworth protesting her innocence at having kidnapped the baby in her care and buried him alive. She was brutally initiated into prison life, when Bea Smith, upon hearing about her crime, burned her hand "accidentally" with the press, giving rise to one of Prisoner's most iconic scenes. Lynn gains the nickname "Wonky Warner" (or just "Wonk") from some of the other women, especially Doreen, due to her being perceived as mentally unbalanced due to her supposed crimes. It is eventually discovered that the child's own mother had buried the child alive; clearing Lynn of her accused crime. However, upon her release, Lynn runs away from her parents' farm with Doug Parker, also an ex-convict, whom she marries, and reluctantly becomes involved with an armed hold-up, which leaves Doug dead and Lynn back inside (as well as losing the unborn baby she was carrying after being raped as a nanny). During her second spell in Wentworth, she became part of the new work release programme, working during the day at a local garden centre for Syd Butterfield ([[Alan Rowe (Australian actor)|Alan Rowe]]), and getting close with Syd's son Geoffrey ([[David Cameron (actor)|David Cameron]]) in the process, much to the chagrin of Syd. Both Lynn's work programme and parole are jeopardised when she is caught trying to smuggle letters out of the prison, which she insists she has never seen before. It eventually emerges that they were planted by Doreen, who has developed a crush on Lynn, and is scared of her leaving her. After serving her time, Lynn is finally released again, though on her release day, is kidnapped by thugs who confused her with Monica Ferguson (who is released on the same day and who knew the whereabouts of some stolen loot). After being rescued by the police, Lynn presumably returns to her parents' farm, and this is the last we see of the character (we hear of her sending a Christmas present to Doreen in episode 75). She is lastly mentioned in episode 203 by return prisoner Jeanette "Mum" Brooks (see below) who mentions Bea burning her hand on the steam press when Mum, according to her solicitor, believes she has to bring up some events about Bea during their time together in Wentworth to help explain why she was too anxious to go to the police when Bea arrived at her house with amnesia in episode 199. This was to help them in their court case as Mum intentionally wanted to help Bea get herself together before she had to be turned in, aiding a prisoner which led to her second re-arrest.
|-
| '''Gladys Anne "Marilyn" Mason'''
| [[Margaret Laurence (actress)|Margaret Laurence]] – episode 1–16
| the prison nymphomaniac, inside for soliciting and chiefly memorable for her erotic assignations with electrician Eddie Cook ([[Richard Moir]]) in the prison roof. Upon release, she moves in with Eddie, determined to get a decent job and go straight, but, hard up for money, reluctantly turns back to prostitution, leading to a bust up with Eddie and being sent to Wentworth once again. As Marilyn is released a second time, Bea eventually sets the pair straight, convincing Monica Ferguson to let them run her [[milk bar]]. We hear in episodes 42–44 of Monica selling the shop to Marilyn and Eddie, and they presumably happily continue running it. During a storyline in which Bea becomes attracted to prison visitor Ken Pearce ([[Tom Oliver]]) between episodes 105 and 116, there are several references to Marilyn and Eddie's romantic liaisons in the prison.
|-
| '''Doreen May Anderson (later Burns)'''
| [[Colette Mann]] – episodes 1–446
| a childish and easily led, but generally well-meaning prisoner who was briefly involved in a sexual relationship with Franky Doyle. Thumb-sucking, teddy-bear-clutching Doreen was a petty criminal, in and out of juvenile institutions before ending up at Wentworth, with a particular talent for forgery. After Franky's death she firstly became tough and butch like Franky was and tried to bully people around, later she became close friends with Lizzie and Bea; their friendship was one of the driving forces behind the first 300 episodes' success. She was released twice in the series; after her first release she is arrested for stealing, and on her second, she steals Chrissie's baby from the hospital. In 1980 during the time she was out of the prison, she fell in love with Kevin Burns whom she married, but they were divorced not long after she was raped during her second stint in the prison during a work release scheme. The end of her marriage nearly caused her to commit suicide. She was the first victim of the Freak's 'black glove' treatment in 1982, just prior to her release. She made a few appearances in 1983 when, during Bea's escape, Doreen put her up in Sydney. Although the first to initially leave the series of the main three, she was also the last to be seen – when in 1984, she got herself put back in prison to try to avoid a marriage she had somehow agreed too, her return was more as comic relief and to bring back an old favourite following the departures of Lizzie and Bea.
|-
| '''Elizabeth Josephine "Lizzie" Birdsworth''' (née Cameron)
| [[Sheila Florance]] – episodes 1–418, featured in flashback in episode 420),
| an elderly, chain-smoking, alcoholic recidivist prisoner, who provided much of the series comic relief. At the series start, Lizzie had already served twenty years in prison. Working as a bush cook, she had in a drunken rage allegedly poisoned a group of six sheep shearers who'd had the audacity to complain about her cooking, with four of them dying. It was later learned someone else had added the fatal dose of poison to the food (she put in enough to make them sick) and Lizzie was released and awarded compensation. Unfortunately she was ill-equipped to fend for herself outside and quickly committed a series of crimes and was returned to prison. A fraud and her daughter looking for money pretended to be Lizzie's family which Paul Reid and Kevin Burns discover. We later find out Lizzie knew all along that they weren't her real family and she wanted to spend time with them. Marcia (Lizzie's fake daughter) tells Lizzie that she was her daughter's best friend at the orphanage and that Lizzie's real daughter died in a car crash. The fake family: Marcia and Josie later left to go to the United States where Josie was to undergo an operation. Lizzie was recognisable for her always present red cardigan sweater given to her early on in the show's run by the prison's governor, Erica Davidson. Lizzie suffered from several heart attacks and during her final time in hospital she was released to be with her real family: The Charlton's.
|-
| {{anchor|Bea Smith}}'''Beatrice Alice "Bea" Smith'''
| [[Val Lehman]] – episodes 1–400),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwwentworth.co.uk/bea.htm|title=Bea Smith (Val Lehman)|accessdate=5 January 2018|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010130031100/http://www.wwwentworth.co.uk/bea.htm|archivedate=30 January 2001}}</ref>
| the first ever top dog – the name given to the uncaring and sadistic leader of the prisoner population – who rules Wentworth's H Block with an iron fist. Bea was initially imprisoned for strangling her husband's mistress and then shot dead her cheating husband upon her release. Her teenage daughter Debbie (played by Val Lehman's real-life daughter Cassandra) had died from a heroin overdose in 1977 while Bea was in prison, after Bea's husband had evicted her from his home. Because of her daughters' death, Bea was renowned for her hatred of drug pushers and her hatred of prisoners who commit crimes against children which everyone followed her hatred. This characteristic, which is common in all prisons, was evident when Bea slammed the hot steam press on Lynn Warner's hand. Her hatred towards both drug pushers and users softens later in the series where she attempts to help a fellow inmate to beat her drug addiction. She and Chrissie Latham were enemies at first (as Chrissie was originally on Franky Doyle' side in the first riot) but later, they became allies, especially against Margo Gaffney. Bea was Joan Ferguson's first of three major enemies. Any chance of Bea's parole was foiled after shooting and killing Nola Mckenzie in a hospital bed. Bea escaped a total of three times throughout the series, although the second escape was unplanned. Bea's last rival for top dog was Sonia Stevens. Bea was transferred to Barnhurst, and her reign of terror at Wentworth's H Block is finally over. There are many references after Bea's transfer especially when Lizzie compares Bea's top dog qualities to Minnie Donovan's top dog qualities including the code of lagging when Minnie lagged on Sonia Stevens in a plan to soil Joan Ferguson. Bea writes a letter saying "Vinegar Tits is worse than ever" when Cass is transferred from Barnhurst Lizzie says "our best mate Bea Smith was transferred" Cass said that she heard Bea arrived. In episodes 536–537 we hear there was a Barnhurst riot and there were eight transfers Myra ask Nora Flynn if they brought Bea. Nora tells Myra that she was killed in the riot trying to stop it, but Ann tells Meg that she "burnt" to death. Bea's death was probably the biggest killed-off screen event of the show, and many viewers assumed that there was hope that Val Lehman would return to the show though the actress claimed she refused several offers.
|-
| '''Jeanette Mary "Mum" Brooks'''
| [[Mary Ward (actress)|Mary Ward]] – episode 1–204
| an elderly, dignified long-term inmate who worked in the prison garden, well loved and respected by both prisoners and officers. "Mum" had committed euthanasia on her terminally ill husband and had served fifteen years at the start of the series. She helped with making newcomers to Wentworth get used to the prison routine. In Episode 2, she is released, but has nowhere to live, and after spending a brief spell living with her daughter, Lorraine Watkins ([[Anne Charleston]]), who cannot accept that Mum killed her father and does not like an ex-criminal being around her family, Mum shoplifts to deliberately get sent back to Wentworth. However, by Episode 16, she is again released, this time under the care of new parole officer Jean Vernon, who sets Mum up in a little [[flat (housing)|flat]] with her pregnant granddaughter Judith-Ann ([[Kim Deacon]]) (whom Mum grew close to during her awkward stint living with her daughter), at which point Mum is written out of the series (as with Carol Burns, Mary Ward did not wish to commit to an ongoing serial). However, Mum and Judith-Ann appear again in episodes 30–33, when they unwittingly become involved with the escaped Bea (this storyline was conceived in part after requests from viewers to see what had happened to Mum). Mum and Judith-Anne are visited again in a storyline running from episode 61–67. Mum is in poor health, but overworking in order to support Judith-Anne's imminent birth. Meg (who is still visiting Mum) convinces Greg to tend to her, who in turn, convinces Karen (now released) to stay with Mum and Judith after Mum's short spell in hospital until the child is born. Mum's estranged daughter Lorraine (now played by [[Gabrielle Hartley]]) eventually re-appears on the scene, and after seeing Judith's baby, offers to make amends, and asks Judith and Mum to come back home and live with her. Mum is seen one more time later in the series for yet another storyline in episodes 199–204, reappearing in episode 199 when Bea – who has lost her memory in a crash while being transported back from Barnhurst – finds her once more. After another brief stint at Wentworth for aiding Bea, we are told a couple of years later in episode 388 that she has died of a heart attack, but left $20,000 to the prisoners. In episode 539, Governor Ann Reynolds persuades new prisoner Daphne Graham to tend to Mum's old rose garden to make new again that wore out after six years.
|-
| '''Rosie Hudson'''
| [[Anne-Maree McDonald]]) – episodes 2–73) (seen in recap of 74)
| a young prisoner who is heavily pregnant at the start of the series and gives birth during the riot of episodes 3–4. After giving birth, the character disappears from the series (being moved to the maternity block), but reappears in episodes 70–73. With her baby coming up to his first birthday (once again, not tallying with real time), she is in denial that he will be taken away from her by foster parents once he turns one. As a result, she suffers a breakdown, part of which, during a security alert, she punches the pregnant Chrissie in the stomach, endangering Chrissie's baby. Rosie is not seen again after these events, being taken into psychiatric care, this causes a lot of tension between the prisoners
|-
| '''Lorna Young'''
| [[Barbara Jungwirth]] – episodes 2-692
| One of the longest serving background characters: she appears regularly throughout the whole run of the series. Her first speaking contribution (and in a surprisingly posh voice too) is in 120, which is the first time the name Lorna is used for her, Later credits in 215 for an argument with Doreen over TV in the rec room 219 and 250 where her only line appears to be baaing like a sheep 253 where she criticises Bea for framing Marie Winter 293 when she contributes a present to use for the frame up on Joan. She gets the springs for the "bomb" to embarrass Joan. In episode 549 she replies "Yes, Miss Ferguson" whilst delivering food to solitary.
|-
| '''Tina Murray'''
| [[Hazel Henley]])– episodes 2-692
| Prisoner in Wentworth. The actress is one of the background characters throughout the whole series from, though not always with this name. she is first called Murray in 206. She usually isn't given lines, and so is only credited for episodes 593 and 607.
|-
| '''Christine Angela "Chrissie" Latham'''
| [[Amanda Muggleton]] – episodes 3-338
| a lascivious prostitute who spent much of her time behind bars lamenting the fact that there were no men around. She murdered Bill Jackson, Meg's husband, with a pair of scissors during the show's first riot. She returned in episode 065 after being in Barnhurst where it is discovered she became pregnant in custody. Chrissie keeps the baby to avoid a bashing from Bea and her daughter Elizabeth (named after Lizzie Birdsworth) becomes Chrissie's main focus causing her to turn over a new leaf. Whilst trying to protect or keep Elizabeth from being put into homes, Chrissie tried many stunts including running away interstate with the baby. Upon her return to Wentworth, new officer Joan 'The Freak' Ferguson begins work. It is here where Joan is often dangling the idea of visits with her daughter that causes Chrissie to reveal Bea's plans to set up the Freak. When Joan admits to Chrissie she will stand up in court and give bad character references at a custody hearing, Chrissie lashes out. During this fight we see the full extent of what the Freak is capable of and Chrissie becomes hospitalised at the hands of the Freaks first real bashing. At first, an enemy of Bea Smith, she later on became one of Bea's allies. She was eventually transferred to Barnhurst, as Bea herself later would be.
|-
| '''Helen Masters'''
| [[Louise Pajo]] – episodes 8–10
| an international businesswoman who was well known in the media due to her cosmetics enterprise remanded to Wentworth for running down and killing a child in a hit and run. She had denied all involvement and was found innocent although it was revealed that she was secretly guilty and had been driving the car when heavily intoxicated. Her haughty attitude alienates both staff and prisoners. She subsequently won over many of the prisoners, including Bea, as she demanded better conditions and promised to campaign for such when she was released. However, on a television interview after she was freed, she turned on the prisoners, saying they deserved all they got, humiliating Bea.
|-
| '''Monica "Monnie" Ferguson'''
| [[Lesley Baker]] – episodes 15–60
| a brutish, hulking inmate inside for bashing her weaselly husband Fred ([[Gary Files]]). A friend of Bea Smith (though the pair often argued) after the pair had previously been cellmates in another prison, she initially acts as a sidekick to her (at which point the character was a semi-regular), but upon Bea's escape, takes over as Top Dog herself, using very heavy-handed tactics and upsetting many of the women. After Bea's recapture, Monica attempts to remain Top Dog, leading to a brief power struggle. After one scuffle with Smith, in which Meg Jackson is injured, and with her parole coming up, Monica backs down rather than risk not getting paroled. However, with her release, she agrees to recover Joyce Martain's hidden loot from a payroll heist in return for a cut, in order to pay of husband Fred's gambling debts; but Fred has exaggerated his debts in order to get money out of her and run off with his fancy girl Denise "Blossom" Crabtree (see separate entry). When Monica finds out, distraught after she had done so much to make a fresh go with him, she bashes him, and is sent to Wentworth once again (and the loot is recovered soon after). During her second stint in Wentworth, Monica becomes involved in a couple of minor escapades (such as exploiting Deputy Governor Jim Fletcher's [[haemophobia]] with Bea), but for the most part tries to keep out of trouble in order to get her parole. Towards the end of her sentence, with Bea in solitary, Monica finds herself at odds with criminal mastermind Toni McNally (see separate entry), whom she refuses to bow down to, while Toni and henchman Martha suspect Monie of tipping off Vera with information about Toni's smuggling booze and drugs into the prison (although just how much Monica has told Vera, if anything, is never made overly clear). Monica's parole seems doomed when she finally flips over Martha's taunts and lashes out, until Officer Jackson speaks up for her in front of Governor Davidson, saying that she believes the incident was a setup to ruin Monica's parole. Erica decides to release Monnie, who is planning to start afresh in a new State, and it is the last time the character is seen in the series.
|-
| '''Barbara Davidson'''
| [[Sally Cahill (Australian actress)|Sally Cahill]] – episodes 17–24
| the niece of governor Erica Davidson. Admitted to Wentworth on drug charges, a seemingly girly, innocent persona covers the fact that she is calculating and sly. She strikes up a partnership with Vera, which includes framing Monica Ferguson for possession of drugs. She is eventually transferred to Barnhurst after Doreen's bullying pushes her to dousing her cell in petrol and threatening to set light to herself, leading Erica to realise that it is unrealistic to have a close relation in Wentworth without risk of either special treatment or bullying. She is mentioned last in episode 215.
|-
| '''Catherine Roberts'''
| [[Margo McLennan]] – episodes 18–24
| a middle-class housewife who runs down and kills the man who raped her teenage daughter. After she is sentenced, striking a friendship with Bea in the process, the character just disappears, and it is later revealed she has been moved to another block in Episode 28. It is assumed her husband Ken sends their daughter away to stay with her aunt, though this is never revealed one way or the other as, once Catherine's character disappears, so does the story
|-
| '''Phyllis Hunt'''
| [[Reylene Pearce]] – episodes 21–460
| background prisoner who eventually takes on a larger role around the time of Bea Smith's departure from the series, turning nasty in the process. After messing up Reb's drugs scheme at the Wentworth Fete, Reb takes revenge and horribly bashes her with a wooden statue, leading her to have permanent brain damage. her boyfriend takes revenge on Ann Reynolds.
|-
| '''Susan Rice'''
| [[Briony Behets]] – episodes 25–29
| an emotionally fragile woman sent to Wentworth after being caught [[shoplifting]]. As Officer Jackson becomes concerned about Susan's mental state, it becomes apparent that Susan is angry at a (fictional) pop star Jason Richards for taking her husband Fredrick away from her, destroying their marriage. It ultimately transpires that Richards is actually the [[stage name]] of Fredrick, and they are one and the same. Upon release, Susan invades a TV interview with "Richards", throwing acid in his face, before being taken away to a secure psychiatric unit.
|-
| '''Martha Eaves'''
| [[Kate Jason]] – episodes 29–64
| a dimwitted, burly prisoner ridiculed by the other women, but who often acts as hired muscle for wannabe top dogs or those needing physical back-up. She is involved in two notable storylines: the first comes in episodes 50–52 when, after constantly being bullied and belittled by the other woman for being stupid, she tries to befriend child murder Bella Albrecht (see separate entry), who is hated by the other women for her crime. But after Martha overhears Bella saying that she too thinks Martha is stupid, Martha attacks her in the shower blocks and drowns her. When Martha returns from solitary in episode 58, she starts working for criminal mastermind Antonia McNally, who uses Martha's muscle to take over Bea's position while Bea is in solitary. Eventually, as the other women begin to become disillusioned with McNally and start to side with Bea to go up against Vera Bennett and Jim Fletcher who are running the prison when Governor Erica Davidson takes a leave, Martha wants her and Toni to join in on the act but Toni wants no part of it due to her trial. She tells Martha that she could join them in the act if she wants to which she does. Although not written out of the series in any real manner, Martha is not seen after the conclusion of the McNally storyline in episode 64. In episode 128, Noeline Burke is scaring another woman accused of "baby bashing", Gail Summers, by telling her that Martha killed the previous such inmate and was sent to the loony bin as a result, which seemingly conflicts with Martha's involvement in the McNally storyline. (It might be presumed that Noeline was just trying to cause trouble).
|-
| '''Noeline Burke'''
| [[Jude Kuring]] – episodes 30–132,
| the head of a family of petty criminals usually inside for burglary and theft. An antagonist of both Bea Smith and Monica Ferguson, Noeline was famous for her refusal to take anything she considered charity. In Noeline's words, "The Burkes don't take charity, we just take." When she comes back to Wentworth she is very upset over Leanne Burke (see separate entry)'s death; she blames the officers for it and she doesn't understand that it was a tragic accident. She is later transferred to Barnhurst for her own safety. Note that Noeline's surname varies between Burke and Bourke in different sources; it is pronounced on-screen as "Burke".
|-
| '''Clara Goddard'''
| [[Betty Lucas]] – episodes 30–39
| a genteel, flighty socialite who initially planned to start a Halfway House for ex-prisoners, but ended up being remanded to Wentworth for embezzlement, where she gains considerable influence amongst the women, especially in the escaped Bea's absence. Sarcastically nicknamed "Madame Clara" and "[[Tinker Bell|Tinkerbell]]" by Bea when she returns, jealous of the way Clara manages to usurp her authority as top dog of the prisoners. During an examination of the running of the prison, the V.J. orders that Clara be moved to a dedicated remand section at Fairlea due to lack of remand facilities at Wentworth.
|-
| '''Kathleen Leach'''
| [[Penny Stewart]] – episodes 30–149
| beginning as a background prisoner (often uncredited), Kathleen went on to be involved with two notable plotlines. She is put in to share a cell with Ros Coulson in episode 80, in the middle of Ros planning to escape with terrorist Janet Dominguez. Kathleen tries to convince her not to, fearing that the terrorists will kill the officers, but Ros escapes anyway during the botched break-out. Kath is last seen during this storyline in episode 89, being questioned by the police, and presumably goes on to be released. The character returns in episode 143, seemingly arrested on a short sentence for prostitution, but has in fact been put inside as a plant by Tracey Morris' "boyfriend" Joe to make sure that Tracey will not testify against him. When Tracey realises that Joe has been using her, Kathleen is given orders to kill Tracey; unable to carry out the instructions, she goes to Bea for help. Bea purposely scolds Kathleen's hand in the laundry steam press (episode 147), putting Kathleen out of action and sending her off to hospital, with a valid "excuse" to her employers for being unable to carry out her orders. The last time she is seen is saying to Doreen that she can give her a fat lip if she sees her on the outside, due to a previous argument the two had in the recreation room earlier on.
|-
| '''Leanne Burke'''
| [[Tracey-Jo Riley]]– episodes 33–121),
| Noeline Burke's daughter, who has inherited her mother's criminal tendencies. She first is seen visiting Noeline with her rather slow brother Col ([[Brian Granrott]]) in episode 33, telling her about the problems they are facing without her. Leanne returns in episode 50, where her mother and she are caught trying to rob a building. Although Leanne escapes charge, Noeline is once again sent to Wentworth, and Leanne meets Welfare Officer Jean Vernon while visiting. Jean gives her the address of the apartment she shares with Meg if she needs guidance – only for Leanne to rob the place with a young man, Denny ([[Tony Mahood]]) she's met. However, Jean is determined to try to set Leanne on the straight and narrow, and convinces Meg to let Leanne move in with them while they find Leanne a steady job. Leanne constantly abuses this trust, infuriating Meg; Jean continually convinces Meg to give Leanne "one more chance", until eventually, in episode 55/6, Leanne and Denny are caught trying to hold up a service station. Leanne disappears from the series at this point, and it is not clear what she is charged with (she is not sent to Wentworth). The character finally arrives at Wentworth in episode 120 charged with [[petty larceny]]. Although some of the other women are sceptical of Leanne as she is Noeline's daughter, she quickly becomes good friends with Judy, and is very active with helping arrange the riot to demand that murderous officer Jock Stewart be brought to justice. However, in episode 121, when the riot takes to the prison roof, Leanne falls to her death while trying to wave a banner for the gathering media to see. Note that, like mother Noeline, Leanne's surname varies between Burke and Bourke in different sources; it is pronounced on-screen as "Burke".
|-
| '''Irene Zervos'''
| [[Maria Mercedes (actor)|Maria Mercedes]] – episodes 38–40
| a young Greek woman admitted to Wentworth after being blackmailed into prostitution by a relative who is aware of her status as an illegal immigrant. Her brother and his wife were also illegal immigrants. Matters are complicated further by the fact that Irene does not speak English, leaving Karen, with only a smattering of basic Greek, trying to translate for her. Upon her release she was arrested by federal authorities at the gate of the prison due to her illegal status.
|-
| '''Joyce Martin'''
| [[Judy Nunn]] – episodes 40–48
| the wife of an armed robber inside for being an accessory, and the only person who knows the location of the loot. After her husband forcibly tries to have her abducted from the prison grounds to force her into revealing the loot's location to him, Joyce makes a deal with Monica, who is due for release, for Monica to retrieve the stash in return for giving Monica a cut. Heavies hired by Joyce's husband try to snatch Monica, but mistakenly grab Lynn, who is released on the same day. The loot is eventually recovered when Jim Fletcher double-crosses Denise Crabtree (see below entry) to find the stashed key to unlock the loot. With the storyline having run its course, Joyce is moved to D Block in episode 48, the last time the character is seen. Her husband was in the army with Jim Fletcher.
|-
| '''Denise "Blossom" Crabtree'''
| [[Lynda Keane]] – episodes 43–48
| a tartly young woman who is the girlfriend of Monica Ferguson's husband Fred, but who turns out to be using him to get her hands on the stolen loot from the robbery committed by Joyce Martin's husband. When she winds up in Wentworth, Monica is angry to find that she has been having an affair with Fred; while Denise, when released, tries to seduce Jim Fletcher into helping her, after the key to the loot was stashed in the prison. However, Jim double-crosses her, and hands the loot into the police.
|-
| '''Edith "Edie" Wharton'''
| [[Colleen Clifford]] – episodes 44–49
| an elderly, kindly woman who is made homeless with her partner Horrie. Horrie dies after the pair spend the night sleeping rough, and Edith ends up charged with a minor vandalism crime (against the shelter who refused to take them in) and ends up in Wentworth charged with vagrancy. Edie's stay in the prison brings out the softer side of deputy governor Jim Fletcher, who goes out of his way to see that she is comfortable and cared for. Lizzie quickly strikes up a close friendship with her, and they enjoy talking about the old days. With a roof over her head, regular meals and with the new friends she has made, Edith does not want to leave Wentworth to go to the shabby bedsit that Jean Vernon has arranged, but dies in her sleep the night before she is due to be released, leaving Lizzie contemplating the prospect of dying in prison herself. With no relations or estate to pay for Edie's funeral, Jim Fletcher quietly steps in to pay for the funeral himself, out of the reward for recovering Joyce Martin's stolen loot.
|-
| '''Melinda Cross'''
| [[Lulu Pinkus]] – episodes 47–58
| a devious young woman, who is a student at the same university as Karen. She tries to blackmail Tom ([[Hu Pryce]]), her lecturer with whom she has been having an affair, with intimate pictures of her with him, demanding money else she will show the pictures to Tom's wife. When Tom's wife does find out, she informs the police, and after being caught in the act receiving a pay-off, Melinda arrested and sent to Wentworth awaiting trial. She is pregnant with Tom's child, and after a brief spell in Wentworth, escapes conviction by convincing the Judge that she was only acting out of desperation of wanting the father of her baby. However, once released, she tells Greg (who has just opened up his own practice after leaving his job at the prison) that the story was just a convenient excuse, and that she plans to have an [[abortion]], putting Greg in an awkward position as it means that Melinda committed [[perjury]]. The newly released Karen very briefly moves in with Melinda, but after Melinda goes elsewhere to have an abortion after Greg refuses to help, and does it under Karen's name, Karen leaves to live elsewhere; this is the last time Melinda is seen in the series.
|-
| '''Bella Swan Albrecht'''
| [[Liddy Clark]] – episodes 51–52
| a remorseless child killer who had murdered her toddler daughter – which she saw as getting in the way of her securing a relationship – and arrives at Wentworth on remand. The officers attempt to keep her crime under wraps, knowing it will anger the other women, who despise those who harm children, but word soon leaks out after Bea dupes visiting psychologist Peter Clements into revealing why she is really in Wentworth. Although Bella tries to strike up a friendship with Karen, her only real 'friend' comes in Martha Eaves, feeling lonely after bullying by the other woman. Bella winds up attacked in the shower block and drowned in a wash basin; Martha is later found out to be the culprit. She's later mentioned in episode 277 by Lizzie when the women feel that a new prisoner who have arrived and placed in solitary that they aren't being told about or allowed to see due to possibly being dangerous. Lizzie then refers to the prisoner possibly doing something similar to Bella's crime of killing children due to her possibly doing something big they're not being led on about.
|-
| '''Antonia "Toni" McNally'''
| [[Pat Bishop]] – episodes 57–64
| a cool, classy woman on remand for the murder of the woman who was having an affair with her husband, and who tries to buy the women's favour and take over as top dog while Bea Smith is away in solitary confinement. Antonia is the wife of the head of the local underworld with friends in high places – amongst other things, she pulls strings to have Jim Fletcher given leave to get him off her back – and pressure is brought to bear on governor Erica Davidson to give her special privileges that further cements Toni's high status amongst the prisoners. Toni also starts smuggling in [[contraband]], including booze and drugs, and hires Martha Eaves as her muscle and lackey. When Bea is released from solitary, the two briefly strike up an uneasy alliance, until Bea learns that Toni has been smuggling in drugs, at which point the two become involved in a power struggle. By this point, though, Governor Davidson takes a temporary leave and the other women begin to side with Bea to go up against Vera Bennett and Jim Fletcher who are now in charge of the prison. Toni however refuses to take part in this. Shortly after, Antonia is sent for trial, but is let off Scot free after thugs hired by her intimidate the only witness into giving a false statement. Walking free from court, she is shot by Ros Coulson, the daughter the woman Toni killed, and dies soon after.
|-
| '''Roslyn Louise "Ros" Coulson'''
| [[Sigrid Thornton]] – episodes 63–92
| an idealistic young woman, in her last year at convent school, who first appears in episode 63 claiming to be a relation of Antonia McNally. However, Ros is actually the daughter of the woman McNally murdered. When McNally gets off Scot free, Ros fatally shoots her, seeing it as justified. Once sentenced, the gentle Ros's attitude quickly changes, as she believes she has done nothing wrong. She orchestrates an escape, arranging a distraction, allowing her to stow away in a visiting van. She seeks refuge at the newly opened halfway house, but – despite Doreen's pleas – Karen turns her away, telling her that if they were found harbouring a fugitive, it would destroy the whole project. Ros tries the [[brothel]] where her late mother worked, but when an associate of McNally's tries to force her into prostitution, she flees, and is captured soon after. Back in Wentworth, she is won over by terrorist Janet Dominquez, who plans to escape and offers to take Ros with her in return for Ros's help. But the terrorist break-out doesn't go as planned; Ros saves Governor Davidson from being fatally shot, and escapes on her own; following a tip-off from Chrissie, she is re-captured a while later. After this, Ros, with encouragement from Erica, begins to see that her attitude will not get her anywhere, and under the guidance of welfare officer Paul Reid, begins studying. To aid her in this, Erica has her moved to a quieter block with some other studying prisoners, in episode 92 – the last time the character is seen. When Doreen gets married at the prison in episode 116, she mentions asking permission for Ros to be a guest, but the character does not appear. In episode 158, while giving a pep talk to Doreen, Erica mentions that Ros got her qualification. She is lastly mentioned in episode 176 when prisoner Evelyn Randall offers Lizzie some of her homemade tea that helps a person sleep easily; to which Lizzie tells her how she wishes that can put the prison staff to sleep for a while like how Roslyn did in episode 81 with some drugs in an attempt to escape from Wentworth with terrorist Janet Dominguez (see below) that unfortunately went unsuccessful.
|-
| '''Patricia Mary Theresa "Pat" O'Connell'''
| [[Monica Maughan]] – episodes 65–110
| a level headed, kind hearted middle-aged mother who is transferred from Barnhurst along with Chrissie Latham in episode 65. She is inside for aiding and abetting her criminal husband in an armed robbery (although, confusingly, on the character's first mention before her transfer, in episode 60, we hear that she is charged for driving a car through a shop window that had repossessed her furniture, something that is never mentioned again). Pat is being forced to go through with a divorce from her husband in order to give her a better chance of keeping her children, and is determined to keep out of trouble so that she might get her parole by Christmas and be reunited with her son and daughter, who are staying with her elderly mother who is finding it hard to cope with them. Despite jeopardising her parole by meeting with her eldest son David, who is also in prison and visiting Wentworth on a work party, Pat is paroled and reunited with her youngest children in time for Christmas. However, around this time David escapes from prison, which leads to a police shoot-out when he tries to visit her, resulting in Pat being returned to Wentworth when the police are convinced she was in cohorts with David, and leaving David jaded at Dr. Greg Miller, whom he is certain tipped the police off, prompting him to try to shoot Greg but getting Karen in error. Unable to cope in prison, David kills himself soon after. Pat's kind nature comes through when she insists that Bea not attack the pregnant Chrissie, and with both Doreen and Lizzie on release, she becomes Bea's main sidekick for a spell. Pat is eventually released when her sentence is reduced on appeal and she is given parole; she is last seen when Paul Reid drives her home with her kids.
|-
| '''Janet Rose Dominguez'''
| [[Deidre Rubenstein]] – episodes 79–83
| a terrorist brought to Wentworth awaiting extradition to the US to face charges in connection with the bombing of a South American official outside the UN building. She is held in solitary away from the other women, as the officers do not want her interacting with or influencing the other women, but she wins over Ros Coulson, who is being held in the adjoining solitary cell. Ros helps aid an escape and is given an instant sleep powder to drug the guards while armed terrorists brake into the prison to free Janet. However, the break-out does not go according to plan, and Dominguez is shot and wounded trying to escape. She is taken away from Wentworth on a stretcher soon after, accompanied by federal police. She's mentioned in episode 277 by Lizzie after the women are surprised a letter they written and sent to be published in a newspaper wasn't published in it. This led to Lizzie believing that terrorist could have been responsible behind it and refers to Janet.
|-
| '''Caroline Margaret Simpson'''
| [[Rosalind Speirs]] – episodes 89–114
| arrives at the Halfway House with her fragile mother Vivienne (see below entry), who is seeking shelter from her abusive husband but is turned away. Soon after, when her father's violent temper boils over and he threatens to kill her mother with a shotgun, Caroline fatally stabs him. Caroline convinces Vivienne that they must say intruders killed him, but their story is soon exposed and they end up in Wentworth awaiting trial. Once inside, Officer Jim Fletcher shows an interest in Caroline, subtlety at first, but it is soon noticed by the other women (reinforcing his nickname "Fletch the Letch"), although Caroline does not return his advances. Caroline's estranged, possessive ex-husband Michael ([[Peter Ford (Australian actor)|Peter Ford]]) offers to pay bail, but she refuses to bow down to his terms; while Michael becomes jaded at Jim, whom he sees as coming between Caroline and himself. Although Jim also offers to pay bail, Caroline refuses, not wanting to be in his debt, but when Vivienne's frail state of health worsens, Caroline finally agrees. Eventually Jim bails Caroline too; when she moves into the Halfway House, she continues seeing him and she finally returns his advances, and the pair begin a romantic relationship, even though Jim is breaking the terms of Caroline's bail. When Michael and Geoff Butler ([[Ray Meagher]]) (who is bitter at Jim for turning him in to the police over a previous incident) join forces, Butler dupes Michael – who insists that he wants no-one badly hurt – into delivering a bomb to Jim's motel room, it kills Jim's wife and children. This puts a severe strain on Caroline and Jim's relationship, with him telling her after the explosion that he blames her. But when Vivienne and Caroline finally go to trial, and are released on good behaviour bonds, she visits him one last time and they part on reasonable terms. This parting scene with Jim, before she goes to stay with Michael's sister, is Caroline's last appearance in the series. Note: Although billed as Caroline, many characters, including her own mother, pronounced her name as ''Carolyn''.
|-
| '''Vivienne Anne Williams'''
| [[Bernadette Gibson]] episodes 89–114,
| the mother of Caroline (see above entry), who is suffering at the hands of her abusive husband. After Caroline kills him in self-defence, the pair arrive at Wentworth, where Vivienne's fragile health worsens. Eventually, it is Lizzie (who at the time is on release and visits to see Bea) who recognises Vivienne and Caroline from seeking shelter at the Halfway House, adding some support to their claims of abuse, and Vivienne is released awaiting trial. However, once home, the strain of events is too much for Vivienne and she tries to commit [[suicide]], after which she is put into a care home, not seen for a few episodes. Eventually, in episode 114, Vivienne and Caroline come up for trial, and their charges are reduced to [[manslaughter]], allowing them to be freed on good behaviour bonds.
|-
| '''Sharon Gilmour'''
| [[Margot Knight]] – episodes 90–116
| a scheming, spoiled young woman who is imprisoned for drug dealing after a police raid where she was selling dope to a group of youths (including Social Worker Paul Reid's son Tony (John Higginson)). Being a drug dealer, not to mention a vindictive trouble-stirrer, Sharon immediately becomes an enemy of Bea. Despite having a lover, Judy Bryant (see separate entry), on the outside, Sharon becomes involved in a romantic relationship with Chrissie Latham, and the pair work together for a time to become Top Dog(s) while Bea is in isolation. Jealous of this romantic relationship, Judy purposely gets herself arrested so she can be inside with Sharon, but Sharon uses her spiteful ways to manipulate Judy as she does with everyone else. With Chrissie moved to maternity to be with her baby, Sharon later starts vicious rumours that Kerry Vincent (see separate entry) is a "lagger" (informant) after Kerry turns down her romantic advances. Judy finally becomes tired of Sharon's scheming, [[Psychological manipulation|manipulative]] ways and puts an end to their relationship. When Sharon witnesses corrupt officer Jock Stewart ([[Tommy Dysart]]) blackmailing and physically attacking Doreen, she tries to strike up working deal with him – she'll keep quiet about what she has seen in return for him protecting her. But soon after, she is found at the bottom of a flight of stairs with her neck broken. Judy, Bea and Kerry are all suspects, but it was Jock who murdered her.
|-
| '''Judith Francis "Judy" Bryant'''
| [[Betty Bobbitt]] – episodes 91-534
| an American ex-pat lesbian who deliberately committed a crime to join her lover Sharon Gilmour in prison. She was initially an agitator, but later became one of Bea's allies, as well as a long-term inmate. Judy ran Driscoll House, a Half-Way House for ex-criminals to get back on their feet. Judy was sent back to Wentworth after helping friend, Hazel Kent, kill herself while she was suffering from a terminal brain tumour. Served as a sort of "deputy Top Dog," to both Bea and Myra. She was later released to become a successful songwriter.
|-
| '''Lilian "Lil" Stokes'''
| [[Judith McLorinan]] – episodes 91–392,
| The smaller one of Margo Gaffney's goons. Most of her appearances come without a speaking part. she is first seen in episode 91 briefly in the background with Margo Gaffney's bigger goon: Bev Covelli. Lil has her first big scene when she helps Margo and Bev give Sharon a "haircut". In her last appearance she dies when the prison is under quarantine, in deputy governor Colleen Powell's arms.
|-
| '''Margo Jane Gaffney'''
| [[Jane Clifton]] – episodes 92–448
| one of a long line of agitators in the prison cell block who generally played rival to the reigning top-dog. Margo took charge of all gambling inside Wentworth and was usually accompanied by her stooges "Lil and Bev" (played by extras Judith McLorinan and Kaye Chadwick). Margo went back and forth during the series run from a good to bad guy, usually leaning toward the bad side. One of Margo's most heinous acts was the bashing of guard Meg Morris, who was temporarily a prisoner for contempt of court, and this earned her the combined wrath of Bea and Chrissie (who ironically saved Meg, despite her killing Meg's first husband, Bill Jackson), and avenged her bashing, by tying her up and tarring and feathering her in the lavatory. Margo was also later bashed by Bea and Chrissie when it was discovered that she set the storeroom on fire with a [[Molotov cocktail]] at Wentworth, thus beginning the Great Fire at Wentworth, and lied about it to the cops. She later tries to frame Reb for attacking Myra Desmond but is found out and transferred to Blackmoore. Note: In the character's second appearance, in episode 93, her surname is given as Dempsey, not Gaffney.
|-
| '''Bernadette'''
| [[Anne Phelan]] – episodes 94–95
| A dopey background prisoner who appears to be good mates with Top Dog: Bea Smith.
|-
| '''Heather "Mouse" Trapp'''
| [[Jentah Sobott]] – episodes 106*-326
| a rather timid young woman in and out for Wentworth for petty crime. She escapes and goes on the run with Judy Bryant after crawling through the tunnel during the pantomime. Later she returns to Wentworth and gets mixed up in the plans for the Great fire where she perishes in the flames and burns to death. * – Note: although first credited in episode 106, Sobott had been appearing as an uncredited extra in the series for some time beforehand (first seen in Episode 67). The character – with no dialogue – is first referred to as "Mouse" in episode 100. it's revealed she dies in the great fire in ep 326/327
|-
| '''Kerry Vincent'''
| [[Penny Downie]] – episodes 112–124
| a young prisoner transferred to Wentworth to give her room to let her artistic talent flourish. Some of the women are sceptical of the special treatment that Kerry is given, such as being given a double cell to herself to give her room to do her paintings. Bea in particular does not take to her after she finds that Kerry's transfer was arranged by Ken Pearce ([[Tom Oliver]]), whom Bea has developed a crush on. As we learn more about Kerry, we hear that she is a former prostitute who is inside after violently attacking a client. Kerry's agent is David Austin ([[Rod Mullinar]]), a smarmy art dealer who is exploiting Kerry's status as a prisoner to drum up publicity and sell her work for huge profit. Kerry tries to get on with the other women, but they turn on her when malicious Sharon Gilmour starts spreading rumours of her being a "lagger" (informant) after Kerry turned down her romantic advances. During this period, Kerry also gives Vera a painting that she intends to destroy, only for Austin to concoct a story of Vera bribing it out of Kerry, in order to give him more publicity, nearly costing Vera her job until Jock Stewart helps her set things straight with Austin; as a result, Austin is banned from visiting her at Wentworth. Kerry is given parole in episode 117 and set up in a small studio [[flat (housing)|flat]], but only on the proviso that she does not see Austin, but Kerry is oblivious to his manipulating her and continues seeing him, and becomes jealous of other women he is seeing. This leads her to several drunken benders, the last of which results in her smashing David over the head with an ashtray, causing her to think she has killed him. She plans to flee the area; Helen Smart (see separate entry)'s [[pimp]] sells her some drugs to calm her down, but she takes them with alcohol, nearly killing her. When David finds her in this state, instead of calling for medical aid, he takes her paintings instead. Helen discovers Kerry and alerts Parole Officer Paul Reid just in time; after she is out of danger, he arranges that her parole not be cancelled if she agrees to be treated in a [[sanatorium]]. Kerry agrees to this, and it is the last time she is seen in the series.
|-
| '''Helen Pamela Smart'''
| [[Caroline Gillmer]] – episodes 118–441
| a likeable, amusing prostitute frequently sent to Wentworth for soliciting who becomes a useful contact for the women on the outside. Became good friends with Judy Bryant. Helen was known to the prison as "The 'tart' with a heart." Attempted victim of the leather gloved killer, she also helps Judy a lot with Driscoll House. Her younger sister Sharon becomes involved with a cult so Helen kidnaps her and tries to de-programme her. Sharon stabs and murders one man who was helping causing Helen to be admitted to Wentworth for kidnapping – her first offence other than prostitution. She later develops a tropical disease brought in by Glynis Ladd whilst Wentworth is under quarantine. She was sent to Barnhurst after her trial. She returns to Wentworth and her last episode sees her transferred to B Block after being part of a practical joke on Joan Ferguson and she is never seen again.
|-
| '''Gail Audery Summers'''
| [[Susanne Howarth]] – episodes 124–133
| a harassed, downtrodden housewife who becomes Meg's new neighbour when Meg moves to a new apartment. Meg soon becomes concerned when she hears Gail's young children constantly crying and ferocious arguments between Gail and her short-tempered husband Tim ([[Jeremy Higgins]]); when Meg notices bruises on the children she believes that Tim is abusing them, but when, after some debating, she goes with Welfare Officer Paul Reid and the Police to intervene, Gail breaks down and confesses that it is her that has been abusing the children, driven to it being unable to cope being left with them all day with no help or support from Tim. She is sent to Wentworth on remand, where she instantly faces the anger of the other women when they find what she is in for, branding her a "baby basher". Eventually, a talk from Captain Barton (standing in for the departed Paul Reid) convinces her to stand up for herself; she gives an emotional speech to the other women telling them how she simply could not cope but loves her children, after which the women ease up on her. Gail goes to trial and is given a suspended sentence, on condition that she seek help. She moves away to join a support group.
|-
| '''Kay Frances White'''
| [[Sandy Gore]] – episodes 127–145
| the sly administrator of Andrew Reynolds's clothing factory, where a work scheme has been arranged with Wentworth for some of the prisoners. Kay places several large bets with bookie Margo (and holds out on paying up the money she owes), and agreeing to help Judy make a dress for an escape attempt. With suspicion on her for a series of thefts from the factory, she sets up Noeline to take the blame, to try to get Mr. Reynolds off of her back. Soon after, her long-running embezzlement of company funds, to fund her compulsive gambling habit, is uncovered when she "borrows" payroll money to place a large bet, in hope of making back the money she has taken from the company, but she is caught in the act, and sent to Wentworth awaiting trial. There, she tries to use her gambling addiction as a claim that she needs psychiatric help in order to escape charge, but having got on the wrong side of the women over the cancellation of the work programme, and her generally manipulative attitude, Bea orchestrates a scheme to expose that Kay is still willingly gambling; the plot is successful, and Kay does not escape charge, returning to Wentworth as an inmate with a five-year sentence. But from this point, Kay's manner only get more extreme – she opens her own book to overtake Margo's, and using very heavy-handed methods to secure bets. This leads to Bea being sent to solitary after giving Kay a "bashing", and in Bea's absence, Kay makes a move to be Top Dog. Judy, with help from Lizzie and others, plan to put Kay's racket out of action by placing large bets that she can't possibly afford to cover. After this backfires, they record a dog race from the radio on Tracey Morris's tape recorder, place a huge bet with Kay (knowing the outcome) and doctor the newspaper's racing page accordingly, and play the tape back next day as if it were live. The scheme works, but when Kay "borrows" Tracey's tape recorder and realises she's been set up, she goes frantic and violently attacks Lizzie in her cell, nearly strangling her until Linda Jones smashes Kay over the head with a kettle jug to save Lizzie, leaving Kay unconscious and covered in blood. She later dies from a blood clot on the brain. Lizzie stows Linda away from the scene and insist that she herself must take the blame (for more on this, see Linda Jones's profile, below).
|-
| '''Linda Mary Jones'''
| [[Elaine Cusick]] – episodes 140–150
| first introduced as an existing prisoner who is working as a runner for Margo's betting racket, Linda also has concerns when her son Danny ([[Darren Sole]]) is unhappy living with her overbearing, bullying sister while she is inside and runs away. Officer Fletcher later tracks down Danny and offers to take him in to live with him until Linda gets her parole; Danny's behaviour at first causes some trouble, but Jim soon licks him into shape and the pair form a close bond. Meanwhile, Kay White, starting her own more heavy-handed bookie racket, forces Linda into acting as runner for her, something that Linda reluctantly does. When the women try to put Kay out of action with a gambling con, Kay flips out at Lizzie and tries to strangle her in her cell; Linda arrives and smashes Kay over the head with a kettle jug, leaving Kay unconscious. Lizzie manages to stow Linda away before any officers arrive on the scene, and insists that she take the wrap for it instead, both in return for Linda saving her life, and concerned about her being reunited with Danny. Linda insists she tell Erica what really happened, but Lizzie insists she keep quiet. Kay later dies, but Lizzie convinces the V.J. that she was behind Kay's injuries, allowing Linda to get her parole and be reunited with Danny, leaving to live in the new apartment that Danny and Jim have organised. However, a few episodes after Linda's departure, a jaded Doreen goes to Mrs. Davidson and tries to tell her the real circumstances of Kay's death. Erica sends Jim Fletcher to visit Linda and question her, but she convinces him that Lizzie's version is correct. She attends Lizzie's trial, where Lizzie – expecting an 18-month extension to her sentence for manslaughter – is given a heavy sentence.
|-
| '''Tracey Morris'''
| [[Sue Devine]] – episodes 141–198 & (Michelle Thomas – episodes 463–464),
| a young woman on remand accused of smuggling heroin into Australia but claims that she was set up by her gangster boyfriend. Tracey's father Bob becomes romantically involved and marries officer Meg Jackson. She returned in episode 463, landing herself on her ex-step mother and creating problems when she and her boyfriend held Meg hostage.
|-
| '''Hazel Jean Kent'''
| [[Belinda Davey]] – episodes 142–399 Flashbacks in episode 534),
| background prisoner whose situation is eventually explored. A generally decent sort, later episodes show Hazel as being a depressed, drunken loser, turning to the bottle after her partner leaves her for another woman, taking their children with him. Hazel was suffering from a brain tumour and asked Judy Bryant to give her an overdose – leading to Judy's return to Wentworth for her final stint.
|-
| '''Sarah Forrest / Jacqueline Mary "Jacki" Nolan'''
| [[Diane Craig]] – episodes 149–159
| a classy, sophisticated and well spoken women that Jim meets at a party. They arrange to see more of each other, and, trying to impress her and not put her off about his job, Jim tells her that he works as a building contractor. Sarah is part-owner of an interior design business, and offers Jim a business deal, much to the disdain of Sarah's haughty partner, Julian ([[Peter Stratford]]). After Sarah and Jim spend the night together, Sarah finds Jim's Prison Officer jacket and flees, and when he visits her at the interior design business, she is very cold towards him and tells him that the relationship is over. At the same time, Erica is thinking of having some home decorating done, and Meg mentions that she has heard Jim has an interior design friend. Although Jim tries to put her off, Erica visits Sarah's business and seems to recognise her. Soon after, she realises that she is actually Jacki Nolan, who escaped from Barnhurst a few years previously, and is now using Sarah Forrest as an alias. Erica convinces Jim to try to persuade Jacki to turn herself in; Jim is unsure what to do and stalls, but Jacki turns herself in on her own accord. Sent to Wentworth, Sarah and Jim try to play down their relationship to both Erica and the other inmates. Jim joins Erica at a Prisoners Reform Group meeting, where the group comes up with a high-profile publicity campaign to get Jacki pardoned – insisting that she has self-rehabilitated and that her successful business proves this – amongst other propaganda. But Julia has his own campaign to get Jacki pardoned, and warns Jim to keep away else it will ruin the whole petition. Jacki faces going back to Barnhurst, but she is loath to as she was molested by a bullying lesbian officer (who some fans have theorised may have been Joan Ferguson) during her previous sentence, hence her escape in the first place. With increasing media attention over the case, Jacki is just about to be transferred to Barnhurst when her pardon comes through. She leaves Wentworth, presumably to resume running the business with Julian, and never to see Jim again.
|-
| '''Myra June Desmond'''
| [[Anne Phelan]] – episodes 154–552
| a former prisoner who had worked with the Prison Reform Group before arriving back at Wentworth and replacing Bea Smith as the show's second long-running "top dog". She was a thoughtful but strong woman who gave up her own life for the safety of the other hostages during The Ballanger Siege. Before the siege, Desmond organised a scheme to set up Joan Ferguson by bashing Lou Kelly and then framing Joan for the assault. The scheme worked until inmate Anita Selby revealed the truth to then-Governor Ann Reynolds. Reynolds then reinstated Ferguson and introduced a stricter security regime at the prison. She later confronted Desmond and told her that she would no longer recognise her as top dog. She also threatened Desmond with a transfer to Blackmoor if she caused any more trouble.
|-
| '''Anne Griffin'''
| [[Rowena Wallace]] – episodes 160–167
| a seemingly meek, timid young woman sent to Wentworth for robbing a shopkeeper and knife-point. She insists that she is innocent, and the money found on her when she was arrested was loaned to her by her friend Megan; however, no trace (or even proof of existence) can be found of Megan and so with no alibi, Anne is to await trial. Soon after Anne's arrival, Bea is attacked from behind in the corridor, and it eventually emerges that Anne was responsible (not liking Bea's authority over the other inmates); Bea plans her revenge but Judy persuades her to hold off, convincing her that Anne is mentally unwell. Anne tries to convince the authorities that Megan has written to her, giving her the alibi she needs, but it turns out that Anne wrote the letter herself. As Erica realises that Anne needs psychiatric help, various details come to light about Anne's abusive upbringing, her imaginary friend Megan, and the baby she later had that died, also called Megan, which has left Anne in a very confused state. Anne is inside during the big tunnel escape plan of the end of the 1980 season; after the other woman realise Anne is unreliable, they try to cover up all proof of the escape plans, telling her it was merely a prank, in fear that she might inform the officers. Things come to a head during the escape attempt (165); Judy, Mouse, Doreen and another inmate; Irene Nagel, make their escape, but Lizzie decides at the last minute to join Doreen, leading both her down into the tunnels, and Bea after her trying to call her back. As the tunnels collapse, trapping Bea, Lizzie and the injured Doreen, Anne deliberately covers the cover to the tunnel (with a "grave" for Megan) to stop them from getting out, leaving them trapped in the collapsed tunnel for several days. Eventually Mouse is recaptured, and raises the alarm, leading the officers to rescue Bea and co. Bea plans to kill Anne for what she did, but Dr. Weisman by this time certifies her to be mentally unbalanced, and she is led away to a psychiatric hospital before Bea can exact her revenge.
|-
| '''Irene Nagel'''
| Heather Howard - episode 165
| An inmate who joins in on the escape from Wentworth at the last minute. She was mentioned by Judy as being in on the escape in episode 163, though her name was mentioned way before in episode 126 as one of the first of the women to attend the Reynolds clothing factory job. She didn't speak any lines and just followed the escape instructions with the other escapees. She was the one who inadvertently caused the tunnel collapsed by slipping and grabbing hold of an old rickety support beam that couldn't hold her weight. The tunnel collapsed, killing her. It's implied that her body was dug out and in episode 167, Erika Davidson was on the phone to inform one of her relatives of her death.
|-
| '''Sandra "Sandy" Hamilton'''
| [[Candy Raymond]] – episodes 173–180
| a new prisoner who arrives claiming to be inside for the first time after being caught driving with expired tax. However, Bea and others soon become suspicious as, for a supposed first timer, Sandra seems very familiar with prisoner etiquette, and asks a lot of questions, particularly around and concerning Judy. They suspect her to be an undercover police officer after information about Judy's recent escape and recapture, heightened even more when she convinces the Governor to move her into Judy's cell, and she even tries making seductive advances towards Judy; but after Bea and Judy put the heavy on her, she confesses that she is actually a newspaper [[journalist]] who deliberately got herself put inside to try to get the [[Scoop (term)|scoop]] on Judy's escape. When Evelyn Randall (see below profile) arrives in episode 175, Sandra offers to write an article about how Evelyn has been unjustly imprisoned in return for Evelyn getting information with her; when Bea and the women plant Evelyn's stolen file in Sandra's cell, Sandra is sent to isolation. When the prison is struck by an unidentified disease (episodes 177–179), and the isolation cells needed to bed [[quarantine]]d officers, Sandra is returned to the women, where she becomes very scared of becoming infected, after seeing her mother waste away some years earlier, and even tries to escape during a food pick-up, leaving Jim Fletcher threatening to shoot her if she does not return, for fear of her infecting people outside the prison. With the mysterious disease "cured" in episode 179, Sandra finds herself framed for scarring Evelyn in a fire [[booby trap]] under Evelyn's bed, which will stop any chances of her imminent release; Sandra strikes up a deal with Bea, for Bea to prove she was innocent, in return for Sandra writing an exposé on poor prison conditions when she is released. However, after she is released in 180, she instead writes a story written around her and her time inside, neglecting to mention the conditions she promised to expose.
|-
| '''Evelyn Randall'''
| [[Julia Blake]] – episodes 175–179 seen in recap of 180)
| referred to as 'Evie' only by Lizzie, she is an eccentric, middle-aged [[herbalist]] who arrives with other new prisoners Jenny Armstrong and Georgie Baxter (see separate profiles). She has been accused of manslaughter after poisoning one of her patients, but insists that she is innocent, and has a grudge against conventional medicine, insisting that everyone should see that herbal remedies are the true cure. Her haughty attitude soon gets Bea's back up, but most of the other prisoners take a liking her, annoying Bea even more. When an under-the-weather Doreen asks Evelyn for a remedy, she falls ill, leading Bea to believe that Evelyn has poisoned her; but Evelyn finds that Doreen has mistakenly heated the remedy first, which has resulted in Doreen falling sick. Soon after, a mysterious bug breaks out in the prison; it is assumed to be a tropical disease brought in by Jenny Armstrong, who had just returned from overseas. As many prisoners and officers fall dangerously ill and Wentworth is quarantined, Evelyn insists that her herbal remedies could find a cure, as conventional doctors struggle to find the cause. The other prisoners even start to believe her, when one of her secretly brewed remedies begins to heal the very ill Meg; but it eventually emerges that Evelyn was behind the "disease", lacing people's food with enough special ingredients to cause them to fall sick, giving her the opportunity to "heal them" and prove herself. When the other women find out, Bea insists that they do not take action straight away, instead biding their time and making Evie nervous. But a booby trap fire using [[Turpentine|turps]] placed under Evelyn's bed badly scalds her, seeing her led away to hospital in episode 179. She is not seen after this because Erica organised a transfer to Barnhurst for the day after, and although Bea was aware that the booby trap was placed, it was only designed that it would scare her. It is never fully revealed how Evie came to be so badly scalded, although is suggested that Bea did not authorise the incident.
|-
| '''Jennie Armstrong'''
| [[Sally Cooper (actress)|Sally Cooper]] – episode 175
| a young, naive prisoner brought to Wentworth at the same time as Georgie Baxter and Evie Randall, and emerges from the prison truck covered in blood and terrified after being attacked by Georgie. While in the prison hospital recovering, she explains to Lizzie that she is only in prison after not paying a minor traffic fine, thinking that prison sounded "fun". Lizzie scares her about prison life, leading Jennie to quickly decide to pay the fine and get out. However, very soon after, prisoners and staff being to fall dangerously ill; it is suspected that Jennie might have been the cause, as she has just returned from [[Africa]] and might have brought a rare disease back with her. Jennie is only ever seen in episode 175; after her release, Police try to find her to trace the "disease", until it is finally discovered that Evelyn Randall is behind the matter, lacing people's food with poison.
|-
| '''Georgina "Georgie" Baxter'''
| [[Tracy Mann]] – episodes 175–186
| a violent, illiterate biker's moll who arrives in a prison van with Jeannie Armstrong and Evelyn Randall in episode 175, and who has viciously attacked Armstrong during the journey. Georgie is immediately put in solitary, and stays there after a series of volatile outbursts. Several inmates and staff alike, compare her to Franky Doyle. Prison teacher David Andrews ([[Serge Lazareff]]) convinces Governor Davidson to let him see Georgie to try to get to the root of her behaviour, and suggests putting Georgie in with Judy, who can more than take care of herself, and Judy becomes Georgie's first real friend inside. During the mysterious "plague" that sweeps through the prison (176–178), Georgie stays at Judy's bedside and tends to her, but, once the mystery disease has passed, Judy misinterprets Georgie's caring friendship and makes a pass at her, sending Georgie into a rage and seeing her sent to another stint in solitary (despite Judy's trying to explain to the Governor that it was her own mistake). Visiting Georgie in solitary once again, David realises that Georgie suffers from a severe hearing impediment, which has led her to misunderstand many things through life and believe people are laughing at her. Georgie soon undergoes an operation and her hearing remarkably improves. Once back at Wentworth, David suggests putting Georgie in with Bea (and Lizzie), which angers Doreen for being turfed out of her old cell, igniting a never-ending feud between the pair. Bea soon takes Georgie under her wing, but when Doreen is sent to solitary for a fight that Georgie instigated, Judy and Bea clash after Bea let Doreen take the blame. This leads to a big split between Judy and Bea, with various prisoners taking each side, and which Georgie, still furious at Judy's advances, works in the middle of to deliberately inflame even further. During this time, Georgie's mother Jeannie (see separate profile) also arrives at the prison for running a brothel, but Georgie wants nothing to do with her; while in David's classes, he begins teaching the illiterate Georgie how to read. By this time, Georgie's chance for parole is coming up, but David puts in a recommendation that she not yet be realised so that he can ensure she continues with her education. When the women discover this from Vera, they boycott David's classes, but a positive word to the V.J. from Meg, who has found Georgie a job, as well as David backing down his request so long as it is ensured Georgie continues her education outside, sees Georgie get her parole. Georgie leaves to live with biker friend "Mike the Bike" ([[Jon Geros]]), who had visited her inside several times, but finding the shabby [[flat (housing)|flat]] a mess and that the bullying Mike only wants her for sex, Georgie storms out. After this bust up, Meg can't find her when she is due to take her to the first day of the new job, working in a supermarket, and goes to the store to apologise to the manager, only to find that Georgie has turned up on her own accord and is happily hard at work, and seems to be making a real go of going straight and putting her problems behind her.
|-
| '''Jean Nancy "Jeannie" Baxter'''
| [[Leila Hayes]] – episodes 180–183
| Georgie Baxter's mother, who had neglected and belittled her as a child. She first appears when visiting Georgie after her operation in episode 180, which results in an argument between the pair. The following episode, Jeannie is admitted to Wentworth for "living off immoral earnings" as a brothel madam. She immediately falls on the wrong side of Bea, who has taken Georgie under her wing and is determined to see that she gets an education and goes straight, and Georgie wants nothing to do with her. Before Jeannie is released, she tries to apologise to Georgie for her treatment, but Georgie doesn't want to know. However, just as Jeannie is leaving, Georgie convinces David Andrews to let her see her mother, and the pair part on amicable terms, with Georgie even calling her "Mum" for the first time.
|-
| '''Marie Winter'''
| [[Maggie Millar]] – episodes 197–471
| a tough long-term prisoner who was top dog of country prison Barnhurst, specialising in pushing drugs. She escaped with help from Lou Kelly and The Freak by climbing over the fence in afternoon exercise and clinging onto a helicopter and flying away. We are told that a few days later she is captured and sent to Blackmoor.
|-
| '''Michelle Parks'''
| [[Nina Landis]] – episodes 209–213
| an attractive young athlete with Olympic potential, Michelle is remanded to Wentworth charged with stealing from the office where she worked and once inside, literally runs rings around deputy governor Jim Fletcher.
|-
| '''Lori Young'''
| [[Susannah Fowle]] – episodes 209–347
| a young girl who visits Wentworth searching for her biological mother who had given her up for adoption – Judy Bryant. Lori later deliberately gets herself imprisoned to spend more time getting to know her mother.
|-
| '''Dinah Walford'''
| [[Trudy Simms]] – episodes 213–223,
| a middle-age woman who arrives with Kathy Hall (see below). She is imprisoned for soliciting and sentenced to two weeks imprisonment. She is sent over to D-block. While on cleaning duty in the hallways alone, she pulls an alarm in episode 215 to help keep the prison officers busy while an attack is made on prisoner Kathy Hall. Bea and Judy both suspect she was responsible for the attack after a briefly questioning her whereabouts during the incident, as she was around when Kathy was attacked. However, she is released on parole in episode 215 before Bea got the chance to question her some more. However Bea informs Kathy about the possible thought of Dinah being responsible for the attack as well as the other threats she's gotten before hand. Kathy would later inform this to her ex-husband Terry Harrison who works at the Wentworth prison, but still remains in denial on it as she doesn't know Dinah. In episode 216, Harrison confronts Walford after looking for her on the street who denies knowing anything about the attack. Instead, she would take him to see a male friend of hers who threatens to beat him up. As it would turn out however, she is indeed be one who attacked Kathy to keep her silent about something she knows about illegal business going on in a [[pawn shop]] she went to one night involving Dinah and her gangster friends. In episode 223, she and some of her gangster friends confront Terry Harrison to help them with some business. After one of them witness a conversation between him and Inspector Grace outside of Wentworth, this is looked at the wrong way and Terry is soon killed during a hit-and-run.
|-
| '''Kathy Hall'''
| [[Sue Jones (actress)|Sue Jones]] – episodes 213–220
| a woman imprisoned for theft who is heavily involved with the local underworld. She's also the ex-wife of prison officer Terry Harrison (Brian Hannan) who works at the prison during her time there. She also falls victim to harmful attempts by prisoner Dinah Walford (see above) which is unknown at first, to silence her for good on something she knows about illegal business that goes on at the pawn shop Dinah and her friends hang out at that Kathy went to visit one night. After Dinah's release on parole, Bea informs Kathy that she expects Dinah was responsible, and strangely after Dinah is released on parole, the harmful attempts stop, but Kathy still remains in denial on Dinah until Terry Harrison confronts her after being beaten up by Dinah's friends. Kathy admits to being in the pawn shop they hang out at where she met a man named John who made some secretive business with them. Upon the time of her release, she tries to pull schemes around the prison to keep her from the possible danger on her life on the outside but is unsuccessful. In episode 220 unknowingly to her, Terry Harrison decided to set her up to have her killed as revenge for ending their relationship and losing his unborn child Kathy was pregnant with while having a relationship with another man who was abusive. Terry informs the pawn shop manager by phone (not knowing it's Harrison) on the date of Kathy's release. When she is released towards the end of the episode, she is run over by a hit-and-run driver and dies. Her body is discovered in episode 221 by a prison guard on duty and is taken away by an ambulance.
|-
| '''Alison Page'''
| [[Fay Kelton]] – episodes 215–227
| troubled suburban prisoner inside for shoplifting and unhappy at being locked up with "common criminals". She strikes out at some of the other women resulting in some conflict with them, most importantly bumping heads with Doreen. In episode 216 she tries to commit suicide by electrocuting herself but is found by Bea in time and taken to the prison hospital where she recovers. When she does, she is put into sharing a cell with Judy Bryant who isn't pleased. She is also given permission by the Governor to work in the reception area which angers the other women who feels she is being given "special treatment". Bea uses this as a way to get information in exchange for her protection from the other women. But Alison feels uncomfortable doing this and is requested a transfer to the isolation block to be by herself. In the meantime she face family trouble with her 15-year-old son Chris acting out at school and running away from home temporarily unable to cope with her imprisonment. When her husband Don gets into an accident at work, their teenage son and 10-year-old daughter Susan are fostered by ex-prisoner Myra Desmond. On the day her children are taken care of by their father again who gets out of the hospital, Myra gives Alison some advice on how to cope with the other women in prison when she visits them a couple weeks before her release. This convinces Alison to transfer back to H block to reconcile with the other women and apologises for acting as though she was better than them and they forgive her. Afterwards she clashes in with a newly bitter prison officer Colleen Powell a few times, leading to an assault by Powell to which Alison strikes back at her. Powell presses assault charges, possibly causing Alison to have a longer stay at Wentworth. However Powell decides to drop the charges after the women decide to go on strike regarding the issue, much to Powell's dismay. Alison is then released.
|-
| '''Andrea Hennessy'''
| [[Bethany Lee]] – episodes 228–236
| a student and political activist who is admitted to Wentworth after assaulting officer Colleen Powell during a demonstration outside the prison. She tries to fight for "true freedom" on the inside such as leaving messages written all over her cell and the rec room; causing her to quickly bump heads with the other women inside. To secure her release, two of her followers kidnap governor Erica Davidson and keep her tied up at their hideout. However, their hideout is discovered by the police who shoot one of the women, killing her. The other, Linda Golman (see below), is taken to Wentworth in episode 233. After her friend Linda commits suicide in her cell, Andrea is pressured by new coming prisoner Sandy Edwards resulting in the two having a fight. She is later transferred to E block for her own protection.
|-
| '''Linda Golman'''
| [[Mary Charleston]] – episodes 230–236
| an associate of Andrea Hennessy, who is remanded to Wentworth for her part in the kidnapping of governor Erica Davidson. She changes after being placed in solitary and ends up being very, very depressed. She was then found hanging in Andrea's cell, which is looked at as a suicide, but people wonder if Andrea actually hanged her, which she denies.
|-
| '''Sandy Edwards'''
| [[Louise Le Nay]] – episodes 235–264
| a cocky gangster's moll, inside for murder. She briefly takes over as top dog whilst Bea Smith is away in hospital, inciting a riot with the help of Kate Peterson. During this riot she makes advances to officer Steve Faulkner, who is held hostage. After the riot, the two have an affair. She later disappears after a fixed 'meeting' with Kate Peterson at the rubbish bins, but when the girls are called in Kate returns instead of Sandy. Helen overhears Kate's charge: the murder of Sandy Edwards.
|-
| '''Kathryn Elaine "Kate" Peterson ("Doc")'''
| [[Olivia Hamnett]] – episodes 235–273
| a former general physician who had poisoned her lover. A refined, intelligent and coolly self-reliant inmate. Kate was one of the few characters on the show that was a "good guy", who later turned "bad". Gently sitting on the fence whilst being involved with lagging to screws, lagging to cops, murder, trafficking drugs, fraud and bribery. Acted as though she was untouchable. She left Wentworth for a mental institution for the criminally insane after being given a death sentence from the rest of the women, realising she had burned all her bridges and succumbing to mental illness, which many of the women had predicted she would do, given that she was more educated than anyone else to fake it.
|-
| '''Susan Elaine "Susie" Driscoll'''
| [[Jacqui Gordon]] – episodes 260–302|
| a young girl who is admitted to Wentworth after she has escaped from all the juvenile institutions she has been placed in. She spent most of her time in Wentworth trying to escape. Due to her young age and innocent nature, she is taken under the collective maternal wing of most of the women, including the sarcastic guard, Colleen Powell. She is later released on her 17th birthday and eventually is led by Donna Mason into prostitution. She is the first resident of the halfway house run by Judy Bryant, which is later named 'Driscoll House'. She eventually moves to the country to live with Joanne Slater.
|-
| '''Jackie Louise Donahue'''
| [[Catherine Lynch]] – episodes 261–290
| a young prostitute who is picked up by a middle-aged man named Ron Crosby in episode 261 and goes back with him to his motel in a taxi driven by prisoner Judy Bryant who is now on parole who witness Crosby treating Jackie in a harsh manner during the ride. When they get to the motel, Jackie changes her mind going with him which leads to Judy fighting Crosby off who tries to take Jackie with him. During this, Jackie robs the wallet off of him taking all the money inside of it, and leaves the empty wallet in Judy's taxi. When Crosby goes to the police and press charges on both Judy and Jackie for assault and robbery, the police then arrive and search through the home Judy's been staying at and finds the empty wallet in her possession. This leads to Judy being sent back to Wentworth when she is suspected of assaulting and robbing Ron Crosby. Jackie later turns up in Wentworth for a two-week stay on remand on a soliciting charge in episode 280. Judy recognises her and is angry due to her being the cause of her being back in Wentworth. She clashes with the other women in particularly Bea Smith who convinces her to tell the Governor the truth about the whole incident to let Judy off. When Jackie decides to write a written confession on what happened, she gets bashed by Doreen and Margo – angering Judy who feels Jackie wouldn't confess now. However Jackie does decides to sign a written confession on the whole incident and Judy is released from Wentworth. She is released from her remand in episode 283 but is seen again in episode 290 when prisoner Susie Driscoll is released and meets her on the street. Jackie takes her for dinner and introduces her to another prostitute Donna Mason.
|-
| '''Joanne Slater'''
| [[Carole Yelland]] – episodes 273–302
| Imprisoned for parking violations, Susie Driscoll believes her to be her birth mother, however to stop Susie from escaping, the women let Susie believe it. Joanne offers for Susie to stay with her and her family out on their farm.
|-
| '''Carol Francis Lewis'''
| [[Elizabeth Crosby]]– episodes 276–284
| a young woman imprisoned for shooting her husband Doug to death who was responsible for kidnapping prison officer Colleen Powell's daughter Jenny along with his friend Mel. While Jenny was held captive, Carol made sure was well protected. While trying to contact her parents at their hideout to let them know she was alright, Doug catches her and beats her unconscious. After he rapes Jenny, Carol awakens and scratches Doug. In episode 279, Doug, Mel, and Carol flee from their hideout to stay at a hotel while the police were on to them taking Jenny with them. That night, Carol was fed up with Doug's actions and kills him, later telling Mel to take Jenny and dump her in the middle of nowhere for her protection. Jenny makes her way to the police station and is reunited with her parents. Carol is then sent to Wentworth for killing her husband. Despite saving her daughter, Powell finds her to be just as guilty as her husband by not acting against him sooner. Carol is mistreated by Powell who forces her to do massive chores while she is on remand. Powell goes as far as sabotaging Carol's work efforts on two occasions to turn the women against her; costing them their buy up privileges. This happens temporarily, but prisoner Margo Gaffney has always been convinced that Powell was behind sabotaging Carol and took every chance defending her. Soon, Carol convinces the other women to put the pieces together and they soon start to believe her. Bea confronts Powell who denies everything and threatens to put a charge on her. Carol receives a letter from Jenny who thanks her for helping her out which angers Powell who takes it from her and burns it to keep her from using at her upcoming trial. At the trial, Lewis pleas guilty and Jenny testifies at her trial and tells the truth about her helping her and Doug abusing Carol. Carol gets lightened sentenced to three years which upsets Powell. For her own protection against her, Carol is transferred over to Barnhurst along with Margo Gaffney due to her gambling activities.
|-
| '''Faye Quinn'''
| [[Anne Lucas]] – episodes 285–352
| a petty criminal inmate who attempts to take charge of all gambling at Wentworth and the first inmate to actively collude with corrupt officer Joan "The Freak" Ferguson. By episode 287 she's operating as the prison bookie, replacing Margo who's just been transferred to Barnhurst. She is then transferred to another block in episode 313 but makes a return in episode 340. She is pressured by Nola McKenzie to front for her insurance racket and provide cash for Nola's deals. She is released in episode 346 after Joan has forced her to lag on Nola's dealing, and goes to live with mother, but can't keep away from her old racing friends. Her sister Glynis ([[Kirsty Child]]) forbids her to see her nephew Billy who soon turns out to really be her own son. After she gets involved with stealing VCRs from her job, she is caught and returns to Wentworth. She is last seen being reduced to tears after being transferred to C-Block and reading a letter from her son, Billy.
|-
| '''Hannah Simpson'''
| [[Julieanne Newbould]] – episodes 288–303
| a young woman on remand for armed robbery who becomes the first unwilling object of officer Joan "The Freak" Ferguson's Sapphist lust. While she is there, Joan repeatedly has her put in solitary to put pressure on her which makes her unable to take part in an escape planned for her by Duncan Campbell. She was transferred to Barnhurst after her court hearing.
|-
| '''Donna Mason'''
| [[Arkie Whiteley]] – episodes 290–303
| a doomed heroin addict and prostitute who leads Susie Driscoll astray and manipulates her into joining prostitution. Bea Smith tries to help her come clean cold turkey as she reminded of her own late daughter Debbie. She later died when she injected herself with spiked drugs and in Bea Smith's arms.
|-
| '''Maxine Daniels'''
| [[Lisa Crittenden]] – episodes 297–391
| a young biker frequently inside Wentworth for petty theft. She escaped with Lucy Ferguson but was shot dead by a security guard whilst on the run and trying to escape the scene of a robbery.
|-
| '''Barbara Fields'''
| Susan Guerin – episodes 300–326)
| a devious middle-class woman imprisoned after being caught with [[embezzled]] funds from the shoe factory where she worked. Barbara is the first Wentworth inmate to pose a threat to Joan Ferguson after she acquires the Freak's secret diaries full of incriminating evidence of the cold screw's dodgy dealings. During The Great Fire she tries to recover the diaries from Erica's office but collapses and dies.
|-
| '''Paddy Lawson'''
| [[Anna Hruby]] – episodes 304–339
| a highly aggressive young woman imprisoned for assaulting a work colleague after they got locked into a storage room together during an office party. It is eventually discovered that Paddy's violent behaviour is a result of claustrophobia. After this, she settles down and becomes a good friend of Bea Smith. After Paddy exposed escaped murderer Nola McKenzie's involvement in a bank robbery, McKenzie callously murdered Paddy by drowning, incurring Bea's wrath.
|-
| '''Penny Seymour'''
| [[Joy Dunstan]] – episodes 307–309
| a young woman imprisoned for prostitution. After she was released, she fell victim of the Black Gloved Killer who broke her neck and left her dead in an alley.
|-
| '''Tina Lee Gibson'''
| [[Debbie Cumming]] – episodes 310–311
| a young woman sentenced for seven days in Wentworth for prostitution. She arrives with returning prisoner Helen Smart and afterwards soon bumps heads with Joan Ferguson who shows her lets her in on her dislike for prostitutes. Both she and Helen are released together where Tina then goes back on the streets. She then becomes the second victim of the Black Gloved Killer.
|-
| '''Sally Dempster'''
| [[Liz Harris]] – episodes 313–320
| a neurotic, alcoholic middle-class housewife imprisoned trying to run down her neglectful husband after an argument in episode 316. Like Gail Summers, she too was given rough treatment by the other women after she revealed she abused her daughter Michelle. She attempts suicide in her cell but is saved by Colleen Powell. Colleen makes Sally's husband realize that his selfish behaviour provoked Sally's actions and in episode 320 he gets Sally released and they reconcile and she reunites with their daughter.
|-
| '''Jeannie Stanton'''
| [[Rona McLeod]] – episodes 325–329
| pregnant prisoner whose baby is delivered by Bea Smith and Chrissie Latham in a men's prison (as the men rioted).
|-
| '''Valerie Jacobs'''
| [[Barbara Angell]] – episodes 330–332
| an old friend of deputy governor Colleen Powell having stolen goods for her boyfriend to sell in his shop.
|-
| '''Jean Carter'''/'''Nola McKenzie'''
| [[Carole Skinner]] – episodes 331–369,
| a double murderer who had escaped from death row in Western Australia. Possibly Bea Smith's deadliest rival. She is first introduced as Jean Carter, who takes refuge at Judy's halfway house, however she gets arrested for knocking a cop unconscious at the house, who was coming close to revealing her true identity. It was later revealed at Wentworth and why she faced a death penalty in Western Australia; for killing a cop there. She angered Bea after callously murdering Paddy Lawson by drowning her in a wash basin. Bea brands Nola with a soldering iron. She eventually tries to drive Bea insane with the aid for the Freak and Zara Moonbeam, until Bea eliminated her by shooting her with a Zip Gun.
|-
| '''Trixie Mann'''
| [[Anna Mizza]] – episodes 311–340
| a young woman imprisoned for prostitution who becomes a brief offsider of Nola McKenzie. She was released.
|-
| '''Ruth Shaw'''
| [[Mary Murphy (Australian actor)|Mary Murphy]] – episodes 343–537
| a prisoner first seen showing hatred towards Nola McKenzie after Bea tells the prisoners that she had branded her in revenge of her killing Paddy. Shaw is later caught with some of Nola's stolen cigarettes taken from the storage room given to her by Faye Quinn who is trying to sell items to make money for her and Nola while operating an insurance scheme. After her appearances during the Nola McKenzie storyline, Shaw makes more frequent appearances on the show playing minor roles until episode 537.
|-
| '''Janice Young'''
| [[Catherine Wilkin (actor)|Catherine Wilkin]] – episodes 344–352,
| proud suburban wife and mother imprisoned for refusing to pay a court fine. Her husband Chris ([[Roger Oakley]]) becomes involved with deputy governor Colleen Powell while she is inside.
|-
| '''Roxanne Bradshaw'''
| [[Peppie D'Or]] – episodes 345–381
| friend of Maxine Daniels who is the courier when Maxine, Nola and the Freak are smuggling goods into the prison. She is later admitted to Wentworth for receiving stolen goods and is pregnant after agreeing to a surrogacy arrangement with a middle-class couple. Once she gives birth, she is transferred to Barnhurst.
|-
| '''Jill Clark'''
| [[Katy Brinson]] – episodes 348–353
| a departmental employee posing as an inmate in order to conduct a covert investigation of the prison.
|-
| '''Lainie Dobson'''
| [[Marina Finlay]] – episodes 354–366
| tattoo-covered shoplifter who turns to drugs while inside. She is admitted with 'Elen' Farmer and the two are thought to be having a homosexual relationship, however it is discovered that 'Ellen' is really Allan. She tries to remove her tattoos by dipping her cut arms into caustic soda, she was released.
|-
| '''Allan "Ellen" Farmer'''
| [[Michael Cormick]] – episodes 354–360,
| a shy woman who is brought to Wentworth alongside Lainie Dobson. Lainie first refers to her as shy. Joan later finds Ellen and Lainie in bed together, Joan assumes it's a homosexual relationship. in the shower blocks Helen Smart discovers that Ellen is a man. He claims that the police had a mix-up and then just went with it. Meg discovers that Ellen is Allan after Maxine tries to seduce him. he is later released so the department does not face causing a mix-up like that. Judy later visits him to make sure he is still waiting for Lainie.
|-
| '''Diane Henley'''
| [[Rhonda Cressey]] – episodes 355–361
| illiterate prisoner whose plight highlights the lack of educational facilities at Wentworth. She is taught to read by the prison's new teacher John Maxwell who stays for a brief time period.
|-
| '''Denise Tyler'''
| [[Geraldene Morrow]] – episodes 361–367
| working-class single mother on remand for apparently killing one of her sons. It is later revealed by Judy she was covering for her other eight-year-old son and is therefore released.
|-
| '''Zara Moonbeam'''
| [[Ilona Rodgers]] – episodes 362–370
| on remand for fraud. Zara claims to be a medium with "second sight" and becomes embroiled in a scheme by Joan Ferguson and Nola McKenzie to drive Bea Smith insane. she was released.
|-
| '''Tracey Belman'''
| [[Alyson Best]] – episodes 368–372
| paraplegic prisoner who poisoned her husband after a car crash which left her using a wheelchair. Joan is assigned special care of Tracey, but after learning Joan is a lesbian, she accuses her of attempting to kiss her when she is awoken from a nightmare. Joan Ferguson proved everyone wrong when she caused Tracy to reveal she could walk and did not need a wheelchair. She is sentenced to three years and transferred to Barnhurst.
|-
| '''Maggie May Kennedy (née Mullins)'''
| [[Davina Whitehouse]] – episodes 371–376
| geriatric drugs mule convicted for smuggling heroin, who turns out to be an old friend of Lizzie Birdsworth. At first convinces the women she was convinced she was carrying diamonds, however after her and Bea smuggle out a letter to the newspaper regarding imprisonment of older people, it is revealed that this was at least the third time but the first time she was caught. She applies for an extradition back to the USA where she believes her "press friends" will help her get a release. When she receives the extradition order, Ted Douglas informs her it is on condition that she carries out her full twenty-year sentence.
|-
| '''Carol Colsen'''
| [[Merrin Canning]] – episodes 373–377
| next-door neighbour of Joan Ferguson and an abused housewife who finally snaps and kills her husband as Joan enters the house. She holds her daughter Jill and Joan hostage. Once admitted to Wentworth, the women don't look favourably upon her for threatening her daughter. Joan takes Jill under her wing and brings her in to see her mother, but upon Jill's rejection to her mother, Carol hangs herself in her cell with her stockings.
|-
| '''Laura Gardiner/Brandy Carter'''
| [[Roslyn Gentle]] – episodes 373–382
| admitted to Wentworth as a surly, antagonistic prostitute named Brandy, officer Meg Morris recognises her as a meek librarian named Laura. After Laura tries to commit suicide in an attempt to get a rid of Brandy, a third personality emerges after recovery who calls herself Susan. However, it is not simply a case of a woman living a triple life as it soon becomes apparent that Laura/Brandy is schizophrenic. During a psychiatric examination, Laura manages to "get rid" of Brandy (though the whereabouts regarding "Susan" are never covered) and is sent off to a mental hospital.
|-
| '''Frances Harvey '''
| [[Wanda Davidson]] – episodes 373–525
| a tough heavy who is introduced as a halfway house resident but ends up in Wentworth without an explanation in episode 384. She bashes Hannah Geldschmidt with Alice Jenkins in episode 453 and is responsible for killing Sarah Higgins later on, but the case gets closed and she is never charged with the murder. Her last appearance is as a punch-bag when Myra Desmond bashes Lou Kelly's heavies to isolate her.
|-
| '''Sandra Louise "Pixie" Mason'''
| [[Judy McBurney]] – episodes 377–510 recap episode 534
| a flighty, romantic inmate initially admitted on [[bigamy]] charges (addicted to weddings that lead to her marrying a number of men). She applied for a job on the outside and still kept the job after the owners found out that she was a prisoner. Pixie was cruelly raped by Frank Burke, but her friends and Joan Ferguson helped set up evil screw, Len Murphy, for the rape. She never recovered from her ordeal with Frank and was transferred to Ingleside.
|-
| '''Gerri Doogan'''
|[[Deborah Kennedy]] – episodes 381–382)
| brought to Wentworth on soliciting charges, but she is really a plant attempting to recover the photo of Lionel Fellowes paying a bribe. Bea tricks her into exposing her hand too soon by pretending to have hidden the photo in a lump of modelling clay.
|-
| '''Petra Roberts'''
| [[Penny Maegraith]]– episodes 383–407
| a former teacher remanded to Wentworth for murdering her father. It is revealed he raped her and her younger sister. She was engaged to prison doctor Scott Collins. Once her sister is found dead, Petra reveals that she was actually not the murderer, but covered for her younger sister. Her storyline was basically a re-hash of the Karen Travers one from several years earlier. She was released.
|-
| '''Sharon Smart'''
| [[Liddy Clark]] – episodes 383–388
| the younger sister of Helen Smart who becomes involved with a crooked religious cult. When Helen, Judy, a former cult member and deprogramming man lock her in the Driscoll House attic to help de-programme her, she stabs and kills the man helping. She is charged and ultimately convicted of murder but is sentenced to probation due to being held against her will.
|-
| '''Lucy Ferguson'''
| [[Yoni Prior]] – episodes 385–389
| the niece of officer Joan Ferguson who arrives inside on drug charges. She breaks into Joan's house, persuades her to let her stay while she looks for a job and to lend her money to but new clothes for an interview. She buys drugs, which she and her boyfriend hide in Joan's house until they can deal them. Lucy is arrested for possession but comes in under the last name "Walker" to keep hidden her relationship with Joan, but uses this to black mail her in the process so she'll do her favours. She manages to escape from Wentworth in a laundry truck along with Maxine Daniels with the help of Joan herself.
|-
| '''Glynis Ladd'''
| [[Debbie Cumming]] – episodes 389–391
| a dealer and junkie who admits she has previously been inside Barnhurst. She develops the tropical disease; [[Lassa fever]] causing Wentworth to be locked under quarantine. Shortly after, she dies.
|-
| '''Rosemary Kaye'''
| [[Jodie Yemm]] – episodes 391–402
| a naive country girl who comes to the city looking for work and has all of her money stolen. Wally then sends her to a boarding house where she is sexually harassed by Rod Miller, a supermarket manager and one of the residents of the boarding house; after she bashes him with an ashtray, he presses charges against her and she ends up in Wentworth on remand. After Wally manages to convince Rod to drop the charges against her, she is released and returns to the country to get married.
|-
| '''Sonia Elizabeth Stevens'''
| [[Tina Bursill]] – episodes 394–447
| a cool vice queen who had operated a protection racket fleecing prostitutes whilst maintaining cover as a policeman's wife. Imprisoned for heroin trafficking and soon took over as top dog before Bea was sent to Barnhurst. Her position was taken over by Minnie Donovan for a short time while Judy and Helen ensured Sonia would not return to be top dog. She escaped and was last seen standing on a clifftop, but we later see bullets through the window of her car which might explain she was shot down by the criminal Renner or by her husband Eddie's people.
|-
| '''Randi Goodlove'''
| [[Zoe Bertram]] – episodes 394–414
| a mercenary, high-class prostitute who crosses swords with officer Meg Morris when she tries to manipulate her son Marty ([[Andrew McKaige]]) into marriage as a cover for her prostitution. Randi fell victim to murderous officer David Bridges; she was killed and stashed high above the infrastructure in the boiler room which is never discovered by the staff or prisoners.
|-
| '''Cass Parker'''
| [[Babs McMillan]] – episodes 401–460 Recap ep 534),
| a gentle-natured farmer's daughter imprisoned for manslaughter. She is introduced when she is transferred from Barnhurst (where she was initially incarcerated) after killing an officer there. She is taken to Wentworth to finish her sentence and it soon becomes apparent that her docile demeanor hides a violent temper and at tendency to lose control. During her time, she decapitated murderous officer David Bridges with a garden spade when he tried to kill her. She subsequently became friends with both Minnie Donovan and Bobbie Mitchell. She was later transferred to a mental hospital after attempting to strangle officer Dennis Cruikshank when he caused Bobbie to miscarry her baby.
|-
| '''Louise Jane 'Lou' Kelly'''
| [[Louise Siversen]] – episodes 404–616
| a vicious prison thug and perhaps the most violent agitator in H Block during the later years of the series. She starts out as a background prisoner making casual appearances before being put into the spotlight in episode 452. She led a riot in which she killed Eve Wilder, the Phantom Lagger, but was later killed while in solitary, being beaten to death with a glass bottle by Janet "Maggot" Williams. Lou escaped after the riot she caused by faking a murder attempt by cutting herself with a knife, setting up Rita Connors. While she escaped she was raped by Alice Jenkins's brother and killed him and his mother.
|-
| '''Minerva Edith "Minnie" Donovan'''
| [[Wendy Playfair]] – episodes 405–437
| an elderly woman who had been a foster carer and had organised her charges into a team of shoplifters. Became the series' most unorthodox top dog. She is transferred to B-Block after spending an 'escape day' with Bobbie Mitchell in a country town following the glee club singing competition.
|-
| '''Roberta "Bobbie" Mitchell'''
| [[Maxine Klibingaitis]] – episodes 405–533
| a streetwise and rebellious youngster and punk imprisoned for shoplifting and assault. Accused of pushing Reb over the catwalk but cleared of the charge. Bobbie is eventually released in episode 513. She later returns for a special one off appearance for Marlene's wedding in episode 533.
|-
| '''Brenda Hewitt'''
| [[Carmen Warrington]] – episodes 408–416
| a talented forger working for the local underworld who is involved in a brief business partnership with Sonia Stevens while inside.
|-
| '''Belinda Margaret Johns'''
| [[Jane Turner]] – episodes 414–428
| an embittered blind woman who gets herself imprisoned to take revenge on Sonia Stevens, whose protection racket partner left her blind after a bashing. She was transferred to another cell block and away from Sonia after an attempted bashing which involved a wrench.
|-
| '''Sarah Higgins - "Hangin' Higgins"'''
| Nell Johnson – episodes 416–499
| Visiting Justice notorious for her tough attitude and the harsh sentences she gives out to the prisoners. Sarah gets a taste of life on the other side of the bars when she is remanded on corruption charges. Tried by the inmates and shunned. She is then found with her throat slit, which turns out to have been done by prisoner Frances Harvey.
|-
| '''Alice "Lurch" Jenkins'''
| [[Lois Collinder]] – episodes 419–692
| a prisoner who, like many, graduated from a small non-speaking part into a more fleshed-out role. Alice makes her spotlight appearance in episode 448. Her character, initially a thug, later mellowed and became an ally of Rita Connors after the riot she took part in, realising Lou was no good for her and what she did was wrong. This was further consolidated after Lou killed Alice's brother and mother. Lou was also raped by Alice's brother while escaped.
|-
| '''Marge Briggs'''
| [[Christine Best]] – episodes 419–534
| Transferred from D block by Joan to act as muscle for Sonia. She manages to goad Cass into a fight. Seen over a year later as a prisoner waiting for her parole decision and mentions Hazel to Judy. Despite her bitter comments, Alice tells us later she does get parole.
|-
| '''Rebecca Anne "Reb" Kean'''
| [[Janet Andrewartha]] – episodes 422–589
| a tough inmate who played rival to top dog Myra Desmond. She was born into money, but rebelled against her wealthy family. she also pushed Joan Ferguson off the catwalk in self-defence and was also pushed off the catwalk by Marie Winter. She was transferred to Blackmoor after attacking Myra and assaulted Joan swearing to her that she will be back. She was returned to Wentworth later in the series, a changed character following electric shock treatment and a nice bashing from evil Blackmoor officer Cynthia Leech. She is released after she is cleared of the attack on Joyce Barry.
|-
| '''Mo Maguire'''
| [[Bronwyn Gibbs]] – episodes 428–432
| antagonistic remand prisoner protesting her innocence of a burglary charge. she was released along Camilla Wells.
|-
| '''Camilla Wells'''
| [[Annette Andre]] – episodes 429–432
| a radio show hostess and journalist who arrives at Wentworth as a "celebrity" inmate for not paying a parking fine. she was released.
|-
| '''Meryl King'''
| [[Marilyn Maguire]]– episodes 429–432
| a prostitute imprisoned for drug possession with links to the local underworld. She was released and later shot dead.
|-
| '''Gloria Payne'''
| [[Tottie Goldsmith]] – episodes 430–445
| trouble-making inmate and early antagonist of new top dog Myra Desmond, having been her husband's mistress on the outside. She was last seen suffering in hospital after having boiling water tipped on her by Philis, attempting to frame Myra.
|-
| '''Sarah Webster'''
| [[Fiona Paul]] – episodes 433–441
| a young single mother who finds herself remanded to Wentworth after sheltering her old friend Reb Kean while she is on the run. She is later released when she was cleared of a murder charge.
|-
| '''Diana Hardy'''
| Julia Gardner – episode 445
| a remand prisoner put into uniform by Meg due to her pill-induced amnesia. She is quickly transferred to another prison.
|-
| '''Rachel Millsom'''
| [[Kim Trengove]] – episodes 450–472
| a young woman whose story began on the outside before she is sent to Wentworth. She is introduced as working at a goods shop with her elderly father and soon begins a relationship with officer Rick Manning. In episode 454 her father is hit and killed by a drunk driver named Trevor Priest. Priest tries to manipulate Rachel by offering her money and condolences in return for her not having him prosecuted. Rachel testifies against him but he manipulates the court and is found not guilty. After a final confrontation with Priest outside court, Rachel runs him over and kills him at the end of episode 457. She is remanded to Wentworth and is subsequently transferred to a prison farm in episode 472 after her trial to continue her sentence.
|-
| '''Hannah Geldschmidt'''
| [[Agnieszka Perepeczko]] – episodes 451–456
| an East German Jewish concentration camp survivor and illegal immigrant who arrives at Wentworth awaiting extradition back to East Germany.
|-
| '''Leigh Templar'''
| [[Virginia Hey]] – episodes 457–470
| a glamorous fashion model remanded to Wentworth after killing her manager, who had been blackmailing her with some porn films she had made at the start of her career. After Ann Reynolds is dismissed from the prison thanks to Joan Ferguson and scheming inmate Marie Winter, Templar uses her influence to get her reinstated, thanks in part to Ann saving her life during the riot started by Winter. As a result, Templar gets a two-year probation bond and leaves the prison with high gratitude from Ann.
|-
| '''Marlene "Rabbit" Warren (later Delaney)'''
| [[Genevieve Lemon]] – episodes 461–534
| a juvenile prankster imprisoned for manslaughter after a practical joke of throwing stones at cars had gone tragically wrong. When new officer Heather Rogers is introduced to the women, Marlene realises that they went to the same school together and makes her a target for her practical jokes. Another joke intended for Marie Winter earns her first bashing, when she loosens Marie's bed so that it will collapse and finds her stash of drugs, Marie then forces Marlene to give her information on Heather and her family which she uses to blackmail Heather to smuggle drugs into the prison for her. Marlene starts running books on whatever comes to her mind, including Pixie's knowledge of the bible and cockroach racing. Her fathers gift of the Guinness book of world records gives her the idea to start a charity fundraising waltzing marathon to support deaf children. Marlene falls in love with and marries Matt Delaney (one of the Woodridge prisoners who had been transferred to Wentworth temporarily), after the ceremony Marlene is released and Matt is sent to a prison farm to serve the remainder of his sentence.
|-
| '''Dot Farrar'''
| [[Alethea McGrath]] – episodes 462–486
| an elderly, hypochondriac prisoner who had served years inside. Generally regarded as a nuisance by the other women. After being poisoned by fellow prisoner Angela Adams, she was transferred to the prison farm.
|-
| '''Edna May Pearson'''
| [[Vivean Gray]] – episodes 463–468
| a genteel woman imprisoned for trying to poison her second husband. Most UK viewers saw Edna arrive, do very little and then disappear. (Note: the episodes featuring Edna Pearson were edited to remove all her scenes after a woman who had been acquitted of a similar offence threatened to sue Grundy's, claiming similarities between the character and her own case. The complete storyline has been screened in certain subsequent international screenings but is missing from the SHOCK DVD box set release. However, recently all the Edna Pearson episodes have been re-released uncut on their own DVD set from SHOCK). Edna appeared all sweet and genteel, having hated being called a poisoner. She gets most of the women, and even officers, onside by convincing them she is innocent. She tells the women her first husband died by taking poison after dealing with illness, which she claims was suicide and the reason she was arrested for apparently attempting to poison her second husband which she swears she hasn't done. The women mostly still believe she is innocent and support Edna with her appeal to get her released, however when she lets something slip to Marlene which makes it clear she did indeed poison her husband she then tries to poison Marlene multiple times despite Marlene not even hearing what Edna had said. She also accidentally poisons Alice and Frances by lacing drink which was meant for Marlene. In episode 468 Meg Morris tells Edna her appeal has been successful and she is being released immediately with no further charges. Only once Edna has gone (ep 469) do Marlene and the others put together the pieces and realise Edna was indeed as guilty as hell.
|-
| '''Diedre Kean'''
| [[Anne Charleston]] – episodes 464–492
| Reb Kean's estranged socialite mother, first seen when she tries to persuade Reb to see her father who is dying of multiple sclerosis. She visits Reb when she is hospitalised after a bashing from Marie Winter to tell her that her father has left all her money to her and she helps her escape, but worried that she might die without medical treatment she informs the police of her whereabouts and ends up in Wentworth with Reb. Whilst she is in Wentworth she is tortured by Frances, Alice and Lou but Reb refuses to help her and even joins in by salting her food and pushing her face into it. Myra eventually manages to persuade Reb to take notice of her mother after she is severely beaten by some of the women. Reb and Diedre reconcile just before someone mysteriously posts her bail and she is released. When Lou Kelly escapes, she seeks refuge with Diedre and holds her hostage in her house and later visits Reb to tell her what happened.
|-
| '''Beverly "Bev The Beast" Baker'''
| [[Maggie Dence]] – episodes 472–477
| an infamous serial killer, dubbed "The Beast" by the tabloids, who terrifies both staff and inmates alike as it transpires she hurts and kills people simply because it gives her a 'high'. After a reign of terror inside Wentworth (which includes cutting open Bobbie's hands with a razor and deliberately burning Judy Bryant with a soldering iron), she eventually kills new social worker Rob Summerton, by stabbing him with a knitting needle. Soon after this, Bev commits suicide by injecting herself with an empty hypodermic needle in front of Judy Bryant and Ann Reynolds.
|-
| '''Angela "Angel" Adams'''
| [[Kylie Foster]] – episodes 477–488
| a "sweet and innocent" young girl imprisoned for her involvement in her boyfriends crimes signing fraudulent dole cheques. She turns out to be a vicious and manipulative monster. Whilst in Wentworth she takes an interest in the social worker Phil Cleary who was dating Meg and sets her up to be raped. Mrs Adams, her grandmother visits her in Wentworth to reveal her true colours to Mrs Reynolds and her suspicions that the fire in which Angela's parents were killed was started deliberately. She was ostracised by the women and had all of her hair chopped off after she poisoned fellow prisoner Dot Farrar. After stabbing The Freak and putting caustic soda in the women's shampoo bottles she was transferred to a psychiatric hospital.
|-
| '''Kath Deacon'''
| Michele Sargent – episodes 481–557
| one of Lou Kelly's gang. Lures Myra to be set-up for the murder of Joan Ferguson, which is unsuccessful.
|-
| '''Kerryn Adele Davies'''
| [[Jill Forster]] – episodes 485–495
| a white-collar fraudster who finds it hard to cope being in prison and separated from her husband. Hangs herself after going through "the change" and being rejected by her husband.
|-
| '''Samantha "Sam" Greenway'''
| Robyn Gibbes – episodes 495–520
| a young arts student framed for drug possession. While she is in prison, she asks for her real parents to be traced and finds out that her real name is Julie Ann Cameron. After being denied permission to see her mother, she escapes from Wentworth to visit her and meets her sister Sally as well. Sally is happy to see Sam but her mother tells Sam that she wants nothing to do with her and orders her to leave. A heartbroken Sam promptly turns herself in and is taken back to Wentworth where Ann Reynolds admits that shortly after Sam's incarceration, she talked to her mother who said adamantly that she did not want to see Sam. Ann said she didn't tell Sam this because she thought Sally could convince her mother to come around. Sally later visits Sam to try to explain about why her mother rejected her and says she can still be her sister but Sam tells Sally that if she doesn't have a mother then she doesn't have a sister either. Shortly after this, Sam died when she was electrocuted by a wired door handle which had been set up for Myra by Lou Kelly and Alice Jenkins.
|-
| '''Matt Delaney'''
| [[Peter Bensley]] – episodes 499–533
| one of a trio of male prisoners transferred to Wentworth for their own safety after they had foiled a mass break-out attempt. A softer touch than the other two male prisoners, he is suspected of being gay, however eventually falls in love and marries Marlene Warren.
|-
| '''Geoff Macrae'''
| [[Leslie Dayman]] – episodes 500–556
| the unofficial top dog of the male inmates transferred from Woodridge men's prison. Becomes romantically involved with top dog Myra Desmond. He was last seen at Myra's funeral.
|-
| '''Francis Joseph "Frank" Burke'''
| [[Trevor Kent]] – episodes 500–555
| the last of the male Woodridge inmates moved to Wentworth, Frank is a convicted rapist and all-round villain. Raped Pixie Mason. He escaped and eventually took his revenge on Dennis Cruikshank by shooting him, leaving him paralysed.
|-
| '''Yemil Bakarta'''
| [[Maria Mercedes (actor)|Maria Mercedes]] – episodes 504–516
| a Middle Eastern Islamic inmate charged with causing a car accident when attempting to escape from her brutal husband. Attacks Dennis Cruickshank, believing it to be Frank Burke, although Judy takes the blame. She is released on a bond, but later sends a letter to Ann telling her that Judy was innocent to pave the way for her release.
|-
| '''Alexis "Lexie" Patterson'''
| [[Pepe Trevor]] – episodes 509–650
| a loud-mouth punk and card-shark, who spent her first few months in [[Boy George]]-style garb. (Note: With George's change in image and subsequent fall from favour occurring prior to Lexie's on-air debut in February 1985, these episodes already seemed dated at the time of first broadcast.) Meets her real mother inside for the first time, Jessie Windom. Suspected of being the Phantom lagger, and escapes, where she is hunted down, by the same killer of Nora Flynn. She is later released with Nancy McCormack and given a very social farewell from Rita, Alice and Lorelei.
|-
| '''Ethel May "Ettie" Parslow'''
| [[Lois Ramsay]] – episodes 514–600)
| a senile old dear who turns out to have been imprisoned since the Second World War due to a bureaucratic mix-up. Develops a close relationship with officer Meg Morris when it turns out that Ettie nursed her as a new-born baby in prison. After getting released and $250,000 compensation, she manages to get herself put back inside by accidentally shooting a police officer. Is released again, and decides to run a 'halfway' house, where Ann Reynolds briefly works. She was last seen begging to be let into Wentworth to see Julie Egbert on her birthday.
|-
| '''Janice Mary Grant'''
| [[Jenny Ludlam]] – episodes 514–528
| a sophisticated solicitor imprisoned for dangerous driving. It turns out that Janice is an alcoholic suffering from withdrawal symptoms. Lou Kelly quickly catches onto her alcoholism and supplies her with methylated spirits. Despite Myra and Ettie's attempts to sober her up, she manages to get alcohol from Lou, Alice and Frank. Janice takes an interest in Ettie's case and reveals to her that she has been imprisoned for 45 years without a trial and pushes for her to be compensated. Alice and Lexie force her to drink grain alcohol and she is sent to a psychiatric ward, where Ettie pays for her to receive the best possible treatment.
|-
| '''Sheila "Shelly" Brady'''
| [[Colleen Hewett]] episodes 519–534)
| misfit remand inmate inside for heroin possession with a secret singing talent. The women struggle with her 'odour' initially. Found not guilty and released – but is seen on TV by Judy shortly after, having turned 'Pixie's song' into a chart hit. Judy tries to sue her, until they come to an agreement that she will write an album of songs for Sheila and join her on tour. Last seen driving off with Judy for stardom. Her version of 'Pixie's Song', is the only other piece of music ever to close an episode of the series.
|-
| '''Anita Selby'''
| [[Diane Craig]] – episodes 526–536),
| a Catholic nun imprisoned for causing a disturbance at a nuclear disarmament demonstration. Anita's overall goodness and willingness to seek such virtue in others brought about a brief moral chaos to Wentworth, its prisoners and staff. In particular she proved to be the perfect character foil for cell mate Lou Kelly and evil officer Joan Ferguson. She was released on bail and last seen having a heart to heart with Joan Ferguson.
|-
| '''Nora Flynn'''
| [[Sonja Tallis]] – episodes 537–588)
| a long-term, self-reformed prisoner transferred from Barnhurst. She acts as the new 'Top Dog' after the death of Myra Desmond. She had served 23 years for her involvement in the thrill-kill murder of three hitch-hikers. Perhaps inspired by the situation of the Charles Manson gang members, despite appearing to be self-reformed Flynn is repeatedly denied parole. When she arrives she has already escaped once from prison, and in doing so managed to get herself pregnant. But a scuffle with Lou denies Nora her dream of becoming a mother. Later learns her mother has died, and with little left to live for, she executes a mysterious escape from prison. Later her murdered corpse is dumped outside the prison: it transpires that after her escape she had been hunted down and killed by an ex-policeman serial killer with a grudge against prisoners.
|-
| '''"Auntie" May Collins'''
| [[Billie Hammerberg]] – episodes 537–587)
| an earthy career criminal who was a famous cat burglar. Although getting on in years, May is a tough lady who watches out for the more vulnerable, younger prisoners. After her "escape", she works with a gang to rob an art gallery and after much disagreement she is shot in her chest.
|-
| '''Wilhelmina "Willie" Beecham'''
| [[Kirsty Child]] – episodes 537–682
| May Collins' partner-in-crime. Willie was a fence on the outside and runs a bartering business in prison. Willie is something of a snob, and often antagonises the women with her supercilious attitude. When offered the opportunity of a full pardon, May and Willie worked with the police to try to expose a new criminal syndicate, when May was shot and killed, Willie made sure everyone at Wentworth knew and left the series feeling she no longer had anyone who cared for her. She returned for a surprising, one-off appearance later in the series as an employee which Joan goes to see for a job.
|-
| '''Julie "Chook" Egbert (later Ryan)'''
| [[Jackie Woodburne]] – episodes 537–628),
| a shy but highly intelligent young girl who had stolen from her workplace to help her terminally ill mother who later dies. She is transferred back to Barnhurst until her release so she can live with her new husband, Steve Ryan.
|-
| '''Daphne "Daffy" Graham'''
| [[Debra Lawrance]] – episodes 537–590
| a garden-loving inmate who had been a juvenile offender before ending up in prison. It is later discovered that Daphne's crime and her subsequent self-harming in prison is linked to extreme PMT. Ben Fulbright, later to marry Pippa Reynolds, fought for her release on these grounds and she left Wentworth. Briefly was seen on TV making her case known to the public. Acts as 'PA' to Ruth Ballinger during her time in Wentworth.
|-
| '''Ruth Ballinger'''
| [[Lindy Davies]] – episodes 538–552
| the shady wife of an international drugs baron remanded to Wentworth with special privileges in the hope that she will assist the Federal Police with their efforts to nail her husband's drug trade. One of the few prisoners to really ruffle the feathers of The Freak, when she discovers among her crimes she was involved with child pornography. Ruth's time in the series climaxes in a three-episode-long terrorist siege when her husband sends a team of armed mercenaries to spring her from the prison. After the successful escape, she is caught at the airport and is transferred to Blackmoor. (Joan phones Cynthia Leach to have Ruth 'taken care of') Seen as ruthless and cold, the only other prisoner to seemingly 'soften' Ruth up during her spell in Wentworth is [[Daphne Graham]] as Daphne acts as a sort of PA to Ruth and Ruth seems to genuinely hold some care for her; for instance, whilst giving free handouts to the fellow women, Daphne is given a whole cell full of plants in return for her work.
|-
| '''Jennifer Elise "Jenny" Hartley'''
| [[Jenny Lovell]] – episodes 540–588
| a young woman on remand protesting her innocence of the murder of her wealthy grandmother. Initially introduced as a friend of Pippa Reynolds, she is also a professional piano player, who teaches Daphne Graham to play. Shortly after her arrival at Wentworth, a group of terrorists break into the prison to help Ruth Ballinger escape and torture her by putting an unloaded gun to her head and pulling the trigger. After she finds out that her lawyer is being paid off by her aunt to conceal evidence, she fires him and appoints a detective, Howard Simmons suggested by May Collins who investigates the case. Grows in strength and character through her time in the prison. She was released after her uncle was arrested for murdering her aunt and confessed to her grandmothers murder. She was last seen when she decides to leave Ann's house to look for a flat of her own.
|-
| '''Queenie Marshall'''
| [[Marilyn Rodgers]] – episodes 556–573
| sassy prostitute who later becomes a friend to the women on the outside when they need her help to ensure that Nikki Lennox does not end up in prison. Queenie also led to Andrew Fry's resignation as he was known as her "best" customer
|-
| '''Nicole "Nikki" Lennox'''
| [[Vicki Mathios]] – episodes 568–574
| the self-imposed leader of the juvenile delinquents sent to Wentworth to spend time with convicted criminals as part of a "scared straight" scheme. She became an enemy of Lexie Patterson when she cheated at a game of cards and they broke out in a fight. Nora, May & Willie teamed up with Queenie Marshall on the outside to make sure she would never return to the prison.
|-
| '''Cindy Moran'''
| [[Robyn Frank]] – episodes 568–574
| another juvenile offender sent to Wentworth to be "scared straight". Attacked May, discovered Daphne having hanged herself amongst other things that worked to ensure she would not return to prison.
|-
| '''Lisa Snell'''
| Liza Bermingham - episodes 568-569
| another juvenile offender sent to Wentworth to be "scared straight". Couldn't cope with life on the inside and asked Ann Reynolds to send her home.
|-
| '''Joanna "Jo" James'''
|Nicole Dixon - episodes 568-569)
| another juvenile offender sent to Wentworth to be "scared straight". Forced to participate in the robbery of a pharmacy by Nikki and was caught by the police, whilst Nikki made her escape. Transferred to a young offenders' centre.
|-
| '''Eve Marie Wilder'''
| [[Lynda Stoner]] – episodes 574–600
| a beautiful, but sinister socialite who arrives in Wentworth protesting her innocence at having shot the man she had been having an affair with, claiming she mistook him for a burglar. Her innocent act gains her enough popularity with the women to be asked to host a beauty/talent contest. After her first solicitor Adrian Forster tells her the police can't find any bullets where she claims to have shot Robin, Eve asks for another solicitor and gets appointed David Adams. Eve finds out from Pippa Reynolds that David's marriage has just broken up and a flashback occurs where we find out that Eve really shot Robin after he told her that their love affair was over. Eve starts manipulating David Adams by flirting with him and persuades him to go to her apartment and destroy any incriminating evidence, after she finds out that officer Joyce Barry has been listening in on their conversations she batters her unconscious with the door, drags her into a cell and bashes her with a kettle, letting Reb Kean take the blame. She tries to convince David to finish her off whilst she is in a coma but he can't go through with it and leaves a note for Ann Reynolds before shooting himself in front of Eve. A series of notes are later found around the prison informing the officers of the prisoners activity signed "the phantom lagger", and Eve joins forces with Lou Kelly to try to discover the identity of the phantom lagger. Eve starts trading information with Joan Ferguson. Unfortunately, Alice overhears one conversation between Eve and Joan in which Eve admits that she was the phantom lagger. As a result, Eve is killed by Lou Kelly by hanging during the riot of episode 600.
|-
| '''Rita "The Beater" Connors'''
| [[Glenda Linscott]] – episodes 585–692
| a spirited bikie, nicknamed "Rita the Beater" who arrives inside for grievous bodily harm and becomes the show's third long-running top dog. She also brought down The Freak. Stepped down from Top Dog when she contracted terminal cancer
|-
| '''Barbara "Barbie" Cox'''
| [[Jayne Healey]] – episodes 586–602
| a daffy young woman whose vocabulary is limited to "Hi-de-hi!" and "Naughty, naughty!" As part of a running joke, it is never revealed why Barbie is in prison. She is released with Jesse Windon, but returns the following episode to throw tennis balls, filled with alcohol, to the women.
|-
| '''Nancy May McCormack'''
| [[Julia Blake]] – episodes 589–650
| a demure, dignified housewife imprisoned for killing her abusive husband. In fact, Nancy is covering up for her son, who had accidentally killed his father during a fight. She is released alongside Lexie Patterson.
|-
| '''Jessie Windom'''
| [[Pat Evison]] – episodes 589–620
| a no-nonsense, resourceful former brothel madam who deliberately gets herself imprisoned in order to search for the daughter she gave away years before – Lexie Patterson. She is released and later takes Lexie's son until Lexie is released.
|-
| '''Ida Brown'''
| [[Paddy Burnet]] – episodes 592–691
| Rita Connors' formidable elderly auntie involved with her niece's biker gang. She is last seen visiting Rita in 691.
|-
| '''Fay Donnelly'''
| [[Maud Clark]] – episodes 594–601
| Tall lanky prisoner, a crony of Lou Kelly's.
|-
| '''Rachel "Roach" Waters'''
| [[Linda Hartley]] – episodes 595–643
| A young punk inside for armed robbery. "Roach" is the girlfriend of Rita Connors' brother Bongo ([[Shane Connor]]). She escaped while on work release.
|-
| '''Wendy Stone'''
| [[Vivien Davies]] – episodes 598–601
| Short prisoner with wild hair (and teeth) supporting Lou Kelly together with Faye Donnelly during the riots. She is first seen in 598, and bashes Julie badly in 600, which results in Julie and Dr. Steve becoming involved when he gives her medical attention. When the riots ended Wendy and Faye got transferred to D-Block and never returned.
|-
| '''Janet "Maggot" Williams'''
| [[Christine Earle]] – episodes 599–63
| a second-rate prison thug who becomes an offsider to a number of the wannabe top dogs at Wentworth. She murdered Lou Kelly. She is later transferred to A-Block following a bashing from Kath Maxwell.
|-
| '''Katherine Lorraine "Kath" Maxwell'''
| [[Kate Hood]] – episodes 601–692
| A middle-class woman committed for killing her terminally sick, handicapped daughter. Initially brutalised by the other women, Kath toughens up and becomes Rita Connors' main rival for the top dog position. She is the last top dog of the series.
|-
| '''Vicki McPherson'''
| [[Rebecca Dines]] – episodes 608–692
| A wisecracking inmate who becomes an ally to Kath Maxwell and "Spider" Simpson.
|-
| '''Lurlene "Lorelei" Wilkinson'''
| [[Paula Duncan]] – episodes 623–677
| A vivacious con-woman imprisoned for posing as a policewoman. She was transferred to Ingleside Mental Institution after stabbing Ernest Craven, in which she became mentally unstable.
|-
| '''Merle "Loony" Jones'''
| [[Rosanne Hull-Brown]] – episodes 625–692
| A mentally disabled, illiterate prisoner initially regarded as a figure of fun by the other women, but finds friendship from inmate Kath Maxwell. She escaped with Kath but was left behind after an injury and sent to a psychiatric hospital; was subsequently returned to Wentworth where Kath made several attempts to make up with her – they eventually reconciled in 691.
|-
| '''Margie Anson'''
| [[Samantha Carter (actress)|Samantha Carter]] – episodes 645–691
| Prisoner beaten up by Kath and Vicki as part of Kath's bid to take over top dog. She backs off from helping Spider unload contraband when van is searched and keeps nit while Spike fixes up the playback of Lisa's tape of Rodney.
|-
| '''Rose "Spider" Simpson'''
| [[Taya Straton]] – episodes 649–686
| A sneering career criminal who takes charge of all rackets and contraband trading at Wentworth. also became jealous of Spike Marsh. She was transferred to Barnhurst.
|-
| '''Lisa Marie Mullins'''
| [[Nicki Paull]]/[[Terrie Waddell]] – episodes 651–692
| A young woman arrested for operating a prostitution and blackmail racket on the outside. (Note: Lisa was played by Nikki Paul for her first six episodes. When Paul suddenly became ill, the part was taken over by Terrie Waddell).
|-
| '''Wendy Glover'''
| [[Julieanne Newbould]] – episodes 651–659),
| An undercover policewoman whose real name is Tricia Haynes, sent into Wentworth to shadow endangered inmate Lisa Mullins and to gather information about her case. When the women find out Wendy receives a very nasty bashing and they write a tattoo on her forehead reading "cop." She is last seen visiting Lisa to tell her that her boyfriend Lester is dead. During her last appearance, it is revealed that Wendy Glover is an alias and her real name is Tricia Haynes.
|-
| '''Sarah West'''
| [[Kylie Belling]] – episodes 658–668)
| A fiery, impulsive Aboriginal inmate who suffers from abuse from racist prisoners, especially from Spider and Vicki who tie her up and paint her white, and to get back at the women, Sarah sets up a tripod releasing poisonous fumes of hydrochloric acid through the air conditioning. Rita eventually gets through to Sarah and Pamela manages to trace her foster parents, who tell Sarah the truth about her real parents, her mother has died and her father is a white alcoholic. She was transferred to Barnhurst for her own safety after Craven's threats to Pamela.
|-
| '''Michelle "Brumby" Tucker'''
| [[Sheryl Munks]] – episodes 665–692)
| A young prisoner first seen at Blackmoor prison. A misfit and a troublemaker.
|-
| '''Margaret "Spike" Marsh'''
| [[Victoria Rowland]] – episodes 665–691)
| "Brumby"'s best friend at Blackmoor who was framed for heroin trafficking. "Spike" was a university student studying the sciences before being imprisoned and has kept her middle-class background hidden from the other prisoners. She was released to be with her parents.
|-
| '''Billy Slocum'''
| [[Glennan Fahey]] – episodes 668–684
| Blackmoor prisoner transferred to Wentworth after the fire there, and first seen when Merle tries to trade comics with him. Craven lets him and Stud Wilson into solitary to rape Lorelei, and when the women find out they were responsible, they are held hostage in a store room for some mental torture with a razor. He was transferred back to Blackmoor.
|-
| '''"Stud" Wilson'''
| [[Peter Lindsay (actor)|Peter Lindsay]] – episodes 668–684
| Male former Blackmoor inmate transferred to Wentworth after Blackmoor is burnt down following a riot. A convicted rapist and an underling of evil governor Ernest Craven. He was transferred back to Blackmoor.
|-
| '''Harry Grosvenor'''
| [[Mike Bishop (actor)|Mike Bishop]] – episodes 679–692
| Former male Blackmoor prisoner moved to Wentworth, becoming a love interest for Alice Jenkins. He was transferred to Barnhurst in the last episode telling Alice that he loves her.
|-
| '''Helen Stephens'''
| [[Anna McCrossin]] - episode 692),
| The last prisoner of the series. Transferred from Barnhurst and was impressed by the way Kath handled Rodney Adams.
|}

==See also==
* [[List of Prisoner characters – prison staff]]
* [[List of Prisoner characters - miscellaneous]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Prisoner (TV series)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Prisoner characters - inmates}}
[[Category:Lists of Prisoner (TV series) characters]]

Eurovision Song Contest

2023-05-13T23:09:52Z

Vodkamad: /* Winners */

{{short description|Annual international song competition}}
{{Redirect|Eurovision|the most recent contest|Eurovision Song Contest 2023|||other uses}}
{{good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox television
| name = {{noitalic|Eurovision Song Contest}}
| image = Eurovision Song Contest.svg
| image_alt = The current Eurovision Song Contest logo, in use since 2015
| caption = Logo since 2015
| alt_name = {{Unbulleted list|{{noitalic|Eurovision}}|{{noitalic|ESC}}}}
| genre = [[Music competition]]
| creator = [[European Broadcasting Union]]
| based_on = [[Sanremo Music Festival]]
| developer =
| presenter = [[List of Eurovision Song Contest presenters|Various presenters]]
| country = [[List of countries in the Eurovision Song Contest|Various participating countries]]
| language = English and French
| num_episodes = {{Plainlist|
* 67 contests
* 101 live shows
}}
| producer =
| location = [[List of Eurovision Song Contest host cities|Various host cities]]
| runtime = {{Plainlist|
* ~2 hours (semi-finals)
* ~4 hours (finals)
}}
| company = [[European Broadcasting Union]] [[History of the Eurovision Song Contest|Various national broadcasters]]
| picture_format = {{Plainlist|
* [[SDTV]] ([[4:3]] aspect ratio) (1956–2004)
* [[SDTV]] ([[16:9]] aspect ratio) (2005–2006)
* [[HDTV]] [[1080i]] (2007–present)
* [[4K UHD]] [[2160i]] (2022–present)
}}
| first_aired = {{Start date|df=y|1956|05|24}}
| last_aired = present
| related = {{Plainlist|
* ''[[Eurovision Young Musicians]]''
* ''[[Junior Eurovision Song Contest]]''
* ''[[Eurovision Choir]]''
* ''[[American Song Contest]]''
}}
| italic_title = no
}}

The '''Eurovision Song Contest''' ({{lang fr|Concours Eurovision de la chanson}}), often known simply as '''Eurovision''', is an international [[Music competition|song competition]] organised annually by the [[European Broadcasting Union]]. Each participating country submits an original song to be performed live and transmitted to national broadcasters via the [[Eurovision (network)|Eurovision and Euroradio networks]], with competing countries then casting votes for the other countries' songs to determine a winner.

Based on the [[Sanremo Music Festival]] held in Italy since 1951, Eurovision has been held annually since 1956 (apart from {{Escyr|2020||2020}}), making it the longest-running annual international televised music competition and one of the world's longest-running television programmes. Active members of the EBU and invited associate members are eligible to compete; {{as of|2022|lc=y|post=,}} [[List of countries in the Eurovision Song Contest|52 countries]] have participated at least once. Each participating broadcaster sends one original song of three minutes duration or less to be performed live by a singer or group of up to six people aged 16 or older. Each country awards 1–8, 10 and 12 points to their ten favourite songs, based on the views of an assembled group of music professionals and the country's viewing public, with the song receiving the most points declared the winner. Other performances feature alongside the competition, including a specially-commissioned opening and interval act and guest performances by musicians and other personalities, with past acts including [[Cirque du Soleil]], [[Madonna]], [[Justin Timberlake]], [[Mika]], [[Rita Ora]] and the first performance of ''[[Riverdance]]''. Originally consisting of a single evening event, the contest has expanded as new countries joined (including countries outside of Europe, such as {{Esccnty|Australia}}), leading to the introduction of relegation procedures in the 1990s, before the creation of semi-finals in the 2000s. {{As of|2022|post=,}} {{Esccnty|Germany}} has competed more times than any other country, having participated in all but one edition, while {{Esccnty|Ireland}} holds the record for the most victories, with seven wins in total.

Traditionally held in the country which won the preceding year's event, the contest provides an opportunity to promote the host country and city as a tourist destination. Thousands of spectators attend each year, along with journalists who cover all aspects of the contest, including rehearsals in venue, press conferences with the competing acts, in addition to other related events and performances in the host city. Alongside the generic Eurovision logo, a unique theme and slogan is typically developed for each event. The contest has aired in countries across all continents; it has been [[Streaming television|available online]] via the official Eurovision website since 2001. Eurovision ranks among the world's most watched non-sporting events every year, with hundreds of millions of viewers globally. Performing at the contest has often provided artists with a local career boost and in some cases long-lasting international success. Several of the [[List of best-selling music artists|best-selling music artists]] in the world have competed in past editions, including [[ABBA]], [[Celine Dion]], [[Julio Iglesias]], [[Cliff Richard]] and [[Olivia Newton-John]]; some of the world's [[List of best-selling singles|best-selling singles]] have received their first international performance on the Eurovision stage.

While having gained popularity with the viewing public in both participating and non-participating countries, the contest has also been the subject of criticism for its artistic quality as well as a perceived political aspect to the event. Concerns have been raised regarding political friendships and rivalries between countries potentially having an impact on the results. Controversial moments have included participating countries withdrawing at a late stage, censorship of broadcast segments by broadcasters, as well as political events impacting participation. Likewise, the contest has also been criticised for an over-abundance of elaborate stage shows at the cost of artistic merit. Eurovision has, however, gained popularity for its [[kitsch]] appeal, its musical span of [[Contemporary folk music|ethnic]] and international styles, as well as emergence as part of [[LGBT culture]], resulting in a large, active fanbase and an influence on popular culture. The popularity of the contest has led to the creation of several similar events, either organised by the EBU or created by external organisations; several special events have been organised by the EBU to celebrate select anniversaries or as a replacement due to cancellation.

== Origins and history ==
{{Further|History of the Eurovision Song Contest}}
[[File:Eurovision Song Contest 1958 - Lys Assia (crop).png|thumb|alt=Photo of Lys Assia, the first winner of the Eurovision Song Contest, performing at the third contest in 1958.|[[Lys Assia]] (1924–2018), the winner of the first Eurovision Song Contest in {{Escyr|1956}}, performing at the {{Escyr|1958|3=1958 contest}}]]
The Eurovision Song Contest was developed by the [[European Broadcasting Union]] (EBU) as an experiment in live television broadcasting<ref>{{cite web |title=The Origins of Eurovision |url=https://eurovision.tv/history/origins-of-eurovision |website=Eurovision Song Contest |date=27 May 2019 |access-date=15 April 2023}}</ref> and a way to produce cheaper television programming for national broadcasting organisations.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Vuletic |first1=Dean |title=Postwar Europe and the Eurovision Song Contest |date=2018 |publisher=Bloomsbury Academic |isbn=9781474276276 }}</ref> The word "Eurovision" was first used by British journalist George Campey in the ''[[Evening Standard|London Evening Standard]]'' in 1951, when he referred to a [[BBC]] programme being relayed by Dutch television.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=93–96}}<ref name="GoldenJubilee">{{cite web|first=Patrick |last=Jaquin |date=1 December 2004 |url=http://www.ebu.ch/en/union/diffusion_on_line/television/tcm_6-8971.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040811033906/http://www.ebu.ch/en/union/diffusion_on_line/television/tcm_6-8971.php |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 August 2004 |title=Eurovision's Golden Jubilee |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |access-date=18 July 2009}}</ref> Following several events broadcast internationally via the [[Eurovision (network)|Eurovision transmission network]] in the early 1950s, including the [[Coronation of Elizabeth II]] in 1953, an EBU committee, headed by [[Marcel Bezençon]], was formed in January 1955 to investigate new initiatives for cooperation between broadcasters, which approved for further study a European song competition from an idea initially proposed by [[RAI]] manager [[Sergio Pugliese]].<ref name="GoldenJubilee" /><ref name="Eurovision network">{{cite web |title=Eurovision: About us – who we are |url=https://www.eurovision.net/about/whoweare |publisher=[[Eurovision (network)|Eurovision Song Contest]] |access-date=28 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Sommerlad |first=Joe |title=Eurovision 2019: What exactly is the point of the annual song contest and how did it begin? |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/eurovision-2019-song-contest-what-is-the-point-purpose-pop-history-a8916801.html |work=[[The Independent]] |access-date=27 June 2020 |date=18 May 2019}}</ref> The EBU's general assembly agreed to the organising of the song contest in October 1955, under the initial title of the ''European Grand Prix'', and accepted a proposal by the Swiss delegation to host the event in [[Lugano]] in the spring of 1956.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=93–96}}<ref name="GoldenJubilee" />{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=8–9}} The Italian [[Sanremo Music Festival]], held since 1951, was used as a basis for the initial planning of the contest, with several amendments and additions given its international nature.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=93–96}}

Seven countries participated in the {{Escyr|1956||first contest}}, with each country represented by two songs; the only time in which multiple entries per country were permitted.<ref name="Nutshell">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: In a Nutshell |date=31 March 2017 |url=https://eurovision.tv/history/in-a-nutshell |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=27 June 2020}}</ref><ref name="Facts & Figures">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Facts & Figures |date=12 January 2017 |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/facts-and-figures |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=27 June 2020}}</ref> The winning song was "[[Refrain (Lys Assia song)|Refrain]]", representing the host country Switzerland and performed by [[Lys Assia]].<ref name="Winners">{{cite web|title=Eurovision Song Contest: Winners|url=https://eurovision.tv/winners|access-date=23 May 2021|publisher=Eurovision Song Contest|archive-date=12 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180512231240/https://eurovision.tv/winners|url-status=dead}}</ref> Voting during the first contest was held behind closed doors, with only the winner being announced on stage; the use of a scoreboard and public announcement of the voting, inspired by the BBC's ''[[UK national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest|Festival of British Popular Songs]]'', has been used since 1957.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|p=152}} The tradition of the winning country hosting the following year's contest, which has since become a standard feature of the event, began in 1958.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=12–13}}{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|p=160}} Technological developments have transformed the contest: [[Color television|colour broadcasts]] began in {{Escyr|1968}}; [[Satellite television|satellite broadcasts]] in {{Escyr|1985}}; and [[Streaming media|streaming]] in {{Escyr|2000}}.<ref name="Eurovision network" /><ref name="London 68">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: London 1968 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/london-1968 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=5 July 2020}}</ref><ref name="Webcasting">{{cite web |last=Laven |first=Philip |title=Webcasting and the Eurovision Song Contest |url=http://www.ebu.ch/en/technical/trev/trev_291-editorial.html |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |access-date=28 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528091401/http://www.ebu.ch/en/technical/trev/trev_291-editorial.html |archive-date=28 May 2008 |date=July 2002}}</ref> Broadcasts in [[16:9 aspect ratio|widescreen]] began in 2005 and in [[High-definition television|high-definition]] since 2007, with [[Ultra-high-definition television|ultra-high-definition]] tested for the first time in 2022.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Polishchuk |first1=Tetiana |title=Eurovision to Be Broadcast in Widescreen, With New Hosts |url=https://day.kyiv.ua/en/article/culture/eurovision-be-broadcast-widescreen-new-hosts |publisher=[[The Day (Kyiv)|The Day]] |access-date=23 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122170009/https://day.kyiv.ua/en/article/culture/eurovision-be-broadcast-widescreen-new-hosts |archive-date=22 November 2020 |date=17 May 2005 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Helsinki 07" /><ref name=":9">{{Cite web |last=Cafarelli |first=Donato |date=2022-04-23 |title=Eurovision Song Contest 2022: la Rai trasmetterà l'evento per la prima volta in 4K |trans-title=Eurovision Song Contest 2022: Rai will broadcast the event for the first time in 4K |url=https://www.eurofestivalnews.com/2022/04/23/eurovision-song-contest-2022-rai-4k/ |access-date=2022-04-23 |website=Eurofestival News |language=it-IT}}</ref>

By the 1960s, between 16 and 18 countries were regularly competing each year.<ref name="ESC History">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: History by events |url=https://eurovision.tv/events |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=27 June 2020 |archive-date=25 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825083217/https://eurovision.tv/events |url-status=dead }}</ref> Countries from outside the traditional [[Europe#Definition|boundaries of Europe]] began entering the contest, and countries in Western Asia and North Africa started competing in the 1970s and 1980s. Changes in Europe following the [[Cold War (1985–1991)|end of the Cold War]] saw an influx of new countries from [[Central and Eastern Europe]] applying for the first time. The {{Escyr|1993||1993 contest}} included a separate [[Kvalifikacija za Millstreet|pre-qualifying round]] for seven of these new countries, and from {{Escyr|1994}} [[Promotion and relegation|relegation systems]] were introduced to manage the number of competing entries, with the poorest performing countries barred from entering the following year's contest.<ref name="ESC History" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest 1993 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/millstreet-1993 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=27 June 2020}}</ref> From 2004 the contest expanded to become a multi-programme event, with a semi-final at the {{Escyr|2004||49th contest}} allowing all interested countries to compete each year; a second semi-final was added to each edition from 2008.<ref name="Facts & Figures" /><ref name="ESC History" />

There have been 67 contests as of 2023, making Eurovision the longest-running annual international televised music competition as determined by ''[[Guinness World Records]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lynch |first1=Kevin |title=Eurovision recognised by Guinness World Records as the longest-running annual TV music competition (international) |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2015/5/eurovision-recognised-by-guinness-world-records-as-the-longest-running-annual-tv-379520 |publisher=[[Guinness World Records]] |access-date=26 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200122030337/https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2015/5/eurovision-recognised-by-guinness-world-records-as-the-longest-running-annual-tv-379520 |archive-date=22 January 2020 |date=23 May 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Escudero |first1=Victor M. |title=Eurovision Song Contest awarded Guinness world record |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-song-contest-awarded-guinness-world-record |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=9 July 2020 |date=23 May 2015}}</ref> The contest has been listed as one of the longest-running television programmes in the world and among the world's most watched non-sporting events.<ref>{{cite web |title=Culture & Entertainment {{!}} Eurovision |url=http://www.brandeu.eu/eu-powerhouse/culture-and-entertainment/eurovision/ |publisher=[[Brand EU]] |access-date=19 March 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Press Release: 60th Eurovision Song Contest Seen by Nearly 200 Million Viewers |url=https://www.ebu.ch/news/2015/06/press-release-60th-eurovision-so |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |access-date=19 March 2021 |date=3 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Ritman |first1=Alex |title=Eurovision Song Contest Draws Almost 200 Million Viewers |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6583366/eurovision-song-contest-draws-almost-200-million-viewers |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=20 March 2021 |date=3 June 2015}}</ref> A total of [[List of countries in the Eurovision Song Contest|52 countries]] have taken part in at least one edition, with a record 43 countries participating in a single contest, first in {{Escyr|2008}} and subsequently in {{Escyr|2011}} and {{Escyr|2018}}.<ref name="Facts & Figures" /><ref name="ESC History" /> Australia became the first non-EBU member country to compete following an invitation by the EBU ahead of the contest's {{Escyr|2015||60th edition}} in 2015;<ref name="Australia">{{cite web |title=Australia to compete in the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/australia-to-compete-in-the-2015-eurovision-song-contest |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=27 June 2020 |date=10 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Kemp |first1=Stuart |last2=Plunkett |first2=John |title=Eurovision Song Contest invites Australia to join 'world's biggest party' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/feb/10/eurovision-song-contest-invites-australia-to-join-worlds-biggest-party |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=27 June 2020 |date=10 February 2015}}</ref> initially announced as a "one-off" for the anniversary edition, the country was invited back the following year and has subsequently secured participation rights until 2023.<ref>{{cite web |title=Australia to return to the Eurovision Song Contest! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/australia-to-return-to-the-eurovision-song-contest |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=27 June 2020 |date=17 November 2015}}</ref><ref name="Australia 2023">{{cite web |title=Australia secures spot in Eurovision for the next five years |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/australia-secures-spot-in-eurovision-until-2023 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=27 June 2020 |date=12 February 2019}}</ref>

Eurovision had been held every year until 2020, when {{Escyr|2020||that year's contest}} was cancelled in response to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref name="Facts & Figures" /><ref name="2020 cancellation">{{cite web |title=Official EBU statement & FAQ on Eurovision 2020 cancellation |url=https://eurovision.tv/official-ebu-statement-and-faq-eurovision-song-contest-2020-cancellation |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=27 June 2020 |date=6 April 2020}}</ref> No competitive event was able to take place due to uncertainty caused by the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Europe|spread of the virus in Europe]] and the various restrictions imposed by the governments of the participating countries. In its place a special broadcast, ''[[Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light]]'', was produced by the organisers, which honoured the songs and artists that would have competed in 2020 in a non-competitive format.<ref name="2020 cancellation" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision: Europe Shine A Light |date=9 April 2020 |url=https://eurovision.tv/eurovision-europe-shine-a-light |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=27 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Eurovision still shines despite cancelled final |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/may/17/eurovision-still-shines-despite-cancelled-final |agency=[[PA Media]] |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=27 June 2020 |date=17 May 2020}}</ref>

=== Naming ===
Over the years the name used to describe the contest, and used on the official logo for each edition, has evolved. The first contests were produced under the name of {{lang|fr|Grand Prix Eurovision de la Chanson Européenne}} in French and as the ''Eurovision Song Contest Grand Prix'' in English, with similar variations used in the languages of each of the broadcasting countries. From 1968, the English name dropped the 'Grand Prix' from the name, with the French name being aligned as the {{lang|fr|Concours Eurovision de la Chanson}}, first used in 1973.<ref name="ESC History" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Palmarès du Concours Eurovision de la Chanson |url=http://www.ebu.ch/departments/television/pdf/Winners-Palmares_56-02.pdf |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |access-date=28 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528174029/http://www.ebu.ch/departments/television/pdf/Winners-Palmares_56-02.pdf |archive-date=28 May 2008 |year=2002}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Concours Eurovision de la Chanson 2019 |url=https://www.france.tv/france-4/concours-eurovision-de-la-chanson-2019/ |publisher=[[France Télévisions]] |access-date=28 June 2020}}</ref> The contest's official brand guidance specifies that translations of the name may be used depending on national tradition and brand recognition in the competing countries, but that the official name ''Eurovision Song Contest'' is always preferred; the contest is commonly referred to in English by the abbreviation "Eurovision", and in internal documents by the acronym "ESC".<ref name="Brand" />

On only four occasions has the name used for the official logo of the contest not been in English or French: the Italian names {{lang|it|Gran Premio Eurovisione della Canzone}} and {{lang|it|Concorso Eurovisione della Canzone}} were used when Italy hosted the {{Escyr|1965}} and {{Escyr|1991}} contests respectively; and the [[Dutch language|Dutch]] name {{lang|nl|Eurovisiesongfestival}} was used when the Netherlands hosted in {{Escyr|1976}} and {{Escyr|1980}}.<ref name="ESC History" />

== Format ==
Original songs representing participating countries are performed in a live television programme broadcast via the [[Eurovision (network)|Eurovision and Euroradio networks]] simultaneously to all countries. A "country" as a participant is represented by one television broadcaster from that country, a member of the European Broadcasting Union, and is typically that country's national [[public broadcasting]] organisation.<ref name="How it works">{{cite web |title=How it works – Eurovision Song Contest |date=15 January 2017 |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/how-it-works |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=28 June 2020}}</ref> The programme is staged by one of the participant countries and is broadcast from an [[auditorium]] in the selected host city.<ref>{{cite web |last1=LaFleur |first1=Louise |title=Rotterdam to host Eurovision 2020! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/rotterdam-to-host-eurovision-2020 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=9 July 2020 |date=30 August 2019}}</ref> Since 2008, each contest is typically formed of three live television shows held over one week: two semi-finals are held on the Tuesday and Thursday, followed by a final on the Saturday. All participating countries compete in one of the two semi-finals, except for the host country of that year's contest and the contest's biggest financial contributors known as the "Big Five"—{{Esccnty|France}}, {{Esccnty|Germany}}, {{Esccnty|Italy}}, {{Esccnty|Spain}} and the {{Esccnty|United Kingdom}}.<ref name="How it works" /><ref name="BBC lessons learned" /> The remaining countries are split between the two semi-finals, and the 10 highest-scoring entries in each qualify to produce 26 countries competing in the final.<ref name="How it works" />

[[File:Opening act 2, ESC 2011.jpg|thumb|alt=Photograph of the opening act during the 2011 contest; Stefan Raab performs with a band while multiple women dressed as Lena dance behind them while waving the flags of the participating countries|The opening act during the final of the {{Escyr|2011|3=2011 contest}} in [[Düsseldorf]], Germany]]
Each show typically begins with an opening act consisting of music and/or dance performances by invited artists, which contributes to a unique theme and identity created for that year's event; since 2013 the opening of the contest's final has included a "Flag Parade", with competing artists entering the stage behind their country's flag in a similar manner to the [[Olympic Games ceremony#Parade of Nations|procession of competing athletes]] at the [[Olympic Games ceremony|Olympic Games opening ceremony]].<ref name="Grand Final story">{{cite web |title=Looking back: the Grand Final |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/grand-final-story |publisher=European Broadcasting Union |access-date=1 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210401132202/https://eurovision.tv/story/grand-final-story |archive-date=1 April 2021 |date=16 May 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Iconic intervals">{{cite web |title=The Most Iconic Opening & Interval Acts of the Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://eurovision.tv/video/the-most-iconic-opening-interval-acts-of-the-eurovision-song-contest |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=28 June 2020 |date=16 August 2019}}</ref> Viewers are welcomed by [[List of Eurovision Song Contest presenters|one or more presenters]] who provide key updates during the show, conduct interviews with competing acts from the [[green room]], and guide the voting procedure in English and French.<ref>{{cite web |title=Presenters – Eurovision Song Contest |date=31 March 2017 |url=https://eurovision.tv/presenters |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=28 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Jordan |first1=Paul |title=Behind the scenes with the hosts of the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/behind-the-scenes-with-the-hosts |publisher=European Broadcasting Union |access-date=1 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928064139/https://eurovision.tv/story/behind-the-scenes-with-the-hosts |archive-date=28 September 2020 |date=1 March 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Rules" /> Competing acts perform sequentially, and after all songs have been performed viewers are invited to vote for their favourite performances—except for the performance of their own country—via [[Televoting|telephone]], SMS and the official Eurovision app.<ref name="How it works" /> The public vote comprises 50% of the final result alongside the views of a jury of music industry professionals from each country.<ref name="How it works" /><ref name="Rules" /> An [[Intermission|interval act]] is invariably featured during this voting period, which on several occasions has included a well-known personality from the host country or an internationally recognised figure.<ref name="Grand Final story" /><ref name="Iconic intervals" /> The results of the voting are subsequently announced; in the semi-finals the 10 highest-ranked countries are announced in a random order, with the full results undisclosed until after the final. In the final the presenters call upon a representative spokesperson for each country in turn who announces their jury's points, while the results of the public vote are subsequently announced by the presenters.<ref name="How it works" /><ref name="Voting" /> In recent years, it has been tradition that the first country is the previous host, whereas the last country is the current host (with the exception of {{Escyr|2023}}, which was held in the United Kingdom on behalf of Ukraine, who went first).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tarbuck |first=Sean |date=2023-05-12 |title=Jury voting order revealed for Eurovision 2023 |url=https://www.escunited.com/jury-voting-order-revealed-for-eurovision-2023/ |access-date=2023-05-12 |website=ESCUnited |language=en-US}}</ref> The qualifying acts in the semi-finals, and the winning delegation in the final are invited back on stage, and in the final a [[trophy]] is awarded to the winning performers and songwriters with the previous year's winner presenting the trophy followed by a reprise of the winning song.<ref name="How it works" /><ref name="Trophy">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Trophy |date=14 January 2017 |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/trophy/ |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=30 June 2020}}</ref> The full results of the competition, including detailed results of the jury and public vote, are released online shortly after the final, and the participating broadcaster of the winning entry is traditionally given the honour of organising the following year's event.<ref name="How it works" /><ref name="Voting" />

===Selection===
{{Main|National selections for the Eurovision Song Contest}}
Each participating broadcaster has sole discretion over the process they may employ to select their entry for the contest. Typical methods in which participants are selected include a televised national selection process using a public vote; an internal selection by a committee appointed by the broadcaster; and through a mixed format where some decisions are made internally and the public are engaged in others.<ref name="National selections">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: National Selections |date=21 March 2017 |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/in-depth/national-selections/ |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=7 July 2020}}</ref> Among the most successful televised selection shows is Sweden's ''[[Melodifestivalen]]'', first established in 1959 and now one of Sweden's most watched TV shows each year.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rosney |first1=Daniel |title=Sweden's Melfest: Why a national Eurovision show won global fans |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-51749312 |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=7 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Number of viewers of Swedish television show Melodifestivalen from 2018 to 2020 |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/680472/tv-viewers-of-melodifestivalen-in-sweden/ |publisher=[[Statista]] |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=March 2020}}</ref>

== Participation ==
{{Further|List of countries in the Eurovision Song Contest}}
[[File:European Broadcasting Area.png|thumb|upright=1.5|alt=Map of countries in Europe, North Africa and Western Asia in grey, with the boundaries of the European Broadcasting Area superimposed in red|The European Broadcasting Area, shown in red]]
[[File:EurovisionParticipants.svg|thumb|upright=1.5|alt=Map of countries in Europe, North Africa and Western Asia, with a cut-out of Australia in top-right corner; countries are coloured to indicate contest participation and eligibility: countries which have entered at least once are coloured in green; countries which have never entered but eligible to do so are coloured in yellow; countries which intended to enter but later withdrew are coloured in red; and countries which competed as a part of another country but never as a sovereign country are coloured in light green.|right|Participation since 1956: {{legend|#22b14c|Entered at least once}} {{legend|#ffc20e|Never entered, although eligible to do so}} {{legend|#d40000|Entry intended, but later withdrew}} {{legend|#00ff00|Competed as a part of another country, but never as a [[sovereign state|sovereign country]]}}]]
[[File:Eurovision participation map.svg|thumb|upright=1.5|alt=Map of countries in Europe, North Africa and Western Asia, with Australia as an insert in the top-right corner, coloured to indicate the decade in which they first participated in the contest: 1950s in red, 1960s in orange, 1970s in yellow, 1980s in green; 1990s in sky blue; 2000s in blue; and 2010s in purple|Participants in the Eurovision Song Contest, coloured by decade of debut]]Active members (as opposed to associate members) of the European Broadcasting Union are eligible to participate; active members are those who are located in states that fall within the [[European Broadcasting Area]], or are [[member states of the Council of Europe]].<ref name="EBUmembership">{{cite web |title=EBU – Admission |url=https://www.ebu.ch/about/members/admission |date=27 April 2018 |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |access-date=28 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190913022313/https://www.ebu.ch/about/members/admission |archive-date=13 September 2019}}</ref> Active members include media organisations whose broadcasts are often made available to at least 98% of households in their own country which are equipped to receive such transmissions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Regulation on Detailed Membership Criteria under Article 3.6 of the EBU Statutes |url=https://www.ebu.ch/files/live/sites/ebu/files/About/Governance/Regulation%202013_EN.pdf |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |access-date=28 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190516221310/https://www.ebu.ch/files/live/sites/ebu/files/About/Governance/Regulation%202013_EN.pdf |archive-date=16 May 2019 |date=June 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> Associate member broadcasters may be eligible to compete, dependent on approval by the contest's Reference Group.<ref name="Who can take part">{{cite web |title=Which countries can take part? |url=https://eurovision.tv/page/about/which-countries-can-take-part#Which%20countries? |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=28 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170317083448/https://eurovision.tv/page/about/which-countries-can-take-part#Which%20countries? |archive-date=17 March 2017}}</ref>

The European Broadcasting Area is defined by the [[International Telecommunication Union]] as encompassing the geographical area between the boundary of [[International Telecommunication Union region|ITU Region 1]] in the west, the [[meridian 40° East]] of [[Greenwich meridian|Greenwich]] in the east, and [[parallel 30° North]] in the south. Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, and the territory of Ukraine, Iraq, Jordan and Syria lying outside these limits are included in the European Broadcasting Area.<ref name="ITU-R Radio Regulation 2012">{{cite web |publisher=[[International Telecommunication Union]], available from the Spectrum Management Authority of Jamaica |year= 2012 |url= http://www.sma.gov.jm/sites/default/files/publication_files/ITU-R_Radio_Regulations_2012_%202015_%20Article_5_Table%20of%20Frequencies.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130816092114/http://sma.gov.jm/sites/default/files/publication_files/ITU-R_Radio_Regulations_2012_%202015_%20Article_5_Table%20of%20Frequencies.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= 16 August 2013 |title= ITU-R Radio Regulations 2012–15 |access-date=28 June 2019 }}</ref><ref name="ITU-R Radio Regulation 2004">{{cite web|url=http://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-s/oth/02/02/S020200001A4501PDFE.pdf|title=ITU-R Radio Regulations – Articles edition of 2004 (valid in 2004–07)|publisher=[[International Telecommunication Union]]|year=2004|access-date=28 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010235726/https://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-s/oth/02/02/S020200001A4501PDFE.pdf|archive-date=10 October 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Eligibility to participate in the contest is therefore not limited to countries in Europe, as several states geographically outside the boundaries of the continent or which span [[List of transcontinental countries|more than one continent]] are included in the Broadcasting Area.<ref name="Who can take part" /> Countries from these groups have taken part in past editions, including countries in Western Asia such as Israel and [[Cyprus]], countries which span Europe and Asia like Russia and Turkey, and North African countries such as [[Morocco]].<ref name="ESC History" /> Australia became the first country to participate from outside the European Broadcasting Area in 2015, following an invitation by the contest's Reference Group.<ref name="Australia" />

EBU members who wish to participate must fulfil conditions as laid down in the rules of the contest, a separate copy of which is drafted annually. A maximum of 44 countries can take part in any one contest.<ref name="Rules">{{cite web |date=12 January 2017 |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Rules |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/rules/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826013327/https://eurovision.tv/about/rules |archive-date=26 August 2022 |access-date=28 June 2020 |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]]}}</ref> Broadcasters must have paid the EBU a participation fee in advance to the deadline specified in the rules for the year in which they wish to participate; this fee is different for each country based on its size and viewership.<ref name="FAQ">{{cite web |date=12 January 2017 |title=FAQ – Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/faq/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200623153206/https://eurovision.tv/about/faq/ |archive-date=23 June 2020 |access-date=28 June 2020 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest}}</ref>

Fifty-two countries have participated at least once.<ref name="ESC History" /> These are listed here alongside the year in which they made their debut:

{|
|- style="vertical-align:top"
|
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:94%"
|-
! scope="col"| Year
! scope="col"| Country making its debut entry
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top center;" rowspan="7"| {{ESCYr|1956}}
| {{esc|Belgium}}
|-
| {{esc|France}}
|-
| {{esc|Germany}}{{efn|group=Participation|Represented [[West Germany]] until 1990; [[East Germany]] never competed. Presented on all occasions as 'Germany', except in 1967 as 'Federal Republic of Germany', in 1970 and 1976 as 'West Germany', and in 1990 as 'F.R. Germany'.}}
|-
| {{esc|Italy}}
|-
| {{esc|Luxembourg}}
|-
| {{esc|Netherlands}}
|-
| {{esc|Switzerland}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top center;" rowspan="3"| {{ESCYr|1957}}
| {{esc|Austria}}
|-
| {{esc|Denmark}}
|-
| {{esc|United Kingdom}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="1"| {{ESCYr|1958}}
| {{esc|Sweden}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="1"| {{ESCYr|1959}}
| {{esc|Monaco}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="1"| {{ESCYr|1960}}
| {{esc|Norway}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top center;" rowspan="3"| {{ESCYr|1961}}
| {{esc|Finland}}
|-
| {{esc|Spain}}
|-
| {{esc|Yugoslavia}}{{efn|group=Participation|Represented the [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]] until 1991, and the [[Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]] in 1992.}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="1"| {{ESCYr|1964}}
| {{esc|Portugal}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="1"| {{ESCYr|1965}}
| {{esc|Ireland}}
|}
|
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:94%"
|-
! scope="col"| Year
! scope="col"| Country making its debut entry
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="1"| {{ESCYr|1971}}
| {{esc|Malta}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="1"| {{ESCYr|1973}}
| {{esc|Israel}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="1"| {{ESCYr|1974}}
| {{esc|Greece}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="1"| {{ESCYr|1975}}
| {{esc|Turkey}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top center;" rowspan="1"| {{ESCYr|1980}}
| {{esc|Morocco}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="1"| {{ESCYr|1981}}
| {{esc|Cyprus}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="1"| {{ESCYr|1986}}
| {{esc|Iceland}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top center;" rowspan="3"| {{ESCYr|1993}}
| {{esc|Bosnia and Herzegovina}}
|-
| {{esc|Croatia}}
|-
| {{esc|Slovenia}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top center;" rowspan="7"| {{ESCYr|1994}}
| {{esc|Estonia}}
|-
| {{esc|Hungary}}
|-
| {{esc|Lithuania}}
|-
| {{esc|Poland}}
|-
| {{esc|Romania}}
|-
| {{esc|Russia}}
|-
| {{esc|Slovakia}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top center;" rowspan="1"| {{ESCYr|1998}}
| {{esc|North Macedonia}}{{efn|group=Participation|Presented as the '[[Macedonia naming dispute|Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia]]' before 2019.}}
|}
|
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:94%"
|-
! scope="col"| Year
! scope="col"| Country making its debut entry
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="1"| {{ESCYr|2000}}
| {{esc|Latvia}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="1"| {{ESCYr|2003}}
| {{esc|Ukraine}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top center;" rowspan="4"| {{ESCYr|2004}}
| {{esc|Albania}}
|-
| {{esc|Andorra}}
|-
| {{esc|Belarus}}
|-
| {{esc|Serbia and Montenegro}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top center;" rowspan="2"| {{ESCYr|2005}}
| {{esc|Bulgaria}}
|-
| {{esc|Moldova}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="1"| {{ESCYr|2006}}
| {{esc|Armenia}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top center;" rowspan="4"| {{ESCYr|2007}}
| {{esc|Czech Republic}}{{efn|group=Participation|Presented as '[[Name of the Czech Republic|Czechia]]' from 2023.}}
|-
| {{esc|Georgia}}
|-
| {{esc|Montenegro}}
|-
| {{esc|Serbia}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top center;" rowspan="2"| {{ESCYr|2008}}
| {{esc|Azerbaijan}}
|-
| {{esc|San Marino}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top center;" rowspan="1"| {{ESCYr|2015}}
| {{esc|Australia}}{{efn|group=Participation|Initially announced as a one-off participant to commemorate the contest's 60th anniversary; has since gained participation rights until 2023.<ref name="Australia 2023" />}}
|-
|}
|}

{{notelist|group=Participation}}

== Hosting ==
{{Further|List of Eurovision Song Contest host cities}}
[[File:Eurovision all cities.svg|thumb|Countries which have hosted the Eurovision Song Contest {{legend inline|#4d9221|A single hosting}} {{legend inline|#c51b7d|Multiple hostings}}]]
The winning country traditionally hosts the following year's event, with [[List of Eurovision Song Contest host cities#Hosting traditions and exceptions|some exceptions]] since {{Escyr|1958}}.<ref name="Historical Milestones">{{cite web |title=Historical Milestones |url=http://www.eurovision.tv/english/611.htm |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |access-date=3 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060526065558/http://www.eurovision.tv/english/611.htm |archive-date=26 May 2006}}</ref><ref name="ESC History" /> Hosting the contest can be seen as a unique opportunity for promoting the host country as a tourist destination and can provide benefits to the local economy and tourism sectors of the host city.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Boyle |first1=Stephen |title=The cost of winning the Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://www.rbs.com/rbs/news/2016/05/the-cost-of-winning-the-eurovision-song-contest.html |publisher=[[Royal Bank of Scotland]] |access-date=20 March 2021 |date=13 May 2016 |archive-date=21 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220821193101/https://www.rbs.com/rbs/news/2016/05/the-cost-of-winning-the-eurovision-song-contest.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Preparations for each year's contest typically begin at the conclusion of the previous year's contest, with the winning country's head of delegation receiving a welcome package of information related to hosting the contest at the winner's press conference.<ref name="How it works" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Winner's Press Conference with Portugal's Salvador Sobral |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/2017-winners-press-conference |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020 |date=14 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Winner's Press Conference with the Netherlands' Duncan Laurence |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/winners-press-conference-with-netherlands-duncan-laurence |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020 |date=19 May 2019}}</ref> Eurovision is a non-profit event, and financing is typically achieved through a fee from each participating broadcaster, contributions from the host broadcaster and the host city, and commercial revenues from sponsorships, ticket sales, televoting and merchandise.<ref name="FAQ" />

The host broadcaster will subsequently select a host city, typically a national or regional capital city, which must meet certain criteria set out in the contest's rules. The host venue must be able to accommodate at least 10,000 spectators, a press centre for 1,500 journalists, should be within easy reach of an [[international airport]] and with hotel accommodation available for at least 2,000 delegates, journalists and spectators.<ref name="Host city criteria">{{cite web |title=What does it take to become a Eurovision host city? |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/what-does-it-take-to-become-a-eurovision-host-city |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020 |date=30 July 2007}}</ref> A variety of different venues have been used for past editions, from small theatres and television studios to large arenas and stadiums.<ref name="ESC History" /> The largest host venue is [[Parken Stadium]] in Copenhagen, which was attended by almost 38,000 spectators in {{Escyr|2001}}.<ref name="Facts & Figures" /><ref name="Copenhagen 01" /> With a population of 1,500 at the time of the {{Escyr|1993||1993 contest}}, [[Millstreet]], Ireland remains the smallest hosting settlement, although its [[Green Glens Arena]] is capable of hosting up to 8,000 spectators.<ref name="Millstreet 93" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Millstreet Town: Green Glens Arena |url=http://www.millstreet.ie/green%20glens/greenglens.htm |website=millstreet.ie |access-date=3 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401191842/http://www.millstreet.ie/green%20glens/greenglens.htm |archive-date=1 April 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Eurovision logo and theme ===
[[File:Eurovision Song Contest logo.svg|thumb|right|alt=Previous generic logo used at the contest between 2004 and 2014|Logo used from 2004 to 2014]]

Until 2004, each edition of the contest used its own logo and visual identity as determined by the respective host broadcaster. To create a consistent visual identity, a generic logo was introduced ahead of the {{Escyr|2004||2004 contest}}. This is typically accompanied by a unique theme artwork and slogan designed for each individual contest by the host broadcaster, with the flag of the host country placed prominently in the centre of the Eurovision heart.<ref name="Brand">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Brand |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/brand |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201075740/https://eurovision.tv/about/brand |archive-date=1 February 2021}}</ref> The original logo was designed by the London-based agency JM International, and received a revamp in 2014 by the Amsterdam-based Cityzen Agency for the contest's {{Escyr|2015||60th edition}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest logo evolves |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-song-contest-logo-evolves |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020 |date=31 July 2014}}</ref><ref name="Logos & Artwork">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Logos and Artwork |date=12 January 2017 |url=https://eurovision.tv/mediacentre/logos-and-artwork |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=17 March 2021}}</ref>

An [[History of the Eurovision Song Contest#Contest themes and slogans|individual slogan and theme]] has been associated with most editions of the contest since 2002, and is utilised by contest producers when constructing the show's visual identity, including the stage design, the opening and interval acts, and the "postcards".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Groot |first1=Evert |title=Tel Aviv 2019: Dare to Dream |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/slogan-tel-aviv-2019-dare-to-dream |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=28 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=LaFleur |first1=Louise |title=The making of 'Open Up' |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/the-making-of-open-up |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=25 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=2020 postcard concept revealed as Dutch people can join in on the fun |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-2020-postcards-concept-revealed |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=9 December 2019}}</ref> The short video postcards are interspersed between the entries and were first introduced in 1970, initially as an attempt to "bulk up" the contest after a number of countries decided not to compete, but has since become a regular part of the show and usually highlight the host country and introduce the competing acts.<ref name="Amsterdam 50th anniv">{{cite web |title=Happy 50th Anniversary, Eurovision 1970! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/happy-50th-anniversary-1970-eurovision |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=29 April 2020}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=40–43}}

=== Preparations ===
[[File:Netta at the Eurovision 2018 - Winner’s Press Conference 03.jpg|alt=A press conference during the 2012 contest; the Serbian delegation are seated at a long table with rows of journalists seated facing them, with a large screen on the wall behind the delegation projecting a live relay of the conference.|thumb|Press conference with the Israeli delegation following their win at the {{Escyr|2018|3=2018 contest}}]]
[[File:Pht-Vugar Ibadov eurovision (35).jpg|thumb|alt=Photo of the EuroClub in 2012; a large group of delegates are seen conversing|The EuroClub at the {{Escyr|2012|3=2012 contest}} in [[Baku]], [[Azerbaijan]]]]
Preparations in the host venue typically begin approximately six weeks before the final, to accommodate building works and technical rehearsals before the arrival of the competing artists.<ref>{{cite web |title=Anforderungsprofil an die Austragungsstätte des Eurovision Song Contest 2015 |url=http://kundendienst.orf.at/aktuelles/anforderungsprofl_austragungsstaette.pdf |publisher=[[ORF (broadcaster)|ORF]] |access-date=3 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531162001/http://kundendienst.orf.at/aktuelles/anforderungsprofl_austragungsstaette.pdf |archive-date=31 May 2014 |language=de |trans-title=Requirements to the venue of the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 }}</ref> Delegations will typically arrive in the host city two to three weeks before the live show, and each participating broadcaster nominates a head of delegation, responsible for coordinating the movements of their delegation and being that country's representative to the EBU.<ref name="Rules" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Rules of the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest |url=http://www.eurovision.tv/searchfiles_english/574.htm |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060210010517/http://www.eurovision.tv/searchfiles_english/574.htm |archive-date=10 February 2006}}</ref> Members of each country's delegation include performers, composers, lyricists, members of the press, and—in the years where a live orchestra was present—a conductor.<ref name="HoDs">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Heads of Delegation |date=14 January 2017 |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/organisers/heads-of-delegation/ |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=5 July 2020}}</ref> Present if desired is a commentator, who provides commentary of the event for their country's radio and/or television feed in their country's own language in dedicated booths situated around the back of the arena behind the audience.<ref>{{cite web |title=Commentator's guide to the commentators |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/commentator-s-guide-to-the-commentators |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020 |date=15 May 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Escudero |first1=Victor M. |title=Commentators: The national hosts of Eurovision |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/commentators-sweden-mans-zelmerlow-edward-af-sillen |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020 |date=14 May 2017}}</ref>

Each country conducts two individual rehearsals behind closed doors, the first for 30 minutes and the second for 20 minutes; the latter is used as a recorded back-up if the country's representative artist is unable to perform in later rehearsals or the live shows.<ref name="2008 rehearsal schedule" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=van Gorkum |first=Steef |date=2021-05-17 |title=Sietse Bakker: "Countries may choose between rehearsal tape or back-up tape" |url=https://www.escdaily.com/sietse-bakker-countries-may-choose-between-rehearsal-tape-or-back-up-tape/ |access-date=2022-06-13 |website=ESCDaily}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Granger |first=Anthony |date=2023-05-10 |title=Eurovision 2023: EBU & BBC Discuss Voting, Rehearsals & Qualifiers Announcement |url=https://eurovoix.com/2023/05/10/eurovision-2023-ebu-bbc-conference/ |access-date=2023-05-11 |website=Eurovoix |language=en-GB}}</ref> Individual rehearsals for the semi-finalists commence the week before the live shows, with countries typically rehearsing in the order in which they will perform during the contest; rehearsals for the host country and the "Big Five" automatic finalists are held towards the end of the week.<ref name="2008 rehearsal schedule">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest 2008: Rehearsal schedule |url=http://www.eurovision.tv/upload/media/ESC2008_rehearsals.pdf |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081221010818/http://www.eurovision.tv/upload/media/ESC2008_rehearsals.pdf |archive-date=21 December 2008}}</ref><ref name="2018 rehearsal schedule">{{cite web |title=Your ultimate guide to the Eurovision 2018 event weeks |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/guide-to-eurovision-2018-event-weeks-rehearal-schedule |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518142209/https://eurovision.tv/story/guide-to-eurovision-2018-event-weeks-rehearal-schedule |archive-date=18 May 2019 |date=27 April 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> Following rehearsals, delegations meet with the show's production team to review footage of the rehearsal and raise any special requirements or changes. "Meet and greet" sessions with accredited fans and press are held during these rehearsal weeks.<ref name="2008 rehearsal schedule" /><ref name="Event weeks">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Event weeks |date=21 March 2017 |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/in-depth/event-weeks |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020}}</ref> Each live show is preceded by three dress rehearsals, where the whole show is run in the same way as it will be presented on TV.<ref name="Event weeks" /> The second dress rehearsal, alternatively called the "jury show" and held the night before the broadcast, is used as a recorded back-up in case of technological failure, and performances during this show are used by each country's professional jury to determine their votes.<ref name="2018 rehearsal schedule" /><ref name="Event weeks" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Time now for the all important Jury Final |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/time-now-for-the-all-important-jury-final |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=25 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190902160705/https://eurovision.tv/story/time-now-for-the-all-important-jury-final |archive-date=2 September 2019 |date=17 May 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> The delegations from the qualifying countries in each semi-final attend a qualifiers' press conference after their respective semi-final, and the winning delegation attends a winners' press conference following the final.<ref name="Event weeks" />

A welcome reception is typically held at a venue in the host city on the Sunday preceding the live shows, which includes a [[red carpet]] ceremony for all the participating countries and is usually broadcast online.<ref>{{cite web |title=Welcome Reception: Pink champagne for the stars |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/welcome-reception-pink-champagne-for-the-stars |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020 |date=25 May 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Tel Aviv prepares for glamorous Orange Carpet |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/tel-aviv-prepares-for-glamorous-orange-carpet-tune-in-at-18-00-cest |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020 |date=12 May 2019}}</ref> Accredited delegates, press and fans have access to an official nightclub, the "EuroClub", and some delegations will hold their own parties.<ref name="Event weeks" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: EuroClub |date=21 April 2017 |url=https://eurovision.tv/fans/euroclub |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title="Big Five" meet to take a trip down the Rhine |date=14 May 2011 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/big-five-meet-to-take-a-trip-down-the-rhine |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020}}</ref> The "Eurovision Village" is an official fan zone open to the public free of charge, with live performances by the contest's artists and screenings of the live shows on big screens.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Eurovision Village |date=23 April 2018 |url=https://eurovision.tv/fans/eurovision-village |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020}}</ref>

== Rules ==
{{Further|Rules of the Eurovision Song Contest}}
[[File:Martin_Österdahl_söndag_lunch_i_Storängen_2016.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=Photo of Martin Österdahl|right|[[Martin Österdahl]], the contest's Executive Supervisor since {{Escyr|2021||2021}}]]

The contest is organised annually by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), together with the participating broadcaster of the host country. The event is monitored by an [[Rules of the Eurovision Song Contest#Scrutineers and Executive Supervisors|Executive Supervisor]] appointed by the EBU, and by the [[Rules of the Eurovision Song Contest#Reference Group|Reference Group]] which represents all participating broadcasters, who are each represented by a nominated Head of Delegation.<ref name="Organisers">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Organisers |date=12 January 2017 |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/organisers |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=5 July 2020}}</ref> The current Executive Supervisor {{as of|2022|lc=y}} is [[Martin Österdahl]], who took over the role from [[Jon Ola Sand]] in May 2020.<ref name="Österdahl">{{cite web|date=20 January 2020|title=Martin Österdahl announced as new Eurovision Song Contest Executive Supervisor|url=https://www.ebu.ch/news/2020/01/martin-osterdahl-announced-as-new-eurovision-song-contest-executive-supervisor|access-date=25 July 2020 |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]]}}</ref> A detailed set of rules is written by the EBU for each contest and approved by the Reference Group. These rules have changed over time, and typically outline, among other points, the eligibility of the competing songs, the format of the contest, and the voting system to be used to determine the winner and how the results will be presented.<ref name="Rules" />

=== Song eligibility and languages ===
{{further|List of languages in the Eurovision Song Contest}}

All competing songs must have a duration of three minutes or less.<ref name="Rules" /> This rule applies only to the version performed during the live shows.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Muldoon |first1=Padraig |title=Italy: Ermal Meta & Fabrizio Moro release three-minute Eurovision 2018 version of "Non mi avete fatto niente" |url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2018/03/30/italy-ermal-meta-fabrizio-moro-release-three-minute-eurovision-2018-version-non-mi-avete-fatto-niente/220657/ |website=wiwibloggs.com |access-date=27 February 2021 |date=30 March 2018}}</ref> In order to be considered eligible, competing songs in a given year's contest must not have been released commercially before the first day of September of the previous year.<ref name="Rules" /> All competing entries must include vocals and lyrics of some kind and purely instrumental pieces are not allowed.<ref>{{cite news |title=Eurovision: Rules, facts and controversies |url=https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/eurovision-rules-facts-and-controversies-1586799 |access-date=21 March 2021 |work=[[The Scotsman]] |date=7 March 2013}}</ref> Competing entries may be performed in any language, be that [[Natural language|natural]] or [[Constructed language|constructed]], and participating broadcasters are free to decide the language in which their entry may be performed.<ref name="Rules" />

Rules specifying in which language a song may be performed have changed over time. No restrictions were originally enacted when the contest was first founded, however following criticism over the {{Esccnty|Sweden|y=1965|t=1965 Swedish entry}} being performed in English, a new rule was introduced for the {{Escyr|1966||1966 contest}} restricting songs to be performed only in an official language of the country it represented.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=28–29}}<ref name="Naples 65">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Naples 1965 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/naples-1965 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=4 July 2020}}</ref><ref name="Luxembourg 66">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Luxembourg 1966 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/luxembourg-1966 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=4 July 2020}}</ref> This rule was first abolished in {{Escyr|1973}}, and subsequently reinstated for most countries in {{Escyr|1977}}, with only {{Esccnty|Belgium|y=1977}} and {{Esccnty|Germany|y=1977}} permitted freedom of language as their selection processes for that year's contest had already commenced.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=68–71}}<ref name="Luxembourg 73">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Luxembourg 1973 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/luxembourg-1973 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=4 July 2020}}</ref><ref name="London 77">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: London 1977 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/london-1977 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=4 July 2020}}</ref> The language rule was once again abolished ahead of the {{Escyr|1999||1999 contest}}.<ref name="Jerusalem 99" />{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=156–159}}

=== Artist eligibility and performances ===
[[File:Domenico Modugno (1958), Bestanddeelnr 909-4001 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|alt=Black and white photograph from the 1958 contest held in the AVRO Studios in Hilversum, the Netherlands; an orchestra seated to the left of a small stage, with Italian singer Domenico Modugno singing on the stage platform in front of a wall.|The orchestra was an integral part of the contest until 1998 ([[Domenico Modugno]] performing at the {{Escyr|1958||1958 contest}})]]

The rules for the first contest specified that only solo performers were permitted to enter;<ref name="Lugano 56" /> this criterion was changed the following year to permit duos to compete, and groups were subsequently permitted for the first time in {{Escyr|1971}}.<ref name="Frankfurt 57" /><ref name="Dublin 71">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Dublin 1971 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/dublin-1971 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=19 March 2021}}</ref> Currently the number of people permitted on stage during competing performances is limited to a maximum of six, and no live animals are allowed.<ref name="Rules" /> Since {{Escyr|1990}}, all contestants must be aged 16 or over on the day of the live show in which they perform.<ref name="Lausanne 89">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Lausanne 1989 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/lausanne-1989 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=4 July 2020}}</ref> [[Sandra Kim]], the winner in {{Escyr|1986}} at the age of 13, shall remain the contest's youngest winner while this rule remains in place.<ref name="Bergen 86">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Bergen 1986 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/bergen-1986 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=4 July 2020}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=104–107}} There is no limit on the nationality or country of birth of the competing artists, and participating broadcasters are free to select an artist from any country; several winning artists have subsequently held a different nationality or were born in a different country to that which they represented.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=387–396}}<ref name="Winners" /> No performer may compete for more than one country in a given year.<ref name="Rules" />

The orchestra was a prominent aspect of the contest from 1956 to 1998.<ref name="Facts & Figures" /> Pre-recorded backing tracks were first allowed for competing acts in 1973, but any pre-recorded instruments were required to be seen being "performed" on stage; in 1997, all instrumental music was allowed to be pre-recorded, however the host country was still required to provide an orchestra.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=148–151}} In 1999, the rules were changed again, making the orchestra an optional requirement; the host broadcaster of {{Escyr|1999||that year's contest}}, Israel's [[Israel Broadcasting Authority|IBA]], subsequently decided not to provide an orchestra, resulting in all entries using backing tracks for the first time.<ref name="99 Rules" /><ref name="Jerusalem 99" />{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=156–159}} Currently all instrumental music for competing entries must now be pre-recorded, and no live instrumentation is allowed during performances.<ref name="Rules" /><ref name="15 Rules">{{cite web |title=Public Rules of the 60th Eurovision Song Contest |url=http://www.eurovision.tv/upload/press-downloads/2015/2014-09-02_2015_ESC_rules_EN_PUBLIC_RULES.pdf |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=4 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150430201605/http://www.eurovision.tv/upload/press-downloads/2015/2014-09-02_2015_ESC_rules_EN_PUBLIC_RULES.pdf |archive-date=30 April 2015}}</ref>

The main vocals of competing songs must be performed live during the contest.<ref name="Rules" /> Previously live backing vocals were also required; since {{Escyr|2021||2021}} these may optionally be pre-recorded – this change has been implemented in an effort to introduce flexibility following the cancellation of the 2020 edition and to facilitate modernisation.<ref name="Back for good">{{cite web |title=Changes announced to ensure Eurovision comes 'back for good' |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/changes-announced-to-ensure-eurovision-comes-back-for-good |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=4 July 2020 |date=18 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Katsoulakis |first=Manos |date=2022-08-25 |title=The rules of Eurovision 2023 are released: Pre-recorded backing vocals permitted again |url=https://eurovisionfun.com/en/2022/08/the-rules-of-eurovision-2023-are-released-pre-recorded-vocals-permitted-again/ |access-date=2022-08-26 |website=EurovisionFun}}</ref>

=== Running order ===
Since {{Escyr|2013}}, the order in which the competing countries perform has been determined by the contest's producers, and submitted to the EBU Executive Supervisor and Reference Group for approval before public announcement. This was changed from a random draw used in previous years in order to provide a better experience for television viewers and ensure all countries stand out by avoiding instances where songs of a similar style or tempo are performed in sequence.<ref>{{cite web |title=Running order Malmö 2013 to be determined by producers |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/running-order-malmoe-2013-to-be-determined-by-producers |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=9 July 2020 |date=7 November 2012}}</ref>

Since the creation of a second semi-final in {{Escyr|2008}}, a semi-final allocation draw is held each year.<ref name="Semi-Final Allocation" /> Countries are placed into pots based on their geographical location and voting history in recent contests, and are assigned to compete in one of the two semi-finals through a random draw.<ref>{{cite web |title=All you need to know for Monday's draw! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/all-you-need-to-know-for-monday-s-draw |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=21 March 2021 |date=24 January 2008}}</ref> Countries are then randomly assigned to compete in either the first or second half of their respective semi-final, and once all competing songs have been selected the producers then determine the running order for the semi-finals.<ref name="allocation 2018">{{cite web |last1=Zwart |first1=Josianne |last2=Jordan |first2=Paul |title=Which countries will perform in which Semi-Final at Eurovision 2018? |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/results-of-the-semi-final-allocation-draw-2018 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=9 July 2020 |date=29 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="2013 semi order">{{cite web |title=Eurovision 2013: Semi-Final running order revealed |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-2013-semi-final-running-order-revealed |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=9 July 2020 |date=28 March 2013}}</ref> The automatic qualifiers are assigned at random to a semi-final for the purposes of voting rights.<ref name="Semi-Final Allocation" />

Semi-final qualifiers make a draw at random during the winners' press conference to determine whether they will perform during the first or second half of the final; the automatic finalists then randomly draw their competing half in the run-up to the final, except for the host country, whose exact performance position is determined in a separate draw.<ref name="2013 semi order" /><ref>{{cite web |last1=Groot |first1=Evert |title=Portugal and 'Big Five' rehearse for the second time |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/portugal-france-spain-italy-united-kingdom-second-rehearsal-2018 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=9 July 2020 |date=6 May 2018}}</ref> The running order for the final is then decided following the second semi-final by the producers. The running orders are decided with the competing songs' musical qualities, stage performance, prop and lighting set-up, and other production considerations taken into account.<ref>{{cite web |title=How is the Running Order being decided? |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/exclusive-running-order-producers-decide-2017 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=9 July 2020 |date=12 May 2017}}</ref>

=== Voting ===
{{further|Voting at the Eurovision Song Contest}}
[[File:Eurovision 2004 Scoreboard.jpg|right|thumb|alt=A screenshot from the 2004 contest showing the electronic scoreboard: video footage of Johnny Logan is superimposed onto the scoreboard; the name and flag of the country giving its points is shown at the bottom of the screen, and the flag and country name of the finalists, the number of points being given by the giving country, and the total number of points received is shown in two columns, with the sorting order updated to place the country with the highest score at the top.|The electronic scoreboard used at the {{Escyr|2004||2004 contest}}, with [[Johnny Logan (singer)|Johnny Logan]] announcing the votes from Ireland]]

Starting in 2023, the voting system used to determine the results of the contest works on the basis of [[positional voting]].<ref name="2023 voting change">{{cite web |title=Voting changes announced for Eurovision Song Contest 2023 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/voting-changes-announced-eurovision-song-contest-2023 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=22 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122131325/https://eurovision.tv/story/voting-changes-announced-eurovision-song-contest-2023 |archive-date=22 November 2022 |date=22 November 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="jury semi scrapped">{{cite web |title=Eurovision scraps jury voting in semi-finals |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-63716398 |publisher=[[BBC News]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122131409/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-63716398 |archive-date=22 November 2022 |date=22 November 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> Each country awards 1–8, 10 and 12 points to the ten favourite songs as voted for by that country's general public or assembled jury, with the most preferred song receiving 12 points. In the semi-finals, each country awards one set of points based primarily on the votes cast by that country's viewing public via [[televoting|telephone]], SMS or the official Eurovision [[Mobile app|app]], while in the final, each country awards two sets of points, with one set awarded by the viewers and another awarded by a jury panel comprising five music professionals from that country.<ref name="Voting">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Voting |date=3 May 2017 |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/voting |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=5 July 2020}}</ref><ref name="2023 voting change" /> Starting in 2023, viewers in selected non-participating countries are also able to vote during the contest, with those viewers able to cast votes via an online platform, which are then aggregated and awarded as one set of points from an "extra country" for the overall public vote.<ref>{{cite web |title=Voting changes (2023) FAQ |url=https://eurovision.tv/voting-changes-2023-faq |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=22 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122133421/https://eurovision.tv/voting-changes-2023-faq |archive-date=22 November 2022 |date=22 November 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> This system is a modification of that used since 1975, when the "12 points" system was first introduced but with one set of points per country, and a similar system used since 2016 where two sets of points were awarded in both the semi-finals and final.<ref name="Change to voting">{{cite web |last1=Jordan |first1=Paul |title=Biggest change to Eurovision Song Contest voting since 1975 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/biggest-change-to-eurovision-song-contest-voting-since-1975 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=5 July 2020 |date=18 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest overhauls voting rules |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35602473 |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=5 July 2020 |date=18 February 2016}}</ref> National juries and the public in each country are not allowed to vote for their own country, a rule first introduced in 1957.<ref name="Voting" /><ref name="Frankfurt 57">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Frankfurt 1957 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/frankfurt-1957 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=5 July 2020}}</ref>

Historically, each country's points were determined by a jury, consisting at various times of members of the public, music professionals, or both in combination.<ref name="Luxembourg 66" />{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=387–396}} With advances in telecommunication technology, televoting was first introduced to the contest in {{Escyr|1997}} on a trial basis, with broadcasters in five countries allowing the viewing public to determine their votes for the first time.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=148–151}} From {{Escyr|1998}}, televoting was extended to almost all competing countries, and subsequently became mandatory from {{Escyr|2004}}.<ref name="Birmingham 98" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Rules of the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest |url=http://www.myledbury.co.uk/eurovision/pdf/esc2004.pdf |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |access-date=22 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050525073534/http://www.myledbury.co.uk/eurovision/pdf/esc2004.pdf |archive-date=25 May 2005 |url-status=live }}</ref> A jury was reintroduced for the final in {{Escyr|2009}}, with each country's points comprising both the votes of the jury and public in an equal split; this mix of jury and public voting was expanded into the semi-finals from 2010, and was used until 2023, when full public voting was reintroduced to determine the results of the semi-finals.<ref name="jury semi scrapped" /><ref name="Jury 09 final">{{cite web |title=Televoting/jury mix in 2009 Final voting |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/televoting-jury-mix-in-2009-final-voting |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=5 July 2020 |date=14 September 2008}}</ref><ref name="2010 jury semis">{{cite web |title=Juries also get 50% stake in Semi-Final result |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/juries-also-get-50-stake-in-semi-final-result |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=2 July 2020 |date=11 October 2009}}</ref> The mix of jury and public voting continues to be used in the final as of 2023.<ref name="2023 voting change" /><ref name="jury semi scrapped" />

Should two or more countries finish with the same number of points, a tie-break procedure is employed to determine the final placings. {{as of|2016|post=,}} a combined national televoting and jury result is calculated for each country, and the country which has obtained more points from the public voting following this calculation is deemed to have placed higher.<ref name="Voting" />

==== Presentation of the votes ====
[[File:Eurovision Song Contest 1958 - Scoreboard.png|thumb|right|alt=Black and white photograph of the scoreboard in 1958; the running order numbers and song titles of the competing entries are printed on the left-hand side of the scoreboard, and rotating numbers on the right-hand side show the allocation of points to each song as each country's jury is called, and a total of all points received; song titles are sorted by order of appearance, with the first song to be performed appearing at the top of the scoreboard.|The scoreboard at the {{Escyr|1958||1958 contest}}]]

Since 1957, each country's votes have been announced during a special voting segment as part of the contest's broadcast, with a selected spokesperson assigned to announce the results of their country's vote.<ref name="Voting" /> This spokesperson is typically well known in their country; previous spokespersons have included former Eurovision artists and presenters.<ref name="2016 spokespersons">{{cite web |last1=Roxburgh |first1=Gordon |title=The 42 spokespersons for the 2016 Grand Final |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/the-42-spokespersons-for-the-2016-grand-final |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=5 July 2020 |date=14 May 2016}}</ref> Historically, the announcements were made through [[telephone line]]s from the countries of origin, with [[satellite link]]s employed for the first time in {{Escyr|1994}}, allowing the spokespersons to be seen visually by the audience and TV spectators.<ref name="Dublin 94" />

Scoring is done by both a national jury and a national televote. Each country's jury votes are consecutively added to the totals [[scoreboard]] as they are called upon by the contest presenter(s).{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|p=152}} The scoreboard was historically placed at the side of the stage and updated manually as each country gave their votes; in {{Escyr|1988}} a [[computer graphics]] scoreboard was introduced.<ref name="Dublin 88">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Dublin 1988 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/dublin-1988 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=5 July 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Milestone Moments: 1988 – When Celine was crowned Queen |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/milestone-moments-1988-when-celine-was-crowned-queen |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=5 July 2020 |date=12 September 2016}}</ref> The jury points from 1–8 and 10 are displayed on screen and added automatically to the scoreboard, then the country's spokesperson announces which country will receive the 12 points.<ref name="2016 spokespersons" /> Once jury points from all countries have been announced, the presenter(s) announce the total public points received for each finalist, with the votes for each country being consolidated and announced as a single value.<ref name="Change to voting" /> Since {{Escyr|2019}}, the public points have been revealed in ascending order based on the jury vote, with the country that received the fewest points from the jury being the first to receive their public points.<ref name="Voting" /> A full breakdown of the results across all shows is published on the official Eurovision website after the final, including each country's televoting ranking and the votes of its jury and individual jury members. Each country's individual televoting points in the final are typically displayed on-screen by that country's broadcaster following the announcement of the winner.<ref name="Change to voting" />

=== Broadcasting ===
Participating broadcasters are required to air live the semi-final in which they compete, or in the case of the automatic finalists the semi-final in which they are required to vote, and the final, in its entirety; this includes all competing songs, the voting [[Abstract (summary)|recap]] containing short clips of the performances, the voting procedure or semi-final qualification reveal, and the [[reprise]] of the winning song in the final.<ref name="Rules" /><ref name="15 Rules" /><ref name="Broadcasting Rights">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Broadcasting Rights |date=12 January 2017 |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/broadcasting-rights |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=5 July 2020}}</ref> Since 1999, broadcasters who wished to do so were given the opportunity to provide [[Television advertisement|advertising]] during short, non-essential hiatuses in the show's schedule.<ref name="99 Rules" /> In exceptional circumstances, such as due to developing emergency situations, participating broadcasters may delay or postpone broadcast of the event.<ref name="Decade Stockholm 2000">{{cite web |title=The end of a decade: Stockholm 2000 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/the-end-of-a-decade-stockholm-2000 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=5 July 2020 |date=21 December 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Albania to broadcast tonight's Semi-Final deferred |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/albania-to-broadcast-tonight-s-semi-final-deferred |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=5 July 2020 |date=22 May 2012}}</ref> Should a broadcaster fail to air a show as expected in any other scenario they may be subject to sanctions by the EBU.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Royston |first1=Benny |title=Spain to face sanctions over late broadcast |url=http://esctoday.com/14060/spain_to_face_sanctions_over_late_broadcast/ |website=esctoday.com |access-date=5 July 2020 |date=15 May 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Escartín |first1=Javier |title=Los problemas de Soraya en Eurovisión |url=https://www.abc.es/play/abci-problemas-soraya-eurovision-200905150300-92916354130_noticia.html |work=[[ABC (newspaper)|ABC]] |access-date=5 July 2020 |language=es |trans-title=Soraya's problems at Eurovision |date=15 May 2009}}</ref> Several broadcasters in countries that are unable to compete have previously aired the contest in their markets.<ref>{{cite web |title=Here's where to watch Eurovision: Europe Shine A Light |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/heres-where-to-watch-eurovision-europe-shine-a-light |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020 |date=16 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://www.bbcnewzealand.com/shows/eurovision/ |work=[[BBC UKTV]]|access-date=3 July 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Netflix Picks Up U.S. VOD Rights To Eurovision Song Contest 2019 & 2020 |url=https://deadline.com/2019/07/netflix-eurovision-song-contest-2019-2020-picks-up-us-vod-rights-1202648894/ |work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|access-date=3 July 2020 |date=19 July 2019}}</ref>

As national broadcasters join and leave the [[Eurovision (network)|Eurovision]] feed transmitted by the EBU, the EBU/Eurovision [[Station identification|network logo ident]] (not to be confused with the logo of the song contest itself) is displayed. The accompanying music (used on other Eurovision broadcasts) is the Prelude ''(Marche en rondeau)'' to [[Marc-Antoine Charpentier]]'s ''[[Te Deum (Charpentier)|Te Deum]]''.<ref name="GoldenJubilee"/> Originally, the same logo was used for both the Eurovision network and the European Broadcasting Union, however, they now have two different logos; the latest Eurovision network logo was introduced in 2012, and when the ident is transmitted at the start and end of programmes it is this Eurovision network logo that appears.<ref>{{cite web |title=Stage Set for Animated Eurovision Logo |url=https://www.ebu.ch/news/2012/11/stage-set-for-animatedeurovision |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |access-date=22 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517232922/https://www.ebu.ch/news/2012/11/stage-set-for-animatedeurovision |archive-date=17 May 2019 |date=29 November 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{YouTube|stZDkX2Xzow|EUROVISION Animated logo}}</ref>

The EBU now holds the recordings of all but two editions of the contest in its archives, following a project initiated in 2011 to collate footage and related materials of all editions ahead of the event's 60th edition in 2015.<ref name="Eurovision Again BtS" /> Although cameras were present to practice pan-European broadcasting for the first contest in 1956 to the few Europeans who had television sets, its audience was primarily over the radio. The only footage available is a [[Kinescope]] recording of Lys Assia's reprise of her winning song.<ref name="Lugano 56">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Lugano 1956 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/lugano-1956 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=5 July 2020}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=8–9}} No full recording of the {{Escyr|1964||1964 contest}} exists, with conflicting reports of the fate of any copies that may have survived.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=348–358}}<ref>{{cite web |last1=Grønbech |first1=Jens |title=BT afslører: Her er DRs største grandprix-brøler |url=https://www.bt.dk/melodi-grand-prix/bt-afsloerer-her-er-drs-stoerste-grandprix-broeler |publisher=[[B.T. (tabloid)|B.T.]] |access-date=6 July 2020 |language=da |trans-title=BT reveals: DR's biggest Eurovision groan |date=2 May 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Dohrman |first1=Jan |title=Billeder: I denne uge er det 55 år siden, Danmark holdt sit første Eurovision i Tivoli |url=https://www.dr.dk/om-dr/nyheder/billeder-i-denne-uge-er-det-55-aar-siden-danmark-holdt-sit-foerste-eurovision-i-tivoli |publisher=[[DR (broadcaster)|DR]] |access-date=6 July 2020 |language=da |trans-title=Pictures: This week marks 55 years since Denmark held its first Eurovision at Tivoli |date=20 March 2019}}</ref> Audio recordings of both contests do however exist, and some short pieces of footage from both events have survived.<ref name="Lugano 56" /><ref name="Copenhagen 64">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Copenhagen 1964 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/copenhagen-1964 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=5 July 2020}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=24–25}}

== Expansion of the contest ==
{{Further|List of countries in the Eurovision Song Contest}}
{{multiple image
| width = 280
| footer = [[Revolutions of 1989|Changes in Europe in the 1980s and 1990s]] impacted the contest, as [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]] ceased participating under one name and new countries in Central and Eastern Europe started competing.
| image1 = Eurovision Participants 1992.svg
| alt1 = Map of countries in Europe, North Africa and Western Asia showing boundaries in 1992; contest participants in 1992 are coloured in green, with Yugoslavia coloured in red.
| caption1 = Participating countries in {{Escyr|1992}}; [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]] (in red) participated for the final time
| image2 = Regular Participants 1994.svg
| alt2 = Map of countries in Europe, North Africa and Western Asia showing boundaries in 1994; contest participants in 1994 are coloured in green
| caption2 = Participating countries in {{Escyr|1994}}
}}
From the original seven countries which entered the first contest in 1956, the number of competing countries has steadily grown over time. 18 countries participated in the contest's tenth edition in 1965, and by 1990, 22 countries were regularly competing each year.<ref name="Naples 65" /><ref name="Zagreb 90">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Zagreb 1990 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/zagreb-1990 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=27 February 2021}}</ref>

Besides slight modifications to the voting system and other contest rules, no fundamental changes to the contest's format were introduced until the early 1990s, when [[Revolutions of 1989|events in Europe in the late 1980s and early 1990s]] resulted in a growing interest from new countries in the former [[Eastern Bloc]], particularly following the merger of the Eastern European rival [[International Radio and Television Organisation|OIRT network]] with the EBU in 1993.<ref>{{cite book |title=50 Years of Eurovision |date=2004 |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |pages=32–33 |url=https://www.ebu.ch/CMSimages/en/dossiers_1_04_eurovision50_ve_tcm6-13890.pdf |access-date=1 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050129162217/https://www.ebu.ch/CMSimages/en/dossiers_1_04_eurovision50_ve_tcm6-13890.pdf |archive-date=29 January 2005 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Pre-selections and relegation ===
29 countries registered to take part in the 1993 contest, a figure the EBU considered unable to fit reasonably into a single TV show. A pre-selection method was subsequently introduced for the first time in order to reduce the number of competing entries, with seven countries in [[Central and Eastern Europe]] participating in ''[[Kvalifikacija za Millstreet]]'', held in [[Ljubljana]], Slovenia one month before the event. Following a vote among the seven competing countries, {{Esccnty|Bosnia and Herzegovina}}, {{Esccnty|Croatia}} and {{Esccnty|Slovenia}} were chosen to head to the contest in [[Millstreet]], Ireland, and {{Esccnty|Estonia}}, {{Esccnty|Hungary}}, {{Esccnty|Romania}} and {{Esccnty|Slovakia}} were forced to wait another year before being allowed to compete.<ref name="Millstreet 93">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Millstreet 1993 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/millstreet-1993 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=1 July 2020}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=132–135; 219}} A new [[Promotion and relegation|relegation system]] was introduced for entry into the 1994 contest, with the lowest-placed countries being forced to sit out the following year's event to be replaced by countries which had not competed in the previous contest. The bottom seven countries in 1993 were required to miss the following year's contest, and were replaced by the four unsuccessful countries in ''Kvalifikacija za Millstreet'' and new entries from {{Esccnty|Lithuania}}, {{Esccnty|Poland}} and {{Esccnty|Russia}}.<ref name="Millstreet 93" /><ref name="Dublin 94">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Dublin 1994 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/dublin-1994 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=1 July 2020}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=136–139}}

This system was used again in 1994 for qualification for the {{Escyr|1995||1995 contest}}, but a new system was introduced for the {{Escyr|1996||1996 contest}}, when an audio-only qualification round held in the months before the contest in [[Oslo]], Norway; this system was primarily introduced in an attempt to appease Germany, one of Eurovision's biggest markets and financial contributors, which would have otherwise been relegated under the previous system.<ref name="Oslo 96">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Oslo 1996 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/oslo-1996 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=1 July 2020}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=144–147}} 29 countries competed for 22 places in the main contest alongside the automatically qualified Norwegian hosts, however Germany would ultimately still miss out, and joined Hungary, Romania, Russia, {{Esccnty|Denmark}}, {{Esccnty|Israel}}, and {{Esccnty|North Macedonia|t=Macedonia}} as one of the seven countries to be absent from the Oslo contest.<ref name="Oslo 96" />{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=144–147}} For the {{Escyr|1997||1997 contest}}, a similar relegation system to that used between 1993 and 1995 was introduced, with each country's average scores in the preceding five contests being used as a measure to determine which countries would be relegated.<ref name="Dublin 97">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Dublin 1997 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/dublin-1997 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=1 July 2020}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=148–151}} This was subsequently changed again in 2001, back to the same system used between 1993 and 1995 where only the results from that year's contest would count towards relegation.<ref name="Copenhagen 01">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Copenhagen 2001 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/copenhagen-2001 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=1 July 2020}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=164–167}}

=== The "Big Four" and "Big Five" ===
In 1999, an exemption from relegation was introduced for France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom, giving them an automatic right to compete in the 2000 contest and in all subsequent editions. This group, as the highest-paying EBU members which significantly fund the contest each year, subsequently became known as the "Big Four" countries.<ref name="Jerusalem 99">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Jerusalem 1999 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/jerusalem-1999 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=1 July 2020}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=156–159}}<ref name="99 Rules">{{cite web |title=Rules of the 44th Eurovision Song Contest, 1999 |url=http://www.eurosong.net/archive/esc1999.pdf |access-date=1 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418112958/http://www.eurosong.net/archive/esc1999.pdf |archive-date=18 April 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> This group was expanded in 2011 when Italy began competing again, becoming the "Big Five".<ref>{{cite web |title=43 nations on 2011 participants list! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/43-nations-on-2011-participants-list |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=1 July 2020 |date=31 December 2010}}</ref> Originally brought in to ensure that the financial contributions of the contest's biggest financial backers would not be missed, since the introduction of the semi-finals in 2004, the "Big Five" now instead automatically qualify for the final along with the host country.<ref name="Decade Istanbul 04">{{cite web |title=The end of a decade: Istanbul 2004 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/the-end-of-a-decade-istanbul-2004 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=1 July 2020 |date=25 December 2009}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=176–180}}

There remains debate on whether this status prejudices the countries' results, based on reported antipathy over their automatic qualification and the potential disadvantage of having spent less time on stage through not competing in the semi-finals, however this status appears to be more complex given results of the "Big Five" countries can vary widely.<ref name="BBC lessons learned">{{cite web |title=Eurovision 2019: Five lessons learned |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-48325868 |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=1 July 2020 |date=19 May 2019}}</ref><ref name="Brexit to blame?">{{cite web |title=Eurovision: Is Brexit to blame for the UK's latest flop? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-48334089 |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=1 July 2020 |date=20 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Adessi |first=Antonio |date=2021-06-02 |title=Eurovision 2022: cambiamenti in vista per Germania, Spagna e Regno Unito |trans-title=Eurovision 2022: Changes in sight for Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom |url=https://www.eurofestivalnews.com/2021/06/02/eurovision-2022-cambiamenti-in-vista-per-germania-spagna-e-regno-unito/ |access-date=2021-09-07 |website=Eurofestival News |language=it-IT}}</ref> This status has caused consternation from other competing countries, and was cited, among other aspects, as a reason why {{Esccnty|Turkey}} had ceased participating after {{Escyr|2012}}.<ref name="Turkey LGBT">{{cite web |title=Turkey to return Eurovision 'if no more bearded divas' |url=https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-to-return-eurovision-if-no-more-bearded-divas-135427 |work=[[Hürriyet Daily News]] |access-date=1 July 2020 |date=4 August 2018}}</ref>

=== Introduction of semi-finals ===
[[File:Eurovision semifinal qualification rate map.svg|thumb|upright=1.5|alt=Map of countries in Europe, North Africa and Western Asia, with Australia as an insert in the top-right corner, shaded to indicate their semi-final qualification rates: countries with high rates are shown in shades of blue, while countries with low rates are shown in shades of red and orange|Qualification rates per country (2004–2023; automatic qualifications not included)]]
An influx of new countries applying for the {{Escyr|2003||2003 contest}} resulted in the introduction of a semi-final from 2004, with the contest becoming a two-day event.<ref name="new format">{{cite web |last1=Bakker |first1=Sietse |title=EBU confirms new Eurovision Song Contest format |url=http://esctoday.com/1192/ebu_confirms_new_eurovision_song_contest_format/ |website=esctoday.com |access-date=22 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029133229/http://esctoday.com/1192/ebu_confirms_new_eurovision_song_contest_format/ |archive-date=29 October 2020 |date=29 January 2003}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=172–175}} The top 10 countries in each year's final would qualify automatically to the following year's final, alongside the "Big Four", meaning all other countries would compete in the semi-final to compete for 10 qualification spots.<ref name="Decade Istanbul 04" /> The {{Escyr|2004||2004 contest}} in [[Istanbul]], Turkey saw a record 36 countries competing, with new entries from {{Esccnty|Albania}}, {{Esccnty|Andorra}}, {{Esccnty|Belarus}} and {{Esccnty|Serbia and Montenegro}} and the return of previously relegated countries.<ref name="Decade Istanbul 04" />{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=177–179}} The format of this semi-final remained similar to the final proper, taking place a few days before the final; following the performances and the voting window, the names of the 10 countries with the highest number of points, which would therefore qualify for the final, were announced at the end of the show, revealed in a random order by the contest's presenters.<ref name="Decade Istanbul 04" />{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=177–179}}

The single semi-final continued to be held between 2005 and 2007; however, with 42 countries competing in the {{Escyr|2007||2007 contest}} in [[Helsinki]], Finland, the semi-final had 28 entries competing for 10 spots in the final.<ref>{{cite web |title=Countdown to Baku – Helsinki 2007 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/countdown-to-baku-helsinki-2007 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=2 July 2020 |date=18 January 2012}}</ref> Following criticism over the mainly Central and Eastern European qualifiers at the 2007 event and the poor performance of entries from Western European countries, a second semi-final was subsequently introduced for the {{Escyr|2008||2008 contest}} in [[Belgrade]], Serbia, with all countries now competing in one of the two semi-finals, with only the host country and the "Big Four", and subsequently the "Big Five" from 2011, qualifying automatically.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Two Semi-Finals in 2008 |url=http://www.ebu.ch/CMSimages/en/PR_ESC%20Semi-Finals_01.10.07_EN_tcm6-54154.pdf |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |access-date=2 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928062242/http://www.ebu.ch/CMSimages/en/PR_ESC%20Semi-Finals_01.10.07_EN_tcm6-54154.pdf |archive-date=28 September 2012}}</ref><ref name="2 semis announcements">{{cite web |title=Two Semi-Finals Eurovision Song Contest in 2008 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/two-semi-finals-eurovision-song-contest-in-2008 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=2 July 2020 |date=11 January 2008}}</ref> 10 qualification spots would be available in each of the semi-finals, and a new system to split the competing countries between the two semi-finals was introduced based on their geographic location and previous voting patterns, in an attempt to reduce the impact of [[Voting bloc|bloc voting]] and to make the outcome less predictable.<ref name="Semi-Final Allocation">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Semi-Final Allocation Draw |date=14 January 2017 |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/in-depth/semi-final-allocation-draw/ |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=2 July 2020}}</ref><ref name="08 semi draw">{{cite web |title=All you need to know for Monday's draw! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/all-you-need-to-know-for-monday-s-draw |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=2 July 2020 |date=24 January 2008}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=192–195}}

== Entries and participants ==
{{Further|List of Eurovision Song Contest entries}}
[[File:Kalush Orchestra, May 2022.png|thumb|Ukrainian rap group [[Kalush (rap group)|Kalush Orchestra]] are the most recent winners of the contest.]]
[[File:ABBA1974TopPop.jpg|thumb|After winning the {{Escyr|1974|3=1974 contest}} with the song "[[Waterloo (ABBA song)|Waterloo]]", the Swedish pop group [[ABBA]] became one of the most commercially successful acts in the history of pop music.]]
[[File:Eurovision Song Contest 1980 - Johnny Logan 4 (cropped).jpg|thumb|alt=Black and white photograph of Johnny Logan performing on stage at the 1980 contest|[[Johnny Logan (singer)|Johnny Logan]] is the first performer to have won the contest twice, in {{Escyr|1980}} ''(pictured)'' and {{Escyr|1987}}; he also wrote the winning song in {{Escyr|1992}}.]]The contest has been used as a launching point for artists who went on to achieve worldwide fame, and several of [[List of best-selling music artists|the world's best-selling artists]] are counted among past Eurovision Song Contest participants and winning artists. [[ABBA]], the {{Escyr|1974}} winners for Sweden, have recorded an estimated 380 million albums and singles sales since their contest win brought them to worldwide attention, with their winning song "[[Waterloo (ABBA song)|Waterloo]]" selling over five million records.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Harrison |first1=Andrew |title=Why are Abba so popular? |url=https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20140415-why-are-abba-so-popular |work=[[BBC]] Culture|access-date=30 June 2020 |date=21 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |first=Joseph |last=Murrells |title=The Book of Golden Discs |url=https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr |url-access=registration|year=1978 |edition=2nd, illustrated |publisher=Barrie & Jenkins |isbn=0-214-20480-4 |page=395}}</ref> [[Celine Dion]]'s win for Switzerland in {{Escyr|1988}} helped launch her international career, particularly in the [[English-speaking world|anglophone]] market, and she would go on to sell an estimated 200 million records worldwide.<ref name="Dublin 88" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Southern |first1=Kieran |title=Celine Dion and James Corden recreate famous Titanic scene for Carpool Karaoke |url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/celine-dion-and-james-corden-recreate-famous-titanic-scene-for-carpool-karaoke-38132381.html |access-date=30 June 2020 |agency=[[PA Media]] |work=[[Irish Independent]] |date=21 May 2019}}</ref> [[Julio Iglesias]] was relatively unknown when he represented Spain in {{Escyr|1970}} and placed fourth, but worldwide success followed his Eurovision appearance, with an estimated 100 million records sold during his career.<ref>{{cite web |title=Iglesias praises Eurovision as a learning moment |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/iglesias-praises-eurovision-as-a-learning-moment |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=20 March 2021 |date=11 October 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Julio Iglesias pulls out of NZ tour |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/music/86012722/julio-iglesias-pulls-out-of-nz-tour |publisher=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |access-date=20 March 2021 |date=2 November 2016}}</ref> Australian singer [[Olivia Newton-John]] represented the United Kingdom in 1974, placing fourth behind ABBA, but went on to sell an estimated 100 million records, win four [[Grammy Award]]s, and star in the critically and commercially successful [[musical film]] ''[[Grease (film)|Grease]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Milestone Moments: 1974 - The arrival of ABBA |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/milestone-moments-1974-the-arrival-of-abba |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=20 March 2021 |date=5 September 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Olivia Newton-John displays movie memorabilia in Newbridge |url=https://www.rte.ie/lifestyle/living/2019/0723/1064799-olivia-newton-john-visits-newbridge/ |publisher=[[Raidió Teilifís Éireann]] |access-date=20 March 2021 |date=25 July 2019}}</ref>

A number of performers have competed in the contest after having already achieved considerable success. These include winning artists [[Lulu (singer)|Lulu]],<ref name="UK">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: United Kingdom |url=https://eurovision.tv/country/united-kingdom |website=eurovision.tv |access-date=15 March 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Lulu at 70: singer celebrates landmark birthday |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/music/news/lulu-at-70-singer-celebrates-landmark-birthday-37488096.html |access-date=20 March 2021 |work=[[Belfast Telegraph]] |date=3 November 2018}}</ref> [[Toto Cutugno]],<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Bensalhia |first1=John |title=Music Maestros: Top 10 Best Selling Italian Music Artists and Acts |url=https://www.italymagazine.com/featured-story/music-maestros-top-10-best-selling-italian-music-artists-and-acts |magazine=Italy Magazine |access-date=25 March 2021 |date=5 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Puglisi |first1=Federica |title= Happy birthday Toto Cutugno, the most loved Italian singer abroad |url=https://www.italiani.it/en/happy-birthday-toto-cutugno-the-most-loved-italian-singer-abroad/ |website=italiani.it |access-date=26 March 2021 |date=8 July 2020}}</ref> and [[Katrina and the Waves]],<ref name="UK" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Kelly |first1=Emma |title=Katrina And The Waves reckon Eurovision winner Love Shine A Light 'didn't get a look in' in the UK |url=https://metro.co.uk/2020/09/07/katrina-and-the-waves-reckon-eurovision-winner-love-shine-a-light-didnt-get-a-look-in-in-the-uk-13233379/ |access-date=20 March 2021 |work=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]] |date=7 September 2020}}</ref> and acts that failed to win such as [[Nana Mouskouri]],<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Keeb |first=Brigitte |title=Wendland Nearing One Million Mark |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LhYEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22One+Million%22+%22Nana+Mouskouri%22 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=23 March 2021 |date=21 April 1962}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Papadatos |first1=Markos |title="Forever Young" with Nana Mouskouri, the biggest-selling female artist of all time! |url=https://www.neomagazine.com/2018/07/forever-young-with-nana-mouskouri-the-biggest-selling-female-artist-of-all-time/ |magazine=Neo Magazine |access-date=23 March 2021 |date=8 July 2018}}</ref> [[Cliff Richard]],<ref name="UK" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Cliff Richard's 'Congratulations' beaten in Eurovision fix? |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/cliff-richard-26-1328736 |access-date=20 March 2021 |work=[[NME]] |date=6 May 2008}}</ref> [[Baccara]],<ref name="Luxembourg story">{{cite web |last1=Escudero |first1=Victor M. |title=Luxembourg: Small in size, big in Eurovision |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/top-10-entries-from-luxembourg |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=20 March 2021 |date=19 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Eames |first1=Tom |title=How Scotland's football team has given Baccara's 'Yes Sir I Can Boogie' a sudden chart comeback |url=https://www.smoothradio.com/news/music/baccara-yes-sir-i-can-boogie-scotland-considine-video/ |publisher=[[Smooth Radio (2014)|Smooth Radio]] |access-date=20 March 2021 |date=16 November 2020}}</ref> [[Umberto Tozzi]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dondoni |first1=Luca |title=Tozzi: "Ti amo" ha 40 anni, merita una festa |url=https://www.lastampa.it/spettacoli/musica/2017/04/06/news/tozzi-ti-amo-ha-40-anni-merita-una-festa-1.34643232 |work=[[La Stampa]] |access-date=25 March 2021 |date=20 June 2019 |language=Italian}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1= |first1= |title=Italy's Music Charts: Then and Now |url=https://www.lagazzettaitaliana.com/entertainment/8532-italy-s-music-charts-then-and-now |magazine=La Gazzetta Italiana |access-date=25 March 2021 |date=August 2017}}</ref> [[Plastic Bertrand]],<ref name="Luxembourg story"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Idato |first1=Michael |title=Eurovision's honour roll: from Domenico Modugno to ABBA and Celine Dion |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/eurovisions-honour-roll-from-domenico-modugno-to-abba-and-celine-dion-20150519-gh4lgl.html |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |access-date=20 March 2021 |date=19 May 2015}}</ref> [[t.A.T.u.]],<ref name="Decade Riga 03" /><ref name="The Guardian">{{cite news |last1=Paton Walsh |first1=Nick |title=Vote switch 'stole Tatu's Eurovision win' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/may/30/russia.arts |access-date=20 March 2021 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=30 May 2003}}</ref> [[Las Ketchup]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Las Ketchup: "We didn't choose to do Eurovision — we had to do it" |url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2017/07/21/las-ketchup-didnt-choose-eurovision/193062/ |access-date=14 May 2021 |work=[[Wiwibloggs]] |date=21 July 2019}}</ref> [[Patricia Kaas]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Patricia Kaas représentera la France à l'Eurovision |url=https://www.leparisien.fr/culture-loisirs/patricia-kaas-representera-la-france-a-l-eurovision-30-01-2009-392630.php |access-date=23 March 2021 |work=[[Le Parisien]] |date=30 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323115319/https://www.leparisien.fr/culture-loisirs/patricia-kaas-representera-la-france-a-l-eurovision-30-01-2009-392630.php |archive-date=23 March 2021 |language=French |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Osborn |first1=Michael |title=Battle of the Eurovision ballads |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8002018.stm |publisher=[[BBC News]] |access-date=23 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090515120314/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8002018.stm |archive-date=15 May 2009 |date=12 May 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Engelbert Humperdinck (singer)|Engelbert Humperdinck]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Engelbert Humperdinck is United Kingdom entrant! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/engelbert-humperdinck-is-united-kingdom-entrant |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=20 March 2021 |date=1 March 2012}}</ref><ref name="The Guardian"/> [[Bonnie Tyler]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Bonnie Tyler to represent United Kingdom |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/bonnie-tyler-to-represent-united-kingdom |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=20 March 2021 |date=7 March 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Lanham |first1=Tom |title='Total Eclipse' singer Bonnie Tyler survived Eurovision |url=https://www.sfexaminer.com/entertainment/total-eclipse-singer-bonnie-tyler-survived-eurovision/ |access-date=20 March 2021 |work=[[San Francisco Examiner]] |date=2 March 2021}}</ref> and [[Flo Rida]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-05-18|title=Flo Rida will join Senhit for San Marino|url=https://eurovision.tv/story/flo-rida-to-join-senhit-for-san-marino|access-date=2021-05-18|website=Eurovision.tv}}</ref> Many well-known composers and lyricists have penned entries of varying success over the years, including [[Serge Gainsbourg]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jordan |first1=Paul |title=France Gall, Luxembourg's Eurovision 1965 winner, dies at 70 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/france-gall-passed-away-at-70-luxembourg-1965 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=20 March 2021 |date=7 January 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Kennedy |first1=Maev |title=France Gall: French singer who inspired My Way dies age 70 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/07/french-singer-and-eurovision-winner-france-gall-dies-age-70 |access-date=23 March 2021 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=7 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180110055621/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/07/french-singer-and-eurovision-winner-france-gall-dies-age-70 |archive-date=10 January 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Goran Bregović]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Bregović to compose Serbian entry; picks from three artists |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/bregovic-to-compose-serbian-entry-picks-from-three-artists |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=23 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128030256/https://eurovision.tv/story/bregovic-to-compose-serbian-entry-picks-from-three-artists |archive-date=28 November 2020 |date=20 January 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Diane Warren]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Diane Warren: Legendary songwriter |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/diane-warren-legendary-songwriter |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=23 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919213534/https://eurovision.tv/story/diane-warren-legendary-songwriter |archive-date=19 September 2020 |date=15 May 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Andrew Lloyd Webber]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Andrew Lloyd Webber to compose the UK entry |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/andrew-lloyd-webber-to-compose-the-uk-entry |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=20 March 2021 |date=18 October 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Kelly |first1=Emma |title=Andrew Lloyd Webber was almost replaced by a body double at Eurovision because he was so nervous |url=https://metro.co.uk/2020/05/14/andrew-lloyd-webber-was-almost-replaced-body-double-eurovision-was-nervous-12702228/ |access-date=20 March 2021 |work=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]] |date=14 May 2020}}</ref> [[Pete Waterman]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Pete Waterman to write UK entry for Eurovision |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2010/01_january/29/eurovision.shtml |publisher=[[BBC]] |access-date=20 March 2021 |date=29 January 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Pete Waterman's Eurovision entry finishes last |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/pete-watermans-eurovision-entry-finishes-3064178 |access-date=20 March 2021 |work=[[Coventry Telegraph]] |date=31 May 2010}}</ref> and [[Tony Iommi]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Sabbath star Tony Iommi writes Eurovision entry |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-england-birmingham-21689607|publisher=[[BBC]] |access-date=14 May 2021 |date=6 March 2013}}</ref> as well as producers [[Timbaland]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Dima Bilan again conquers Russian hearts |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/dima-bilan-again-conquers-russian-hearts|publisher=eurovision.tv |access-date=14 May 2021 |date=9 March 2008}}</ref> and [[Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Sébastien Tellier to represent France |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/sebastien-tellier-to-represent-france|publisher=eurovision.tv |access-date=14 May 2021 |date=9 March 2008}}</ref>

Past participants have contributed to other fields in addition to their music careers. The Netherlands' [[Annie M. G. Schmidt|Annie Schmidt]], lyricist of the first entry performed at Eurovision, has gained a worldwide reputation for her stories and earned the [[Hans Christian Andersen Award]] for children's literature.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Lynch‐Brown |first=Carol |title=A profile of Annie M. G. Schmidt, 1988 Hans Christian Andersen medalist |doi=10.1080/0300443890480104 |journal= Early Child Development and Care|date=22 December 2010|volume=48 |pages=19–27 }}</ref> French "[[yé-yé]] girls" [[Françoise Hardy]] and contest winner [[France Gall]] are household names of 1960s pop culture, with Hardy also being a pioneer of [[street style]] fashion trends and an inspiration for the global [[Youthquake (movement)|youthquake]] movement.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Wilson |first1=Eric |title= Now You Know: Françoise Hardy Was the Original Street Style Star |url=https://www.instyle.com/fashion/street-style/original-street-style-star-francoise-hardy?slide=b3b12a90-74fc-4486-ba8d-73bd6a0cbd04#b3b12a90-74fc-4486-ba8d-73bd6a0cbd04 |magazine=[[InStyle]] |access-date=27 March 2021 |date=11 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Borrelli-Persson |first1=Laird |title=Sarah Jessica Parker Narrates the History of 1960s Fashion in Vogue |url=https://www.vogue.com/article/vogue125-video-fashion-history-sarah-jessica-parker-1960s |magazine=[[Vogue (magazine)|Vogue]] |access-date=27 March 2021 |date=14 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Mackenzie-Smith |first1=Stevie |title=A Tribute to France Gall, the Iconic Yé-Yé Star |url=https://www.anothermag.com/fashion-beauty/10483/a-tribute-to-france-gall-the-iconic-ye-ye-star |magazine=[[Another Magazine]] |access-date=27 March 2021}}</ref> Figures who carved a career in politics and gained international acclaim for humanitarian achievements include contest winner [[Dana Rosemary Scallon|Dana]] as a two-time [[Irish presidential election|Irish presidential candidate]] and [[Member of the European Parliament]] (MEP);<ref>{{cite web |title=Dana Rosemary Scallon seeking presidency backing |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/mobile/uk-northern-ireland-foyle-west-14985227 |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=30 June 2020 |date=20 September 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Irish presidential election: Michael D Higgins elected |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15488067 |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=30 June 2020 |date=29 October 2011}}</ref> Nana Mouskouri as Greek MEP and a [[List of UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors|UNICEF international goodwill ambassador]];<ref>{{cite web |title=Nana Mouskouri Goodwill Ambassador |url=https://sites.unicef.org/people/people_nana_mouskouri.html |publisher=[[UNICEF]] |website=unicef.org |access-date=25 March 2021 |archive-date=22 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422195834/https://sites.unicef.org/people/people_nana_mouskouri.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=European Parliament - Nana MOUSKOURI |url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/2183/NANA_MOUSKOURI/history/4 |publisher=[[European Union]] |website=Europarl.europa.eu |access-date=25 March 2021}}</ref> contest winner [[Ruslana]] as member of [[Verkhovna Rada]], Ukraine's parliament and a figure of the [[Orange Revolution]] and [[Euromaidan]] protests, who gained global honours for leadership and courage;<ref>{{cite web |last=Ahuja |first=Masuma |title=Why did Michelle Obama give a Ukrainian pop star the Women of Courage award? |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2014/03/04/why-did-michelle-obama-give-a-ukrainian-pop-star-the-women-of-courage-award/ |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=30 March 2021 |date=5 March 2014}}</ref><ref name="live">{{cite web |last1=Davies |first1=Russell |title=Ruslana: sings major recording deal with Warner Records |url=http://esctoday.com/10527/ruslana_sings_major_recording_deal_with_warner_records |publisher=ESCToday |access-date=30 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204031105/http://www.esctoday.com/10527/ruslana_sings_major_recording_deal_with_warner_records/ |archive-date=4 December 2013 |date=15 February 2008}}</ref><ref>[http://www.kyivpost.com/guide/about-kyiv/musicians-liven-up-euromaidan-stage-332611.html Musicians liven up EuroMaidan stage], ''[[Kyiv Post]]'' (29 November 2013) {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131129091452/http://www.kyivpost.com/guide/about-kyiv/musicians-liven-up-euromaidan-stage-332611.html |date=29 November 2013}}</ref> and North Macedonia's [[Esma Redžepova]] as member of political parties and a two-time [[Nobel Peace Prize]] nominee.<ref>{{cite web |last=Cartwright |first=Garth |title=Esma Redžepova obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/dec/14/esma-redzepova-obituary |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=30 March 2021 |date=14 December 2016}}</ref>

Competing songs have occasionally gone on to become successes for their original performers and other artists, and some of the [[List of best-selling singles|best-selling singles]] globally received their first international performances at Eurovision. "[[Save Your Kisses for Me]]", the winning song in {{Escyr|1976}} for the United Kingdom's [[Brotherhood of Man]], went on to sell over six million singles, more than any other winning song.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Eurovision Song Contest: The Official History |first=John Kennedy |last=O'Connor |publisher=[[Carlton Publishing Group|Carlton Books]] |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-8444-2994-3}}</ref>{{sfn|West|2020|pp=95-96}} "[[Nel blu, dipinto di blu (song)|Nel blu, dipinto di blu]]", also known as "Volare", Italy's third-placed song in {{Escyr|1958}} performed by [[Domenico Modugno]], is the only Eurovision entry to win a [[Grammy Awards|Grammy Award]]. It was the first Grammy winner for both [[Grammy Award for Record of the Year|Record of the Year]] and [[Grammy Award for Song of the Year|Song of the Year]] and it has since been recorded by various artists, topped the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] in the United States and achieved combined sales of over 22 million copies worldwide.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pierluigi |first1=Panza |title=Piramidi rotanti luci da record e 007 in azione |url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1996/febbraio/17/Piramidi_rotanti_luci_record_007_co_0_9602175076.shtml |work=[[Corriere della Sera]] |access-date=9 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120802023205/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1996/febbraio/17/Piramidi_rotanti_luci_record_007_co_0_9602175076.shtml |archive-date=2 August 2012 |date=17 February 1996 |quote=Il brano presentato a Sanremo che ha venduto di piu' e' "Nel blu dipinto di blu" di Domenico Modugno (22 milioni di dischi).}}</ref> "[[Eres tú]]", performed by Spain's [[Mocedades]] and runner-up in {{Escyr|1973}}, became the first Spanish-language song to reach the top 10 of the ''Billboard'' Hot 100,<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Hispanic Heritage Month: The 50 Greatest Latin Songs of All Time |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/events/greatest-of-all-time/6760654/best-latin-songs-of-all-time |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=9 July 2020 |date=15 September 2017}}</ref> and the Grammy-nominated "[[Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit]]", which came eighth in {{Escyr|1996}} for the United Kingdom's [[Gina G]], sold 790,000 records and achieved success across Europe and the US, reaching #1 on the [[UK Singles Chart]] and peaking at #12 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book |first=David |last=Roberts |year=2006 |title=[[British Hit Singles & Albums]] |edition=19th |publisher=Guinness World Records Limited |location=London |isbn=1-904994-10-5 |page=593}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Anderson |first1=Sarah |title=50 best-selling tracks of the '90s |url=https://www.nme.com/photos/50-best-selling-tracks-of-the-90s-1437045 |work=[[NME]] |access-date=9 July 2020 |date=21 May 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Gina G Chart History (Hot 100) |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/gina-g/chart-history/hsi/ |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=9 July 2020}}</ref>

The turn of the century has also seen numerous competing songs becoming successes. "[[Euphoria (Loreen song)|Euphoria]]", [[Loreen (singer)|Loreen]]'s winning song for Sweden in {{Escyr|2012}}, achieved Europe-wide success, reaching number one in several countries and by 2014 had become the most [[Music download|downloaded]] Eurovision song to date.<ref>{{cite web |title=Loreen's "Euphoria" Enjoys Biggest Chart Success From Eurovision Winner In Years |url=https://www.wmg.com/news/loreen-s-euphoria-enjoys-biggest-chart-success-eurovision-winner-years-19271 |publisher=[[Warner Music Group]] |date=5 June 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Kreisler |first1=Lauren |title=The Most Downloaded Eurovision Songs of All Time Revealed! |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-most-downloaded-eurovision-songs-of-all-time-revealed-__4088/ |publisher=[[Official Charts Company]] |access-date=21 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929045506/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-most-downloaded-eurovision-songs-of-all-time-revealed-__4088/ |archive-date=29 September 2018 |date=9 May 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> The video for "[[Occidentali's Karma]]" by [[Francesco Gabbani]], which placed sixth for Italy in {{Escyr|2017}}, became the first Eurovision song to reach more than 200 million views on YouTube,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://escxtra.com/2018/09/16/occidentalis-karma-hits-200-million-views-on-youtube/|title=Occidentali's Karma hits 200 million views on Youtube!|date=16 September 2018|publisher=escxtra.com|access-date=13 April 2020}}</ref> while "[[Soldi]]" by [[Mahmood (singer)|Mahmood]], the Italian runner-up in {{Escyr|2019}}, was the most-streamed Eurovision song on [[Spotify]] until it was overtaken by that year's winner for the Netherlands, "[[Arcade (song)|Arcade]]" by [[Duncan Laurence]], following [[Viral phenomenon|viral success]] on [[TikTok]] in late 2020 and early 2021;<ref>{{cite web|title=Italy: Mahmood's "Soldi" is now the most-streamed Eurovision song on Spotify|date=16 October 2019|url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2019/10/16/italy-mahmoods-soldi-is-now-the-most-streamed-eurovision-song-on-spotify/242939/|access-date=13 April 2020|publisher=Wiwibloggs}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-01-29|title="Arcade" passes "Soldi" as the most-streamed Eurovision entry on Spotify|url=https://escxtra.com/2021/01/29/arcade-passes-soldi-as-the-most-streamed-eurovision-entry-on-spotify/|access-date=2021-01-29|website=ESCXTRA.com}}</ref> "Arcade" later became the first Eurovision song since "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit" and the first Eurovision winning song since "Save Your Kisses for Me" to chart on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, eventually peaking at #30.<ref>{{Cite magazine|date=2021-04-13|title=Duncan Laurence's 'Arcade' Is First Eurovision Song Contest Winner to Hit Hot 100 in 45 Years|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/duncan-laurence-arcade-hits-hot-100-eurovision/|access-date=2021-04-16|magazine=Billboard}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Duncan Laurence Has 'No Idea' How His Breakthrough Single 'Arcade' Keeps Going Viral|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9585063/duncan-laurence-arcade-hot-100-eurovision-interview|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611031033/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9585063/duncan-laurence-arcade-hot-100-eurovision-interview|archive-date=2021-06-11|access-date=2021-06-11|magazine=Billboard|date=10 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lee Adams |first=William |date=2021-08-31 |title=Eurovision winners Måneskin and Duncan Laurence crack Top 30 on Billboard charts |url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2021/08/31/maneskin-and-duncan-laurence-crack-top-30-on-billboard-charts/266506/ |access-date=2021-09-06 |website=Wiwibloggs }}</ref> The {{Escyr|2021|3=2021 contest}} saw the next major breakthrough success from Eurovision, with [[Måneskin]], that year's winners for Italy with "{{lang|it|[[Zitti e buoni]]|i=unset}}", attracting worldwide attention across their repertoire immediately following their victory.<ref>{{cite magazine|date=August 3, 2021|title=Chartbreaker: Inside Måneskin's Unlikely, TikTok-Assisted Journey to Rock Stardom|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/9609530/maneskin-beggin-august-chartbreaker/|access-date=August 5, 2021|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Shaw|first=Lucas|title=Maneskin Is Italy's First Rock Band to Rule the Charts|work=[[Bloomberg News]]|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/pop-star-ranking/2021-september/maneskin-is-italy-s-first-rock-band-to-rule-the-charts.html|access-date=2021-09-14}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Trendell |first=Andrew |date=2021-10-21 |title=Måneskin live in London: embrace the Eurovision winners' rock'n'roll circus |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/live/maneskin-london-live-islington-academy-review-radar-3076159 |access-date=2021-10-22 |website= |publisher=[[NME]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Christou |first=Costa |date=2021-07-14 |title=Editorial: Eurovision 2021 - A new turning point for the contest? |url=https://escxtra.com/2021/07/14/eurovision-2021-a-new-turning-point-for-the-contest-editorial/ |access-date=2022-06-29 |website=ESCXTRA.com }}</ref>

[[Johnny Logan (singer)|Johnny Logan]] remains the only artist to have won multiple contests as a performer, winning for Ireland in {{Escyr|1980}} with "[[What's Another Year]]", written by [[Shay Healy]], and in {{Escyr|1987}} with the self-penned "[[Hold Me Now (Johnny Logan song)|Hold Me Now]]". Logan was also the winning songwriter in {{Escyr|1992}} for the Irish winner, "[[Why Me? (Linda Martin song)|Why Me?]]" performed by [[Linda Martin]], and has therefore achieved three contest victories as either a performer or writer.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Malmö 1992 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/malmo-1992 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=30 June 2020}}</ref> Four further songwriters have each written two contest-winning songs: [[Willy van Hemert]], Yves Dessca, [[Rolf Løvland]], and [[Brendan Graham]].{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|p=201}} Following their introduction in {{escyr|2004}}, [[Alexander Rybak]] became the first artist to win multiple Eurovision semi-finals, finishing in first at the second semi-finals in {{Escyr|2009}} and {{escyr|2018}}; he remains the only entrant to have done so to date.<ref>{{cite web|title= Alexander Rybak - Norway - Moscow 2009|url= https://eurovision.tv/participant/alexander-rybak |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest|access-date=14 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title= Alexander Rybak - Norway - Lisbon 2018|url=https://eurovision.tv/participant/alexander-rybak-2018 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest|access-date=14 June 2021}}</ref>

=== Winners ===
{{Further|List of Eurovision Song Contest winners}}
[[File:Eurovision_winners_map.svg|thumb|300x300px|Each country's win record in the contest {{as of|2022|lc=y|post=.}}]]
70 songs from 27 countries have won the Eurovision Song Contest {{as of|2023|lc=y|post=.}}<ref name="Winners" /> {{Esccnty|Ireland}} and {{Esccnty|Sweden}} have recorded the most wins with seven each, followed by {{Esccnty|France}}, {{Esccnty|Luxembourg}}, the {{Esccnty|United Kingdom}} and the {{Esccnty|Netherlands}} with five each.<ref name="Facts & Figures" /><ref name="Winners" /> Of the 52 countries to have taken part, 25 have yet to win.<ref name="ESC History" /> On only one occasion have multiple winners been declared in a single contest: in {{Escyr|1969}}, four countries finished the contest with an equal number of votes and due to the lack of a tie-break rule at the time, all four countries were declared winners.<ref name="Facts & Figures" /><ref name="Madrid 69">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Madrid 1969 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/madrid-1969 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=30 June 2020}}</ref> A majority of winning songs have been performed in English, particularly since the language rule was abolished in 1999. Since that contest, seven winning songs have been performed either fully or partially in a language other than English.<ref name="ESC History" />

Two countries have won the contest on their first appearance: {{Esccnty|Switzerland}}, by virtue of being declared the winner of the first contest in 1956; and {{Esccnty|Serbia}}, which won in 2007 in their first participation as an independent country, following entries in previous editions as part of the now-defunct {{Esccnty|Yugoslavia}} and then {{Esccnty|Serbia and Montenegro}}.<ref name="Helsinki 07">{{cite web |title=The end of a decade: Helsinki 2007 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/the-end-of-a-decade-helsinki-2007 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=30 June 2020 |date=30 December 2009}}</ref> Other countries have had relatively short waits before winning their first contest, with {{Esccnty|Ukraine}} victorious on their second contest appearance in {{Escyr|2004}} and {{Esccnty|Latvia}} winning with their third entry in {{Escyr|2002}}.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=208–209}} Conversely, some countries have competed for many years before recording their first win: {{Esccnty|Greece}} recorded their first win in {{Escyr|2005}}, 31 years after their first appearance, while {{Esccnty|Finland}} ended a 45-year losing streak in {{Escyr|2006}}.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=208–209}}<ref name="Countdown Athens 06">{{cite web |title=Countdown to Baku – Athens 2006 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/countdown-to-baku-athens-2006 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=30 June 2020 |date=27 December 2011}}</ref> {{Esccnty|Portugal}} waited the longest, recording their first win in {{Escyr|2017}}, 53 years after their first participation.<ref>{{cite web |title=Salvador Sobral given a hero's welcome in Portugal |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/salvador-sobral-given-a-hero-s-welcome-in-portugal |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=30 June 2020 |date=15 May 2017}}</ref> Countries have in the past had to wait many years to win again: Switzerland went 32 years between winning in 1956 and {{Escyr|1988}}; {{Esccnty|Denmark}} held a 37-year gap between wins in {{Escyr|1963}} and {{Escyr|2000}}; the Netherlands waited 44 years to win again in {{Escyr|2019}}, their most recent win having been in {{Escyr|1975}}; and {{Esccnty|Austria}} won its second contest in {{Escyr|2014}}, 48 years after their first win in {{Escyr|1966}}.<ref name="ESC History" />{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=208–209}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Welcome home, Conchita! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/welcome-home-conchita |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=30 June 2020 |date=15 May 2014}}</ref>

The United Kingdom holds the record for the highest number of second-place finishes, having come runner-up sixteen times.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: United Kingdom |url=https://eurovision.tv/country/united-kingdom |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=30 June 2020}}</ref> Meanwhile, {{Esccnty|Norway}} has come last more than any other country, appearing at the bottom of the scoreboard on eleven occasions, including scoring ''[[nul points]]'' four times.<ref name="Facts & Figures" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Norway |url=https://eurovision.tv/country/norway |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=30 June 2020}}</ref> A country has recorded back-to-back wins on four occasions: {{Esccnty|Spain}} recorded consecutive wins in {{Escyr|1968}} and 1969; Luxembourg did likewise in {{Escyr|1972}} and {{Escyr|1973}}; Israel won the contest in {{Escyr|1978}} and {{Escyr|1979}}; and Ireland became the first country to win three consecutive titles, winning in {{Escyr|1992}}, {{Escyr|1993}} and {{Escyr|1994}}.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=208–209}} Ireland's winning streak in the 1990s includes the {{Escyr|1996||1996 contest}}, giving them a record four wins in five years.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Ireland |url=https://eurovision.tv/country/ireland |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=30 June 2020}}</ref>

[[File:Eurovision_trophy.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=The Eurovision trophy|right|Replica of the Eurovision trophy in [[Växjö]], Sweden]]
The winning artists and songwriters receive a trophy, which since 2008 has followed a standard design: a handmade piece of sandblasted glass with painted details in the shape of a 1950s-style [[microphone]], designed by Kjell Engman of the Swedish-based glassworks [[Kosta Glasbruk|Kosta Boda]].<ref name="Trophy" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://kostaboda.co.uk/eurovision-song-contest/ |publisher=[[Kosta Glasbruk|Kosta Boda]] |access-date=30 June 2020}}</ref> The trophy is typically presented by the previous year's winner; others who have handed out the award in the past include representatives from the host broadcaster or the EBU, and politicians; in 2007, the fictional character [[Joulupukki]] (original [[Santa Claus]] from Finland) presented the award to the winner [[Marija Šerifović]].<ref name="Helsinki 07" />{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|p=216}}

== Interval acts and guest appearances ==
[[File:Riverdance cast, 2019 crop.jpg|thumb|alt=Photograph of Riverdance cast|''[[Riverdance]]'' (cast pictured at the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin in 2019) was the interval act at the 1994 contest.]]

Alongside the song contest and appearances from local and international personalities, performances from non-competing artists and musicians have been included since the first edition,<ref name="Iconic intervals" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Star percussionist revealed as Eurovision interval act |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/star-percussionist-revealed-as-eurovision-interval-act |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=29 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223021251/https://eurovision.tv/story/star-percussionist-revealed-as-eurovision-interval-act |archive-date=23 December 2019 |date=18 March 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> and have become a staple of the live show.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|p=216}} These performances have varied widely, previously featuring music, art, dance and circus performances, and past participants are regularly invited to perform, with the reigning champion traditionally returning each year to perform the previous year's winning song.<ref name="Iconic intervals" /><ref>{{cite web |last1=Siim |first1=Jarmo |title=Conchita Wurst & a magical bridge to open the Eurovision Final |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/conchita-wurst-a-magical-bridge-to-open-the-eurovision-final |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=1 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926223803/https://eurovision.tv/story/conchita-wurst-a-magical-bridge-to-open-the-eurovision-final |archive-date=26 September 2020 |date=29 April 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The contest's opening performance and the main interval act, held following the final competing song and before the announcement of the voting results, has become a memorable part of the contest and has included both internationally known artists and local stars. Contest organisers have previously used these performances as a way to explore their country's culture and history, such as in "4,000 Years of Greek Song" at the {{Escyr|2006||2006 contest}} held in Greece;<ref>{{cite book |last1=Polychronakis |first1=Ioannis |editor1-last=Tragaki |editor1-first=Dafni |title=Made in Greece: Studies in Popular Music |date=2019 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |isbn=978-1-315-74907-5 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xjVlDwAAQBAJ&q=4000+Years+of+Greek+Song&pg=PT52 |access-date=29 June 2020 |chapter=Singing Greece's Contemporary Socio-Cultural History}}</ref> other performances have been more comedic in nature, featuring parody and humour, as was the case with "Love Love Peace Peace" in {{Escyr|2016}}, a humorous ode to the history and spectacle of the contest itself.<ref name="Love Love Peace Peace">{{cite web |last1=Jordan |first1=Paul |title=Stockholm Revisited Part Three: Writing the Script |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/stockholm-revisited-part-three-writing-the-script |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=29 June 2020 |date=17 June 2016}}</ref> ''[[Riverdance]]'', which later became one of the most successful dance productions in the world, first began as the interval performance at the 1994 contest in Ireland; the seven-minute performance of [[Irish traditional music|traditional Irish music]] and [[Irish dance|dance]] was later expanded into a full stage show that has been seen by over 25 million people worldwide and provided a launchpad for its lead dancers [[Michael Flatley]] and [[Jean Butler]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Riverdance: The Journey |url=https://riverdance.com/the-show/the-journey/ |website=riverdance.com |access-date=29 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Amazing facts about the Irish dance phenomenon "Riverdance" |url=https://www.irishcentral.com/culture/entertainment/amazing-facts-about-the-irish-dance-phenomenon-riverdance |website=IrishCentral.com |access-date=29 June 2020 |date=29 January 2015}}</ref>

Among other artists who have performed in a non-competitive manner are Danish [[Europop]] group [[Aqua (band)|Aqua]] in {{Escyr|2001}},<ref>{{cite web |last1=Collins |first1=Simon |title=Aqua ride the highs and lows ahead of 2019 Australian tour |url=https://thewest.com.au/entertainment/music/aqua-ride-the-highs-and-lows-ng-b88965837z |publisher=[[The West Australian]] |access-date=29 June 2020 |date=7 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The end of a decade: Copenhagen 2001 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/the-end-of-a-decade-copenhagen-2001 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=29 June 2020 |date=22 December 2009}}</ref> Russian pop duo [[t.A.T.u.]] in {{Escyr|2009}},<ref>{{cite web |title=Russian army choir – Eurovision 2009 interval act – loses 64 members in plane crash tragedy |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/russian-army-choir-eurovision-2009-interval-act-loses-64-members-in-plane-crash-tragedy |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=29 June 2020 |date=26 December 2016}}</ref> and American entertainers [[Justin Timberlake]] and [[Madonna]] in {{Escyr|2016}} and {{Escyr|2019}} respectively.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jordan |first1=Paul |title=Justin Timberlake makes world premiere live performance in the Eurovision Song Contest! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/justin-timberlake-makes-world-premiere-live-performance-in-the-eurovision-song-contest |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=29 June 2020 |date=9 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Picheta |first1=Rob |title=Eurovision: Madonna mixes politics with a classic hit during performance |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/05/18/europe/madonna-eurovision-israel-scli-intl/index.html |publisher=CNN |access-date=29 June 2020 |date=19 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Belam |first1=Martin |title=Madonna was excruciating: what we learned from Eurovision 2019 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/may/19/madonna-was-excruciating-eurovision-2019 |work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=29 June 2020 |date=19 May 2019}}</ref> Other notable artists, including [[Cirque du Soleil]] ({{ESCYr|2009}}), [[Alexandrov Ensemble]] ({{ESCYr|2009}}), [[Vienna Boys' Choir]] ({{ESCYr|1967}} and {{ESCYr|2015}}) and [[Fire of Anatolia]] ({{ESCYr|2004}}), also performed on the Eurovision stage,<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]]|url=https://eurovision.tv/story/cirque-du-soleil-opener-for-the-final|title=Cirque du Soleil!|date=15 May 2009|access-date=18 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Cirque du Soleil: opener for the final! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/cirque-du-soleil-opener-for-the-final |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=29 June 2020 |date=15 May 2009}}</ref> and there have been guest appearances from well-known faces from outside the world of music, including actors, athletes, and serving astronauts and cosmonauts.<ref name="Decade Kyiv 05">{{cite web |title=The end of a decade: Kyiv 2005 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/the-end-of-a-decade-kyiv-2005 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=29 June 2020 |date=27 December 2009}}</ref><ref name="Decade Riga 03">{{cite web |title=The end of a decade: Riga 2003 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/the-end-of-a-decade-riga-2003 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=29 June 2020 |date=24 December 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Russian singer wins 2008 Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/russian-singer-wins-2008-eurovision-song-contest-1.297954 |access-date=29 June 2020 |agency=[[Associated Press]] |publisher=[[CTV News]] |date=24 May 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Fry |first1=Naomi |title=Eurovision's Sanitized Vision of Israel |url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/eurovisions-sanitized-vision-of-israel |magazine=[[The New Yorker]]|access-date=29 June 2020 |date=21 May 2019}}</ref> Guest performances have been used as a channel in response to global events happening concurrently with the contest. The {{Escyr|1999||1999 contest}} in Israel closed with all competing acts performing a rendition of Israel's {{Escyr|1979}} winning song "[[Hallelujah (Milk and Honey song)|Hallelujah]]" as a tribute to the victims of the [[Kosovo War|war in the Balkans]],{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=156–159}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Jerusalem 1999 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/jerusalem-1999 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=29 June 2020}}</ref> a dance performance entitled "The Grey People" in 2016's first semi-final was devoted to the [[2015 European migrant crisis|European migrant crisis]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Stockholm Revisited Part Five: Interval Acts |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/stockholm-revisited-part-five-interval-acts |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=29 June 2020 |date=1 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Åberg |first1=Erik |title=Mellanakten hyllas av Eurovision-tittarna |url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/a/zLk891/mellanakten-hyllas-av-eurovision-tittarna |work=[[Aftonbladet]] |access-date=29 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200629201422/https://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/a/zLk891/mellanakten-hyllas-av-eurovision-tittarna |archive-date=29 June 2020 |language=sv |date=11 May 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Grey People (Interval act Semi – Final 1 of the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest) |url=https://eurovision.tv/video/the-grey-people-interval-act-semi-final-1-of-the-2016-eurovision-song-contest |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=29 June 2020 |date=11 May 2016}}</ref> and the {{Escyr|2022||2022 contest}} featured known anti-war songs "[[Fragile (Sting song)|Fragile]]", "[[People Have the Power]]" and "[[Give Peace a Chance]]" in response to the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]] that same year.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Farren |first=Neil |date=2022-05-11 |title=Live From Turin: Semi-Final Two Jury Show |url=https://eurovoix.com/2022/05/11/live-from-turin-semi-final-two-jury-show/ |access-date=2022-05-14 |website=Eurovoix}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-14 |title=Eurovision 2022: All about the Grand Final |url=https://eurovisionworld.com/esc/eurovision-2022-all-about-the-grand-final |access-date=2022-05-14 |website=Eurovisionworld}}</ref>

{{wide image|File:ESC2016 Grand Final Interval Act 18.jpg|900px|alt=Photograph of performance of "Love Love Peace Peace" at the 2016 final: Petra Mede and Måns Zelmerlöw perform on stage surrounded by performers dressed in costumes of past Eurovision acts|"Love Love Peace Peace" at the 2016 final, performed by presenters [[Petra Mede]] and [[Måns Zelmerlöw]], depicted several memorable moments from Eurovision history.}}

== Criticism and controversy ==
The contest has been the subject of considerable criticism regarding both its musical content and what has been reported to be a political element to the event, and several controversial moments have been witnessed over the course of its history.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Robinson|first1=Frances|date=3 May 2017|title=13 times Eurovision got super political|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/13-times-eurovision-song-contest-got-political/|access-date=8 July 2020|work=[[Politico]]}}</ref>

=== Musical style and presentation ===
Criticism has been levied against the musical quality of past competing entries, with a perception that certain music styles seen as being presented more often than others in an attempt to appeal to as many potential voters as possible among the international audience.<ref name="How to win">{{cite news |title=How to win the Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://www.economist.com/europe/2019/05/16/how-to-win-the-eurovision-song-contest |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=16 May 2019}}</ref> [[Sentimental ballad#Power ballads|Power ballads]], [[Folk music#Europe|folk]] rhythms and [[bubblegum pop]] have been considered staples of the contest in recent years, leading to allegations that the event has become formulaic.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Carniel |first1=Jess |title=The Six Types of Eurovision Contestant |url=https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2018/05/the-six-types-of-eurovision-contestant/ |website=lifehacker.com.au |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=10 May 2018}}</ref><ref name="Fringe" /> Other traits in past competing entries which have regularly been mocked by media and viewers include an abundance of [[Modulation (music)|key changes]] and lyrics about love and/or peace, as well as the [[Non-native pronunciations of English|pronunciation of English by non-native users of the language]].<ref name="How to win" /><ref>{{cite web |title=What makes the perfect Eurovision song? |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2018-05-11/what-makes-the-perfect-eurovision-song/ |work=[[Radio Times]] |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=11 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Picheta |first1=Rob |title=Want to win Eurovision? Write a nice, slow song about love |url=https://edition.cnn.com/style/article/eurovision-winners-analysis-scli-intl-style/index.html |publisher=[[CNN]] |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=29 June 2020}}</ref> Given Eurovision is principally a television show, over the years competing performances have attempted to attract the viewers' attention through means other than music, and elaborate [[Stage lighting|lighting displays]], [[pyrotechnics]], and [[Extravaganza|extravagant]] on-stage theatrics and costumes having become a common sight at recent contests;<ref>{{cite web |last1=Picheta |first1=Rob |title=Eurovision: What is it and what time is it on? |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/05/18/europe/eurovision-explainer-2019-intl/index.html |publisher=[[CNN]] |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=18 May 2019}}</ref> criticism of these tactics have been levied as being a method of distracting the viewer from the weak musical quality of some of the competing entries.<ref name="Antes cursi">{{cite journal |last=Allatson |first=Paul |title='Antes cursi que sencilla': Eurovision Song Contests and the Kitsch‐Drive to Euro‐Unity |journal=Culture, Theory and Critique |year=2007 |volume=48 |issue=1 |pages=87–98 |doi=10.1080/14735780701293540|s2cid=146449408 }}</ref>

While many of these traits are ridiculed in the media and elsewhere, for others these traits are celebrated and considered an integral part of what makes the contest appealing.<ref>{{cite web |last=Campbell |first=Chuck |title='Eurovision' soundtrack kicks up the camp |url=https://eu.knoxnews.com/story/entertainment/columnists/chuck-campbell/2020/07/05/eurovision-soundtrack-will-ferrell-rachel-mcadams-6-lack-jessie-ware-dream-wife-peter-manos-review/5378820002/ |website=knoxnews.com |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=5 July 2020}}</ref> Although many of the competing acts each year will fall into some of the categories above, the contest has seen a diverse range of musical styles in its history, including rock, [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]], [[jazz]], [[Country music|country]], [[Electronic music|electronic]], [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]], [[Hip hop music|hip hop]] and [[Avant-garde music|avant-garde]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Pattillo |first=Alice |title=The 10 Most Metal Moments in Eurovision |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-most-metal-moments-in-eurovision |website=loudersound.com |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=14 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Escudero |first1=Victor M. |title=Eurovision and all that jazz! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/history-of-jazz-in-eurovision |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=11 August 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Osborn |first=Michael |title=Rapping for glory at Eurovision |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4900892.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=16 May 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Holden |first=Steve |title=Måneskin: The Eurovision winners storming the UK charts |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-57331991 |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=22 November 2021 |date=4 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Macdonald |first=Kyle |date=2022-05-17 |title=Serbia's viral Eurovision song featured Allegri's Miserere, and you might have missed it... |url=https://www.classicfm.com/composers/allegri/in-corpore-sano-konstrakta-eurovision-miserere-serbia/ |access-date=2022-05-20 |website=[[Classic FM (UK)|Classic FM]]}}</ref>

=== Political controversies ===
{{main|Political controversies in the Eurovision Song Contest}}
[[File:Calls for boycott Eurovision Song Contest 2019 (crop).jpg|thumb|right|alt=A painted mural on a wall on a street in Girona, Spain: the Eurovision trophy appears covered in barbed wire surrounded by tower blocks, with the words "#BoycottEurovision2019" above, and "Free Palestine" in English and Arabic to the top left|A mural in [[Girona]] promoting a boycott of the {{Escyr|2019||2019 contest}} in Israel]]
As artists and songs ultimately represent a country, the contest has seen several controversial moments where political tensions between competing countries as a result of [[frozen conflict]]s, and in some cases open warfare, are reflected in the performances and voting.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Robinson |first1=Frances |title=13 times Eurovision got super political |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/13-times-eurovision-song-contest-got-political/ |access-date=21 March 2021 |work=[[Politico]] |date=3 May 2017}}</ref>

The [[Nagorno-Karabakh conflict|continuing conflict]] between {{Esccnty|Armenia}} and {{Esccnty|Azerbaijan}} has affected the contest on numerous occasions. [[Armenia–Azerbaijan relations in the Eurovision Song Contest|Conflicts between the two countries at Eurovision]] escalated quickly since both countries began competing in the late 2000s, resulting in fines and disciplinary action for both countries' broadcasters over political stunts, and a forced change of title for one competing song due to allegations of political subtext.<ref name=ararat-diplomacy>{{cite web|title=Can Eurovision Succeed Where Diplomacy Has Failed?|url=http://araratmagazine.org/2011/05/can-eurovision-succeed-where-diplomacy-has-failed/|website=Ararat|access-date=5 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606221748/http://araratmagazine.org/2011/05/can-eurovision-succeed-where-diplomacy-has-failed/|archive-date=6 June 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Lomsadze |first1=Giorgi |title=Armenia Dodges Eurovision Controversy |url=https://eurasianet.org/armenia-dodges-eurovision-controversy |newspaper=Eurasianet |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=17 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Halpin |first1=Chris |title=EBU sanctions Armenian broadcaster over Nagorno-Karabakh flag incident |url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2016/05/11/ebu-sanctions-armenian-broadcaster-nagorno-karabakh-flag-incident/141783/ |website=wiwibloggs.co.uk |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=11 May 2016}}</ref> Interactions between {{Esccnty|Russia}} and {{Esccnty|Ukraine}} in the contest had originally been positive, however as [[Russia–Ukraine relations|political relations]] soured between the two countries so too have [[Russia–Ukraine relations in the Eurovision Song Contest|relations at Eurovision]] become more complex. Complaints were levied against {{Esccnty|Ukraine|y=2016}}'s winning song in {{Escyr|2016}}, "[[1944 (song)|1944]]", whose lyrics referenced the [[Deportation of the Crimean Tatars|deportation]] of the [[Crimean Tatars]], but which the {{Esccnty|Russia|t=Russian delegation|y=2016}} claimed had a greater political meaning in light of [[Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation|Russia's annexation]] of [[Crimea]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Savage |first1=Mark |title=Eurovision: Ukraine's entry aimed at Russia |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35630395 |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=22 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Withnall |first1=Adam |title=Russian officials threaten to boycott next Eurovision after victory for 'political' Ukraine entry |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/eurovision-song-contest-2016-winner-ukraine-jamala-russia-threat-boycott-next-year-a7030591.html |work=[[The Independent]] |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=15 May 2016}}</ref> As {{Esccnty|Ukraine|y=2017}} prepared to host the {{Escyr|2017|3=following year's contest}}, Russia's selected representative, [[Yuliya Samoylova (singer)|Yuliya Samoylova]], was barred from entering the country due to having previously entered Crimea illegally according to Ukrainian law.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision 2017: Ukraine bars Russian singer Samoilova from contest |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-39354775 |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=22 March 2017}}</ref> Russia eventually pulled out of the contest after offers for Samoylova to perform remotely were refused by Russia's broadcaster, [[Channel One Russia]], resulting in the EBU reprimanding the Ukrainian broadcaster, [[UA:PBC]].<ref>{{cite web|date=13 April 2017|title=EBU: "Russia no longer able to take part in Eurovision 2017"|url=https://eurovision.tv/story/russia-unable-to-participate-2017-ebu-statement|access-date=8 July 2020|website=Eurovision.tv|publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] (EBU)}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Eurovision threatens to ban Ukraine over Russian singer row |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/apr/01/eurovision-threatens-to-ban-ukraine-over-russian-singer-row |access-date=8 July 2020 |agency=[[Agence France-Presse]] |work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> In the wake of the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]] and subsequent protests from other participating countries, {{Esccnty|Russia|y=2022}} was barred from competing in the {{Escyr|2022|3=2022 contest}}, where {{Esccnty|Ukraine|y=2022}} went on to win.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|date=2022-02-25|title=EBU statement regarding the participation of Russia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022|url=https://eurovision.tv/mediacentre/release/ebu-statement-russia-2022|access-date=2022-02-25|website=Eurovision.tv|publisher=EBU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2022-02-25|title=Eurovision: Russia banned from competing at 2022 Song Contest|work=[[BBC News]]|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-60530513|access-date=2022-02-26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Belam |first1=Martin |last2=Cvorak |first2=Monika |date=2022-05-14 |title=Ukraine wins 2022 Eurovision song contest as UK finishes second in Turin |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/may/15/ukraine-wins-2022-eurovision-song-contest-as-uk-finishes-second-in-turin |access-date=2022-05-15 |website=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> {{Esccnty|Georgia|y=2009}}'s planned entry for the {{Escyr|2009||2009 contest}} in Moscow, Russia, "We Don't Wanna Put In", caused controversy as the lyrics appeared to criticise [[Vladimir Putin]], in a move seen as opposition to the then-[[Prime Minister of Russia|Russian prime minister]] in the aftermath of the [[Russo-Georgian War]]. After requests by the EBU for changes to the lyrics were refused, Georgia's broadcaster [[Georgian Public Broadcasting|GPB]] subsequently withdrew from the event.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision axes 'anti-Putin' song |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7935865.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=10 March 2009}}</ref>{{sfn|West|2020|pp=253–257}} {{Esccnty|Belarus|y=2021}}' planned entry in {{Escyr|2021}}, "[[Ya nauchu tebya (I'll Teach You)]]", also caused controversy in the wake of [[2020–2021 Belarusian protests|demonstrations]] against disputed [[2020 Belarusian presidential election|election]] results, resulting in the country's disqualification when the aforementioned song and another potential song were deemed to breach the contest's rules on neutrality and politicisation.<ref name="Belarus 2021">{{cite web|date=26 March 2021|title=EBU statement on Belarusian participation|url=https://eurovision.tv/story/ebu-statement-on-belarusian-entry-2021|access-date=5 April 2021|website=Eurovision.tv|publisher=EBU}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Agadellis |first1=Stratos |title=Belarus: EBU releases statement on the country's entry for Eurovision 2021 |url=http://esctoday.com/182383/belarus-ebu-releases-statement-on-the-countrys-entry-for-eurovision-2021/ |website=esctoday.com |access-date=5 April 2021 |date=11 March 2021}}</ref>

{{Esccnty|Israel}}'s participation in the contest has resulted in several controversial moments in the past, with the country's first appearance in {{Escyr|1973}}, less than a year after the [[Munich massacre]], resulting in an increased security presence at the venue in [[Luxembourg City]].{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=52–55}}<ref name="Luxembourg 73" />{{sfn|West|2020|pp=83–86}} {{Esccnty|Israel|y=1978}}'s first win in {{Escyr|1978}} proved controversial for [[Arab world|Arab states]] broadcasting the contest which would typically cut to [[Television advertisement|advertisements]] when Israel performed due to a lack of [[International recognition of Israel|recognition of the country]], and when it became apparent Israel would win many of these broadcasters cut the feed before the end of the voting.<ref name="Paris 78">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Paris 1978 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/paris-1978 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=7 July 2020}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=72–75}}<ref name="Roxburgh 2">{{cite book |last=Roxburgh |first=Gordon |title=Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest |date=2014 |publisher=Telos Publishing |location=Prestatyn |isbn=978-1-84583-093-9 |volume=Two: The 1970s }}</ref> Arab states which are eligible to compete have declined to participate due to Israel's presence, with {{Esccnty|Morocco}} the only Arab state to have entered Eurovision, competing for the first, and {{as of|2022|lc=y}} the only time, in {{Escyr|1980}} when Israel was absent.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=80–83}}<ref name="The Hague 80">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: The Hague 1980 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/the-hague-1980 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=7 July 2020}}</ref> Israeli participation has been criticised by those who oppose current [[Government of Israel|government]] policies in the state, with calls raised by various political groups for a boycott ahead of the {{Escyr|2019||2019 contest}} in [[Tel Aviv]], including proponents of the [[Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions]] (BDS) movement in response to the country's policies towards [[Palestinians]] in the [[West Bank]] and [[Gaza Strip|Gaza]], as well as groups who take issue with perceived [[Pinkwashing (LGBT)|pinkwashing]] in Israel.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Farrell |first1=Stephen |title=Israel counters Eurovision boycott campaign with Google ads |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-music-eurovision-israel-preparations/israel-counters-eurovision-boycott-campaign-with-google-ads-idUSKCN1SG11L |work=[[Reuters]] |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=10 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Maikey |first1=Haneen |last2=Aked |first2=Hilary |title=L'Eurovision comme occasion de pinkwashing pour Israël – la communauté LGBT+ devrait le boycotter |url=http://agencemediapalestine.fr/blog/2019/03/04/15797/ |website=agencemediapalestine.fr/ |publisher=Agence Médias Palestine |access-date=7 July 2020 |language=fr |trans-title=Eurovision as a pinkwashing opportunity for Israel – the LGBT+ community should boycott it |date=4 March 2019}}</ref> Others campaigned against a boycott, asserting that any cultural boycott would be antithetical to advancing peace in the region.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sherwin |first1=Adam |title=Eurovision 2019: Stephen Fry & Sharon Osbourne lead celebrities rejecting boycott of Israel Song Contest |url=https://inews.co.uk/news/stephen-fry-sharon-osbourne-lead-celebrities-rejecting-boycott-of-israel-eurovision-song-contest-285507 |work=[[i (newspaper)|i]]|access-date=7 July 2020 |date=30 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Snapes |first1=Laura |title=Celebrities denounce proposed boycott of Eurovision in Israel |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/apr/30/celebrities-denounce-proposed-boycott-of-eurovision-in-israel-stephen-fry |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=12 March 2021 |date=30 April 2019}}</ref>

=== Political and geographical voting ===
{{multiple image
| direction = vertical
| align = center
| width = 900
| footer = Produced using the methods presented by Mantzaris, Rein, and Hopkins:{{sfn| Mantzaris | Rein | Hopkins | 2018a }}{{sfn| Mantzaris | Rein | Hopkins | 2018b }} a network of the significant score deviations can be viewed over a time period of interest.
| image1 = The collusion between countries in Eurovision 1997 to 2017.png
| alt1 = Voting preferences in Eurovision 1997 to 2017
| caption1 = Voting preferences between countries in Eurovision between 1997 and 2017
| image2 = Mutual neglect of score allocations in the Eurovision 2010 to 2015.png
| alt2 = Neglect in Eurovision 2010 to 2015
| caption2 = Mutual neglect of score allocations in Eurovision between 2010 and 2015
}}

The contest has been described as containing political elements in its voting process, a perception that countries will give votes more frequently and in higher quantities to other countries based on political relationships, rather than the musical merits of the songs themselves.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision votes 'farce' attack |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/3719157.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=6 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040603125500/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/3719157.stm |archive-date=3 June 2004 |date=16 May 2004}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Malta slates Eurovision's voting |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6654719.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |date=14 May 2007 |access-date=6 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070709104543/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6654719.stm |archive-date=9 July 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref> Numerous studies and academic papers have been written on this subject, which have corroborated that certain countries form "clusters" or "cliques" by frequently voting in the same way; one study concludes that [[voting bloc]]s can play a crucial role in deciding the winner of the contest, with evidence that on at least two occasions bloc voting was a pivotal factor in the vote for the winning song.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Fenn |first1=Daniel |last2=Suleman |first2=Omer |last3=Efstathiou |first3=Janet |last4=Johnson |first4=Niel F. |title=How does Europe Make Its Mind Up? Connections, cliques, and compatibility between countries in the Eurovision Song Contest |journal=Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and Its Applications |date=1 February 2006 |volume=360 |issue=2 |pages=576–598 |doi=10.1016/j.physa.2005.06.051|arxiv=physics/0505071 |bibcode=2006PhyA..360..576F |s2cid=119406544}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Gatherer |first1=Derek |title=Comparison of Eurovision Song Contest Simulation with Actual Results Reveals Shifting Patterns of Collusive Voting Alliances |journal=Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation |date=31 March 2006 |volume=9 |issue=2 |url=http://jasss.soc.surrey.ac.uk/9/2/1.html |access-date=6 July 2020 |issn=1460-7425}}</ref> Other views on these "blocs" argue that certain countries will allocate high points to others based on similar musical tastes, shared cultural links and a high degree of similarity and [[mutual intelligibility]] between languages, and are therefore more likely to appreciate and vote for the competing songs from these countries based on these factors, rather than political relationships specifically.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ginsburgh |first1=Victor |last2=Noury |first2=Abdul |title=The Eurovision Song Contest: Is Voting Political or Cultural? |date=October 2006 |url=http://w.ecares.org/ecare/personal/ginsburgh/papers/153.eurovision.pdf |access-date=6 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903222919/http://w.ecares.org/ecare/personal/ginsburgh/papers/153.eurovision.pdf |archive-date=3 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Spierdijk/Vellekoop">{{cite journal |last1=Spierdijk |first1=L |last2=Vellekoop |first2=M.H. |title=Geography, culture, and religion: Explaining the bias in Eurovision song contest voting |journal=Applied Mathematics Memoranda |year=2006 |volume=1794 |url=https://research.utwente.nl/en/publications/geography-culture-and-religion-explaining-the-bias-in-eurovision- |access-date=6 July 2020}}</ref> Analysis on other voting patterns have revealed examples which indicate voting preferences among countries based on shared religion, as well as "patriotic voting", particularly since the introduction of televoting in {{Escyr|1997}}, where [[Expatriate|foreign nationals]] vote for their country of origin.<ref name="Spierdijk/Vellekoop" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Is there a Eurovision migrant effect? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-36305838 |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=6 July 2020 |date=17 May 2016}}</ref>

Voting patterns in the contest have been reported by news publishers, including ''[[The Economist]]'' and ''[[BBC News]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Alexander |first1=Ruth |title=The maths of Eurovision voting |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7408216.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=19 May 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Neighbourly voting in the Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://www.economist.com/europe/2018/05/12/neighbourly-voting-in-the-eurovision-song-contest |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=12 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Partisanship at Eurovision is becoming more blatant |url=https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2018/05/11/partisanship-at-eurovision-is-becoming-more-blatant |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=11 May 2018}}</ref> Criticism of the voting system was at its highest in the mid-2000s, resulting in a number of calls for countries to boycott the contest over reported voting biases, particularly following the {{Escyr|2007||2007 contest}} where Eastern European countries occupied the top 15 places in the final and dominated the qualifying spaces.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=188–191}}{{sfn|West|2020|pp=241–245}} The poor performance of the entries from more traditional Eurovision countries had subsequently been discussed in European national parliaments, and the developments in the voting was cited as among the reasons for the resignation of [[Terry Wogan]] as commentator for the UK, a role he had performed at every contest from {{Escyr|1980}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=MP demands Eurovision vote change |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6657207.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=6 July 2020 |date=15 May 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Terry Wogan 'very doubtful' about presenting Eurovision again |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/eurovision-12-1323243 |work=NME |access-date=6 July 2020 |date=12 August 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Norton is Eurovision's new Wogan |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7766310.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=6 July 2020 |date=5 December 2008}}</ref> In response to this criticism, the EBU introduced a second semi-final in {{Escyr|2008}}, with countries split based on geographic proximity and voting history, and juries of music professionals were reintroduced in {{Escyr|2009}}, in an effort to reduce the impacts of bloc voting.<ref name="2010 jury semis" /><ref name="Jury 09 final" /><ref name="Revamp">{{cite web |title=Revamp for Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/revamp-for-eurovision-song-contest |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=9 January 2008}}</ref>

=== LGBT visibility ===
{{main|LGBT visibility in the Eurovision Song Contest}}
[[File:Dana International op Het Grote Songfestivalfeest 2019.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=Photograph of Dana International during a performance|[[Dana International]], the contest's first [[Transgender|trans]] participant, and winner of the 1998 contest for Israel]]
Eurovision has had a long-held fan base in the [[LGBT community]], and contest organisers have actively worked to include these fans in the event since the 1990s.<ref>{{cite web |title=How Eurovision became a gay-friendly contest |url=https://www.france24.com/en/20150522-eurovision-gay-friendly-song-contest-lgbt-conchita-wurst |publisher=[[France 24]] |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=22 May 2015}}</ref> [[Paul Oscar]] became the contest's first openly [[Gay men|gay]] artist to compete when he represented {{Esccnty|Iceland|y=1997}} in {{Escyr|1997}}. {{Esccnty|Israel|y=1998}}'s [[Dana International]], the contest's first [[Transgender|trans]] performer, became the first LGBT artist to win in {{Escyr|1998}}.{{sfn|West|2020|pp=191–195}}<ref name="Birmingham 98">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Birmingham 1998 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/birmingham-1998 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=7 July 2020}}</ref> In {{Escyr|2021}}, [[Nikkie de Jager]] became the first trans person to host the contest.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Roessink |first1=Paulien |title='Eurovision' gets first transgender host in YouTube star Nikkie de Jager |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/language/english/eurovision-gets-first-transgender-host-in-youtube-star-nikkie-de-jager_1 |access-date=23 May 2021 |work=SBS Your Language |date=17 May 2021 |archive-date=23 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210523115659/https://www.sbs.com.au/language/english/eurovision-gets-first-transgender-host-in-youtube-star-nikkie-de-jager_1 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Several open members of the LGBT community have since gone on to compete and win: [[Conchita Wurst]], the [[Drag (clothing)|drag]] persona of openly gay Thomas Neuwirth, won the {{Escyr|2014|3=2014 contest}} for {{Esccnty|Austria|y=2014}}; openly [[bisexual]] performer [[Duncan Laurence]] was the winner of the 2019 contest for the {{Esccnty|Netherlands|y=2019}}; and rock band [[Måneskin]], winners of the 2021 contest for {{Esccnty|Italy|y=2021}}, features openly bisexual [[Victoria De Angelis]] as its bassist.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bromwich |first1=Kathryn |title=Conchita Wurst: 'Most artists are sensitive and insecure people. I am too' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/jul/06/conchita-interview-sensitive-insecure-eurovision-gay-pin-up-austrian |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=6 July 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Moore |first1=Matt |title=Dutch Eurovision contestant Duncan Laurence comes out as bisexual |url=https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/community/122298/dutch-eurovision-contestant-duncan-laurence-comes-out-as-bisexual/ |work=[[Gay Times]] |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=18 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Boni |first1=Federico |title=Sanremo 2021, i Maneskin a nudo tra bisessualità e "libertà sessuale" – la gallery social |url=https://www.gay.it/sanremo-2021-maneskin-nudo-bisessualita-gallery-social |website=Gay.it |access-date=1 February 2022 |date=12 February 2021 |language=italian}}</ref> [[Marija Šerifović]], who won the 2007 contest for {{Esccnty|Serbia|y=2007}}, subsequently came out publicly as a lesbian in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://inserbia.info/today/2013/11/i-am-a-lesbian-marija-serifovic-opens-herself-completely-in-her-film-confession/|title=I Am A Lesbian! – Marija Serifovic Opens Up in Her Film "Confession"|publisher=InSerbia News|date=28 November 2013|access-date=7 August 2015}}</ref> Past competing songs and performances have included references and allusions to [[same-sex relationships]]; "[[Nous les amoureux]]", the {{Escyr|1961}} winning song, contained references to the difficulties faced by a homosexual relationship;<ref>{{Cite web|title=" Nous les amoureux " de Jean-Claude Pascal, une chanson qui annonce la révolution du mouvement gay...|url=https://www.rtbf.be/lapremiere/article/detail_nous-les-amoureux-de-jean-claude-pascal-une-chanson-qui-annonce-la-revolution-du-mouvement-gay?id=10221083|date=16 May 2019|website=La Première|language=fr|access-date=3 May 2020}}</ref> [[Krista Siegfrids]]' performance of "Marry Me" at the {{Escyr|2013||2013 contest}} included a same-sex kiss with one of her female backing dancers;<ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision 2013 final underway amid lesbian kiss controversy |url=https://www.dw.com/en/eurovision-2013-final-underway-amid-lesbian-kiss-controversy/a-16822230 |website=dw.com |publisher=[[Deutsche Welle]] |access-date=28 February 2021 |date=18 May 2013}}</ref> and the stage show of {{Esccnty|Ireland|y=2018}}'s [[Ryan O'Shaughnessy]]'s "[[Together (Ryan O'Shaughnessy song)|Together]]" in {{Escyr|2018}} had two male dancers portraying a same-sex relationship.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Reynolds |first1=Daniel |title=Ireland's Gay Dance on Eurovision Shows World That 'Love Is Love' |url=https://www.advocate.com/world/2018/5/09/irelands-gay-dance-eurovision-shows-world-love-love |website=advocate.com |publisher=[[The Advocate (LGBT magazine)|The Advocate]] |access-date=28 February 2021 |date=9 May 2018}}</ref> [[Drag queen|Drag performers]], such as {{Esccnty|Ukraine|y=2007}}'s [[Verka Serduchka]], {{Esccnty|Denmark|y=2007}}'s [[DQ (artist)|DQ]] and {{Esccnty|Slovenia|y=2002}}'s [[Sestre (drag act)|Sestre]], have appeared, including Wurst winning in 2014.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jordan |first1=Paul |title=Life's a drag! Eurovision queens past and present |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/life-s-a-drag-eurovision-queens-past-and-present |website=eurovision.tv |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |access-date=28 February 2021 |date=24 October 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Transvestite Sisters stir Eurovision storm |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/monitoring/media_reports/1855726.stm |website=bbc.co.uk |publisher=[[BBC News]] |access-date=28 February 2021 |date=5 March 2002}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Banks |first1=Martin |title=Transvestite Eurosong win sparks Slovenia accession doubts |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/transvestite-eurosong-win-sparks-slovenia-accession-doubts/ |website=politico.eu |publisher=[[Politico]] |access-date=28 February 2021 |date=6 March 2002}}</ref>

In more recent years, various political ideologies across Europe have clashed in the Eurovision setting, particularly [[LGBT rights in Europe|on LGBT rights]]. Dana International's selection for the 1998 contest in [[Birmingham]] was marked by objections and death threats from orthodox [[Religion in Israel|religious sections of Israeli society]], and at the contest her accommodation was reportedly in the only hotel in Birmingham with bulletproof windows.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=152–155}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Transsexual singer stirs up passions |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/1998/05/98/eurovision/90279.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=10 May 1998}}</ref> {{Esccnty|Turkey}}, once a regular participant and a one-time winner, first pulled out of the contest in {{Escyr|2013}}, citing dissatisfaction in the voting rules and more recently Turkish broadcaster [[Turkish Radio and Television Corporation|TRT]] have cited LGBT performances as another reason for their continued boycott, refusing to broadcast the 2013 event over {{Esccnty|Finland|y=2013}}'s same sex kiss.<ref name="Turkey LGBT" /><ref>{{cite web |last1=Marshall |first1=Alex |title=Eurovision Song Contest Is Canceled Over Coronavirus Concerns |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/18/arts/music/eurovision-canceled-coronavirus.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200318141020/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/18/arts/music/eurovision-canceled-coronavirus.html |archive-date=2020-03-18 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=7 July 2020 |date=18 March 2020 |quote="In 2018, the head of Turkey's public broadcaster said the boycott was also partly because some past winners, including the drag queen Conchita Wurst, had gone against Turkey's social values."}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Morgan |first1=Joe |title=Turkey cancels Eurovision Song Contest over lesbian kiss |url=https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/turkey-cancels-eurovision-song-contest-over-lesbian-kiss160513/ |publisher=[[Gay Star News]] |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=16 May 2013 |archive-date=28 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528122038/https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/turkey-cancels-eurovision-song-contest-over-lesbian-kiss160513/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> LGBT visibility in the contest has been cited as a deciding factor for {{Esccnty|Hungary}}'s non-participation since {{Escyr|2020}}, although no official reason was given by the Hungarian broadcaster [[MTVA (Hungary)|MTVA]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Walker |first1=Shaun |last2=Garamvolgyi |first2=Flora |title=Hungary pulls out of Eurovision amid rise in anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/nov/27/hungary-pulls-out-of-eurovision-amid-rise-in-anti-lgbt-rhetoric |work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=16 July 2020 |date=27 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Kozlov |first1=Vladimir |title=Hungary Exits 2020 Eurovision Over Contest's LGBT-Friendly Policies: Report |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/8545072/hungary-exits-2020-eurovision-song-contest-over-lgbt-friendly-policies-report |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=16 July 2020 |date=29 November 2019}}</ref> The rise of [[anti-LGBT sentiment]] in Europe has led to a marked increase in [[booing]] from contest audiences, particularly since the introduction of a [[Russian gay propaganda law|"gay propaganda" law in Russia]] in 2013.{{sfn|West|2020|pp=283–286}}<ref>{{cite web |last1=Nelson |first1=Fraser |title=Eurovision 2014: the booing of Russia was a disgrace |url=http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/culturehousedaily/2014/05/eurovision-2014-the-booing-of-russia-was-a-disgrace/ |work=[[The Spectator]] |access-date=7 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150504080615/http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/culturehousedaily/2014/05/eurovision-2014-the-booing-of-russia-was-a-disgrace/ |archive-date=4 May 2015 |date=11 May 2014}}</ref> [[Conchita Wurst#International response|Conchita Wurst's win was met with criticism]] on the [[Politics of Russia|Russian political]] stage, with several [[Conservatism in Russia|conservative]] politicians voicing displeasure in the result.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Davies |first1=Caroline |title=Conchita Wurst pledges to promote tolerance after jubilant welcome home |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2014/may/11/conchita-wurst-pledges-to-promote-tolerance |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=11 May 2014}}</ref> Clashes on LGBT visibility in the contest have occurred in countries which do not compete, such as in {{Esccnty|China}}, where broadcasting rights were terminated during the 2018 contest due to [[Censorship in China|censorship]] of "abnormal sexual relationships and behaviours" that went against Chinese broadcasting guidelines.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Royston |first1=Benny |title=China banned from broadcasting Eurovision after cutting same-sex dance and tattooed singer |url=https://metro.co.uk/2018/05/10/china-banned-from-broadcasting-eurovision-after-cutting-same-sex-dance-and-tattooed-singer-7536787/ |publisher=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]] |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=10 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Bakker |first1=Sietse |title=EBU terminates this year's partnership with Mango TV |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/ebu-terminates-this-year-s-partnership-with-mango-tv |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=10 May 2018}}</ref>

== Cultural influence ==
The Eurovision Song Contest has amassed a global following and sees annual audience figures of between 100 and 600 million.<ref>{{cite web |title=Finland wins Eurovision contest |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/archive/2006/05/2008410141723346664.html |publisher=[[Al Jazeera]] |access-date=26 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200119173244/https://www.aljazeera.com/archive/2006/05/2008410141723346664.html |archive-date=19 January 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest – International Music Program |url=http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/E/htmlE/eurovisionso/eurovisionso.htm |publisher=[[Museum of Broadcast Communications]] |access-date=26 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050113034609/http://www.museum.tv/Archives/Etv/E/htmlE/eurovisionso/eurovisionso.htm |archive-date=13 January 2005}}</ref> The contest has become a cultural influence worldwide since its first years, is regularly described as having [[kitsch]] appeal, and is included as a topic of parody in television [[Sketch comedy|sketches]] and in stage performances at the [[Edinburgh Festival Fringe|Edinburgh Fringe]] and [[Melbourne International Comedy Festival|Melbourne Comedy]] festivals among others.<ref name="Fringe">{{cite web |last1=Majendie |first1=Paul |title=Fringe show celebrates Eurovision kitsch |url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/stage-arts-edinburgh-eurovision-dc/edinburgh-fringe-show-celebrates-eurovision-kitsch-idUKL1142844820070811 |work=[[Reuters]] |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=11 August 2007}}</ref><ref name="Antes cursi" />{{sfn|Raykoff|Tobin|2016|p=9}}<ref>{{cite web |title=comedyfestival.com.au |url=https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2020/shows/eurowision |website=Melbourne International Comedy Festival: Eurowision |access-date=7 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200306071538/https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2020/shows/eurowision |archive-date=6 March 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> Several films have been created which celebrate the contest, including [[Eytan Fox]]'s 2013 Israeli comedy ''[[Cupcakes (film)|Cupcakes]]'', and the [[Netflix]] 2020 musical comedy, ''[[Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga]]'', produced with backing from the EBU and starring [[Will Ferrell]] and [[Rachel McAdams]].<ref>{{cite web |title='Cupcakes': Film Review |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/cupcakes-film-review-784623 |website=hollywoodreporter.com |publisher=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=28 February 2021 |date=26 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga – out now! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-movie-the-story-of-fire-saga |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020 |date=24 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Scott |first1=Sheena |title='Eurovision Song Contest' Movie on Netflix Celebrates A Very European Show |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/sheenascott/2020/06/26/eurovision-song-contest-the-story-of-fire-saga-on-netflix-celebrates-a-very-european-show |work=[[Forbes]]|access-date=3 July 2020 |date=26 June 2020}}</ref>

Eurovision has a large online following and multiple independent websites, news blogs and [[fan clubs]] are dedicated to the event. One of the oldest and largest Eurovision fan clubs is [[OGAE]], founded in 1984 in Finland and currently a network of over 40 national branches across the world. National branches regularly host events to promote and celebrate Eurovision, and several participating broadcasters work closely with these branches when preparing their entries.<ref>{{cite web|title=Eurovision Song Contest: Fans|url=https://eurovision.tv/fans|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125225630/https://eurovision.tv/fans|archive-date=2020-11-25|access-date=2022-02-19|publisher=Eurovision Song Contest}}</ref>

In the run-up to each year's contest, several countries regularly host smaller events between the conclusion of the national selection shows in March and the contest proper in May, known as the "pre-parties". These events typically feature the artists which will go on to compete at that year's contest, and consist of performances at a venue and meet-and-greets with fans and the press. ''Eurovision in Concert'', held annually in [[Amsterdam]], was one of the first of these events to be created, holding its first edition in 2008.<ref>{{cite web |title=About Eurovision in Concert |url=https://eurovisioninconcert.nl/en/about-eurovision-in-concert/ |website=eurovisioninconcert.nl |access-date=3 July 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Groot |first1=Evert |title=This was Eurovision in Concert 2019 in Amsterdam |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-in-concert-2019-in-review |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020 |date=7 April 2019}}</ref> Other events held regularly include the ''London Eurovision Party'', ''PrePartyES'' in [[Madrid]], and ''Israel Calling'' in [[Tel Aviv]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Holden |first1=Steve |last2=Rosney |first2=Daniel |date=12 May 2019 |title=Eurovision Tel Aviv 2019: Why the song contest is bigger than ever |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-48023500 |access-date=3 July 2020 |work=[[BBC News]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Zwart |first1=Josianne |last2=Escudero |first2=Victor M. |title=Over 20 acts to appear at Madrid's ESPreParty this weekend |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/espreparty-madrid-spain-2018 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020 |date=18 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rössing |first=Dominik |date=2022-03-31 |title=Six more countries confirmed for Israel Calling 2022, making it 23 artists so far |url=https://escxtra.com/2022/03/31/six-more-countries-confirmed-for-israel-calling-2022/ |access-date=2022-04-03 |website=ESCXTRA.com}}</ref> Several community events have been held virtually, particularly since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe in 2020, among these ''[[EurovisionAgain]]'', an initiative where fans watched and discussed past contests in sync on YouTube and other social media platforms. Launched during the first [[COVID-19 lockdowns]], the event subsequently became a [[Twitter trends|top trend on Twitter]] across Europe and facilitated over £20,000 in donations for UK-based [[LGBT]]Q+ charities.<ref>{{cite web |last=Rosney |first=Daniel |title=Eurovision Again: Why fans of the song contest get together every Saturday |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-52381023 |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=3 July 2020 |date=25 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision Again wordt maandelijks initiatief |url=https://www.ad.nl/show/eurovision-again-wordt-maandelijks-initiatief~ac29e875/ |work=[[Algemeen Dagblad]]|access-date=3 July 2020 |language=nl |trans-title=Eurovision Again becomes a monthly initiative |date=27 June 2020}}</ref><ref name="Eurovision Again BtS">{{cite web |title=How Eurovision Again came to your screens |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/how-eurovisionagain-was-brought-to-your-screens |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020 |date=27 June 2020}}</ref>

== Special events and related competitions ==
[[File:Destiny Chukunyere at stage of JESC 2015 (2).jpg|thumb|right|[[Destiny Chukunyere]] won the [[Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2015|2015 edition]] of the [[Junior Eurovision Song Contest]] for [[Malta]]]]
[[File:Hosts of the Eurovision Greatest Hits.jpg|thumb|right|Hosts [[Graham Norton]] and [[Petra Mede]] during ''[[Eurovision Song Contest's Greatest Hits]]'', a special event marking the contest's 60th anniversary]]

Several anniversary events, and related contests under the "Eurovision Live Events" brand, have been organised by the EBU with member broadcasters.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision Live Events |url=https://events.eurovision.tv/ |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=26 June 2020}}</ref> In addition participating broadcasters have occasionally commissioned special Eurovision programmes for their home audiences, and a number of other imitator contests have been developed outside of the EBU framework, on both a national and international level.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dahlander |first1=Gustav |title=Klart för Eurovision-vecka i SVT |url=https://blogg.svt.se/melodifestivalen-expertbloggen/klart-for-eurovision-vecka-i-svt/ |website=svt.se |publisher=[[Sveriges Television]] |access-date=15 July 2020 |language=sv |date=3 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=May means Eurovision on the BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/eurovision/entries/990f7787-04ae-4b49-b62f-7303d1898a06 |publisher=BBC |access-date=15 July 2020 |date=1 May 2020}}</ref>

The EBU has held several events to mark selected anniversaries in the contest's history: ''[[Songs of Europe (1981 concert)|Songs of Europe]]'', held in 1981 to celebrate its twenty-fifth anniversary, had live performances and video recordings of all Eurovision Song Contest winners up to 1981;<ref>{{cite web |title=Songs of Europe – BBC Two "Radio Times" listing |url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/d80d6106cc8a4d1199c991955cd18b8d |publisher=[[BBC Genome Project]] |access-date=26 June 2020}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|p=87}} ''[[Congratulations: 50 Years of the Eurovision Song Contest]]'' was organised in 2005 to celebrate the event's fiftieth anniversary, and featured a contest to determine the most popular song from among 14 selected entries from the contest's first 50 years;<ref name="Congratulations">{{cite web |title=Congratulations Show – Eurovision History |url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/history/congratulations-show |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=26 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905232704/http://www.eurovision.tv/page/history/congratulations-show |archive-date=5 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="ABBA 50">{{cite web |last1=Adam |first1=Karla |title=Abba's 'Waterloo' is voted best song of 50 Eurovision years |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/abbas-waterloo-is-voted-best-song-of-50-eurovision-years-321745.html |work=[[The Independent]] |access-date=26 June 2020 |date=24 October 2005 |archive-date=28 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628010131/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/abbas-waterloo-is-voted-best-song-of-50-eurovision-years-321745.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and in 2015 the event's sixtieth anniversary was marked by ''[[Eurovision Song Contest's Greatest Hits]]'', a concert of performances by past Eurovision artists and video montages of performances and footage from previous contests.<ref>{{cite web |title=Official: London to host Eurovision's 60th Anniversary Event |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/official-london-to-host-eurovision-s-60th-anniversary-event |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=26 June 2020 |date=5 February 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision's Greatest Hits – line-up |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/36KjTqPHSdTCqkv93SsGvJd/line-up |publisher=BBC |access-date=26 June 2020}}</ref> Following the cancellation of the {{Escyr|2020||2020 contest}}, the EBU subsequently organised a special non-competitive broadcast, ''[[Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light]]'', which provided a showcase for the songs that would have taken part in the competition.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision: Europe Shine A Light |date=9 April 2020 |url=https://eurovision.tv/eurovision-europe-shine-a-light |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=26 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Eurovision still shines despite cancelled final |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/may/17/eurovision-still-shines-despite-cancelled-final |access-date=26 June 2020 |agency=[[PA Media]] |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=17 May 2020}}</ref>

Other contests organised by the EBU include [[Eurovision Young Musicians]], a classical music competition for European musicians between the ages of 12 and 21;<ref name="EYM">{{cite web |title=Live Event: Eurovision Young Musicians |url=https://www.ebu.ch/projects/tv/music/eurovision-young-musicians |date=15 May 2018 |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |access-date=26 June 2020}}</ref> [[Eurovision Young Dancers]], a dance competition for non-professional performers between the ages of 16 and 21;<ref name="EYD">{{cite web |title=Live Event: Eurovision Young Dancers |url=https://www.ebu.ch/projects/tv/dance/eurovision-young-dancers |date=22 June 2017 |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |access-date=26 June 2020}}</ref> [[Eurovision Choir]], a choral competition for non-professional European choirs produced in partnership with the {{ill|Interkultur|de}} and modelled after the [[World Choir Games]];<ref name="Choir">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Choir |url=https://www.ebu.ch/eurovision-choir |date=3 June 2020 |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |access-date=26 June 2020}}</ref> and the [[Junior Eurovision Song Contest]], a similar song contest for singers aged between 9 and 14 representing primarily European countries.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision Events: Junior Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://events.eurovision.tv/junior-eurovision-song-contest |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=26 June 2020 |archive-date=6 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206224858/https://events.eurovision.tv/junior-eurovision-song-contest |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[Eurovision Dance Contest]] was an event featuring pairs of dancers performing ballroom and Latin dancing, which took place for two editions, in 2007 and 2008.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision Dance Contest |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00dp4cf/episodes/guide |publisher=BBC |access-date=23 April 2020}}</ref>

Similar international music competitions have been organised externally to the EBU. The [[Sopot International Song Festival]] has been held annually since 1961; between 1977 and 1980, under the patronage of the [[International Radio and Television Organisation]] (OIRT), an Eastern European broadcasting network similar to the EBU, it was rebranded as the [[Intervision Song Contest]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Morton |first1=Elise |title=Intervision, the Communist Counterpart to Eurovision That Didn't Quite Work |url=https://theculturetrip.com/europe/articles/intervision-the-communist-counterpart-to-eurovision-that-didnt-quite-work/ |website=theculturetrip.com |publisher=Culture Trip |access-date=28 February 2021 |date=5 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Rosenberg |first1=Steve |title=The Cold War rival to Eurovision |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18006446 |website=bbc.co.uk |publisher=[[BBC News]] |access-date=28 February 2021 |date=14 May 2012}}</ref> An [[Ibero-America]]n contest, the [[OTI Festival]], was previously held among [[hispanophone]] and [[lusophone]] countries in Europe, North America and South America; and a contest for countries and [[Autonomous administrative division|autonomous regions]] with [[Turkic peoples|Turkic]] links, the [[Turkvision Song Contest]], has been organised since 2013.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Escudero |first1=Victor M. |title=Celebration! The best of Spain in Eurovision |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/spain-top-ten-entries |website=eurovision.tv |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |access-date=28 February 2021 |date=28 January 2018 |quote=In 1995 [Marcos Llunas] won the latin version of Eurovision, the Festival OTI where Spain, Portugal and the American countries participated until the year 2000, when the last edition took place.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=El Festival de la OTI, el olvidado Eurovisión de las Américas |url=https://www.elespanol.com/bluper/television/20200122/festival-oti-olvidado-eurovision-americas/460954581_0.html |website=elespanol.com |publisher=[[El Español]] |access-date=28 February 2021 |language=Spanish |date=22 January 2020 |trans-title=The OTI Festival, the forgotten Eurovision of the Americas}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=After snubbing the Eurovision Song Contest, Turkey officially launches 'Turkvision' |url=https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/after-snubbing-the-eurovision-song-contest-turkey-officially-launches-turkvision-54886 |access-date=28 February 2021 |agency=[[Demirören News Agency|Doğan News Agency]] |publisher=[[Hürriyet Daily News]] |date=21 September 2013 |location=Eskişehir}}</ref> Similarly, an adaption of the contest for artists in the United States, the ''[[American Song Contest]]'', was held in 2022 and featured songs representing U.S. states and [[U.S. territory|territories]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The Eurovision Song Contest travels to America! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/the-eurovision-song-contest-travels-to-america |website=eurovision.tv |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |access-date=28 February 2021 |date=7 August 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title='American Song Contest' on screens in 2022 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/american-song-contest-2022 |website=eurovision.tv |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |access-date=26 May 2021 |date=14 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=White |first1=Peter |title='American Song Contest', U.S. Version Of Eurovision, Tunes Up For NBC |url=https://deadline.com/2021/05/american-song-contest-u-s-version-of-eurovision-nbc-1234756361/ |website=deadline.com |publisher=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |access-date=26 May 2021 |date=14 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Granger |first=Anthony |date=2023-05-10 |title=Partners Looking at Options For American Song Contest |url=https://eurovoix-world.com/2023/05/10/partners-looking-at-options-for-american-song-contest/ |access-date=2023-05-11 |website=Eurovoix World |language=en-GB}}</ref> Adaptions of the contest for artists in Canada and Latin America are in development, though development on the former has been halted.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-25 |title='Eurovision Canada' will join the family in 2023 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-canada-2023 |access-date=2022-04-26 |website=eurovision.tv |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-12 |title=Eurovision Song Contest to launch in Latin America |url=https://www.ebu.ch/news/2022/07/eurovision-song-contest-to-be-launched-in-latin-america |access-date=2022-07-12 |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-12 |title=La UER y RTVE se reunirán para explorar vías de colaboración en un proyecto de música en Latinoamérica |url=https://www.rtve.es/television/20220712/uer-rtve-reunion-madrid-explorar-vias-colaboracion-proyecto-musica-latinoamerica/2388215.shtml |access-date=2022-07-13 |publisher=[[RTVE]] |language=ES}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Granger |first=Anthony |date=2023-05-10 |title=Eurovision Canada Has Taken a Step Back |url=https://eurovoix-world.com/2023/05/10/🇨🇦-eurovision-canada-has-taken-a-step-back/ |access-date=2023-05-11 |website=Eurovoix World |language=en-GB}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

Sources:
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite journal|last1=Mantzaris|first1=Alexander V.|last2=Rein|first2=Samuel R.|last3=Hopkins|first3=Alexander D.|title=Examining Collusion and Voting Biases Between Countries During the Eurovision Song Contest Since 1957|journal=[[Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation]]|date=2018a|volume=21|issue=1|page=1|doi=10.18564/jasss.3580|doi-access=free}}
* {{cite journal|last1=Mantzaris|first1=Alexander V.|last2=Rein|first2=Samuel R.|last3=Hopkins|first3=Alexander D.|title=Preference and neglect amongst countries in the Eurovision Song Contest|journal=Journal of Computational Social Science|date=2018b|volume=1|issue=2|pages=377–390|doi=10.1007/s42001-018-0020-2|doi-access=free}}
* {{cite book|last=O'Connor|first=John Kennedy|author-link=John Kennedy O'Connor|title=The Eurovision Song Contest: The Official History|date=2010|publisher=[[Carlton Publishing Group|Carlton Books]]|location=London|isbn=978-1-84732-521-1|edition=2nd}}
* {{cite book|editor1-last=Raykoff|editor1-first=Ivan|editor2-last=Tobin|editor2-first=Robert Deam|title=A Song for Europe: Popular Music and Politics in the Eurovision Song Contest|date=2016|publisher=[[Routledge]]|location=Abingdon-on-Thames|isbn=978-0-754658-79-5|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5zQrDwAAQBAJ|access-date=3 July 2020}}
* {{cite book|last=Roxburgh|first=Gordon|title=Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest|date=2012|publisher=[[Telos Publishing]]|location=Prestatyn|isbn=978-1-84583-065-6|series=Volume One: The 1950s and 1960s}}
* {{cite book|last=West|first=Chris|author-link=Chris West|title=Eurovision! A History of Modern Europe Through the World's Greatest Song Contest|date=2020|publisher=[[Melville House Publishing|Melville House UK]]|location=London|isbn=978-1-911545-55-2|edition=2nd}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book|last=Jordan|first=Paul|title=The Modern Fairy Tale: Nation Branding, National Identity and the Eurovision Song Contest in Estonia|date=2014|publisher=[[University of Tartu Press]]|location=Tartu|isbn=978-9949-32-559-7|url=https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/id/c349bb4e-c048-4cf8-a847-ed07fe8e0367/474310.pdf|access-date=6 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200707111636/https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/id/c349bb4e-c048-4cf8-a847-ed07fe8e0367/474310.pdf|archive-date=7 July 2020|url-status=live}}
* {{cite journal|last=Yair|first=Gad|year=1995|title='Unite Unite Europe' The political and cultural structures of Europe as reflected in the Eurovision Song Contest|journal=Social Networks|volume=17|issue=2|pages=147–161|doi=10.1016/0378-8733(95)00253-k}}
* {{cite journal|last1=Yair|first1=Gad|last2=Maman|first2=Daniel|year=1996|title=The Persistent Structure of Hegemony in the Eurovision Song Contest|journal=Acta Sociologica|volume=39|issue=3|pages=309–325|doi=10.1177/000169939603900303|s2cid=144085791}}
{{refend}}

== External links ==

*{{Commons category-inline}}
*{{wikiquote-inline}}
* {{Official website|https://eurovision.tv/}}
* {{Official website|https://www.ebu.ch/projects/tv/eurovision-song-contest|name=EBU website}}
* {{youTube|user=eurovision}}

{{Eurovision Song Contest}}
{{European Broadcasting Union}}
{{Music industry}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Eurovision Song Contest| ]]
[[Category:1956 establishments in Europe]]
[[Category:Eurovision events|Song Contest]]
[[Category:Music television series]]
[[Category:Pop music festivals]]
[[Category:Recurring events established in 1956]]
[[Category:Song contests]]
[[Category:Annual television shows]]

Eurovision Song Contest

2023-05-13T23:09:12Z

Vodkamad: /* Winners */

{{short description|Annual international song competition}}
{{Redirect|Eurovision|the current contest|Eurovision Song Contest 2023|the previous contest|Eurovision Song Contest 2022|other uses}}
{{good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox television
| name = {{noitalic|Eurovision Song Contest}}
| image = Eurovision Song Contest.svg
| image_alt = The current Eurovision Song Contest logo, in use since 2015
| caption = Logo since 2015
| alt_name = {{Unbulleted list|{{noitalic|Eurovision}}|{{noitalic|ESC}}}}
| genre = [[Music competition]]
| creator = [[European Broadcasting Union]]
| based_on = [[Sanremo Music Festival]]
| developer =
| presenter = [[List of Eurovision Song Contest presenters|Various presenters]]
| country = [[List of countries in the Eurovision Song Contest|Various participating countries]]
| language = English and French
| num_episodes = {{Plainlist|
* 67 contests
* 101 live shows
}}
| producer =
| location = [[List of Eurovision Song Contest host cities|Various host cities]]
| runtime = {{Plainlist|
* ~2 hours (semi-finals)
* ~4 hours (finals)
}}
| company = [[European Broadcasting Union]] [[History of the Eurovision Song Contest|Various national broadcasters]]
| picture_format = {{Plainlist|
* [[SDTV]] ([[4:3]] aspect ratio) (1956–2004)
* [[SDTV]] ([[16:9]] aspect ratio) (2005–2006)
* [[HDTV]] [[1080i]] (2007–present)
* [[4K UHD]] [[2160i]] (2022–present)
}}
| first_aired = {{Start date|df=y|1956|05|24}}
| last_aired = present
| related = {{Plainlist|
* ''[[Eurovision Young Musicians]]''
* ''[[Junior Eurovision Song Contest]]''
* ''[[Eurovision Choir]]''
* ''[[American Song Contest]]''
}}
| italic_title = no
}}

The '''Eurovision Song Contest''' ({{lang fr|Concours Eurovision de la chanson}}), often known simply as '''Eurovision''', is an international [[Music competition|song competition]] organised annually by the [[European Broadcasting Union]]. Each participating country submits an original song to be performed live and transmitted to national broadcasters via the [[Eurovision (network)|Eurovision and Euroradio networks]], with competing countries then casting votes for the other countries' songs to determine a winner.

Based on the [[Sanremo Music Festival]] held in Italy since 1951, Eurovision has been held annually since 1956 (apart from {{Escyr|2020||2020}}), making it the longest-running annual international televised music competition and one of the world's longest-running television programmes. Active members of the EBU and invited associate members are eligible to compete; {{as of|2022|lc=y|post=,}} [[List of countries in the Eurovision Song Contest|52 countries]] have participated at least once. Each participating broadcaster sends one original song of three minutes duration or less to be performed live by a singer or group of up to six people aged 16 or older. Each country awards 1–8, 10 and 12 points to their ten favourite songs, based on the views of an assembled group of music professionals and the country's viewing public, with the song receiving the most points declared the winner. Other performances feature alongside the competition, including a specially-commissioned opening and interval act and guest performances by musicians and other personalities, with past acts including [[Cirque du Soleil]], [[Madonna]], [[Justin Timberlake]], [[Mika]], [[Rita Ora]] and the first performance of ''[[Riverdance]]''. Originally consisting of a single evening event, the contest has expanded as new countries joined (including countries outside of Europe, such as {{Esccnty|Australia}}), leading to the introduction of relegation procedures in the 1990s, before the creation of semi-finals in the 2000s. {{As of|2022|post=,}} {{Esccnty|Germany}} has competed more times than any other country, having participated in all but one edition, while {{Esccnty|Ireland}} holds the record for the most victories, with seven wins in total.

Traditionally held in the country which won the preceding year's event, the contest provides an opportunity to promote the host country and city as a tourist destination. Thousands of spectators attend each year, along with journalists who cover all aspects of the contest, including rehearsals in venue, press conferences with the competing acts, in addition to other related events and performances in the host city. Alongside the generic Eurovision logo, a unique theme and slogan is typically developed for each event. The contest has aired in countries across all continents; it has been [[Streaming television|available online]] via the official Eurovision website since 2001. Eurovision ranks among the world's most watched non-sporting events every year, with hundreds of millions of viewers globally. Performing at the contest has often provided artists with a local career boost and in some cases long-lasting international success. Several of the [[List of best-selling music artists|best-selling music artists]] in the world have competed in past editions, including [[ABBA]], [[Celine Dion]], [[Julio Iglesias]], [[Cliff Richard]] and [[Olivia Newton-John]]; some of the world's [[List of best-selling singles|best-selling singles]] have received their first international performance on the Eurovision stage.

While having gained popularity with the viewing public in both participating and non-participating countries, the contest has also been the subject of criticism for its artistic quality as well as a perceived political aspect to the event. Concerns have been raised regarding political friendships and rivalries between countries potentially having an impact on the results. Controversial moments have included participating countries withdrawing at a late stage, censorship of broadcast segments by broadcasters, as well as political events impacting participation. Likewise, the contest has also been criticised for an over-abundance of elaborate stage shows at the cost of artistic merit. Eurovision has, however, gained popularity for its [[kitsch]] appeal, its musical span of [[Contemporary folk music|ethnic]] and international styles, as well as emergence as part of [[LGBT culture]], resulting in a large, active fanbase and an influence on popular culture. The popularity of the contest has led to the creation of several similar events, either organised by the EBU or created by external organisations; several special events have been organised by the EBU to celebrate select anniversaries or as a replacement due to cancellation.

== Origins and history ==
{{Further|History of the Eurovision Song Contest}}
[[File:Eurovision Song Contest 1958 - Lys Assia (crop).png|thumb|alt=Photo of Lys Assia, the first winner of the Eurovision Song Contest, performing at the third contest in 1958.|[[Lys Assia]] (1924–2018), the winner of the first Eurovision Song Contest in {{Escyr|1956}}, performing at the {{Escyr|1958|3=1958 contest}}]]
The Eurovision Song Contest was developed by the [[European Broadcasting Union]] (EBU) as an experiment in live television broadcasting<ref>{{cite web |title=The Origins of Eurovision |url=https://eurovision.tv/history/origins-of-eurovision |website=Eurovision Song Contest |date=27 May 2019 |access-date=15 April 2023}}</ref> and a way to produce cheaper television programming for national broadcasting organisations.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Vuletic |first1=Dean |title=Postwar Europe and the Eurovision Song Contest |date=2018 |publisher=Bloomsbury Academic |isbn=9781474276276 }}</ref> The word "Eurovision" was first used by British journalist George Campey in the ''[[Evening Standard|London Evening Standard]]'' in 1951, when he referred to a [[BBC]] programme being relayed by Dutch television.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=93–96}}<ref name="GoldenJubilee">{{cite web|first=Patrick |last=Jaquin |date=1 December 2004 |url=http://www.ebu.ch/en/union/diffusion_on_line/television/tcm_6-8971.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040811033906/http://www.ebu.ch/en/union/diffusion_on_line/television/tcm_6-8971.php |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 August 2004 |title=Eurovision's Golden Jubilee |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |access-date=18 July 2009}}</ref> Following several events broadcast internationally via the [[Eurovision (network)|Eurovision transmission network]] in the early 1950s, including the [[Coronation of Elizabeth II]] in 1953, an EBU committee, headed by [[Marcel Bezençon]], was formed in January 1955 to investigate new initiatives for cooperation between broadcasters, which approved for further study a European song competition from an idea initially proposed by [[RAI]] manager [[Sergio Pugliese]].<ref name="GoldenJubilee" /><ref name="Eurovision network">{{cite web |title=Eurovision: About us – who we are |url=https://www.eurovision.net/about/whoweare |publisher=[[Eurovision (network)|Eurovision Song Contest]] |access-date=28 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Sommerlad |first=Joe |title=Eurovision 2019: What exactly is the point of the annual song contest and how did it begin? |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/eurovision-2019-song-contest-what-is-the-point-purpose-pop-history-a8916801.html |work=[[The Independent]] |access-date=27 June 2020 |date=18 May 2019}}</ref> The EBU's general assembly agreed to the organising of the song contest in October 1955, under the initial title of the ''European Grand Prix'', and accepted a proposal by the Swiss delegation to host the event in [[Lugano]] in the spring of 1956.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=93–96}}<ref name="GoldenJubilee" />{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=8–9}} The Italian [[Sanremo Music Festival]], held since 1951, was used as a basis for the initial planning of the contest, with several amendments and additions given its international nature.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=93–96}}

Seven countries participated in the {{Escyr|1956||first contest}}, with each country represented by two songs; the only time in which multiple entries per country were permitted.<ref name="Nutshell">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: In a Nutshell |date=31 March 2017 |url=https://eurovision.tv/history/in-a-nutshell |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=27 June 2020}}</ref><ref name="Facts & Figures">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Facts & Figures |date=12 January 2017 |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/facts-and-figures |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=27 June 2020}}</ref> The winning song was "[[Refrain (Lys Assia song)|Refrain]]", representing the host country Switzerland and performed by [[Lys Assia]].<ref name="Winners">{{cite web|title=Eurovision Song Contest: Winners|url=https://eurovision.tv/winners|access-date=23 May 2021|publisher=Eurovision Song Contest|archive-date=12 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180512231240/https://eurovision.tv/winners|url-status=dead}}</ref> Voting during the first contest was held behind closed doors, with only the winner being announced on stage; the use of a scoreboard and public announcement of the voting, inspired by the BBC's ''[[UK national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest|Festival of British Popular Songs]]'', has been used since 1957.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|p=152}} The tradition of the winning country hosting the following year's contest, which has since become a standard feature of the event, began in 1958.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=12–13}}{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|p=160}} Technological developments have transformed the contest: [[Color television|colour broadcasts]] began in {{Escyr|1968}}; [[Satellite television|satellite broadcasts]] in {{Escyr|1985}}; and [[Streaming media|streaming]] in {{Escyr|2000}}.<ref name="Eurovision network" /><ref name="London 68">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: London 1968 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/london-1968 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=5 July 2020}}</ref><ref name="Webcasting">{{cite web |last=Laven |first=Philip |title=Webcasting and the Eurovision Song Contest |url=http://www.ebu.ch/en/technical/trev/trev_291-editorial.html |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |access-date=28 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528091401/http://www.ebu.ch/en/technical/trev/trev_291-editorial.html |archive-date=28 May 2008 |date=July 2002}}</ref> Broadcasts in [[16:9 aspect ratio|widescreen]] began in 2005 and in [[High-definition television|high-definition]] since 2007, with [[Ultra-high-definition television|ultra-high-definition]] tested for the first time in 2022.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Polishchuk |first1=Tetiana |title=Eurovision to Be Broadcast in Widescreen, With New Hosts |url=https://day.kyiv.ua/en/article/culture/eurovision-be-broadcast-widescreen-new-hosts |publisher=[[The Day (Kyiv)|The Day]] |access-date=23 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122170009/https://day.kyiv.ua/en/article/culture/eurovision-be-broadcast-widescreen-new-hosts |archive-date=22 November 2020 |date=17 May 2005 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Helsinki 07" /><ref name=":9">{{Cite web |last=Cafarelli |first=Donato |date=2022-04-23 |title=Eurovision Song Contest 2022: la Rai trasmetterà l'evento per la prima volta in 4K |trans-title=Eurovision Song Contest 2022: Rai will broadcast the event for the first time in 4K |url=https://www.eurofestivalnews.com/2022/04/23/eurovision-song-contest-2022-rai-4k/ |access-date=2022-04-23 |website=Eurofestival News |language=it-IT}}</ref>

By the 1960s, between 16 and 18 countries were regularly competing each year.<ref name="ESC History">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: History by events |url=https://eurovision.tv/events |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=27 June 2020 |archive-date=25 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825083217/https://eurovision.tv/events |url-status=dead }}</ref> Countries from outside the traditional [[Europe#Definition|boundaries of Europe]] began entering the contest, and countries in Western Asia and North Africa started competing in the 1970s and 1980s. Changes in Europe following the [[Cold War (1985–1991)|end of the Cold War]] saw an influx of new countries from [[Central and Eastern Europe]] applying for the first time. The {{Escyr|1993||1993 contest}} included a separate [[Kvalifikacija za Millstreet|pre-qualifying round]] for seven of these new countries, and from {{Escyr|1994}} [[Promotion and relegation|relegation systems]] were introduced to manage the number of competing entries, with the poorest performing countries barred from entering the following year's contest.<ref name="ESC History" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest 1993 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/millstreet-1993 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=27 June 2020}}</ref> From 2004 the contest expanded to become a multi-programme event, with a semi-final at the {{Escyr|2004||49th contest}} allowing all interested countries to compete each year; a second semi-final was added to each edition from 2008.<ref name="Facts & Figures" /><ref name="ESC History" />

There have been 67 contests as of 2023, making Eurovision the longest-running annual international televised music competition as determined by ''[[Guinness World Records]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lynch |first1=Kevin |title=Eurovision recognised by Guinness World Records as the longest-running annual TV music competition (international) |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2015/5/eurovision-recognised-by-guinness-world-records-as-the-longest-running-annual-tv-379520 |publisher=[[Guinness World Records]] |access-date=26 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200122030337/https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2015/5/eurovision-recognised-by-guinness-world-records-as-the-longest-running-annual-tv-379520 |archive-date=22 January 2020 |date=23 May 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Escudero |first1=Victor M. |title=Eurovision Song Contest awarded Guinness world record |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-song-contest-awarded-guinness-world-record |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=9 July 2020 |date=23 May 2015}}</ref> The contest has been listed as one of the longest-running television programmes in the world and among the world's most watched non-sporting events.<ref>{{cite web |title=Culture & Entertainment {{!}} Eurovision |url=http://www.brandeu.eu/eu-powerhouse/culture-and-entertainment/eurovision/ |publisher=[[Brand EU]] |access-date=19 March 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Press Release: 60th Eurovision Song Contest Seen by Nearly 200 Million Viewers |url=https://www.ebu.ch/news/2015/06/press-release-60th-eurovision-so |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |access-date=19 March 2021 |date=3 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Ritman |first1=Alex |title=Eurovision Song Contest Draws Almost 200 Million Viewers |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6583366/eurovision-song-contest-draws-almost-200-million-viewers |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=20 March 2021 |date=3 June 2015}}</ref> A total of [[List of countries in the Eurovision Song Contest|52 countries]] have taken part in at least one edition, with a record 43 countries participating in a single contest, first in {{Escyr|2008}} and subsequently in {{Escyr|2011}} and {{Escyr|2018}}.<ref name="Facts & Figures" /><ref name="ESC History" /> Australia became the first non-EBU member country to compete following an invitation by the EBU ahead of the contest's {{Escyr|2015||60th edition}} in 2015;<ref name="Australia">{{cite web |title=Australia to compete in the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/australia-to-compete-in-the-2015-eurovision-song-contest |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=27 June 2020 |date=10 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Kemp |first1=Stuart |last2=Plunkett |first2=John |title=Eurovision Song Contest invites Australia to join 'world's biggest party' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/feb/10/eurovision-song-contest-invites-australia-to-join-worlds-biggest-party |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=27 June 2020 |date=10 February 2015}}</ref> initially announced as a "one-off" for the anniversary edition, the country was invited back the following year and has subsequently secured participation rights until 2023.<ref>{{cite web |title=Australia to return to the Eurovision Song Contest! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/australia-to-return-to-the-eurovision-song-contest |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=27 June 2020 |date=17 November 2015}}</ref><ref name="Australia 2023">{{cite web |title=Australia secures spot in Eurovision for the next five years |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/australia-secures-spot-in-eurovision-until-2023 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=27 June 2020 |date=12 February 2019}}</ref>

Eurovision had been held every year until 2020, when {{Escyr|2020||that year's contest}} was cancelled in response to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref name="Facts & Figures" /><ref name="2020 cancellation">{{cite web |title=Official EBU statement & FAQ on Eurovision 2020 cancellation |url=https://eurovision.tv/official-ebu-statement-and-faq-eurovision-song-contest-2020-cancellation |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=27 June 2020 |date=6 April 2020}}</ref> No competitive event was able to take place due to uncertainty caused by the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Europe|spread of the virus in Europe]] and the various restrictions imposed by the governments of the participating countries. In its place a special broadcast, ''[[Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light]]'', was produced by the organisers, which honoured the songs and artists that would have competed in 2020 in a non-competitive format.<ref name="2020 cancellation" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision: Europe Shine A Light |date=9 April 2020 |url=https://eurovision.tv/eurovision-europe-shine-a-light |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=27 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Eurovision still shines despite cancelled final |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/may/17/eurovision-still-shines-despite-cancelled-final |agency=[[PA Media]] |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=27 June 2020 |date=17 May 2020}}</ref>

=== Naming ===
Over the years the name used to describe the contest, and used on the official logo for each edition, has evolved. The first contests were produced under the name of {{lang|fr|Grand Prix Eurovision de la Chanson Européenne}} in French and as the ''Eurovision Song Contest Grand Prix'' in English, with similar variations used in the languages of each of the broadcasting countries. From 1968, the English name dropped the 'Grand Prix' from the name, with the French name being aligned as the {{lang|fr|Concours Eurovision de la Chanson}}, first used in 1973.<ref name="ESC History" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Palmarès du Concours Eurovision de la Chanson |url=http://www.ebu.ch/departments/television/pdf/Winners-Palmares_56-02.pdf |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |access-date=28 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528174029/http://www.ebu.ch/departments/television/pdf/Winners-Palmares_56-02.pdf |archive-date=28 May 2008 |year=2002}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Concours Eurovision de la Chanson 2019 |url=https://www.france.tv/france-4/concours-eurovision-de-la-chanson-2019/ |publisher=[[France Télévisions]] |access-date=28 June 2020}}</ref> The contest's official brand guidance specifies that translations of the name may be used depending on national tradition and brand recognition in the competing countries, but that the official name ''Eurovision Song Contest'' is always preferred; the contest is commonly referred to in English by the abbreviation "Eurovision", and in internal documents by the acronym "ESC".<ref name="Brand" />

On only four occasions has the name used for the official logo of the contest not been in English or French: the Italian names {{lang|it|Gran Premio Eurovisione della Canzone}} and {{lang|it|Concorso Eurovisione della Canzone}} were used when Italy hosted the {{Escyr|1965}} and {{Escyr|1991}} contests respectively; and the [[Dutch language|Dutch]] name {{lang|nl|Eurovisiesongfestival}} was used when the Netherlands hosted in {{Escyr|1976}} and {{Escyr|1980}}.<ref name="ESC History" />

== Format ==
Original songs representing participating countries are performed in a live television programme broadcast via the [[Eurovision (network)|Eurovision and Euroradio networks]] simultaneously to all countries. A "country" as a participant is represented by one television broadcaster from that country, a member of the European Broadcasting Union, and is typically that country's national [[public broadcasting]] organisation.<ref name="How it works">{{cite web |title=How it works – Eurovision Song Contest |date=15 January 2017 |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/how-it-works |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=28 June 2020}}</ref> The programme is staged by one of the participant countries and is broadcast from an [[auditorium]] in the selected host city.<ref>{{cite web |last1=LaFleur |first1=Louise |title=Rotterdam to host Eurovision 2020! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/rotterdam-to-host-eurovision-2020 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=9 July 2020 |date=30 August 2019}}</ref> Since 2008, each contest is typically formed of three live television shows held over one week: two semi-finals are held on the Tuesday and Thursday, followed by a final on the Saturday. All participating countries compete in one of the two semi-finals, except for the host country of that year's contest and the contest's biggest financial contributors known as the "Big Five"—{{Esccnty|France}}, {{Esccnty|Germany}}, {{Esccnty|Italy}}, {{Esccnty|Spain}} and the {{Esccnty|United Kingdom}}.<ref name="How it works" /><ref name="BBC lessons learned" /> The remaining countries are split between the two semi-finals, and the 10 highest-scoring entries in each qualify to produce 26 countries competing in the final.<ref name="How it works" />

[[File:Opening act 2, ESC 2011.jpg|thumb|alt=Photograph of the opening act during the 2011 contest; Stefan Raab performs with a band while multiple women dressed as Lena dance behind them while waving the flags of the participating countries|The opening act during the final of the {{Escyr|2011|3=2011 contest}} in [[Düsseldorf]], Germany]]
Each show typically begins with an opening act consisting of music and/or dance performances by invited artists, which contributes to a unique theme and identity created for that year's event; since 2013 the opening of the contest's final has included a "Flag Parade", with competing artists entering the stage behind their country's flag in a similar manner to the [[Olympic Games ceremony#Parade of Nations|procession of competing athletes]] at the [[Olympic Games ceremony|Olympic Games opening ceremony]].<ref name="Grand Final story">{{cite web |title=Looking back: the Grand Final |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/grand-final-story |publisher=European Broadcasting Union |access-date=1 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210401132202/https://eurovision.tv/story/grand-final-story |archive-date=1 April 2021 |date=16 May 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Iconic intervals">{{cite web |title=The Most Iconic Opening & Interval Acts of the Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://eurovision.tv/video/the-most-iconic-opening-interval-acts-of-the-eurovision-song-contest |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=28 June 2020 |date=16 August 2019}}</ref> Viewers are welcomed by [[List of Eurovision Song Contest presenters|one or more presenters]] who provide key updates during the show, conduct interviews with competing acts from the [[green room]], and guide the voting procedure in English and French.<ref>{{cite web |title=Presenters – Eurovision Song Contest |date=31 March 2017 |url=https://eurovision.tv/presenters |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=28 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Jordan |first1=Paul |title=Behind the scenes with the hosts of the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/behind-the-scenes-with-the-hosts |publisher=European Broadcasting Union |access-date=1 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928064139/https://eurovision.tv/story/behind-the-scenes-with-the-hosts |archive-date=28 September 2020 |date=1 March 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Rules" /> Competing acts perform sequentially, and after all songs have been performed viewers are invited to vote for their favourite performances—except for the performance of their own country—via [[Televoting|telephone]], SMS and the official Eurovision app.<ref name="How it works" /> The public vote comprises 50% of the final result alongside the views of a jury of music industry professionals from each country.<ref name="How it works" /><ref name="Rules" /> An [[Intermission|interval act]] is invariably featured during this voting period, which on several occasions has included a well-known personality from the host country or an internationally recognised figure.<ref name="Grand Final story" /><ref name="Iconic intervals" /> The results of the voting are subsequently announced; in the semi-finals the 10 highest-ranked countries are announced in a random order, with the full results undisclosed until after the final. In the final the presenters call upon a representative spokesperson for each country in turn who announces their jury's points, while the results of the public vote are subsequently announced by the presenters.<ref name="How it works" /><ref name="Voting" /> In recent years, it has been tradition that the first country is the previous host, whereas the last country is the current host (with the exception of {{Escyr|2023}}, which was held in the United Kingdom on behalf of Ukraine, who went first).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tarbuck |first=Sean |date=2023-05-12 |title=Jury voting order revealed for Eurovision 2023 |url=https://www.escunited.com/jury-voting-order-revealed-for-eurovision-2023/ |access-date=2023-05-12 |website=ESCUnited |language=en-US}}</ref> The qualifying acts in the semi-finals, and the winning delegation in the final are invited back on stage, and in the final a [[trophy]] is awarded to the winning performers and songwriters with the previous year's winner presenting the trophy followed by a reprise of the winning song.<ref name="How it works" /><ref name="Trophy">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Trophy |date=14 January 2017 |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/trophy/ |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=30 June 2020}}</ref> The full results of the competition, including detailed results of the jury and public vote, are released online shortly after the final, and the participating broadcaster of the winning entry is traditionally given the honour of organising the following year's event.<ref name="How it works" /><ref name="Voting" />

===Selection===
{{Main|National selections for the Eurovision Song Contest}}
Each participating broadcaster has sole discretion over the process they may employ to select their entry for the contest. Typical methods in which participants are selected include a televised national selection process using a public vote; an internal selection by a committee appointed by the broadcaster; and through a mixed format where some decisions are made internally and the public are engaged in others.<ref name="National selections">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: National Selections |date=21 March 2017 |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/in-depth/national-selections/ |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=7 July 2020}}</ref> Among the most successful televised selection shows is Sweden's ''[[Melodifestivalen]]'', first established in 1959 and now one of Sweden's most watched TV shows each year.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rosney |first1=Daniel |title=Sweden's Melfest: Why a national Eurovision show won global fans |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-51749312 |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=7 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Number of viewers of Swedish television show Melodifestivalen from 2018 to 2020 |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/680472/tv-viewers-of-melodifestivalen-in-sweden/ |publisher=[[Statista]] |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=March 2020}}</ref>

== Participation ==
{{Further|List of countries in the Eurovision Song Contest}}
[[File:European Broadcasting Area.png|thumb|upright=1.5|alt=Map of countries in Europe, North Africa and Western Asia in grey, with the boundaries of the European Broadcasting Area superimposed in red|The European Broadcasting Area, shown in red]]
[[File:EurovisionParticipants.svg|thumb|upright=1.5|alt=Map of countries in Europe, North Africa and Western Asia, with a cut-out of Australia in top-right corner; countries are coloured to indicate contest participation and eligibility: countries which have entered at least once are coloured in green; countries which have never entered but eligible to do so are coloured in yellow; countries which intended to enter but later withdrew are coloured in red; and countries which competed as a part of another country but never as a sovereign country are coloured in light green.|right|Participation since 1956: {{legend|#22b14c|Entered at least once}} {{legend|#ffc20e|Never entered, although eligible to do so}} {{legend|#d40000|Entry intended, but later withdrew}} {{legend|#00ff00|Competed as a part of another country, but never as a [[sovereign state|sovereign country]]}}]]
[[File:Eurovision participation map.svg|thumb|upright=1.5|alt=Map of countries in Europe, North Africa and Western Asia, with Australia as an insert in the top-right corner, coloured to indicate the decade in which they first participated in the contest: 1950s in red, 1960s in orange, 1970s in yellow, 1980s in green; 1990s in sky blue; 2000s in blue; and 2010s in purple|Participants in the Eurovision Song Contest, coloured by decade of debut]]Active members (as opposed to associate members) of the European Broadcasting Union are eligible to participate; active members are those who are located in states that fall within the [[European Broadcasting Area]], or are [[member states of the Council of Europe]].<ref name="EBUmembership">{{cite web |title=EBU – Admission |url=https://www.ebu.ch/about/members/admission |date=27 April 2018 |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |access-date=28 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190913022313/https://www.ebu.ch/about/members/admission |archive-date=13 September 2019}}</ref> Active members include media organisations whose broadcasts are often made available to at least 98% of households in their own country which are equipped to receive such transmissions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Regulation on Detailed Membership Criteria under Article 3.6 of the EBU Statutes |url=https://www.ebu.ch/files/live/sites/ebu/files/About/Governance/Regulation%202013_EN.pdf |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |access-date=28 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190516221310/https://www.ebu.ch/files/live/sites/ebu/files/About/Governance/Regulation%202013_EN.pdf |archive-date=16 May 2019 |date=June 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> Associate member broadcasters may be eligible to compete, dependent on approval by the contest's Reference Group.<ref name="Who can take part">{{cite web |title=Which countries can take part? |url=https://eurovision.tv/page/about/which-countries-can-take-part#Which%20countries? |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=28 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170317083448/https://eurovision.tv/page/about/which-countries-can-take-part#Which%20countries? |archive-date=17 March 2017}}</ref>

The European Broadcasting Area is defined by the [[International Telecommunication Union]] as encompassing the geographical area between the boundary of [[International Telecommunication Union region|ITU Region 1]] in the west, the [[meridian 40° East]] of [[Greenwich meridian|Greenwich]] in the east, and [[parallel 30° North]] in the south. Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, and the territory of Ukraine, Iraq, Jordan and Syria lying outside these limits are included in the European Broadcasting Area.<ref name="ITU-R Radio Regulation 2012">{{cite web |publisher=[[International Telecommunication Union]], available from the Spectrum Management Authority of Jamaica |year= 2012 |url= http://www.sma.gov.jm/sites/default/files/publication_files/ITU-R_Radio_Regulations_2012_%202015_%20Article_5_Table%20of%20Frequencies.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130816092114/http://sma.gov.jm/sites/default/files/publication_files/ITU-R_Radio_Regulations_2012_%202015_%20Article_5_Table%20of%20Frequencies.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= 16 August 2013 |title= ITU-R Radio Regulations 2012–15 |access-date=28 June 2019 }}</ref><ref name="ITU-R Radio Regulation 2004">{{cite web|url=http://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-s/oth/02/02/S020200001A4501PDFE.pdf|title=ITU-R Radio Regulations – Articles edition of 2004 (valid in 2004–07)|publisher=[[International Telecommunication Union]]|year=2004|access-date=28 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010235726/https://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-s/oth/02/02/S020200001A4501PDFE.pdf|archive-date=10 October 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Eligibility to participate in the contest is therefore not limited to countries in Europe, as several states geographically outside the boundaries of the continent or which span [[List of transcontinental countries|more than one continent]] are included in the Broadcasting Area.<ref name="Who can take part" /> Countries from these groups have taken part in past editions, including countries in Western Asia such as Israel and [[Cyprus]], countries which span Europe and Asia like Russia and Turkey, and North African countries such as [[Morocco]].<ref name="ESC History" /> Australia became the first country to participate from outside the European Broadcasting Area in 2015, following an invitation by the contest's Reference Group.<ref name="Australia" />

EBU members who wish to participate must fulfil conditions as laid down in the rules of the contest, a separate copy of which is drafted annually. A maximum of 44 countries can take part in any one contest.<ref name="Rules">{{cite web |date=12 January 2017 |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Rules |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/rules/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826013327/https://eurovision.tv/about/rules |archive-date=26 August 2022 |access-date=28 June 2020 |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]]}}</ref> Broadcasters must have paid the EBU a participation fee in advance to the deadline specified in the rules for the year in which they wish to participate; this fee is different for each country based on its size and viewership.<ref name="FAQ">{{cite web |date=12 January 2017 |title=FAQ – Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/faq/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200623153206/https://eurovision.tv/about/faq/ |archive-date=23 June 2020 |access-date=28 June 2020 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest}}</ref>

Fifty-two countries have participated at least once.<ref name="ESC History" /> These are listed here alongside the year in which they made their debut:

{|
|- style="vertical-align:top"
|
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:94%"
|-
! scope="col"| Year
! scope="col"| Country making its debut entry
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top center;" rowspan="7"| {{ESCYr|1956}}
| {{esc|Belgium}}
|-
| {{esc|France}}
|-
| {{esc|Germany}}{{efn|group=Participation|Represented [[West Germany]] until 1990; [[East Germany]] never competed. Presented on all occasions as 'Germany', except in 1967 as 'Federal Republic of Germany', in 1970 and 1976 as 'West Germany', and in 1990 as 'F.R. Germany'.}}
|-
| {{esc|Italy}}
|-
| {{esc|Luxembourg}}
|-
| {{esc|Netherlands}}
|-
| {{esc|Switzerland}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top center;" rowspan="3"| {{ESCYr|1957}}
| {{esc|Austria}}
|-
| {{esc|Denmark}}
|-
| {{esc|United Kingdom}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="1"| {{ESCYr|1958}}
| {{esc|Sweden}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="1"| {{ESCYr|1959}}
| {{esc|Monaco}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="1"| {{ESCYr|1960}}
| {{esc|Norway}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top center;" rowspan="3"| {{ESCYr|1961}}
| {{esc|Finland}}
|-
| {{esc|Spain}}
|-
| {{esc|Yugoslavia}}{{efn|group=Participation|Represented the [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]] until 1991, and the [[Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]] in 1992.}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="1"| {{ESCYr|1964}}
| {{esc|Portugal}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="1"| {{ESCYr|1965}}
| {{esc|Ireland}}
|}
|
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:94%"
|-
! scope="col"| Year
! scope="col"| Country making its debut entry
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="1"| {{ESCYr|1971}}
| {{esc|Malta}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="1"| {{ESCYr|1973}}
| {{esc|Israel}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="1"| {{ESCYr|1974}}
| {{esc|Greece}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="1"| {{ESCYr|1975}}
| {{esc|Turkey}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top center;" rowspan="1"| {{ESCYr|1980}}
| {{esc|Morocco}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="1"| {{ESCYr|1981}}
| {{esc|Cyprus}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="1"| {{ESCYr|1986}}
| {{esc|Iceland}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top center;" rowspan="3"| {{ESCYr|1993}}
| {{esc|Bosnia and Herzegovina}}
|-
| {{esc|Croatia}}
|-
| {{esc|Slovenia}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top center;" rowspan="7"| {{ESCYr|1994}}
| {{esc|Estonia}}
|-
| {{esc|Hungary}}
|-
| {{esc|Lithuania}}
|-
| {{esc|Poland}}
|-
| {{esc|Romania}}
|-
| {{esc|Russia}}
|-
| {{esc|Slovakia}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top center;" rowspan="1"| {{ESCYr|1998}}
| {{esc|North Macedonia}}{{efn|group=Participation|Presented as the '[[Macedonia naming dispute|Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia]]' before 2019.}}
|}
|
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:94%"
|-
! scope="col"| Year
! scope="col"| Country making its debut entry
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="1"| {{ESCYr|2000}}
| {{esc|Latvia}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="1"| {{ESCYr|2003}}
| {{esc|Ukraine}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top center;" rowspan="4"| {{ESCYr|2004}}
| {{esc|Albania}}
|-
| {{esc|Andorra}}
|-
| {{esc|Belarus}}
|-
| {{esc|Serbia and Montenegro}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top center;" rowspan="2"| {{ESCYr|2005}}
| {{esc|Bulgaria}}
|-
| {{esc|Moldova}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="1"| {{ESCYr|2006}}
| {{esc|Armenia}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top center;" rowspan="4"| {{ESCYr|2007}}
| {{esc|Czech Republic}}{{efn|group=Participation|Presented as '[[Name of the Czech Republic|Czechia]]' from 2023.}}
|-
| {{esc|Georgia}}
|-
| {{esc|Montenegro}}
|-
| {{esc|Serbia}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top center;" rowspan="2"| {{ESCYr|2008}}
| {{esc|Azerbaijan}}
|-
| {{esc|San Marino}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top center;" rowspan="1"| {{ESCYr|2015}}
| {{esc|Australia}}{{efn|group=Participation|Initially announced as a one-off participant to commemorate the contest's 60th anniversary; has since gained participation rights until 2023.<ref name="Australia 2023" />}}
|-
|}
|}

{{notelist|group=Participation}}

== Hosting ==
{{Further|List of Eurovision Song Contest host cities}}
[[File:Eurovision all cities.svg|thumb|Countries which have hosted the Eurovision Song Contest {{legend inline|#4d9221|A single hosting}} {{legend inline|#c51b7d|Multiple hostings}}]]
The winning country traditionally hosts the following year's event, with [[List of Eurovision Song Contest host cities#Hosting traditions and exceptions|some exceptions]] since {{Escyr|1958}}.<ref name="Historical Milestones">{{cite web |title=Historical Milestones |url=http://www.eurovision.tv/english/611.htm |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |access-date=3 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060526065558/http://www.eurovision.tv/english/611.htm |archive-date=26 May 2006}}</ref><ref name="ESC History" /> Hosting the contest can be seen as a unique opportunity for promoting the host country as a tourist destination and can provide benefits to the local economy and tourism sectors of the host city.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Boyle |first1=Stephen |title=The cost of winning the Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://www.rbs.com/rbs/news/2016/05/the-cost-of-winning-the-eurovision-song-contest.html |publisher=[[Royal Bank of Scotland]] |access-date=20 March 2021 |date=13 May 2016 |archive-date=21 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220821193101/https://www.rbs.com/rbs/news/2016/05/the-cost-of-winning-the-eurovision-song-contest.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Preparations for each year's contest typically begin at the conclusion of the previous year's contest, with the winning country's head of delegation receiving a welcome package of information related to hosting the contest at the winner's press conference.<ref name="How it works" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Winner's Press Conference with Portugal's Salvador Sobral |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/2017-winners-press-conference |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020 |date=14 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Winner's Press Conference with the Netherlands' Duncan Laurence |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/winners-press-conference-with-netherlands-duncan-laurence |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020 |date=19 May 2019}}</ref> Eurovision is a non-profit event, and financing is typically achieved through a fee from each participating broadcaster, contributions from the host broadcaster and the host city, and commercial revenues from sponsorships, ticket sales, televoting and merchandise.<ref name="FAQ" />

The host broadcaster will subsequently select a host city, typically a national or regional capital city, which must meet certain criteria set out in the contest's rules. The host venue must be able to accommodate at least 10,000 spectators, a press centre for 1,500 journalists, should be within easy reach of an [[international airport]] and with hotel accommodation available for at least 2,000 delegates, journalists and spectators.<ref name="Host city criteria">{{cite web |title=What does it take to become a Eurovision host city? |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/what-does-it-take-to-become-a-eurovision-host-city |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020 |date=30 July 2007}}</ref> A variety of different venues have been used for past editions, from small theatres and television studios to large arenas and stadiums.<ref name="ESC History" /> The largest host venue is [[Parken Stadium]] in Copenhagen, which was attended by almost 38,000 spectators in {{Escyr|2001}}.<ref name="Facts & Figures" /><ref name="Copenhagen 01" /> With a population of 1,500 at the time of the {{Escyr|1993||1993 contest}}, [[Millstreet]], Ireland remains the smallest hosting settlement, although its [[Green Glens Arena]] is capable of hosting up to 8,000 spectators.<ref name="Millstreet 93" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Millstreet Town: Green Glens Arena |url=http://www.millstreet.ie/green%20glens/greenglens.htm |website=millstreet.ie |access-date=3 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401191842/http://www.millstreet.ie/green%20glens/greenglens.htm |archive-date=1 April 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Eurovision logo and theme ===
[[File:Eurovision Song Contest logo.svg|thumb|right|alt=Previous generic logo used at the contest between 2004 and 2014|Logo used from 2004 to 2014]]

Until 2004, each edition of the contest used its own logo and visual identity as determined by the respective host broadcaster. To create a consistent visual identity, a generic logo was introduced ahead of the {{Escyr|2004||2004 contest}}. This is typically accompanied by a unique theme artwork and slogan designed for each individual contest by the host broadcaster, with the flag of the host country placed prominently in the centre of the Eurovision heart.<ref name="Brand">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Brand |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/brand |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201075740/https://eurovision.tv/about/brand |archive-date=1 February 2021}}</ref> The original logo was designed by the London-based agency JM International, and received a revamp in 2014 by the Amsterdam-based Cityzen Agency for the contest's {{Escyr|2015||60th edition}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest logo evolves |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-song-contest-logo-evolves |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020 |date=31 July 2014}}</ref><ref name="Logos & Artwork">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Logos and Artwork |date=12 January 2017 |url=https://eurovision.tv/mediacentre/logos-and-artwork |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=17 March 2021}}</ref>

An [[History of the Eurovision Song Contest#Contest themes and slogans|individual slogan and theme]] has been associated with most editions of the contest since 2002, and is utilised by contest producers when constructing the show's visual identity, including the stage design, the opening and interval acts, and the "postcards".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Groot |first1=Evert |title=Tel Aviv 2019: Dare to Dream |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/slogan-tel-aviv-2019-dare-to-dream |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=28 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=LaFleur |first1=Louise |title=The making of 'Open Up' |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/the-making-of-open-up |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=25 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=2020 postcard concept revealed as Dutch people can join in on the fun |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-2020-postcards-concept-revealed |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=9 December 2019}}</ref> The short video postcards are interspersed between the entries and were first introduced in 1970, initially as an attempt to "bulk up" the contest after a number of countries decided not to compete, but has since become a regular part of the show and usually highlight the host country and introduce the competing acts.<ref name="Amsterdam 50th anniv">{{cite web |title=Happy 50th Anniversary, Eurovision 1970! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/happy-50th-anniversary-1970-eurovision |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=29 April 2020}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=40–43}}

=== Preparations ===
[[File:Netta at the Eurovision 2018 - Winner’s Press Conference 03.jpg|alt=A press conference during the 2012 contest; the Serbian delegation are seated at a long table with rows of journalists seated facing them, with a large screen on the wall behind the delegation projecting a live relay of the conference.|thumb|Press conference with the Israeli delegation following their win at the {{Escyr|2018|3=2018 contest}}]]
[[File:Pht-Vugar Ibadov eurovision (35).jpg|thumb|alt=Photo of the EuroClub in 2012; a large group of delegates are seen conversing|The EuroClub at the {{Escyr|2012|3=2012 contest}} in [[Baku]], [[Azerbaijan]]]]
Preparations in the host venue typically begin approximately six weeks before the final, to accommodate building works and technical rehearsals before the arrival of the competing artists.<ref>{{cite web |title=Anforderungsprofil an die Austragungsstätte des Eurovision Song Contest 2015 |url=http://kundendienst.orf.at/aktuelles/anforderungsprofl_austragungsstaette.pdf |publisher=[[ORF (broadcaster)|ORF]] |access-date=3 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531162001/http://kundendienst.orf.at/aktuelles/anforderungsprofl_austragungsstaette.pdf |archive-date=31 May 2014 |language=de |trans-title=Requirements to the venue of the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 }}</ref> Delegations will typically arrive in the host city two to three weeks before the live show, and each participating broadcaster nominates a head of delegation, responsible for coordinating the movements of their delegation and being that country's representative to the EBU.<ref name="Rules" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Rules of the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest |url=http://www.eurovision.tv/searchfiles_english/574.htm |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060210010517/http://www.eurovision.tv/searchfiles_english/574.htm |archive-date=10 February 2006}}</ref> Members of each country's delegation include performers, composers, lyricists, members of the press, and—in the years where a live orchestra was present—a conductor.<ref name="HoDs">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Heads of Delegation |date=14 January 2017 |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/organisers/heads-of-delegation/ |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=5 July 2020}}</ref> Present if desired is a commentator, who provides commentary of the event for their country's radio and/or television feed in their country's own language in dedicated booths situated around the back of the arena behind the audience.<ref>{{cite web |title=Commentator's guide to the commentators |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/commentator-s-guide-to-the-commentators |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020 |date=15 May 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Escudero |first1=Victor M. |title=Commentators: The national hosts of Eurovision |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/commentators-sweden-mans-zelmerlow-edward-af-sillen |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020 |date=14 May 2017}}</ref>

Each country conducts two individual rehearsals behind closed doors, the first for 30 minutes and the second for 20 minutes; the latter is used as a recorded back-up if the country's representative artist is unable to perform in later rehearsals or the live shows.<ref name="2008 rehearsal schedule" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=van Gorkum |first=Steef |date=2021-05-17 |title=Sietse Bakker: "Countries may choose between rehearsal tape or back-up tape" |url=https://www.escdaily.com/sietse-bakker-countries-may-choose-between-rehearsal-tape-or-back-up-tape/ |access-date=2022-06-13 |website=ESCDaily}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Granger |first=Anthony |date=2023-05-10 |title=Eurovision 2023: EBU & BBC Discuss Voting, Rehearsals & Qualifiers Announcement |url=https://eurovoix.com/2023/05/10/eurovision-2023-ebu-bbc-conference/ |access-date=2023-05-11 |website=Eurovoix |language=en-GB}}</ref> Individual rehearsals for the semi-finalists commence the week before the live shows, with countries typically rehearsing in the order in which they will perform during the contest; rehearsals for the host country and the "Big Five" automatic finalists are held towards the end of the week.<ref name="2008 rehearsal schedule">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest 2008: Rehearsal schedule |url=http://www.eurovision.tv/upload/media/ESC2008_rehearsals.pdf |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081221010818/http://www.eurovision.tv/upload/media/ESC2008_rehearsals.pdf |archive-date=21 December 2008}}</ref><ref name="2018 rehearsal schedule">{{cite web |title=Your ultimate guide to the Eurovision 2018 event weeks |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/guide-to-eurovision-2018-event-weeks-rehearal-schedule |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518142209/https://eurovision.tv/story/guide-to-eurovision-2018-event-weeks-rehearal-schedule |archive-date=18 May 2019 |date=27 April 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> Following rehearsals, delegations meet with the show's production team to review footage of the rehearsal and raise any special requirements or changes. "Meet and greet" sessions with accredited fans and press are held during these rehearsal weeks.<ref name="2008 rehearsal schedule" /><ref name="Event weeks">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Event weeks |date=21 March 2017 |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/in-depth/event-weeks |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020}}</ref> Each live show is preceded by three dress rehearsals, where the whole show is run in the same way as it will be presented on TV.<ref name="Event weeks" /> The second dress rehearsal, alternatively called the "jury show" and held the night before the broadcast, is used as a recorded back-up in case of technological failure, and performances during this show are used by each country's professional jury to determine their votes.<ref name="2018 rehearsal schedule" /><ref name="Event weeks" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Time now for the all important Jury Final |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/time-now-for-the-all-important-jury-final |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=25 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190902160705/https://eurovision.tv/story/time-now-for-the-all-important-jury-final |archive-date=2 September 2019 |date=17 May 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> The delegations from the qualifying countries in each semi-final attend a qualifiers' press conference after their respective semi-final, and the winning delegation attends a winners' press conference following the final.<ref name="Event weeks" />

A welcome reception is typically held at a venue in the host city on the Sunday preceding the live shows, which includes a [[red carpet]] ceremony for all the participating countries and is usually broadcast online.<ref>{{cite web |title=Welcome Reception: Pink champagne for the stars |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/welcome-reception-pink-champagne-for-the-stars |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020 |date=25 May 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Tel Aviv prepares for glamorous Orange Carpet |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/tel-aviv-prepares-for-glamorous-orange-carpet-tune-in-at-18-00-cest |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020 |date=12 May 2019}}</ref> Accredited delegates, press and fans have access to an official nightclub, the "EuroClub", and some delegations will hold their own parties.<ref name="Event weeks" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: EuroClub |date=21 April 2017 |url=https://eurovision.tv/fans/euroclub |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title="Big Five" meet to take a trip down the Rhine |date=14 May 2011 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/big-five-meet-to-take-a-trip-down-the-rhine |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020}}</ref> The "Eurovision Village" is an official fan zone open to the public free of charge, with live performances by the contest's artists and screenings of the live shows on big screens.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Eurovision Village |date=23 April 2018 |url=https://eurovision.tv/fans/eurovision-village |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020}}</ref>

== Rules ==
{{Further|Rules of the Eurovision Song Contest}}
[[File:Martin_Österdahl_söndag_lunch_i_Storängen_2016.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=Photo of Martin Österdahl|right|[[Martin Österdahl]], the contest's Executive Supervisor since {{Escyr|2021||2021}}]]

The contest is organised annually by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), together with the participating broadcaster of the host country. The event is monitored by an [[Rules of the Eurovision Song Contest#Scrutineers and Executive Supervisors|Executive Supervisor]] appointed by the EBU, and by the [[Rules of the Eurovision Song Contest#Reference Group|Reference Group]] which represents all participating broadcasters, who are each represented by a nominated Head of Delegation.<ref name="Organisers">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Organisers |date=12 January 2017 |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/organisers |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=5 July 2020}}</ref> The current Executive Supervisor {{as of|2022|lc=y}} is [[Martin Österdahl]], who took over the role from [[Jon Ola Sand]] in May 2020.<ref name="Österdahl">{{cite web|date=20 January 2020|title=Martin Österdahl announced as new Eurovision Song Contest Executive Supervisor|url=https://www.ebu.ch/news/2020/01/martin-osterdahl-announced-as-new-eurovision-song-contest-executive-supervisor|access-date=25 July 2020 |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]]}}</ref> A detailed set of rules is written by the EBU for each contest and approved by the Reference Group. These rules have changed over time, and typically outline, among other points, the eligibility of the competing songs, the format of the contest, and the voting system to be used to determine the winner and how the results will be presented.<ref name="Rules" />

=== Song eligibility and languages ===
{{further|List of languages in the Eurovision Song Contest}}

All competing songs must have a duration of three minutes or less.<ref name="Rules" /> This rule applies only to the version performed during the live shows.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Muldoon |first1=Padraig |title=Italy: Ermal Meta & Fabrizio Moro release three-minute Eurovision 2018 version of "Non mi avete fatto niente" |url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2018/03/30/italy-ermal-meta-fabrizio-moro-release-three-minute-eurovision-2018-version-non-mi-avete-fatto-niente/220657/ |website=wiwibloggs.com |access-date=27 February 2021 |date=30 March 2018}}</ref> In order to be considered eligible, competing songs in a given year's contest must not have been released commercially before the first day of September of the previous year.<ref name="Rules" /> All competing entries must include vocals and lyrics of some kind and purely instrumental pieces are not allowed.<ref>{{cite news |title=Eurovision: Rules, facts and controversies |url=https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/eurovision-rules-facts-and-controversies-1586799 |access-date=21 March 2021 |work=[[The Scotsman]] |date=7 March 2013}}</ref> Competing entries may be performed in any language, be that [[Natural language|natural]] or [[Constructed language|constructed]], and participating broadcasters are free to decide the language in which their entry may be performed.<ref name="Rules" />

Rules specifying in which language a song may be performed have changed over time. No restrictions were originally enacted when the contest was first founded, however following criticism over the {{Esccnty|Sweden|y=1965|t=1965 Swedish entry}} being performed in English, a new rule was introduced for the {{Escyr|1966||1966 contest}} restricting songs to be performed only in an official language of the country it represented.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=28–29}}<ref name="Naples 65">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Naples 1965 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/naples-1965 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=4 July 2020}}</ref><ref name="Luxembourg 66">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Luxembourg 1966 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/luxembourg-1966 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=4 July 2020}}</ref> This rule was first abolished in {{Escyr|1973}}, and subsequently reinstated for most countries in {{Escyr|1977}}, with only {{Esccnty|Belgium|y=1977}} and {{Esccnty|Germany|y=1977}} permitted freedom of language as their selection processes for that year's contest had already commenced.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=68–71}}<ref name="Luxembourg 73">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Luxembourg 1973 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/luxembourg-1973 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=4 July 2020}}</ref><ref name="London 77">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: London 1977 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/london-1977 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=4 July 2020}}</ref> The language rule was once again abolished ahead of the {{Escyr|1999||1999 contest}}.<ref name="Jerusalem 99" />{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=156–159}}

=== Artist eligibility and performances ===
[[File:Domenico Modugno (1958), Bestanddeelnr 909-4001 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|alt=Black and white photograph from the 1958 contest held in the AVRO Studios in Hilversum, the Netherlands; an orchestra seated to the left of a small stage, with Italian singer Domenico Modugno singing on the stage platform in front of a wall.|The orchestra was an integral part of the contest until 1998 ([[Domenico Modugno]] performing at the {{Escyr|1958||1958 contest}})]]

The rules for the first contest specified that only solo performers were permitted to enter;<ref name="Lugano 56" /> this criterion was changed the following year to permit duos to compete, and groups were subsequently permitted for the first time in {{Escyr|1971}}.<ref name="Frankfurt 57" /><ref name="Dublin 71">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Dublin 1971 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/dublin-1971 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=19 March 2021}}</ref> Currently the number of people permitted on stage during competing performances is limited to a maximum of six, and no live animals are allowed.<ref name="Rules" /> Since {{Escyr|1990}}, all contestants must be aged 16 or over on the day of the live show in which they perform.<ref name="Lausanne 89">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Lausanne 1989 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/lausanne-1989 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=4 July 2020}}</ref> [[Sandra Kim]], the winner in {{Escyr|1986}} at the age of 13, shall remain the contest's youngest winner while this rule remains in place.<ref name="Bergen 86">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Bergen 1986 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/bergen-1986 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=4 July 2020}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=104–107}} There is no limit on the nationality or country of birth of the competing artists, and participating broadcasters are free to select an artist from any country; several winning artists have subsequently held a different nationality or were born in a different country to that which they represented.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=387–396}}<ref name="Winners" /> No performer may compete for more than one country in a given year.<ref name="Rules" />

The orchestra was a prominent aspect of the contest from 1956 to 1998.<ref name="Facts & Figures" /> Pre-recorded backing tracks were first allowed for competing acts in 1973, but any pre-recorded instruments were required to be seen being "performed" on stage; in 1997, all instrumental music was allowed to be pre-recorded, however the host country was still required to provide an orchestra.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=148–151}} In 1999, the rules were changed again, making the orchestra an optional requirement; the host broadcaster of {{Escyr|1999||that year's contest}}, Israel's [[Israel Broadcasting Authority|IBA]], subsequently decided not to provide an orchestra, resulting in all entries using backing tracks for the first time.<ref name="99 Rules" /><ref name="Jerusalem 99" />{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=156–159}} Currently all instrumental music for competing entries must now be pre-recorded, and no live instrumentation is allowed during performances.<ref name="Rules" /><ref name="15 Rules">{{cite web |title=Public Rules of the 60th Eurovision Song Contest |url=http://www.eurovision.tv/upload/press-downloads/2015/2014-09-02_2015_ESC_rules_EN_PUBLIC_RULES.pdf |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=4 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150430201605/http://www.eurovision.tv/upload/press-downloads/2015/2014-09-02_2015_ESC_rules_EN_PUBLIC_RULES.pdf |archive-date=30 April 2015}}</ref>

The main vocals of competing songs must be performed live during the contest.<ref name="Rules" /> Previously live backing vocals were also required; since {{Escyr|2021||2021}} these may optionally be pre-recorded – this change has been implemented in an effort to introduce flexibility following the cancellation of the 2020 edition and to facilitate modernisation.<ref name="Back for good">{{cite web |title=Changes announced to ensure Eurovision comes 'back for good' |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/changes-announced-to-ensure-eurovision-comes-back-for-good |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=4 July 2020 |date=18 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Katsoulakis |first=Manos |date=2022-08-25 |title=The rules of Eurovision 2023 are released: Pre-recorded backing vocals permitted again |url=https://eurovisionfun.com/en/2022/08/the-rules-of-eurovision-2023-are-released-pre-recorded-vocals-permitted-again/ |access-date=2022-08-26 |website=EurovisionFun}}</ref>

=== Running order ===
Since {{Escyr|2013}}, the order in which the competing countries perform has been determined by the contest's producers, and submitted to the EBU Executive Supervisor and Reference Group for approval before public announcement. This was changed from a random draw used in previous years in order to provide a better experience for television viewers and ensure all countries stand out by avoiding instances where songs of a similar style or tempo are performed in sequence.<ref>{{cite web |title=Running order Malmö 2013 to be determined by producers |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/running-order-malmoe-2013-to-be-determined-by-producers |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=9 July 2020 |date=7 November 2012}}</ref>

Since the creation of a second semi-final in {{Escyr|2008}}, a semi-final allocation draw is held each year.<ref name="Semi-Final Allocation" /> Countries are placed into pots based on their geographical location and voting history in recent contests, and are assigned to compete in one of the two semi-finals through a random draw.<ref>{{cite web |title=All you need to know for Monday's draw! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/all-you-need-to-know-for-monday-s-draw |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=21 March 2021 |date=24 January 2008}}</ref> Countries are then randomly assigned to compete in either the first or second half of their respective semi-final, and once all competing songs have been selected the producers then determine the running order for the semi-finals.<ref name="allocation 2018">{{cite web |last1=Zwart |first1=Josianne |last2=Jordan |first2=Paul |title=Which countries will perform in which Semi-Final at Eurovision 2018? |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/results-of-the-semi-final-allocation-draw-2018 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=9 July 2020 |date=29 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="2013 semi order">{{cite web |title=Eurovision 2013: Semi-Final running order revealed |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-2013-semi-final-running-order-revealed |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=9 July 2020 |date=28 March 2013}}</ref> The automatic qualifiers are assigned at random to a semi-final for the purposes of voting rights.<ref name="Semi-Final Allocation" />

Semi-final qualifiers make a draw at random during the winners' press conference to determine whether they will perform during the first or second half of the final; the automatic finalists then randomly draw their competing half in the run-up to the final, except for the host country, whose exact performance position is determined in a separate draw.<ref name="2013 semi order" /><ref>{{cite web |last1=Groot |first1=Evert |title=Portugal and 'Big Five' rehearse for the second time |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/portugal-france-spain-italy-united-kingdom-second-rehearsal-2018 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=9 July 2020 |date=6 May 2018}}</ref> The running order for the final is then decided following the second semi-final by the producers. The running orders are decided with the competing songs' musical qualities, stage performance, prop and lighting set-up, and other production considerations taken into account.<ref>{{cite web |title=How is the Running Order being decided? |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/exclusive-running-order-producers-decide-2017 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=9 July 2020 |date=12 May 2017}}</ref>

=== Voting ===
{{further|Voting at the Eurovision Song Contest}}
[[File:Eurovision 2004 Scoreboard.jpg|right|thumb|alt=A screenshot from the 2004 contest showing the electronic scoreboard: video footage of Johnny Logan is superimposed onto the scoreboard; the name and flag of the country giving its points is shown at the bottom of the screen, and the flag and country name of the finalists, the number of points being given by the giving country, and the total number of points received is shown in two columns, with the sorting order updated to place the country with the highest score at the top.|The electronic scoreboard used at the {{Escyr|2004||2004 contest}}, with [[Johnny Logan (singer)|Johnny Logan]] announcing the votes from Ireland]]

Starting in 2023, the voting system used to determine the results of the contest works on the basis of [[positional voting]].<ref name="2023 voting change">{{cite web |title=Voting changes announced for Eurovision Song Contest 2023 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/voting-changes-announced-eurovision-song-contest-2023 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=22 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122131325/https://eurovision.tv/story/voting-changes-announced-eurovision-song-contest-2023 |archive-date=22 November 2022 |date=22 November 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="jury semi scrapped">{{cite web |title=Eurovision scraps jury voting in semi-finals |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-63716398 |publisher=[[BBC News]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122131409/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-63716398 |archive-date=22 November 2022 |date=22 November 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> Each country awards 1–8, 10 and 12 points to the ten favourite songs as voted for by that country's general public or assembled jury, with the most preferred song receiving 12 points. In the semi-finals, each country awards one set of points based primarily on the votes cast by that country's viewing public via [[televoting|telephone]], SMS or the official Eurovision [[Mobile app|app]], while in the final, each country awards two sets of points, with one set awarded by the viewers and another awarded by a jury panel comprising five music professionals from that country.<ref name="Voting">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Voting |date=3 May 2017 |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/voting |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=5 July 2020}}</ref><ref name="2023 voting change" /> Starting in 2023, viewers in selected non-participating countries are also able to vote during the contest, with those viewers able to cast votes via an online platform, which are then aggregated and awarded as one set of points from an "extra country" for the overall public vote.<ref>{{cite web |title=Voting changes (2023) FAQ |url=https://eurovision.tv/voting-changes-2023-faq |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=22 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122133421/https://eurovision.tv/voting-changes-2023-faq |archive-date=22 November 2022 |date=22 November 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> This system is a modification of that used since 1975, when the "12 points" system was first introduced but with one set of points per country, and a similar system used since 2016 where two sets of points were awarded in both the semi-finals and final.<ref name="Change to voting">{{cite web |last1=Jordan |first1=Paul |title=Biggest change to Eurovision Song Contest voting since 1975 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/biggest-change-to-eurovision-song-contest-voting-since-1975 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=5 July 2020 |date=18 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest overhauls voting rules |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35602473 |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=5 July 2020 |date=18 February 2016}}</ref> National juries and the public in each country are not allowed to vote for their own country, a rule first introduced in 1957.<ref name="Voting" /><ref name="Frankfurt 57">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Frankfurt 1957 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/frankfurt-1957 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=5 July 2020}}</ref>

Historically, each country's points were determined by a jury, consisting at various times of members of the public, music professionals, or both in combination.<ref name="Luxembourg 66" />{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=387–396}} With advances in telecommunication technology, televoting was first introduced to the contest in {{Escyr|1997}} on a trial basis, with broadcasters in five countries allowing the viewing public to determine their votes for the first time.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=148–151}} From {{Escyr|1998}}, televoting was extended to almost all competing countries, and subsequently became mandatory from {{Escyr|2004}}.<ref name="Birmingham 98" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Rules of the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest |url=http://www.myledbury.co.uk/eurovision/pdf/esc2004.pdf |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |access-date=22 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050525073534/http://www.myledbury.co.uk/eurovision/pdf/esc2004.pdf |archive-date=25 May 2005 |url-status=live }}</ref> A jury was reintroduced for the final in {{Escyr|2009}}, with each country's points comprising both the votes of the jury and public in an equal split; this mix of jury and public voting was expanded into the semi-finals from 2010, and was used until 2023, when full public voting was reintroduced to determine the results of the semi-finals.<ref name="jury semi scrapped" /><ref name="Jury 09 final">{{cite web |title=Televoting/jury mix in 2009 Final voting |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/televoting-jury-mix-in-2009-final-voting |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=5 July 2020 |date=14 September 2008}}</ref><ref name="2010 jury semis">{{cite web |title=Juries also get 50% stake in Semi-Final result |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/juries-also-get-50-stake-in-semi-final-result |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=2 July 2020 |date=11 October 2009}}</ref> The mix of jury and public voting continues to be used in the final as of 2023.<ref name="2023 voting change" /><ref name="jury semi scrapped" />

Should two or more countries finish with the same number of points, a tie-break procedure is employed to determine the final placings. {{as of|2016|post=,}} a combined national televoting and jury result is calculated for each country, and the country which has obtained more points from the public voting following this calculation is deemed to have placed higher.<ref name="Voting" />

==== Presentation of the votes ====
[[File:Eurovision Song Contest 1958 - Scoreboard.png|thumb|right|alt=Black and white photograph of the scoreboard in 1958; the running order numbers and song titles of the competing entries are printed on the left-hand side of the scoreboard, and rotating numbers on the right-hand side show the allocation of points to each song as each country's jury is called, and a total of all points received; song titles are sorted by order of appearance, with the first song to be performed appearing at the top of the scoreboard.|The scoreboard at the {{Escyr|1958||1958 contest}}]]

Since 1957, each country's votes have been announced during a special voting segment as part of the contest's broadcast, with a selected spokesperson assigned to announce the results of their country's vote.<ref name="Voting" /> This spokesperson is typically well known in their country; previous spokespersons have included former Eurovision artists and presenters.<ref name="2016 spokespersons">{{cite web |last1=Roxburgh |first1=Gordon |title=The 42 spokespersons for the 2016 Grand Final |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/the-42-spokespersons-for-the-2016-grand-final |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=5 July 2020 |date=14 May 2016}}</ref> Historically, the announcements were made through [[telephone line]]s from the countries of origin, with [[satellite link]]s employed for the first time in {{Escyr|1994}}, allowing the spokespersons to be seen visually by the audience and TV spectators.<ref name="Dublin 94" />

Scoring is done by both a national jury and a national televote. Each country's jury votes are consecutively added to the totals [[scoreboard]] as they are called upon by the contest presenter(s).{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|p=152}} The scoreboard was historically placed at the side of the stage and updated manually as each country gave their votes; in {{Escyr|1988}} a [[computer graphics]] scoreboard was introduced.<ref name="Dublin 88">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Dublin 1988 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/dublin-1988 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=5 July 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Milestone Moments: 1988 – When Celine was crowned Queen |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/milestone-moments-1988-when-celine-was-crowned-queen |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=5 July 2020 |date=12 September 2016}}</ref> The jury points from 1–8 and 10 are displayed on screen and added automatically to the scoreboard, then the country's spokesperson announces which country will receive the 12 points.<ref name="2016 spokespersons" /> Once jury points from all countries have been announced, the presenter(s) announce the total public points received for each finalist, with the votes for each country being consolidated and announced as a single value.<ref name="Change to voting" /> Since {{Escyr|2019}}, the public points have been revealed in ascending order based on the jury vote, with the country that received the fewest points from the jury being the first to receive their public points.<ref name="Voting" /> A full breakdown of the results across all shows is published on the official Eurovision website after the final, including each country's televoting ranking and the votes of its jury and individual jury members. Each country's individual televoting points in the final are typically displayed on-screen by that country's broadcaster following the announcement of the winner.<ref name="Change to voting" />

=== Broadcasting ===
Participating broadcasters are required to air live the semi-final in which they compete, or in the case of the automatic finalists the semi-final in which they are required to vote, and the final, in its entirety; this includes all competing songs, the voting [[Abstract (summary)|recap]] containing short clips of the performances, the voting procedure or semi-final qualification reveal, and the [[reprise]] of the winning song in the final.<ref name="Rules" /><ref name="15 Rules" /><ref name="Broadcasting Rights">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Broadcasting Rights |date=12 January 2017 |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/broadcasting-rights |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=5 July 2020}}</ref> Since 1999, broadcasters who wished to do so were given the opportunity to provide [[Television advertisement|advertising]] during short, non-essential hiatuses in the show's schedule.<ref name="99 Rules" /> In exceptional circumstances, such as due to developing emergency situations, participating broadcasters may delay or postpone broadcast of the event.<ref name="Decade Stockholm 2000">{{cite web |title=The end of a decade: Stockholm 2000 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/the-end-of-a-decade-stockholm-2000 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=5 July 2020 |date=21 December 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Albania to broadcast tonight's Semi-Final deferred |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/albania-to-broadcast-tonight-s-semi-final-deferred |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=5 July 2020 |date=22 May 2012}}</ref> Should a broadcaster fail to air a show as expected in any other scenario they may be subject to sanctions by the EBU.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Royston |first1=Benny |title=Spain to face sanctions over late broadcast |url=http://esctoday.com/14060/spain_to_face_sanctions_over_late_broadcast/ |website=esctoday.com |access-date=5 July 2020 |date=15 May 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Escartín |first1=Javier |title=Los problemas de Soraya en Eurovisión |url=https://www.abc.es/play/abci-problemas-soraya-eurovision-200905150300-92916354130_noticia.html |work=[[ABC (newspaper)|ABC]] |access-date=5 July 2020 |language=es |trans-title=Soraya's problems at Eurovision |date=15 May 2009}}</ref> Several broadcasters in countries that are unable to compete have previously aired the contest in their markets.<ref>{{cite web |title=Here's where to watch Eurovision: Europe Shine A Light |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/heres-where-to-watch-eurovision-europe-shine-a-light |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020 |date=16 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://www.bbcnewzealand.com/shows/eurovision/ |work=[[BBC UKTV]]|access-date=3 July 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Netflix Picks Up U.S. VOD Rights To Eurovision Song Contest 2019 & 2020 |url=https://deadline.com/2019/07/netflix-eurovision-song-contest-2019-2020-picks-up-us-vod-rights-1202648894/ |work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|access-date=3 July 2020 |date=19 July 2019}}</ref>

As national broadcasters join and leave the [[Eurovision (network)|Eurovision]] feed transmitted by the EBU, the EBU/Eurovision [[Station identification|network logo ident]] (not to be confused with the logo of the song contest itself) is displayed. The accompanying music (used on other Eurovision broadcasts) is the Prelude ''(Marche en rondeau)'' to [[Marc-Antoine Charpentier]]'s ''[[Te Deum (Charpentier)|Te Deum]]''.<ref name="GoldenJubilee"/> Originally, the same logo was used for both the Eurovision network and the European Broadcasting Union, however, they now have two different logos; the latest Eurovision network logo was introduced in 2012, and when the ident is transmitted at the start and end of programmes it is this Eurovision network logo that appears.<ref>{{cite web |title=Stage Set for Animated Eurovision Logo |url=https://www.ebu.ch/news/2012/11/stage-set-for-animatedeurovision |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |access-date=22 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517232922/https://www.ebu.ch/news/2012/11/stage-set-for-animatedeurovision |archive-date=17 May 2019 |date=29 November 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{YouTube|stZDkX2Xzow|EUROVISION Animated logo}}</ref>

The EBU now holds the recordings of all but two editions of the contest in its archives, following a project initiated in 2011 to collate footage and related materials of all editions ahead of the event's 60th edition in 2015.<ref name="Eurovision Again BtS" /> Although cameras were present to practice pan-European broadcasting for the first contest in 1956 to the few Europeans who had television sets, its audience was primarily over the radio. The only footage available is a [[Kinescope]] recording of Lys Assia's reprise of her winning song.<ref name="Lugano 56">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Lugano 1956 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/lugano-1956 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=5 July 2020}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=8–9}} No full recording of the {{Escyr|1964||1964 contest}} exists, with conflicting reports of the fate of any copies that may have survived.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=348–358}}<ref>{{cite web |last1=Grønbech |first1=Jens |title=BT afslører: Her er DRs største grandprix-brøler |url=https://www.bt.dk/melodi-grand-prix/bt-afsloerer-her-er-drs-stoerste-grandprix-broeler |publisher=[[B.T. (tabloid)|B.T.]] |access-date=6 July 2020 |language=da |trans-title=BT reveals: DR's biggest Eurovision groan |date=2 May 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Dohrman |first1=Jan |title=Billeder: I denne uge er det 55 år siden, Danmark holdt sit første Eurovision i Tivoli |url=https://www.dr.dk/om-dr/nyheder/billeder-i-denne-uge-er-det-55-aar-siden-danmark-holdt-sit-foerste-eurovision-i-tivoli |publisher=[[DR (broadcaster)|DR]] |access-date=6 July 2020 |language=da |trans-title=Pictures: This week marks 55 years since Denmark held its first Eurovision at Tivoli |date=20 March 2019}}</ref> Audio recordings of both contests do however exist, and some short pieces of footage from both events have survived.<ref name="Lugano 56" /><ref name="Copenhagen 64">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Copenhagen 1964 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/copenhagen-1964 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=5 July 2020}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=24–25}}

== Expansion of the contest ==
{{Further|List of countries in the Eurovision Song Contest}}
{{multiple image
| width = 280
| footer = [[Revolutions of 1989|Changes in Europe in the 1980s and 1990s]] impacted the contest, as [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]] ceased participating under one name and new countries in Central and Eastern Europe started competing.
| image1 = Eurovision Participants 1992.svg
| alt1 = Map of countries in Europe, North Africa and Western Asia showing boundaries in 1992; contest participants in 1992 are coloured in green, with Yugoslavia coloured in red.
| caption1 = Participating countries in {{Escyr|1992}}; [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]] (in red) participated for the final time
| image2 = Regular Participants 1994.svg
| alt2 = Map of countries in Europe, North Africa and Western Asia showing boundaries in 1994; contest participants in 1994 are coloured in green
| caption2 = Participating countries in {{Escyr|1994}}
}}
From the original seven countries which entered the first contest in 1956, the number of competing countries has steadily grown over time. 18 countries participated in the contest's tenth edition in 1965, and by 1990, 22 countries were regularly competing each year.<ref name="Naples 65" /><ref name="Zagreb 90">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Zagreb 1990 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/zagreb-1990 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=27 February 2021}}</ref>

Besides slight modifications to the voting system and other contest rules, no fundamental changes to the contest's format were introduced until the early 1990s, when [[Revolutions of 1989|events in Europe in the late 1980s and early 1990s]] resulted in a growing interest from new countries in the former [[Eastern Bloc]], particularly following the merger of the Eastern European rival [[International Radio and Television Organisation|OIRT network]] with the EBU in 1993.<ref>{{cite book |title=50 Years of Eurovision |date=2004 |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |pages=32–33 |url=https://www.ebu.ch/CMSimages/en/dossiers_1_04_eurovision50_ve_tcm6-13890.pdf |access-date=1 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050129162217/https://www.ebu.ch/CMSimages/en/dossiers_1_04_eurovision50_ve_tcm6-13890.pdf |archive-date=29 January 2005 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Pre-selections and relegation ===
29 countries registered to take part in the 1993 contest, a figure the EBU considered unable to fit reasonably into a single TV show. A pre-selection method was subsequently introduced for the first time in order to reduce the number of competing entries, with seven countries in [[Central and Eastern Europe]] participating in ''[[Kvalifikacija za Millstreet]]'', held in [[Ljubljana]], Slovenia one month before the event. Following a vote among the seven competing countries, {{Esccnty|Bosnia and Herzegovina}}, {{Esccnty|Croatia}} and {{Esccnty|Slovenia}} were chosen to head to the contest in [[Millstreet]], Ireland, and {{Esccnty|Estonia}}, {{Esccnty|Hungary}}, {{Esccnty|Romania}} and {{Esccnty|Slovakia}} were forced to wait another year before being allowed to compete.<ref name="Millstreet 93">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Millstreet 1993 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/millstreet-1993 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=1 July 2020}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=132–135; 219}} A new [[Promotion and relegation|relegation system]] was introduced for entry into the 1994 contest, with the lowest-placed countries being forced to sit out the following year's event to be replaced by countries which had not competed in the previous contest. The bottom seven countries in 1993 were required to miss the following year's contest, and were replaced by the four unsuccessful countries in ''Kvalifikacija za Millstreet'' and new entries from {{Esccnty|Lithuania}}, {{Esccnty|Poland}} and {{Esccnty|Russia}}.<ref name="Millstreet 93" /><ref name="Dublin 94">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Dublin 1994 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/dublin-1994 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=1 July 2020}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=136–139}}

This system was used again in 1994 for qualification for the {{Escyr|1995||1995 contest}}, but a new system was introduced for the {{Escyr|1996||1996 contest}}, when an audio-only qualification round held in the months before the contest in [[Oslo]], Norway; this system was primarily introduced in an attempt to appease Germany, one of Eurovision's biggest markets and financial contributors, which would have otherwise been relegated under the previous system.<ref name="Oslo 96">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Oslo 1996 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/oslo-1996 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=1 July 2020}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=144–147}} 29 countries competed for 22 places in the main contest alongside the automatically qualified Norwegian hosts, however Germany would ultimately still miss out, and joined Hungary, Romania, Russia, {{Esccnty|Denmark}}, {{Esccnty|Israel}}, and {{Esccnty|North Macedonia|t=Macedonia}} as one of the seven countries to be absent from the Oslo contest.<ref name="Oslo 96" />{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=144–147}} For the {{Escyr|1997||1997 contest}}, a similar relegation system to that used between 1993 and 1995 was introduced, with each country's average scores in the preceding five contests being used as a measure to determine which countries would be relegated.<ref name="Dublin 97">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Dublin 1997 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/dublin-1997 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=1 July 2020}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=148–151}} This was subsequently changed again in 2001, back to the same system used between 1993 and 1995 where only the results from that year's contest would count towards relegation.<ref name="Copenhagen 01">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Copenhagen 2001 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/copenhagen-2001 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=1 July 2020}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=164–167}}

=== The "Big Four" and "Big Five" ===
In 1999, an exemption from relegation was introduced for France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom, giving them an automatic right to compete in the 2000 contest and in all subsequent editions. This group, as the highest-paying EBU members which significantly fund the contest each year, subsequently became known as the "Big Four" countries.<ref name="Jerusalem 99">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Jerusalem 1999 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/jerusalem-1999 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=1 July 2020}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=156–159}}<ref name="99 Rules">{{cite web |title=Rules of the 44th Eurovision Song Contest, 1999 |url=http://www.eurosong.net/archive/esc1999.pdf |access-date=1 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418112958/http://www.eurosong.net/archive/esc1999.pdf |archive-date=18 April 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> This group was expanded in 2011 when Italy began competing again, becoming the "Big Five".<ref>{{cite web |title=43 nations on 2011 participants list! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/43-nations-on-2011-participants-list |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=1 July 2020 |date=31 December 2010}}</ref> Originally brought in to ensure that the financial contributions of the contest's biggest financial backers would not be missed, since the introduction of the semi-finals in 2004, the "Big Five" now instead automatically qualify for the final along with the host country.<ref name="Decade Istanbul 04">{{cite web |title=The end of a decade: Istanbul 2004 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/the-end-of-a-decade-istanbul-2004 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=1 July 2020 |date=25 December 2009}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=176–180}}

There remains debate on whether this status prejudices the countries' results, based on reported antipathy over their automatic qualification and the potential disadvantage of having spent less time on stage through not competing in the semi-finals, however this status appears to be more complex given results of the "Big Five" countries can vary widely.<ref name="BBC lessons learned">{{cite web |title=Eurovision 2019: Five lessons learned |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-48325868 |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=1 July 2020 |date=19 May 2019}}</ref><ref name="Brexit to blame?">{{cite web |title=Eurovision: Is Brexit to blame for the UK's latest flop? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-48334089 |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=1 July 2020 |date=20 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Adessi |first=Antonio |date=2021-06-02 |title=Eurovision 2022: cambiamenti in vista per Germania, Spagna e Regno Unito |trans-title=Eurovision 2022: Changes in sight for Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom |url=https://www.eurofestivalnews.com/2021/06/02/eurovision-2022-cambiamenti-in-vista-per-germania-spagna-e-regno-unito/ |access-date=2021-09-07 |website=Eurofestival News |language=it-IT}}</ref> This status has caused consternation from other competing countries, and was cited, among other aspects, as a reason why {{Esccnty|Turkey}} had ceased participating after {{Escyr|2012}}.<ref name="Turkey LGBT">{{cite web |title=Turkey to return Eurovision 'if no more bearded divas' |url=https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-to-return-eurovision-if-no-more-bearded-divas-135427 |work=[[Hürriyet Daily News]] |access-date=1 July 2020 |date=4 August 2018}}</ref>

=== Introduction of semi-finals ===
[[File:Eurovision semifinal qualification rate map.svg|thumb|upright=1.5|alt=Map of countries in Europe, North Africa and Western Asia, with Australia as an insert in the top-right corner, shaded to indicate their semi-final qualification rates: countries with high rates are shown in shades of blue, while countries with low rates are shown in shades of red and orange|Qualification rates per country (2004–2023; automatic qualifications not included)]]
An influx of new countries applying for the {{Escyr|2003||2003 contest}} resulted in the introduction of a semi-final from 2004, with the contest becoming a two-day event.<ref name="new format">{{cite web |last1=Bakker |first1=Sietse |title=EBU confirms new Eurovision Song Contest format |url=http://esctoday.com/1192/ebu_confirms_new_eurovision_song_contest_format/ |website=esctoday.com |access-date=22 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029133229/http://esctoday.com/1192/ebu_confirms_new_eurovision_song_contest_format/ |archive-date=29 October 2020 |date=29 January 2003}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=172–175}} The top 10 countries in each year's final would qualify automatically to the following year's final, alongside the "Big Four", meaning all other countries would compete in the semi-final to compete for 10 qualification spots.<ref name="Decade Istanbul 04" /> The {{Escyr|2004||2004 contest}} in [[Istanbul]], Turkey saw a record 36 countries competing, with new entries from {{Esccnty|Albania}}, {{Esccnty|Andorra}}, {{Esccnty|Belarus}} and {{Esccnty|Serbia and Montenegro}} and the return of previously relegated countries.<ref name="Decade Istanbul 04" />{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=177–179}} The format of this semi-final remained similar to the final proper, taking place a few days before the final; following the performances and the voting window, the names of the 10 countries with the highest number of points, which would therefore qualify for the final, were announced at the end of the show, revealed in a random order by the contest's presenters.<ref name="Decade Istanbul 04" />{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=177–179}}

The single semi-final continued to be held between 2005 and 2007; however, with 42 countries competing in the {{Escyr|2007||2007 contest}} in [[Helsinki]], Finland, the semi-final had 28 entries competing for 10 spots in the final.<ref>{{cite web |title=Countdown to Baku – Helsinki 2007 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/countdown-to-baku-helsinki-2007 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=2 July 2020 |date=18 January 2012}}</ref> Following criticism over the mainly Central and Eastern European qualifiers at the 2007 event and the poor performance of entries from Western European countries, a second semi-final was subsequently introduced for the {{Escyr|2008||2008 contest}} in [[Belgrade]], Serbia, with all countries now competing in one of the two semi-finals, with only the host country and the "Big Four", and subsequently the "Big Five" from 2011, qualifying automatically.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Two Semi-Finals in 2008 |url=http://www.ebu.ch/CMSimages/en/PR_ESC%20Semi-Finals_01.10.07_EN_tcm6-54154.pdf |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |access-date=2 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928062242/http://www.ebu.ch/CMSimages/en/PR_ESC%20Semi-Finals_01.10.07_EN_tcm6-54154.pdf |archive-date=28 September 2012}}</ref><ref name="2 semis announcements">{{cite web |title=Two Semi-Finals Eurovision Song Contest in 2008 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/two-semi-finals-eurovision-song-contest-in-2008 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=2 July 2020 |date=11 January 2008}}</ref> 10 qualification spots would be available in each of the semi-finals, and a new system to split the competing countries between the two semi-finals was introduced based on their geographic location and previous voting patterns, in an attempt to reduce the impact of [[Voting bloc|bloc voting]] and to make the outcome less predictable.<ref name="Semi-Final Allocation">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Semi-Final Allocation Draw |date=14 January 2017 |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/in-depth/semi-final-allocation-draw/ |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=2 July 2020}}</ref><ref name="08 semi draw">{{cite web |title=All you need to know for Monday's draw! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/all-you-need-to-know-for-monday-s-draw |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=2 July 2020 |date=24 January 2008}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=192–195}}

== Entries and participants ==
{{Further|List of Eurovision Song Contest entries}}
[[File:Kalush Orchestra, May 2022.png|thumb|Ukrainian rap group [[Kalush (rap group)|Kalush Orchestra]] are the most recent winners of the contest.]]
[[File:ABBA1974TopPop.jpg|thumb|After winning the {{Escyr|1974|3=1974 contest}} with the song "[[Waterloo (ABBA song)|Waterloo]]", the Swedish pop group [[ABBA]] became one of the most commercially successful acts in the history of pop music.]]
[[File:Eurovision Song Contest 1980 - Johnny Logan 4 (cropped).jpg|thumb|alt=Black and white photograph of Johnny Logan performing on stage at the 1980 contest|[[Johnny Logan (singer)|Johnny Logan]] is the first performer to have won the contest twice, in {{Escyr|1980}} ''(pictured)'' and {{Escyr|1987}}; he also wrote the winning song in {{Escyr|1992}}.]]The contest has been used as a launching point for artists who went on to achieve worldwide fame, and several of [[List of best-selling music artists|the world's best-selling artists]] are counted among past Eurovision Song Contest participants and winning artists. [[ABBA]], the {{Escyr|1974}} winners for Sweden, have recorded an estimated 380 million albums and singles sales since their contest win brought them to worldwide attention, with their winning song "[[Waterloo (ABBA song)|Waterloo]]" selling over five million records.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Harrison |first1=Andrew |title=Why are Abba so popular? |url=https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20140415-why-are-abba-so-popular |work=[[BBC]] Culture|access-date=30 June 2020 |date=21 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |first=Joseph |last=Murrells |title=The Book of Golden Discs |url=https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr |url-access=registration|year=1978 |edition=2nd, illustrated |publisher=Barrie & Jenkins |isbn=0-214-20480-4 |page=395}}</ref> [[Celine Dion]]'s win for Switzerland in {{Escyr|1988}} helped launch her international career, particularly in the [[English-speaking world|anglophone]] market, and she would go on to sell an estimated 200 million records worldwide.<ref name="Dublin 88" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Southern |first1=Kieran |title=Celine Dion and James Corden recreate famous Titanic scene for Carpool Karaoke |url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/celine-dion-and-james-corden-recreate-famous-titanic-scene-for-carpool-karaoke-38132381.html |access-date=30 June 2020 |agency=[[PA Media]] |work=[[Irish Independent]] |date=21 May 2019}}</ref> [[Julio Iglesias]] was relatively unknown when he represented Spain in {{Escyr|1970}} and placed fourth, but worldwide success followed his Eurovision appearance, with an estimated 100 million records sold during his career.<ref>{{cite web |title=Iglesias praises Eurovision as a learning moment |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/iglesias-praises-eurovision-as-a-learning-moment |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=20 March 2021 |date=11 October 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Julio Iglesias pulls out of NZ tour |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/music/86012722/julio-iglesias-pulls-out-of-nz-tour |publisher=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |access-date=20 March 2021 |date=2 November 2016}}</ref> Australian singer [[Olivia Newton-John]] represented the United Kingdom in 1974, placing fourth behind ABBA, but went on to sell an estimated 100 million records, win four [[Grammy Award]]s, and star in the critically and commercially successful [[musical film]] ''[[Grease (film)|Grease]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Milestone Moments: 1974 - The arrival of ABBA |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/milestone-moments-1974-the-arrival-of-abba |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=20 March 2021 |date=5 September 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Olivia Newton-John displays movie memorabilia in Newbridge |url=https://www.rte.ie/lifestyle/living/2019/0723/1064799-olivia-newton-john-visits-newbridge/ |publisher=[[Raidió Teilifís Éireann]] |access-date=20 March 2021 |date=25 July 2019}}</ref>

A number of performers have competed in the contest after having already achieved considerable success. These include winning artists [[Lulu (singer)|Lulu]],<ref name="UK">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: United Kingdom |url=https://eurovision.tv/country/united-kingdom |website=eurovision.tv |access-date=15 March 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Lulu at 70: singer celebrates landmark birthday |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/music/news/lulu-at-70-singer-celebrates-landmark-birthday-37488096.html |access-date=20 March 2021 |work=[[Belfast Telegraph]] |date=3 November 2018}}</ref> [[Toto Cutugno]],<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Bensalhia |first1=John |title=Music Maestros: Top 10 Best Selling Italian Music Artists and Acts |url=https://www.italymagazine.com/featured-story/music-maestros-top-10-best-selling-italian-music-artists-and-acts |magazine=Italy Magazine |access-date=25 March 2021 |date=5 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Puglisi |first1=Federica |title= Happy birthday Toto Cutugno, the most loved Italian singer abroad |url=https://www.italiani.it/en/happy-birthday-toto-cutugno-the-most-loved-italian-singer-abroad/ |website=italiani.it |access-date=26 March 2021 |date=8 July 2020}}</ref> and [[Katrina and the Waves]],<ref name="UK" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Kelly |first1=Emma |title=Katrina And The Waves reckon Eurovision winner Love Shine A Light 'didn't get a look in' in the UK |url=https://metro.co.uk/2020/09/07/katrina-and-the-waves-reckon-eurovision-winner-love-shine-a-light-didnt-get-a-look-in-in-the-uk-13233379/ |access-date=20 March 2021 |work=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]] |date=7 September 2020}}</ref> and acts that failed to win such as [[Nana Mouskouri]],<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Keeb |first=Brigitte |title=Wendland Nearing One Million Mark |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LhYEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22One+Million%22+%22Nana+Mouskouri%22 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=23 March 2021 |date=21 April 1962}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Papadatos |first1=Markos |title="Forever Young" with Nana Mouskouri, the biggest-selling female artist of all time! |url=https://www.neomagazine.com/2018/07/forever-young-with-nana-mouskouri-the-biggest-selling-female-artist-of-all-time/ |magazine=Neo Magazine |access-date=23 March 2021 |date=8 July 2018}}</ref> [[Cliff Richard]],<ref name="UK" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Cliff Richard's 'Congratulations' beaten in Eurovision fix? |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/cliff-richard-26-1328736 |access-date=20 March 2021 |work=[[NME]] |date=6 May 2008}}</ref> [[Baccara]],<ref name="Luxembourg story">{{cite web |last1=Escudero |first1=Victor M. |title=Luxembourg: Small in size, big in Eurovision |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/top-10-entries-from-luxembourg |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=20 March 2021 |date=19 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Eames |first1=Tom |title=How Scotland's football team has given Baccara's 'Yes Sir I Can Boogie' a sudden chart comeback |url=https://www.smoothradio.com/news/music/baccara-yes-sir-i-can-boogie-scotland-considine-video/ |publisher=[[Smooth Radio (2014)|Smooth Radio]] |access-date=20 March 2021 |date=16 November 2020}}</ref> [[Umberto Tozzi]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dondoni |first1=Luca |title=Tozzi: "Ti amo" ha 40 anni, merita una festa |url=https://www.lastampa.it/spettacoli/musica/2017/04/06/news/tozzi-ti-amo-ha-40-anni-merita-una-festa-1.34643232 |work=[[La Stampa]] |access-date=25 March 2021 |date=20 June 2019 |language=Italian}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1= |first1= |title=Italy's Music Charts: Then and Now |url=https://www.lagazzettaitaliana.com/entertainment/8532-italy-s-music-charts-then-and-now |magazine=La Gazzetta Italiana |access-date=25 March 2021 |date=August 2017}}</ref> [[Plastic Bertrand]],<ref name="Luxembourg story"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Idato |first1=Michael |title=Eurovision's honour roll: from Domenico Modugno to ABBA and Celine Dion |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/eurovisions-honour-roll-from-domenico-modugno-to-abba-and-celine-dion-20150519-gh4lgl.html |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |access-date=20 March 2021 |date=19 May 2015}}</ref> [[t.A.T.u.]],<ref name="Decade Riga 03" /><ref name="The Guardian">{{cite news |last1=Paton Walsh |first1=Nick |title=Vote switch 'stole Tatu's Eurovision win' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/may/30/russia.arts |access-date=20 March 2021 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=30 May 2003}}</ref> [[Las Ketchup]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Las Ketchup: "We didn't choose to do Eurovision — we had to do it" |url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2017/07/21/las-ketchup-didnt-choose-eurovision/193062/ |access-date=14 May 2021 |work=[[Wiwibloggs]] |date=21 July 2019}}</ref> [[Patricia Kaas]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Patricia Kaas représentera la France à l'Eurovision |url=https://www.leparisien.fr/culture-loisirs/patricia-kaas-representera-la-france-a-l-eurovision-30-01-2009-392630.php |access-date=23 March 2021 |work=[[Le Parisien]] |date=30 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323115319/https://www.leparisien.fr/culture-loisirs/patricia-kaas-representera-la-france-a-l-eurovision-30-01-2009-392630.php |archive-date=23 March 2021 |language=French |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Osborn |first1=Michael |title=Battle of the Eurovision ballads |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8002018.stm |publisher=[[BBC News]] |access-date=23 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090515120314/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8002018.stm |archive-date=15 May 2009 |date=12 May 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Engelbert Humperdinck (singer)|Engelbert Humperdinck]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Engelbert Humperdinck is United Kingdom entrant! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/engelbert-humperdinck-is-united-kingdom-entrant |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=20 March 2021 |date=1 March 2012}}</ref><ref name="The Guardian"/> [[Bonnie Tyler]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Bonnie Tyler to represent United Kingdom |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/bonnie-tyler-to-represent-united-kingdom |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=20 March 2021 |date=7 March 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Lanham |first1=Tom |title='Total Eclipse' singer Bonnie Tyler survived Eurovision |url=https://www.sfexaminer.com/entertainment/total-eclipse-singer-bonnie-tyler-survived-eurovision/ |access-date=20 March 2021 |work=[[San Francisco Examiner]] |date=2 March 2021}}</ref> and [[Flo Rida]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-05-18|title=Flo Rida will join Senhit for San Marino|url=https://eurovision.tv/story/flo-rida-to-join-senhit-for-san-marino|access-date=2021-05-18|website=Eurovision.tv}}</ref> Many well-known composers and lyricists have penned entries of varying success over the years, including [[Serge Gainsbourg]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jordan |first1=Paul |title=France Gall, Luxembourg's Eurovision 1965 winner, dies at 70 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/france-gall-passed-away-at-70-luxembourg-1965 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=20 March 2021 |date=7 January 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Kennedy |first1=Maev |title=France Gall: French singer who inspired My Way dies age 70 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/07/french-singer-and-eurovision-winner-france-gall-dies-age-70 |access-date=23 March 2021 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=7 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180110055621/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/07/french-singer-and-eurovision-winner-france-gall-dies-age-70 |archive-date=10 January 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Goran Bregović]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Bregović to compose Serbian entry; picks from three artists |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/bregovic-to-compose-serbian-entry-picks-from-three-artists |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=23 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128030256/https://eurovision.tv/story/bregovic-to-compose-serbian-entry-picks-from-three-artists |archive-date=28 November 2020 |date=20 January 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Diane Warren]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Diane Warren: Legendary songwriter |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/diane-warren-legendary-songwriter |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=23 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919213534/https://eurovision.tv/story/diane-warren-legendary-songwriter |archive-date=19 September 2020 |date=15 May 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Andrew Lloyd Webber]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Andrew Lloyd Webber to compose the UK entry |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/andrew-lloyd-webber-to-compose-the-uk-entry |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=20 March 2021 |date=18 October 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Kelly |first1=Emma |title=Andrew Lloyd Webber was almost replaced by a body double at Eurovision because he was so nervous |url=https://metro.co.uk/2020/05/14/andrew-lloyd-webber-was-almost-replaced-body-double-eurovision-was-nervous-12702228/ |access-date=20 March 2021 |work=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]] |date=14 May 2020}}</ref> [[Pete Waterman]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Pete Waterman to write UK entry for Eurovision |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2010/01_january/29/eurovision.shtml |publisher=[[BBC]] |access-date=20 March 2021 |date=29 January 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Pete Waterman's Eurovision entry finishes last |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/pete-watermans-eurovision-entry-finishes-3064178 |access-date=20 March 2021 |work=[[Coventry Telegraph]] |date=31 May 2010}}</ref> and [[Tony Iommi]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Sabbath star Tony Iommi writes Eurovision entry |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-england-birmingham-21689607|publisher=[[BBC]] |access-date=14 May 2021 |date=6 March 2013}}</ref> as well as producers [[Timbaland]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Dima Bilan again conquers Russian hearts |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/dima-bilan-again-conquers-russian-hearts|publisher=eurovision.tv |access-date=14 May 2021 |date=9 March 2008}}</ref> and [[Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Sébastien Tellier to represent France |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/sebastien-tellier-to-represent-france|publisher=eurovision.tv |access-date=14 May 2021 |date=9 March 2008}}</ref>

Past participants have contributed to other fields in addition to their music careers. The Netherlands' [[Annie M. G. Schmidt|Annie Schmidt]], lyricist of the first entry performed at Eurovision, has gained a worldwide reputation for her stories and earned the [[Hans Christian Andersen Award]] for children's literature.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Lynch‐Brown |first=Carol |title=A profile of Annie M. G. Schmidt, 1988 Hans Christian Andersen medalist |doi=10.1080/0300443890480104 |journal= Early Child Development and Care|date=22 December 2010|volume=48 |pages=19–27 }}</ref> French "[[yé-yé]] girls" [[Françoise Hardy]] and contest winner [[France Gall]] are household names of 1960s pop culture, with Hardy also being a pioneer of [[street style]] fashion trends and an inspiration for the global [[Youthquake (movement)|youthquake]] movement.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Wilson |first1=Eric |title= Now You Know: Françoise Hardy Was the Original Street Style Star |url=https://www.instyle.com/fashion/street-style/original-street-style-star-francoise-hardy?slide=b3b12a90-74fc-4486-ba8d-73bd6a0cbd04#b3b12a90-74fc-4486-ba8d-73bd6a0cbd04 |magazine=[[InStyle]] |access-date=27 March 2021 |date=11 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Borrelli-Persson |first1=Laird |title=Sarah Jessica Parker Narrates the History of 1960s Fashion in Vogue |url=https://www.vogue.com/article/vogue125-video-fashion-history-sarah-jessica-parker-1960s |magazine=[[Vogue (magazine)|Vogue]] |access-date=27 March 2021 |date=14 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Mackenzie-Smith |first1=Stevie |title=A Tribute to France Gall, the Iconic Yé-Yé Star |url=https://www.anothermag.com/fashion-beauty/10483/a-tribute-to-france-gall-the-iconic-ye-ye-star |magazine=[[Another Magazine]] |access-date=27 March 2021}}</ref> Figures who carved a career in politics and gained international acclaim for humanitarian achievements include contest winner [[Dana Rosemary Scallon|Dana]] as a two-time [[Irish presidential election|Irish presidential candidate]] and [[Member of the European Parliament]] (MEP);<ref>{{cite web |title=Dana Rosemary Scallon seeking presidency backing |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/mobile/uk-northern-ireland-foyle-west-14985227 |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=30 June 2020 |date=20 September 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Irish presidential election: Michael D Higgins elected |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15488067 |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=30 June 2020 |date=29 October 2011}}</ref> Nana Mouskouri as Greek MEP and a [[List of UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors|UNICEF international goodwill ambassador]];<ref>{{cite web |title=Nana Mouskouri Goodwill Ambassador |url=https://sites.unicef.org/people/people_nana_mouskouri.html |publisher=[[UNICEF]] |website=unicef.org |access-date=25 March 2021 |archive-date=22 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422195834/https://sites.unicef.org/people/people_nana_mouskouri.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=European Parliament - Nana MOUSKOURI |url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/2183/NANA_MOUSKOURI/history/4 |publisher=[[European Union]] |website=Europarl.europa.eu |access-date=25 March 2021}}</ref> contest winner [[Ruslana]] as member of [[Verkhovna Rada]], Ukraine's parliament and a figure of the [[Orange Revolution]] and [[Euromaidan]] protests, who gained global honours for leadership and courage;<ref>{{cite web |last=Ahuja |first=Masuma |title=Why did Michelle Obama give a Ukrainian pop star the Women of Courage award? |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2014/03/04/why-did-michelle-obama-give-a-ukrainian-pop-star-the-women-of-courage-award/ |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=30 March 2021 |date=5 March 2014}}</ref><ref name="live">{{cite web |last1=Davies |first1=Russell |title=Ruslana: sings major recording deal with Warner Records |url=http://esctoday.com/10527/ruslana_sings_major_recording_deal_with_warner_records |publisher=ESCToday |access-date=30 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204031105/http://www.esctoday.com/10527/ruslana_sings_major_recording_deal_with_warner_records/ |archive-date=4 December 2013 |date=15 February 2008}}</ref><ref>[http://www.kyivpost.com/guide/about-kyiv/musicians-liven-up-euromaidan-stage-332611.html Musicians liven up EuroMaidan stage], ''[[Kyiv Post]]'' (29 November 2013) {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131129091452/http://www.kyivpost.com/guide/about-kyiv/musicians-liven-up-euromaidan-stage-332611.html |date=29 November 2013}}</ref> and North Macedonia's [[Esma Redžepova]] as member of political parties and a two-time [[Nobel Peace Prize]] nominee.<ref>{{cite web |last=Cartwright |first=Garth |title=Esma Redžepova obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/dec/14/esma-redzepova-obituary |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=30 March 2021 |date=14 December 2016}}</ref>

Competing songs have occasionally gone on to become successes for their original performers and other artists, and some of the [[List of best-selling singles|best-selling singles]] globally received their first international performances at Eurovision. "[[Save Your Kisses for Me]]", the winning song in {{Escyr|1976}} for the United Kingdom's [[Brotherhood of Man]], went on to sell over six million singles, more than any other winning song.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Eurovision Song Contest: The Official History |first=John Kennedy |last=O'Connor |publisher=[[Carlton Publishing Group|Carlton Books]] |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-8444-2994-3}}</ref>{{sfn|West|2020|pp=95-96}} "[[Nel blu, dipinto di blu (song)|Nel blu, dipinto di blu]]", also known as "Volare", Italy's third-placed song in {{Escyr|1958}} performed by [[Domenico Modugno]], is the only Eurovision entry to win a [[Grammy Awards|Grammy Award]]. It was the first Grammy winner for both [[Grammy Award for Record of the Year|Record of the Year]] and [[Grammy Award for Song of the Year|Song of the Year]] and it has since been recorded by various artists, topped the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] in the United States and achieved combined sales of over 22 million copies worldwide.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pierluigi |first1=Panza |title=Piramidi rotanti luci da record e 007 in azione |url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1996/febbraio/17/Piramidi_rotanti_luci_record_007_co_0_9602175076.shtml |work=[[Corriere della Sera]] |access-date=9 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120802023205/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1996/febbraio/17/Piramidi_rotanti_luci_record_007_co_0_9602175076.shtml |archive-date=2 August 2012 |date=17 February 1996 |quote=Il brano presentato a Sanremo che ha venduto di piu' e' "Nel blu dipinto di blu" di Domenico Modugno (22 milioni di dischi).}}</ref> "[[Eres tú]]", performed by Spain's [[Mocedades]] and runner-up in {{Escyr|1973}}, became the first Spanish-language song to reach the top 10 of the ''Billboard'' Hot 100,<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Hispanic Heritage Month: The 50 Greatest Latin Songs of All Time |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/events/greatest-of-all-time/6760654/best-latin-songs-of-all-time |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=9 July 2020 |date=15 September 2017}}</ref> and the Grammy-nominated "[[Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit]]", which came eighth in {{Escyr|1996}} for the United Kingdom's [[Gina G]], sold 790,000 records and achieved success across Europe and the US, reaching #1 on the [[UK Singles Chart]] and peaking at #12 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book |first=David |last=Roberts |year=2006 |title=[[British Hit Singles & Albums]] |edition=19th |publisher=Guinness World Records Limited |location=London |isbn=1-904994-10-5 |page=593}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Anderson |first1=Sarah |title=50 best-selling tracks of the '90s |url=https://www.nme.com/photos/50-best-selling-tracks-of-the-90s-1437045 |work=[[NME]] |access-date=9 July 2020 |date=21 May 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Gina G Chart History (Hot 100) |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/gina-g/chart-history/hsi/ |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=9 July 2020}}</ref>

The turn of the century has also seen numerous competing songs becoming successes. "[[Euphoria (Loreen song)|Euphoria]]", [[Loreen (singer)|Loreen]]'s winning song for Sweden in {{Escyr|2012}}, achieved Europe-wide success, reaching number one in several countries and by 2014 had become the most [[Music download|downloaded]] Eurovision song to date.<ref>{{cite web |title=Loreen's "Euphoria" Enjoys Biggest Chart Success From Eurovision Winner In Years |url=https://www.wmg.com/news/loreen-s-euphoria-enjoys-biggest-chart-success-eurovision-winner-years-19271 |publisher=[[Warner Music Group]] |date=5 June 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Kreisler |first1=Lauren |title=The Most Downloaded Eurovision Songs of All Time Revealed! |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-most-downloaded-eurovision-songs-of-all-time-revealed-__4088/ |publisher=[[Official Charts Company]] |access-date=21 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929045506/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-most-downloaded-eurovision-songs-of-all-time-revealed-__4088/ |archive-date=29 September 2018 |date=9 May 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> The video for "[[Occidentali's Karma]]" by [[Francesco Gabbani]], which placed sixth for Italy in {{Escyr|2017}}, became the first Eurovision song to reach more than 200 million views on YouTube,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://escxtra.com/2018/09/16/occidentalis-karma-hits-200-million-views-on-youtube/|title=Occidentali's Karma hits 200 million views on Youtube!|date=16 September 2018|publisher=escxtra.com|access-date=13 April 2020}}</ref> while "[[Soldi]]" by [[Mahmood (singer)|Mahmood]], the Italian runner-up in {{Escyr|2019}}, was the most-streamed Eurovision song on [[Spotify]] until it was overtaken by that year's winner for the Netherlands, "[[Arcade (song)|Arcade]]" by [[Duncan Laurence]], following [[Viral phenomenon|viral success]] on [[TikTok]] in late 2020 and early 2021;<ref>{{cite web|title=Italy: Mahmood's "Soldi" is now the most-streamed Eurovision song on Spotify|date=16 October 2019|url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2019/10/16/italy-mahmoods-soldi-is-now-the-most-streamed-eurovision-song-on-spotify/242939/|access-date=13 April 2020|publisher=Wiwibloggs}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-01-29|title="Arcade" passes "Soldi" as the most-streamed Eurovision entry on Spotify|url=https://escxtra.com/2021/01/29/arcade-passes-soldi-as-the-most-streamed-eurovision-entry-on-spotify/|access-date=2021-01-29|website=ESCXTRA.com}}</ref> "Arcade" later became the first Eurovision song since "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit" and the first Eurovision winning song since "Save Your Kisses for Me" to chart on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, eventually peaking at #30.<ref>{{Cite magazine|date=2021-04-13|title=Duncan Laurence's 'Arcade' Is First Eurovision Song Contest Winner to Hit Hot 100 in 45 Years|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/duncan-laurence-arcade-hits-hot-100-eurovision/|access-date=2021-04-16|magazine=Billboard}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Duncan Laurence Has 'No Idea' How His Breakthrough Single 'Arcade' Keeps Going Viral|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9585063/duncan-laurence-arcade-hot-100-eurovision-interview|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611031033/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9585063/duncan-laurence-arcade-hot-100-eurovision-interview|archive-date=2021-06-11|access-date=2021-06-11|magazine=Billboard|date=10 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lee Adams |first=William |date=2021-08-31 |title=Eurovision winners Måneskin and Duncan Laurence crack Top 30 on Billboard charts |url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2021/08/31/maneskin-and-duncan-laurence-crack-top-30-on-billboard-charts/266506/ |access-date=2021-09-06 |website=Wiwibloggs }}</ref> The {{Escyr|2021|3=2021 contest}} saw the next major breakthrough success from Eurovision, with [[Måneskin]], that year's winners for Italy with "{{lang|it|[[Zitti e buoni]]|i=unset}}", attracting worldwide attention across their repertoire immediately following their victory.<ref>{{cite magazine|date=August 3, 2021|title=Chartbreaker: Inside Måneskin's Unlikely, TikTok-Assisted Journey to Rock Stardom|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/9609530/maneskin-beggin-august-chartbreaker/|access-date=August 5, 2021|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Shaw|first=Lucas|title=Maneskin Is Italy's First Rock Band to Rule the Charts|work=[[Bloomberg News]]|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/pop-star-ranking/2021-september/maneskin-is-italy-s-first-rock-band-to-rule-the-charts.html|access-date=2021-09-14}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Trendell |first=Andrew |date=2021-10-21 |title=Måneskin live in London: embrace the Eurovision winners' rock'n'roll circus |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/live/maneskin-london-live-islington-academy-review-radar-3076159 |access-date=2021-10-22 |website= |publisher=[[NME]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Christou |first=Costa |date=2021-07-14 |title=Editorial: Eurovision 2021 - A new turning point for the contest? |url=https://escxtra.com/2021/07/14/eurovision-2021-a-new-turning-point-for-the-contest-editorial/ |access-date=2022-06-29 |website=ESCXTRA.com }}</ref>

[[Johnny Logan (singer)|Johnny Logan]] remains the only artist to have won multiple contests as a performer, winning for Ireland in {{Escyr|1980}} with "[[What's Another Year]]", written by [[Shay Healy]], and in {{Escyr|1987}} with the self-penned "[[Hold Me Now (Johnny Logan song)|Hold Me Now]]". Logan was also the winning songwriter in {{Escyr|1992}} for the Irish winner, "[[Why Me? (Linda Martin song)|Why Me?]]" performed by [[Linda Martin]], and has therefore achieved three contest victories as either a performer or writer.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Malmö 1992 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/malmo-1992 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=30 June 2020}}</ref> Four further songwriters have each written two contest-winning songs: [[Willy van Hemert]], Yves Dessca, [[Rolf Løvland]], and [[Brendan Graham]].{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|p=201}} Following their introduction in {{escyr|2004}}, [[Alexander Rybak]] became the first artist to win multiple Eurovision semi-finals, finishing in first at the second semi-finals in {{Escyr|2009}} and {{escyr|2018}}; he remains the only entrant to have done so to date.<ref>{{cite web|title= Alexander Rybak - Norway - Moscow 2009|url= https://eurovision.tv/participant/alexander-rybak |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest|access-date=14 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title= Alexander Rybak - Norway - Lisbon 2018|url=https://eurovision.tv/participant/alexander-rybak-2018 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest|access-date=14 June 2021}}</ref>

=== Winners ===
{{Further|List of Eurovision Song Contest winners}}
[[File:Eurovision_winners_map.svg|thumb|300x300px|Each country's win record in the contest {{as of|2022|lc=y|post=.}}]]
70 songs from 27 countries have won the Eurovision Song Contest {{as of|2022|lc=y|post=.}}<ref name="Winners" /> {{Esccnty|Ireland}} and {{Esccnty|Sweden}} have recorded the most wins with seven each, followed by {{Esccnty|France}}, {{Esccnty|Luxembourg}}, the {{Esccnty|United Kingdom}} and the {{Esccnty|Netherlands}} with five each.<ref name="Facts & Figures" /><ref name="Winners" /> Of the 52 countries to have taken part, 25 have yet to win.<ref name="ESC History" /> On only one occasion have multiple winners been declared in a single contest: in {{Escyr|1969}}, four countries finished the contest with an equal number of votes and due to the lack of a tie-break rule at the time, all four countries were declared winners.<ref name="Facts & Figures" /><ref name="Madrid 69">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Madrid 1969 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/madrid-1969 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=30 June 2020}}</ref> A majority of winning songs have been performed in English, particularly since the language rule was abolished in 1999. Since that contest, seven winning songs have been performed either fully or partially in a language other than English.<ref name="ESC History" />

Two countries have won the contest on their first appearance: {{Esccnty|Switzerland}}, by virtue of being declared the winner of the first contest in 1956; and {{Esccnty|Serbia}}, which won in 2007 in their first participation as an independent country, following entries in previous editions as part of the now-defunct {{Esccnty|Yugoslavia}} and then {{Esccnty|Serbia and Montenegro}}.<ref name="Helsinki 07">{{cite web |title=The end of a decade: Helsinki 2007 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/the-end-of-a-decade-helsinki-2007 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=30 June 2020 |date=30 December 2009}}</ref> Other countries have had relatively short waits before winning their first contest, with {{Esccnty|Ukraine}} victorious on their second contest appearance in {{Escyr|2004}} and {{Esccnty|Latvia}} winning with their third entry in {{Escyr|2002}}.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=208–209}} Conversely, some countries have competed for many years before recording their first win: {{Esccnty|Greece}} recorded their first win in {{Escyr|2005}}, 31 years after their first appearance, while {{Esccnty|Finland}} ended a 45-year losing streak in {{Escyr|2006}}.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=208–209}}<ref name="Countdown Athens 06">{{cite web |title=Countdown to Baku – Athens 2006 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/countdown-to-baku-athens-2006 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=30 June 2020 |date=27 December 2011}}</ref> {{Esccnty|Portugal}} waited the longest, recording their first win in {{Escyr|2017}}, 53 years after their first participation.<ref>{{cite web |title=Salvador Sobral given a hero's welcome in Portugal |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/salvador-sobral-given-a-hero-s-welcome-in-portugal |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=30 June 2020 |date=15 May 2017}}</ref> Countries have in the past had to wait many years to win again: Switzerland went 32 years between winning in 1956 and {{Escyr|1988}}; {{Esccnty|Denmark}} held a 37-year gap between wins in {{Escyr|1963}} and {{Escyr|2000}}; the Netherlands waited 44 years to win again in {{Escyr|2019}}, their most recent win having been in {{Escyr|1975}}; and {{Esccnty|Austria}} won its second contest in {{Escyr|2014}}, 48 years after their first win in {{Escyr|1966}}.<ref name="ESC History" />{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=208–209}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Welcome home, Conchita! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/welcome-home-conchita |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=30 June 2020 |date=15 May 2014}}</ref>

The United Kingdom holds the record for the highest number of second-place finishes, having come runner-up sixteen times.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: United Kingdom |url=https://eurovision.tv/country/united-kingdom |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=30 June 2020}}</ref> Meanwhile, {{Esccnty|Norway}} has come last more than any other country, appearing at the bottom of the scoreboard on eleven occasions, including scoring ''[[nul points]]'' four times.<ref name="Facts & Figures" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Norway |url=https://eurovision.tv/country/norway |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=30 June 2020}}</ref> A country has recorded back-to-back wins on four occasions: {{Esccnty|Spain}} recorded consecutive wins in {{Escyr|1968}} and 1969; Luxembourg did likewise in {{Escyr|1972}} and {{Escyr|1973}}; Israel won the contest in {{Escyr|1978}} and {{Escyr|1979}}; and Ireland became the first country to win three consecutive titles, winning in {{Escyr|1992}}, {{Escyr|1993}} and {{Escyr|1994}}.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=208–209}} Ireland's winning streak in the 1990s includes the {{Escyr|1996||1996 contest}}, giving them a record four wins in five years.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Ireland |url=https://eurovision.tv/country/ireland |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=30 June 2020}}</ref>

[[File:Eurovision_trophy.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=The Eurovision trophy|right|Replica of the Eurovision trophy in [[Växjö]], Sweden]]
The winning artists and songwriters receive a trophy, which since 2008 has followed a standard design: a handmade piece of sandblasted glass with painted details in the shape of a 1950s-style [[microphone]], designed by Kjell Engman of the Swedish-based glassworks [[Kosta Glasbruk|Kosta Boda]].<ref name="Trophy" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://kostaboda.co.uk/eurovision-song-contest/ |publisher=[[Kosta Glasbruk|Kosta Boda]] |access-date=30 June 2020}}</ref> The trophy is typically presented by the previous year's winner; others who have handed out the award in the past include representatives from the host broadcaster or the EBU, and politicians; in 2007, the fictional character [[Joulupukki]] (original [[Santa Claus]] from Finland) presented the award to the winner [[Marija Šerifović]].<ref name="Helsinki 07" />{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|p=216}}

== Interval acts and guest appearances ==
[[File:Riverdance cast, 2019 crop.jpg|thumb|alt=Photograph of Riverdance cast|''[[Riverdance]]'' (cast pictured at the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin in 2019) was the interval act at the 1994 contest.]]

Alongside the song contest and appearances from local and international personalities, performances from non-competing artists and musicians have been included since the first edition,<ref name="Iconic intervals" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Star percussionist revealed as Eurovision interval act |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/star-percussionist-revealed-as-eurovision-interval-act |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=29 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223021251/https://eurovision.tv/story/star-percussionist-revealed-as-eurovision-interval-act |archive-date=23 December 2019 |date=18 March 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> and have become a staple of the live show.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|p=216}} These performances have varied widely, previously featuring music, art, dance and circus performances, and past participants are regularly invited to perform, with the reigning champion traditionally returning each year to perform the previous year's winning song.<ref name="Iconic intervals" /><ref>{{cite web |last1=Siim |first1=Jarmo |title=Conchita Wurst & a magical bridge to open the Eurovision Final |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/conchita-wurst-a-magical-bridge-to-open-the-eurovision-final |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=1 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926223803/https://eurovision.tv/story/conchita-wurst-a-magical-bridge-to-open-the-eurovision-final |archive-date=26 September 2020 |date=29 April 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The contest's opening performance and the main interval act, held following the final competing song and before the announcement of the voting results, has become a memorable part of the contest and has included both internationally known artists and local stars. Contest organisers have previously used these performances as a way to explore their country's culture and history, such as in "4,000 Years of Greek Song" at the {{Escyr|2006||2006 contest}} held in Greece;<ref>{{cite book |last1=Polychronakis |first1=Ioannis |editor1-last=Tragaki |editor1-first=Dafni |title=Made in Greece: Studies in Popular Music |date=2019 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |isbn=978-1-315-74907-5 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xjVlDwAAQBAJ&q=4000+Years+of+Greek+Song&pg=PT52 |access-date=29 June 2020 |chapter=Singing Greece's Contemporary Socio-Cultural History}}</ref> other performances have been more comedic in nature, featuring parody and humour, as was the case with "Love Love Peace Peace" in {{Escyr|2016}}, a humorous ode to the history and spectacle of the contest itself.<ref name="Love Love Peace Peace">{{cite web |last1=Jordan |first1=Paul |title=Stockholm Revisited Part Three: Writing the Script |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/stockholm-revisited-part-three-writing-the-script |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=29 June 2020 |date=17 June 2016}}</ref> ''[[Riverdance]]'', which later became one of the most successful dance productions in the world, first began as the interval performance at the 1994 contest in Ireland; the seven-minute performance of [[Irish traditional music|traditional Irish music]] and [[Irish dance|dance]] was later expanded into a full stage show that has been seen by over 25 million people worldwide and provided a launchpad for its lead dancers [[Michael Flatley]] and [[Jean Butler]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Riverdance: The Journey |url=https://riverdance.com/the-show/the-journey/ |website=riverdance.com |access-date=29 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Amazing facts about the Irish dance phenomenon "Riverdance" |url=https://www.irishcentral.com/culture/entertainment/amazing-facts-about-the-irish-dance-phenomenon-riverdance |website=IrishCentral.com |access-date=29 June 2020 |date=29 January 2015}}</ref>

Among other artists who have performed in a non-competitive manner are Danish [[Europop]] group [[Aqua (band)|Aqua]] in {{Escyr|2001}},<ref>{{cite web |last1=Collins |first1=Simon |title=Aqua ride the highs and lows ahead of 2019 Australian tour |url=https://thewest.com.au/entertainment/music/aqua-ride-the-highs-and-lows-ng-b88965837z |publisher=[[The West Australian]] |access-date=29 June 2020 |date=7 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The end of a decade: Copenhagen 2001 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/the-end-of-a-decade-copenhagen-2001 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=29 June 2020 |date=22 December 2009}}</ref> Russian pop duo [[t.A.T.u.]] in {{Escyr|2009}},<ref>{{cite web |title=Russian army choir – Eurovision 2009 interval act – loses 64 members in plane crash tragedy |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/russian-army-choir-eurovision-2009-interval-act-loses-64-members-in-plane-crash-tragedy |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=29 June 2020 |date=26 December 2016}}</ref> and American entertainers [[Justin Timberlake]] and [[Madonna]] in {{Escyr|2016}} and {{Escyr|2019}} respectively.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jordan |first1=Paul |title=Justin Timberlake makes world premiere live performance in the Eurovision Song Contest! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/justin-timberlake-makes-world-premiere-live-performance-in-the-eurovision-song-contest |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=29 June 2020 |date=9 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Picheta |first1=Rob |title=Eurovision: Madonna mixes politics with a classic hit during performance |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/05/18/europe/madonna-eurovision-israel-scli-intl/index.html |publisher=CNN |access-date=29 June 2020 |date=19 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Belam |first1=Martin |title=Madonna was excruciating: what we learned from Eurovision 2019 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/may/19/madonna-was-excruciating-eurovision-2019 |work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=29 June 2020 |date=19 May 2019}}</ref> Other notable artists, including [[Cirque du Soleil]] ({{ESCYr|2009}}), [[Alexandrov Ensemble]] ({{ESCYr|2009}}), [[Vienna Boys' Choir]] ({{ESCYr|1967}} and {{ESCYr|2015}}) and [[Fire of Anatolia]] ({{ESCYr|2004}}), also performed on the Eurovision stage,<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]]|url=https://eurovision.tv/story/cirque-du-soleil-opener-for-the-final|title=Cirque du Soleil!|date=15 May 2009|access-date=18 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Cirque du Soleil: opener for the final! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/cirque-du-soleil-opener-for-the-final |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=29 June 2020 |date=15 May 2009}}</ref> and there have been guest appearances from well-known faces from outside the world of music, including actors, athletes, and serving astronauts and cosmonauts.<ref name="Decade Kyiv 05">{{cite web |title=The end of a decade: Kyiv 2005 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/the-end-of-a-decade-kyiv-2005 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=29 June 2020 |date=27 December 2009}}</ref><ref name="Decade Riga 03">{{cite web |title=The end of a decade: Riga 2003 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/the-end-of-a-decade-riga-2003 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=29 June 2020 |date=24 December 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Russian singer wins 2008 Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/russian-singer-wins-2008-eurovision-song-contest-1.297954 |access-date=29 June 2020 |agency=[[Associated Press]] |publisher=[[CTV News]] |date=24 May 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Fry |first1=Naomi |title=Eurovision's Sanitized Vision of Israel |url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/eurovisions-sanitized-vision-of-israel |magazine=[[The New Yorker]]|access-date=29 June 2020 |date=21 May 2019}}</ref> Guest performances have been used as a channel in response to global events happening concurrently with the contest. The {{Escyr|1999||1999 contest}} in Israel closed with all competing acts performing a rendition of Israel's {{Escyr|1979}} winning song "[[Hallelujah (Milk and Honey song)|Hallelujah]]" as a tribute to the victims of the [[Kosovo War|war in the Balkans]],{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=156–159}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Jerusalem 1999 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/jerusalem-1999 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=29 June 2020}}</ref> a dance performance entitled "The Grey People" in 2016's first semi-final was devoted to the [[2015 European migrant crisis|European migrant crisis]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Stockholm Revisited Part Five: Interval Acts |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/stockholm-revisited-part-five-interval-acts |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=29 June 2020 |date=1 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Åberg |first1=Erik |title=Mellanakten hyllas av Eurovision-tittarna |url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/a/zLk891/mellanakten-hyllas-av-eurovision-tittarna |work=[[Aftonbladet]] |access-date=29 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200629201422/https://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/a/zLk891/mellanakten-hyllas-av-eurovision-tittarna |archive-date=29 June 2020 |language=sv |date=11 May 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Grey People (Interval act Semi – Final 1 of the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest) |url=https://eurovision.tv/video/the-grey-people-interval-act-semi-final-1-of-the-2016-eurovision-song-contest |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=29 June 2020 |date=11 May 2016}}</ref> and the {{Escyr|2022||2022 contest}} featured known anti-war songs "[[Fragile (Sting song)|Fragile]]", "[[People Have the Power]]" and "[[Give Peace a Chance]]" in response to the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]] that same year.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Farren |first=Neil |date=2022-05-11 |title=Live From Turin: Semi-Final Two Jury Show |url=https://eurovoix.com/2022/05/11/live-from-turin-semi-final-two-jury-show/ |access-date=2022-05-14 |website=Eurovoix}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-14 |title=Eurovision 2022: All about the Grand Final |url=https://eurovisionworld.com/esc/eurovision-2022-all-about-the-grand-final |access-date=2022-05-14 |website=Eurovisionworld}}</ref>

{{wide image|File:ESC2016 Grand Final Interval Act 18.jpg|900px|alt=Photograph of performance of "Love Love Peace Peace" at the 2016 final: Petra Mede and Måns Zelmerlöw perform on stage surrounded by performers dressed in costumes of past Eurovision acts|"Love Love Peace Peace" at the 2016 final, performed by presenters [[Petra Mede]] and [[Måns Zelmerlöw]], depicted several memorable moments from Eurovision history.}}

== Criticism and controversy ==
The contest has been the subject of considerable criticism regarding both its musical content and what has been reported to be a political element to the event, and several controversial moments have been witnessed over the course of its history.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Robinson|first1=Frances|date=3 May 2017|title=13 times Eurovision got super political|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/13-times-eurovision-song-contest-got-political/|access-date=8 July 2020|work=[[Politico]]}}</ref>

=== Musical style and presentation ===
Criticism has been levied against the musical quality of past competing entries, with a perception that certain music styles seen as being presented more often than others in an attempt to appeal to as many potential voters as possible among the international audience.<ref name="How to win">{{cite news |title=How to win the Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://www.economist.com/europe/2019/05/16/how-to-win-the-eurovision-song-contest |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=16 May 2019}}</ref> [[Sentimental ballad#Power ballads|Power ballads]], [[Folk music#Europe|folk]] rhythms and [[bubblegum pop]] have been considered staples of the contest in recent years, leading to allegations that the event has become formulaic.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Carniel |first1=Jess |title=The Six Types of Eurovision Contestant |url=https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2018/05/the-six-types-of-eurovision-contestant/ |website=lifehacker.com.au |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=10 May 2018}}</ref><ref name="Fringe" /> Other traits in past competing entries which have regularly been mocked by media and viewers include an abundance of [[Modulation (music)|key changes]] and lyrics about love and/or peace, as well as the [[Non-native pronunciations of English|pronunciation of English by non-native users of the language]].<ref name="How to win" /><ref>{{cite web |title=What makes the perfect Eurovision song? |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2018-05-11/what-makes-the-perfect-eurovision-song/ |work=[[Radio Times]] |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=11 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Picheta |first1=Rob |title=Want to win Eurovision? Write a nice, slow song about love |url=https://edition.cnn.com/style/article/eurovision-winners-analysis-scli-intl-style/index.html |publisher=[[CNN]] |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=29 June 2020}}</ref> Given Eurovision is principally a television show, over the years competing performances have attempted to attract the viewers' attention through means other than music, and elaborate [[Stage lighting|lighting displays]], [[pyrotechnics]], and [[Extravaganza|extravagant]] on-stage theatrics and costumes having become a common sight at recent contests;<ref>{{cite web |last1=Picheta |first1=Rob |title=Eurovision: What is it and what time is it on? |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/05/18/europe/eurovision-explainer-2019-intl/index.html |publisher=[[CNN]] |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=18 May 2019}}</ref> criticism of these tactics have been levied as being a method of distracting the viewer from the weak musical quality of some of the competing entries.<ref name="Antes cursi">{{cite journal |last=Allatson |first=Paul |title='Antes cursi que sencilla': Eurovision Song Contests and the Kitsch‐Drive to Euro‐Unity |journal=Culture, Theory and Critique |year=2007 |volume=48 |issue=1 |pages=87–98 |doi=10.1080/14735780701293540|s2cid=146449408 }}</ref>

While many of these traits are ridiculed in the media and elsewhere, for others these traits are celebrated and considered an integral part of what makes the contest appealing.<ref>{{cite web |last=Campbell |first=Chuck |title='Eurovision' soundtrack kicks up the camp |url=https://eu.knoxnews.com/story/entertainment/columnists/chuck-campbell/2020/07/05/eurovision-soundtrack-will-ferrell-rachel-mcadams-6-lack-jessie-ware-dream-wife-peter-manos-review/5378820002/ |website=knoxnews.com |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=5 July 2020}}</ref> Although many of the competing acts each year will fall into some of the categories above, the contest has seen a diverse range of musical styles in its history, including rock, [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]], [[jazz]], [[Country music|country]], [[Electronic music|electronic]], [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]], [[Hip hop music|hip hop]] and [[Avant-garde music|avant-garde]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Pattillo |first=Alice |title=The 10 Most Metal Moments in Eurovision |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-most-metal-moments-in-eurovision |website=loudersound.com |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=14 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Escudero |first1=Victor M. |title=Eurovision and all that jazz! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/history-of-jazz-in-eurovision |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=11 August 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Osborn |first=Michael |title=Rapping for glory at Eurovision |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4900892.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=16 May 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Holden |first=Steve |title=Måneskin: The Eurovision winners storming the UK charts |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-57331991 |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=22 November 2021 |date=4 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Macdonald |first=Kyle |date=2022-05-17 |title=Serbia's viral Eurovision song featured Allegri's Miserere, and you might have missed it... |url=https://www.classicfm.com/composers/allegri/in-corpore-sano-konstrakta-eurovision-miserere-serbia/ |access-date=2022-05-20 |website=[[Classic FM (UK)|Classic FM]]}}</ref>

=== Political controversies ===
{{main|Political controversies in the Eurovision Song Contest}}
[[File:Calls for boycott Eurovision Song Contest 2019 (crop).jpg|thumb|right|alt=A painted mural on a wall on a street in Girona, Spain: the Eurovision trophy appears covered in barbed wire surrounded by tower blocks, with the words "#BoycottEurovision2019" above, and "Free Palestine" in English and Arabic to the top left|A mural in [[Girona]] promoting a boycott of the {{Escyr|2019||2019 contest}} in Israel]]
As artists and songs ultimately represent a country, the contest has seen several controversial moments where political tensions between competing countries as a result of [[frozen conflict]]s, and in some cases open warfare, are reflected in the performances and voting.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Robinson |first1=Frances |title=13 times Eurovision got super political |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/13-times-eurovision-song-contest-got-political/ |access-date=21 March 2021 |work=[[Politico]] |date=3 May 2017}}</ref>

The [[Nagorno-Karabakh conflict|continuing conflict]] between {{Esccnty|Armenia}} and {{Esccnty|Azerbaijan}} has affected the contest on numerous occasions. [[Armenia–Azerbaijan relations in the Eurovision Song Contest|Conflicts between the two countries at Eurovision]] escalated quickly since both countries began competing in the late 2000s, resulting in fines and disciplinary action for both countries' broadcasters over political stunts, and a forced change of title for one competing song due to allegations of political subtext.<ref name=ararat-diplomacy>{{cite web|title=Can Eurovision Succeed Where Diplomacy Has Failed?|url=http://araratmagazine.org/2011/05/can-eurovision-succeed-where-diplomacy-has-failed/|website=Ararat|access-date=5 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606221748/http://araratmagazine.org/2011/05/can-eurovision-succeed-where-diplomacy-has-failed/|archive-date=6 June 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Lomsadze |first1=Giorgi |title=Armenia Dodges Eurovision Controversy |url=https://eurasianet.org/armenia-dodges-eurovision-controversy |newspaper=Eurasianet |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=17 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Halpin |first1=Chris |title=EBU sanctions Armenian broadcaster over Nagorno-Karabakh flag incident |url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2016/05/11/ebu-sanctions-armenian-broadcaster-nagorno-karabakh-flag-incident/141783/ |website=wiwibloggs.co.uk |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=11 May 2016}}</ref> Interactions between {{Esccnty|Russia}} and {{Esccnty|Ukraine}} in the contest had originally been positive, however as [[Russia–Ukraine relations|political relations]] soured between the two countries so too have [[Russia–Ukraine relations in the Eurovision Song Contest|relations at Eurovision]] become more complex. Complaints were levied against {{Esccnty|Ukraine|y=2016}}'s winning song in {{Escyr|2016}}, "[[1944 (song)|1944]]", whose lyrics referenced the [[Deportation of the Crimean Tatars|deportation]] of the [[Crimean Tatars]], but which the {{Esccnty|Russia|t=Russian delegation|y=2016}} claimed had a greater political meaning in light of [[Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation|Russia's annexation]] of [[Crimea]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Savage |first1=Mark |title=Eurovision: Ukraine's entry aimed at Russia |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35630395 |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=22 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Withnall |first1=Adam |title=Russian officials threaten to boycott next Eurovision after victory for 'political' Ukraine entry |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/eurovision-song-contest-2016-winner-ukraine-jamala-russia-threat-boycott-next-year-a7030591.html |work=[[The Independent]] |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=15 May 2016}}</ref> As {{Esccnty|Ukraine|y=2017}} prepared to host the {{Escyr|2017|3=following year's contest}}, Russia's selected representative, [[Yuliya Samoylova (singer)|Yuliya Samoylova]], was barred from entering the country due to having previously entered Crimea illegally according to Ukrainian law.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision 2017: Ukraine bars Russian singer Samoilova from contest |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-39354775 |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=22 March 2017}}</ref> Russia eventually pulled out of the contest after offers for Samoylova to perform remotely were refused by Russia's broadcaster, [[Channel One Russia]], resulting in the EBU reprimanding the Ukrainian broadcaster, [[UA:PBC]].<ref>{{cite web|date=13 April 2017|title=EBU: "Russia no longer able to take part in Eurovision 2017"|url=https://eurovision.tv/story/russia-unable-to-participate-2017-ebu-statement|access-date=8 July 2020|website=Eurovision.tv|publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] (EBU)}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Eurovision threatens to ban Ukraine over Russian singer row |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/apr/01/eurovision-threatens-to-ban-ukraine-over-russian-singer-row |access-date=8 July 2020 |agency=[[Agence France-Presse]] |work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> In the wake of the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]] and subsequent protests from other participating countries, {{Esccnty|Russia|y=2022}} was barred from competing in the {{Escyr|2022|3=2022 contest}}, where {{Esccnty|Ukraine|y=2022}} went on to win.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|date=2022-02-25|title=EBU statement regarding the participation of Russia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022|url=https://eurovision.tv/mediacentre/release/ebu-statement-russia-2022|access-date=2022-02-25|website=Eurovision.tv|publisher=EBU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2022-02-25|title=Eurovision: Russia banned from competing at 2022 Song Contest|work=[[BBC News]]|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-60530513|access-date=2022-02-26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Belam |first1=Martin |last2=Cvorak |first2=Monika |date=2022-05-14 |title=Ukraine wins 2022 Eurovision song contest as UK finishes second in Turin |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/may/15/ukraine-wins-2022-eurovision-song-contest-as-uk-finishes-second-in-turin |access-date=2022-05-15 |website=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> {{Esccnty|Georgia|y=2009}}'s planned entry for the {{Escyr|2009||2009 contest}} in Moscow, Russia, "We Don't Wanna Put In", caused controversy as the lyrics appeared to criticise [[Vladimir Putin]], in a move seen as opposition to the then-[[Prime Minister of Russia|Russian prime minister]] in the aftermath of the [[Russo-Georgian War]]. After requests by the EBU for changes to the lyrics were refused, Georgia's broadcaster [[Georgian Public Broadcasting|GPB]] subsequently withdrew from the event.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision axes 'anti-Putin' song |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7935865.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=10 March 2009}}</ref>{{sfn|West|2020|pp=253–257}} {{Esccnty|Belarus|y=2021}}' planned entry in {{Escyr|2021}}, "[[Ya nauchu tebya (I'll Teach You)]]", also caused controversy in the wake of [[2020–2021 Belarusian protests|demonstrations]] against disputed [[2020 Belarusian presidential election|election]] results, resulting in the country's disqualification when the aforementioned song and another potential song were deemed to breach the contest's rules on neutrality and politicisation.<ref name="Belarus 2021">{{cite web|date=26 March 2021|title=EBU statement on Belarusian participation|url=https://eurovision.tv/story/ebu-statement-on-belarusian-entry-2021|access-date=5 April 2021|website=Eurovision.tv|publisher=EBU}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Agadellis |first1=Stratos |title=Belarus: EBU releases statement on the country's entry for Eurovision 2021 |url=http://esctoday.com/182383/belarus-ebu-releases-statement-on-the-countrys-entry-for-eurovision-2021/ |website=esctoday.com |access-date=5 April 2021 |date=11 March 2021}}</ref>

{{Esccnty|Israel}}'s participation in the contest has resulted in several controversial moments in the past, with the country's first appearance in {{Escyr|1973}}, less than a year after the [[Munich massacre]], resulting in an increased security presence at the venue in [[Luxembourg City]].{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=52–55}}<ref name="Luxembourg 73" />{{sfn|West|2020|pp=83–86}} {{Esccnty|Israel|y=1978}}'s first win in {{Escyr|1978}} proved controversial for [[Arab world|Arab states]] broadcasting the contest which would typically cut to [[Television advertisement|advertisements]] when Israel performed due to a lack of [[International recognition of Israel|recognition of the country]], and when it became apparent Israel would win many of these broadcasters cut the feed before the end of the voting.<ref name="Paris 78">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Paris 1978 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/paris-1978 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=7 July 2020}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=72–75}}<ref name="Roxburgh 2">{{cite book |last=Roxburgh |first=Gordon |title=Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest |date=2014 |publisher=Telos Publishing |location=Prestatyn |isbn=978-1-84583-093-9 |volume=Two: The 1970s }}</ref> Arab states which are eligible to compete have declined to participate due to Israel's presence, with {{Esccnty|Morocco}} the only Arab state to have entered Eurovision, competing for the first, and {{as of|2022|lc=y}} the only time, in {{Escyr|1980}} when Israel was absent.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=80–83}}<ref name="The Hague 80">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: The Hague 1980 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/the-hague-1980 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=7 July 2020}}</ref> Israeli participation has been criticised by those who oppose current [[Government of Israel|government]] policies in the state, with calls raised by various political groups for a boycott ahead of the {{Escyr|2019||2019 contest}} in [[Tel Aviv]], including proponents of the [[Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions]] (BDS) movement in response to the country's policies towards [[Palestinians]] in the [[West Bank]] and [[Gaza Strip|Gaza]], as well as groups who take issue with perceived [[Pinkwashing (LGBT)|pinkwashing]] in Israel.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Farrell |first1=Stephen |title=Israel counters Eurovision boycott campaign with Google ads |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-music-eurovision-israel-preparations/israel-counters-eurovision-boycott-campaign-with-google-ads-idUSKCN1SG11L |work=[[Reuters]] |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=10 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Maikey |first1=Haneen |last2=Aked |first2=Hilary |title=L'Eurovision comme occasion de pinkwashing pour Israël – la communauté LGBT+ devrait le boycotter |url=http://agencemediapalestine.fr/blog/2019/03/04/15797/ |website=agencemediapalestine.fr/ |publisher=Agence Médias Palestine |access-date=7 July 2020 |language=fr |trans-title=Eurovision as a pinkwashing opportunity for Israel – the LGBT+ community should boycott it |date=4 March 2019}}</ref> Others campaigned against a boycott, asserting that any cultural boycott would be antithetical to advancing peace in the region.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sherwin |first1=Adam |title=Eurovision 2019: Stephen Fry & Sharon Osbourne lead celebrities rejecting boycott of Israel Song Contest |url=https://inews.co.uk/news/stephen-fry-sharon-osbourne-lead-celebrities-rejecting-boycott-of-israel-eurovision-song-contest-285507 |work=[[i (newspaper)|i]]|access-date=7 July 2020 |date=30 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Snapes |first1=Laura |title=Celebrities denounce proposed boycott of Eurovision in Israel |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/apr/30/celebrities-denounce-proposed-boycott-of-eurovision-in-israel-stephen-fry |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=12 March 2021 |date=30 April 2019}}</ref>

=== Political and geographical voting ===
{{multiple image
| direction = vertical
| align = center
| width = 900
| footer = Produced using the methods presented by Mantzaris, Rein, and Hopkins:{{sfn| Mantzaris | Rein | Hopkins | 2018a }}{{sfn| Mantzaris | Rein | Hopkins | 2018b }} a network of the significant score deviations can be viewed over a time period of interest.
| image1 = The collusion between countries in Eurovision 1997 to 2017.png
| alt1 = Voting preferences in Eurovision 1997 to 2017
| caption1 = Voting preferences between countries in Eurovision between 1997 and 2017
| image2 = Mutual neglect of score allocations in the Eurovision 2010 to 2015.png
| alt2 = Neglect in Eurovision 2010 to 2015
| caption2 = Mutual neglect of score allocations in Eurovision between 2010 and 2015
}}

The contest has been described as containing political elements in its voting process, a perception that countries will give votes more frequently and in higher quantities to other countries based on political relationships, rather than the musical merits of the songs themselves.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision votes 'farce' attack |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/3719157.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=6 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040603125500/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/3719157.stm |archive-date=3 June 2004 |date=16 May 2004}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Malta slates Eurovision's voting |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6654719.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |date=14 May 2007 |access-date=6 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070709104543/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6654719.stm |archive-date=9 July 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref> Numerous studies and academic papers have been written on this subject, which have corroborated that certain countries form "clusters" or "cliques" by frequently voting in the same way; one study concludes that [[voting bloc]]s can play a crucial role in deciding the winner of the contest, with evidence that on at least two occasions bloc voting was a pivotal factor in the vote for the winning song.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Fenn |first1=Daniel |last2=Suleman |first2=Omer |last3=Efstathiou |first3=Janet |last4=Johnson |first4=Niel F. |title=How does Europe Make Its Mind Up? Connections, cliques, and compatibility between countries in the Eurovision Song Contest |journal=Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and Its Applications |date=1 February 2006 |volume=360 |issue=2 |pages=576–598 |doi=10.1016/j.physa.2005.06.051|arxiv=physics/0505071 |bibcode=2006PhyA..360..576F |s2cid=119406544}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Gatherer |first1=Derek |title=Comparison of Eurovision Song Contest Simulation with Actual Results Reveals Shifting Patterns of Collusive Voting Alliances |journal=Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation |date=31 March 2006 |volume=9 |issue=2 |url=http://jasss.soc.surrey.ac.uk/9/2/1.html |access-date=6 July 2020 |issn=1460-7425}}</ref> Other views on these "blocs" argue that certain countries will allocate high points to others based on similar musical tastes, shared cultural links and a high degree of similarity and [[mutual intelligibility]] between languages, and are therefore more likely to appreciate and vote for the competing songs from these countries based on these factors, rather than political relationships specifically.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ginsburgh |first1=Victor |last2=Noury |first2=Abdul |title=The Eurovision Song Contest: Is Voting Political or Cultural? |date=October 2006 |url=http://w.ecares.org/ecare/personal/ginsburgh/papers/153.eurovision.pdf |access-date=6 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903222919/http://w.ecares.org/ecare/personal/ginsburgh/papers/153.eurovision.pdf |archive-date=3 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Spierdijk/Vellekoop">{{cite journal |last1=Spierdijk |first1=L |last2=Vellekoop |first2=M.H. |title=Geography, culture, and religion: Explaining the bias in Eurovision song contest voting |journal=Applied Mathematics Memoranda |year=2006 |volume=1794 |url=https://research.utwente.nl/en/publications/geography-culture-and-religion-explaining-the-bias-in-eurovision- |access-date=6 July 2020}}</ref> Analysis on other voting patterns have revealed examples which indicate voting preferences among countries based on shared religion, as well as "patriotic voting", particularly since the introduction of televoting in {{Escyr|1997}}, where [[Expatriate|foreign nationals]] vote for their country of origin.<ref name="Spierdijk/Vellekoop" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Is there a Eurovision migrant effect? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-36305838 |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=6 July 2020 |date=17 May 2016}}</ref>

Voting patterns in the contest have been reported by news publishers, including ''[[The Economist]]'' and ''[[BBC News]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Alexander |first1=Ruth |title=The maths of Eurovision voting |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7408216.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=19 May 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Neighbourly voting in the Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://www.economist.com/europe/2018/05/12/neighbourly-voting-in-the-eurovision-song-contest |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=12 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Partisanship at Eurovision is becoming more blatant |url=https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2018/05/11/partisanship-at-eurovision-is-becoming-more-blatant |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=11 May 2018}}</ref> Criticism of the voting system was at its highest in the mid-2000s, resulting in a number of calls for countries to boycott the contest over reported voting biases, particularly following the {{Escyr|2007||2007 contest}} where Eastern European countries occupied the top 15 places in the final and dominated the qualifying spaces.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=188–191}}{{sfn|West|2020|pp=241–245}} The poor performance of the entries from more traditional Eurovision countries had subsequently been discussed in European national parliaments, and the developments in the voting was cited as among the reasons for the resignation of [[Terry Wogan]] as commentator for the UK, a role he had performed at every contest from {{Escyr|1980}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=MP demands Eurovision vote change |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6657207.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=6 July 2020 |date=15 May 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Terry Wogan 'very doubtful' about presenting Eurovision again |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/eurovision-12-1323243 |work=NME |access-date=6 July 2020 |date=12 August 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Norton is Eurovision's new Wogan |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7766310.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=6 July 2020 |date=5 December 2008}}</ref> In response to this criticism, the EBU introduced a second semi-final in {{Escyr|2008}}, with countries split based on geographic proximity and voting history, and juries of music professionals were reintroduced in {{Escyr|2009}}, in an effort to reduce the impacts of bloc voting.<ref name="2010 jury semis" /><ref name="Jury 09 final" /><ref name="Revamp">{{cite web |title=Revamp for Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/revamp-for-eurovision-song-contest |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=9 January 2008}}</ref>

=== LGBT visibility ===
{{main|LGBT visibility in the Eurovision Song Contest}}
[[File:Dana International op Het Grote Songfestivalfeest 2019.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=Photograph of Dana International during a performance|[[Dana International]], the contest's first [[Transgender|trans]] participant, and winner of the 1998 contest for Israel]]
Eurovision has had a long-held fan base in the [[LGBT community]], and contest organisers have actively worked to include these fans in the event since the 1990s.<ref>{{cite web |title=How Eurovision became a gay-friendly contest |url=https://www.france24.com/en/20150522-eurovision-gay-friendly-song-contest-lgbt-conchita-wurst |publisher=[[France 24]] |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=22 May 2015}}</ref> [[Paul Oscar]] became the contest's first openly [[Gay men|gay]] artist to compete when he represented {{Esccnty|Iceland|y=1997}} in {{Escyr|1997}}. {{Esccnty|Israel|y=1998}}'s [[Dana International]], the contest's first [[Transgender|trans]] performer, became the first LGBT artist to win in {{Escyr|1998}}.{{sfn|West|2020|pp=191–195}}<ref name="Birmingham 98">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Birmingham 1998 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/birmingham-1998 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=7 July 2020}}</ref> In {{Escyr|2021}}, [[Nikkie de Jager]] became the first trans person to host the contest.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Roessink |first1=Paulien |title='Eurovision' gets first transgender host in YouTube star Nikkie de Jager |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/language/english/eurovision-gets-first-transgender-host-in-youtube-star-nikkie-de-jager_1 |access-date=23 May 2021 |work=SBS Your Language |date=17 May 2021 |archive-date=23 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210523115659/https://www.sbs.com.au/language/english/eurovision-gets-first-transgender-host-in-youtube-star-nikkie-de-jager_1 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Several open members of the LGBT community have since gone on to compete and win: [[Conchita Wurst]], the [[Drag (clothing)|drag]] persona of openly gay Thomas Neuwirth, won the {{Escyr|2014|3=2014 contest}} for {{Esccnty|Austria|y=2014}}; openly [[bisexual]] performer [[Duncan Laurence]] was the winner of the 2019 contest for the {{Esccnty|Netherlands|y=2019}}; and rock band [[Måneskin]], winners of the 2021 contest for {{Esccnty|Italy|y=2021}}, features openly bisexual [[Victoria De Angelis]] as its bassist.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bromwich |first1=Kathryn |title=Conchita Wurst: 'Most artists are sensitive and insecure people. I am too' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/jul/06/conchita-interview-sensitive-insecure-eurovision-gay-pin-up-austrian |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=6 July 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Moore |first1=Matt |title=Dutch Eurovision contestant Duncan Laurence comes out as bisexual |url=https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/community/122298/dutch-eurovision-contestant-duncan-laurence-comes-out-as-bisexual/ |work=[[Gay Times]] |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=18 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Boni |first1=Federico |title=Sanremo 2021, i Maneskin a nudo tra bisessualità e "libertà sessuale" – la gallery social |url=https://www.gay.it/sanremo-2021-maneskin-nudo-bisessualita-gallery-social |website=Gay.it |access-date=1 February 2022 |date=12 February 2021 |language=italian}}</ref> [[Marija Šerifović]], who won the 2007 contest for {{Esccnty|Serbia|y=2007}}, subsequently came out publicly as a lesbian in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://inserbia.info/today/2013/11/i-am-a-lesbian-marija-serifovic-opens-herself-completely-in-her-film-confession/|title=I Am A Lesbian! – Marija Serifovic Opens Up in Her Film "Confession"|publisher=InSerbia News|date=28 November 2013|access-date=7 August 2015}}</ref> Past competing songs and performances have included references and allusions to [[same-sex relationships]]; "[[Nous les amoureux]]", the {{Escyr|1961}} winning song, contained references to the difficulties faced by a homosexual relationship;<ref>{{Cite web|title=" Nous les amoureux " de Jean-Claude Pascal, une chanson qui annonce la révolution du mouvement gay...|url=https://www.rtbf.be/lapremiere/article/detail_nous-les-amoureux-de-jean-claude-pascal-une-chanson-qui-annonce-la-revolution-du-mouvement-gay?id=10221083|date=16 May 2019|website=La Première|language=fr|access-date=3 May 2020}}</ref> [[Krista Siegfrids]]' performance of "Marry Me" at the {{Escyr|2013||2013 contest}} included a same-sex kiss with one of her female backing dancers;<ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision 2013 final underway amid lesbian kiss controversy |url=https://www.dw.com/en/eurovision-2013-final-underway-amid-lesbian-kiss-controversy/a-16822230 |website=dw.com |publisher=[[Deutsche Welle]] |access-date=28 February 2021 |date=18 May 2013}}</ref> and the stage show of {{Esccnty|Ireland|y=2018}}'s [[Ryan O'Shaughnessy]]'s "[[Together (Ryan O'Shaughnessy song)|Together]]" in {{Escyr|2018}} had two male dancers portraying a same-sex relationship.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Reynolds |first1=Daniel |title=Ireland's Gay Dance on Eurovision Shows World That 'Love Is Love' |url=https://www.advocate.com/world/2018/5/09/irelands-gay-dance-eurovision-shows-world-love-love |website=advocate.com |publisher=[[The Advocate (LGBT magazine)|The Advocate]] |access-date=28 February 2021 |date=9 May 2018}}</ref> [[Drag queen|Drag performers]], such as {{Esccnty|Ukraine|y=2007}}'s [[Verka Serduchka]], {{Esccnty|Denmark|y=2007}}'s [[DQ (artist)|DQ]] and {{Esccnty|Slovenia|y=2002}}'s [[Sestre (drag act)|Sestre]], have appeared, including Wurst winning in 2014.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jordan |first1=Paul |title=Life's a drag! Eurovision queens past and present |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/life-s-a-drag-eurovision-queens-past-and-present |website=eurovision.tv |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |access-date=28 February 2021 |date=24 October 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Transvestite Sisters stir Eurovision storm |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/monitoring/media_reports/1855726.stm |website=bbc.co.uk |publisher=[[BBC News]] |access-date=28 February 2021 |date=5 March 2002}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Banks |first1=Martin |title=Transvestite Eurosong win sparks Slovenia accession doubts |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/transvestite-eurosong-win-sparks-slovenia-accession-doubts/ |website=politico.eu |publisher=[[Politico]] |access-date=28 February 2021 |date=6 March 2002}}</ref>

In more recent years, various political ideologies across Europe have clashed in the Eurovision setting, particularly [[LGBT rights in Europe|on LGBT rights]]. Dana International's selection for the 1998 contest in [[Birmingham]] was marked by objections and death threats from orthodox [[Religion in Israel|religious sections of Israeli society]], and at the contest her accommodation was reportedly in the only hotel in Birmingham with bulletproof windows.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=152–155}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Transsexual singer stirs up passions |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/1998/05/98/eurovision/90279.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=10 May 1998}}</ref> {{Esccnty|Turkey}}, once a regular participant and a one-time winner, first pulled out of the contest in {{Escyr|2013}}, citing dissatisfaction in the voting rules and more recently Turkish broadcaster [[Turkish Radio and Television Corporation|TRT]] have cited LGBT performances as another reason for their continued boycott, refusing to broadcast the 2013 event over {{Esccnty|Finland|y=2013}}'s same sex kiss.<ref name="Turkey LGBT" /><ref>{{cite web |last1=Marshall |first1=Alex |title=Eurovision Song Contest Is Canceled Over Coronavirus Concerns |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/18/arts/music/eurovision-canceled-coronavirus.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200318141020/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/18/arts/music/eurovision-canceled-coronavirus.html |archive-date=2020-03-18 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=7 July 2020 |date=18 March 2020 |quote="In 2018, the head of Turkey's public broadcaster said the boycott was also partly because some past winners, including the drag queen Conchita Wurst, had gone against Turkey's social values."}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Morgan |first1=Joe |title=Turkey cancels Eurovision Song Contest over lesbian kiss |url=https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/turkey-cancels-eurovision-song-contest-over-lesbian-kiss160513/ |publisher=[[Gay Star News]] |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=16 May 2013 |archive-date=28 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528122038/https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/turkey-cancels-eurovision-song-contest-over-lesbian-kiss160513/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> LGBT visibility in the contest has been cited as a deciding factor for {{Esccnty|Hungary}}'s non-participation since {{Escyr|2020}}, although no official reason was given by the Hungarian broadcaster [[MTVA (Hungary)|MTVA]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Walker |first1=Shaun |last2=Garamvolgyi |first2=Flora |title=Hungary pulls out of Eurovision amid rise in anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/nov/27/hungary-pulls-out-of-eurovision-amid-rise-in-anti-lgbt-rhetoric |work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=16 July 2020 |date=27 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Kozlov |first1=Vladimir |title=Hungary Exits 2020 Eurovision Over Contest's LGBT-Friendly Policies: Report |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/8545072/hungary-exits-2020-eurovision-song-contest-over-lgbt-friendly-policies-report |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=16 July 2020 |date=29 November 2019}}</ref> The rise of [[anti-LGBT sentiment]] in Europe has led to a marked increase in [[booing]] from contest audiences, particularly since the introduction of a [[Russian gay propaganda law|"gay propaganda" law in Russia]] in 2013.{{sfn|West|2020|pp=283–286}}<ref>{{cite web |last1=Nelson |first1=Fraser |title=Eurovision 2014: the booing of Russia was a disgrace |url=http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/culturehousedaily/2014/05/eurovision-2014-the-booing-of-russia-was-a-disgrace/ |work=[[The Spectator]] |access-date=7 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150504080615/http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/culturehousedaily/2014/05/eurovision-2014-the-booing-of-russia-was-a-disgrace/ |archive-date=4 May 2015 |date=11 May 2014}}</ref> [[Conchita Wurst#International response|Conchita Wurst's win was met with criticism]] on the [[Politics of Russia|Russian political]] stage, with several [[Conservatism in Russia|conservative]] politicians voicing displeasure in the result.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Davies |first1=Caroline |title=Conchita Wurst pledges to promote tolerance after jubilant welcome home |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2014/may/11/conchita-wurst-pledges-to-promote-tolerance |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=11 May 2014}}</ref> Clashes on LGBT visibility in the contest have occurred in countries which do not compete, such as in {{Esccnty|China}}, where broadcasting rights were terminated during the 2018 contest due to [[Censorship in China|censorship]] of "abnormal sexual relationships and behaviours" that went against Chinese broadcasting guidelines.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Royston |first1=Benny |title=China banned from broadcasting Eurovision after cutting same-sex dance and tattooed singer |url=https://metro.co.uk/2018/05/10/china-banned-from-broadcasting-eurovision-after-cutting-same-sex-dance-and-tattooed-singer-7536787/ |publisher=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]] |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=10 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Bakker |first1=Sietse |title=EBU terminates this year's partnership with Mango TV |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/ebu-terminates-this-year-s-partnership-with-mango-tv |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=10 May 2018}}</ref>

== Cultural influence ==
The Eurovision Song Contest has amassed a global following and sees annual audience figures of between 100 and 600 million.<ref>{{cite web |title=Finland wins Eurovision contest |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/archive/2006/05/2008410141723346664.html |publisher=[[Al Jazeera]] |access-date=26 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200119173244/https://www.aljazeera.com/archive/2006/05/2008410141723346664.html |archive-date=19 January 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest – International Music Program |url=http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/E/htmlE/eurovisionso/eurovisionso.htm |publisher=[[Museum of Broadcast Communications]] |access-date=26 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050113034609/http://www.museum.tv/Archives/Etv/E/htmlE/eurovisionso/eurovisionso.htm |archive-date=13 January 2005}}</ref> The contest has become a cultural influence worldwide since its first years, is regularly described as having [[kitsch]] appeal, and is included as a topic of parody in television [[Sketch comedy|sketches]] and in stage performances at the [[Edinburgh Festival Fringe|Edinburgh Fringe]] and [[Melbourne International Comedy Festival|Melbourne Comedy]] festivals among others.<ref name="Fringe">{{cite web |last1=Majendie |first1=Paul |title=Fringe show celebrates Eurovision kitsch |url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/stage-arts-edinburgh-eurovision-dc/edinburgh-fringe-show-celebrates-eurovision-kitsch-idUKL1142844820070811 |work=[[Reuters]] |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=11 August 2007}}</ref><ref name="Antes cursi" />{{sfn|Raykoff|Tobin|2016|p=9}}<ref>{{cite web |title=comedyfestival.com.au |url=https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2020/shows/eurowision |website=Melbourne International Comedy Festival: Eurowision |access-date=7 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200306071538/https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2020/shows/eurowision |archive-date=6 March 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> Several films have been created which celebrate the contest, including [[Eytan Fox]]'s 2013 Israeli comedy ''[[Cupcakes (film)|Cupcakes]]'', and the [[Netflix]] 2020 musical comedy, ''[[Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga]]'', produced with backing from the EBU and starring [[Will Ferrell]] and [[Rachel McAdams]].<ref>{{cite web |title='Cupcakes': Film Review |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/cupcakes-film-review-784623 |website=hollywoodreporter.com |publisher=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=28 February 2021 |date=26 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga – out now! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-movie-the-story-of-fire-saga |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020 |date=24 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Scott |first1=Sheena |title='Eurovision Song Contest' Movie on Netflix Celebrates A Very European Show |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/sheenascott/2020/06/26/eurovision-song-contest-the-story-of-fire-saga-on-netflix-celebrates-a-very-european-show |work=[[Forbes]]|access-date=3 July 2020 |date=26 June 2020}}</ref>

Eurovision has a large online following and multiple independent websites, news blogs and [[fan clubs]] are dedicated to the event. One of the oldest and largest Eurovision fan clubs is [[OGAE]], founded in 1984 in Finland and currently a network of over 40 national branches across the world. National branches regularly host events to promote and celebrate Eurovision, and several participating broadcasters work closely with these branches when preparing their entries.<ref>{{cite web|title=Eurovision Song Contest: Fans|url=https://eurovision.tv/fans|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125225630/https://eurovision.tv/fans|archive-date=2020-11-25|access-date=2022-02-19|publisher=Eurovision Song Contest}}</ref>

In the run-up to each year's contest, several countries regularly host smaller events between the conclusion of the national selection shows in March and the contest proper in May, known as the "pre-parties". These events typically feature the artists which will go on to compete at that year's contest, and consist of performances at a venue and meet-and-greets with fans and the press. ''Eurovision in Concert'', held annually in [[Amsterdam]], was one of the first of these events to be created, holding its first edition in 2008.<ref>{{cite web |title=About Eurovision in Concert |url=https://eurovisioninconcert.nl/en/about-eurovision-in-concert/ |website=eurovisioninconcert.nl |access-date=3 July 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Groot |first1=Evert |title=This was Eurovision in Concert 2019 in Amsterdam |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-in-concert-2019-in-review |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020 |date=7 April 2019}}</ref> Other events held regularly include the ''London Eurovision Party'', ''PrePartyES'' in [[Madrid]], and ''Israel Calling'' in [[Tel Aviv]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Holden |first1=Steve |last2=Rosney |first2=Daniel |date=12 May 2019 |title=Eurovision Tel Aviv 2019: Why the song contest is bigger than ever |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-48023500 |access-date=3 July 2020 |work=[[BBC News]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Zwart |first1=Josianne |last2=Escudero |first2=Victor M. |title=Over 20 acts to appear at Madrid's ESPreParty this weekend |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/espreparty-madrid-spain-2018 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020 |date=18 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rössing |first=Dominik |date=2022-03-31 |title=Six more countries confirmed for Israel Calling 2022, making it 23 artists so far |url=https://escxtra.com/2022/03/31/six-more-countries-confirmed-for-israel-calling-2022/ |access-date=2022-04-03 |website=ESCXTRA.com}}</ref> Several community events have been held virtually, particularly since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe in 2020, among these ''[[EurovisionAgain]]'', an initiative where fans watched and discussed past contests in sync on YouTube and other social media platforms. Launched during the first [[COVID-19 lockdowns]], the event subsequently became a [[Twitter trends|top trend on Twitter]] across Europe and facilitated over £20,000 in donations for UK-based [[LGBT]]Q+ charities.<ref>{{cite web |last=Rosney |first=Daniel |title=Eurovision Again: Why fans of the song contest get together every Saturday |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-52381023 |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=3 July 2020 |date=25 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision Again wordt maandelijks initiatief |url=https://www.ad.nl/show/eurovision-again-wordt-maandelijks-initiatief~ac29e875/ |work=[[Algemeen Dagblad]]|access-date=3 July 2020 |language=nl |trans-title=Eurovision Again becomes a monthly initiative |date=27 June 2020}}</ref><ref name="Eurovision Again BtS">{{cite web |title=How Eurovision Again came to your screens |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/how-eurovisionagain-was-brought-to-your-screens |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020 |date=27 June 2020}}</ref>

== Special events and related competitions ==
[[File:Destiny Chukunyere at stage of JESC 2015 (2).jpg|thumb|right|[[Destiny Chukunyere]] won the [[Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2015|2015 edition]] of the [[Junior Eurovision Song Contest]] for [[Malta]]]]
[[File:Hosts of the Eurovision Greatest Hits.jpg|thumb|right|Hosts [[Graham Norton]] and [[Petra Mede]] during ''[[Eurovision Song Contest's Greatest Hits]]'', a special event marking the contest's 60th anniversary]]

Several anniversary events, and related contests under the "Eurovision Live Events" brand, have been organised by the EBU with member broadcasters.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision Live Events |url=https://events.eurovision.tv/ |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=26 June 2020}}</ref> In addition participating broadcasters have occasionally commissioned special Eurovision programmes for their home audiences, and a number of other imitator contests have been developed outside of the EBU framework, on both a national and international level.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dahlander |first1=Gustav |title=Klart för Eurovision-vecka i SVT |url=https://blogg.svt.se/melodifestivalen-expertbloggen/klart-for-eurovision-vecka-i-svt/ |website=svt.se |publisher=[[Sveriges Television]] |access-date=15 July 2020 |language=sv |date=3 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=May means Eurovision on the BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/eurovision/entries/990f7787-04ae-4b49-b62f-7303d1898a06 |publisher=BBC |access-date=15 July 2020 |date=1 May 2020}}</ref>

The EBU has held several events to mark selected anniversaries in the contest's history: ''[[Songs of Europe (1981 concert)|Songs of Europe]]'', held in 1981 to celebrate its twenty-fifth anniversary, had live performances and video recordings of all Eurovision Song Contest winners up to 1981;<ref>{{cite web |title=Songs of Europe – BBC Two "Radio Times" listing |url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/d80d6106cc8a4d1199c991955cd18b8d |publisher=[[BBC Genome Project]] |access-date=26 June 2020}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|p=87}} ''[[Congratulations: 50 Years of the Eurovision Song Contest]]'' was organised in 2005 to celebrate the event's fiftieth anniversary, and featured a contest to determine the most popular song from among 14 selected entries from the contest's first 50 years;<ref name="Congratulations">{{cite web |title=Congratulations Show – Eurovision History |url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/history/congratulations-show |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=26 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905232704/http://www.eurovision.tv/page/history/congratulations-show |archive-date=5 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="ABBA 50">{{cite web |last1=Adam |first1=Karla |title=Abba's 'Waterloo' is voted best song of 50 Eurovision years |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/abbas-waterloo-is-voted-best-song-of-50-eurovision-years-321745.html |work=[[The Independent]] |access-date=26 June 2020 |date=24 October 2005 |archive-date=28 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628010131/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/abbas-waterloo-is-voted-best-song-of-50-eurovision-years-321745.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and in 2015 the event's sixtieth anniversary was marked by ''[[Eurovision Song Contest's Greatest Hits]]'', a concert of performances by past Eurovision artists and video montages of performances and footage from previous contests.<ref>{{cite web |title=Official: London to host Eurovision's 60th Anniversary Event |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/official-london-to-host-eurovision-s-60th-anniversary-event |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=26 June 2020 |date=5 February 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision's Greatest Hits – line-up |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/36KjTqPHSdTCqkv93SsGvJd/line-up |publisher=BBC |access-date=26 June 2020}}</ref> Following the cancellation of the {{Escyr|2020||2020 contest}}, the EBU subsequently organised a special non-competitive broadcast, ''[[Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light]]'', which provided a showcase for the songs that would have taken part in the competition.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision: Europe Shine A Light |date=9 April 2020 |url=https://eurovision.tv/eurovision-europe-shine-a-light |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=26 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Eurovision still shines despite cancelled final |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/may/17/eurovision-still-shines-despite-cancelled-final |access-date=26 June 2020 |agency=[[PA Media]] |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=17 May 2020}}</ref>

Other contests organised by the EBU include [[Eurovision Young Musicians]], a classical music competition for European musicians between the ages of 12 and 21;<ref name="EYM">{{cite web |title=Live Event: Eurovision Young Musicians |url=https://www.ebu.ch/projects/tv/music/eurovision-young-musicians |date=15 May 2018 |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |access-date=26 June 2020}}</ref> [[Eurovision Young Dancers]], a dance competition for non-professional performers between the ages of 16 and 21;<ref name="EYD">{{cite web |title=Live Event: Eurovision Young Dancers |url=https://www.ebu.ch/projects/tv/dance/eurovision-young-dancers |date=22 June 2017 |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |access-date=26 June 2020}}</ref> [[Eurovision Choir]], a choral competition for non-professional European choirs produced in partnership with the {{ill|Interkultur|de}} and modelled after the [[World Choir Games]];<ref name="Choir">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Choir |url=https://www.ebu.ch/eurovision-choir |date=3 June 2020 |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |access-date=26 June 2020}}</ref> and the [[Junior Eurovision Song Contest]], a similar song contest for singers aged between 9 and 14 representing primarily European countries.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision Events: Junior Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://events.eurovision.tv/junior-eurovision-song-contest |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=26 June 2020 |archive-date=6 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206224858/https://events.eurovision.tv/junior-eurovision-song-contest |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[Eurovision Dance Contest]] was an event featuring pairs of dancers performing ballroom and Latin dancing, which took place for two editions, in 2007 and 2008.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision Dance Contest |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00dp4cf/episodes/guide |publisher=BBC |access-date=23 April 2020}}</ref>

Similar international music competitions have been organised externally to the EBU. The [[Sopot International Song Festival]] has been held annually since 1961; between 1977 and 1980, under the patronage of the [[International Radio and Television Organisation]] (OIRT), an Eastern European broadcasting network similar to the EBU, it was rebranded as the [[Intervision Song Contest]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Morton |first1=Elise |title=Intervision, the Communist Counterpart to Eurovision That Didn't Quite Work |url=https://theculturetrip.com/europe/articles/intervision-the-communist-counterpart-to-eurovision-that-didnt-quite-work/ |website=theculturetrip.com |publisher=Culture Trip |access-date=28 February 2021 |date=5 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Rosenberg |first1=Steve |title=The Cold War rival to Eurovision |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18006446 |website=bbc.co.uk |publisher=[[BBC News]] |access-date=28 February 2021 |date=14 May 2012}}</ref> An [[Ibero-America]]n contest, the [[OTI Festival]], was previously held among [[hispanophone]] and [[lusophone]] countries in Europe, North America and South America; and a contest for countries and [[Autonomous administrative division|autonomous regions]] with [[Turkic peoples|Turkic]] links, the [[Turkvision Song Contest]], has been organised since 2013.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Escudero |first1=Victor M. |title=Celebration! The best of Spain in Eurovision |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/spain-top-ten-entries |website=eurovision.tv |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |access-date=28 February 2021 |date=28 January 2018 |quote=In 1995 [Marcos Llunas] won the latin version of Eurovision, the Festival OTI where Spain, Portugal and the American countries participated until the year 2000, when the last edition took place.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=El Festival de la OTI, el olvidado Eurovisión de las Américas |url=https://www.elespanol.com/bluper/television/20200122/festival-oti-olvidado-eurovision-americas/460954581_0.html |website=elespanol.com |publisher=[[El Español]] |access-date=28 February 2021 |language=Spanish |date=22 January 2020 |trans-title=The OTI Festival, the forgotten Eurovision of the Americas}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=After snubbing the Eurovision Song Contest, Turkey officially launches 'Turkvision' |url=https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/after-snubbing-the-eurovision-song-contest-turkey-officially-launches-turkvision-54886 |access-date=28 February 2021 |agency=[[Demirören News Agency|Doğan News Agency]] |publisher=[[Hürriyet Daily News]] |date=21 September 2013 |location=Eskişehir}}</ref> Similarly, an adaption of the contest for artists in the United States, the ''[[American Song Contest]]'', was held in 2022 and featured songs representing U.S. states and [[U.S. territory|territories]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The Eurovision Song Contest travels to America! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/the-eurovision-song-contest-travels-to-america |website=eurovision.tv |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |access-date=28 February 2021 |date=7 August 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title='American Song Contest' on screens in 2022 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/american-song-contest-2022 |website=eurovision.tv |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |access-date=26 May 2021 |date=14 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=White |first1=Peter |title='American Song Contest', U.S. Version Of Eurovision, Tunes Up For NBC |url=https://deadline.com/2021/05/american-song-contest-u-s-version-of-eurovision-nbc-1234756361/ |website=deadline.com |publisher=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |access-date=26 May 2021 |date=14 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Granger |first=Anthony |date=2023-05-10 |title=Partners Looking at Options For American Song Contest |url=https://eurovoix-world.com/2023/05/10/partners-looking-at-options-for-american-song-contest/ |access-date=2023-05-11 |website=Eurovoix World |language=en-GB}}</ref> Adaptions of the contest for artists in Canada and Latin America are in development, though development on the former has been halted.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-25 |title='Eurovision Canada' will join the family in 2023 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-canada-2023 |access-date=2022-04-26 |website=eurovision.tv |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-12 |title=Eurovision Song Contest to launch in Latin America |url=https://www.ebu.ch/news/2022/07/eurovision-song-contest-to-be-launched-in-latin-america |access-date=2022-07-12 |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-12 |title=La UER y RTVE se reunirán para explorar vías de colaboración en un proyecto de música en Latinoamérica |url=https://www.rtve.es/television/20220712/uer-rtve-reunion-madrid-explorar-vias-colaboracion-proyecto-musica-latinoamerica/2388215.shtml |access-date=2022-07-13 |publisher=[[RTVE]] |language=ES}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Granger |first=Anthony |date=2023-05-10 |title=Eurovision Canada Has Taken a Step Back |url=https://eurovoix-world.com/2023/05/10/🇨🇦-eurovision-canada-has-taken-a-step-back/ |access-date=2023-05-11 |website=Eurovoix World |language=en-GB}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

Sources:
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite journal|last1=Mantzaris|first1=Alexander V.|last2=Rein|first2=Samuel R.|last3=Hopkins|first3=Alexander D.|title=Examining Collusion and Voting Biases Between Countries During the Eurovision Song Contest Since 1957|journal=[[Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation]]|date=2018a|volume=21|issue=1|page=1|doi=10.18564/jasss.3580|doi-access=free}}
* {{cite journal|last1=Mantzaris|first1=Alexander V.|last2=Rein|first2=Samuel R.|last3=Hopkins|first3=Alexander D.|title=Preference and neglect amongst countries in the Eurovision Song Contest|journal=Journal of Computational Social Science|date=2018b|volume=1|issue=2|pages=377–390|doi=10.1007/s42001-018-0020-2|doi-access=free}}
* {{cite book|last=O'Connor|first=John Kennedy|author-link=John Kennedy O'Connor|title=The Eurovision Song Contest: The Official History|date=2010|publisher=[[Carlton Publishing Group|Carlton Books]]|location=London|isbn=978-1-84732-521-1|edition=2nd}}
* {{cite book|editor1-last=Raykoff|editor1-first=Ivan|editor2-last=Tobin|editor2-first=Robert Deam|title=A Song for Europe: Popular Music and Politics in the Eurovision Song Contest|date=2016|publisher=[[Routledge]]|location=Abingdon-on-Thames|isbn=978-0-754658-79-5|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5zQrDwAAQBAJ|access-date=3 July 2020}}
* {{cite book|last=Roxburgh|first=Gordon|title=Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest|date=2012|publisher=[[Telos Publishing]]|location=Prestatyn|isbn=978-1-84583-065-6|series=Volume One: The 1950s and 1960s}}
* {{cite book|last=West|first=Chris|author-link=Chris West|title=Eurovision! A History of Modern Europe Through the World's Greatest Song Contest|date=2020|publisher=[[Melville House Publishing|Melville House UK]]|location=London|isbn=978-1-911545-55-2|edition=2nd}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book|last=Jordan|first=Paul|title=The Modern Fairy Tale: Nation Branding, National Identity and the Eurovision Song Contest in Estonia|date=2014|publisher=[[University of Tartu Press]]|location=Tartu|isbn=978-9949-32-559-7|url=https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/id/c349bb4e-c048-4cf8-a847-ed07fe8e0367/474310.pdf|access-date=6 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200707111636/https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/id/c349bb4e-c048-4cf8-a847-ed07fe8e0367/474310.pdf|archive-date=7 July 2020|url-status=live}}
* {{cite journal|last=Yair|first=Gad|year=1995|title='Unite Unite Europe' The political and cultural structures of Europe as reflected in the Eurovision Song Contest|journal=Social Networks|volume=17|issue=2|pages=147–161|doi=10.1016/0378-8733(95)00253-k}}
* {{cite journal|last1=Yair|first1=Gad|last2=Maman|first2=Daniel|year=1996|title=The Persistent Structure of Hegemony in the Eurovision Song Contest|journal=Acta Sociologica|volume=39|issue=3|pages=309–325|doi=10.1177/000169939603900303|s2cid=144085791}}
{{refend}}

== External links ==

*{{Commons category-inline}}
*{{wikiquote-inline}}
* {{Official website|https://eurovision.tv/}}
* {{Official website|https://www.ebu.ch/projects/tv/eurovision-song-contest|name=EBU website}}
* {{youTube|user=eurovision}}

{{Eurovision Song Contest}}
{{European Broadcasting Union}}
{{Music industry}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Eurovision Song Contest| ]]
[[Category:1956 establishments in Europe]]
[[Category:Eurovision events|Song Contest]]
[[Category:Music television series]]
[[Category:Pop music festivals]]
[[Category:Recurring events established in 1956]]
[[Category:Song contests]]
[[Category:Annual television shows]]

Eurovision Song Contest

2023-05-13T23:06:20Z

Vodkamad: /* Winners */

{{short description|Annual international song competition}}
{{Redirect|Eurovision|the current contest|Eurovision Song Contest 2023|the previous contest|Eurovision Song Contest 2022|other uses}}
{{good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox television
| name = {{noitalic|Eurovision Song Contest}}
| image = Eurovision Song Contest.svg
| image_alt = The current Eurovision Song Contest logo, in use since 2015
| caption = Logo since 2015
| alt_name = {{Unbulleted list|{{noitalic|Eurovision}}|{{noitalic|ESC}}}}
| genre = [[Music competition]]
| creator = [[European Broadcasting Union]]
| based_on = [[Sanremo Music Festival]]
| developer =
| presenter = [[List of Eurovision Song Contest presenters|Various presenters]]
| country = [[List of countries in the Eurovision Song Contest|Various participating countries]]
| language = English and French
| num_episodes = {{Plainlist|
* 67 contests
* 101 live shows
}}
| producer =
| location = [[List of Eurovision Song Contest host cities|Various host cities]]
| runtime = {{Plainlist|
* ~2 hours (semi-finals)
* ~4 hours (finals)
}}
| company = [[European Broadcasting Union]] [[History of the Eurovision Song Contest|Various national broadcasters]]
| picture_format = {{Plainlist|
* [[SDTV]] ([[4:3]] aspect ratio) (1956–2004)
* [[SDTV]] ([[16:9]] aspect ratio) (2005–2006)
* [[HDTV]] [[1080i]] (2007–present)
* [[4K UHD]] [[2160i]] (2022–present)
}}
| first_aired = {{Start date|df=y|1956|05|24}}
| last_aired = present
| related = {{Plainlist|
* ''[[Eurovision Young Musicians]]''
* ''[[Junior Eurovision Song Contest]]''
* ''[[Eurovision Choir]]''
* ''[[American Song Contest]]''
}}
| italic_title = no
}}

The '''Eurovision Song Contest''' ({{lang fr|Concours Eurovision de la chanson}}), often known simply as '''Eurovision''', is an international [[Music competition|song competition]] organised annually by the [[European Broadcasting Union]]. Each participating country submits an original song to be performed live and transmitted to national broadcasters via the [[Eurovision (network)|Eurovision and Euroradio networks]], with competing countries then casting votes for the other countries' songs to determine a winner.

Based on the [[Sanremo Music Festival]] held in Italy since 1951, Eurovision has been held annually since 1956 (apart from {{Escyr|2020||2020}}), making it the longest-running annual international televised music competition and one of the world's longest-running television programmes. Active members of the EBU and invited associate members are eligible to compete; {{as of|2022|lc=y|post=,}} [[List of countries in the Eurovision Song Contest|52 countries]] have participated at least once. Each participating broadcaster sends one original song of three minutes duration or less to be performed live by a singer or group of up to six people aged 16 or older. Each country awards 1–8, 10 and 12 points to their ten favourite songs, based on the views of an assembled group of music professionals and the country's viewing public, with the song receiving the most points declared the winner. Other performances feature alongside the competition, including a specially-commissioned opening and interval act and guest performances by musicians and other personalities, with past acts including [[Cirque du Soleil]], [[Madonna]], [[Justin Timberlake]], [[Mika]], [[Rita Ora]] and the first performance of ''[[Riverdance]]''. Originally consisting of a single evening event, the contest has expanded as new countries joined (including countries outside of Europe, such as {{Esccnty|Australia}}), leading to the introduction of relegation procedures in the 1990s, before the creation of semi-finals in the 2000s. {{As of|2022|post=,}} {{Esccnty|Germany}} has competed more times than any other country, having participated in all but one edition, while {{Esccnty|Ireland}} holds the record for the most victories, with seven wins in total.

Traditionally held in the country which won the preceding year's event, the contest provides an opportunity to promote the host country and city as a tourist destination. Thousands of spectators attend each year, along with journalists who cover all aspects of the contest, including rehearsals in venue, press conferences with the competing acts, in addition to other related events and performances in the host city. Alongside the generic Eurovision logo, a unique theme and slogan is typically developed for each event. The contest has aired in countries across all continents; it has been [[Streaming television|available online]] via the official Eurovision website since 2001. Eurovision ranks among the world's most watched non-sporting events every year, with hundreds of millions of viewers globally. Performing at the contest has often provided artists with a local career boost and in some cases long-lasting international success. Several of the [[List of best-selling music artists|best-selling music artists]] in the world have competed in past editions, including [[ABBA]], [[Celine Dion]], [[Julio Iglesias]], [[Cliff Richard]] and [[Olivia Newton-John]]; some of the world's [[List of best-selling singles|best-selling singles]] have received their first international performance on the Eurovision stage.

While having gained popularity with the viewing public in both participating and non-participating countries, the contest has also been the subject of criticism for its artistic quality as well as a perceived political aspect to the event. Concerns have been raised regarding political friendships and rivalries between countries potentially having an impact on the results. Controversial moments have included participating countries withdrawing at a late stage, censorship of broadcast segments by broadcasters, as well as political events impacting participation. Likewise, the contest has also been criticised for an over-abundance of elaborate stage shows at the cost of artistic merit. Eurovision has, however, gained popularity for its [[kitsch]] appeal, its musical span of [[Contemporary folk music|ethnic]] and international styles, as well as emergence as part of [[LGBT culture]], resulting in a large, active fanbase and an influence on popular culture. The popularity of the contest has led to the creation of several similar events, either organised by the EBU or created by external organisations; several special events have been organised by the EBU to celebrate select anniversaries or as a replacement due to cancellation.

== Origins and history ==
{{Further|History of the Eurovision Song Contest}}
[[File:Eurovision Song Contest 1958 - Lys Assia (crop).png|thumb|alt=Photo of Lys Assia, the first winner of the Eurovision Song Contest, performing at the third contest in 1958.|[[Lys Assia]] (1924–2018), the winner of the first Eurovision Song Contest in {{Escyr|1956}}, performing at the {{Escyr|1958|3=1958 contest}}]]
The Eurovision Song Contest was developed by the [[European Broadcasting Union]] (EBU) as an experiment in live television broadcasting<ref>{{cite web |title=The Origins of Eurovision |url=https://eurovision.tv/history/origins-of-eurovision |website=Eurovision Song Contest |date=27 May 2019 |access-date=15 April 2023}}</ref> and a way to produce cheaper television programming for national broadcasting organisations.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Vuletic |first1=Dean |title=Postwar Europe and the Eurovision Song Contest |date=2018 |publisher=Bloomsbury Academic |isbn=9781474276276 }}</ref> The word "Eurovision" was first used by British journalist George Campey in the ''[[Evening Standard|London Evening Standard]]'' in 1951, when he referred to a [[BBC]] programme being relayed by Dutch television.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=93–96}}<ref name="GoldenJubilee">{{cite web|first=Patrick |last=Jaquin |date=1 December 2004 |url=http://www.ebu.ch/en/union/diffusion_on_line/television/tcm_6-8971.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040811033906/http://www.ebu.ch/en/union/diffusion_on_line/television/tcm_6-8971.php |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 August 2004 |title=Eurovision's Golden Jubilee |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |access-date=18 July 2009}}</ref> Following several events broadcast internationally via the [[Eurovision (network)|Eurovision transmission network]] in the early 1950s, including the [[Coronation of Elizabeth II]] in 1953, an EBU committee, headed by [[Marcel Bezençon]], was formed in January 1955 to investigate new initiatives for cooperation between broadcasters, which approved for further study a European song competition from an idea initially proposed by [[RAI]] manager [[Sergio Pugliese]].<ref name="GoldenJubilee" /><ref name="Eurovision network">{{cite web |title=Eurovision: About us – who we are |url=https://www.eurovision.net/about/whoweare |publisher=[[Eurovision (network)|Eurovision Song Contest]] |access-date=28 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Sommerlad |first=Joe |title=Eurovision 2019: What exactly is the point of the annual song contest and how did it begin? |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/eurovision-2019-song-contest-what-is-the-point-purpose-pop-history-a8916801.html |work=[[The Independent]] |access-date=27 June 2020 |date=18 May 2019}}</ref> The EBU's general assembly agreed to the organising of the song contest in October 1955, under the initial title of the ''European Grand Prix'', and accepted a proposal by the Swiss delegation to host the event in [[Lugano]] in the spring of 1956.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=93–96}}<ref name="GoldenJubilee" />{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=8–9}} The Italian [[Sanremo Music Festival]], held since 1951, was used as a basis for the initial planning of the contest, with several amendments and additions given its international nature.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=93–96}}

Seven countries participated in the {{Escyr|1956||first contest}}, with each country represented by two songs; the only time in which multiple entries per country were permitted.<ref name="Nutshell">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: In a Nutshell |date=31 March 2017 |url=https://eurovision.tv/history/in-a-nutshell |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=27 June 2020}}</ref><ref name="Facts & Figures">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Facts & Figures |date=12 January 2017 |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/facts-and-figures |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=27 June 2020}}</ref> The winning song was "[[Refrain (Lys Assia song)|Refrain]]", representing the host country Switzerland and performed by [[Lys Assia]].<ref name="Winners">{{cite web|title=Eurovision Song Contest: Winners|url=https://eurovision.tv/winners|access-date=23 May 2021|publisher=Eurovision Song Contest|archive-date=12 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180512231240/https://eurovision.tv/winners|url-status=dead}}</ref> Voting during the first contest was held behind closed doors, with only the winner being announced on stage; the use of a scoreboard and public announcement of the voting, inspired by the BBC's ''[[UK national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest|Festival of British Popular Songs]]'', has been used since 1957.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|p=152}} The tradition of the winning country hosting the following year's contest, which has since become a standard feature of the event, began in 1958.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=12–13}}{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|p=160}} Technological developments have transformed the contest: [[Color television|colour broadcasts]] began in {{Escyr|1968}}; [[Satellite television|satellite broadcasts]] in {{Escyr|1985}}; and [[Streaming media|streaming]] in {{Escyr|2000}}.<ref name="Eurovision network" /><ref name="London 68">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: London 1968 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/london-1968 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=5 July 2020}}</ref><ref name="Webcasting">{{cite web |last=Laven |first=Philip |title=Webcasting and the Eurovision Song Contest |url=http://www.ebu.ch/en/technical/trev/trev_291-editorial.html |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |access-date=28 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528091401/http://www.ebu.ch/en/technical/trev/trev_291-editorial.html |archive-date=28 May 2008 |date=July 2002}}</ref> Broadcasts in [[16:9 aspect ratio|widescreen]] began in 2005 and in [[High-definition television|high-definition]] since 2007, with [[Ultra-high-definition television|ultra-high-definition]] tested for the first time in 2022.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Polishchuk |first1=Tetiana |title=Eurovision to Be Broadcast in Widescreen, With New Hosts |url=https://day.kyiv.ua/en/article/culture/eurovision-be-broadcast-widescreen-new-hosts |publisher=[[The Day (Kyiv)|The Day]] |access-date=23 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122170009/https://day.kyiv.ua/en/article/culture/eurovision-be-broadcast-widescreen-new-hosts |archive-date=22 November 2020 |date=17 May 2005 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Helsinki 07" /><ref name=":9">{{Cite web |last=Cafarelli |first=Donato |date=2022-04-23 |title=Eurovision Song Contest 2022: la Rai trasmetterà l'evento per la prima volta in 4K |trans-title=Eurovision Song Contest 2022: Rai will broadcast the event for the first time in 4K |url=https://www.eurofestivalnews.com/2022/04/23/eurovision-song-contest-2022-rai-4k/ |access-date=2022-04-23 |website=Eurofestival News |language=it-IT}}</ref>

By the 1960s, between 16 and 18 countries were regularly competing each year.<ref name="ESC History">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: History by events |url=https://eurovision.tv/events |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=27 June 2020 |archive-date=25 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825083217/https://eurovision.tv/events |url-status=dead }}</ref> Countries from outside the traditional [[Europe#Definition|boundaries of Europe]] began entering the contest, and countries in Western Asia and North Africa started competing in the 1970s and 1980s. Changes in Europe following the [[Cold War (1985–1991)|end of the Cold War]] saw an influx of new countries from [[Central and Eastern Europe]] applying for the first time. The {{Escyr|1993||1993 contest}} included a separate [[Kvalifikacija za Millstreet|pre-qualifying round]] for seven of these new countries, and from {{Escyr|1994}} [[Promotion and relegation|relegation systems]] were introduced to manage the number of competing entries, with the poorest performing countries barred from entering the following year's contest.<ref name="ESC History" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest 1993 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/millstreet-1993 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=27 June 2020}}</ref> From 2004 the contest expanded to become a multi-programme event, with a semi-final at the {{Escyr|2004||49th contest}} allowing all interested countries to compete each year; a second semi-final was added to each edition from 2008.<ref name="Facts & Figures" /><ref name="ESC History" />

There have been 67 contests as of 2023, making Eurovision the longest-running annual international televised music competition as determined by ''[[Guinness World Records]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lynch |first1=Kevin |title=Eurovision recognised by Guinness World Records as the longest-running annual TV music competition (international) |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2015/5/eurovision-recognised-by-guinness-world-records-as-the-longest-running-annual-tv-379520 |publisher=[[Guinness World Records]] |access-date=26 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200122030337/https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2015/5/eurovision-recognised-by-guinness-world-records-as-the-longest-running-annual-tv-379520 |archive-date=22 January 2020 |date=23 May 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Escudero |first1=Victor M. |title=Eurovision Song Contest awarded Guinness world record |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-song-contest-awarded-guinness-world-record |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=9 July 2020 |date=23 May 2015}}</ref> The contest has been listed as one of the longest-running television programmes in the world and among the world's most watched non-sporting events.<ref>{{cite web |title=Culture & Entertainment {{!}} Eurovision |url=http://www.brandeu.eu/eu-powerhouse/culture-and-entertainment/eurovision/ |publisher=[[Brand EU]] |access-date=19 March 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Press Release: 60th Eurovision Song Contest Seen by Nearly 200 Million Viewers |url=https://www.ebu.ch/news/2015/06/press-release-60th-eurovision-so |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |access-date=19 March 2021 |date=3 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Ritman |first1=Alex |title=Eurovision Song Contest Draws Almost 200 Million Viewers |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6583366/eurovision-song-contest-draws-almost-200-million-viewers |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=20 March 2021 |date=3 June 2015}}</ref> A total of [[List of countries in the Eurovision Song Contest|52 countries]] have taken part in at least one edition, with a record 43 countries participating in a single contest, first in {{Escyr|2008}} and subsequently in {{Escyr|2011}} and {{Escyr|2018}}.<ref name="Facts & Figures" /><ref name="ESC History" /> Australia became the first non-EBU member country to compete following an invitation by the EBU ahead of the contest's {{Escyr|2015||60th edition}} in 2015;<ref name="Australia">{{cite web |title=Australia to compete in the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/australia-to-compete-in-the-2015-eurovision-song-contest |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=27 June 2020 |date=10 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Kemp |first1=Stuart |last2=Plunkett |first2=John |title=Eurovision Song Contest invites Australia to join 'world's biggest party' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/feb/10/eurovision-song-contest-invites-australia-to-join-worlds-biggest-party |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=27 June 2020 |date=10 February 2015}}</ref> initially announced as a "one-off" for the anniversary edition, the country was invited back the following year and has subsequently secured participation rights until 2023.<ref>{{cite web |title=Australia to return to the Eurovision Song Contest! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/australia-to-return-to-the-eurovision-song-contest |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=27 June 2020 |date=17 November 2015}}</ref><ref name="Australia 2023">{{cite web |title=Australia secures spot in Eurovision for the next five years |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/australia-secures-spot-in-eurovision-until-2023 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=27 June 2020 |date=12 February 2019}}</ref>

Eurovision had been held every year until 2020, when {{Escyr|2020||that year's contest}} was cancelled in response to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref name="Facts & Figures" /><ref name="2020 cancellation">{{cite web |title=Official EBU statement & FAQ on Eurovision 2020 cancellation |url=https://eurovision.tv/official-ebu-statement-and-faq-eurovision-song-contest-2020-cancellation |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=27 June 2020 |date=6 April 2020}}</ref> No competitive event was able to take place due to uncertainty caused by the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Europe|spread of the virus in Europe]] and the various restrictions imposed by the governments of the participating countries. In its place a special broadcast, ''[[Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light]]'', was produced by the organisers, which honoured the songs and artists that would have competed in 2020 in a non-competitive format.<ref name="2020 cancellation" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision: Europe Shine A Light |date=9 April 2020 |url=https://eurovision.tv/eurovision-europe-shine-a-light |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=27 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Eurovision still shines despite cancelled final |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/may/17/eurovision-still-shines-despite-cancelled-final |agency=[[PA Media]] |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=27 June 2020 |date=17 May 2020}}</ref>

=== Naming ===
Over the years the name used to describe the contest, and used on the official logo for each edition, has evolved. The first contests were produced under the name of {{lang|fr|Grand Prix Eurovision de la Chanson Européenne}} in French and as the ''Eurovision Song Contest Grand Prix'' in English, with similar variations used in the languages of each of the broadcasting countries. From 1968, the English name dropped the 'Grand Prix' from the name, with the French name being aligned as the {{lang|fr|Concours Eurovision de la Chanson}}, first used in 1973.<ref name="ESC History" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Palmarès du Concours Eurovision de la Chanson |url=http://www.ebu.ch/departments/television/pdf/Winners-Palmares_56-02.pdf |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |access-date=28 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528174029/http://www.ebu.ch/departments/television/pdf/Winners-Palmares_56-02.pdf |archive-date=28 May 2008 |year=2002}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Concours Eurovision de la Chanson 2019 |url=https://www.france.tv/france-4/concours-eurovision-de-la-chanson-2019/ |publisher=[[France Télévisions]] |access-date=28 June 2020}}</ref> The contest's official brand guidance specifies that translations of the name may be used depending on national tradition and brand recognition in the competing countries, but that the official name ''Eurovision Song Contest'' is always preferred; the contest is commonly referred to in English by the abbreviation "Eurovision", and in internal documents by the acronym "ESC".<ref name="Brand" />

On only four occasions has the name used for the official logo of the contest not been in English or French: the Italian names {{lang|it|Gran Premio Eurovisione della Canzone}} and {{lang|it|Concorso Eurovisione della Canzone}} were used when Italy hosted the {{Escyr|1965}} and {{Escyr|1991}} contests respectively; and the [[Dutch language|Dutch]] name {{lang|nl|Eurovisiesongfestival}} was used when the Netherlands hosted in {{Escyr|1976}} and {{Escyr|1980}}.<ref name="ESC History" />

== Format ==
Original songs representing participating countries are performed in a live television programme broadcast via the [[Eurovision (network)|Eurovision and Euroradio networks]] simultaneously to all countries. A "country" as a participant is represented by one television broadcaster from that country, a member of the European Broadcasting Union, and is typically that country's national [[public broadcasting]] organisation.<ref name="How it works">{{cite web |title=How it works – Eurovision Song Contest |date=15 January 2017 |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/how-it-works |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=28 June 2020}}</ref> The programme is staged by one of the participant countries and is broadcast from an [[auditorium]] in the selected host city.<ref>{{cite web |last1=LaFleur |first1=Louise |title=Rotterdam to host Eurovision 2020! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/rotterdam-to-host-eurovision-2020 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=9 July 2020 |date=30 August 2019}}</ref> Since 2008, each contest is typically formed of three live television shows held over one week: two semi-finals are held on the Tuesday and Thursday, followed by a final on the Saturday. All participating countries compete in one of the two semi-finals, except for the host country of that year's contest and the contest's biggest financial contributors known as the "Big Five"—{{Esccnty|France}}, {{Esccnty|Germany}}, {{Esccnty|Italy}}, {{Esccnty|Spain}} and the {{Esccnty|United Kingdom}}.<ref name="How it works" /><ref name="BBC lessons learned" /> The remaining countries are split between the two semi-finals, and the 10 highest-scoring entries in each qualify to produce 26 countries competing in the final.<ref name="How it works" />

[[File:Opening act 2, ESC 2011.jpg|thumb|alt=Photograph of the opening act during the 2011 contest; Stefan Raab performs with a band while multiple women dressed as Lena dance behind them while waving the flags of the participating countries|The opening act during the final of the {{Escyr|2011|3=2011 contest}} in [[Düsseldorf]], Germany]]
Each show typically begins with an opening act consisting of music and/or dance performances by invited artists, which contributes to a unique theme and identity created for that year's event; since 2013 the opening of the contest's final has included a "Flag Parade", with competing artists entering the stage behind their country's flag in a similar manner to the [[Olympic Games ceremony#Parade of Nations|procession of competing athletes]] at the [[Olympic Games ceremony|Olympic Games opening ceremony]].<ref name="Grand Final story">{{cite web |title=Looking back: the Grand Final |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/grand-final-story |publisher=European Broadcasting Union |access-date=1 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210401132202/https://eurovision.tv/story/grand-final-story |archive-date=1 April 2021 |date=16 May 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Iconic intervals">{{cite web |title=The Most Iconic Opening & Interval Acts of the Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://eurovision.tv/video/the-most-iconic-opening-interval-acts-of-the-eurovision-song-contest |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=28 June 2020 |date=16 August 2019}}</ref> Viewers are welcomed by [[List of Eurovision Song Contest presenters|one or more presenters]] who provide key updates during the show, conduct interviews with competing acts from the [[green room]], and guide the voting procedure in English and French.<ref>{{cite web |title=Presenters – Eurovision Song Contest |date=31 March 2017 |url=https://eurovision.tv/presenters |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=28 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Jordan |first1=Paul |title=Behind the scenes with the hosts of the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/behind-the-scenes-with-the-hosts |publisher=European Broadcasting Union |access-date=1 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928064139/https://eurovision.tv/story/behind-the-scenes-with-the-hosts |archive-date=28 September 2020 |date=1 March 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Rules" /> Competing acts perform sequentially, and after all songs have been performed viewers are invited to vote for their favourite performances—except for the performance of their own country—via [[Televoting|telephone]], SMS and the official Eurovision app.<ref name="How it works" /> The public vote comprises 50% of the final result alongside the views of a jury of music industry professionals from each country.<ref name="How it works" /><ref name="Rules" /> An [[Intermission|interval act]] is invariably featured during this voting period, which on several occasions has included a well-known personality from the host country or an internationally recognised figure.<ref name="Grand Final story" /><ref name="Iconic intervals" /> The results of the voting are subsequently announced; in the semi-finals the 10 highest-ranked countries are announced in a random order, with the full results undisclosed until after the final. In the final the presenters call upon a representative spokesperson for each country in turn who announces their jury's points, while the results of the public vote are subsequently announced by the presenters.<ref name="How it works" /><ref name="Voting" /> In recent years, it has been tradition that the first country is the previous host, whereas the last country is the current host (with the exception of {{Escyr|2023}}, which was held in the United Kingdom on behalf of Ukraine, who went first).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tarbuck |first=Sean |date=2023-05-12 |title=Jury voting order revealed for Eurovision 2023 |url=https://www.escunited.com/jury-voting-order-revealed-for-eurovision-2023/ |access-date=2023-05-12 |website=ESCUnited |language=en-US}}</ref> The qualifying acts in the semi-finals, and the winning delegation in the final are invited back on stage, and in the final a [[trophy]] is awarded to the winning performers and songwriters with the previous year's winner presenting the trophy followed by a reprise of the winning song.<ref name="How it works" /><ref name="Trophy">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Trophy |date=14 January 2017 |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/trophy/ |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=30 June 2020}}</ref> The full results of the competition, including detailed results of the jury and public vote, are released online shortly after the final, and the participating broadcaster of the winning entry is traditionally given the honour of organising the following year's event.<ref name="How it works" /><ref name="Voting" />

===Selection===
{{Main|National selections for the Eurovision Song Contest}}
Each participating broadcaster has sole discretion over the process they may employ to select their entry for the contest. Typical methods in which participants are selected include a televised national selection process using a public vote; an internal selection by a committee appointed by the broadcaster; and through a mixed format where some decisions are made internally and the public are engaged in others.<ref name="National selections">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: National Selections |date=21 March 2017 |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/in-depth/national-selections/ |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=7 July 2020}}</ref> Among the most successful televised selection shows is Sweden's ''[[Melodifestivalen]]'', first established in 1959 and now one of Sweden's most watched TV shows each year.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rosney |first1=Daniel |title=Sweden's Melfest: Why a national Eurovision show won global fans |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-51749312 |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=7 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Number of viewers of Swedish television show Melodifestivalen from 2018 to 2020 |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/680472/tv-viewers-of-melodifestivalen-in-sweden/ |publisher=[[Statista]] |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=March 2020}}</ref>

== Participation ==
{{Further|List of countries in the Eurovision Song Contest}}
[[File:European Broadcasting Area.png|thumb|upright=1.5|alt=Map of countries in Europe, North Africa and Western Asia in grey, with the boundaries of the European Broadcasting Area superimposed in red|The European Broadcasting Area, shown in red]]
[[File:EurovisionParticipants.svg|thumb|upright=1.5|alt=Map of countries in Europe, North Africa and Western Asia, with a cut-out of Australia in top-right corner; countries are coloured to indicate contest participation and eligibility: countries which have entered at least once are coloured in green; countries which have never entered but eligible to do so are coloured in yellow; countries which intended to enter but later withdrew are coloured in red; and countries which competed as a part of another country but never as a sovereign country are coloured in light green.|right|Participation since 1956: {{legend|#22b14c|Entered at least once}} {{legend|#ffc20e|Never entered, although eligible to do so}} {{legend|#d40000|Entry intended, but later withdrew}} {{legend|#00ff00|Competed as a part of another country, but never as a [[sovereign state|sovereign country]]}}]]
[[File:Eurovision participation map.svg|thumb|upright=1.5|alt=Map of countries in Europe, North Africa and Western Asia, with Australia as an insert in the top-right corner, coloured to indicate the decade in which they first participated in the contest: 1950s in red, 1960s in orange, 1970s in yellow, 1980s in green; 1990s in sky blue; 2000s in blue; and 2010s in purple|Participants in the Eurovision Song Contest, coloured by decade of debut]]Active members (as opposed to associate members) of the European Broadcasting Union are eligible to participate; active members are those who are located in states that fall within the [[European Broadcasting Area]], or are [[member states of the Council of Europe]].<ref name="EBUmembership">{{cite web |title=EBU – Admission |url=https://www.ebu.ch/about/members/admission |date=27 April 2018 |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |access-date=28 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190913022313/https://www.ebu.ch/about/members/admission |archive-date=13 September 2019}}</ref> Active members include media organisations whose broadcasts are often made available to at least 98% of households in their own country which are equipped to receive such transmissions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Regulation on Detailed Membership Criteria under Article 3.6 of the EBU Statutes |url=https://www.ebu.ch/files/live/sites/ebu/files/About/Governance/Regulation%202013_EN.pdf |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |access-date=28 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190516221310/https://www.ebu.ch/files/live/sites/ebu/files/About/Governance/Regulation%202013_EN.pdf |archive-date=16 May 2019 |date=June 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> Associate member broadcasters may be eligible to compete, dependent on approval by the contest's Reference Group.<ref name="Who can take part">{{cite web |title=Which countries can take part? |url=https://eurovision.tv/page/about/which-countries-can-take-part#Which%20countries? |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=28 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170317083448/https://eurovision.tv/page/about/which-countries-can-take-part#Which%20countries? |archive-date=17 March 2017}}</ref>

The European Broadcasting Area is defined by the [[International Telecommunication Union]] as encompassing the geographical area between the boundary of [[International Telecommunication Union region|ITU Region 1]] in the west, the [[meridian 40° East]] of [[Greenwich meridian|Greenwich]] in the east, and [[parallel 30° North]] in the south. Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, and the territory of Ukraine, Iraq, Jordan and Syria lying outside these limits are included in the European Broadcasting Area.<ref name="ITU-R Radio Regulation 2012">{{cite web |publisher=[[International Telecommunication Union]], available from the Spectrum Management Authority of Jamaica |year= 2012 |url= http://www.sma.gov.jm/sites/default/files/publication_files/ITU-R_Radio_Regulations_2012_%202015_%20Article_5_Table%20of%20Frequencies.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130816092114/http://sma.gov.jm/sites/default/files/publication_files/ITU-R_Radio_Regulations_2012_%202015_%20Article_5_Table%20of%20Frequencies.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= 16 August 2013 |title= ITU-R Radio Regulations 2012–15 |access-date=28 June 2019 }}</ref><ref name="ITU-R Radio Regulation 2004">{{cite web|url=http://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-s/oth/02/02/S020200001A4501PDFE.pdf|title=ITU-R Radio Regulations – Articles edition of 2004 (valid in 2004–07)|publisher=[[International Telecommunication Union]]|year=2004|access-date=28 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010235726/https://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-s/oth/02/02/S020200001A4501PDFE.pdf|archive-date=10 October 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Eligibility to participate in the contest is therefore not limited to countries in Europe, as several states geographically outside the boundaries of the continent or which span [[List of transcontinental countries|more than one continent]] are included in the Broadcasting Area.<ref name="Who can take part" /> Countries from these groups have taken part in past editions, including countries in Western Asia such as Israel and [[Cyprus]], countries which span Europe and Asia like Russia and Turkey, and North African countries such as [[Morocco]].<ref name="ESC History" /> Australia became the first country to participate from outside the European Broadcasting Area in 2015, following an invitation by the contest's Reference Group.<ref name="Australia" />

EBU members who wish to participate must fulfil conditions as laid down in the rules of the contest, a separate copy of which is drafted annually. A maximum of 44 countries can take part in any one contest.<ref name="Rules">{{cite web |date=12 January 2017 |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Rules |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/rules/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826013327/https://eurovision.tv/about/rules |archive-date=26 August 2022 |access-date=28 June 2020 |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]]}}</ref> Broadcasters must have paid the EBU a participation fee in advance to the deadline specified in the rules for the year in which they wish to participate; this fee is different for each country based on its size and viewership.<ref name="FAQ">{{cite web |date=12 January 2017 |title=FAQ – Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/faq/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200623153206/https://eurovision.tv/about/faq/ |archive-date=23 June 2020 |access-date=28 June 2020 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest}}</ref>

Fifty-two countries have participated at least once.<ref name="ESC History" /> These are listed here alongside the year in which they made their debut:

{|
|- style="vertical-align:top"
|
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:94%"
|-
! scope="col"| Year
! scope="col"| Country making its debut entry
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top center;" rowspan="7"| {{ESCYr|1956}}
| {{esc|Belgium}}
|-
| {{esc|France}}
|-
| {{esc|Germany}}{{efn|group=Participation|Represented [[West Germany]] until 1990; [[East Germany]] never competed. Presented on all occasions as 'Germany', except in 1967 as 'Federal Republic of Germany', in 1970 and 1976 as 'West Germany', and in 1990 as 'F.R. Germany'.}}
|-
| {{esc|Italy}}
|-
| {{esc|Luxembourg}}
|-
| {{esc|Netherlands}}
|-
| {{esc|Switzerland}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top center;" rowspan="3"| {{ESCYr|1957}}
| {{esc|Austria}}
|-
| {{esc|Denmark}}
|-
| {{esc|United Kingdom}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="1"| {{ESCYr|1958}}
| {{esc|Sweden}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="1"| {{ESCYr|1959}}
| {{esc|Monaco}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="1"| {{ESCYr|1960}}
| {{esc|Norway}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top center;" rowspan="3"| {{ESCYr|1961}}
| {{esc|Finland}}
|-
| {{esc|Spain}}
|-
| {{esc|Yugoslavia}}{{efn|group=Participation|Represented the [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]] until 1991, and the [[Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]] in 1992.}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="1"| {{ESCYr|1964}}
| {{esc|Portugal}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="1"| {{ESCYr|1965}}
| {{esc|Ireland}}
|}
|
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:94%"
|-
! scope="col"| Year
! scope="col"| Country making its debut entry
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="1"| {{ESCYr|1971}}
| {{esc|Malta}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="1"| {{ESCYr|1973}}
| {{esc|Israel}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="1"| {{ESCYr|1974}}
| {{esc|Greece}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="1"| {{ESCYr|1975}}
| {{esc|Turkey}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top center;" rowspan="1"| {{ESCYr|1980}}
| {{esc|Morocco}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="1"| {{ESCYr|1981}}
| {{esc|Cyprus}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="1"| {{ESCYr|1986}}
| {{esc|Iceland}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top center;" rowspan="3"| {{ESCYr|1993}}
| {{esc|Bosnia and Herzegovina}}
|-
| {{esc|Croatia}}
|-
| {{esc|Slovenia}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top center;" rowspan="7"| {{ESCYr|1994}}
| {{esc|Estonia}}
|-
| {{esc|Hungary}}
|-
| {{esc|Lithuania}}
|-
| {{esc|Poland}}
|-
| {{esc|Romania}}
|-
| {{esc|Russia}}
|-
| {{esc|Slovakia}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top center;" rowspan="1"| {{ESCYr|1998}}
| {{esc|North Macedonia}}{{efn|group=Participation|Presented as the '[[Macedonia naming dispute|Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia]]' before 2019.}}
|}
|
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:94%"
|-
! scope="col"| Year
! scope="col"| Country making its debut entry
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="1"| {{ESCYr|2000}}
| {{esc|Latvia}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="1"| {{ESCYr|2003}}
| {{esc|Ukraine}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top center;" rowspan="4"| {{ESCYr|2004}}
| {{esc|Albania}}
|-
| {{esc|Andorra}}
|-
| {{esc|Belarus}}
|-
| {{esc|Serbia and Montenegro}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top center;" rowspan="2"| {{ESCYr|2005}}
| {{esc|Bulgaria}}
|-
| {{esc|Moldova}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="1"| {{ESCYr|2006}}
| {{esc|Armenia}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top center;" rowspan="4"| {{ESCYr|2007}}
| {{esc|Czech Republic}}{{efn|group=Participation|Presented as '[[Name of the Czech Republic|Czechia]]' from 2023.}}
|-
| {{esc|Georgia}}
|-
| {{esc|Montenegro}}
|-
| {{esc|Serbia}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top center;" rowspan="2"| {{ESCYr|2008}}
| {{esc|Azerbaijan}}
|-
| {{esc|San Marino}}
|-
! scope="row" style="vertical-align:top center;" rowspan="1"| {{ESCYr|2015}}
| {{esc|Australia}}{{efn|group=Participation|Initially announced as a one-off participant to commemorate the contest's 60th anniversary; has since gained participation rights until 2023.<ref name="Australia 2023" />}}
|-
|}
|}

{{notelist|group=Participation}}

== Hosting ==
{{Further|List of Eurovision Song Contest host cities}}
[[File:Eurovision all cities.svg|thumb|Countries which have hosted the Eurovision Song Contest {{legend inline|#4d9221|A single hosting}} {{legend inline|#c51b7d|Multiple hostings}}]]
The winning country traditionally hosts the following year's event, with [[List of Eurovision Song Contest host cities#Hosting traditions and exceptions|some exceptions]] since {{Escyr|1958}}.<ref name="Historical Milestones">{{cite web |title=Historical Milestones |url=http://www.eurovision.tv/english/611.htm |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |access-date=3 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060526065558/http://www.eurovision.tv/english/611.htm |archive-date=26 May 2006}}</ref><ref name="ESC History" /> Hosting the contest can be seen as a unique opportunity for promoting the host country as a tourist destination and can provide benefits to the local economy and tourism sectors of the host city.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Boyle |first1=Stephen |title=The cost of winning the Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://www.rbs.com/rbs/news/2016/05/the-cost-of-winning-the-eurovision-song-contest.html |publisher=[[Royal Bank of Scotland]] |access-date=20 March 2021 |date=13 May 2016 |archive-date=21 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220821193101/https://www.rbs.com/rbs/news/2016/05/the-cost-of-winning-the-eurovision-song-contest.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Preparations for each year's contest typically begin at the conclusion of the previous year's contest, with the winning country's head of delegation receiving a welcome package of information related to hosting the contest at the winner's press conference.<ref name="How it works" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Winner's Press Conference with Portugal's Salvador Sobral |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/2017-winners-press-conference |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020 |date=14 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Winner's Press Conference with the Netherlands' Duncan Laurence |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/winners-press-conference-with-netherlands-duncan-laurence |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020 |date=19 May 2019}}</ref> Eurovision is a non-profit event, and financing is typically achieved through a fee from each participating broadcaster, contributions from the host broadcaster and the host city, and commercial revenues from sponsorships, ticket sales, televoting and merchandise.<ref name="FAQ" />

The host broadcaster will subsequently select a host city, typically a national or regional capital city, which must meet certain criteria set out in the contest's rules. The host venue must be able to accommodate at least 10,000 spectators, a press centre for 1,500 journalists, should be within easy reach of an [[international airport]] and with hotel accommodation available for at least 2,000 delegates, journalists and spectators.<ref name="Host city criteria">{{cite web |title=What does it take to become a Eurovision host city? |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/what-does-it-take-to-become-a-eurovision-host-city |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020 |date=30 July 2007}}</ref> A variety of different venues have been used for past editions, from small theatres and television studios to large arenas and stadiums.<ref name="ESC History" /> The largest host venue is [[Parken Stadium]] in Copenhagen, which was attended by almost 38,000 spectators in {{Escyr|2001}}.<ref name="Facts & Figures" /><ref name="Copenhagen 01" /> With a population of 1,500 at the time of the {{Escyr|1993||1993 contest}}, [[Millstreet]], Ireland remains the smallest hosting settlement, although its [[Green Glens Arena]] is capable of hosting up to 8,000 spectators.<ref name="Millstreet 93" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Millstreet Town: Green Glens Arena |url=http://www.millstreet.ie/green%20glens/greenglens.htm |website=millstreet.ie |access-date=3 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401191842/http://www.millstreet.ie/green%20glens/greenglens.htm |archive-date=1 April 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Eurovision logo and theme ===
[[File:Eurovision Song Contest logo.svg|thumb|right|alt=Previous generic logo used at the contest between 2004 and 2014|Logo used from 2004 to 2014]]

Until 2004, each edition of the contest used its own logo and visual identity as determined by the respective host broadcaster. To create a consistent visual identity, a generic logo was introduced ahead of the {{Escyr|2004||2004 contest}}. This is typically accompanied by a unique theme artwork and slogan designed for each individual contest by the host broadcaster, with the flag of the host country placed prominently in the centre of the Eurovision heart.<ref name="Brand">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Brand |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/brand |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201075740/https://eurovision.tv/about/brand |archive-date=1 February 2021}}</ref> The original logo was designed by the London-based agency JM International, and received a revamp in 2014 by the Amsterdam-based Cityzen Agency for the contest's {{Escyr|2015||60th edition}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest logo evolves |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-song-contest-logo-evolves |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020 |date=31 July 2014}}</ref><ref name="Logos & Artwork">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Logos and Artwork |date=12 January 2017 |url=https://eurovision.tv/mediacentre/logos-and-artwork |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=17 March 2021}}</ref>

An [[History of the Eurovision Song Contest#Contest themes and slogans|individual slogan and theme]] has been associated with most editions of the contest since 2002, and is utilised by contest producers when constructing the show's visual identity, including the stage design, the opening and interval acts, and the "postcards".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Groot |first1=Evert |title=Tel Aviv 2019: Dare to Dream |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/slogan-tel-aviv-2019-dare-to-dream |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=28 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=LaFleur |first1=Louise |title=The making of 'Open Up' |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/the-making-of-open-up |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=25 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=2020 postcard concept revealed as Dutch people can join in on the fun |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-2020-postcards-concept-revealed |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=9 December 2019}}</ref> The short video postcards are interspersed between the entries and were first introduced in 1970, initially as an attempt to "bulk up" the contest after a number of countries decided not to compete, but has since become a regular part of the show and usually highlight the host country and introduce the competing acts.<ref name="Amsterdam 50th anniv">{{cite web |title=Happy 50th Anniversary, Eurovision 1970! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/happy-50th-anniversary-1970-eurovision |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=29 April 2020}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=40–43}}

=== Preparations ===
[[File:Netta at the Eurovision 2018 - Winner’s Press Conference 03.jpg|alt=A press conference during the 2012 contest; the Serbian delegation are seated at a long table with rows of journalists seated facing them, with a large screen on the wall behind the delegation projecting a live relay of the conference.|thumb|Press conference with the Israeli delegation following their win at the {{Escyr|2018|3=2018 contest}}]]
[[File:Pht-Vugar Ibadov eurovision (35).jpg|thumb|alt=Photo of the EuroClub in 2012; a large group of delegates are seen conversing|The EuroClub at the {{Escyr|2012|3=2012 contest}} in [[Baku]], [[Azerbaijan]]]]
Preparations in the host venue typically begin approximately six weeks before the final, to accommodate building works and technical rehearsals before the arrival of the competing artists.<ref>{{cite web |title=Anforderungsprofil an die Austragungsstätte des Eurovision Song Contest 2015 |url=http://kundendienst.orf.at/aktuelles/anforderungsprofl_austragungsstaette.pdf |publisher=[[ORF (broadcaster)|ORF]] |access-date=3 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531162001/http://kundendienst.orf.at/aktuelles/anforderungsprofl_austragungsstaette.pdf |archive-date=31 May 2014 |language=de |trans-title=Requirements to the venue of the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 }}</ref> Delegations will typically arrive in the host city two to three weeks before the live show, and each participating broadcaster nominates a head of delegation, responsible for coordinating the movements of their delegation and being that country's representative to the EBU.<ref name="Rules" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Rules of the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest |url=http://www.eurovision.tv/searchfiles_english/574.htm |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060210010517/http://www.eurovision.tv/searchfiles_english/574.htm |archive-date=10 February 2006}}</ref> Members of each country's delegation include performers, composers, lyricists, members of the press, and—in the years where a live orchestra was present—a conductor.<ref name="HoDs">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Heads of Delegation |date=14 January 2017 |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/organisers/heads-of-delegation/ |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=5 July 2020}}</ref> Present if desired is a commentator, who provides commentary of the event for their country's radio and/or television feed in their country's own language in dedicated booths situated around the back of the arena behind the audience.<ref>{{cite web |title=Commentator's guide to the commentators |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/commentator-s-guide-to-the-commentators |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020 |date=15 May 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Escudero |first1=Victor M. |title=Commentators: The national hosts of Eurovision |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/commentators-sweden-mans-zelmerlow-edward-af-sillen |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020 |date=14 May 2017}}</ref>

Each country conducts two individual rehearsals behind closed doors, the first for 30 minutes and the second for 20 minutes; the latter is used as a recorded back-up if the country's representative artist is unable to perform in later rehearsals or the live shows.<ref name="2008 rehearsal schedule" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=van Gorkum |first=Steef |date=2021-05-17 |title=Sietse Bakker: "Countries may choose between rehearsal tape or back-up tape" |url=https://www.escdaily.com/sietse-bakker-countries-may-choose-between-rehearsal-tape-or-back-up-tape/ |access-date=2022-06-13 |website=ESCDaily}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Granger |first=Anthony |date=2023-05-10 |title=Eurovision 2023: EBU & BBC Discuss Voting, Rehearsals & Qualifiers Announcement |url=https://eurovoix.com/2023/05/10/eurovision-2023-ebu-bbc-conference/ |access-date=2023-05-11 |website=Eurovoix |language=en-GB}}</ref> Individual rehearsals for the semi-finalists commence the week before the live shows, with countries typically rehearsing in the order in which they will perform during the contest; rehearsals for the host country and the "Big Five" automatic finalists are held towards the end of the week.<ref name="2008 rehearsal schedule">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest 2008: Rehearsal schedule |url=http://www.eurovision.tv/upload/media/ESC2008_rehearsals.pdf |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081221010818/http://www.eurovision.tv/upload/media/ESC2008_rehearsals.pdf |archive-date=21 December 2008}}</ref><ref name="2018 rehearsal schedule">{{cite web |title=Your ultimate guide to the Eurovision 2018 event weeks |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/guide-to-eurovision-2018-event-weeks-rehearal-schedule |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518142209/https://eurovision.tv/story/guide-to-eurovision-2018-event-weeks-rehearal-schedule |archive-date=18 May 2019 |date=27 April 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> Following rehearsals, delegations meet with the show's production team to review footage of the rehearsal and raise any special requirements or changes. "Meet and greet" sessions with accredited fans and press are held during these rehearsal weeks.<ref name="2008 rehearsal schedule" /><ref name="Event weeks">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Event weeks |date=21 March 2017 |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/in-depth/event-weeks |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020}}</ref> Each live show is preceded by three dress rehearsals, where the whole show is run in the same way as it will be presented on TV.<ref name="Event weeks" /> The second dress rehearsal, alternatively called the "jury show" and held the night before the broadcast, is used as a recorded back-up in case of technological failure, and performances during this show are used by each country's professional jury to determine their votes.<ref name="2018 rehearsal schedule" /><ref name="Event weeks" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Time now for the all important Jury Final |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/time-now-for-the-all-important-jury-final |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=25 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190902160705/https://eurovision.tv/story/time-now-for-the-all-important-jury-final |archive-date=2 September 2019 |date=17 May 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> The delegations from the qualifying countries in each semi-final attend a qualifiers' press conference after their respective semi-final, and the winning delegation attends a winners' press conference following the final.<ref name="Event weeks" />

A welcome reception is typically held at a venue in the host city on the Sunday preceding the live shows, which includes a [[red carpet]] ceremony for all the participating countries and is usually broadcast online.<ref>{{cite web |title=Welcome Reception: Pink champagne for the stars |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/welcome-reception-pink-champagne-for-the-stars |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020 |date=25 May 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Tel Aviv prepares for glamorous Orange Carpet |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/tel-aviv-prepares-for-glamorous-orange-carpet-tune-in-at-18-00-cest |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020 |date=12 May 2019}}</ref> Accredited delegates, press and fans have access to an official nightclub, the "EuroClub", and some delegations will hold their own parties.<ref name="Event weeks" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: EuroClub |date=21 April 2017 |url=https://eurovision.tv/fans/euroclub |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title="Big Five" meet to take a trip down the Rhine |date=14 May 2011 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/big-five-meet-to-take-a-trip-down-the-rhine |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020}}</ref> The "Eurovision Village" is an official fan zone open to the public free of charge, with live performances by the contest's artists and screenings of the live shows on big screens.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Eurovision Village |date=23 April 2018 |url=https://eurovision.tv/fans/eurovision-village |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020}}</ref>

== Rules ==
{{Further|Rules of the Eurovision Song Contest}}
[[File:Martin_Österdahl_söndag_lunch_i_Storängen_2016.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=Photo of Martin Österdahl|right|[[Martin Österdahl]], the contest's Executive Supervisor since {{Escyr|2021||2021}}]]

The contest is organised annually by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), together with the participating broadcaster of the host country. The event is monitored by an [[Rules of the Eurovision Song Contest#Scrutineers and Executive Supervisors|Executive Supervisor]] appointed by the EBU, and by the [[Rules of the Eurovision Song Contest#Reference Group|Reference Group]] which represents all participating broadcasters, who are each represented by a nominated Head of Delegation.<ref name="Organisers">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Organisers |date=12 January 2017 |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/organisers |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=5 July 2020}}</ref> The current Executive Supervisor {{as of|2022|lc=y}} is [[Martin Österdahl]], who took over the role from [[Jon Ola Sand]] in May 2020.<ref name="Österdahl">{{cite web|date=20 January 2020|title=Martin Österdahl announced as new Eurovision Song Contest Executive Supervisor|url=https://www.ebu.ch/news/2020/01/martin-osterdahl-announced-as-new-eurovision-song-contest-executive-supervisor|access-date=25 July 2020 |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]]}}</ref> A detailed set of rules is written by the EBU for each contest and approved by the Reference Group. These rules have changed over time, and typically outline, among other points, the eligibility of the competing songs, the format of the contest, and the voting system to be used to determine the winner and how the results will be presented.<ref name="Rules" />

=== Song eligibility and languages ===
{{further|List of languages in the Eurovision Song Contest}}

All competing songs must have a duration of three minutes or less.<ref name="Rules" /> This rule applies only to the version performed during the live shows.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Muldoon |first1=Padraig |title=Italy: Ermal Meta & Fabrizio Moro release three-minute Eurovision 2018 version of "Non mi avete fatto niente" |url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2018/03/30/italy-ermal-meta-fabrizio-moro-release-three-minute-eurovision-2018-version-non-mi-avete-fatto-niente/220657/ |website=wiwibloggs.com |access-date=27 February 2021 |date=30 March 2018}}</ref> In order to be considered eligible, competing songs in a given year's contest must not have been released commercially before the first day of September of the previous year.<ref name="Rules" /> All competing entries must include vocals and lyrics of some kind and purely instrumental pieces are not allowed.<ref>{{cite news |title=Eurovision: Rules, facts and controversies |url=https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/eurovision-rules-facts-and-controversies-1586799 |access-date=21 March 2021 |work=[[The Scotsman]] |date=7 March 2013}}</ref> Competing entries may be performed in any language, be that [[Natural language|natural]] or [[Constructed language|constructed]], and participating broadcasters are free to decide the language in which their entry may be performed.<ref name="Rules" />

Rules specifying in which language a song may be performed have changed over time. No restrictions were originally enacted when the contest was first founded, however following criticism over the {{Esccnty|Sweden|y=1965|t=1965 Swedish entry}} being performed in English, a new rule was introduced for the {{Escyr|1966||1966 contest}} restricting songs to be performed only in an official language of the country it represented.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=28–29}}<ref name="Naples 65">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Naples 1965 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/naples-1965 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=4 July 2020}}</ref><ref name="Luxembourg 66">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Luxembourg 1966 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/luxembourg-1966 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=4 July 2020}}</ref> This rule was first abolished in {{Escyr|1973}}, and subsequently reinstated for most countries in {{Escyr|1977}}, with only {{Esccnty|Belgium|y=1977}} and {{Esccnty|Germany|y=1977}} permitted freedom of language as their selection processes for that year's contest had already commenced.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=68–71}}<ref name="Luxembourg 73">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Luxembourg 1973 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/luxembourg-1973 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=4 July 2020}}</ref><ref name="London 77">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: London 1977 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/london-1977 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=4 July 2020}}</ref> The language rule was once again abolished ahead of the {{Escyr|1999||1999 contest}}.<ref name="Jerusalem 99" />{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=156–159}}

=== Artist eligibility and performances ===
[[File:Domenico Modugno (1958), Bestanddeelnr 909-4001 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|alt=Black and white photograph from the 1958 contest held in the AVRO Studios in Hilversum, the Netherlands; an orchestra seated to the left of a small stage, with Italian singer Domenico Modugno singing on the stage platform in front of a wall.|The orchestra was an integral part of the contest until 1998 ([[Domenico Modugno]] performing at the {{Escyr|1958||1958 contest}})]]

The rules for the first contest specified that only solo performers were permitted to enter;<ref name="Lugano 56" /> this criterion was changed the following year to permit duos to compete, and groups were subsequently permitted for the first time in {{Escyr|1971}}.<ref name="Frankfurt 57" /><ref name="Dublin 71">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Dublin 1971 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/dublin-1971 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=19 March 2021}}</ref> Currently the number of people permitted on stage during competing performances is limited to a maximum of six, and no live animals are allowed.<ref name="Rules" /> Since {{Escyr|1990}}, all contestants must be aged 16 or over on the day of the live show in which they perform.<ref name="Lausanne 89">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Lausanne 1989 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/lausanne-1989 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=4 July 2020}}</ref> [[Sandra Kim]], the winner in {{Escyr|1986}} at the age of 13, shall remain the contest's youngest winner while this rule remains in place.<ref name="Bergen 86">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Bergen 1986 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/bergen-1986 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=4 July 2020}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=104–107}} There is no limit on the nationality or country of birth of the competing artists, and participating broadcasters are free to select an artist from any country; several winning artists have subsequently held a different nationality or were born in a different country to that which they represented.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=387–396}}<ref name="Winners" /> No performer may compete for more than one country in a given year.<ref name="Rules" />

The orchestra was a prominent aspect of the contest from 1956 to 1998.<ref name="Facts & Figures" /> Pre-recorded backing tracks were first allowed for competing acts in 1973, but any pre-recorded instruments were required to be seen being "performed" on stage; in 1997, all instrumental music was allowed to be pre-recorded, however the host country was still required to provide an orchestra.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=148–151}} In 1999, the rules were changed again, making the orchestra an optional requirement; the host broadcaster of {{Escyr|1999||that year's contest}}, Israel's [[Israel Broadcasting Authority|IBA]], subsequently decided not to provide an orchestra, resulting in all entries using backing tracks for the first time.<ref name="99 Rules" /><ref name="Jerusalem 99" />{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=156–159}} Currently all instrumental music for competing entries must now be pre-recorded, and no live instrumentation is allowed during performances.<ref name="Rules" /><ref name="15 Rules">{{cite web |title=Public Rules of the 60th Eurovision Song Contest |url=http://www.eurovision.tv/upload/press-downloads/2015/2014-09-02_2015_ESC_rules_EN_PUBLIC_RULES.pdf |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=4 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150430201605/http://www.eurovision.tv/upload/press-downloads/2015/2014-09-02_2015_ESC_rules_EN_PUBLIC_RULES.pdf |archive-date=30 April 2015}}</ref>

The main vocals of competing songs must be performed live during the contest.<ref name="Rules" /> Previously live backing vocals were also required; since {{Escyr|2021||2021}} these may optionally be pre-recorded – this change has been implemented in an effort to introduce flexibility following the cancellation of the 2020 edition and to facilitate modernisation.<ref name="Back for good">{{cite web |title=Changes announced to ensure Eurovision comes 'back for good' |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/changes-announced-to-ensure-eurovision-comes-back-for-good |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=4 July 2020 |date=18 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Katsoulakis |first=Manos |date=2022-08-25 |title=The rules of Eurovision 2023 are released: Pre-recorded backing vocals permitted again |url=https://eurovisionfun.com/en/2022/08/the-rules-of-eurovision-2023-are-released-pre-recorded-vocals-permitted-again/ |access-date=2022-08-26 |website=EurovisionFun}}</ref>

=== Running order ===
Since {{Escyr|2013}}, the order in which the competing countries perform has been determined by the contest's producers, and submitted to the EBU Executive Supervisor and Reference Group for approval before public announcement. This was changed from a random draw used in previous years in order to provide a better experience for television viewers and ensure all countries stand out by avoiding instances where songs of a similar style or tempo are performed in sequence.<ref>{{cite web |title=Running order Malmö 2013 to be determined by producers |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/running-order-malmoe-2013-to-be-determined-by-producers |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=9 July 2020 |date=7 November 2012}}</ref>

Since the creation of a second semi-final in {{Escyr|2008}}, a semi-final allocation draw is held each year.<ref name="Semi-Final Allocation" /> Countries are placed into pots based on their geographical location and voting history in recent contests, and are assigned to compete in one of the two semi-finals through a random draw.<ref>{{cite web |title=All you need to know for Monday's draw! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/all-you-need-to-know-for-monday-s-draw |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=21 March 2021 |date=24 January 2008}}</ref> Countries are then randomly assigned to compete in either the first or second half of their respective semi-final, and once all competing songs have been selected the producers then determine the running order for the semi-finals.<ref name="allocation 2018">{{cite web |last1=Zwart |first1=Josianne |last2=Jordan |first2=Paul |title=Which countries will perform in which Semi-Final at Eurovision 2018? |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/results-of-the-semi-final-allocation-draw-2018 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=9 July 2020 |date=29 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="2013 semi order">{{cite web |title=Eurovision 2013: Semi-Final running order revealed |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-2013-semi-final-running-order-revealed |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=9 July 2020 |date=28 March 2013}}</ref> The automatic qualifiers are assigned at random to a semi-final for the purposes of voting rights.<ref name="Semi-Final Allocation" />

Semi-final qualifiers make a draw at random during the winners' press conference to determine whether they will perform during the first or second half of the final; the automatic finalists then randomly draw their competing half in the run-up to the final, except for the host country, whose exact performance position is determined in a separate draw.<ref name="2013 semi order" /><ref>{{cite web |last1=Groot |first1=Evert |title=Portugal and 'Big Five' rehearse for the second time |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/portugal-france-spain-italy-united-kingdom-second-rehearsal-2018 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=9 July 2020 |date=6 May 2018}}</ref> The running order for the final is then decided following the second semi-final by the producers. The running orders are decided with the competing songs' musical qualities, stage performance, prop and lighting set-up, and other production considerations taken into account.<ref>{{cite web |title=How is the Running Order being decided? |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/exclusive-running-order-producers-decide-2017 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=9 July 2020 |date=12 May 2017}}</ref>

=== Voting ===
{{further|Voting at the Eurovision Song Contest}}
[[File:Eurovision 2004 Scoreboard.jpg|right|thumb|alt=A screenshot from the 2004 contest showing the electronic scoreboard: video footage of Johnny Logan is superimposed onto the scoreboard; the name and flag of the country giving its points is shown at the bottom of the screen, and the flag and country name of the finalists, the number of points being given by the giving country, and the total number of points received is shown in two columns, with the sorting order updated to place the country with the highest score at the top.|The electronic scoreboard used at the {{Escyr|2004||2004 contest}}, with [[Johnny Logan (singer)|Johnny Logan]] announcing the votes from Ireland]]

Starting in 2023, the voting system used to determine the results of the contest works on the basis of [[positional voting]].<ref name="2023 voting change">{{cite web |title=Voting changes announced for Eurovision Song Contest 2023 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/voting-changes-announced-eurovision-song-contest-2023 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=22 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122131325/https://eurovision.tv/story/voting-changes-announced-eurovision-song-contest-2023 |archive-date=22 November 2022 |date=22 November 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="jury semi scrapped">{{cite web |title=Eurovision scraps jury voting in semi-finals |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-63716398 |publisher=[[BBC News]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122131409/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-63716398 |archive-date=22 November 2022 |date=22 November 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> Each country awards 1–8, 10 and 12 points to the ten favourite songs as voted for by that country's general public or assembled jury, with the most preferred song receiving 12 points. In the semi-finals, each country awards one set of points based primarily on the votes cast by that country's viewing public via [[televoting|telephone]], SMS or the official Eurovision [[Mobile app|app]], while in the final, each country awards two sets of points, with one set awarded by the viewers and another awarded by a jury panel comprising five music professionals from that country.<ref name="Voting">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Voting |date=3 May 2017 |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/voting |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=5 July 2020}}</ref><ref name="2023 voting change" /> Starting in 2023, viewers in selected non-participating countries are also able to vote during the contest, with those viewers able to cast votes via an online platform, which are then aggregated and awarded as one set of points from an "extra country" for the overall public vote.<ref>{{cite web |title=Voting changes (2023) FAQ |url=https://eurovision.tv/voting-changes-2023-faq |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=22 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122133421/https://eurovision.tv/voting-changes-2023-faq |archive-date=22 November 2022 |date=22 November 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> This system is a modification of that used since 1975, when the "12 points" system was first introduced but with one set of points per country, and a similar system used since 2016 where two sets of points were awarded in both the semi-finals and final.<ref name="Change to voting">{{cite web |last1=Jordan |first1=Paul |title=Biggest change to Eurovision Song Contest voting since 1975 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/biggest-change-to-eurovision-song-contest-voting-since-1975 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=5 July 2020 |date=18 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest overhauls voting rules |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35602473 |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=5 July 2020 |date=18 February 2016}}</ref> National juries and the public in each country are not allowed to vote for their own country, a rule first introduced in 1957.<ref name="Voting" /><ref name="Frankfurt 57">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Frankfurt 1957 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/frankfurt-1957 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=5 July 2020}}</ref>

Historically, each country's points were determined by a jury, consisting at various times of members of the public, music professionals, or both in combination.<ref name="Luxembourg 66" />{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=387–396}} With advances in telecommunication technology, televoting was first introduced to the contest in {{Escyr|1997}} on a trial basis, with broadcasters in five countries allowing the viewing public to determine their votes for the first time.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=148–151}} From {{Escyr|1998}}, televoting was extended to almost all competing countries, and subsequently became mandatory from {{Escyr|2004}}.<ref name="Birmingham 98" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Rules of the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest |url=http://www.myledbury.co.uk/eurovision/pdf/esc2004.pdf |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |access-date=22 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050525073534/http://www.myledbury.co.uk/eurovision/pdf/esc2004.pdf |archive-date=25 May 2005 |url-status=live }}</ref> A jury was reintroduced for the final in {{Escyr|2009}}, with each country's points comprising both the votes of the jury and public in an equal split; this mix of jury and public voting was expanded into the semi-finals from 2010, and was used until 2023, when full public voting was reintroduced to determine the results of the semi-finals.<ref name="jury semi scrapped" /><ref name="Jury 09 final">{{cite web |title=Televoting/jury mix in 2009 Final voting |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/televoting-jury-mix-in-2009-final-voting |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=5 July 2020 |date=14 September 2008}}</ref><ref name="2010 jury semis">{{cite web |title=Juries also get 50% stake in Semi-Final result |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/juries-also-get-50-stake-in-semi-final-result |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=2 July 2020 |date=11 October 2009}}</ref> The mix of jury and public voting continues to be used in the final as of 2023.<ref name="2023 voting change" /><ref name="jury semi scrapped" />

Should two or more countries finish with the same number of points, a tie-break procedure is employed to determine the final placings. {{as of|2016|post=,}} a combined national televoting and jury result is calculated for each country, and the country which has obtained more points from the public voting following this calculation is deemed to have placed higher.<ref name="Voting" />

==== Presentation of the votes ====
[[File:Eurovision Song Contest 1958 - Scoreboard.png|thumb|right|alt=Black and white photograph of the scoreboard in 1958; the running order numbers and song titles of the competing entries are printed on the left-hand side of the scoreboard, and rotating numbers on the right-hand side show the allocation of points to each song as each country's jury is called, and a total of all points received; song titles are sorted by order of appearance, with the first song to be performed appearing at the top of the scoreboard.|The scoreboard at the {{Escyr|1958||1958 contest}}]]

Since 1957, each country's votes have been announced during a special voting segment as part of the contest's broadcast, with a selected spokesperson assigned to announce the results of their country's vote.<ref name="Voting" /> This spokesperson is typically well known in their country; previous spokespersons have included former Eurovision artists and presenters.<ref name="2016 spokespersons">{{cite web |last1=Roxburgh |first1=Gordon |title=The 42 spokespersons for the 2016 Grand Final |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/the-42-spokespersons-for-the-2016-grand-final |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=5 July 2020 |date=14 May 2016}}</ref> Historically, the announcements were made through [[telephone line]]s from the countries of origin, with [[satellite link]]s employed for the first time in {{Escyr|1994}}, allowing the spokespersons to be seen visually by the audience and TV spectators.<ref name="Dublin 94" />

Scoring is done by both a national jury and a national televote. Each country's jury votes are consecutively added to the totals [[scoreboard]] as they are called upon by the contest presenter(s).{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|p=152}} The scoreboard was historically placed at the side of the stage and updated manually as each country gave their votes; in {{Escyr|1988}} a [[computer graphics]] scoreboard was introduced.<ref name="Dublin 88">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Dublin 1988 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/dublin-1988 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=5 July 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Milestone Moments: 1988 – When Celine was crowned Queen |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/milestone-moments-1988-when-celine-was-crowned-queen |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=5 July 2020 |date=12 September 2016}}</ref> The jury points from 1–8 and 10 are displayed on screen and added automatically to the scoreboard, then the country's spokesperson announces which country will receive the 12 points.<ref name="2016 spokespersons" /> Once jury points from all countries have been announced, the presenter(s) announce the total public points received for each finalist, with the votes for each country being consolidated and announced as a single value.<ref name="Change to voting" /> Since {{Escyr|2019}}, the public points have been revealed in ascending order based on the jury vote, with the country that received the fewest points from the jury being the first to receive their public points.<ref name="Voting" /> A full breakdown of the results across all shows is published on the official Eurovision website after the final, including each country's televoting ranking and the votes of its jury and individual jury members. Each country's individual televoting points in the final are typically displayed on-screen by that country's broadcaster following the announcement of the winner.<ref name="Change to voting" />

=== Broadcasting ===
Participating broadcasters are required to air live the semi-final in which they compete, or in the case of the automatic finalists the semi-final in which they are required to vote, and the final, in its entirety; this includes all competing songs, the voting [[Abstract (summary)|recap]] containing short clips of the performances, the voting procedure or semi-final qualification reveal, and the [[reprise]] of the winning song in the final.<ref name="Rules" /><ref name="15 Rules" /><ref name="Broadcasting Rights">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Broadcasting Rights |date=12 January 2017 |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/broadcasting-rights |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=5 July 2020}}</ref> Since 1999, broadcasters who wished to do so were given the opportunity to provide [[Television advertisement|advertising]] during short, non-essential hiatuses in the show's schedule.<ref name="99 Rules" /> In exceptional circumstances, such as due to developing emergency situations, participating broadcasters may delay or postpone broadcast of the event.<ref name="Decade Stockholm 2000">{{cite web |title=The end of a decade: Stockholm 2000 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/the-end-of-a-decade-stockholm-2000 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=5 July 2020 |date=21 December 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Albania to broadcast tonight's Semi-Final deferred |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/albania-to-broadcast-tonight-s-semi-final-deferred |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=5 July 2020 |date=22 May 2012}}</ref> Should a broadcaster fail to air a show as expected in any other scenario they may be subject to sanctions by the EBU.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Royston |first1=Benny |title=Spain to face sanctions over late broadcast |url=http://esctoday.com/14060/spain_to_face_sanctions_over_late_broadcast/ |website=esctoday.com |access-date=5 July 2020 |date=15 May 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Escartín |first1=Javier |title=Los problemas de Soraya en Eurovisión |url=https://www.abc.es/play/abci-problemas-soraya-eurovision-200905150300-92916354130_noticia.html |work=[[ABC (newspaper)|ABC]] |access-date=5 July 2020 |language=es |trans-title=Soraya's problems at Eurovision |date=15 May 2009}}</ref> Several broadcasters in countries that are unable to compete have previously aired the contest in their markets.<ref>{{cite web |title=Here's where to watch Eurovision: Europe Shine A Light |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/heres-where-to-watch-eurovision-europe-shine-a-light |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020 |date=16 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://www.bbcnewzealand.com/shows/eurovision/ |work=[[BBC UKTV]]|access-date=3 July 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Netflix Picks Up U.S. VOD Rights To Eurovision Song Contest 2019 & 2020 |url=https://deadline.com/2019/07/netflix-eurovision-song-contest-2019-2020-picks-up-us-vod-rights-1202648894/ |work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|access-date=3 July 2020 |date=19 July 2019}}</ref>

As national broadcasters join and leave the [[Eurovision (network)|Eurovision]] feed transmitted by the EBU, the EBU/Eurovision [[Station identification|network logo ident]] (not to be confused with the logo of the song contest itself) is displayed. The accompanying music (used on other Eurovision broadcasts) is the Prelude ''(Marche en rondeau)'' to [[Marc-Antoine Charpentier]]'s ''[[Te Deum (Charpentier)|Te Deum]]''.<ref name="GoldenJubilee"/> Originally, the same logo was used for both the Eurovision network and the European Broadcasting Union, however, they now have two different logos; the latest Eurovision network logo was introduced in 2012, and when the ident is transmitted at the start and end of programmes it is this Eurovision network logo that appears.<ref>{{cite web |title=Stage Set for Animated Eurovision Logo |url=https://www.ebu.ch/news/2012/11/stage-set-for-animatedeurovision |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |access-date=22 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517232922/https://www.ebu.ch/news/2012/11/stage-set-for-animatedeurovision |archive-date=17 May 2019 |date=29 November 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{YouTube|stZDkX2Xzow|EUROVISION Animated logo}}</ref>

The EBU now holds the recordings of all but two editions of the contest in its archives, following a project initiated in 2011 to collate footage and related materials of all editions ahead of the event's 60th edition in 2015.<ref name="Eurovision Again BtS" /> Although cameras were present to practice pan-European broadcasting for the first contest in 1956 to the few Europeans who had television sets, its audience was primarily over the radio. The only footage available is a [[Kinescope]] recording of Lys Assia's reprise of her winning song.<ref name="Lugano 56">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Lugano 1956 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/lugano-1956 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=5 July 2020}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=8–9}} No full recording of the {{Escyr|1964||1964 contest}} exists, with conflicting reports of the fate of any copies that may have survived.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=348–358}}<ref>{{cite web |last1=Grønbech |first1=Jens |title=BT afslører: Her er DRs største grandprix-brøler |url=https://www.bt.dk/melodi-grand-prix/bt-afsloerer-her-er-drs-stoerste-grandprix-broeler |publisher=[[B.T. (tabloid)|B.T.]] |access-date=6 July 2020 |language=da |trans-title=BT reveals: DR's biggest Eurovision groan |date=2 May 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Dohrman |first1=Jan |title=Billeder: I denne uge er det 55 år siden, Danmark holdt sit første Eurovision i Tivoli |url=https://www.dr.dk/om-dr/nyheder/billeder-i-denne-uge-er-det-55-aar-siden-danmark-holdt-sit-foerste-eurovision-i-tivoli |publisher=[[DR (broadcaster)|DR]] |access-date=6 July 2020 |language=da |trans-title=Pictures: This week marks 55 years since Denmark held its first Eurovision at Tivoli |date=20 March 2019}}</ref> Audio recordings of both contests do however exist, and some short pieces of footage from both events have survived.<ref name="Lugano 56" /><ref name="Copenhagen 64">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Copenhagen 1964 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/copenhagen-1964 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=5 July 2020}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=24–25}}

== Expansion of the contest ==
{{Further|List of countries in the Eurovision Song Contest}}
{{multiple image
| width = 280
| footer = [[Revolutions of 1989|Changes in Europe in the 1980s and 1990s]] impacted the contest, as [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]] ceased participating under one name and new countries in Central and Eastern Europe started competing.
| image1 = Eurovision Participants 1992.svg
| alt1 = Map of countries in Europe, North Africa and Western Asia showing boundaries in 1992; contest participants in 1992 are coloured in green, with Yugoslavia coloured in red.
| caption1 = Participating countries in {{Escyr|1992}}; [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]] (in red) participated for the final time
| image2 = Regular Participants 1994.svg
| alt2 = Map of countries in Europe, North Africa and Western Asia showing boundaries in 1994; contest participants in 1994 are coloured in green
| caption2 = Participating countries in {{Escyr|1994}}
}}
From the original seven countries which entered the first contest in 1956, the number of competing countries has steadily grown over time. 18 countries participated in the contest's tenth edition in 1965, and by 1990, 22 countries were regularly competing each year.<ref name="Naples 65" /><ref name="Zagreb 90">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Zagreb 1990 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/zagreb-1990 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=27 February 2021}}</ref>

Besides slight modifications to the voting system and other contest rules, no fundamental changes to the contest's format were introduced until the early 1990s, when [[Revolutions of 1989|events in Europe in the late 1980s and early 1990s]] resulted in a growing interest from new countries in the former [[Eastern Bloc]], particularly following the merger of the Eastern European rival [[International Radio and Television Organisation|OIRT network]] with the EBU in 1993.<ref>{{cite book |title=50 Years of Eurovision |date=2004 |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |pages=32–33 |url=https://www.ebu.ch/CMSimages/en/dossiers_1_04_eurovision50_ve_tcm6-13890.pdf |access-date=1 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050129162217/https://www.ebu.ch/CMSimages/en/dossiers_1_04_eurovision50_ve_tcm6-13890.pdf |archive-date=29 January 2005 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Pre-selections and relegation ===
29 countries registered to take part in the 1993 contest, a figure the EBU considered unable to fit reasonably into a single TV show. A pre-selection method was subsequently introduced for the first time in order to reduce the number of competing entries, with seven countries in [[Central and Eastern Europe]] participating in ''[[Kvalifikacija za Millstreet]]'', held in [[Ljubljana]], Slovenia one month before the event. Following a vote among the seven competing countries, {{Esccnty|Bosnia and Herzegovina}}, {{Esccnty|Croatia}} and {{Esccnty|Slovenia}} were chosen to head to the contest in [[Millstreet]], Ireland, and {{Esccnty|Estonia}}, {{Esccnty|Hungary}}, {{Esccnty|Romania}} and {{Esccnty|Slovakia}} were forced to wait another year before being allowed to compete.<ref name="Millstreet 93">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Millstreet 1993 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/millstreet-1993 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=1 July 2020}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=132–135; 219}} A new [[Promotion and relegation|relegation system]] was introduced for entry into the 1994 contest, with the lowest-placed countries being forced to sit out the following year's event to be replaced by countries which had not competed in the previous contest. The bottom seven countries in 1993 were required to miss the following year's contest, and were replaced by the four unsuccessful countries in ''Kvalifikacija za Millstreet'' and new entries from {{Esccnty|Lithuania}}, {{Esccnty|Poland}} and {{Esccnty|Russia}}.<ref name="Millstreet 93" /><ref name="Dublin 94">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Dublin 1994 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/dublin-1994 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=1 July 2020}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=136–139}}

This system was used again in 1994 for qualification for the {{Escyr|1995||1995 contest}}, but a new system was introduced for the {{Escyr|1996||1996 contest}}, when an audio-only qualification round held in the months before the contest in [[Oslo]], Norway; this system was primarily introduced in an attempt to appease Germany, one of Eurovision's biggest markets and financial contributors, which would have otherwise been relegated under the previous system.<ref name="Oslo 96">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Oslo 1996 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/oslo-1996 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=1 July 2020}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=144–147}} 29 countries competed for 22 places in the main contest alongside the automatically qualified Norwegian hosts, however Germany would ultimately still miss out, and joined Hungary, Romania, Russia, {{Esccnty|Denmark}}, {{Esccnty|Israel}}, and {{Esccnty|North Macedonia|t=Macedonia}} as one of the seven countries to be absent from the Oslo contest.<ref name="Oslo 96" />{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=144–147}} For the {{Escyr|1997||1997 contest}}, a similar relegation system to that used between 1993 and 1995 was introduced, with each country's average scores in the preceding five contests being used as a measure to determine which countries would be relegated.<ref name="Dublin 97">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Dublin 1997 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/dublin-1997 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=1 July 2020}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=148–151}} This was subsequently changed again in 2001, back to the same system used between 1993 and 1995 where only the results from that year's contest would count towards relegation.<ref name="Copenhagen 01">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Copenhagen 2001 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/copenhagen-2001 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=1 July 2020}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=164–167}}

=== The "Big Four" and "Big Five" ===
In 1999, an exemption from relegation was introduced for France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom, giving them an automatic right to compete in the 2000 contest and in all subsequent editions. This group, as the highest-paying EBU members which significantly fund the contest each year, subsequently became known as the "Big Four" countries.<ref name="Jerusalem 99">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Jerusalem 1999 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/jerusalem-1999 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=1 July 2020}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=156–159}}<ref name="99 Rules">{{cite web |title=Rules of the 44th Eurovision Song Contest, 1999 |url=http://www.eurosong.net/archive/esc1999.pdf |access-date=1 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418112958/http://www.eurosong.net/archive/esc1999.pdf |archive-date=18 April 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> This group was expanded in 2011 when Italy began competing again, becoming the "Big Five".<ref>{{cite web |title=43 nations on 2011 participants list! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/43-nations-on-2011-participants-list |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=1 July 2020 |date=31 December 2010}}</ref> Originally brought in to ensure that the financial contributions of the contest's biggest financial backers would not be missed, since the introduction of the semi-finals in 2004, the "Big Five" now instead automatically qualify for the final along with the host country.<ref name="Decade Istanbul 04">{{cite web |title=The end of a decade: Istanbul 2004 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/the-end-of-a-decade-istanbul-2004 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=1 July 2020 |date=25 December 2009}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=176–180}}

There remains debate on whether this status prejudices the countries' results, based on reported antipathy over their automatic qualification and the potential disadvantage of having spent less time on stage through not competing in the semi-finals, however this status appears to be more complex given results of the "Big Five" countries can vary widely.<ref name="BBC lessons learned">{{cite web |title=Eurovision 2019: Five lessons learned |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-48325868 |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=1 July 2020 |date=19 May 2019}}</ref><ref name="Brexit to blame?">{{cite web |title=Eurovision: Is Brexit to blame for the UK's latest flop? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-48334089 |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=1 July 2020 |date=20 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Adessi |first=Antonio |date=2021-06-02 |title=Eurovision 2022: cambiamenti in vista per Germania, Spagna e Regno Unito |trans-title=Eurovision 2022: Changes in sight for Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom |url=https://www.eurofestivalnews.com/2021/06/02/eurovision-2022-cambiamenti-in-vista-per-germania-spagna-e-regno-unito/ |access-date=2021-09-07 |website=Eurofestival News |language=it-IT}}</ref> This status has caused consternation from other competing countries, and was cited, among other aspects, as a reason why {{Esccnty|Turkey}} had ceased participating after {{Escyr|2012}}.<ref name="Turkey LGBT">{{cite web |title=Turkey to return Eurovision 'if no more bearded divas' |url=https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-to-return-eurovision-if-no-more-bearded-divas-135427 |work=[[Hürriyet Daily News]] |access-date=1 July 2020 |date=4 August 2018}}</ref>

=== Introduction of semi-finals ===
[[File:Eurovision semifinal qualification rate map.svg|thumb|upright=1.5|alt=Map of countries in Europe, North Africa and Western Asia, with Australia as an insert in the top-right corner, shaded to indicate their semi-final qualification rates: countries with high rates are shown in shades of blue, while countries with low rates are shown in shades of red and orange|Qualification rates per country (2004–2023; automatic qualifications not included)]]
An influx of new countries applying for the {{Escyr|2003||2003 contest}} resulted in the introduction of a semi-final from 2004, with the contest becoming a two-day event.<ref name="new format">{{cite web |last1=Bakker |first1=Sietse |title=EBU confirms new Eurovision Song Contest format |url=http://esctoday.com/1192/ebu_confirms_new_eurovision_song_contest_format/ |website=esctoday.com |access-date=22 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029133229/http://esctoday.com/1192/ebu_confirms_new_eurovision_song_contest_format/ |archive-date=29 October 2020 |date=29 January 2003}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=172–175}} The top 10 countries in each year's final would qualify automatically to the following year's final, alongside the "Big Four", meaning all other countries would compete in the semi-final to compete for 10 qualification spots.<ref name="Decade Istanbul 04" /> The {{Escyr|2004||2004 contest}} in [[Istanbul]], Turkey saw a record 36 countries competing, with new entries from {{Esccnty|Albania}}, {{Esccnty|Andorra}}, {{Esccnty|Belarus}} and {{Esccnty|Serbia and Montenegro}} and the return of previously relegated countries.<ref name="Decade Istanbul 04" />{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=177–179}} The format of this semi-final remained similar to the final proper, taking place a few days before the final; following the performances and the voting window, the names of the 10 countries with the highest number of points, which would therefore qualify for the final, were announced at the end of the show, revealed in a random order by the contest's presenters.<ref name="Decade Istanbul 04" />{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=177–179}}

The single semi-final continued to be held between 2005 and 2007; however, with 42 countries competing in the {{Escyr|2007||2007 contest}} in [[Helsinki]], Finland, the semi-final had 28 entries competing for 10 spots in the final.<ref>{{cite web |title=Countdown to Baku – Helsinki 2007 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/countdown-to-baku-helsinki-2007 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=2 July 2020 |date=18 January 2012}}</ref> Following criticism over the mainly Central and Eastern European qualifiers at the 2007 event and the poor performance of entries from Western European countries, a second semi-final was subsequently introduced for the {{Escyr|2008||2008 contest}} in [[Belgrade]], Serbia, with all countries now competing in one of the two semi-finals, with only the host country and the "Big Four", and subsequently the "Big Five" from 2011, qualifying automatically.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Two Semi-Finals in 2008 |url=http://www.ebu.ch/CMSimages/en/PR_ESC%20Semi-Finals_01.10.07_EN_tcm6-54154.pdf |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |access-date=2 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928062242/http://www.ebu.ch/CMSimages/en/PR_ESC%20Semi-Finals_01.10.07_EN_tcm6-54154.pdf |archive-date=28 September 2012}}</ref><ref name="2 semis announcements">{{cite web |title=Two Semi-Finals Eurovision Song Contest in 2008 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/two-semi-finals-eurovision-song-contest-in-2008 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=2 July 2020 |date=11 January 2008}}</ref> 10 qualification spots would be available in each of the semi-finals, and a new system to split the competing countries between the two semi-finals was introduced based on their geographic location and previous voting patterns, in an attempt to reduce the impact of [[Voting bloc|bloc voting]] and to make the outcome less predictable.<ref name="Semi-Final Allocation">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Semi-Final Allocation Draw |date=14 January 2017 |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/in-depth/semi-final-allocation-draw/ |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=2 July 2020}}</ref><ref name="08 semi draw">{{cite web |title=All you need to know for Monday's draw! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/all-you-need-to-know-for-monday-s-draw |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=2 July 2020 |date=24 January 2008}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=192–195}}

== Entries and participants ==
{{Further|List of Eurovision Song Contest entries}}
[[File:Kalush Orchestra, May 2022.png|thumb|Ukrainian rap group [[Kalush (rap group)|Kalush Orchestra]] are the most recent winners of the contest.]]
[[File:ABBA1974TopPop.jpg|thumb|After winning the {{Escyr|1974|3=1974 contest}} with the song "[[Waterloo (ABBA song)|Waterloo]]", the Swedish pop group [[ABBA]] became one of the most commercially successful acts in the history of pop music.]]
[[File:Eurovision Song Contest 1980 - Johnny Logan 4 (cropped).jpg|thumb|alt=Black and white photograph of Johnny Logan performing on stage at the 1980 contest|[[Johnny Logan (singer)|Johnny Logan]] is the only performer to have won the contest twice, in {{Escyr|1980}} ''(pictured)'' and {{Escyr|1987}}; he also wrote the winning song in {{Escyr|1992}}.]]The contest has been used as a launching point for artists who went on to achieve worldwide fame, and several of [[List of best-selling music artists|the world's best-selling artists]] are counted among past Eurovision Song Contest participants and winning artists. [[ABBA]], the {{Escyr|1974}} winners for Sweden, have recorded an estimated 380 million albums and singles sales since their contest win brought them to worldwide attention, with their winning song "[[Waterloo (ABBA song)|Waterloo]]" selling over five million records.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Harrison |first1=Andrew |title=Why are Abba so popular? |url=https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20140415-why-are-abba-so-popular |work=[[BBC]] Culture|access-date=30 June 2020 |date=21 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |first=Joseph |last=Murrells |title=The Book of Golden Discs |url=https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr |url-access=registration|year=1978 |edition=2nd, illustrated |publisher=Barrie & Jenkins |isbn=0-214-20480-4 |page=395}}</ref> [[Celine Dion]]'s win for Switzerland in {{Escyr|1988}} helped launch her international career, particularly in the [[English-speaking world|anglophone]] market, and she would go on to sell an estimated 200 million records worldwide.<ref name="Dublin 88" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Southern |first1=Kieran |title=Celine Dion and James Corden recreate famous Titanic scene for Carpool Karaoke |url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/celine-dion-and-james-corden-recreate-famous-titanic-scene-for-carpool-karaoke-38132381.html |access-date=30 June 2020 |agency=[[PA Media]] |work=[[Irish Independent]] |date=21 May 2019}}</ref> [[Julio Iglesias]] was relatively unknown when he represented Spain in {{Escyr|1970}} and placed fourth, but worldwide success followed his Eurovision appearance, with an estimated 100 million records sold during his career.<ref>{{cite web |title=Iglesias praises Eurovision as a learning moment |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/iglesias-praises-eurovision-as-a-learning-moment |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=20 March 2021 |date=11 October 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Julio Iglesias pulls out of NZ tour |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/music/86012722/julio-iglesias-pulls-out-of-nz-tour |publisher=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |access-date=20 March 2021 |date=2 November 2016}}</ref> Australian singer [[Olivia Newton-John]] represented the United Kingdom in 1974, placing fourth behind ABBA, but went on to sell an estimated 100 million records, win four [[Grammy Award]]s, and star in the critically and commercially successful [[musical film]] ''[[Grease (film)|Grease]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Milestone Moments: 1974 - The arrival of ABBA |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/milestone-moments-1974-the-arrival-of-abba |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=20 March 2021 |date=5 September 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Olivia Newton-John displays movie memorabilia in Newbridge |url=https://www.rte.ie/lifestyle/living/2019/0723/1064799-olivia-newton-john-visits-newbridge/ |publisher=[[Raidió Teilifís Éireann]] |access-date=20 March 2021 |date=25 July 2019}}</ref>

A number of performers have competed in the contest after having already achieved considerable success. These include winning artists [[Lulu (singer)|Lulu]],<ref name="UK">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: United Kingdom |url=https://eurovision.tv/country/united-kingdom |website=eurovision.tv |access-date=15 March 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Lulu at 70: singer celebrates landmark birthday |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/music/news/lulu-at-70-singer-celebrates-landmark-birthday-37488096.html |access-date=20 March 2021 |work=[[Belfast Telegraph]] |date=3 November 2018}}</ref> [[Toto Cutugno]],<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Bensalhia |first1=John |title=Music Maestros: Top 10 Best Selling Italian Music Artists and Acts |url=https://www.italymagazine.com/featured-story/music-maestros-top-10-best-selling-italian-music-artists-and-acts |magazine=Italy Magazine |access-date=25 March 2021 |date=5 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Puglisi |first1=Federica |title= Happy birthday Toto Cutugno, the most loved Italian singer abroad |url=https://www.italiani.it/en/happy-birthday-toto-cutugno-the-most-loved-italian-singer-abroad/ |website=italiani.it |access-date=26 March 2021 |date=8 July 2020}}</ref> and [[Katrina and the Waves]],<ref name="UK" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Kelly |first1=Emma |title=Katrina And The Waves reckon Eurovision winner Love Shine A Light 'didn't get a look in' in the UK |url=https://metro.co.uk/2020/09/07/katrina-and-the-waves-reckon-eurovision-winner-love-shine-a-light-didnt-get-a-look-in-in-the-uk-13233379/ |access-date=20 March 2021 |work=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]] |date=7 September 2020}}</ref> and acts that failed to win such as [[Nana Mouskouri]],<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Keeb |first=Brigitte |title=Wendland Nearing One Million Mark |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LhYEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22One+Million%22+%22Nana+Mouskouri%22 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=23 March 2021 |date=21 April 1962}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Papadatos |first1=Markos |title="Forever Young" with Nana Mouskouri, the biggest-selling female artist of all time! |url=https://www.neomagazine.com/2018/07/forever-young-with-nana-mouskouri-the-biggest-selling-female-artist-of-all-time/ |magazine=Neo Magazine |access-date=23 March 2021 |date=8 July 2018}}</ref> [[Cliff Richard]],<ref name="UK" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Cliff Richard's 'Congratulations' beaten in Eurovision fix? |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/cliff-richard-26-1328736 |access-date=20 March 2021 |work=[[NME]] |date=6 May 2008}}</ref> [[Baccara]],<ref name="Luxembourg story">{{cite web |last1=Escudero |first1=Victor M. |title=Luxembourg: Small in size, big in Eurovision |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/top-10-entries-from-luxembourg |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=20 March 2021 |date=19 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Eames |first1=Tom |title=How Scotland's football team has given Baccara's 'Yes Sir I Can Boogie' a sudden chart comeback |url=https://www.smoothradio.com/news/music/baccara-yes-sir-i-can-boogie-scotland-considine-video/ |publisher=[[Smooth Radio (2014)|Smooth Radio]] |access-date=20 March 2021 |date=16 November 2020}}</ref> [[Umberto Tozzi]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dondoni |first1=Luca |title=Tozzi: "Ti amo" ha 40 anni, merita una festa |url=https://www.lastampa.it/spettacoli/musica/2017/04/06/news/tozzi-ti-amo-ha-40-anni-merita-una-festa-1.34643232 |work=[[La Stampa]] |access-date=25 March 2021 |date=20 June 2019 |language=Italian}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1= |first1= |title=Italy's Music Charts: Then and Now |url=https://www.lagazzettaitaliana.com/entertainment/8532-italy-s-music-charts-then-and-now |magazine=La Gazzetta Italiana |access-date=25 March 2021 |date=August 2017}}</ref> [[Plastic Bertrand]],<ref name="Luxembourg story"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Idato |first1=Michael |title=Eurovision's honour roll: from Domenico Modugno to ABBA and Celine Dion |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/eurovisions-honour-roll-from-domenico-modugno-to-abba-and-celine-dion-20150519-gh4lgl.html |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |access-date=20 March 2021 |date=19 May 2015}}</ref> [[t.A.T.u.]],<ref name="Decade Riga 03" /><ref name="The Guardian">{{cite news |last1=Paton Walsh |first1=Nick |title=Vote switch 'stole Tatu's Eurovision win' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/may/30/russia.arts |access-date=20 March 2021 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=30 May 2003}}</ref> [[Las Ketchup]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Las Ketchup: "We didn't choose to do Eurovision — we had to do it" |url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2017/07/21/las-ketchup-didnt-choose-eurovision/193062/ |access-date=14 May 2021 |work=[[Wiwibloggs]] |date=21 July 2019}}</ref> [[Patricia Kaas]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Patricia Kaas représentera la France à l'Eurovision |url=https://www.leparisien.fr/culture-loisirs/patricia-kaas-representera-la-france-a-l-eurovision-30-01-2009-392630.php |access-date=23 March 2021 |work=[[Le Parisien]] |date=30 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323115319/https://www.leparisien.fr/culture-loisirs/patricia-kaas-representera-la-france-a-l-eurovision-30-01-2009-392630.php |archive-date=23 March 2021 |language=French |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Osborn |first1=Michael |title=Battle of the Eurovision ballads |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8002018.stm |publisher=[[BBC News]] |access-date=23 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090515120314/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8002018.stm |archive-date=15 May 2009 |date=12 May 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Engelbert Humperdinck (singer)|Engelbert Humperdinck]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Engelbert Humperdinck is United Kingdom entrant! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/engelbert-humperdinck-is-united-kingdom-entrant |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=20 March 2021 |date=1 March 2012}}</ref><ref name="The Guardian"/> [[Bonnie Tyler]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Bonnie Tyler to represent United Kingdom |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/bonnie-tyler-to-represent-united-kingdom |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=20 March 2021 |date=7 March 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Lanham |first1=Tom |title='Total Eclipse' singer Bonnie Tyler survived Eurovision |url=https://www.sfexaminer.com/entertainment/total-eclipse-singer-bonnie-tyler-survived-eurovision/ |access-date=20 March 2021 |work=[[San Francisco Examiner]] |date=2 March 2021}}</ref> and [[Flo Rida]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-05-18|title=Flo Rida will join Senhit for San Marino|url=https://eurovision.tv/story/flo-rida-to-join-senhit-for-san-marino|access-date=2021-05-18|website=Eurovision.tv}}</ref> Many well-known composers and lyricists have penned entries of varying success over the years, including [[Serge Gainsbourg]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jordan |first1=Paul |title=France Gall, Luxembourg's Eurovision 1965 winner, dies at 70 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/france-gall-passed-away-at-70-luxembourg-1965 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=20 March 2021 |date=7 January 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Kennedy |first1=Maev |title=France Gall: French singer who inspired My Way dies age 70 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/07/french-singer-and-eurovision-winner-france-gall-dies-age-70 |access-date=23 March 2021 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=7 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180110055621/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/07/french-singer-and-eurovision-winner-france-gall-dies-age-70 |archive-date=10 January 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Goran Bregović]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Bregović to compose Serbian entry; picks from three artists |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/bregovic-to-compose-serbian-entry-picks-from-three-artists |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=23 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128030256/https://eurovision.tv/story/bregovic-to-compose-serbian-entry-picks-from-three-artists |archive-date=28 November 2020 |date=20 January 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Diane Warren]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Diane Warren: Legendary songwriter |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/diane-warren-legendary-songwriter |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=23 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919213534/https://eurovision.tv/story/diane-warren-legendary-songwriter |archive-date=19 September 2020 |date=15 May 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Andrew Lloyd Webber]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Andrew Lloyd Webber to compose the UK entry |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/andrew-lloyd-webber-to-compose-the-uk-entry |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=20 March 2021 |date=18 October 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Kelly |first1=Emma |title=Andrew Lloyd Webber was almost replaced by a body double at Eurovision because he was so nervous |url=https://metro.co.uk/2020/05/14/andrew-lloyd-webber-was-almost-replaced-body-double-eurovision-was-nervous-12702228/ |access-date=20 March 2021 |work=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]] |date=14 May 2020}}</ref> [[Pete Waterman]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Pete Waterman to write UK entry for Eurovision |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2010/01_january/29/eurovision.shtml |publisher=[[BBC]] |access-date=20 March 2021 |date=29 January 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Pete Waterman's Eurovision entry finishes last |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/pete-watermans-eurovision-entry-finishes-3064178 |access-date=20 March 2021 |work=[[Coventry Telegraph]] |date=31 May 2010}}</ref> and [[Tony Iommi]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Sabbath star Tony Iommi writes Eurovision entry |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-england-birmingham-21689607|publisher=[[BBC]] |access-date=14 May 2021 |date=6 March 2013}}</ref> as well as producers [[Timbaland]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Dima Bilan again conquers Russian hearts |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/dima-bilan-again-conquers-russian-hearts|publisher=eurovision.tv |access-date=14 May 2021 |date=9 March 2008}}</ref> and [[Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Sébastien Tellier to represent France |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/sebastien-tellier-to-represent-france|publisher=eurovision.tv |access-date=14 May 2021 |date=9 March 2008}}</ref>

Past participants have contributed to other fields in addition to their music careers. The Netherlands' [[Annie M. G. Schmidt|Annie Schmidt]], lyricist of the first entry performed at Eurovision, has gained a worldwide reputation for her stories and earned the [[Hans Christian Andersen Award]] for children's literature.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Lynch‐Brown |first=Carol |title=A profile of Annie M. G. Schmidt, 1988 Hans Christian Andersen medalist |doi=10.1080/0300443890480104 |journal= Early Child Development and Care|date=22 December 2010|volume=48 |pages=19–27 }}</ref> French "[[yé-yé]] girls" [[Françoise Hardy]] and contest winner [[France Gall]] are household names of 1960s pop culture, with Hardy also being a pioneer of [[street style]] fashion trends and an inspiration for the global [[Youthquake (movement)|youthquake]] movement.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Wilson |first1=Eric |title= Now You Know: Françoise Hardy Was the Original Street Style Star |url=https://www.instyle.com/fashion/street-style/original-street-style-star-francoise-hardy?slide=b3b12a90-74fc-4486-ba8d-73bd6a0cbd04#b3b12a90-74fc-4486-ba8d-73bd6a0cbd04 |magazine=[[InStyle]] |access-date=27 March 2021 |date=11 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Borrelli-Persson |first1=Laird |title=Sarah Jessica Parker Narrates the History of 1960s Fashion in Vogue |url=https://www.vogue.com/article/vogue125-video-fashion-history-sarah-jessica-parker-1960s |magazine=[[Vogue (magazine)|Vogue]] |access-date=27 March 2021 |date=14 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Mackenzie-Smith |first1=Stevie |title=A Tribute to France Gall, the Iconic Yé-Yé Star |url=https://www.anothermag.com/fashion-beauty/10483/a-tribute-to-france-gall-the-iconic-ye-ye-star |magazine=[[Another Magazine]] |access-date=27 March 2021}}</ref> Figures who carved a career in politics and gained international acclaim for humanitarian achievements include contest winner [[Dana Rosemary Scallon|Dana]] as a two-time [[Irish presidential election|Irish presidential candidate]] and [[Member of the European Parliament]] (MEP);<ref>{{cite web |title=Dana Rosemary Scallon seeking presidency backing |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/mobile/uk-northern-ireland-foyle-west-14985227 |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=30 June 2020 |date=20 September 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Irish presidential election: Michael D Higgins elected |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15488067 |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=30 June 2020 |date=29 October 2011}}</ref> Nana Mouskouri as Greek MEP and a [[List of UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors|UNICEF international goodwill ambassador]];<ref>{{cite web |title=Nana Mouskouri Goodwill Ambassador |url=https://sites.unicef.org/people/people_nana_mouskouri.html |publisher=[[UNICEF]] |website=unicef.org |access-date=25 March 2021 |archive-date=22 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422195834/https://sites.unicef.org/people/people_nana_mouskouri.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=European Parliament - Nana MOUSKOURI |url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/2183/NANA_MOUSKOURI/history/4 |publisher=[[European Union]] |website=Europarl.europa.eu |access-date=25 March 2021}}</ref> contest winner [[Ruslana]] as member of [[Verkhovna Rada]], Ukraine's parliament and a figure of the [[Orange Revolution]] and [[Euromaidan]] protests, who gained global honours for leadership and courage;<ref>{{cite web |last=Ahuja |first=Masuma |title=Why did Michelle Obama give a Ukrainian pop star the Women of Courage award? |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2014/03/04/why-did-michelle-obama-give-a-ukrainian-pop-star-the-women-of-courage-award/ |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=30 March 2021 |date=5 March 2014}}</ref><ref name="live">{{cite web |last1=Davies |first1=Russell |title=Ruslana: sings major recording deal with Warner Records |url=http://esctoday.com/10527/ruslana_sings_major_recording_deal_with_warner_records |publisher=ESCToday |access-date=30 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204031105/http://www.esctoday.com/10527/ruslana_sings_major_recording_deal_with_warner_records/ |archive-date=4 December 2013 |date=15 February 2008}}</ref><ref>[http://www.kyivpost.com/guide/about-kyiv/musicians-liven-up-euromaidan-stage-332611.html Musicians liven up EuroMaidan stage], ''[[Kyiv Post]]'' (29 November 2013) {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131129091452/http://www.kyivpost.com/guide/about-kyiv/musicians-liven-up-euromaidan-stage-332611.html |date=29 November 2013}}</ref> and North Macedonia's [[Esma Redžepova]] as member of political parties and a two-time [[Nobel Peace Prize]] nominee.<ref>{{cite web |last=Cartwright |first=Garth |title=Esma Redžepova obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/dec/14/esma-redzepova-obituary |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=30 March 2021 |date=14 December 2016}}</ref>

Competing songs have occasionally gone on to become successes for their original performers and other artists, and some of the [[List of best-selling singles|best-selling singles]] globally received their first international performances at Eurovision. "[[Save Your Kisses for Me]]", the winning song in {{Escyr|1976}} for the United Kingdom's [[Brotherhood of Man]], went on to sell over six million singles, more than any other winning song.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Eurovision Song Contest: The Official History |first=John Kennedy |last=O'Connor |publisher=[[Carlton Publishing Group|Carlton Books]] |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-8444-2994-3}}</ref>{{sfn|West|2020|pp=95-96}} "[[Nel blu, dipinto di blu (song)|Nel blu, dipinto di blu]]", also known as "Volare", Italy's third-placed song in {{Escyr|1958}} performed by [[Domenico Modugno]], is the only Eurovision entry to win a [[Grammy Awards|Grammy Award]]. It was the first Grammy winner for both [[Grammy Award for Record of the Year|Record of the Year]] and [[Grammy Award for Song of the Year|Song of the Year]] and it has since been recorded by various artists, topped the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] in the United States and achieved combined sales of over 22 million copies worldwide.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pierluigi |first1=Panza |title=Piramidi rotanti luci da record e 007 in azione |url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1996/febbraio/17/Piramidi_rotanti_luci_record_007_co_0_9602175076.shtml |work=[[Corriere della Sera]] |access-date=9 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120802023205/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1996/febbraio/17/Piramidi_rotanti_luci_record_007_co_0_9602175076.shtml |archive-date=2 August 2012 |date=17 February 1996 |quote=Il brano presentato a Sanremo che ha venduto di piu' e' "Nel blu dipinto di blu" di Domenico Modugno (22 milioni di dischi).}}</ref> "[[Eres tú]]", performed by Spain's [[Mocedades]] and runner-up in {{Escyr|1973}}, became the first Spanish-language song to reach the top 10 of the ''Billboard'' Hot 100,<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Hispanic Heritage Month: The 50 Greatest Latin Songs of All Time |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/events/greatest-of-all-time/6760654/best-latin-songs-of-all-time |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=9 July 2020 |date=15 September 2017}}</ref> and the Grammy-nominated "[[Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit]]", which came eighth in {{Escyr|1996}} for the United Kingdom's [[Gina G]], sold 790,000 records and achieved success across Europe and the US, reaching #1 on the [[UK Singles Chart]] and peaking at #12 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book |first=David |last=Roberts |year=2006 |title=[[British Hit Singles & Albums]] |edition=19th |publisher=Guinness World Records Limited |location=London |isbn=1-904994-10-5 |page=593}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Anderson |first1=Sarah |title=50 best-selling tracks of the '90s |url=https://www.nme.com/photos/50-best-selling-tracks-of-the-90s-1437045 |work=[[NME]] |access-date=9 July 2020 |date=21 May 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Gina G Chart History (Hot 100) |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/gina-g/chart-history/hsi/ |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=9 July 2020}}</ref>

The turn of the century has also seen numerous competing songs becoming successes. "[[Euphoria (Loreen song)|Euphoria]]", [[Loreen (singer)|Loreen]]'s winning song for Sweden in {{Escyr|2012}}, achieved Europe-wide success, reaching number one in several countries and by 2014 had become the most [[Music download|downloaded]] Eurovision song to date.<ref>{{cite web |title=Loreen's "Euphoria" Enjoys Biggest Chart Success From Eurovision Winner In Years |url=https://www.wmg.com/news/loreen-s-euphoria-enjoys-biggest-chart-success-eurovision-winner-years-19271 |publisher=[[Warner Music Group]] |date=5 June 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Kreisler |first1=Lauren |title=The Most Downloaded Eurovision Songs of All Time Revealed! |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-most-downloaded-eurovision-songs-of-all-time-revealed-__4088/ |publisher=[[Official Charts Company]] |access-date=21 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929045506/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-most-downloaded-eurovision-songs-of-all-time-revealed-__4088/ |archive-date=29 September 2018 |date=9 May 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> The video for "[[Occidentali's Karma]]" by [[Francesco Gabbani]], which placed sixth for Italy in {{Escyr|2017}}, became the first Eurovision song to reach more than 200 million views on YouTube,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://escxtra.com/2018/09/16/occidentalis-karma-hits-200-million-views-on-youtube/|title=Occidentali's Karma hits 200 million views on Youtube!|date=16 September 2018|publisher=escxtra.com|access-date=13 April 2020}}</ref> while "[[Soldi]]" by [[Mahmood (singer)|Mahmood]], the Italian runner-up in {{Escyr|2019}}, was the most-streamed Eurovision song on [[Spotify]] until it was overtaken by that year's winner for the Netherlands, "[[Arcade (song)|Arcade]]" by [[Duncan Laurence]], following [[Viral phenomenon|viral success]] on [[TikTok]] in late 2020 and early 2021;<ref>{{cite web|title=Italy: Mahmood's "Soldi" is now the most-streamed Eurovision song on Spotify|date=16 October 2019|url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2019/10/16/italy-mahmoods-soldi-is-now-the-most-streamed-eurovision-song-on-spotify/242939/|access-date=13 April 2020|publisher=Wiwibloggs}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-01-29|title="Arcade" passes "Soldi" as the most-streamed Eurovision entry on Spotify|url=https://escxtra.com/2021/01/29/arcade-passes-soldi-as-the-most-streamed-eurovision-entry-on-spotify/|access-date=2021-01-29|website=ESCXTRA.com}}</ref> "Arcade" later became the first Eurovision song since "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit" and the first Eurovision winning song since "Save Your Kisses for Me" to chart on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, eventually peaking at #30.<ref>{{Cite magazine|date=2021-04-13|title=Duncan Laurence's 'Arcade' Is First Eurovision Song Contest Winner to Hit Hot 100 in 45 Years|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/duncan-laurence-arcade-hits-hot-100-eurovision/|access-date=2021-04-16|magazine=Billboard}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Duncan Laurence Has 'No Idea' How His Breakthrough Single 'Arcade' Keeps Going Viral|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9585063/duncan-laurence-arcade-hot-100-eurovision-interview|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611031033/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9585063/duncan-laurence-arcade-hot-100-eurovision-interview|archive-date=2021-06-11|access-date=2021-06-11|magazine=Billboard|date=10 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lee Adams |first=William |date=2021-08-31 |title=Eurovision winners Måneskin and Duncan Laurence crack Top 30 on Billboard charts |url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2021/08/31/maneskin-and-duncan-laurence-crack-top-30-on-billboard-charts/266506/ |access-date=2021-09-06 |website=Wiwibloggs }}</ref> The {{Escyr|2021|3=2021 contest}} saw the next major breakthrough success from Eurovision, with [[Måneskin]], that year's winners for Italy with "{{lang|it|[[Zitti e buoni]]|i=unset}}", attracting worldwide attention across their repertoire immediately following their victory.<ref>{{cite magazine|date=August 3, 2021|title=Chartbreaker: Inside Måneskin's Unlikely, TikTok-Assisted Journey to Rock Stardom|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/9609530/maneskin-beggin-august-chartbreaker/|access-date=August 5, 2021|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Shaw|first=Lucas|title=Maneskin Is Italy's First Rock Band to Rule the Charts|work=[[Bloomberg News]]|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/pop-star-ranking/2021-september/maneskin-is-italy-s-first-rock-band-to-rule-the-charts.html|access-date=2021-09-14}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Trendell |first=Andrew |date=2021-10-21 |title=Måneskin live in London: embrace the Eurovision winners' rock'n'roll circus |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/live/maneskin-london-live-islington-academy-review-radar-3076159 |access-date=2021-10-22 |website= |publisher=[[NME]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Christou |first=Costa |date=2021-07-14 |title=Editorial: Eurovision 2021 - A new turning point for the contest? |url=https://escxtra.com/2021/07/14/eurovision-2021-a-new-turning-point-for-the-contest-editorial/ |access-date=2022-06-29 |website=ESCXTRA.com }}</ref>

[[Johnny Logan (singer)|Johnny Logan]] remains the only artist to have won multiple contests as a performer, winning for Ireland in {{Escyr|1980}} with "[[What's Another Year]]", written by [[Shay Healy]], and in {{Escyr|1987}} with the self-penned "[[Hold Me Now (Johnny Logan song)|Hold Me Now]]". Logan was also the winning songwriter in {{Escyr|1992}} for the Irish winner, "[[Why Me? (Linda Martin song)|Why Me?]]" performed by [[Linda Martin]], and has therefore achieved three contest victories as either a performer or writer.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Malmö 1992 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/malmo-1992 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=30 June 2020}}</ref> Four further songwriters have each written two contest-winning songs: [[Willy van Hemert]], Yves Dessca, [[Rolf Løvland]], and [[Brendan Graham]].{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|p=201}} Following their introduction in {{escyr|2004}}, [[Alexander Rybak]] became the first artist to win multiple Eurovision semi-finals, finishing in first at the second semi-finals in {{Escyr|2009}} and {{escyr|2018}}; he remains the only entrant to have done so to date.<ref>{{cite web|title= Alexander Rybak - Norway - Moscow 2009|url= https://eurovision.tv/participant/alexander-rybak |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest|access-date=14 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title= Alexander Rybak - Norway - Lisbon 2018|url=https://eurovision.tv/participant/alexander-rybak-2018 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest|access-date=14 June 2021}}</ref>

=== Winners ===
{{Further|List of Eurovision Song Contest winners}}
[[File:Eurovision_winners_map.svg|thumb|300x300px|Each country's win record in the contest {{as of|2022|lc=y|post=.}}]]
69 songs from 27 countries have won the Eurovision Song Contest {{as of|2022|lc=y|post=.}}<ref name="Winners" /> {{Esccnty|Ireland}} and {{Esccnty|Sweden}} have recorded the most wins with seven each, followed by {{Esccnty|France}}, {{Esccnty|Luxembourg}}, the {{Esccnty|United Kingdom}} and the {{Esccnty|Netherlands}} with five each.<ref name="Facts & Figures" /><ref name="Winners" /> Of the 52 countries to have taken part, 25 have yet to win.<ref name="ESC History" /> On only one occasion have multiple winners been declared in a single contest: in {{Escyr|1969}}, four countries finished the contest with an equal number of votes and due to the lack of a tie-break rule at the time, all four countries were declared winners.<ref name="Facts & Figures" /><ref name="Madrid 69">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Madrid 1969 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/madrid-1969 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=30 June 2020}}</ref> A majority of winning songs have been performed in English, particularly since the language rule was abolished in 1999. Since that contest, seven winning songs have been performed either fully or partially in a language other than English.<ref name="ESC History" />

Two countries have won the contest on their first appearance: {{Esccnty|Switzerland}}, by virtue of being declared the winner of the first contest in 1956; and {{Esccnty|Serbia}}, which won in 2007 in their first participation as an independent country, following entries in previous editions as part of the now-defunct {{Esccnty|Yugoslavia}} and then {{Esccnty|Serbia and Montenegro}}.<ref name="Helsinki 07">{{cite web |title=The end of a decade: Helsinki 2007 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/the-end-of-a-decade-helsinki-2007 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=30 June 2020 |date=30 December 2009}}</ref> Other countries have had relatively short waits before winning their first contest, with {{Esccnty|Ukraine}} victorious on their second contest appearance in {{Escyr|2004}} and {{Esccnty|Latvia}} winning with their third entry in {{Escyr|2002}}.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=208–209}} Conversely, some countries have competed for many years before recording their first win: {{Esccnty|Greece}} recorded their first win in {{Escyr|2005}}, 31 years after their first appearance, while {{Esccnty|Finland}} ended a 45-year losing streak in {{Escyr|2006}}.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=208–209}}<ref name="Countdown Athens 06">{{cite web |title=Countdown to Baku – Athens 2006 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/countdown-to-baku-athens-2006 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=30 June 2020 |date=27 December 2011}}</ref> {{Esccnty|Portugal}} waited the longest, recording their first win in {{Escyr|2017}}, 53 years after their first participation.<ref>{{cite web |title=Salvador Sobral given a hero's welcome in Portugal |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/salvador-sobral-given-a-hero-s-welcome-in-portugal |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=30 June 2020 |date=15 May 2017}}</ref> Countries have in the past had to wait many years to win again: Switzerland went 32 years between winning in 1956 and {{Escyr|1988}}; {{Esccnty|Denmark}} held a 37-year gap between wins in {{Escyr|1963}} and {{Escyr|2000}}; the Netherlands waited 44 years to win again in {{Escyr|2019}}, their most recent win having been in {{Escyr|1975}}; and {{Esccnty|Austria}} won its second contest in {{Escyr|2014}}, 48 years after their first win in {{Escyr|1966}}.<ref name="ESC History" />{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=208–209}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Welcome home, Conchita! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/welcome-home-conchita |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=30 June 2020 |date=15 May 2014}}</ref>

The United Kingdom holds the record for the highest number of second-place finishes, having come runner-up sixteen times.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: United Kingdom |url=https://eurovision.tv/country/united-kingdom |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=30 June 2020}}</ref> Meanwhile, {{Esccnty|Norway}} has come last more than any other country, appearing at the bottom of the scoreboard on eleven occasions, including scoring ''[[nul points]]'' four times.<ref name="Facts & Figures" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Norway |url=https://eurovision.tv/country/norway |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=30 June 2020}}</ref> A country has recorded back-to-back wins on four occasions: {{Esccnty|Spain}} recorded consecutive wins in {{Escyr|1968}} and 1969; Luxembourg did likewise in {{Escyr|1972}} and {{Escyr|1973}}; Israel won the contest in {{Escyr|1978}} and {{Escyr|1979}}; and Ireland became the first country to win three consecutive titles, winning in {{Escyr|1992}}, {{Escyr|1993}} and {{Escyr|1994}}.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=208–209}} Ireland's winning streak in the 1990s includes the {{Escyr|1996||1996 contest}}, giving them a record four wins in five years.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Ireland |url=https://eurovision.tv/country/ireland |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=30 June 2020}}</ref>

[[File:Eurovision_trophy.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=The Eurovision trophy|right|Replica of the Eurovision trophy in [[Växjö]], Sweden]]
The winning artists and songwriters receive a trophy, which since 2008 has followed a standard design: a handmade piece of sandblasted glass with painted details in the shape of a 1950s-style [[microphone]], designed by Kjell Engman of the Swedish-based glassworks [[Kosta Glasbruk|Kosta Boda]].<ref name="Trophy" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://kostaboda.co.uk/eurovision-song-contest/ |publisher=[[Kosta Glasbruk|Kosta Boda]] |access-date=30 June 2020}}</ref> The trophy is typically presented by the previous year's winner; others who have handed out the award in the past include representatives from the host broadcaster or the EBU, and politicians; in 2007, the fictional character [[Joulupukki]] (original [[Santa Claus]] from Finland) presented the award to the winner [[Marija Šerifović]].<ref name="Helsinki 07" />{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|p=216}}

== Interval acts and guest appearances ==
[[File:Riverdance cast, 2019 crop.jpg|thumb|alt=Photograph of Riverdance cast|''[[Riverdance]]'' (cast pictured at the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin in 2019) was the interval act at the 1994 contest.]]

Alongside the song contest and appearances from local and international personalities, performances from non-competing artists and musicians have been included since the first edition,<ref name="Iconic intervals" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Star percussionist revealed as Eurovision interval act |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/star-percussionist-revealed-as-eurovision-interval-act |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=29 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223021251/https://eurovision.tv/story/star-percussionist-revealed-as-eurovision-interval-act |archive-date=23 December 2019 |date=18 March 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> and have become a staple of the live show.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|p=216}} These performances have varied widely, previously featuring music, art, dance and circus performances, and past participants are regularly invited to perform, with the reigning champion traditionally returning each year to perform the previous year's winning song.<ref name="Iconic intervals" /><ref>{{cite web |last1=Siim |first1=Jarmo |title=Conchita Wurst & a magical bridge to open the Eurovision Final |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/conchita-wurst-a-magical-bridge-to-open-the-eurovision-final |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=1 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926223803/https://eurovision.tv/story/conchita-wurst-a-magical-bridge-to-open-the-eurovision-final |archive-date=26 September 2020 |date=29 April 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The contest's opening performance and the main interval act, held following the final competing song and before the announcement of the voting results, has become a memorable part of the contest and has included both internationally known artists and local stars. Contest organisers have previously used these performances as a way to explore their country's culture and history, such as in "4,000 Years of Greek Song" at the {{Escyr|2006||2006 contest}} held in Greece;<ref>{{cite book |last1=Polychronakis |first1=Ioannis |editor1-last=Tragaki |editor1-first=Dafni |title=Made in Greece: Studies in Popular Music |date=2019 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |isbn=978-1-315-74907-5 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xjVlDwAAQBAJ&q=4000+Years+of+Greek+Song&pg=PT52 |access-date=29 June 2020 |chapter=Singing Greece's Contemporary Socio-Cultural History}}</ref> other performances have been more comedic in nature, featuring parody and humour, as was the case with "Love Love Peace Peace" in {{Escyr|2016}}, a humorous ode to the history and spectacle of the contest itself.<ref name="Love Love Peace Peace">{{cite web |last1=Jordan |first1=Paul |title=Stockholm Revisited Part Three: Writing the Script |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/stockholm-revisited-part-three-writing-the-script |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=29 June 2020 |date=17 June 2016}}</ref> ''[[Riverdance]]'', which later became one of the most successful dance productions in the world, first began as the interval performance at the 1994 contest in Ireland; the seven-minute performance of [[Irish traditional music|traditional Irish music]] and [[Irish dance|dance]] was later expanded into a full stage show that has been seen by over 25 million people worldwide and provided a launchpad for its lead dancers [[Michael Flatley]] and [[Jean Butler]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Riverdance: The Journey |url=https://riverdance.com/the-show/the-journey/ |website=riverdance.com |access-date=29 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Amazing facts about the Irish dance phenomenon "Riverdance" |url=https://www.irishcentral.com/culture/entertainment/amazing-facts-about-the-irish-dance-phenomenon-riverdance |website=IrishCentral.com |access-date=29 June 2020 |date=29 January 2015}}</ref>

Among other artists who have performed in a non-competitive manner are Danish [[Europop]] group [[Aqua (band)|Aqua]] in {{Escyr|2001}},<ref>{{cite web |last1=Collins |first1=Simon |title=Aqua ride the highs and lows ahead of 2019 Australian tour |url=https://thewest.com.au/entertainment/music/aqua-ride-the-highs-and-lows-ng-b88965837z |publisher=[[The West Australian]] |access-date=29 June 2020 |date=7 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The end of a decade: Copenhagen 2001 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/the-end-of-a-decade-copenhagen-2001 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=29 June 2020 |date=22 December 2009}}</ref> Russian pop duo [[t.A.T.u.]] in {{Escyr|2009}},<ref>{{cite web |title=Russian army choir – Eurovision 2009 interval act – loses 64 members in plane crash tragedy |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/russian-army-choir-eurovision-2009-interval-act-loses-64-members-in-plane-crash-tragedy |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=29 June 2020 |date=26 December 2016}}</ref> and American entertainers [[Justin Timberlake]] and [[Madonna]] in {{Escyr|2016}} and {{Escyr|2019}} respectively.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jordan |first1=Paul |title=Justin Timberlake makes world premiere live performance in the Eurovision Song Contest! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/justin-timberlake-makes-world-premiere-live-performance-in-the-eurovision-song-contest |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=29 June 2020 |date=9 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Picheta |first1=Rob |title=Eurovision: Madonna mixes politics with a classic hit during performance |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/05/18/europe/madonna-eurovision-israel-scli-intl/index.html |publisher=CNN |access-date=29 June 2020 |date=19 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Belam |first1=Martin |title=Madonna was excruciating: what we learned from Eurovision 2019 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/may/19/madonna-was-excruciating-eurovision-2019 |work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=29 June 2020 |date=19 May 2019}}</ref> Other notable artists, including [[Cirque du Soleil]] ({{ESCYr|2009}}), [[Alexandrov Ensemble]] ({{ESCYr|2009}}), [[Vienna Boys' Choir]] ({{ESCYr|1967}} and {{ESCYr|2015}}) and [[Fire of Anatolia]] ({{ESCYr|2004}}), also performed on the Eurovision stage,<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]]|url=https://eurovision.tv/story/cirque-du-soleil-opener-for-the-final|title=Cirque du Soleil!|date=15 May 2009|access-date=18 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Cirque du Soleil: opener for the final! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/cirque-du-soleil-opener-for-the-final |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=29 June 2020 |date=15 May 2009}}</ref> and there have been guest appearances from well-known faces from outside the world of music, including actors, athletes, and serving astronauts and cosmonauts.<ref name="Decade Kyiv 05">{{cite web |title=The end of a decade: Kyiv 2005 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/the-end-of-a-decade-kyiv-2005 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=29 June 2020 |date=27 December 2009}}</ref><ref name="Decade Riga 03">{{cite web |title=The end of a decade: Riga 2003 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/the-end-of-a-decade-riga-2003 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=29 June 2020 |date=24 December 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Russian singer wins 2008 Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/russian-singer-wins-2008-eurovision-song-contest-1.297954 |access-date=29 June 2020 |agency=[[Associated Press]] |publisher=[[CTV News]] |date=24 May 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Fry |first1=Naomi |title=Eurovision's Sanitized Vision of Israel |url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/eurovisions-sanitized-vision-of-israel |magazine=[[The New Yorker]]|access-date=29 June 2020 |date=21 May 2019}}</ref> Guest performances have been used as a channel in response to global events happening concurrently with the contest. The {{Escyr|1999||1999 contest}} in Israel closed with all competing acts performing a rendition of Israel's {{Escyr|1979}} winning song "[[Hallelujah (Milk and Honey song)|Hallelujah]]" as a tribute to the victims of the [[Kosovo War|war in the Balkans]],{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=156–159}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Jerusalem 1999 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/jerusalem-1999 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=29 June 2020}}</ref> a dance performance entitled "The Grey People" in 2016's first semi-final was devoted to the [[2015 European migrant crisis|European migrant crisis]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Stockholm Revisited Part Five: Interval Acts |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/stockholm-revisited-part-five-interval-acts |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=29 June 2020 |date=1 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Åberg |first1=Erik |title=Mellanakten hyllas av Eurovision-tittarna |url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/a/zLk891/mellanakten-hyllas-av-eurovision-tittarna |work=[[Aftonbladet]] |access-date=29 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200629201422/https://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/a/zLk891/mellanakten-hyllas-av-eurovision-tittarna |archive-date=29 June 2020 |language=sv |date=11 May 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Grey People (Interval act Semi – Final 1 of the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest) |url=https://eurovision.tv/video/the-grey-people-interval-act-semi-final-1-of-the-2016-eurovision-song-contest |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=29 June 2020 |date=11 May 2016}}</ref> and the {{Escyr|2022||2022 contest}} featured known anti-war songs "[[Fragile (Sting song)|Fragile]]", "[[People Have the Power]]" and "[[Give Peace a Chance]]" in response to the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]] that same year.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Farren |first=Neil |date=2022-05-11 |title=Live From Turin: Semi-Final Two Jury Show |url=https://eurovoix.com/2022/05/11/live-from-turin-semi-final-two-jury-show/ |access-date=2022-05-14 |website=Eurovoix}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-14 |title=Eurovision 2022: All about the Grand Final |url=https://eurovisionworld.com/esc/eurovision-2022-all-about-the-grand-final |access-date=2022-05-14 |website=Eurovisionworld}}</ref>

{{wide image|File:ESC2016 Grand Final Interval Act 18.jpg|900px|alt=Photograph of performance of "Love Love Peace Peace" at the 2016 final: Petra Mede and Måns Zelmerlöw perform on stage surrounded by performers dressed in costumes of past Eurovision acts|"Love Love Peace Peace" at the 2016 final, performed by presenters [[Petra Mede]] and [[Måns Zelmerlöw]], depicted several memorable moments from Eurovision history.}}

== Criticism and controversy ==
The contest has been the subject of considerable criticism regarding both its musical content and what has been reported to be a political element to the event, and several controversial moments have been witnessed over the course of its history.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Robinson|first1=Frances|date=3 May 2017|title=13 times Eurovision got super political|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/13-times-eurovision-song-contest-got-political/|access-date=8 July 2020|work=[[Politico]]}}</ref>

=== Musical style and presentation ===
Criticism has been levied against the musical quality of past competing entries, with a perception that certain music styles seen as being presented more often than others in an attempt to appeal to as many potential voters as possible among the international audience.<ref name="How to win">{{cite news |title=How to win the Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://www.economist.com/europe/2019/05/16/how-to-win-the-eurovision-song-contest |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=16 May 2019}}</ref> [[Sentimental ballad#Power ballads|Power ballads]], [[Folk music#Europe|folk]] rhythms and [[bubblegum pop]] have been considered staples of the contest in recent years, leading to allegations that the event has become formulaic.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Carniel |first1=Jess |title=The Six Types of Eurovision Contestant |url=https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2018/05/the-six-types-of-eurovision-contestant/ |website=lifehacker.com.au |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=10 May 2018}}</ref><ref name="Fringe" /> Other traits in past competing entries which have regularly been mocked by media and viewers include an abundance of [[Modulation (music)|key changes]] and lyrics about love and/or peace, as well as the [[Non-native pronunciations of English|pronunciation of English by non-native users of the language]].<ref name="How to win" /><ref>{{cite web |title=What makes the perfect Eurovision song? |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2018-05-11/what-makes-the-perfect-eurovision-song/ |work=[[Radio Times]] |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=11 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Picheta |first1=Rob |title=Want to win Eurovision? Write a nice, slow song about love |url=https://edition.cnn.com/style/article/eurovision-winners-analysis-scli-intl-style/index.html |publisher=[[CNN]] |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=29 June 2020}}</ref> Given Eurovision is principally a television show, over the years competing performances have attempted to attract the viewers' attention through means other than music, and elaborate [[Stage lighting|lighting displays]], [[pyrotechnics]], and [[Extravaganza|extravagant]] on-stage theatrics and costumes having become a common sight at recent contests;<ref>{{cite web |last1=Picheta |first1=Rob |title=Eurovision: What is it and what time is it on? |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/05/18/europe/eurovision-explainer-2019-intl/index.html |publisher=[[CNN]] |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=18 May 2019}}</ref> criticism of these tactics have been levied as being a method of distracting the viewer from the weak musical quality of some of the competing entries.<ref name="Antes cursi">{{cite journal |last=Allatson |first=Paul |title='Antes cursi que sencilla': Eurovision Song Contests and the Kitsch‐Drive to Euro‐Unity |journal=Culture, Theory and Critique |year=2007 |volume=48 |issue=1 |pages=87–98 |doi=10.1080/14735780701293540|s2cid=146449408 }}</ref>

While many of these traits are ridiculed in the media and elsewhere, for others these traits are celebrated and considered an integral part of what makes the contest appealing.<ref>{{cite web |last=Campbell |first=Chuck |title='Eurovision' soundtrack kicks up the camp |url=https://eu.knoxnews.com/story/entertainment/columnists/chuck-campbell/2020/07/05/eurovision-soundtrack-will-ferrell-rachel-mcadams-6-lack-jessie-ware-dream-wife-peter-manos-review/5378820002/ |website=knoxnews.com |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=5 July 2020}}</ref> Although many of the competing acts each year will fall into some of the categories above, the contest has seen a diverse range of musical styles in its history, including rock, [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]], [[jazz]], [[Country music|country]], [[Electronic music|electronic]], [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]], [[Hip hop music|hip hop]] and [[Avant-garde music|avant-garde]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Pattillo |first=Alice |title=The 10 Most Metal Moments in Eurovision |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-most-metal-moments-in-eurovision |website=loudersound.com |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=14 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Escudero |first1=Victor M. |title=Eurovision and all that jazz! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/history-of-jazz-in-eurovision |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=11 August 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Osborn |first=Michael |title=Rapping for glory at Eurovision |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4900892.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=16 May 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Holden |first=Steve |title=Måneskin: The Eurovision winners storming the UK charts |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-57331991 |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=22 November 2021 |date=4 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Macdonald |first=Kyle |date=2022-05-17 |title=Serbia's viral Eurovision song featured Allegri's Miserere, and you might have missed it... |url=https://www.classicfm.com/composers/allegri/in-corpore-sano-konstrakta-eurovision-miserere-serbia/ |access-date=2022-05-20 |website=[[Classic FM (UK)|Classic FM]]}}</ref>

=== Political controversies ===
{{main|Political controversies in the Eurovision Song Contest}}
[[File:Calls for boycott Eurovision Song Contest 2019 (crop).jpg|thumb|right|alt=A painted mural on a wall on a street in Girona, Spain: the Eurovision trophy appears covered in barbed wire surrounded by tower blocks, with the words "#BoycottEurovision2019" above, and "Free Palestine" in English and Arabic to the top left|A mural in [[Girona]] promoting a boycott of the {{Escyr|2019||2019 contest}} in Israel]]
As artists and songs ultimately represent a country, the contest has seen several controversial moments where political tensions between competing countries as a result of [[frozen conflict]]s, and in some cases open warfare, are reflected in the performances and voting.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Robinson |first1=Frances |title=13 times Eurovision got super political |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/13-times-eurovision-song-contest-got-political/ |access-date=21 March 2021 |work=[[Politico]] |date=3 May 2017}}</ref>

The [[Nagorno-Karabakh conflict|continuing conflict]] between {{Esccnty|Armenia}} and {{Esccnty|Azerbaijan}} has affected the contest on numerous occasions. [[Armenia–Azerbaijan relations in the Eurovision Song Contest|Conflicts between the two countries at Eurovision]] escalated quickly since both countries began competing in the late 2000s, resulting in fines and disciplinary action for both countries' broadcasters over political stunts, and a forced change of title for one competing song due to allegations of political subtext.<ref name=ararat-diplomacy>{{cite web|title=Can Eurovision Succeed Where Diplomacy Has Failed?|url=http://araratmagazine.org/2011/05/can-eurovision-succeed-where-diplomacy-has-failed/|website=Ararat|access-date=5 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606221748/http://araratmagazine.org/2011/05/can-eurovision-succeed-where-diplomacy-has-failed/|archive-date=6 June 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Lomsadze |first1=Giorgi |title=Armenia Dodges Eurovision Controversy |url=https://eurasianet.org/armenia-dodges-eurovision-controversy |newspaper=Eurasianet |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=17 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Halpin |first1=Chris |title=EBU sanctions Armenian broadcaster over Nagorno-Karabakh flag incident |url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2016/05/11/ebu-sanctions-armenian-broadcaster-nagorno-karabakh-flag-incident/141783/ |website=wiwibloggs.co.uk |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=11 May 2016}}</ref> Interactions between {{Esccnty|Russia}} and {{Esccnty|Ukraine}} in the contest had originally been positive, however as [[Russia–Ukraine relations|political relations]] soured between the two countries so too have [[Russia–Ukraine relations in the Eurovision Song Contest|relations at Eurovision]] become more complex. Complaints were levied against {{Esccnty|Ukraine|y=2016}}'s winning song in {{Escyr|2016}}, "[[1944 (song)|1944]]", whose lyrics referenced the [[Deportation of the Crimean Tatars|deportation]] of the [[Crimean Tatars]], but which the {{Esccnty|Russia|t=Russian delegation|y=2016}} claimed had a greater political meaning in light of [[Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation|Russia's annexation]] of [[Crimea]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Savage |first1=Mark |title=Eurovision: Ukraine's entry aimed at Russia |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35630395 |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=22 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Withnall |first1=Adam |title=Russian officials threaten to boycott next Eurovision after victory for 'political' Ukraine entry |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/eurovision-song-contest-2016-winner-ukraine-jamala-russia-threat-boycott-next-year-a7030591.html |work=[[The Independent]] |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=15 May 2016}}</ref> As {{Esccnty|Ukraine|y=2017}} prepared to host the {{Escyr|2017|3=following year's contest}}, Russia's selected representative, [[Yuliya Samoylova (singer)|Yuliya Samoylova]], was barred from entering the country due to having previously entered Crimea illegally according to Ukrainian law.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision 2017: Ukraine bars Russian singer Samoilova from contest |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-39354775 |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=22 March 2017}}</ref> Russia eventually pulled out of the contest after offers for Samoylova to perform remotely were refused by Russia's broadcaster, [[Channel One Russia]], resulting in the EBU reprimanding the Ukrainian broadcaster, [[UA:PBC]].<ref>{{cite web|date=13 April 2017|title=EBU: "Russia no longer able to take part in Eurovision 2017"|url=https://eurovision.tv/story/russia-unable-to-participate-2017-ebu-statement|access-date=8 July 2020|website=Eurovision.tv|publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] (EBU)}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Eurovision threatens to ban Ukraine over Russian singer row |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/apr/01/eurovision-threatens-to-ban-ukraine-over-russian-singer-row |access-date=8 July 2020 |agency=[[Agence France-Presse]] |work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> In the wake of the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]] and subsequent protests from other participating countries, {{Esccnty|Russia|y=2022}} was barred from competing in the {{Escyr|2022|3=2022 contest}}, where {{Esccnty|Ukraine|y=2022}} went on to win.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|date=2022-02-25|title=EBU statement regarding the participation of Russia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022|url=https://eurovision.tv/mediacentre/release/ebu-statement-russia-2022|access-date=2022-02-25|website=Eurovision.tv|publisher=EBU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2022-02-25|title=Eurovision: Russia banned from competing at 2022 Song Contest|work=[[BBC News]]|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-60530513|access-date=2022-02-26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Belam |first1=Martin |last2=Cvorak |first2=Monika |date=2022-05-14 |title=Ukraine wins 2022 Eurovision song contest as UK finishes second in Turin |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/may/15/ukraine-wins-2022-eurovision-song-contest-as-uk-finishes-second-in-turin |access-date=2022-05-15 |website=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> {{Esccnty|Georgia|y=2009}}'s planned entry for the {{Escyr|2009||2009 contest}} in Moscow, Russia, "We Don't Wanna Put In", caused controversy as the lyrics appeared to criticise [[Vladimir Putin]], in a move seen as opposition to the then-[[Prime Minister of Russia|Russian prime minister]] in the aftermath of the [[Russo-Georgian War]]. After requests by the EBU for changes to the lyrics were refused, Georgia's broadcaster [[Georgian Public Broadcasting|GPB]] subsequently withdrew from the event.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision axes 'anti-Putin' song |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7935865.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=10 March 2009}}</ref>{{sfn|West|2020|pp=253–257}} {{Esccnty|Belarus|y=2021}}' planned entry in {{Escyr|2021}}, "[[Ya nauchu tebya (I'll Teach You)]]", also caused controversy in the wake of [[2020–2021 Belarusian protests|demonstrations]] against disputed [[2020 Belarusian presidential election|election]] results, resulting in the country's disqualification when the aforementioned song and another potential song were deemed to breach the contest's rules on neutrality and politicisation.<ref name="Belarus 2021">{{cite web|date=26 March 2021|title=EBU statement on Belarusian participation|url=https://eurovision.tv/story/ebu-statement-on-belarusian-entry-2021|access-date=5 April 2021|website=Eurovision.tv|publisher=EBU}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Agadellis |first1=Stratos |title=Belarus: EBU releases statement on the country's entry for Eurovision 2021 |url=http://esctoday.com/182383/belarus-ebu-releases-statement-on-the-countrys-entry-for-eurovision-2021/ |website=esctoday.com |access-date=5 April 2021 |date=11 March 2021}}</ref>

{{Esccnty|Israel}}'s participation in the contest has resulted in several controversial moments in the past, with the country's first appearance in {{Escyr|1973}}, less than a year after the [[Munich massacre]], resulting in an increased security presence at the venue in [[Luxembourg City]].{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=52–55}}<ref name="Luxembourg 73" />{{sfn|West|2020|pp=83–86}} {{Esccnty|Israel|y=1978}}'s first win in {{Escyr|1978}} proved controversial for [[Arab world|Arab states]] broadcasting the contest which would typically cut to [[Television advertisement|advertisements]] when Israel performed due to a lack of [[International recognition of Israel|recognition of the country]], and when it became apparent Israel would win many of these broadcasters cut the feed before the end of the voting.<ref name="Paris 78">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Paris 1978 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/paris-1978 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=7 July 2020}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=72–75}}<ref name="Roxburgh 2">{{cite book |last=Roxburgh |first=Gordon |title=Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest |date=2014 |publisher=Telos Publishing |location=Prestatyn |isbn=978-1-84583-093-9 |volume=Two: The 1970s }}</ref> Arab states which are eligible to compete have declined to participate due to Israel's presence, with {{Esccnty|Morocco}} the only Arab state to have entered Eurovision, competing for the first, and {{as of|2022|lc=y}} the only time, in {{Escyr|1980}} when Israel was absent.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=80–83}}<ref name="The Hague 80">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: The Hague 1980 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/the-hague-1980 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=7 July 2020}}</ref> Israeli participation has been criticised by those who oppose current [[Government of Israel|government]] policies in the state, with calls raised by various political groups for a boycott ahead of the {{Escyr|2019||2019 contest}} in [[Tel Aviv]], including proponents of the [[Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions]] (BDS) movement in response to the country's policies towards [[Palestinians]] in the [[West Bank]] and [[Gaza Strip|Gaza]], as well as groups who take issue with perceived [[Pinkwashing (LGBT)|pinkwashing]] in Israel.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Farrell |first1=Stephen |title=Israel counters Eurovision boycott campaign with Google ads |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-music-eurovision-israel-preparations/israel-counters-eurovision-boycott-campaign-with-google-ads-idUSKCN1SG11L |work=[[Reuters]] |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=10 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Maikey |first1=Haneen |last2=Aked |first2=Hilary |title=L'Eurovision comme occasion de pinkwashing pour Israël – la communauté LGBT+ devrait le boycotter |url=http://agencemediapalestine.fr/blog/2019/03/04/15797/ |website=agencemediapalestine.fr/ |publisher=Agence Médias Palestine |access-date=7 July 2020 |language=fr |trans-title=Eurovision as a pinkwashing opportunity for Israel – the LGBT+ community should boycott it |date=4 March 2019}}</ref> Others campaigned against a boycott, asserting that any cultural boycott would be antithetical to advancing peace in the region.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sherwin |first1=Adam |title=Eurovision 2019: Stephen Fry & Sharon Osbourne lead celebrities rejecting boycott of Israel Song Contest |url=https://inews.co.uk/news/stephen-fry-sharon-osbourne-lead-celebrities-rejecting-boycott-of-israel-eurovision-song-contest-285507 |work=[[i (newspaper)|i]]|access-date=7 July 2020 |date=30 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Snapes |first1=Laura |title=Celebrities denounce proposed boycott of Eurovision in Israel |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/apr/30/celebrities-denounce-proposed-boycott-of-eurovision-in-israel-stephen-fry |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=12 March 2021 |date=30 April 2019}}</ref>

=== Political and geographical voting ===
{{multiple image
| direction = vertical
| align = center
| width = 900
| footer = Produced using the methods presented by Mantzaris, Rein, and Hopkins:{{sfn| Mantzaris | Rein | Hopkins | 2018a }}{{sfn| Mantzaris | Rein | Hopkins | 2018b }} a network of the significant score deviations can be viewed over a time period of interest.
| image1 = The collusion between countries in Eurovision 1997 to 2017.png
| alt1 = Voting preferences in Eurovision 1997 to 2017
| caption1 = Voting preferences between countries in Eurovision between 1997 and 2017
| image2 = Mutual neglect of score allocations in the Eurovision 2010 to 2015.png
| alt2 = Neglect in Eurovision 2010 to 2015
| caption2 = Mutual neglect of score allocations in Eurovision between 2010 and 2015
}}

The contest has been described as containing political elements in its voting process, a perception that countries will give votes more frequently and in higher quantities to other countries based on political relationships, rather than the musical merits of the songs themselves.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision votes 'farce' attack |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/3719157.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=6 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040603125500/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/3719157.stm |archive-date=3 June 2004 |date=16 May 2004}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Malta slates Eurovision's voting |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6654719.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |date=14 May 2007 |access-date=6 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070709104543/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6654719.stm |archive-date=9 July 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref> Numerous studies and academic papers have been written on this subject, which have corroborated that certain countries form "clusters" or "cliques" by frequently voting in the same way; one study concludes that [[voting bloc]]s can play a crucial role in deciding the winner of the contest, with evidence that on at least two occasions bloc voting was a pivotal factor in the vote for the winning song.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Fenn |first1=Daniel |last2=Suleman |first2=Omer |last3=Efstathiou |first3=Janet |last4=Johnson |first4=Niel F. |title=How does Europe Make Its Mind Up? Connections, cliques, and compatibility between countries in the Eurovision Song Contest |journal=Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and Its Applications |date=1 February 2006 |volume=360 |issue=2 |pages=576–598 |doi=10.1016/j.physa.2005.06.051|arxiv=physics/0505071 |bibcode=2006PhyA..360..576F |s2cid=119406544}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Gatherer |first1=Derek |title=Comparison of Eurovision Song Contest Simulation with Actual Results Reveals Shifting Patterns of Collusive Voting Alliances |journal=Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation |date=31 March 2006 |volume=9 |issue=2 |url=http://jasss.soc.surrey.ac.uk/9/2/1.html |access-date=6 July 2020 |issn=1460-7425}}</ref> Other views on these "blocs" argue that certain countries will allocate high points to others based on similar musical tastes, shared cultural links and a high degree of similarity and [[mutual intelligibility]] between languages, and are therefore more likely to appreciate and vote for the competing songs from these countries based on these factors, rather than political relationships specifically.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ginsburgh |first1=Victor |last2=Noury |first2=Abdul |title=The Eurovision Song Contest: Is Voting Political or Cultural? |date=October 2006 |url=http://w.ecares.org/ecare/personal/ginsburgh/papers/153.eurovision.pdf |access-date=6 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903222919/http://w.ecares.org/ecare/personal/ginsburgh/papers/153.eurovision.pdf |archive-date=3 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Spierdijk/Vellekoop">{{cite journal |last1=Spierdijk |first1=L |last2=Vellekoop |first2=M.H. |title=Geography, culture, and religion: Explaining the bias in Eurovision song contest voting |journal=Applied Mathematics Memoranda |year=2006 |volume=1794 |url=https://research.utwente.nl/en/publications/geography-culture-and-religion-explaining-the-bias-in-eurovision- |access-date=6 July 2020}}</ref> Analysis on other voting patterns have revealed examples which indicate voting preferences among countries based on shared religion, as well as "patriotic voting", particularly since the introduction of televoting in {{Escyr|1997}}, where [[Expatriate|foreign nationals]] vote for their country of origin.<ref name="Spierdijk/Vellekoop" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Is there a Eurovision migrant effect? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-36305838 |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=6 July 2020 |date=17 May 2016}}</ref>

Voting patterns in the contest have been reported by news publishers, including ''[[The Economist]]'' and ''[[BBC News]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Alexander |first1=Ruth |title=The maths of Eurovision voting |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7408216.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=19 May 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Neighbourly voting in the Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://www.economist.com/europe/2018/05/12/neighbourly-voting-in-the-eurovision-song-contest |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=12 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Partisanship at Eurovision is becoming more blatant |url=https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2018/05/11/partisanship-at-eurovision-is-becoming-more-blatant |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=11 May 2018}}</ref> Criticism of the voting system was at its highest in the mid-2000s, resulting in a number of calls for countries to boycott the contest over reported voting biases, particularly following the {{Escyr|2007||2007 contest}} where Eastern European countries occupied the top 15 places in the final and dominated the qualifying spaces.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=188–191}}{{sfn|West|2020|pp=241–245}} The poor performance of the entries from more traditional Eurovision countries had subsequently been discussed in European national parliaments, and the developments in the voting was cited as among the reasons for the resignation of [[Terry Wogan]] as commentator for the UK, a role he had performed at every contest from {{Escyr|1980}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=MP demands Eurovision vote change |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6657207.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=6 July 2020 |date=15 May 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Terry Wogan 'very doubtful' about presenting Eurovision again |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/eurovision-12-1323243 |work=NME |access-date=6 July 2020 |date=12 August 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Norton is Eurovision's new Wogan |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7766310.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=6 July 2020 |date=5 December 2008}}</ref> In response to this criticism, the EBU introduced a second semi-final in {{Escyr|2008}}, with countries split based on geographic proximity and voting history, and juries of music professionals were reintroduced in {{Escyr|2009}}, in an effort to reduce the impacts of bloc voting.<ref name="2010 jury semis" /><ref name="Jury 09 final" /><ref name="Revamp">{{cite web |title=Revamp for Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/revamp-for-eurovision-song-contest |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=9 January 2008}}</ref>

=== LGBT visibility ===
{{main|LGBT visibility in the Eurovision Song Contest}}
[[File:Dana International op Het Grote Songfestivalfeest 2019.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=Photograph of Dana International during a performance|[[Dana International]], the contest's first [[Transgender|trans]] participant, and winner of the 1998 contest for Israel]]
Eurovision has had a long-held fan base in the [[LGBT community]], and contest organisers have actively worked to include these fans in the event since the 1990s.<ref>{{cite web |title=How Eurovision became a gay-friendly contest |url=https://www.france24.com/en/20150522-eurovision-gay-friendly-song-contest-lgbt-conchita-wurst |publisher=[[France 24]] |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=22 May 2015}}</ref> [[Paul Oscar]] became the contest's first openly [[Gay men|gay]] artist to compete when he represented {{Esccnty|Iceland|y=1997}} in {{Escyr|1997}}. {{Esccnty|Israel|y=1998}}'s [[Dana International]], the contest's first [[Transgender|trans]] performer, became the first LGBT artist to win in {{Escyr|1998}}.{{sfn|West|2020|pp=191–195}}<ref name="Birmingham 98">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Birmingham 1998 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/birmingham-1998 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=7 July 2020}}</ref> In {{Escyr|2021}}, [[Nikkie de Jager]] became the first trans person to host the contest.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Roessink |first1=Paulien |title='Eurovision' gets first transgender host in YouTube star Nikkie de Jager |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/language/english/eurovision-gets-first-transgender-host-in-youtube-star-nikkie-de-jager_1 |access-date=23 May 2021 |work=SBS Your Language |date=17 May 2021 |archive-date=23 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210523115659/https://www.sbs.com.au/language/english/eurovision-gets-first-transgender-host-in-youtube-star-nikkie-de-jager_1 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Several open members of the LGBT community have since gone on to compete and win: [[Conchita Wurst]], the [[Drag (clothing)|drag]] persona of openly gay Thomas Neuwirth, won the {{Escyr|2014|3=2014 contest}} for {{Esccnty|Austria|y=2014}}; openly [[bisexual]] performer [[Duncan Laurence]] was the winner of the 2019 contest for the {{Esccnty|Netherlands|y=2019}}; and rock band [[Måneskin]], winners of the 2021 contest for {{Esccnty|Italy|y=2021}}, features openly bisexual [[Victoria De Angelis]] as its bassist.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bromwich |first1=Kathryn |title=Conchita Wurst: 'Most artists are sensitive and insecure people. I am too' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/jul/06/conchita-interview-sensitive-insecure-eurovision-gay-pin-up-austrian |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=6 July 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Moore |first1=Matt |title=Dutch Eurovision contestant Duncan Laurence comes out as bisexual |url=https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/community/122298/dutch-eurovision-contestant-duncan-laurence-comes-out-as-bisexual/ |work=[[Gay Times]] |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=18 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Boni |first1=Federico |title=Sanremo 2021, i Maneskin a nudo tra bisessualità e "libertà sessuale" – la gallery social |url=https://www.gay.it/sanremo-2021-maneskin-nudo-bisessualita-gallery-social |website=Gay.it |access-date=1 February 2022 |date=12 February 2021 |language=italian}}</ref> [[Marija Šerifović]], who won the 2007 contest for {{Esccnty|Serbia|y=2007}}, subsequently came out publicly as a lesbian in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://inserbia.info/today/2013/11/i-am-a-lesbian-marija-serifovic-opens-herself-completely-in-her-film-confession/|title=I Am A Lesbian! – Marija Serifovic Opens Up in Her Film "Confession"|publisher=InSerbia News|date=28 November 2013|access-date=7 August 2015}}</ref> Past competing songs and performances have included references and allusions to [[same-sex relationships]]; "[[Nous les amoureux]]", the {{Escyr|1961}} winning song, contained references to the difficulties faced by a homosexual relationship;<ref>{{Cite web|title=" Nous les amoureux " de Jean-Claude Pascal, une chanson qui annonce la révolution du mouvement gay...|url=https://www.rtbf.be/lapremiere/article/detail_nous-les-amoureux-de-jean-claude-pascal-une-chanson-qui-annonce-la-revolution-du-mouvement-gay?id=10221083|date=16 May 2019|website=La Première|language=fr|access-date=3 May 2020}}</ref> [[Krista Siegfrids]]' performance of "Marry Me" at the {{Escyr|2013||2013 contest}} included a same-sex kiss with one of her female backing dancers;<ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision 2013 final underway amid lesbian kiss controversy |url=https://www.dw.com/en/eurovision-2013-final-underway-amid-lesbian-kiss-controversy/a-16822230 |website=dw.com |publisher=[[Deutsche Welle]] |access-date=28 February 2021 |date=18 May 2013}}</ref> and the stage show of {{Esccnty|Ireland|y=2018}}'s [[Ryan O'Shaughnessy]]'s "[[Together (Ryan O'Shaughnessy song)|Together]]" in {{Escyr|2018}} had two male dancers portraying a same-sex relationship.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Reynolds |first1=Daniel |title=Ireland's Gay Dance on Eurovision Shows World That 'Love Is Love' |url=https://www.advocate.com/world/2018/5/09/irelands-gay-dance-eurovision-shows-world-love-love |website=advocate.com |publisher=[[The Advocate (LGBT magazine)|The Advocate]] |access-date=28 February 2021 |date=9 May 2018}}</ref> [[Drag queen|Drag performers]], such as {{Esccnty|Ukraine|y=2007}}'s [[Verka Serduchka]], {{Esccnty|Denmark|y=2007}}'s [[DQ (artist)|DQ]] and {{Esccnty|Slovenia|y=2002}}'s [[Sestre (drag act)|Sestre]], have appeared, including Wurst winning in 2014.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jordan |first1=Paul |title=Life's a drag! Eurovision queens past and present |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/life-s-a-drag-eurovision-queens-past-and-present |website=eurovision.tv |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |access-date=28 February 2021 |date=24 October 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Transvestite Sisters stir Eurovision storm |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/monitoring/media_reports/1855726.stm |website=bbc.co.uk |publisher=[[BBC News]] |access-date=28 February 2021 |date=5 March 2002}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Banks |first1=Martin |title=Transvestite Eurosong win sparks Slovenia accession doubts |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/transvestite-eurosong-win-sparks-slovenia-accession-doubts/ |website=politico.eu |publisher=[[Politico]] |access-date=28 February 2021 |date=6 March 2002}}</ref>

In more recent years, various political ideologies across Europe have clashed in the Eurovision setting, particularly [[LGBT rights in Europe|on LGBT rights]]. Dana International's selection for the 1998 contest in [[Birmingham]] was marked by objections and death threats from orthodox [[Religion in Israel|religious sections of Israeli society]], and at the contest her accommodation was reportedly in the only hotel in Birmingham with bulletproof windows.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=152–155}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Transsexual singer stirs up passions |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/1998/05/98/eurovision/90279.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=10 May 1998}}</ref> {{Esccnty|Turkey}}, once a regular participant and a one-time winner, first pulled out of the contest in {{Escyr|2013}}, citing dissatisfaction in the voting rules and more recently Turkish broadcaster [[Turkish Radio and Television Corporation|TRT]] have cited LGBT performances as another reason for their continued boycott, refusing to broadcast the 2013 event over {{Esccnty|Finland|y=2013}}'s same sex kiss.<ref name="Turkey LGBT" /><ref>{{cite web |last1=Marshall |first1=Alex |title=Eurovision Song Contest Is Canceled Over Coronavirus Concerns |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/18/arts/music/eurovision-canceled-coronavirus.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200318141020/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/18/arts/music/eurovision-canceled-coronavirus.html |archive-date=2020-03-18 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=7 July 2020 |date=18 March 2020 |quote="In 2018, the head of Turkey's public broadcaster said the boycott was also partly because some past winners, including the drag queen Conchita Wurst, had gone against Turkey's social values."}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Morgan |first1=Joe |title=Turkey cancels Eurovision Song Contest over lesbian kiss |url=https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/turkey-cancels-eurovision-song-contest-over-lesbian-kiss160513/ |publisher=[[Gay Star News]] |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=16 May 2013 |archive-date=28 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528122038/https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/turkey-cancels-eurovision-song-contest-over-lesbian-kiss160513/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> LGBT visibility in the contest has been cited as a deciding factor for {{Esccnty|Hungary}}'s non-participation since {{Escyr|2020}}, although no official reason was given by the Hungarian broadcaster [[MTVA (Hungary)|MTVA]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Walker |first1=Shaun |last2=Garamvolgyi |first2=Flora |title=Hungary pulls out of Eurovision amid rise in anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/nov/27/hungary-pulls-out-of-eurovision-amid-rise-in-anti-lgbt-rhetoric |work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=16 July 2020 |date=27 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Kozlov |first1=Vladimir |title=Hungary Exits 2020 Eurovision Over Contest's LGBT-Friendly Policies: Report |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/8545072/hungary-exits-2020-eurovision-song-contest-over-lgbt-friendly-policies-report |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=16 July 2020 |date=29 November 2019}}</ref> The rise of [[anti-LGBT sentiment]] in Europe has led to a marked increase in [[booing]] from contest audiences, particularly since the introduction of a [[Russian gay propaganda law|"gay propaganda" law in Russia]] in 2013.{{sfn|West|2020|pp=283–286}}<ref>{{cite web |last1=Nelson |first1=Fraser |title=Eurovision 2014: the booing of Russia was a disgrace |url=http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/culturehousedaily/2014/05/eurovision-2014-the-booing-of-russia-was-a-disgrace/ |work=[[The Spectator]] |access-date=7 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150504080615/http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/culturehousedaily/2014/05/eurovision-2014-the-booing-of-russia-was-a-disgrace/ |archive-date=4 May 2015 |date=11 May 2014}}</ref> [[Conchita Wurst#International response|Conchita Wurst's win was met with criticism]] on the [[Politics of Russia|Russian political]] stage, with several [[Conservatism in Russia|conservative]] politicians voicing displeasure in the result.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Davies |first1=Caroline |title=Conchita Wurst pledges to promote tolerance after jubilant welcome home |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2014/may/11/conchita-wurst-pledges-to-promote-tolerance |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=11 May 2014}}</ref> Clashes on LGBT visibility in the contest have occurred in countries which do not compete, such as in {{Esccnty|China}}, where broadcasting rights were terminated during the 2018 contest due to [[Censorship in China|censorship]] of "abnormal sexual relationships and behaviours" that went against Chinese broadcasting guidelines.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Royston |first1=Benny |title=China banned from broadcasting Eurovision after cutting same-sex dance and tattooed singer |url=https://metro.co.uk/2018/05/10/china-banned-from-broadcasting-eurovision-after-cutting-same-sex-dance-and-tattooed-singer-7536787/ |publisher=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]] |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=10 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Bakker |first1=Sietse |title=EBU terminates this year's partnership with Mango TV |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/ebu-terminates-this-year-s-partnership-with-mango-tv |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=10 May 2018}}</ref>

== Cultural influence ==
The Eurovision Song Contest has amassed a global following and sees annual audience figures of between 100 and 600 million.<ref>{{cite web |title=Finland wins Eurovision contest |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/archive/2006/05/2008410141723346664.html |publisher=[[Al Jazeera]] |access-date=26 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200119173244/https://www.aljazeera.com/archive/2006/05/2008410141723346664.html |archive-date=19 January 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest – International Music Program |url=http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/E/htmlE/eurovisionso/eurovisionso.htm |publisher=[[Museum of Broadcast Communications]] |access-date=26 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050113034609/http://www.museum.tv/Archives/Etv/E/htmlE/eurovisionso/eurovisionso.htm |archive-date=13 January 2005}}</ref> The contest has become a cultural influence worldwide since its first years, is regularly described as having [[kitsch]] appeal, and is included as a topic of parody in television [[Sketch comedy|sketches]] and in stage performances at the [[Edinburgh Festival Fringe|Edinburgh Fringe]] and [[Melbourne International Comedy Festival|Melbourne Comedy]] festivals among others.<ref name="Fringe">{{cite web |last1=Majendie |first1=Paul |title=Fringe show celebrates Eurovision kitsch |url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/stage-arts-edinburgh-eurovision-dc/edinburgh-fringe-show-celebrates-eurovision-kitsch-idUKL1142844820070811 |work=[[Reuters]] |access-date=7 July 2020 |date=11 August 2007}}</ref><ref name="Antes cursi" />{{sfn|Raykoff|Tobin|2016|p=9}}<ref>{{cite web |title=comedyfestival.com.au |url=https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2020/shows/eurowision |website=Melbourne International Comedy Festival: Eurowision |access-date=7 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200306071538/https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2020/shows/eurowision |archive-date=6 March 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> Several films have been created which celebrate the contest, including [[Eytan Fox]]'s 2013 Israeli comedy ''[[Cupcakes (film)|Cupcakes]]'', and the [[Netflix]] 2020 musical comedy, ''[[Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga]]'', produced with backing from the EBU and starring [[Will Ferrell]] and [[Rachel McAdams]].<ref>{{cite web |title='Cupcakes': Film Review |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/cupcakes-film-review-784623 |website=hollywoodreporter.com |publisher=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=28 February 2021 |date=26 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga – out now! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-movie-the-story-of-fire-saga |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020 |date=24 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Scott |first1=Sheena |title='Eurovision Song Contest' Movie on Netflix Celebrates A Very European Show |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/sheenascott/2020/06/26/eurovision-song-contest-the-story-of-fire-saga-on-netflix-celebrates-a-very-european-show |work=[[Forbes]]|access-date=3 July 2020 |date=26 June 2020}}</ref>

Eurovision has a large online following and multiple independent websites, news blogs and [[fan clubs]] are dedicated to the event. One of the oldest and largest Eurovision fan clubs is [[OGAE]], founded in 1984 in Finland and currently a network of over 40 national branches across the world. National branches regularly host events to promote and celebrate Eurovision, and several participating broadcasters work closely with these branches when preparing their entries.<ref>{{cite web|title=Eurovision Song Contest: Fans|url=https://eurovision.tv/fans|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125225630/https://eurovision.tv/fans|archive-date=2020-11-25|access-date=2022-02-19|publisher=Eurovision Song Contest}}</ref>

In the run-up to each year's contest, several countries regularly host smaller events between the conclusion of the national selection shows in March and the contest proper in May, known as the "pre-parties". These events typically feature the artists which will go on to compete at that year's contest, and consist of performances at a venue and meet-and-greets with fans and the press. ''Eurovision in Concert'', held annually in [[Amsterdam]], was one of the first of these events to be created, holding its first edition in 2008.<ref>{{cite web |title=About Eurovision in Concert |url=https://eurovisioninconcert.nl/en/about-eurovision-in-concert/ |website=eurovisioninconcert.nl |access-date=3 July 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Groot |first1=Evert |title=This was Eurovision in Concert 2019 in Amsterdam |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-in-concert-2019-in-review |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020 |date=7 April 2019}}</ref> Other events held regularly include the ''London Eurovision Party'', ''PrePartyES'' in [[Madrid]], and ''Israel Calling'' in [[Tel Aviv]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Holden |first1=Steve |last2=Rosney |first2=Daniel |date=12 May 2019 |title=Eurovision Tel Aviv 2019: Why the song contest is bigger than ever |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-48023500 |access-date=3 July 2020 |work=[[BBC News]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Zwart |first1=Josianne |last2=Escudero |first2=Victor M. |title=Over 20 acts to appear at Madrid's ESPreParty this weekend |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/espreparty-madrid-spain-2018 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020 |date=18 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rössing |first=Dominik |date=2022-03-31 |title=Six more countries confirmed for Israel Calling 2022, making it 23 artists so far |url=https://escxtra.com/2022/03/31/six-more-countries-confirmed-for-israel-calling-2022/ |access-date=2022-04-03 |website=ESCXTRA.com}}</ref> Several community events have been held virtually, particularly since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe in 2020, among these ''[[EurovisionAgain]]'', an initiative where fans watched and discussed past contests in sync on YouTube and other social media platforms. Launched during the first [[COVID-19 lockdowns]], the event subsequently became a [[Twitter trends|top trend on Twitter]] across Europe and facilitated over £20,000 in donations for UK-based [[LGBT]]Q+ charities.<ref>{{cite web |last=Rosney |first=Daniel |title=Eurovision Again: Why fans of the song contest get together every Saturday |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-52381023 |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=3 July 2020 |date=25 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision Again wordt maandelijks initiatief |url=https://www.ad.nl/show/eurovision-again-wordt-maandelijks-initiatief~ac29e875/ |work=[[Algemeen Dagblad]]|access-date=3 July 2020 |language=nl |trans-title=Eurovision Again becomes a monthly initiative |date=27 June 2020}}</ref><ref name="Eurovision Again BtS">{{cite web |title=How Eurovision Again came to your screens |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/how-eurovisionagain-was-brought-to-your-screens |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=3 July 2020 |date=27 June 2020}}</ref>

== Special events and related competitions ==
[[File:Destiny Chukunyere at stage of JESC 2015 (2).jpg|thumb|right|[[Destiny Chukunyere]] won the [[Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2015|2015 edition]] of the [[Junior Eurovision Song Contest]] for [[Malta]]]]
[[File:Hosts of the Eurovision Greatest Hits.jpg|thumb|right|Hosts [[Graham Norton]] and [[Petra Mede]] during ''[[Eurovision Song Contest's Greatest Hits]]'', a special event marking the contest's 60th anniversary]]

Several anniversary events, and related contests under the "Eurovision Live Events" brand, have been organised by the EBU with member broadcasters.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision Live Events |url=https://events.eurovision.tv/ |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=26 June 2020}}</ref> In addition participating broadcasters have occasionally commissioned special Eurovision programmes for their home audiences, and a number of other imitator contests have been developed outside of the EBU framework, on both a national and international level.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dahlander |first1=Gustav |title=Klart för Eurovision-vecka i SVT |url=https://blogg.svt.se/melodifestivalen-expertbloggen/klart-for-eurovision-vecka-i-svt/ |website=svt.se |publisher=[[Sveriges Television]] |access-date=15 July 2020 |language=sv |date=3 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=May means Eurovision on the BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/eurovision/entries/990f7787-04ae-4b49-b62f-7303d1898a06 |publisher=BBC |access-date=15 July 2020 |date=1 May 2020}}</ref>

The EBU has held several events to mark selected anniversaries in the contest's history: ''[[Songs of Europe (1981 concert)|Songs of Europe]]'', held in 1981 to celebrate its twenty-fifth anniversary, had live performances and video recordings of all Eurovision Song Contest winners up to 1981;<ref>{{cite web |title=Songs of Europe – BBC Two "Radio Times" listing |url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/d80d6106cc8a4d1199c991955cd18b8d |publisher=[[BBC Genome Project]] |access-date=26 June 2020}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|p=87}} ''[[Congratulations: 50 Years of the Eurovision Song Contest]]'' was organised in 2005 to celebrate the event's fiftieth anniversary, and featured a contest to determine the most popular song from among 14 selected entries from the contest's first 50 years;<ref name="Congratulations">{{cite web |title=Congratulations Show – Eurovision History |url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/history/congratulations-show |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=26 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905232704/http://www.eurovision.tv/page/history/congratulations-show |archive-date=5 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="ABBA 50">{{cite web |last1=Adam |first1=Karla |title=Abba's 'Waterloo' is voted best song of 50 Eurovision years |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/abbas-waterloo-is-voted-best-song-of-50-eurovision-years-321745.html |work=[[The Independent]] |access-date=26 June 2020 |date=24 October 2005 |archive-date=28 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628010131/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/abbas-waterloo-is-voted-best-song-of-50-eurovision-years-321745.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and in 2015 the event's sixtieth anniversary was marked by ''[[Eurovision Song Contest's Greatest Hits]]'', a concert of performances by past Eurovision artists and video montages of performances and footage from previous contests.<ref>{{cite web |title=Official: London to host Eurovision's 60th Anniversary Event |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/official-london-to-host-eurovision-s-60th-anniversary-event |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=26 June 2020 |date=5 February 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision's Greatest Hits – line-up |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/36KjTqPHSdTCqkv93SsGvJd/line-up |publisher=BBC |access-date=26 June 2020}}</ref> Following the cancellation of the {{Escyr|2020||2020 contest}}, the EBU subsequently organised a special non-competitive broadcast, ''[[Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light]]'', which provided a showcase for the songs that would have taken part in the competition.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision: Europe Shine A Light |date=9 April 2020 |url=https://eurovision.tv/eurovision-europe-shine-a-light |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=26 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Eurovision still shines despite cancelled final |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/may/17/eurovision-still-shines-despite-cancelled-final |access-date=26 June 2020 |agency=[[PA Media]] |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=17 May 2020}}</ref>

Other contests organised by the EBU include [[Eurovision Young Musicians]], a classical music competition for European musicians between the ages of 12 and 21;<ref name="EYM">{{cite web |title=Live Event: Eurovision Young Musicians |url=https://www.ebu.ch/projects/tv/music/eurovision-young-musicians |date=15 May 2018 |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |access-date=26 June 2020}}</ref> [[Eurovision Young Dancers]], a dance competition for non-professional performers between the ages of 16 and 21;<ref name="EYD">{{cite web |title=Live Event: Eurovision Young Dancers |url=https://www.ebu.ch/projects/tv/dance/eurovision-young-dancers |date=22 June 2017 |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |access-date=26 June 2020}}</ref> [[Eurovision Choir]], a choral competition for non-professional European choirs produced in partnership with the {{ill|Interkultur|de}} and modelled after the [[World Choir Games]];<ref name="Choir">{{cite web |title=Eurovision Choir |url=https://www.ebu.ch/eurovision-choir |date=3 June 2020 |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |access-date=26 June 2020}}</ref> and the [[Junior Eurovision Song Contest]], a similar song contest for singers aged between 9 and 14 representing primarily European countries.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision Events: Junior Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://events.eurovision.tv/junior-eurovision-song-contest |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=26 June 2020 |archive-date=6 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206224858/https://events.eurovision.tv/junior-eurovision-song-contest |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[Eurovision Dance Contest]] was an event featuring pairs of dancers performing ballroom and Latin dancing, which took place for two editions, in 2007 and 2008.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision Dance Contest |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00dp4cf/episodes/guide |publisher=BBC |access-date=23 April 2020}}</ref>

Similar international music competitions have been organised externally to the EBU. The [[Sopot International Song Festival]] has been held annually since 1961; between 1977 and 1980, under the patronage of the [[International Radio and Television Organisation]] (OIRT), an Eastern European broadcasting network similar to the EBU, it was rebranded as the [[Intervision Song Contest]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Morton |first1=Elise |title=Intervision, the Communist Counterpart to Eurovision That Didn't Quite Work |url=https://theculturetrip.com/europe/articles/intervision-the-communist-counterpart-to-eurovision-that-didnt-quite-work/ |website=theculturetrip.com |publisher=Culture Trip |access-date=28 February 2021 |date=5 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Rosenberg |first1=Steve |title=The Cold War rival to Eurovision |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18006446 |website=bbc.co.uk |publisher=[[BBC News]] |access-date=28 February 2021 |date=14 May 2012}}</ref> An [[Ibero-America]]n contest, the [[OTI Festival]], was previously held among [[hispanophone]] and [[lusophone]] countries in Europe, North America and South America; and a contest for countries and [[Autonomous administrative division|autonomous regions]] with [[Turkic peoples|Turkic]] links, the [[Turkvision Song Contest]], has been organised since 2013.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Escudero |first1=Victor M. |title=Celebration! The best of Spain in Eurovision |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/spain-top-ten-entries |website=eurovision.tv |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |access-date=28 February 2021 |date=28 January 2018 |quote=In 1995 [Marcos Llunas] won the latin version of Eurovision, the Festival OTI where Spain, Portugal and the American countries participated until the year 2000, when the last edition took place.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=El Festival de la OTI, el olvidado Eurovisión de las Américas |url=https://www.elespanol.com/bluper/television/20200122/festival-oti-olvidado-eurovision-americas/460954581_0.html |website=elespanol.com |publisher=[[El Español]] |access-date=28 February 2021 |language=Spanish |date=22 January 2020 |trans-title=The OTI Festival, the forgotten Eurovision of the Americas}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=After snubbing the Eurovision Song Contest, Turkey officially launches 'Turkvision' |url=https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/after-snubbing-the-eurovision-song-contest-turkey-officially-launches-turkvision-54886 |access-date=28 February 2021 |agency=[[Demirören News Agency|Doğan News Agency]] |publisher=[[Hürriyet Daily News]] |date=21 September 2013 |location=Eskişehir}}</ref> Similarly, an adaption of the contest for artists in the United States, the ''[[American Song Contest]]'', was held in 2022 and featured songs representing U.S. states and [[U.S. territory|territories]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The Eurovision Song Contest travels to America! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/the-eurovision-song-contest-travels-to-america |website=eurovision.tv |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |access-date=28 February 2021 |date=7 August 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title='American Song Contest' on screens in 2022 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/american-song-contest-2022 |website=eurovision.tv |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |access-date=26 May 2021 |date=14 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=White |first1=Peter |title='American Song Contest', U.S. Version Of Eurovision, Tunes Up For NBC |url=https://deadline.com/2021/05/american-song-contest-u-s-version-of-eurovision-nbc-1234756361/ |website=deadline.com |publisher=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |access-date=26 May 2021 |date=14 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Granger |first=Anthony |date=2023-05-10 |title=Partners Looking at Options For American Song Contest |url=https://eurovoix-world.com/2023/05/10/partners-looking-at-options-for-american-song-contest/ |access-date=2023-05-11 |website=Eurovoix World |language=en-GB}}</ref> Adaptions of the contest for artists in Canada and Latin America are in development, though development on the former has been halted.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-25 |title='Eurovision Canada' will join the family in 2023 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-canada-2023 |access-date=2022-04-26 |website=eurovision.tv |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-12 |title=Eurovision Song Contest to launch in Latin America |url=https://www.ebu.ch/news/2022/07/eurovision-song-contest-to-be-launched-in-latin-america |access-date=2022-07-12 |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-12 |title=La UER y RTVE se reunirán para explorar vías de colaboración en un proyecto de música en Latinoamérica |url=https://www.rtve.es/television/20220712/uer-rtve-reunion-madrid-explorar-vias-colaboracion-proyecto-musica-latinoamerica/2388215.shtml |access-date=2022-07-13 |publisher=[[RTVE]] |language=ES}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Granger |first=Anthony |date=2023-05-10 |title=Eurovision Canada Has Taken a Step Back |url=https://eurovoix-world.com/2023/05/10/🇨🇦-eurovision-canada-has-taken-a-step-back/ |access-date=2023-05-11 |website=Eurovoix World |language=en-GB}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

Sources:
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite journal|last1=Mantzaris|first1=Alexander V.|last2=Rein|first2=Samuel R.|last3=Hopkins|first3=Alexander D.|title=Examining Collusion and Voting Biases Between Countries During the Eurovision Song Contest Since 1957|journal=[[Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation]]|date=2018a|volume=21|issue=1|page=1|doi=10.18564/jasss.3580|doi-access=free}}
* {{cite journal|last1=Mantzaris|first1=Alexander V.|last2=Rein|first2=Samuel R.|last3=Hopkins|first3=Alexander D.|title=Preference and neglect amongst countries in the Eurovision Song Contest|journal=Journal of Computational Social Science|date=2018b|volume=1|issue=2|pages=377–390|doi=10.1007/s42001-018-0020-2|doi-access=free}}
* {{cite book|last=O'Connor|first=John Kennedy|author-link=John Kennedy O'Connor|title=The Eurovision Song Contest: The Official History|date=2010|publisher=[[Carlton Publishing Group|Carlton Books]]|location=London|isbn=978-1-84732-521-1|edition=2nd}}
* {{cite book|editor1-last=Raykoff|editor1-first=Ivan|editor2-last=Tobin|editor2-first=Robert Deam|title=A Song for Europe: Popular Music and Politics in the Eurovision Song Contest|date=2016|publisher=[[Routledge]]|location=Abingdon-on-Thames|isbn=978-0-754658-79-5|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5zQrDwAAQBAJ|access-date=3 July 2020}}
* {{cite book|last=Roxburgh|first=Gordon|title=Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest|date=2012|publisher=[[Telos Publishing]]|location=Prestatyn|isbn=978-1-84583-065-6|series=Volume One: The 1950s and 1960s}}
* {{cite book|last=West|first=Chris|author-link=Chris West|title=Eurovision! A History of Modern Europe Through the World's Greatest Song Contest|date=2020|publisher=[[Melville House Publishing|Melville House UK]]|location=London|isbn=978-1-911545-55-2|edition=2nd}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book|last=Jordan|first=Paul|title=The Modern Fairy Tale: Nation Branding, National Identity and the Eurovision Song Contest in Estonia|date=2014|publisher=[[University of Tartu Press]]|location=Tartu|isbn=978-9949-32-559-7|url=https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/id/c349bb4e-c048-4cf8-a847-ed07fe8e0367/474310.pdf|access-date=6 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200707111636/https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/id/c349bb4e-c048-4cf8-a847-ed07fe8e0367/474310.pdf|archive-date=7 July 2020|url-status=live}}
* {{cite journal|last=Yair|first=Gad|year=1995|title='Unite Unite Europe' The political and cultural structures of Europe as reflected in the Eurovision Song Contest|journal=Social Networks|volume=17|issue=2|pages=147–161|doi=10.1016/0378-8733(95)00253-k}}
* {{cite journal|last1=Yair|first1=Gad|last2=Maman|first2=Daniel|year=1996|title=The Persistent Structure of Hegemony in the Eurovision Song Contest|journal=Acta Sociologica|volume=39|issue=3|pages=309–325|doi=10.1177/000169939603900303|s2cid=144085791}}
{{refend}}

== External links ==

*{{Commons category-inline}}
*{{wikiquote-inline}}
* {{Official website|https://eurovision.tv/}}
* {{Official website|https://www.ebu.ch/projects/tv/eurovision-song-contest|name=EBU website}}
* {{youTube|user=eurovision}}

{{Eurovision Song Contest}}
{{European Broadcasting Union}}
{{Music industry}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Eurovision Song Contest| ]]
[[Category:1956 establishments in Europe]]
[[Category:Eurovision events|Song Contest]]
[[Category:Music television series]]
[[Category:Pop music festivals]]
[[Category:Recurring events established in 1956]]
[[Category:Song contests]]
[[Category:Annual television shows]]

List of Prisoner characters – inmates

2023-02-19T11:26:00Z

Vodkamad: /* Characters list */

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{{One source|date=February 2023}}
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{{DISPLAYTITLE:List of ''Prisoner'' characters – inmates}}
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2012}}

This is a list of all inmates of the fictitious Wentworth Detention Centre in the [[television]] series ''[[Prisoner (TV series)|Prisoner]]'', known as '''Prisoner: Cell Block H''' in The United States and Britain and '''Caged Women''' in Canada.
Note that episode numbers cited are for first and last appearances; many characters had spells where they were absent for long periods of time and subsequently returned. Also, characters appearances in recaps are not included if they died in the previous episode, unless their corpse is seen at the beginning of the next episode (e.g. Paddy Lawson):

==Characters list==
{|class="wikitable"
| Character
| Actor
| Brief
|-
| '''Sally Lee'''
| [[Lisa Aldenhoven]] – episode 1) –
| the first ever prisoner seen in the series, being chased through the corridors by officers Meg Jackson and Vera Bennett, after freaking out on drugs, supplied by cold officer Ann Yates. Later in the episode Sally is found to have hanged herself. The show's first Halfway House (a boarding house for recently released prisoners) is later named in her honour.
|-
| '''Frieda Joan "Franky" Doyle'''
| [[Carol Burns]] – episode 1–20
| an agitating [[lesbian]] [[motorcycle|bikie]] who suffers ferocious outbursts when she becomes angry. Her violent attitude stems in part from the fact that she is [[illiterate]]. She falls in love with fellow inmate Karen Travers, who does not appreciate her advances; however, the pair eventually strike up a friendship when Karen begins teaching Franky how to read. Despite her immense popularity with viewers, Franky appears in only the first 20 episodes (due to actress Carol Burns choosing to leave as the series was extended from a sixteen-part serial to an ongoing soap opera); after her brother Gary ([[Greg Stroud]]) is killed in a tractor accident, and feeling jaded by Karen after Franky takes her friendship to mean something more, Franky escapes the prison with Doreen and Lizzie. Although Lizzie is forced to turn back due to her weak heart, Franky and Doreen go on the run, even posing as nuns before Franky is shot dead by a Policeman. Despite Franky's short run on the show, the character is mentioned numerous times over the next couple of hundreds of episodes.
|-
| '''Karen Mary Travers''' (née Healy)
| [[Peta Toppano|Peita Toppano]] – episode 1–80
| Karen Travers, is a middle-class school-teacher who had stabbed her abusive, adulterous husband to death. Initially Karen offers up little defence for her actions (which had led to her being given a life sentence), only later does it emerge that, as well as the physical and mental abuse she refused to report, she had returned from having the [[abortion]] that her husband had forced her to have, only to find him in bed with another woman, which ultimately sees her sentence reduced to two years. Arriving at the prison, as well as being intimidated by the [[sexual harassment]] of Franky Doyle (whom she later manages to befriend), she is reunited with Dr. Greg Miller, who is now working as the prison doctor at Wentworth, whom she previously had a close relationship with before getting married. The pair have a close friendship within Wentworth at times, but also grow apart during the course of the 1979 season. With her sentence reduced, Karen is permitted to have day release to study at University; during this time she has a brief relationship with lawyer Steve Wilson, who defends her in court. Although given a two-year sentence, Karen is given parole from Wentworth by the end of the 1979 season. After several false starts, she is befriended by prisoner rights campaigner Angela Jeffries ([[Jeanie Drynan]]), who ultimately puts Karen in charge of the show's first Halfway House. Karen runs the house for a short time towards the end of the 1979 season, with the newly released Doreen Anderson as the first tenant, but during this time, Greg confesses his love for her and the two resume their relationship. In the 1979 season finale, Karen is shot by Pat O'Connell (see separate entry)'s son David, who believes that Greg was responsible for his mother's re-arrest and mistakenly shoots Karen instead of Greg. With Karen narrowly escaping death and badly scared, Greg makes plans for them to start afresh in Queensland; Karen is last seen in episode 80, recovering from her wounds; Greg (and, off-screen, Karen) leaving the series a few episodes later. When Greg makes a brief return appearance in episode 107, we hear that Karen is recovering well and the pair have now married. She's lastly mentioned in episode 201 by a psychiatrist who tries to jog back Bea's memory who ended up with a serious case of [[amnesia]] from a car accident from her transfer back to Wentworth after her temporal stay at Barnhurst.
|-
| '''Lynnette Jane "Lynn" Warner – "Wonk"'''
| [[Kerry Armstrong]] – episode 1–44,
| Lynn is a young, rather naïve country girl who had come to the city to work as a nanny and arrived at Wentworth protesting her innocence at having kidnapped the baby in her care and buried him alive. She was brutally initiated into prison life, when Bea Smith, upon hearing about her crime, burned her hand "accidentally" with the press, giving rise to one of Prisoner's most iconic scenes. Lynn gains the nickname "Wonky Warner" (or just "Wonk") from some of the other women, especially Doreen, due to her being perceived as mentally unbalanced due to her supposed crimes. It is eventually discovered that the child's own mother had buried the child alive; clearing Lynn of her accused crime. However, upon her release, Lynn runs away from her parents' farm with Doug Parker, also an ex-convict, whom she marries, and reluctantly becomes involved with an armed hold-up, which leaves Doug dead and Lynn back inside (as well as losing the unborn baby she was carrying after being raped as a nanny). During her second spell in Wentworth, she became part of the new work release programme, working during the day at a local garden centre for Syd Butterfield ([[Alan Rowe (australian actor)|Alan Rowe]]), and getting close with Syd's son Geoffrey ([[David Cameron (actor)|David Cameron]]) in the process, much to the chagrin of Syd. Both Lynn's work programme and parole are jeopardised when she is caught trying to smuggle letters out of the prison, which she insists she has never seen before. It eventually emerges that they were planted by Doreen, who has developed a crush on Lynn, and is scared of her leaving her. After serving her time, Lynn is finally released again, though on her release day, is kidnapped by thugs who confused her with Monica Ferguson (who is released on the same day and who knew the whereabouts of some stolen loot). After being rescued by the police, Lynn presumably returns to her parents' farm, and this is the last we see of the character (we hear of her sending a Christmas present to Doreen in episode 75). She is lastly mentioned in episode 203 by return prisoner Jeanette "Mum" Brooks (see below) who mentions Bea burning her hand on the steam press when Mum, according to her solicitor, believes she has to bring up some events about Bea during their time together in Wentworth to help explain why she was too anxious to go to the police when Bea arrived at her house with amnesia in episode 199. This was to help them in their court case as Mum intentionally wanted to help Bea get herself together before she had to be turned in, aiding a prisoner which led to her second re-arrest.
|-
| '''Gladys Anne "Marilyn" Mason'''
| [[Margaret Laurence (actor)|Margaret Laurence]] – episode 1–16
| the prison nymphomaniac, inside for soliciting and chiefly memorable for her erotic assignations with electrician Eddie Cook ([[Richard Moir]]) in the prison roof. Upon release, she moves in with Eddie, determined to get a decent job and go straight, but, hard up for money, reluctantly turns back to prostitution, leading to a bust up with Eddie and being sent to Wentworth once again. As Marilyn is released a second time, Bea eventually sets the pair straight, convincing Monica Ferguson to let them run her [[milk bar]]. We hear in episodes 42–44 of Monica selling the shop to Marilyn and Eddie, and they presumably happily continue running it. During a storyline in which Bea becomes attracted to prison visitor Ken Pearce ([[Tom Oliver]]) between episodes 105 and 116, there are several references to Marilyn and Eddie's romantic liaisons in the prison.
|-
| '''Doreen May Anderson (later Burns)'''
| [[Colette Mann]] – episodes 1–446
| a childish and easily led, but generally well-meaning prisoner who was briefly involved in a sexual relationship with Franky Doyle. Thumb-sucking, teddy-bear-clutching Doreen was a petty criminal, in and out of juvenile institutions before ending up at Wentworth, with a particular talent for forgery. After Franky's death she firstly became tough and butch like Franky was and tried to bully people around, later she became close friends with Lizzie and Bea; their friendship was one of the driving forces behind the first 300 episodes' success. She was released twice in the series; after her first release she is arrested for stealing, and on her second, she steals Chrissie's baby from the hospital. In 1980 during the time she was out of the prison, she fell in love with Kevin Burns whom she married, but they were divorced not long after she was raped during her second stint in the prison during a work release scheme. The end of her marriage nearly caused her to commit suicide. She was the first victim of the Freak's 'black glove' treatment in 1982, just prior to her release. She made a few appearances in 1983 when, during Bea's escape, Doreen put her up in Sydney. Although the first to initially leave the series of the main three, she was also the last to be seen – when in 1984, she got herself put back in prison to try to avoid a marriage she had somehow agreed too, her return was more as comic relief and to bring back an old favourite following the departures of Lizzie and Bea.
|-
| '''Elizabeth Josephine "Lizzie" Birdsworth''' (née Cameron)
| [[Sheila Florance]] – episodes 1–418, featured in flashback in episode 420),
| an elderly, chain-smoking, alcoholic recidivist prisoner, who provided much of the series comic relief. At the series start, Lizzie had already served twenty years in prison. Working as a bush cook, she had in a drunken rage allegedly poisoned a group of six sheep shearers who'd had the audacity to complain about her cooking, with four of them dying. It was later learned someone else had added the fatal dose of poison to the food (she put in enough to make them sick) and Lizzie was released and awarded compensation. Unfortunately she was ill-equipped to fend for herself outside and quickly committed a series of crimes and was returned to prison. A fraud and her daughter looking for money pretended to be Lizzie's family which Paul Reid and Kevin Burns discover. We later find out Lizzie knew all along that they weren't her real family and she wanted to spend time with them. Marcia (Lizzie's fake daughter) tells Lizzie that she was her daughter's best friend at the orphanage and that Lizzie's real daughter died in a car crash. The fake family: Marcia and Josie later left to go to the United States where Josie was to undergo an operation. Lizzie was recognisable for her always present red cardigan sweater given to her early on in the show's run by the prison's governor, Erica Davidson. Lizzie suffered from several heart attacks and during her final time in hospital she was released to be with her real family: The Charlton's.
|-
| {{anchor|Bea Smith}}'''Beatrice Alice "Bea" Smith'''
| [[Val Lehman]] – episodes 1–400),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwwentworth.co.uk/bea.htm|title=Bea Smith (Val Lehman)|accessdate=5 January 2018|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010130031100/http://www.wwwentworth.co.uk/bea.htm|archivedate=30 January 2001}}</ref>
| the first ever top dog – the name given to the uncaring and sadistic leader of the prisoner population – who rules Wentworth's H Block with an iron fist. Bea was initially imprisoned for strangling her husband's mistress and then shot dead her cheating husband upon her release. Her teenage daughter Debbie (played by Val Lehman's real-life daughter Cassandra) had died from a heroin overdose in 1977 while Bea was in prison, after Bea's husband had evicted her from his home. Because of her daughters' death, Bea was renowned for her hatred of drug pushers and her hatred of prisoners who commit crimes against children which everyone followed her hatred. This characteristic, which is common in all prisons, was evident when Bea slammed the hot steam press on Lynn Warner's hand. Her hatred towards both drug pushers and users softens later in the series where she attempts to help a fellow inmate to beat her drug addiction. She and Chrissie Latham were enemies at first (as Chrissie was originally on Franky Doyle' side in the first riot) but later, they became allies, especially against Margo Gaffney. Bea was Joan Ferguson's first of three major enemies. Any chance of Bea's parole was foiled after shooting and killing Nola Mckenzie in a hospital bed. Bea escaped a total of 3 times throughout the series, although the second escape was unplanned. Bea's last rival for top dog was Sonia Stevens. Bea was transferred to Barnhurst, and her reign of terror at Wentworth's H Block is finally over. There are many references after Bea's transfer especially when Lizzie compares Bea's top dog qualities to Minnie Donovan's top dog qualities including the code of lagging when Minnie lagged on Sonia Stevens in a plan to soil Joan Ferguson. Bea writes a letter saying "Vinegar Tits is worse than ever" when Cass is transferred from Barnhurst Lizzie says "our best mate Bea Smith was transferred" Cass said that she heard Bea arrived. In episodes 536–537 we hear there was a Barnhurst riot and there were 8 transfers Myra ask Nora Flynn if they brought Bea. Nora tells Myra that she was killed in the riot trying to stop it, but Ann tells Meg that she "burnt" to death. Bea's death was probably the biggest killed-off screen events of the show as many viewers assumed that there was hope that Val Lehman would return to the show though the actress claimed she refused several offers.
|-
| '''Jeanette Mary "Mum" Brooks'''
| [[Mary Ward (actress)|Mary Ward]] – episode 1–204
| an elderly, dignified long-term inmate who worked in the prison garden, well loved and respected by both prisoners and officers. "Mum" had committed euthanasia on her terminally ill husband and had served fifteen years at the start of the series. She helped with making newcomers to Wentworth get used to the prison routine. In Episode 2, she is released, but has nowhere to live, and after spending a brief spell living with her daughter, Lorraine Watkins ([[Anne Charleston]]), who cannot accept that Mum killed her father and does not like an ex-criminal being around her family, Mum shoplifts to deliberately get sent back to Wentworth. However, by Episode 16, she is again released, this time under the care of new parole officer Jean Vernon, who sets Mum up in a little flat with her pregnant granddaughter Judith-Ann ([[Kim Deacon]]) (whom Mum grew close to during her awkward stint living with her daughter), at which point Mum is written out of the series (as with Carol Burns, Mary Ward did not wish to commit to an ongoing serial). However, Mum and Judith-Ann appear again in episodes 30–33, when they unwittingly become involved with the escaped Bea (this storyline was conceived in part after requests from viewers to see what had happened to Mum). Mum and Judith-Anne are visited again in a storyline running from episode 61–67. Mum is in poor health, but overworking in order to support Judith-Anne's imminent birth. Meg (who is still visiting Mum) convinces Greg to tend to her, who in turn, convinces Karen (now released) to stay with Mum and Judith after Mum's short spell in hospital until the child is born. Mum's estranged daughter Lorraine (now played by [[Gabrielle Hartley]]) eventually re-appears on the scene, and after seeing Judith's baby, offers to make amends, and asks Judith and Mum to come back home and live with her. Mum is seen one more time later in the series for yet another storyline in episodes 199–204, reappearing in episode 199 when Bea – who has lost her memory in a crash while being transported back from Barnhurst – finds her once more. After another brief stint at Wentworth for aiding Bea, we are told a couple of years later in episode 388 that she has died of a heart attack, but left $20,000 to the prisoners. In episode 539, Governor Ann Reynolds persuades new prisoner Daphne Graham to tend to Mum's old rose garden to make new again that wore out after six years.
|-
| '''Rosie Hudson'''
| [[Anne-Maree McDonald]]) – episodes 2–73) (seen in recap of 74)
| a young prisoner who is heavily pregnant at the start of the series and gives birth during the riot of episodes 3–4. After giving birth, the character disappears from the series (being moved to the maternity block), but reappears in episodes 70–73. With her baby coming up to his first birthday (once again, not tallying with real time), she is in denial that he will be taken away from her by foster parents once he turns one. As a result, she suffers a breakdown, part of which, during a security alert, she punches the pregnant Chrissie in the stomach, endangering Chrissie's baby. Rosie is not seen again after these events, being taken into psychiatric care, this causes a lot of tension between the prisoners
|-
| '''Lorna Young'''
| [[Barbara Jungwirth]] – episodes 2-692
| One of the longest serving background characters: she appears regularly throughout the whole run of the series. Her first speaking contribution (and in a surprisingly posh voice too) is in 120, which is the first time the name Lorna is used for her, Later credits in 215 for an argument with Doreen over TV in the rec room 219 and 250 where her only line appears to be baaing like a sheep 253 where she criticises Bea for framing Marie Winter 293 when she contributes a present to use for the frame up on Joan. She gets the springs for the "bomb" to embarrass Joan. In episode 549 she replies "Yes, Miss Ferguson" whilst delivering food to solitary.
|-
| '''Tina Murray'''
| [[Hazel Henley]])– episodes 2-692
| Prisoner in Wentworth. The actress is one of the background characters throughout the whole series from, though not always with this name. she is first called Murray in 206. She usually isn't given lines, and so is only credited for episodes 593 and 607.
|-
| '''Christine Angela "Chrissie" Latham'''
| [[Amanda Muggleton]] – episodes 3-338
| a lascivious prostitute who spent much of her time behind bars lamenting the fact that there were no men around. She murdered Bill Jackson, Meg's husband, with a pair of scissors during the show's first riot. She returned in episode 065 after being in Barnhurst where it is discovered she became pregnant in custody. Chrissie keeps the baby to avoid a bashing from Bea and her daughter Elizabeth (named after Lizzie Birdsworth) becomes Chrissie's main focus causing her to turn over a new leaf. Whilst trying to protect or keep Elizabeth from being put into homes, Chrissie tried many stunts including running away interstate with the baby. Upon her return to Wentworth, new officer Joan 'The Freak' Ferguson begins work. It is here where Joan is often dangling the idea of visits with her daughter that causes Chrissie to reveal Bea's plans to set up the Freak. When Joan admits to Chrissie she will stand up in court and give bad character references at a custody hearing, Chrissie lashes out. During this fight we see the full extent of what the Freak is capable of and Chrissie becomes hospitalised at the hands of the Freaks first real bashing. At first, an enemy of Bea Smith, she later on became one of Bea's allies. She was eventually transferred to Barnhurst, as Bea herself later would be.
|-
| '''Helen Masters'''
| [[Louise Pajo]] – episodes 8–10
| an international businesswoman who was well known in the media due to her cosmetics enterprise remanded to Wentworth for running down and killing a child in a hit and run. She had denied all involvement and was found innocent although it was revealed that she was secretly guilty and had been driving the car when heavily intoxicated. Her haughty attitude alienates both staff and prisoners. She subsequently won over many of the prisoners, including Bea, as she demanded better conditions and promised to campaign for such when she was released. However, on a television interview after she was freed, she turned on the prisoners, saying they deserved all they got, humiliating Bea.
|-
| '''Monica "Monnie" Ferguson'''
| [[Lesley Baker]] – episodes 15–60
| a brutish, hulking inmate inside for bashing her weaselly husband Fred ([[Gary Files]]). A friend of Bea Smith (though the pair often argued) after the pair had previously been cellmates in another prison, she initially acts as a sidekick to her (at which point the character was a semi-regular), but upon Bea's escape, takes over as Top Dog herself, using very heavy-handed tactics and upsetting many of the women. After Bea's recapture, Monica attempts to remain Top Dog, leading to a brief power struggle. After one scuffle with Smith, in which Meg Jackson is injured, and with her parole coming up, Monica backs down rather than risk not getting paroled. However, with her release, she agrees to recover Joyce Martain's hidden loot from a payroll heist in return for a cut, in order to pay of husband Fred's gambling debts; but Fred has exaggerated his debts in order to get money out of her and run off with his fancy girl Denise "Blossom" Crabtree (see separate entry). When Monica finds out, distraught after she had done so much to make a fresh go with him, she bashes him, and is sent to Wentworth once again (and the loot is recovered soon after). During her second stint in Wentworth, Monica becomes involved in a couple of minor escapades (such as exploiting Deputy Governor Jim Fletcher's [[haemophobia]] with Bea), but for the most part tries to keep out of trouble in order to get her parole. Towards the end of her sentence, with Bea in solitary, Monica finds herself at odds with criminal mastermind Toni McNally (see separate entry), whom she refuses to bow down to, while Toni and henchman Martha suspect Monie of tipping off Vera with information about Toni's smuggling booze and drugs into the prison (although just how much Monica has told Vera, if anything, is never made overly clear). Monica's parole seems doomed when she finally flips over Martha's taunts and lashes out, until Officer Jackson speaks up for her in front of Governor Davidson, saying that she believes the incident was a setup to ruin Monica's parole. Erica decides to release Monnie, who is planning to start afresh in a new State, and it is the last time the character is seen in the series.
|-
| '''Barbara Davidson'''
| [[Sally Cahill (Australian actress)|Sally Cahill]] – episodes 17–24,
| the niece of governor Erica Davidson. Admitted to Wentworth on drug charges, a seemingly girly, innocent persona covers the fact that she is calculating and sly. She strikes up a partnership with Vera, which includes framing Monica Ferguson for possession of drugs. She is eventually transferred to Barnhurst after Doreen's bullying pushes her to dousing her cell in petrol and threatening to set light to herself, leading Erica to realise that it is unrealistic to have a close relation in Wentworth without risk of either special treatment or bullying. She is mentioned last in episode 215.|
|-
| '''Catherine Roberts'''
| [[Margo McLennan]] – episodes 18–24
| a middle-class housewife who runs down and kills the man who raped her teenage daughter. After she is sentenced, striking a friendship with Bea in the process, the character just disappears, and it is later revealed she has been moved to another block in Episode 28. It is assumed her husband Ken sends their daughter away to stay with her aunt, though this is never revealed one way or the other as, once Catherine's character disappears, so does the story|-
|-
| '''Phyllis Hunt'''
| [[Reylene Pearce]] – episodes 21–460
| background prisoner who eventually takes on a larger role around the time of Bea Smith's departure from the series, turning nasty in the process. After messing up Reb's drugs scheme at the Wentworth Fete, Reb takes revenge and horribly bashes her with a wooden statue, leading her to have permanent brain damage. her boyfriend takes revenge on Ann Reynolds.
|-
| '''Susan Rice'''
| [[Briony Behets]] – episodes 25–29
| an emotionally fragile woman sent to Wentworth after being caught [[shoplifting]]. As Officer Jackson becomes concerned about Susan's mental state, it becomes apparent that Susan is angry at a (fictional) pop star Jason Richards for taking her husband Fredrick away from her, destroying their marriage. It ultimately transpires that Richards is actually the [[stage name]] of Fredrick, and they are one and the same. Upon release, Susan invades a TV interview with "Richards", throwing acid in his face, before being taken away to a secure psychiatric unit.
|-
| '''Martha Eaves'''
| [[Kate Jason]] – episodes 29–64
| a dimwitted, burly prisoner ridiculed by the other women, but who often acts as hired muscle for wannabe top dogs or those needing physical back-up. She is involved in two notable storylines: the first comes in episodes 50–52 when, after constantly being bullied and belittled by the other woman for being stupid, she tries to befriend child murder Bella Albrecht (see separate entry), who is hated by the other women for her crime. But after Martha overhears Bella saying that she too thinks Martha is stupid, Martha attacks her in the shower blocks and drowns her. When Martha returns from solitary in episode 58, she starts working for criminal mastermind Antonia McNally, who uses Martha's muscle to take over Bea's position while Bea is in solitary. Eventually, as the other women begin to become disillusioned with McNally and start to side with Bea to go up against Vera Bennett and Jim Fletcher who are running the prison when Governor Erica Davidson takes a leave, Martha wants her and Toni to join in on the act but Toni wants no part of it due to her trial. She tells Martha that she could join them in the act if she wants to which she does. Although not written out of the series in any real manner, Martha is not seen after the conclusion of the McNally storyline in episode 64. In episode 128, Noeline Burke is scaring another woman accused of "baby bashing", Gail Summers, by telling her that Martha killed the previous such inmate and was sent to the loony bin as a result, which seemingly conflicts with Martha's involvement in the McNally storyline. (It might be presumed that Noeline was just trying to cause trouble).
|-
| '''Noeline Burke'''
| [[Jude Kuring]] – episodes 30–132,
| the head of a family of petty criminals usually inside for burglary and theft. An antagonist of both Bea Smith and Monica Ferguson, Noeline was famous for her refusal to take anything she considered charity. In Noeline's words, "The Burkes don't take charity, we just take." When she comes back to Wentworth she is very upset over Leanne Burke (see separate entry)'s death; she blames the officers for it and she doesn't understand that it was a tragic accident. She is later transferred to Barnhurst for her own safety. Note that Noeline's surname varies between Burke and Bourke in different sources; it is pronounced on-screen as "Burke".
|-
| '''Clara Goddard'''
| [[Betty Lucas]] – episodes 30–39
| a genteel, flighty socialite who initially planned to start a Halfway House for ex-prisoners, but ended up being remanded to Wentworth for embezzlement, where she gains considerable influence amongst the women, especially in the escaped Bea's absence. Sarcastically nicknamed "Madame Clara" and "[[Tinker Bell|Tinkerbell]]" by Bea when she returns, jealous of the way Clara manages to usurp her authority as top dog of the prisoners. During an examination of the running of the prison, the V.J. orders that Clara be moved to a dedicated remand section at Fairlea due to lack of remand facilities at Wentworth.
|-
| '''Kathleen Leach'''
| [[Penny Stewart]]] – episodes 30–149
| beginning as a background prisoner (often uncredited), Kathleen went on to be involved with two notable plotlines. She is put in to share a cell with Ros Coulson in episode 80, in the middle of Ros planning to escape with terrorist Janet Dominguez. Kathleen tries to convince her not to, fearing that the terrorists will kill the officers, but Ros escapes anyway during the botched break-out. Kath is last seen during this storyline in episode 89, being questioned by the police, and presumably goes on to be released. The character returns in episode 143, seemingly arrested on a short sentence for prostitution, but has in fact been put inside as a plant by Tracey Morris' "boyfriend" Joe to make sure that Tracey will not testify against him. When Tracey realises that Joe has been using her, Kathleen is given orders to kill Tracey; unable to carry out the instructions, she goes to Bea for help. Bea purposely scolds Kathleen's hand in the laundry steam press (episode 147), putting Kathleen out of action and sending her off to hospital, with a valid "excuse" to her employers for being unable to carry out her orders. The last time she is seen is saying to Doreen that she can give her a fat lip if she sees her on the outside, due to a previous argument the two had in the recreation room earlier on.
|-
| '''Leanne Burke'''
| [[Tracey-Jo Riley]]– episodes 33–121),
| Noeline Burke's daughter, who has inherited her mother's criminal tendencies. She first is seen visiting Noeline with her rather slow brother Col ([[Brian Granrott]]) in episode 33, telling her about the problems they are facing without her. Leanne returns in episode 50, where her mother and she are caught trying to rob a building. Although Leanne escapes charge, Noeline is once again sent to Wentworth, and Leanne meets Welfare Officer Jean Vernon while visiting. Jean gives her the address of the apartment she shares with Meg if she needs guidance – only for Leanne to rob the place with a young man, Denny ([[Tony Mahood]]) she's met. However, Jean is determined to try to set Leanne on the straight and narrow, and convinces Meg to let Leanne move in with them while they find Leanne a steady job. Leanne constantly abuses this trust, infuriating Meg; Jean continually convinces Meg to give Leanne "one more chance", until eventually, in episode 55/6, Leanne and Denny are caught trying to hold up a service station. Leanne disappears from the series at this point, and it is not clear what she is charged with (she is not sent to Wentworth). The character finally arrives at Wentworth in episode 120 charged with [[petty larceny]]. Although some of the other women are sceptical of Leanne as she is Noeline's daughter, she quickly becomes good friends with Judy, and is very active with helping arrange the riot to demand that murderous officer Jock Stewart be brought to justice. However, in episode 121, when the riot takes to the prison roof, Leanne falls to her death while trying to wave a banner for the gathering media to see. Note that, like mother Noeline, Leanne's surname varies between Burke and Bourke in different sources; it is pronounced on-screen as "Burke".
|-
| '''Irene Zervos'''
| [[Maria Mercedes (actor)|Maria Mercedes]] – episodes 38–40
| a young Greek woman admitted to Wentworth after being blackmailed into prostitution by a relative who is aware of her status as an illegal immigrant. Her brother and his wife were also illegal immigrants. Matters are complicated further by the fact that Irene does not speak English, leaving Karen, with only a smattering of basic Greek, trying to translate for her. Upon her release she was arrested by federal authorities at the gate of the prison due to her illegal status.
|-
| '''Joyce Martin'''
| [[Judy Nunn]] – episodes 40–48
| the wife of an armed robber inside for being an accessory, and the only person who knows the location of the loot. After her husband forcibly tries to have her abducted from the prison grounds to force her into revealing the loot's location to him, Joyce makes a deal with Monica, who is due for release, for Monica to retrieve the stash in return for giving Monica a cut. Heavies hired by Joyce's husband try to snatch Monica, but mistakenly grab Lynn, who is released on the same day. The loot is eventually recovered when Jim Fletcher double-crosses Denise Crabtree (see below entry) to find the stashed key to unlock the loot. With the storyline having run its course, Joyce is moved to D Block in episode 48, the last time the character is seen. Her husband was in the army with Jim Fletcher.
|-
| '''Denise "Blossom" Crabtree'''
| [[Lynda Keane]] – episodes 43–48
| a tartly young woman who is the girlfriend of Monica Ferguson's husband Fred, but who turns out to be using him to get her hands on the stolen loot from the robbery committed by Joyce Martin's husband. When she winds up in Wentworth, Monica is angry to find that she has been having an affair with Fred; while Denise, when released, tries to seduce Jim Fletcher into helping her, after the key to the loot was stashed in the prison. However, Jim double-crosses her, and hands the loot into the police.
|-
| '''Edith "Edie" Wharton'''
| [[Colleen Clifford]] – episodes 44–49
| an elderly, kindly woman who is made homeless with her partner Horrie. Horrie dies after the pair spend the night sleeping rough, and Edith ends up charged with a minor vandalism crime (against the shelter who refused to take them in) and ends up in Wentworth charged with vagrancy. Edie's stay in the prison brings out the softer side of deputy governor Jim Fletcher, who goes out of his way to see that she is comfortable and cared for. Lizzie quickly strikes up a close friendship with her, and they enjoy talking about the old days. With a roof over her head, regular meals and with the new friends she has made, Edith does not want to leave Wentworth to go to the shabby bedsit that Jean Vernon has arranged, but dies in her sleep the night before she is due to be released, leaving Lizzie contemplating the prospect of dying in prison herself. With no relations or estate to pay for Edie's funeral, Jim Fletcher quietly steps in to pay for the funeral himself, out of the reward for recovering Joyce Martin's stolen loot.
|-
| '''Melinda Cross'''
| [[Lulu Pinkus]] – episodes 47–58
| a devious young woman, who is a student at the same university as Karen. She tries to blackmail Tom ([[Hu Pryce]]), her lecturer with whom she has been having an affair, with intimate pictures of her with him, demanding money else she will show the pictures to Tom's wife. When Tom's wife does find out, she informs the police, and after being caught in the act receiving a pay-off, Melinda arrested and sent to Wentworth awaiting trial. She is pregnant with Tom's child, and after a brief spell in Wentworth, escapes conviction by convincing the Judge that she was only acting out of desperation of wanting the father of her baby. However, once released, she tells Greg (who has just opened up his own practice after leaving his job at the prison) that the story was just a convenient excuse, and that she plans to have an [[abortion]], putting Greg in an awkward position as it means that Melinda committed [[perjury]]. The newly released Karen very briefly moves in with Melinda, but after Melinda goes elsewhere to have an abortion after Greg refuses to help, and does it under Karen's name, Karen leaves to live elsewhere; this is the last time Melinda is seen in the series.
|-
| '''Bella Swan Albrecht'''
| [[Liddy Clark]] – episodes 51–52
| a remorseless child killer who had murdered her toddler daughter – which she saw as getting in the way of her securing a relationship – and arrives at Wentworth on remand. The officers attempt to keep her crime under wraps, knowing it will anger the other women, who despise those who harm children, but word soon leaks out after Bea dupes visiting psychologist Peter Clements into revealing why she is really in Wentworth. Although Bella tries to strike up a friendship with Karen, her only real 'friend' comes in Martha Eaves, feeling lonely after bullying by the other woman. Bella winds up attacked in the shower block and drowned in a wash basin; Martha is later found out to be the culprit. She's later mentioned in episode 277 by Lizzie when the women feel that a new prisoner who have arrived and placed in solitary that they aren't being told about or allowed to see due to possibly being dangerous. Lizzie then refers to the prisoner possibly doing something similar to Bella's crime of killing children due to her possibly doing something big they're not being led on about.
|-
| '''Antonia "Toni" McNally'''
| [[Pat Bishop]] – episodes 57–64
|, a cool, classy woman on remand for the murder of the woman who was having an affair with her husband, and who tries to buy the women's favour and take over as top dog while Bea Smith is away in solitary confinement. Antonia is the wife of the head of the local underworld with friends in high places – amongst other things, she pulls strings to have Jim Fletcher given leave to get him off her back – and pressure is brought to bear on governor Erica Davidson to give her special privileges that further cements Toni's high status amongst the prisoners. Toni also starts smuggling in [[contraband]], including booze and drugs, and hires Martha Eaves as her muscle and lackey. When Bea is released from solitary, the two briefly strike up an uneasy alliance, until Bea learns that Toni has been smuggling in drugs, at which point the two become involved in a power struggle. By this point, though, Governor Davidson takes a temporary leave and the other women begin to side with Bea to go up against Vera Bennett and Jim Fletcher who are now in charge of the prison. Toni however refuses to take part in this. Shortly after, Antonia is sent for trial, but is let off Scot free after thugs hired by her intimidate the only witness into giving a false statement. Walking free from court, she is shot by Ros Coulson, the daughter the woman Toni killed, and dies soon after.
|-
| '''Roslyn Louise "Ros" Coulson'''
| [[Sigrid Thornton]] – episodes 63–92
| an idealistic young woman, in her last year at convent school, who first appears in episode 63 claiming to be a relation of Antonia McNally. However, Ros is actually the daughter of the woman McNally murdered. When McNally gets off Scot free, Ros fatally shoots her, seeing it as justified. Once sentenced, the gentle Ros's attitude quickly changes, as she believes she has done nothing wrong. She orchestrates an escape, arranging a distraction, allowing her to stow away in a visiting van. She seeks refuge at the newly opened halfway house, but – despite Doreen's pleas – Karen turns her away, telling her that if they were found harbouring a fugitive, it would destroy the whole project. Ros tries the [[brothel]] where her late mother worked, but when an associate of McNally's tries to force her into prostitution, she flees, and is captured soon after. Back in Wentworth, she is won over by terrorist Janet Dominquez, who plans to escape and offers to take Ros with her in return for Ros's help. But the terrorist break-out doesn't go as planned; Ros saves Governor Davidson from being fatally shot, and escapes on her own; following a tip-off from Chrissie, she is re-captured a while later. After this, Ros, with encouragement from Erica, begins to see that her attitude will not get her anywhere, and under the guidance of welfare officer Paul Reid, begins studying. To aid her in this, Erica has her moved to a quieter block with some other studying prisoners, in episode 92 – the last time the character is seen. When Doreen gets married at the prison in episode 116, she mentions asking permission for Ros to be a guest, but the character does not appear. In episode 158, while giving a pep talk to Doreen, Erica mentions that Ros got her qualification. She is lastly mentioned in episode 176 when prisoner Evelyn Randall offers Lizzie some of her homemade tea that helps a person sleep easily; to which Lizzie tells her how she wishes that can put the prison staff to sleep for a while like how Roslyn did in episode 81 with some drugs in an attempt to escape from Wentworth with terrorist Janet Dominguez (see below) that unfortunately went unsuccessful.
|-
| '''Patricia Mary Theresa "Pat" O'Connell'''
| [[Monica Maughan]] – episodes 65–110
| a level headed, kind hearted middle-aged mother who is transferred from Barnhurst along with Chrissie Latham in episode 65. She is inside for aiding and abetting her criminal husband in an armed robbery (although, confusingly, on the character's first mention before her transfer, in episode 60, we hear that she is charged for driving a car through a shop window that had repossessed her furniture, something that is never mentioned again). Pat is being forced to go through with a divorce from her husband in order to give her a better chance of keeping her children, and is determined to keep out of trouble so that she might get her parole by Christmas and be reunited with her son and daughter, who are staying with her elderly mother who is finding it hard to cope with them. Despite jeopardising her parole by meeting with her eldest son David, who is also in prison and visiting Wentworth on a work party, Pat is paroled and reunited with her youngest children in time for Christmas. However, around this time David escapes from prison, which leads to a police shoot-out when he tries to visit her, resulting in Pat being returned to Wentworth when the police are convinced she was in cohorts with David, and leaving David jaded at Dr. Greg Miller, whom he is certain tipped the police off, prompting him to try to shoot Greg but getting Karen in error. Unable to cope in prison, David kills himself soon after. Pat's kind nature comes through when she insists that Bea not attack the pregnant Chrissie, and with both Doreen and Lizzie on release, she becomes Bea's main sidekick for a spell. Pat is eventually released when her sentence is reduced on appeal and she is given parole; she is last seen when Paul Reid drives her home with her kids.
|-
| '''Janet Rose Dominguez'''
| [[Deidre Rubenstein]] – episodes 79–83
| a terrorist brought to Wentworth awaiting extradition to the US to face charges in connection with the bombing of a South American official outside the UN building. She is held in solitary away from the other women, as the officers do not want her interacting with or influencing the other women, but she wins over Ros Coulson, who is being held in the adjoining solitary cell. Ros helps aid an escape and is given an instant sleep powder to drug the guards while armed terrorists brake into the prison to free Janet. However, the break-out does not go according to plan, and Dominguez is shot and wounded trying to escape. She is taken away from Wentworth on a stretcher soon after, accompanied by federal police. She's mentioned in episode 277 by Lizzie after the women are surprised a letter they written and sent to be published in a newspaper wasn't published in it. This led to Lizzie believing that terrorist could have been responsible behind it and refers to Janet.
|-
| '''Caroline Margaret Simpson'''
| [[Rosalind Speirs]] – episodes 89–114
| arrives at the Halfway House with her fragile mother Vivienne (see below entry), who is seeking shelter from her abusive husband but is turned away. Soon after, when her father's violent temper boils over and he threatens to kill her mother with a shotgun, Caroline fatally stabs him. Caroline convinces Vivienne that they must say intruders killed him, but their story is soon exposed and they end up in Wentworth awaiting trial. Once inside, Officer Jim Fletcher shows an interest in Caroline, subtlety at first, but it is soon noticed by the other women (reinforcing his nickname "Fletch the Letch"), although Caroline does not return his advances. Caroline's estranged, possessive ex-husband Michael ([[Peter Ford (Australian actor)|Peter Ford]]) offers to pay bail, but she refuses to bow down to his terms; while Michael becomes jaded at Jim, whom he sees as coming between Caroline and himself. Although Jim also offers to pay bail, Caroline refuses, not wanting to be in his debt, but when Vivienne's frail state of health worsens, Caroline finally agrees. Eventually Jim bails Caroline too; when she moves into the Halfway House, she continues seeing him and she finally returns his advances, and the pair begin a romantic relationship, even though Jim is breaking the terms of Caroline's bail. When Michael and Geoff Butler ([[Ray Meagher]]) (who is bitter at Jim for turning him in to the police over a previous incident) join forces, Butler dupes Michael – who insists that he wants no-one badly hurt – into delivering a bomb to Jim's motel room, it kills Jim's wife and children. This puts a severe strain on Caroline and Jim's relationship, with him telling her after the explosion that he blames her. But when Vivienne and Caroline finally go to trial, and are released on good behaviour bonds, she visits him one last time and they part on reasonable terms. This parting scene with Jim, before she goes to stay with Michael's sister, is Caroline's last appearance in the series. Note: Although billed as Caroline, many characters, including her own mother, pronounced her name as ''Carolyn''.
|-
| '''Vivienne Anne Williams'''
| [[Bernadette Gibson]] episodes 89–114,
| the mother of Caroline (see above entry), who is suffering at the hands of her abusive husband. After Caroline kills him in self-defence, the pair arrive at Wentworth, where Vivienne's fragile health worsens. Eventually, it is Lizzie (who at the time is on release and visits to see Bea) who recognises Vivienne and Caroline from seeking shelter at the Halfway House, adding some support to their claims of abuse, and Vivienne is released awaiting trial. However, once home, the strain of events is too much for Vivienne and she tries to commit [[suicide]], after which she is put into a care home, not seen for a few episodes. Eventually, in episode 114, Vivienne and Caroline come up for trial, and their charges are reduced to [[manslaughter]], allowing them to be freed on good behaviour bonds.
|-
| '''Sharon Gilmour'''
| [[Margot Knight]] – episodes 90–116
|, a scheming, spoiled young woman who is imprisoned for drug dealing after a police raid where she was selling dope to a group of youths (including Social Worker Paul Reid's son Tony (John Higginson)). Being a drug dealer, not to mention a vindictive trouble-stirrer, Sharon immediately becomes an enemy of Bea. Despite having a lover, Judy Bryant (see separate entry), on the outside, Sharon becomes involved in a romantic relationship with Chrissie Latham, and the pair work together for a time to become Top Dog(s) while Bea is in isolation. Jealous of this romantic relationship, Judy purposely gets herself arrested so she can be inside with Sharon, but Sharon uses her spiteful ways to manipulate Judy as she does with everyone else. With Chrissie moved to maternity to be with her baby, Sharon later starts vicious rumours that Kerry Vincent (see separate entry) is a "lagger" (informant) after Kerry turns down her romantic advances. Judy finally becomes tired of Sharon's scheming, [[Psychological manipulation|manipulative]] ways and puts an end to their relationship. When Sharon witnesses corrupt officer Jock Stewart ([[Tommy Dysart]]) blackmailing and physically attacking Doreen, she tries to strike up working deal with him – she'll keep quiet about what she has seen in return for him protecting her. But soon after, she is found at the bottom of a flight of stairs with her neck broken. Judy, Bea and Kerry are all suspects, but it was Jock who murdered her.
|-
| '''Judith Francis "Judy" Bryant'''
| [[Betty Bobbitt]] – episodes 91-534
| an American ex-pat lesbian who deliberately committed a crime to join her lover Sharon Gilmour in prison. She was initially an agitator, but later became one of Bea's allies, as well as a long-term inmate. Judy ran Driscoll House, a Half-Way House for ex-criminals to get back on their feet. Judy was sent back to Wentworth after helping friend, Hazel Kent, kill herself while she was suffering from a terminal brain tumour. Served as a sort of "deputy Top Dog," to both Bea and Myra. She was later released to become a successful songwriter.
|-
| '''Lilian "Lil" Stokes'''
| [[Judith McLorinan]] – episodes 91–392,
| The smaller one of Margo Gaffney's goons. Most of her appearances come without a speaking part. she is first seen in episode 91 briefly in the background with Margo Gaffney's bigger goon: Bev Covelli. Lil has her first big scene when she helps Margo and Bev give Sharon a "haircut". In her last appearance she dies when the prison is under quarantine, in deputy governor Colleen Powell's arms.
|-
| '''Margo Jane Gaffney'''
| [[Jane Clifton]] – episodes 92–448
|, one of a long line of agitators in the prison cell block who generally played rival to the reigning top-dog. Margo took charge of all gambling inside Wentworth and was usually accompanied by her stooges "Lil and Bev" (played by extras Judith McLorinan and Kaye Chadwick). Margo went back and forth during the series run from a good to bad guy, usually leaning toward the bad side. One of Margo's most heinous acts was the bashing of guard Meg Morris, who was temporarily a prisoner for contempt of court, and this earned her the combined wrath of Bea and Chrissie (who ironically saved Meg, despite her killing Meg's first husband, Bill Jackson), and avenged her bashing, by tying her up and tarring and feathering her in the lavatory. Margo was also later bashed by Bea and Chrissie when it was discovered that she set the storeroom on fire with a [[Molotov cocktail]] at Wentworth, thus beginning the Great Fire at Wentworth, and lied about it to the cops. She later tries to frame Reb for attacking Myra Desmond but is found out and transferred to Blackmoore. Note: In the character's second appearance, in episode 93, her surname is given as Dempsey, not Gaffney.
|-
| '''Bernadette'''
| [[Anne Phelan]] – episodes 94–95
| A dopey background prisoner who appears to be good mates with Top Dog: Bea Smith.
|-
| '''Heather "Mouse" Trapp'''
| [[Jentah Sobott]] – episodes 106*-326
| a rather timid young woman in and out for Wentworth for petty crime. She escapes and goes on the run with Judy Bryant after crawling through the tunnel during the pantomime. Later she returns to Wentworth and gets mixed up in the plans for the Great fire where she perishes in the flames and burns to death. * – Note: although first credited in episode 106, Sobott had been appearing as an uncredited extra in the series for some time beforehand (first seen in Episode 67). The character – with no dialogue – is first referred to as "Mouse" in episode 100. it's revealed she dies in the great fire in ep 326/327
|-
| '''Kerry Vincent'''
| [[Penny Downie]] – episodes 112–124
| a young prisoner transferred to Wentworth to give her room to let her artistic talent flourish. Some of the women are sceptical of the special treatment that Kerry is given, such as being given a double cell to herself to give her room to do her paintings. Bea in particular does not take to her after she finds that Kerry's transfer was arranged by Ken Pearce ([[Tom Oliver]]), whom Bea has developed a crush on. As we learn more about Kerry, we hear that she is a former prostitute who is inside after violently attacking a client. Kerry's agent is David Austin ([[Rod Mullinar]]), a smarmy art dealer who is exploiting Kerry's status as a prisoner to drum up publicity and sell her work for huge profit. Kerry tries to get on with the other women, but they turn on her when malicious Sharon Gilmour starts spreading rumours of her being a "lagger" (informant) after Kerry turned down her romantic advances. During this period, Kerry also gives Vera a painting that she intends to destroy, only for Austin to concoct a story of Vera bribing it out of Kerry, in order to give him more publicity, nearly costing Vera her job until Jock Stewart helps her set things straight with Austin; as a result, Austin is banned from visiting her at Wentworth. Kerry is given parole in episode 117 and set up in a small studio flat, but only on the proviso that she does not see Austin, but Kerry is oblivious to his manipulating her and continues seeing him, and becomes jealous of other women he is seeing. This leads her to several drunken benders, the last of which results in her smashing David over the head with an ashtray, causing her to think she has killed him. She plans to flee the area; Helen Smart (see separate entry)'s [[pimp]] sells her some drugs to calm her down, but she takes them with alcohol, nearly killing her. When David finds her in this state, instead of calling for medical aid, he takes her paintings instead. Helen discovers Kerry and alerts Parole Officer Paul Reid just in time; after she is out of danger, he arranges that her parole not be cancelled if she agrees to be treated in a [[sanatorium]]. Kerry agrees to this, and it is the last time she is seen in the series.
|-
| '''Helen Pamela Smart'''
| [[Caroline Gillmer]] – episodes 118–441
| a likeable, amusing prostitute frequently sent to Wentworth for soliciting who becomes a useful contact for the women on the outside. Became good friends with Judy Bryant. Helen was known to the prison as "The 'tart' with a heart." Attempted victim of the leather gloved killer, she also helps Judy a lot with Driscoll House. Her younger sister Sharon becomes involved with a cult so Helen kidnaps her and tries to de-programme her. Sharon stabs and murders one man who was helping causing Helen to be admitted to Wentworth for kidnapping – her first offence other than prostitution. She later develops a tropical disease brought in by Glynis Ladd whilst Wentworth is under quarantine. She was sent to Barnhurst after her trial. She returns to Wentworth and her last episode sees her transferred to B Block after being part of a practical joke on Joan Ferguson and she is never seen again.
|-
| '''Gail Audery Summers'''
| [[Susanne Howarth]] – episodes 124–133
| a harassed, downtrodden housewife who becomes Meg's new neighbour when Meg moves to a new apartment. Meg soon becomes concerned when she hears Gail's young children constantly crying and ferocious arguments between Gail and her short-tempered husband Tim ([[Jeremy Higgins]]); when Meg notices bruises on the children she believes that Tim is abusing them, but when, after some debating, she goes with Welfare Officer Paul Reid and the Police to intervene, Gail breaks down and confesses that it is her that has been abusing the children, driven to it being unable to cope being left with them all day with no help or support from Tim. She is sent to Wentworth on remand, where she instantly faces the anger of the other women when they find what she is in for, branding her a "baby basher". Eventually, a talk from Captain Barton (standing in for the departed Paul Reid) convinces her to stand up for herself; she gives an emotional speech to the other women telling them how she simply could not cope but loves her children, after which the women ease up on her. Gail goes to trial and is given a suspended sentence, on condition that she seek help. She moves away to join a support group.
|-
| '''Kay Frances White'''
| [[Sandy Gore]] – episodes 127–145
| the sly administrator of Andrew Reynolds's clothing factory, where a work scheme has been arranged with Wentworth for some of the prisoners. Kay places several large bets with bookie Margo (and holds out on paying up the money she owes), and agreeing to help Judy make a dress for an escape attempt. With suspicion on her for a series of thefts from the factory, she sets up Noeline to take the blame, to try to get Mr. Reynolds off of her back. Soon after, her long-running embezzlement of company funds, to fund her compulsive gambling habit, is uncovered when she "borrows" payroll money to place a large bet, in hope of making back the money she has taken from the company, but she is caught in the act, and sent to Wentworth awaiting trial. There, she tries to use her gambling addiction as a claim that she needs psychiatric help in order to escape charge, but having got on the wrong side of the women over the cancellation of the work programme, and her generally manipulative attitude, Bea orchestrates a scheme to expose that Kay is still willingly gambling; the plot is successful, and Kay does not escape charge, returning to Wentworth as an inmate with a five-year sentence. But from this point, Kay's manner only get more extreme – she opens her own book to overtake Margo's, and using very heavy-handed methods to secure bets. This leads to Bea being sent to solitary after giving Kay a "bashing", and in Bea's absence, Kay makes a move to be Top Dog. Judy, with help from Lizzie and others, plan to put Kay's racket out of action by placing large bets that she can't possibly afford to cover. After this backfires, they record a dog race from the radio on Tracey Morris's tape recorder, place a huge bet with Kay (knowing the outcome) and doctor the newspaper's racing page accordingly, and play the tape back next day as if it were live. The scheme works, but when Kay "borrows" Tracey's tape recorder and realises she's been set up, she goes frantic and violently attacks Lizzie in her cell, nearly strangling her until Linda Jones smashes Kay over the head with a kettle jug to save Lizzie, leaving Kay unconscious and covered in blood. She later dies from a blood clot on the brain. Lizzie stows Linda away from the scene and insist that she herself must take the blame (for more on this, see Linda Jones's profile, below).
|-
| '''Linda Mary Jones'''
| [[Elaine Cusick]] – episodes 140–150
| first introduced as an existing prisoner who is working as a runner for Margo's betting racket, Linda also has concerns when her son Danny ([[Darren Sole]]) is unhappy living with her overbearing, bullying sister while she is inside and runs away. Officer Fletcher later tracks down Danny and offers to take him in to live with him until Linda gets her parole; Danny's behaviour at first causes some trouble, but Jim soon licks him into shape and the pair form a close bond. Meanwhile, Kay White, starting her own more heavy-handed bookie racket, forces Linda into acting as runner for her, something that Linda reluctantly does. When the women try to put Kay out of action with a gambling con, Kay flips out at Lizzie and tries to strangle her in her cell; Linda arrives and smashes Kay over the head with a kettle jug, leaving Kay unconscious. Lizzie manages to stow Linda away before any officers arrive on the scene, and insists that she take the wrap for it instead, both in return for Linda saving her life, and concerned about her being reunited with Danny. Linda insists she tell Erica what really happened, but Lizzie insists she keep quiet. Kay later dies, but Lizzie convinces the V.J. that she was behind Kay's injuries, allowing Linda to get her parole and be reunited with Danny, leaving to live in the new apartment that Danny and Jim have organised. However, a few episodes after Linda's departure, a jaded Doreen goes to Mrs. Davidson and tries to tell her the real circumstances of Kay's death. Erica sends Jim Fletcher to visit Linda and question her, but she convinces him that Lizzie's version is correct. She attends Lizzie's trial, where Lizzie – expecting an 18-month extension to her sentence for manslaughter – is given a heavy sentence.
|-
| '''Tracey Morris'''
| [[Sue Devine]] – episodes 141–198 & (Michelle Thomas – episodes 463–464),
| a young woman on remand accused of smuggling heroin into Australia but claims that she was set up by her gangster boyfriend. Tracey's father Bob becomes romantically involved and marries officer Meg Jackson. She returned in episode 463, landing herself on her ex-step mother and creating problems when she and her boyfriend held Meg hostage.
|-
| '''Hazel Jean Kent'''
| [[Belinda Davey]] – episodes 142–399 Flashbacks in episode 534),
| background prisoner whose situation is eventually explored. A generally decent sort, later episodes show Hazel as being a depressed, drunken loser, turning to the bottle after her partner leaves her for another woman, taking their children with him. Hazel was suffering from a brain tumour and asked Judy Bryant to give her an overdose – leading to Judy's return to Wentworth for her final stint.
|-
| '''Sarah Forrest / Jacqueline Mary "Jacki" Nolan'''
| [[Diane Craig]] – episodes 149–159
| a classy, sophisticated and well spoken women that Jim meets at a party. They arrange to see more of each other, and, trying to impress her and not put her off about his job, Jim tells her that he works as a building contractor. Sarah is part-owner of an interior design business, and offers Jim a business deal, much to the disdain of Sarah's haughty partner, Julian ([[Peter Stratford]]). After Sarah and Jim spend the night together, Sarah finds Jim's Prison Officer jacket and flees, and when he visits her at the interior design business, she is very cold towards him and tells him that the relationship is over. At the same time, Erica is thinking of having some home decorating done, and Meg mentions that she has heard Jim has an interior design friend. Although Jim tries to put her off, Erica visits Sarah's business and seems to recognise her. Soon after, she realises that she is actually Jacki Nolan, who escaped from Barnhurst a few years previously, and is now using Sarah Forrest as an alias. Erica convinces Jim to try to persuade Jacki to turn herself in; Jim is unsure what to do and stalls, but Jacki turns herself in on her own accord. Sent to Wentworth, Sarah and Jim try to play down their relationship to both Erica and the other inmates. Jim joins Erica at a Prisoners Reform Group meeting, where the group comes up with a high-profile publicity campaign to get Jacki pardoned – insisting that she has self-rehabilitated and that her successful business proves this – amongst other propaganda. But Julia has his own campaign to get Jacki pardoned, and warns Jim to keep away else it will ruin the whole petition. Jacki faces going back to Barnhurst, but she is loath to as she was molested by a bullying lesbian officer (who some fans have theorised may have been Joan Ferguson) during her previous sentence, hence her escape in the first place. With increasing media attention over the case, Jacki is just about to be transferred to Barnhurst when her pardon comes through. She leaves Wentworth, presumably to resume running the business with Julian, and never to see Jim again.
|-
| '''Myra June Desmond'''
| [[Anne Phelan]] – episodes 154–552
| a former prisoner who had worked with the Prison Reform Group before arriving back at Wentworth and replacing Bea Smith as the show's second long-running "top dog". She was a thoughtful but strong woman who gave up her own life for the safety of the other hostages during The Ballanger Siege. Before the siege, Desmond organised a scheme to set up Joan Ferguson by bashing Lou Kelly and then framing Joan for the assault. The scheme worked until inmate Anita Selby revealed the truth to then-Governor Ann Reynolds. Reynolds then reinstated Ferguson and introduced a stricter security regime at the prison. She later confronted Desmond and told her that she would no longer recognise her as top dog. She also threatened Desmond with a transfer to Blackmoor if she caused any more trouble.
|-
| '''Anne Griffin'''
| [[Rowena Wallace]] – episodes 160–167
| a seemingly meek, timid young woman sent to Wentworth for robbing a shopkeeper and knife-point. She insists that she is innocent, and the money found on her when she was arrested was loaned to her by her friend Megan; however, no trace (or even proof of existence) can be found of Megan and so with no alibi, Anne is to await trial. Soon after Anne's arrival, Bea is attacked from behind in the corridor, and it eventually emerges that Anne was responsible (not liking Bea's authority over the other inmates); Bea plans her revenge but Judy persuades her to hold off, convincing her that Anne is mentally unwell. Anne tries to convince the authorities that Megan has written to her, giving her the alibi she needs, but it turns out that Anne wrote the letter herself. As Erica realises that Anne needs psychiatric help, various details come to light about Anne's abusive upbringing, her imaginary friend Megan, and the baby she later had that died, also called Megan, which has left Anne in a very confused state. Anne is inside during the big tunnel escape plan of the end of the 1980 season; after the other woman realise Anne is unreliable, they try to cover up all proof of the escape plans, telling her it was merely a prank, in fear that she might inform the officers. Things come to a head during the escape attempt (165); Judy, Mouse, Doreen and another inmate; Irene Nagel, make their escape, but Lizzie decides at the last minute to join Doreen, leading both her down into the tunnels, and Bea after her trying to call her back. As the tunnels collapse, trapping Bea, Lizzie and the injured Doreen, Anne deliberately covers the cover to the tunnel (with a "grave" for Megan) to stop them from getting out, leaving them trapped in the collapsed tunnel for several days. Eventually Mouse is recaptured, and raises the alarm, leading the officers to rescue Bea and co. Bea plans to kill Anne for what she did, but Dr. Weisman by this time certifies her to be mentally unbalanced, and she is led away to a psychiatric hospital before Bea can exact her revenge.
|-
| '''Irene Nagel'''
| Heather Howard - episode 165
| An inmate who joins in on the escape from Wentworth at the last minute. She was mentioned by Judy as being in on the escape in episode 163, though her name was mentioned way before in episode 126 as one of the first of the women to attend the Reynolds clothing factory job. She didn't speak any lines and just followed the escape instructions with the other escapees. She was the one who inadvertently caused the tunnel collapsed by slipping and grabbing hold of an old rickety support beam that couldn't hold her weight. The tunnel collapsed, killing her. It's implied that her body was dug out and in episode 167, Erika Davidson was on the phone to inform one of her relatives of her death.
|-
| '''Sandra "Sandy" Hamilton'''
| [[Candy Raymond]] – episodes 173–180
| a new prisoner who arrives claiming to be inside for the first time after being caught driving with expired tax. However, Bea and others soon become suspicious as, for a supposed first timer, Sandra seems very familiar with prisoner etiquette, and asks a lot of questions, particularly around and concerning Judy. They suspect her to be an undercover police officer after information about Judy's recent escape and recapture, heightened even more when she convinces the Governor to move her into Judy's cell, and she even tries making seductive advances towards Judy; but after Bea and Judy put the heavy on her, she confesses that she is actually a newspaper [[journalist]] who deliberately got herself put inside to try to get the [[Scoop (term)|scoop]] on Judy's escape. When Evelyn Randall (see below profile) arrives in episode 175, Sandra offers to write an article about how Evelyn has been unjustly imprisoned in return for Evelyn getting information with her; when Bea and the women plant Evelyn's stolen file in Sandra's cell, Sandra is sent to isolation. When the prison is struck by an unidentified disease (episodes 177–179), and the isolation cells needed to bed [[quarantine]]d officers, Sandra is returned to the women, where she becomes very scared of becoming infected, after seeing her mother waste away some years earlier, and even tries to escape during a food pick-up, leaving Jim Fletcher threatening to shoot her if she does not return, for fear of her infecting people outside the prison. With the mysterious disease "cured" in episode 179, Sandra finds herself framed for scarring Evelyn in a fire [[booby trap]] under Evelyn's bed, which will stop any chances of her imminent release; Sandra strikes up a deal with Bea, for Bea to prove she was innocent, in return for Sandra writing an exposé on poor prison conditions when she is released. However, after she is released in 180, she instead writes a story written around her and her time inside, neglecting to mention the conditions she promised to expose.
|-
| '''Evelyn Randall'''
| [[Julia Blake]] – episodes 175–179 seen in recap of 180)
| referred to as 'Evie' only by Lizzie, she is an eccentric, middle-aged [[herbalist]] who arrives with other new prisoners Jenny Armstrong and Georgie Baxter (see separate profiles). She has been accused of manslaughter after poisoning one of her patients, but insists that she is innocent, and has a grudge against conventional medicine, insisting that everyone should see that herbal remedies are the true cure. Her haughty attitude soon gets Bea's back up, but most of the other prisoners take a liking her, annoying Bea even more. When an under-the-weather Doreen asks Evelyn for a remedy, she falls ill, leading Bea to believe that Evelyn has poisoned her; but Evelyn finds that Doreen has mistakenly heated the remedy first, which has resulted in Doreen falling sick. Soon after, a mysterious bug breaks out in the prison; it is assumed to be a tropical disease brought in by Jenny Armstrong, who had just returned from overseas. As many prisoners and officers fall dangerously ill and Wentworth is quarantined, Evelyn insists that her herbal remedies could find a cure, as conventional doctors struggle to find the cause. The other prisoners even start to believe her, when one of her secretly brewed remedies begins to heal the very ill Meg; but it eventually emerges that Evelyn was behind the "disease", lacing people's food with enough special ingredients to cause them to fall sick, giving her the opportunity to "heal them" and prove herself. When the other women find out, Bea insists that they do not take action straight away, instead biding their time and making Evie nervous. But a booby trap fire using [[Turpentine|turps]] placed under Evelyn's bed badly scalds her, seeing her led away to hospital in episode 179. She is not seen after this because Erica organised a transfer to Barnhurst for the day after, and although Bea was aware that the booby trap was placed, it was only designed that it would scare her. It is never fully revealed how Evie came to be so badly scalded, although is suggested that Bea did not authorise the incident.
|-
| '''Jennie Armstrong'''
| [[Sally Cooper]] – episode 175
| a young, naive prisoner brought to Wentworth at the same time as Georgie Baxter and Evie Randall, and emerges from the prison truck covered in blood and terrified after being attacked by Georgie. While in the prison hospital recovering, she explains to Lizzie that she is only in prison after not paying a minor traffic fine, thinking that prison sounded "fun". Lizzie scares her about prison life, leading Jennie to quickly decide to pay the fine and get out. However, very soon after, prisoners and staff being to fall dangerously ill; it is suspected that Jennie might have been the cause, as she has just returned from [[Africa]] and might have brought a rare disease back with her. Jennie is only ever seen in episode 175; after her release, Police try to find her to trace the "disease", until it is finally discovered that Evelyn Randall is behind the matter, lacing people's food with poison.
|-
| '''Georgina "Georgie" Baxter'''
| [[Tracy Mann]] – episodes 175–186
| a violent, illiterate biker's moll who arrives in a prison van with Jeannie Armstrong and Evelyn Randall in episode 175, and who has viciously attacked Armstrong during the journey. Georgie is immediately put in solitary, and stays there after a series of volatile outbursts. Several inmates and staff alike, compare her to Franky Doyle. Prison teacher David Andrews ([[Serge Lazareff]]) convinces Governor Davidson to let him see Georgie to try to get to the root of her behaviour, and suggests putting Georgie in with Judy, who can more than take care of herself, and Judy becomes Georgie's first real friend inside. During the mysterious "plague" that sweeps through the prison (176–178), Georgie stays at Judy's bedside and tends to her, but, once the mystery disease has passed, Judy misinterprets Georgie's caring friendship and makes a pass at her, sending Georgie into a rage and seeing her sent to another stint in solitary (despite Judy's trying to explain to the Governor that it was her own mistake). Visiting Georgie in solitary once again, David realises that Georgie suffers from a severe hearing impediment, which has led her to misunderstand many things through life and believe people are laughing at her. Georgie soon undergoes an operation and her hearing remarkably improves. Once back at Wentworth, David suggests putting Georgie in with Bea (and Lizzie), which angers Doreen for being turfed out of her old cell, igniting a never-ending feud between the pair. Bea soon takes Georgie under her wing, but when Doreen is sent to solitary for a fight that Georgie instigated, Judy and Bea clash after Bea let Doreen take the blame. This leads to a big split between Judy and Bea, with various prisoners taking each side, and which Georgie, still furious at Judy's advances, works in the middle of to deliberately inflame even further. During this time, Georgie's mother Jeannie (see separate profile) also arrives at the prison for running a brothel, but Georgie wants nothing to do with her; while in David's classes, he begins teaching the illiterate Georgie how to read. By this time, Georgie's chance for parole is coming up, but David puts in a recommendation that she not yet be realised so that he can ensure she continues with her education. When the women discover this from Vera, they boycott David's classes, but a positive word to the V.J. from Meg, who has found Georgie a job, as well as David backing down his request so long as it is ensured Georgie continues her education outside, sees Georgie get her parole. Georgie leaves to live with biker friend "Mike the Bike" ([[Jon Geros]]), who had visited her inside several times, but finding the shabby flat a mess and that the bullying Mike only wants her for sex, Georgie storms out. After this bust up, Meg can't find her when she is due to take her to the first day of the new job, working in a supermarket, and goes to the store to apologise to the manager, only to find that Georgie has turned up on her own accord and is happily hard at work, and seems to be making a real go of going straight and putting her problems behind her.
|-
| '''Jean Nancy "Jeannie" Baxter'''
| [[Leila Hayes]] – episodes 180–183
| Georgie Baxter's mother, who had neglected and belittled her as a child. She first appears when visiting Georgie after her operation in episode 180, which results in an argument between the pair. The following episode, Jeannie is admitted to Wentworth for "living off immoral earnings" as a brothel madam. She immediately falls on the wrong side of Bea, who has taken Georgie under her wing and is determined to see that she gets an education and goes straight, and Georgie wants nothing to do with her. Before Jeannie is released, she tries to apologise to Georgie for her treatment, but Georgie doesn't want to know. However, just as Jeannie is leaving, Georgie convinces David Andrews to let her see her mother, and the pair part on amicable terms, with Georgie even calling her "Mum" for the first time.
|-
| '''Marie Winter'''
| [[Maggie Millar]] – episodes 197–471
| a tough long-term prisoner who was top dog of country prison Barnhurst, specialising in pushing drugs. She escaped with help from Lou Kelly and The Freak by climbing over the fence in afternoon exercise and clinging onto a helicopter and flying away. We are told that a few days later she is captured and sent to Blackmoor.
|-
| '''Michelle Parks'''
| [[Nina Landis]] – episodes 209–213
| an attractive young athlete with Olympic potential, Michelle is remanded to Wentworth charged with stealing from the office where she worked and once inside, literally runs rings around deputy governor Jim Fletcher.
|-
| '''Lori Young'''
| [[Susannah Fowle]] – episodes 209–347
| a young girl who visits Wentworth searching for her biological mother who had given her up for adoption – Judy Bryant. Lori later deliberately gets herself imprisoned to spend more time getting to know her mother.
|-
| '''Dinah Walford'''
| [[Trudy Simms]] – episodes 213–223,
| a middle-age woman who arrives with Kathy Hall (see below). She is imprisoned for soliciting and sentenced to two weeks imprisonment. She is sent over to D-block. While on cleaning duty in the hallways alone, she pulls an alarm in episode 215 to help keep the prison officers busy while an attack is made on prisoner Kathy Hall. Bea and Judy both suspect she was responsible for the attack after a briefly questioning her whereabouts during the incident, as she was around when Kathy was attacked. However, she is released on parole in episode 215 before Bea got the chance to question her some more. However Bea informs Kathy about the possible thought of Dinah being responsible for the attack as well as the other threats she's gotten before hand. Kathy would later inform this to her ex-husband Terry Harrison who works at the Wentworth prison, but still remains in denial on it as she doesn't know Dinah. In episode 216, Harrison confronts Walford after looking for her on the street who denies knowing anything about the attack. Instead, she would take him to see a male friend of hers who threatens to beat him up. As it would turn out however, she is indeed be one who attacked Kathy to keep her silent about something she knows about illegal business going on in a [[pawn shop]] she went to one night involving Dinah and her gangster friends. In episode 223, she and some of her gangster friends confront Terry Harrison to help them with some business. After one of them witness a conversation between him and Inspector Grace outside of Wentworth, this is looked at the wrong way and Terry is soon killed during a hit-and-run.
|-
| '''Kathy Hall'''
| [[Sue Jones (actress)|Sue Jones]] – episodes 213–220
| a woman imprisoned for theft who is heavily involved with the local underworld. She's also the ex-wife of prison officer Terry Harrison (Brian Hannan) who works at the prison during her time there. She also falls victim to harmful attempts by prisoner Dinah Walford (see above) which is unknown at first, to silence her for good on something she knows about illegal business that goes on at the pawn shop Dinah and her friends hang out at that Kathy went to visit one night. After Dinah's release on parole, Bea informs Kathy that she expects Dinah was responsible, and strangely after Dinah is released on parole, the harmful attempts stop, but Kathy still remains in denial on Dinah until Terry Harrison confronts her after being beaten up by Dinah's friends. Kathy admits to being in the pawn shop they hang out at where she met a man named John who made some secretive business with them. Upon the time of her release, she tries to pull schemes around the prison to keep her from the possible danger on her life on the outside but is unsuccessful. In episode 220 unknowingly to her, Terry Harrison decided to set her up to have her killed as revenge for ending their relationship and losing his unborn child Kathy was pregnant with while having a relationship with another man who was abusive. Terry informs the pawn shop manager by phone (not knowing it's Harrison) on the date of Kathy's release. When she is released towards the end of the episode, she is run over by a hit-and-run driver and dies. Her body is discovered in episode 221 by a prison guard on duty and is taken away by an ambulance.
|-
| '''Alison Page'''
| [[Fay Kelton]] – episodes 215–227
| troubled suburban prisoner inside for shoplifting and unhappy at being locked up with "common criminals". She strikes out at some of the other women resulting in some conflict with them, most importantly bumping heads with Doreen. In episode 216 she tries to commit suicide by electrocuting herself but is found by Bea in time and taken to the prison hospital where she recovers. When she does, she is put into sharing a cell with Judy Bryant who isn't pleased. She is also given permission by the Governor to work in the reception area which angers the other women who feels she is being given "special treatment". Bea uses this as a way to get information in exchange for her protection from the other women. But Alison feels uncomfortable doing this and is requested a transfer to the isolation block to be by herself. In the meantime she face family trouble with her 15-year-old son Chris acting out at school and running away from home temporarily unable to cope with her imprisonment. When her husband Don gets into an accident at work, their teenage son and 10-year-old daughter Susan are fostered by ex-prisoner Myra Desmond. On the day her children are taken care of by their father again who gets out of the hospital, Myra gives Alison some advice on how to cope with the other women in prison when she visits them a couple weeks before her release. This convinces Alison to transfer back to H block to reconcile with the other women and apologises for acting as though she was better than them and they forgive her. Afterwards she clashes in with a newly bitter prison officer Colleen Powell a few times, leading to an assault by Powell to which Alison strikes back at her. Powell presses assault charges, possibly causing Alison to have a longer stay at Wentworth. However Powell decides to drop the charges after the women decide to go on strike regarding the issue, much to Powell's dismay. Alison is then released.
|-
| '''Andrea Hennessy'''
| [[Bethany Lee]] – episodes 228–236
| a student and political activist who is admitted to Wentworth after assaulting officer Colleen Powell during a demonstration outside the prison. She tries to fight for "true freedom" on the inside such as leaving messages written all over her cell and the rec room; causing her to quickly bump heads with the other women inside. To secure her release, two of her followers kidnap governor Erica Davidson and keep her tied up at their hideout. However, their hideout is discovered by the police who shoot one of the women, killing her. The other, Linda Golman (see below), is taken to Wentworth in episode 233. After her friend Linda commits suicide in her cell, Andrea is pressured by new coming prisoner Sandy Edwards resulting in the two having a fight. She is later transferred to E block for her own protection.
|-
| '''Linda Golman'''
| [[Mary Charleston]] – episodes 230–236
| an associate of Andrea Hennessy, who is remanded to Wentworth for her part in the kidnapping of governor Erica Davidson. She changes after being placed in solitary and ends up being very, very depressed. She was then found hanging in Andrea's cell, which is looked at as a suicide, but people wonder if Andrea actually hanged her, which she denies.
|-
| '''Sandy Edwards'''
| [[Louise Le Nay]] – episodes 235–264
| a cocky gangster's moll, inside for murder. She briefly takes over as top dog whilst Bea Smith is away in hospital, inciting a riot with the help of Kate Peterson. During this riot she makes advances to officer Steve Faulkner, who is held hostage. After the riot, the two have an affair. She later disappears after a fixed 'meeting' with Kate Peterson at the rubbish bins, but when the girls are called in Kate returns instead of Sandy. Helen overhears Kate's charge: the murder of Sandy Edwards.
|-
| '''Kathryn Elaine "Kate" Peterson ("Doc")'''
| [[Olivia Hamnett]] – episodes 235–273
| a former general physician who had poisoned her lover. A refined, intelligent and coolly self-reliant inmate. Kate was one of the few characters on the show that was a "good guy", who later turned "bad". Gently sitting on the fence whilst being involved with lagging to screws, lagging to cops, murder, trafficking drugs, fraud and bribery. Acted as though she was untouchable. She left Wentworth for a mental institution for the criminally insane after being given a death sentence from the rest of the women, realising she had burned all her bridges and succumbing to mental illness, which many of the women had predicted she would do, given that she was more educated than anyone else to fake it.
|-
| '''Susan Elaine "Susie" Driscoll'''
| [[Jacqui Gordon]] – episodes 260–302|
| a young girl who is admitted to Wentworth after she has escaped from all the juvenile institutions she has been placed in. She spent most of her time in Wentworth trying to escape. Due to her young age and innocent nature, she is taken under the collective maternal wing of most of the women, including the sarcastic guard, Colleen Powell. She is later released on her 17th birthday and eventually is led by Donna Mason into prostitution. She is the first resident of the halfway house run by Judy Bryant, which is later named 'Driscoll House'. She eventually moves to the country to live with Joanne Slater.
|-
| '''Jackie Louise Donahue'''
| [[Catherine Lynch]] – episodes 261–290
| a young prostitute who is picked up by a middle-aged man named Ron Crosby in episode 261 and goes back with him to his motel in a taxi driven by prisoner Judy Bryant who is now on parole who witness Crosby treating Jackie in a harsh manner during the ride. When they get to the motel, Jackie changes her mind going with him which leads to Judy fighting Crosby off who tries to take Jackie with him. During this, Jackie robs the wallet off of him taking all the money inside of it, and leaves the empty wallet in Judy's taxi. When Crosby goes to the police and press charges on both Judy and Jackie for assault and robbery, the police then arrive and search through the home Judy's been staying at and finds the empty wallet in her possession. This leads to Judy being sent back to Wentworth when she is suspected of assaulting and robbing Ron Crosby. Jackie later turns up in Wentworth for a two-week stay on remand on a soliciting charge in episode 280. Judy recognises her and is angry due to her being the cause of her being back in Wentworth. She clashes with the other women in particularly Bea Smith who convinces her to tell the Governor the truth about the whole incident to let Judy off. When Jackie decides to write a written confession on what happened, she gets bashed by Doreen and Margo – angering Judy who feels Jackie wouldn't confess now. However Jackie does decides to sign a written confession on the whole incident and Judy is released from Wentworth. She is released from her remand in episode 283 but is seen again in episode 290 when prisoner Susie Driscoll is released and meets her on the street. Jackie takes her for dinner and introduces her to another prostitute Donna Mason.
|-
| '''Joanne Slater'''
| [[Carole Yelland]] – episodes 273–302
| Imprisoned for parking violations, Susie Driscoll believes her to be her birth mother, however to stop Susie from escaping, the women let Susie believe it. Joanne offers for Susie to stay with her and her family out on their farm.
|-
| '''Carol Francis Lewis'''
| [[Elizabeth Crosby]]– episodes 276–284
| a young woman imprisoned for shooting her husband Doug to death who was responsible for kidnapping prison officer Colleen Powell's daughter Jenny along with his friend Mel. While Jenny was held captive, Carol made sure was well protected. While trying to contact her parents at their hideout to let them know she was alright, Doug catches her and beats her unconscious. After he rapes Jenny, Carol awakens and scratches Doug. In episode 279, Doug, Mel, and Carol flee from their hideout to stay at a hotel while the police were on to them taking Jenny with them. That night, Carol was fed up with Doug's actions and kills him, later telling Mel to take Jenny and dump her in the middle of nowhere for her protection. Jenny makes her way to the police station and is reunited with her parents. Carol is then sent to Wentworth for killing her husband. Despite saving her daughter, Powell finds her to be just as guilty as her husband by not acting against him sooner. Carol is mistreated by Powell who forces her to do massive chores while she is on remand. Powell goes as far as sabotaging Carol's work efforts on two occasions to turn the women against her; costing them their buy up privileges. This happens temporarily, but prisoner Margo Gaffney has always been convinced that Powell was behind sabotaging Carol and took every chance defending her. Soon, Carol convinces the other women to put the pieces together and they soon start to believe her. Bea confronts Powell who denies everything and threatens to put a charge on her. Carol receives a letter from Jenny who thanks her for helping her out which angers Powell who takes it from her and burns it to keep her from using at her upcoming trial. At the trial, Lewis pleas guilty and Jenny testifies at her trial and tells the truth about her helping her and Doug abusing Carol. Carol gets lightened sentenced to three years which upsets Powell. For her own protection against her, Carol is transferred over to Barnhurst along with Margo Gaffney due to her gambling activities.
|-
| '''Faye Quinn'''
| [[Anne Lucas]] – episodes 285–352
| a petty criminal inmate who attempts to take charge of all gambling at Wentworth and the first inmate to actively collude with corrupt officer Joan "The Freak" Ferguson. By episode 287 she's operating as the prison bookie, replacing Margo who's just been transferred to Barnhurst. She is then transferred to another block in episode 313 but makes a return in episode 340. She is pressured by Nola McKenzie to front for her insurance racket and provide cash for Nola's deals. She is released in episode 346 after Joan has forced her to lag on Nola's dealing, and goes to live with mother, but can't keep away from her old racing friends. Her sister Glynis ([[Kirsty Child]]) forbids her to see her nephew Billy who soon turns out to really be her own son. After she gets involved with stealing VCRs from her job, she is caught and returns to Wentworth. She is last seen being reduced to tears after being transferred to C-Block and reading a letter from her son, Billy.
|-
| '''Hannah Simpson'''
| [[Julieanne Newbould]] – episodes 288–303
| a young woman on remand for armed robbery who becomes the first unwilling object of officer Joan "The Freak" Ferguson's Sapphist lust. While she is there, Joan repeatedly has her put in solitary to put pressure on her which makes her unable to take part in an escape planned for her by Duncan Campbell. She was transferred to Barnhurst after her court hearing.
|-
| '''Donna Mason'''
| [[Arkie Whiteley]] – episodes 290–303
| a doomed heroin addict and prostitute who leads Susie Driscoll astray and manipulates her into joining prostitution. Bea Smith tries to help her come clean cold turkey as she reminded of her own late daughter Debbie. She later died when she injected herself with spiked drugs and in Bea Smith's arms.
|-
| '''Maxine Daniels'''
| [[Lisa Crittenden]] – episodes 297–391
| a young biker frequently inside Wentworth for petty theft. She escaped with Lucy Ferguson but was shot dead by a security guard whilst on the run and trying to escape the scene of a robbery.
|-
| '''Barbara Fields'''
| Susan Guerin – episodes 300–326)
| a devious middle-class woman imprisoned after being caught with [[embezzled]] funds from the shoe factory where she worked. Barbara is the first Wentworth inmate to pose a threat to Joan Ferguson after she acquires the Freak's secret diaries full of incriminating evidence of the cold screw's dodgy dealings. During The Great Fire she tries to recover the diaries from Erica's office but collapses and dies.
|-
| '''Paddy Lawson'''
| [[Anna Hruby]] – episodes 304–339
| a highly aggressive young woman imprisoned for assaulting a work colleague after they got locked into a storage room together during an office party. It is eventually discovered that Paddy's violent behaviour is a result of claustrophobia. After this, she settles down and becomes a good friend of Bea Smith. After Paddy exposed escaped murderer Nola McKenzie's involvement in a bank robbery, McKenzie callously murdered Paddy by drowning, incurring Bea's wrath.
|-
| '''Penny Seymour'''
| [[Joy Dunstan]] – episodes 307–309
| a young woman imprisoned for prostitution. After she was released, she fell victim of the Black Gloved Killer who broke her neck and left her dead in an alley.
|-
| '''Tina Lee Gibson'''
| [[Debbie Cumming]] – episodes 310–311
| a young woman sentenced for seven days in Wentworth for prostitution. She arrives with returning prisoner Helen Smart and afterwards soon bumps heads with Joan Ferguson who shows her lets her in on her dislike for prostitutes. Both she and Helen are released together where Tina then goes back on the streets. She then becomes the second victim of the Black Gloved Killer.
|-
| '''Sally Dempster'''
| [[Liz Harris]] – episodes 313–320
| a neurotic, alcoholic middle-class housewife imprisoned trying to run down her neglectful husband after an argument in episode 316. Like Gail Summers, she too was given rough treatment by the other women after she revealed she abused her daughter Michelle. She attempts suicide in her cell but is saved by Colleen Powell. Colleen makes Sally's husband realize that his selfish behaviour provoked Sally's actions and in episode 320 he gets Sally released and they reconcile and she reunites with their daughter.
|-
| '''Jeannie Stanton'''
| [[Rona McLeod]] – episodes 325–329
| pregnant prisoner whose baby is delivered by Bea Smith and Chrissie Latham in a men's prison (as the men rioted).
|-
| '''Valerie Jacobs'''
| [[Barbara Angell]] – episodes 330–332
| an old friend of deputy governor Colleen Powell having stolen goods for her boyfriend to sell in his shop.
|-
| '''Jean Carter'''/'''Nola McKenzie'''
| [[Carole Skinner]] – episodes 331–369,
| a double murderer who had escaped from death row in Western Australia. Possibly Bea Smith's deadliest rival. She is first introduced as Jean Carter, who takes refuge at Judy's halfway house, however she gets arrested for knocking a cop unconscious at the house, who was coming close to revealing her true identity. It was later revealed at Wentworth and why she faced a death penalty in Western Australia; for killing a cop there. She angered Bea after callously murdering Paddy Lawson by drowning her in a wash basin. Bea brands Nola with a soldering iron. She eventually tries to drive Bea insane with the aid for the Freak and Zara Moonbeam, until Bea eliminated her by shooting her with a Zip Gun.
|-
| '''Trixie Mann'''
| [[Anna Mizza]] – episodes 311–340
| a young woman imprisoned for prostitution who becomes a brief offsider of Nola McKenzie. She was released.
|-
| '''Ruth Shaw'''
| [[Mary Murphy (Australian Actor)|Mary Murphy]] – episodes 343–537
| a prisoner first seen showing hatred towards Nola McKenzie after Bea tells the prisoners that she had branded her in revenge of her killing Paddy. Shaw is later caught with some of Nola's stolen cigarettes taken from the storage room given to her by Faye Quinn who is trying to sell items to make money for her and Nola while operating an insurance scheme. After her appearances during the Nola McKenzie storyline, Shaw makes more frequent appearances on the show playing minor roles until episode 537.
|-
| '''Janice Young'''
| [[Catherine Wilkin (actor)|Catherine Wilkin]] – episodes 344–352,
| proud suburban wife and mother imprisoned for refusing to pay a court fine. Her husband Chris ([[Roger Oakley]]) becomes involved with deputy governor Colleen Powell while she is inside.
|-
| '''Roxanne Bradshaw'''
| [[Peppie D'Or]] – episodes 345–381
| friend of Maxine Daniels who is the courier when Maxine, Nola and the Freak are smuggling goods into the prison. She is later admitted to Wentworth for receiving stolen goods and is pregnant after agreeing to a surrogacy arrangement with a middle-class couple. Once she gives birth, she is transferred to Barnhurst.
|-
| '''Jill Clark'''
| [[Katy Brinson]] – episodes 348–353
| a departmental employee posing as an inmate in order to conduct a covert investigation of the prison.
|-
| '''Lainie Dobson'''
| [[Marina Finlay]] – episodes 354–366
| tattoo-covered shoplifter who turns to drugs while inside. She is admitted with 'Elen' Farmer and the two are thought to be having a homosexual relationship, however it is discovered that 'Ellen' is really Allan. She tries to remove her tattoos by dipping her cut arms into caustic soda, she was released.
|-
| '''Allan "Ellen" Farmer'''
| [[Michael Cormick]] – episodes 354–360,
| a shy woman who is brought to Wentworth alongside Lainie Dobson. Lainie first refers to her as shy. Joan later finds Ellen and Lainie in bed together, Joan assumes it's a homosexual relationship. in the shower blocks Helen Smart discovers that Ellen is a man. He claims that the police had a mix-up and then just went with it. Meg discovers that Ellen is Allan after Maxine tries to seduce him. he is later released so the department does not face causing a mix-up like that. Judy later visits him to make sure he is still waiting for Lainie.
|-
| '''Diane Henley'''
| [[Rhonda Cressey]] – episodes 355–361
| illiterate prisoner whose plight highlights the lack of educational facilities at Wentworth. She is taught to read by the prison's new teacher John Maxwell who stays for a brief time period.
|-
| '''Denise Tyler'''
| [[Geraldene Morrow]] – episodes 361–367
| working-class single mother on remand for apparently killing one of her sons. It is later revealed by Judy she was covering for her other eight-year-old son and is therefore released.
|-
| '''Zara Moonbeam'''
| [[Ilona Rodgers]] – episodes 362–370
| on remand for fraud. Zara claims to be a medium with "second sight" and becomes embroiled in a scheme by Joan Ferguson and Nola McKenzie to drive Bea Smith insane. she was released.
|-
| '''Tracey Belman'''
| [[Alyson Best]] – episodes 368–372
| paraplegic prisoner who poisoned her husband after a car crash which left her using a wheelchair. Joan is assigned special care of Tracey, but after learning Joan is a lesbian, she accuses her of attempting to kiss her when she is awoken from a nightmare. Joan Ferguson proved everyone wrong when she caused Tracy to reveal she could walk and did not need a wheelchair. She is sentenced to three years and transferred to Barnhurst.
|-
| '''Maggie May Kennedy (née Mullins)'''
| [[Davina Whitehouse]] – episodes 371–376
| geriatric drugs mule convicted for smuggling heroin, who turns out to be an old friend of Lizzie Birdsworth. At first convinces the women she was convinced she was carrying diamonds, however after her and Bea smuggle out a letter to the newspaper regarding imprisonment of older people, it is revealed that this was at least the third time but the first time she was caught. She applies for an extradition back to the USA where she believes her "press friends" will help her get a release. When she receives the extradition order, Ted Douglas informs her it is on condition that she carries out her full twenty-year sentence.
|-
| '''Carol Colsen'''
| [[Merrin Canning]] – episodes 373–377
| next-door neighbour of Joan Ferguson and an abused housewife who finally snaps and kills her husband as Joan enters the house. She holds her daughter Jill and Joan hostage. Once admitted to Wentworth, the women don't look favourably upon her for threatening her daughter. Joan takes Jill under her wing and brings her in to see her mother, but upon Jill's rejection to her mother, Carol hangs herself in her cell with her stockings.
|-
| '''Laura Gardiner/Brandy Carter'''
| [[Roslyn Gentle]] – episodes 373–382
| admitted to Wentworth as a surly, antagonistic prostitute named Brandy, officer Meg Morris recognises her as a meek librarian named Laura. After Laura tries to commit suicide in an attempt to get a rid of Brandy, a third personality emerges after recovery who calls herself Susan. However, it is not simply a case of a woman living a triple life as it soon becomes apparent that Laura/Brandy is schizophrenic. During a psychiatric examination, Laura manages to "get rid" of Brandy (though the whereabouts regarding "Susan" are never covered) and is sent off to a mental hospital.
|-
| '''Frances Harvey '''
| [[Wanda Davidson]] – episodes 373–525
| a tough heavy who is introduced as a halfway house resident but ends up in Wentworth without an explanation in episode 384. She bashes Hannah Geldschmidt with Alice Jenkins in episode 453 and is responsible for killing Sarah Higgins later on, but the case gets closed and she is never charged with the murder. Her last appearance is as a punch-bag when Myra Desmond bashes Lou Kelly's heavies to isolate her.
|-
| '''Sandra Louise "Pixie" Mason'''
| [[Judy McBurney]] – episodes 377–510 recap episode 534
| a flighty, romantic inmate initially admitted on [[bigamy]] charges (addicted to weddings that lead to her marrying a number of men). She applied for a job on the outside and still kept the job after the owners found out that she was a prisoner. Pixie was cruelly raped by Frank Burke, but her friends and Joan Ferguson helped set up evil screw, Len Murphy, for the rape. She never recovered from her ordeal with Frank and was transferred to Ingleside.
* '''Gerri Doogan''' ([[Deborah Kennedy]] – episodes 381–382), brought to Wentworth on soliciting charges, but she is really a plant attempting to recover the photo of Lionel Fellowes paying a bribe. Bea tricks her into exposing her hand too soon by pretending to have hidden the photo in a lump of modelling clay.
|-
| '''Petra Roberts'''
| [[Penny Maegraith]]– episodes 383–407
| a former teacher remanded to Wentworth for murdering her father. It is revealed he raped her and her younger sister. She was engaged to prison doctor Scott Collins. Once her sister is found dead, Petra reveals that she was actually not the murderer, but covered for her younger sister. Her storyline was basically a re-hash of the Karen Travers one from several years earlier. She was released.
|-
| '''Sharon Smart'''
| [[Liddy Clark]] – episodes 383–388
| the younger sister of Helen Smart who becomes involved with a crooked religious cult. When Helen, Judy, a former cult member and deprogramming man lock her in the Driscoll House attic to help de-programme her, she stabs and kills the man helping. She is charged and ultimately convicted of murder but is sentenced to probation due to being held against her will.
|-
| '''Lucy Ferguson'''
| [[Yoni Prior]] – episodes 385–389
| the niece of officer Joan Ferguson who arrives inside on drug charges. She breaks into Joan's house, persuades her to let her stay while she looks for a job and to lend her money to but new clothes for an interview. She buys drugs, which she and her boyfriend hide in Joan's house until they can deal them. Lucy is arrested for possession but comes in under the last name "Walker" to keep hidden her relationship with Joan, but uses this to black mail her in the process so she'll do her favours. She manages to escape from Wentworth in a laundry truck along with Maxine Daniels with the help of Joan herself.
|-
| '''Glynis Ladd'''
| [[Debbie Cumming]] – episodes 389–391
| a dealer and junkie who admits she has previously been inside Barnhurst. She develops the tropical disease; [[Lassa fever]] causing Wentworth to be locked under quarantine. Shortly after, she dies.
|-
| '''Rosemary Kaye'''
| [[Jodie Yemm]] – episodes 391–402
| a naive country girl who comes to the city looking for work and has all of her money stolen. Wally then sends her to a boarding house where she is sexually harassed by Rod Miller, a supermarket manager and one of the residents of the boarding house; after she bashes him with an ashtray, he presses charges against her and she ends up in Wentworth on remand. After Wally manages to convince Rod to drop the charges against her, she is released and returns to the country to get married.
|-
| '''Sonia Elizabeth Stevens'''
| [[Tina Bursill]] – episodes 394–447
| a cool vice queen who had operated a protection racket fleecing prostitutes whilst maintaining cover as a policeman's wife. Imprisoned for heroin trafficking and soon took over as top dog before Bea was sent to Barnhurst. Her position was taken over by Minnie Donovan for a short time while Judy and Helen ensured Sonia would not return to be top dog. She escaped and was last seen standing on a clifftop, but we later see bullets through the window of her car which might explain she was shot down by the criminal Renner or by her husband Eddie's people.
|-
| '''Randi Goodlove'''
| [[Zoe Bertram]] – episodes 394–414
| a mercenary, high-class prostitute who crosses swords with officer Meg Morris when she tries to manipulate her son Marty ([[Andrew McKaige]]) into marriage as a cover for her prostitution. Randi fell victim to murderous officer David Bridges; she was killed and stashed high above the infrastructure in the boiler room which is never discovered by the staff or prisoners.
|-
| '''Cass Parker'''
| [[Babs McMillan]] – episodes 401–460 Recap ep 534),
| a gentle-natured farmer's daughter imprisoned for manslaughter. She is introduced when she is transferred from Barnhurst (where she was initially incarcerated) after killing an officer there. She is taken to Wentworth to finish her sentence and it soon becomes apparent that her docile demeanor hides a violent temper and at tendency to lose control. During her time, she decapitated murderous officer David Bridges with a garden spade when he tried to kill her. She subsequently became friends with both Minnie Donovan and Bobbie Mitchell. She was later transferred to a mental hospital after attempting to strangle officer Dennis Cruikshank when he caused Bobbie to miscarry her baby.
|-
| '''Louise Jane 'Lou' Kelly'''
| [[Louise Siversen]] – episodes 404–616
| a vicious prison thug and perhaps the most violent agitator in H Block during the later years of the series. She starts out as a background prisoner making casual appearances before being put into the spotlight in episode 452. She led a riot in which she killed Eve Wilder, the Phantom Lagger, but was later killed while in solitary, being beaten to death with a glass bottle by Janet "Maggot" Williams. Lou escaped after the riot she caused by faking a murder attempt by cutting herself with a knife, setting up Rita Connors. While she escaped she was raped by Alice Jenkins's brother and killed him and his mother.
|-
| '''Minerva Edith "Minnie" Donovan'''
| [[Wendy Playfair]] – episodes 405–437
| an elderly woman who had been a foster carer and had organised her charges into a team of shoplifters. Became the series' most unorthodox top dog. She is transferred to B-Block after spending an 'escape day' with Bobbie Mitchell in a country town following the glee club singing competition.
|-
| '''Roberta "Bobbie" Mitchell'''
| [[Maxine Klibingaitis]] – episodes 405–533
| a streetwise and rebellious youngster and punk imprisoned for shoplifting and assault. Accused of pushing Reb over the catwalk but cleared of the charge. Bobbie is eventually released in episode 513. She later returns for a special one off appearance for Marlene's wedding in episode 533.
|-
| '''Brenda Hewitt''' |
| [[Carmen Warrington]] – episodes 408–416
| a talented forger working for the local underworld who is involved in a brief business partnership with Sonia Stevens while inside.
|-
| '''Belinda Margaret Johns'''
| [[Jane Turner]] – episodes 414–428
| an embittered blind woman who gets herself imprisoned to take revenge on Sonia Stevens, whose protection racket partner left her blind after a bashing. She was transferred to another cell block and away from Sonia after an attempted bashing which involved a wrench.
|-
| '''Sarah Higgins - "Hangin' Higgins"'''
| Nell Johnson – episodes 416–499
| Visiting Justice notorious for her tough attitude and the harsh sentences she gives out to the prisoners. Sarah gets a taste of life on the other side of the bars when she is remanded on corruption charges. Tried by the inmates and shunned. She is then found with her throat slit, which turns out to have been done by prisoner Frances Harvey.
|-
| '''Alice "Lurch" Jenkins'''
| [[Lois Collinder]] – episodes 419–692
| a prisoner who, like many, graduated from a small non-speaking part into a more fleshed-out role. Alice makes her spotlight appearance in episode 448. Her character, initially a thug, later mellowed and became an ally of Rita Connors after the riot she took part in, realising Lou was no good for her and what she did was wrong. This was further consolidated after Lou killed Alice's brother and mother. Lou was also raped by Alice's brother while escaped.
|-
| '''Marge Briggs'''
| [[Christine Best]] – episodes 419–534
| Transferred from D block by Joan to act as muscle for Sonia. She manages to goad Cass into a fight. Seen over a year later as a prisoner waiting for her parole decision and mentions Hazel to Judy. Despite her bitter comments, Alice tells us later she does get parole.
|-
| '''Rebecca Anne "Reb" Kean'''
| [[Janet Andrewartha]] – episodes 422–589
| a tough inmate who played rival to top dog Myra Desmond. She was born into money, but rebelled against her wealthy family. she also pushed Joan Ferguson off the catwalk in self-defence and was also pushed off the catwalk by Marie Winter. She was transferred to Blackmoor after attacking Myra and assaulted Joan swearing to her that she will be back. She was returned to Wentworth later in the series, a changed character following electric shock treatment and a nice bashing from evil Blackmoor officer Cynthia Leech. She is released after she is cleared of the attack on Joyce Barry.
|-
| '''Mo Maguire'''
| [[Bronwyn Gibbs]] – episodes 428–432
| antagonistic remand prisoner protesting her innocence of a burglary charge. she was released along Camilla Wells.
|-
| '''Camilla Wells'''
| [[Annette Andre]] – episodes 429–432
| a radio show hostess and journalist who arrives at Wentworth as a "celebrity" inmate for not paying a parking fine. she was released.
|-
| '''Meryl King'''
| [[Marilyn Maguire]]– episodes 429–432
| a prostitute imprisoned for drug possession with links to the local underworld. She was released and later shot dead.
|-
| '''Gloria Payne'''
| [[Tottie Goldsmith]] – episodes 430–445
| trouble-making inmate and early antagonist of new top dog Myra Desmond, having been her husband's mistress on the outside. She was last seen suffering in hospital after having boiling water tipped on her by Philis, attempting to frame Myra.
|-
| '''Sarah Webster'''
| [[Fiona Paul]] – episodes 433–441
| a young single mother who finds herself remanded to Wentworth after sheltering her old friend Reb Kean while she is on the run. She is later released when she was cleared of a murder charge.
|-
| '''Diana Hardy'''
| (Julia Gardner – episode 445
| a remand prisoner put into uniform by Meg due to her pill-induced amnesia. She is quickly transferred to another prison.
|-
| '''Rachel Millsom'''
| [[Kim Trengove]] – episodes 450–472
| a young woman whose story began on the outside before she is sent to Wentworth. She is introduced as working at a goods shop with her elderly father and soon begins a relationship with officer Rick Manning. In episode 454 her father is hit and killed by a drunk driver named Trevor Priest. Priest tries to manipulate Rachel by offering her money and condolences in return for her not having him prosecuted. Rachel testifies against him but he manipulates the court and is found not guilty. After a final confrontation with Priest outside court, Rachel runs him over and kills him at the end of episode 457. She is remanded to Wentworth and is subsequently transferred to a prison farm in episode 472 after her trial to continue her sentence.
|-
| '''Hannah Geldschmidt'''
| [[Agnieszka Perepeczko]] – episodes 451–456
| an East German Jewish concentration camp survivor and illegal immigrant who arrives at Wentworth awaiting extradition back to East Germany.
|-
| '''Leigh Templar'''
| [[Virginia Hey]] – episodes 457–470
| a glamorous fashion model remanded to Wentworth after killing her manager, who had been blackmailing her with some porn films she had made at the start of her career. After Ann Reynolds is dismissed from the prison thanks to Joan Ferguson and scheming inmate Marie Winter, Templar uses her influence to get her reinstated, thanks in part to Ann saving her life during the riot started by Winter. As a result, Templar gets a two-year probation bond and leaves the prison with high gratitude from Ann.
|-
| '''Marlene "Rabbit" Warren (later Delaney)'''
| [[Genevieve Lemon]] – episodes 461–534
| a juvenile prankster imprisoned for manslaughter after a practical joke of throwing stones at cars had gone tragically wrong. When new officer Heather Rogers is introduced to the women, Marlene realises that they went to the same school together and makes her a target for her practical jokes. Another joke intended for Marie Winter earns her first bashing, when she loosens Marie's bed so that it will collapse and finds her stash of drugs, Marie then forces Marlene to give her information on Heather and her family which she uses to blackmail Heather to smuggle drugs into the prison for her. Marlene starts running books on whatever comes to her mind, including Pixie's knowledge of the bible and cockroach racing. Her fathers gift of the Guinness book of world records gives her the idea to start a charity fundraising waltzing marathon to support deaf children. Marlene falls in love with and marries Matt Delaney (one of the Woodridge prisoners who had been transferred to Wentworth temporarily), after the ceremony Marlene is released and Matt is sent to a prison farm to serve the remainder of his sentence.
|-
| '''Dot Farrar'''
| [[Alethea McGrath]] – episodes 462–486
| an elderly, hypochondriac prisoner who had served years inside. Generally regarded as a nuisance by the other women. After being poisoned by fellow prisoner Angela Adams, she was transferred to the prison farm.
|-
| '''Edna May Pearson'''
| [[Vivean Gray]] – episodes 463–468
| a genteel woman imprisoned for trying to poison her second husband. Most UK viewers saw Edna arrive, do very little and then disappear. (Note: the episodes featuring Edna Pearson were edited to remove all her scenes after a woman who had been acquitted of a similar offence threatened to sue Grundy's, claiming similarities between the character and her own case. The complete storyline has been screened in certain subsequent international screenings but is missing from the SHOCK DVD box set release. However, recently all the Edna Pearson episodes have been re-released uncut on their own DVD set from SHOCK). Edna appeared all sweet and genteel, having hated being called a poisoner. She gets most of the women, and even officers, onside by convincing them she is innocent. She tells the women her first husband died by taking poison after dealing with illness, which she claims was suicide and the reason she was arrested for apparently attempting to poison her second husband which she swears she hasn't done. The women mostly still believe she is innocent and support Edna with her appeal to get her released, however when she lets something slip to Marlene which makes it clear she did indeed poison her husband she then tries to poison Marlene multiple times despite Marlene not even hearing what Edna had said. She also accidentally poisons Alice and Frances by lacing drink which was meant for Marlene. In episode 468 Meg Morris tells Edna her appeal has been successful and she is being released immediately with no further charges. Only once Edna has gone (ep 469) do Marlene and the others put together the pieces and realise Edna was indeed as guilty as hell.
|-
| '''Diedre Kean'''
| [[Anne Charleston]] – episodes 464–492
| Reb Kean's estranged socialite mother, first seen when she tries to persuade Reb to see her father who is dying of multiple sclerosis. She visits Reb when she is hospitalised after a bashing from Marie Winter to tell her that her father has left all her money to her and she helps her escape, but worried that she might die without medical treatment she informs the police of her whereabouts and ends up in Wentworth with Reb. Whilst she is in Wentworth she is tortured by Frances, Alice and Lou but Reb refuses to help her and even joins in by salting her food and pushing her face into it. Myra eventually manages to persuade Reb to take notice of her mother after she is severely beaten by some of the women. Reb and Diedre reconcile just before someone mysteriously posts her bail and she is released. When Lou Kelly escapes, she seeks refuge with Diedre and holds her hostage in her house and later visits Reb to tell her what happened.
|-
| '''Beverly "Bev The Beast" Baker'''
| [[Maggie Dence]] – episodes 472–477
| an infamous serial killer, dubbed "The Beast" by the tabloids, who terrifies both staff and inmates alike as it transpires she hurts and kills people simply because it gives her a 'high'. After a reign of terror inside Wentworth (which includes cutting open Bobbie's hands with a razor and deliberately burning Judy Bryant with a soldering iron), she eventually kills new social worker Rob Summerton, by stabbing him with a knitting needle. Soon after this, Bev commits suicide by injecting herself with an empty hypodermic needle in front of Judy Bryant and Ann Reynolds.
|-
| '''Angela "Angel" Adams'''
| [[Kylie Foster]] – episodes 477–488
| a "sweet and innocent" young girl imprisoned for her involvement in her boyfriends crimes signing fraudulent dole cheques. She turns out to be a vicious and manipulative monster. Whilst in Wentworth she takes an interest in the social worker Phil Cleary who was dating Meg and sets her up to be raped. Mrs Adams, her grandmother visits her in Wentworth to reveal her true colours to Mrs Reynolds and her suspicions that the fire in which Angela's parents were killed was started deliberately. She was ostracised by the women and had all of her hair chopped off after she poisoned fellow prisoner Dot Farrar. After stabbing The Freak and putting caustic soda in the women's shampoo bottles she was transferred to a psychiatric hospital.
|-
| '''Kath Deacon'''
| Michele Sargent – episodes 481–557
| one of Lou Kelly's gang. Lures Myra to be set-up for the murder of Joan Ferguson, which is unsuccessful.
|-
| '''Kerryn Adele Davies'''
| [[Jill Forster]] – episodes 485–495
| a white-collar fraudster who finds it hard to cope being in prison and separated from her husband. Hangs herself after going through "the change" and being rejected by her husband.
|-
| '''Samantha "Sam" Greenway'''
| Robyn Gibbes – episodes 495–520
| a young arts student framed for drug possession. While she is in prison, she asks for her real parents to be traced and finds out that her real name is Julie Ann Cameron. After being denied permission to see her mother, she escapes from Wentworth to visit her and meets her sister Sally as well. Sally is happy to see Sam but her mother tells Sam that she wants nothing to do with her and orders her to leave. A heartbroken Sam promptly turns herself in and is taken back to Wentworth where Ann Reynolds admits that shortly after Sam's incarceration, she talked to her mother who said adamantly that she did not want to see Sam. Ann said she didn't tell Sam this because she thought Sally could convince her mother to come around. Sally later visits Sam to try to explain about why her mother rejected her and says she can still be her sister but Sam tells Sally that if she doesn't have a mother then she doesn't have a sister either. Shortly after this, Sam died when she was electrocuted by a wired door handle which had been set up for Myra by Lou Kelly and Alice Jenkins.
|-
| '''Matt Delaney'''
| [[Peter Bensley]] – episodes 499–533
| one of a trio of male prisoners transferred to Wentworth for their own safety after they had foiled a mass break-out attempt. A softer touch than the other two male prisoners, he is suspected of being gay, however eventually falls in love and marries Marlene Warren.
|-
| '''Geoff Macrae'''
| [[Leslie Dayman]] – episodes 500–556
| the unofficial top dog of the male inmates transferred from Woodridge men's prison. Becomes romantically involved with top dog Myra Desmond. He was last seen at Myra's funeral.
|-
| '''Francis Joseph "Frank" Burke'''
| [[Trevor Kent]] – episodes 500–555
| the last of the male Woodridge inmates moved to Wentworth, Frank is a convicted rapist and all-round villain. Raped Pixie Mason. He escaped and eventually took his revenge on Dennis Cruikshank by shooting him, leaving him paralysed.
|-
| '''Yemil Bakarta'''
| [[Maria Mercedes (actor)|Maria Mercedes]] – episodes 504–516
| a Middle Eastern Islamic inmate charged with causing a car accident when attempting to escape from her brutal husband. Attacks Dennis Cruickshank, believing it to be Frank Burke, although Judy takes the blame. She is released on a bond, but later sends a letter to Ann telling her that Judy was innocent to pave the way for her release.
|-
| '''Alexis "Lexie" Patterson'''
| [[Pepe Trevor]] – episodes 509–650
| a loud-mouth punk and card-shark, who spent her first few months in [[Boy George]]-style garb. (Note: With George's change in image and subsequent fall from favour occurring prior to Lexie's on-air debut in February 1985, these episodes already seemed dated at the time of first broadcast.) Meets her real mother inside for the first time, Jessie Windom. Suspected of being the Phantom lagger, and escapes, where she is hunted down, by the same killer of Nora Flynn. She is later released with Nancy McCormack and given a very social farewell from Rita, Alice and Lorelei.
|-
| '''Ethel May "Ettie" Parslow'''
| [[Lois Ramsay]] – episodes 514–600)
| a senile old dear who turns out to have been imprisoned since the Second World War due to a bureaucratic mix-up. Develops a close relationship with officer Meg Morris when it turns out that Ettie nursed her as a new-born baby in prison. After getting released and $250,000 compensation, she manages to get herself put back inside by accidentally shooting a police officer. Is released again, and decides to run a 'halfway' house, where Ann Reynolds briefly works. She was last seen begging to be let into Wentworth to see Julie Egbert on her birthday.
|-
| '''Janice Mary Grant'''
| [[Jenny Ludlam]] – episodes 514–528
| a sophisticated solicitor imprisoned for dangerous driving. It turns out that Janice is an alcoholic suffering from withdrawal symptoms. Lou Kelly quickly catches onto her alcoholism and supplies her with methylated spirits. Despite Myra and Ettie's attempts to sober her up, she manages to get alcohol from Lou, Alice and Frank. Janice takes an interest in Ettie's case and reveals to her that she has been imprisoned for 45 years without a trial and pushes for her to be compensated. Alice and Lexie force her to drink grain alcohol and she is sent to a psychiatric ward, where Ettie pays for her to receive the best possible treatment.
|-
| '''Sheila "Shelly" Brady'''
| [[Colleen Hewett]] episodes 519–534)
| misfit remand inmate inside for heroin possession with a secret singing talent. The women struggle with her 'odour' initially. Found not guilty and released – but is seen on TV by Judy shortly after, having turned 'Pixie's song' into a chart hit. Judy tries to sue her, until they come to an agreement that she will write an album of songs for Sheila and join her on tour. Last seen driving off with Judy for stardom. Her version of 'Pixie's Song', is the only other piece of music ever to close an episode of the series.
|-
| '''Anita Selby'''
| [[Diane Craig]] – episodes 526–536),
| a Catholic nun imprisoned for causing a disturbance at a nuclear disarmament demonstration. Anita's overall goodness and willingness to seek such virtue in others brought about a brief moral chaos to Wentworth, its prisoners and staff. In particular she proved to be the perfect character foil for cell mate Lou Kelly and evil officer Joan Ferguson. She was released on bail and last seen having a heart to heart with Joan Ferguson.
|-
| '''Nora Flynn'''
| [[Sonja Tallis]] – episodes 537–588)
| a long-term, self-reformed prisoner transferred from Barnhurst. She acts as the new 'Top Dog' after the death of Myra Desmond. She had served 23 years for her involvement in the thrill-kill murder of three hitch-hikers. Perhaps inspired by the situation of the Charles Manson gang members, despite appearing to be self-reformed Flynn is repeatedly denied parole. When she arrives she has already escaped once from prison, and in doing so managed to get herself pregnant. But a scuffle with Lou denies Nora her dream of becoming a mother. Later learns her mother has died, and with little left to live for, she executes a mysterious escape from prison. Later her murdered corpse is dumped outside the prison: it transpires that after her escape she had been hunted down and killed by an ex-policeman serial killer with a grudge against prisoners.
|-
| '''"Auntie" May Collins'''
| [[Billie Hammerberg]] – episodes 537–587)
| an earthy career criminal who was a famous cat burglar. Although getting on in years, May is a tough lady who watches out for the more vulnerable, younger prisoners. After her "escape", she works with a gang to rob an art gallery and after much disagreement she is shot in her chest.
|-
| '''Wilhelmina "Willie" Beecham'''
| [[Kirsty Child]] – episodes 537–682
| May Collins' partner-in-crime. Willie was a fence on the outside and runs a bartering business in prison. Willie is something of a snob, and often antagonises the women with her supercilious attitude. When offered the opportunity of a full pardon, May and Willie worked with the police to try to expose a new criminal syndicate, when May was shot and killed, Willie made sure everyone at Wentworth knew and left the series feeling she no longer had anyone who cared for her. She returned for a surprising, one-off appearance later in the series as an employee which Joan goes to see for a job.
|-
| '''Julie "Chook" Egbert (later Ryan)'''
| [[Jackie Woodburne]] – episodes 537–628),
| a shy but highly intelligent young girl who had stolen from her workplace to help her terminally ill mother who later dies. She is transferred back to Barnhurst until her release so she can live with her new husband, Steve Ryan.
|-
| '''Daphne "Daffy" Graham'''
| [[Debra Lawrance]] – episodes 537–590
| a garden-loving inmate who had been a juvenile offender before ending up in prison. It is later discovered that Daphne's crime and her subsequent self-harming in prison is linked to extreme PMT. Ben Fulbright, later to marry Pippa Reynolds, fought for her release on these grounds and she left Wentworth. Briefly was seen on TV making her case known to the public. Acts as 'PA' to Ruth Ballinger during her time in Wentworth.
|-
| '''Ruth Ballinger'''
| [[Lindy Davies]] – episodes 538–552
| the shady wife of an international drugs baron remanded to Wentworth with special privileges in the hope that she will assist the Federal Police with their efforts to nail her husband's drug trade. One of the few prisoners to really ruffle the feathers of The Freak, when she discovers among her crimes she was involved with child pornography. Ruth's time in the series climaxes in a three-episode-long terrorist siege when her husband sends a team of armed mercenaries to spring her from the prison. After the successful escape, she is caught at the airport and is transferred to Blackmoor. (Joan phones Cynthia Leach to have Ruth 'taken care of') Seen as ruthless and cold, the only other prisoner to seemingly 'soften' Ruth up during her spell in Wentworth is [[Daphne Graham]] as Daphne acts as a sort of PA to Ruth and Ruth seems to genuinely hold some care for her; for instance, whilst giving free handouts to the fellow women, Daphne is given a whole cell full of plants in return for her work.
|-
| '''Jennifer Elise "Jenny" Hartley'''
| [[Jenny Lovell]] – episodes 540–588
| a young woman on remand protesting her innocence of the murder of her wealthy grandmother. Initially introduced as a friend of Pippa Reynolds, she is also a professional piano player, who teaches Daphne Graham to play. Shortly after her arrival at Wentworth, a group of terrorists break into the prison to help Ruth Ballinger escape and torture her by putting an unloaded gun to her head and pulling the trigger. After she finds out that her lawyer is being paid off by her aunt to conceal evidence, she fires him and appoints a detective, Howard Simmons suggested by May Collins who investigates the case. Grows in strength and character through her time in the prison. She was released after her uncle was arrested for murdering her aunt and confessed to her grandmothers murder. She was last seen when she decides to leave Ann's house to look for a flat of her own.
|-
| '''Queenie Marshall'''
| [[Marilyn Rodgers]] – episodes 556–573
| sassy prostitute who later becomes a friend to the women on the outside when they need her help to ensure that Nikki Lennox does not end up in prison. Queenie also led to Andrew Fry's resignation as he was known as her "best" customer
|-
| '''Nicole "Nikki" Lennox'''
| [[Vicki Mathios]] – episodes 568–574
| the self-imposed leader of the juvenile delinquents sent to Wentworth to spend time with convicted criminals as part of a "scared straight" scheme. She became an enemy of Lexie Patterson when she cheated at a game of cards and they broke out in a fight. Nora, May & Willie teamed up with Queenie Marshall on the outside to make sure she would never return to the prison.
|-
| '''Cindy Moran'''
| [[Robyn Frank]] – episodes 568–574
| another juvenile offender sent to Wentworth to be "scared straight". Attacked May, discovered Daphne having hanged herself amongst other things that worked to ensure she would not return to prison.
|-
| '''Lisa Snell'''
| Liza Bermingham - episodes 568-569
| another juvenile offender sent to Wentworth to be "scared straight". Couldn't cope with life on the inside and asked Ann Reynolds to send her home.
|}

==Others==
* '''Joanna "Jo" James''' (Nicole Dixon - episodes 568-569), another juvenile offender sent to Wentworth to be "scared straight". Forced to participate in the robbery of a pharmacy by Nikki and was caught by the police, whilst Nikki made her escape. Transferred to a young offenders' centre.
* '''Eve Marie Wilder''' ([[Lynda Stoner]] – episodes 574–600), a beautiful, but sinister socialite who arrives in Wentworth protesting her innocence at having shot the man she had been having an affair with, claiming she mistook him for a burglar. Her innocent act gains her enough popularity with the women to be asked to host a beauty/talent contest. After her first solicitor Adrian Forster tells her the police can't find any bullets where she claims to have shot Robin, Eve asks for another solicitor and gets appointed David Adams. Eve finds out from Pippa Reynolds that David's marriage has just broken up and a flashback occurs where we find out that Eve really shot Robin after he told her that their love affair was over. Eve starts manipulating David Adams by flirting with him and persuades him to go to her apartment and destroy any incriminating evidence, after she finds out that officer Joyce Barry has been listening in on their conversations she batters her unconscious with the door, drags her into a cell and bashes her with a kettle, letting Reb Kean take the blame. She tries to convince David to finish her off whilst she is in a coma but he can't go through with it and leaves a note for Ann Reynolds before shooting himself in front of Eve. A series of notes are later found around the prison informing the officers of the prisoners activity signed "the phantom lagger", and Eve joins forces with Lou Kelly to try to discover the identity of the phantom lagger. Eve starts trading information with Joan Ferguson. Unfortunately, Alice overhears one conversation between Eve and Joan in which Eve admits that she was the phantom lagger. As a result, Eve is killed by Lou Kelly by hanging during the riot of episode 600.
* '''Rita "The Beater" Connors''' ([[Glenda Linscott]] – episodes 585–692), a spirited bikie, nicknamed "Rita the Beater" who arrives inside for grievous bodily harm and becomes the show's third long-running top dog. She also brought down The Freak. Stepped down from Top Dog when she contracted terminal cancer
* '''Barbara "Barbie" Cox''' ([[Jayne Healey]] – episodes 586–602), a daffy young woman whose vocabulary is limited to "Hi-de-hi!" and "Naughty, naughty!" As part of a running joke, it is never revealed why Barbie is in prison. She is released with Jesse Windon, but returns the following episode to throw tennis balls to the women, that were filled with alcohol.
* '''Nancy May McCormack''' ([[Julia Blake]] – episodes 589–650), a demure, dignified housewife imprisoned for killing her abusive husband. In fact, Nancy is covering up for her son, who had accidentally killed his father during a fight. She is released alongside Lexie Patterson.
* '''Jessie Windom''' ([[Pat Evison]] – episodes 589–620), a no-nonsense, resourceful former brothel madam who deliberately gets herself imprisoned in order to search for the daughter she gave away years before – Lexie Patterson. She is released and later takes Lexie's son until Lexie is released.
* '''Ida Brown''' ([[Paddy Burnet]] – episodes 592–691), Rita Connors' formidable elderly auntie involved with her niece's biker gang. She is last seen visiting Rita in 691.
* '''Fay Donnelly''' ([[Maud Clark]] – episodes 594–601), Tall lanky prisoner, a crony of Lou Kelly's.
* '''Rachel "Roach" Waters''' ([[Linda Hartley]] – episodes 595–643), a young punk inside for armed robbery. "Roach" is the girlfriend of Rita Connors' brother Bongo ([[Shane Connor]]). She escaped while on work release.
* '''Wendy Stone''' ([[Vivien Davies]] – episodes 598–601), Short prisoner with wild hair (and teeth) supporting Lou Kelly together with Faye Donnelly during the riots. She is first seen in 598, and bashes Julie badly in 600, which results in Julie and Dr. Steve becoming involved when he gives her medical attention. When the riots ended Wendy and Faye got transferred to D-Block and never returned.
* '''Janet "Maggot" Williams''' ([[Christine Earle]] – episodes 599–639), a second-rate prison thug who becomes an offsider to a number of the wannabe top dogs at Wentworth. She murdered Lou Kelly. She is later transferred to A-Block following a bashing from Kath Maxwell.
* '''Katherine Lorraine "Kath" Maxwell''' ([[Kate Hood]] – episodes 601–692), a middle-class woman committed for killing her terminally sick, handicapped daughter. Initially brutalised by the other women, Kath toughens up and becomes Rita Connors' main rival for the top dog position. She is the last top dog of the series.
* '''Vicki McPherson''' ([[Rebecca Dines]] – episodes 608–692), a wisecracking inmate who becomes an ally to Kath Maxwell and "Spider" Simpson.
* '''Lurlene "Lorelei" Wilkinson''' ([[Paula Duncan]] – episodes 623–677), a vivacious con-woman imprisoned for posing as a policewoman. She was transferred to Ingleside Mental Institution after stabbing Ernest Craven, in which she became mentally unstable.
* '''Merle "Loony" Jones''' ([[Rosanne Hull-Brown]] – episodes 625–692), a mentally disabled, illiterate prisoner initially regarded as a figure of fun by the other women, but finds friendship from inmate Kath Maxwell. She escaped with Kath but was left behind after an injury and sent to a psychiatric hospital; was subsequently returned to Wentworth where Kath made several attempts to make up with her – they eventually reconciled in 691.
* '''Margie Anson''' ([[Samantha Carter (actress)|Samantha Carter]] – episodes 645–691), Prisoner beaten up by Kath and Vicki as part of Kath's bid to take over top dog. She backs off from helping Spider unload contraband when van is searched and keeps nit while Spike fixes up the playback of Lisa's tape of Rodney.
* '''Rose "Spider" Simpson''' ([[Taya Straton]] – episodes 649–686), a sneering career criminal who takes charge of all rackets and contraband trading at Wentworth. also became jealous of Spike Marsh. She was transferred to Barnhurst.
* '''Lisa Marie Mullins''' ([[Nicki Paull]]/[[Terrie Waddell]] – episodes 651–692), a young woman arrested for operating a prostitution and blackmail racket on the outside. (Note: Lisa was played by Nikki Paul for her first six episodes. When Paul suddenly became ill, the part was taken over by Terrie Waddell).
* '''Wendy Glover''' ([[Julieanne Newbould]] – episodes 651–659), an undercover policewoman whose real name is Tricia Haynes, sent into Wentworth to shadow endangered inmate Lisa Mullins and to gather information about her case. When the women find out Wendy receives a very nasty bashing and they write a tattoo on her forehead reading "cop." She is last seen visiting Lisa to tell her that her boyfriend Lester is dead. During her last appearance, it is revealed that Wendy Glover is an alias and her real name is Tricia Haynes.
* '''Sarah West''' ([[Kylie Belling]] – episodes 658–668), a fiery, impulsive Aboriginal inmate who suffers from abuse from racist prisoners, especially from Spider and Vicki who tie her up and paint her white, and to get back at the women, Sarah sets up a tripod releasing poisonous fumes of hydrochloric acid through the air conditioning. Rita eventually gets through to Sarah and Pamela manages to trace her foster parents, who tell Sarah the truth about her real parents, her mother has died and her father is a white alcoholic. She was transferred to Barnhurst for her own safety after Craven's threats to Pamela.
* '''Michelle "Brumby" Tucker''' ([[Sheryl Munks]] – episodes 665–692), a young prisoner first seen at Blackmoor prison. A misfit and a troublemaker.
* '''Margaret "Spike" Marsh''' ([[Victoria Rowland]] – episodes 665–691), "Brumby"'s best friend at Blackmoor who was framed for heroin trafficking. "Spike" was a university student studying the sciences before being imprisoned and has kept her middle-class background hidden from the other prisoners. She was released to be with her parents.
* '''Billy Slocum''' ([[Glennan Fahey]] – episodes 668–684), Blackmoor prisoner transferred to Wentworth after the fire there, and first seen when Merle tries to trade comics with him. Craven lets him and Stud Wilson into solitary to rape Lorelei, and when the women find out they were responsible, they are held hostage in a store room for some mental torture with a razor. He was transferred back to Blackmoor.
* '''"Stud" Wilson''' ([[Peter Lindsay (actor)|Peter Lindsay]] – episodes 668–684), male former Blackmoor inmate transferred to Wentworth after Blackmoor is burnt down following a riot. A convicted rapist and an underling of evil governor Ernest Craven. He was transferred back to Blackmoor.
* '''Harry Grosvenor''' ([[Mike Bishop (actor)|Mike Bishop]] – episodes 679–692), former male Blackmoor prisoner moved to Wentworth, becoming a love interest for Alice Jenkins. He was transferred to Barnhurst in the last episode telling Alice that he loves her.
* '''Helen Stephens''' ([[Anna McCrossin]] - episode 692), the last prisoner of the series. Transferred from Barnhurst and was impressed by the way Kath handled Rodney Adams.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Prisoner (TV series)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Prisoner characters - inmates}}
[[Category:Lists of Prisoner (TV series) characters]]

List of Prisoner characters – inmates

2023-02-18T21:26:51Z

Vodkamad: /* Characters list */

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{{DISPLAYTITLE:List of ''Prisoner'' characters – inmates}}
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2012}}

This is a list of all inmates of the fictitious Wentworth Detention Centre in the [[television]] series ''[[Prisoner (TV series)|Prisoner]]'', known as '''Prisoner: Cell Block H''' in The United States and Britain and '''Caged Women''' in Canada.
Note that episode numbers cited are for first and last appearances; many characters had spells where they were absent for long periods of time and subsequently returned. Also, characters appearances in recaps are not included if they died in the previous episode, unless their corpse is seen at the beginning of the next episode (e.g. Paddy Lawson):

==Characters list==
{|class="wikitable"
| Character
| Actor
| Brief
|-
| '''Sally Lee'''
| [[Lisa Aldenhoven]] – episode 1) –
| the first ever prisoner seen in the series, being chased through the corridors by officers Meg Jackson and Vera Bennett, after freaking out on drugs, supplied by cold officer Ann Yates. Later in the episode Sally is found to have hanged herself. The show's first Halfway House (a boarding house for recently released prisoners) is later named in her honour.
|-
| '''Frieda Joan "Franky" Doyle'''
| [[Carol Burns]] – episode 1–20
| an agitating [[lesbian]] [[motorcycle|bikie]] who suffers ferocious outbursts when she becomes angry. Her violent attitude stems in part from the fact that she is [[illiterate]]. She falls in love with fellow inmate Karen Travers, who does not appreciate her advances; however, the pair eventually strike up a friendship when Karen begins teaching Franky how to read. Despite her immense popularity with viewers, Franky appears in only the first 20 episodes (due to actress Carol Burns choosing to leave as the series was extended from a sixteen-part serial to an ongoing soap opera); after her brother Gary ([[Greg Stroud]]) is killed in a tractor accident, and feeling jaded by Karen after Franky takes her friendship to mean something more, Franky escapes the prison with Doreen and Lizzie. Although Lizzie is forced to turn back due to her weak heart, Franky and Doreen go on the run, even posing as nuns before Franky is shot dead by a Policeman. Despite Franky's short run on the show, the character is mentioned numerous times over the next couple of hundreds of episodes.
|-
| '''Karen Mary Travers''' (née Healy)
| [[Peta Toppano|Peita Toppano]] – episode 1–80
| Karen Travers, is a middle-class school-teacher who had stabbed her abusive, adulterous husband to death. Initially Karen offers up little defence for her actions (which had led to her being given a life sentence), only later does it emerge that, as well as the physical and mental abuse she refused to report, she had returned from having the [[abortion]] that her husband had forced her to have, only to find him in bed with another woman, which ultimately sees her sentence reduced to two years. Arriving at the prison, as well as being intimidated by the [[sexual harassment]] of Franky Doyle (whom she later manages to befriend), she is reunited with Dr. Greg Miller, who is now working as the prison doctor at Wentworth, whom she previously had a close relationship with before getting married. The pair have a close friendship within Wentworth at times, but also grow apart during the course of the 1979 season. With her sentence reduced, Karen is permitted to have day release to study at University; during this time she has a brief relationship with lawyer Steve Wilson, who defends her in court. Although given a two-year sentence, Karen is given parole from Wentworth by the end of the 1979 season. After several false starts, she is befriended by prisoner rights campaigner Angela Jeffries ([[Jeanie Drynan]]), who ultimately puts Karen in charge of the show's first Halfway House. Karen runs the house for a short time towards the end of the 1979 season, with the newly released Doreen Anderson as the first tenant, but during this time, Greg confesses his love for her and the two resume their relationship. In the 1979 season finale, Karen is shot by Pat O'Connell (see separate entry)'s son David, who believes that Greg was responsible for his mother's re-arrest and mistakenly shoots Karen instead of Greg. With Karen narrowly escaping death and badly scared, Greg makes plans for them to start afresh in Queensland; Karen is last seen in episode 80, recovering from her wounds; Greg (and, off-screen, Karen) leaving the series a few episodes later. When Greg makes a brief return appearance in episode 107, we hear that Karen is recovering well and the pair have now married. She's lastly mentioned in episode 201 by a psychiatrist who tries to jog back Bea's memory who ended up with a serious case of [[amnesia]] from a car accident from her transfer back to Wentworth after her temporal stay at Barnhurst.
|-
| '''Lynnette Jane "Lynn" Warner – "Wonk"'''
| [[Kerry Armstrong]] – episode 1–44,
| Lynn is a young, rather naïve country girl who had come to the city to work as a nanny and arrived at Wentworth protesting her innocence at having kidnapped the baby in her care and buried him alive. She was brutally initiated into prison life, when Bea Smith, upon hearing about her crime, burned her hand "accidentally" with the press, giving rise to one of Prisoner's most iconic scenes. Lynn gains the nickname "Wonky Warner" (or just "Wonk") from some of the other women, especially Doreen, due to her being perceived as mentally unbalanced due to her supposed crimes. It is eventually discovered that the child's own mother had buried the child alive; clearing Lynn of her accused crime. However, upon her release, Lynn runs away from her parents' farm with Doug Parker, also an ex-convict, whom she marries, and reluctantly becomes involved with an armed hold-up, which leaves Doug dead and Lynn back inside (as well as losing the unborn baby she was carrying after being raped as a nanny). During her second spell in Wentworth, she became part of the new work release programme, working during the day at a local garden centre for Syd Butterfield ([[Alan Rowe (australian actor)|Alan Rowe]]), and getting close with Syd's son Geoffrey ([[David Cameron (actor)|David Cameron]]) in the process, much to the chagrin of Syd. Both Lynn's work programme and parole are jeopardised when she is caught trying to smuggle letters out of the prison, which she insists she has never seen before. It eventually emerges that they were planted by Doreen, who has developed a crush on Lynn, and is scared of her leaving her. After serving her time, Lynn is finally released again, though on her release day, is kidnapped by thugs who confused her with Monica Ferguson (who is released on the same day and who knew the whereabouts of some stolen loot). After being rescued by the police, Lynn presumably returns to her parents' farm, and this is the last we see of the character (we hear of her sending a Christmas present to Doreen in episode 75). She is lastly mentioned in episode 203 by return prisoner Jeanette "Mum" Brooks (see below) who mentions Bea burning her hand on the steam press when Mum, according to her solicitor, believes she has to bring up some events about Bea during their time together in Wentworth to help explain why she was too anxious to go to the police when Bea arrived at her house with amnesia in episode 199. This was to help them in their court case as Mum intentionally wanted to help Bea get herself together before she had to be turned in, aiding a prisoner which led to her second re-arrest.
|-
| '''Gladys Anne "Marilyn" Mason'''
| [[Margaret Laurence (actor)|Margaret Laurence]] – episode 1–16
| the prison nymphomaniac, inside for soliciting and chiefly memorable for her erotic assignations with electrician Eddie Cook ([[Richard Moir]]) in the prison roof. Upon release, she moves in with Eddie, determined to get a decent job and go straight, but, hard up for money, reluctantly turns back to prostitution, leading to a bust up with Eddie and being sent to Wentworth once again. As Marilyn is released a second time, Bea eventually sets the pair straight, convincing Monica Ferguson to let them run her [[milk bar]]. We hear in episodes 42–44 of Monica selling the shop to Marilyn and Eddie, and they presumably happily continue running it. During a storyline in which Bea becomes attracted to prison visitor Ken Pearce ([[Tom Oliver]]) between episodes 105 and 116, there are several references to Marilyn and Eddie's romantic liaisons in the prison.
|-
| '''Doreen May Anderson (later Burns)'''
| [[Colette Mann]] – episodes 1–446
| a childish and easily led, but generally well-meaning prisoner who was briefly involved in a sexual relationship with Franky Doyle. Thumb-sucking, teddy-bear-clutching Doreen was a petty criminal, in and out of juvenile institutions before ending up at Wentworth, with a particular talent for forgery. After Franky's death she firstly became tough and butch like Franky was and tried to bully people around, later she became close friends with Lizzie and Bea; their friendship was one of the driving forces behind the first 300 episodes' success. She was released twice in the series; after her first release she is arrested for stealing, and on her second, she steals Chrissie's baby from the hospital. In 1980 during the time she was out of the prison, she fell in love with Kevin Burns whom she married, but they were divorced not long after she was raped during her second stint in the prison during a work release scheme. The end of her marriage nearly caused her to commit suicide. She was the first victim of the Freak's 'black glove' treatment in 1982, just prior to her release. She made a few appearances in 1983 when, during Bea's escape, Doreen put her up in Sydney. Although the first to initially leave the series of the main three, she was also the last to be seen – when in 1984, she got herself put back in prison to try to avoid a marriage she had somehow agreed too, her return was more as comic relief and to bring back an old favourite following the departures of Lizzie and Bea.
|-
| '''Elizabeth Josephine "Lizzie" Birdsworth''' (née Cameron)
| [[Sheila Florance]] – episodes 1–418, featured in flashback in episode 420),
| an elderly, chain-smoking, alcoholic recidivist prisoner, who provided much of the series comic relief. At the series start, Lizzie had already served twenty years in prison. Working as a bush cook, she had in a drunken rage allegedly poisoned a group of six sheep shearers who'd had the audacity to complain about her cooking, with four of them dying. It was later learned someone else had added the fatal dose of poison to the food (she put in enough to make them sick) and Lizzie was released and awarded compensation. Unfortunately she was ill-equipped to fend for herself outside and quickly committed a series of crimes and was returned to prison. A fraud and her daughter looking for money pretended to be Lizzie's family which Paul Reid and Kevin Burns discover. We later find out Lizzie knew all along that they weren't her real family and she wanted to spend time with them. Marcia (Lizzie's fake daughter) tells Lizzie that she was her daughter's best friend at the orphanage and that Lizzie's real daughter died in a car crash. The fake family: Marcia and Josie later left to go to the United States where Josie was to undergo an operation. Lizzie was recognisable for her always present red cardigan sweater given to her early on in the show's run by the prison's governor, Erica Davidson. Lizzie suffered from several heart attacks and during her final time in hospital she was released to be with her real family: The Charlton's.
|-
| {{anchor|Bea Smith}}'''Beatrice Alice "Bea" Smith'''
| [[Val Lehman]] – episodes 1–400),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwwentworth.co.uk/bea.htm|title=Bea Smith (Val Lehman)|accessdate=5 January 2018|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010130031100/http://www.wwwentworth.co.uk/bea.htm|archivedate=30 January 2001}}</ref>
| the first ever top dog – the name given to the uncaring and sadistic leader of the prisoner population – who rules Wentworth's H Block with an iron fist. Bea was initially imprisoned for strangling her husband's mistress and then shot dead her cheating husband upon her release. Her teenage daughter Debbie (played by Val Lehman's real-life daughter Cassandra) had died from a heroin overdose in 1977 while Bea was in prison, after Bea's husband had evicted her from his home. Because of her daughters' death, Bea was renowned for her hatred of drug pushers and her hatred of prisoners who commit crimes against children which everyone followed her hatred. This characteristic, which is common in all prisons, was evident when Bea slammed the hot steam press on Lynn Warner's hand. Her hatred towards both drug pushers and users softens later in the series where she attempts to help a fellow inmate to beat her drug addiction. She and Chrissie Latham were enemies at first (as Chrissie was originally on Franky Doyle' side in the first riot) but later, they became allies, especially against Margo Gaffney. Bea was Joan Ferguson's first of three major enemies. Any chance of Bea's parole was foiled after shooting and killing Nola Mckenzie in a hospital bed. Bea escaped a total of 3 times throughout the series, although the second escape was unplanned. Bea's last rival for top dog was Sonia Stevens. Bea was transferred to Barnhurst, and her reign of terror at Wentworth's H Block is finally over. There are many references after Bea's transfer especially when Lizzie compares Bea's top dog qualities to Minnie Donovan's top dog qualities including the code of lagging when Minnie lagged on Sonia Stevens in a plan to soil Joan Ferguson. Bea writes a letter saying "Vinegar Tits is worse than ever" when Cass is transferred from Barnhurst Lizzie says "our best mate Bea Smith was transferred" Cass said that she heard Bea arrived. In episodes 536–537 we hear there was a Barnhurst riot and there were 8 transfers Myra ask Nora Flynn if they brought Bea. Nora tells Myra that she was killed in the riot trying to stop it, but Ann tells Meg that she "burnt" to death. Bea's death was probably the biggest killed-off screen events of the show as many viewers assumed that there was hope that Val Lehman would return to the show though the actress claimed she refused several offers.
|-
| '''Jeanette Mary "Mum" Brooks''' |
| [[Mary Ward (actress)|Mary Ward]] – episode 1–204
| an elderly, dignified long-term inmate who worked in the prison garden, well loved and respected by both prisoners and officers. "Mum" had committed euthanasia on her terminally ill husband and had served fifteen years at the start of the series. She helped with making newcomers to Wentworth get used to the prison routine. In Episode 2, she is released, but has nowhere to live, and after spending a brief spell living with her daughter, Lorraine Watkins ([[Anne Charleston]]), who cannot accept that Mum killed her father and does not like an ex-criminal being around her family, Mum shoplifts to deliberately get sent back to Wentworth. However, by Episode 16, she is again released, this time under the care of new parole officer Jean Vernon, who sets Mum up in a little flat with her pregnant granddaughter Judith-Ann ([[Kim Deacon]]) (whom Mum grew close to during her awkward stint living with her daughter), at which point Mum is written out of the series (as with Carol Burns, Mary Ward did not wish to commit to an ongoing serial). However, Mum and Judith-Ann appear again in episodes 30–33, when they unwittingly become involved with the escaped Bea (this storyline was conceived in part after requests from viewers to see what had happened to Mum). Mum and Judith-Anne are visited again in a storyline running from episode 61–67. Mum is in poor health, but overworking in order to support Judith-Anne's imminent birth. Meg (who is still visiting Mum) convinces Greg to tend to her, who in turn, convinces Karen (now released) to stay with Mum and Judith after Mum's short spell in hospital until the child is born. Mum's estranged daughter Lorraine (now played by [[Gabrielle Hartley]]) eventually re-appears on the scene, and after seeing Judith's baby, offers to make amends, and asks Judith and Mum to come back home and live with her. Mum is seen one more time later in the series for yet another storyline in episodes 199–204, reappearing in episode 199 when Bea – who has lost her memory in a crash while being transported back from Barnhurst – finds her once more. After another brief stint at Wentworth for aiding Bea, we are told a couple of years later in episode 388 that she has died of a heart attack, but left $20,000 to the prisoners. In episode 539, Governor Ann Reynolds persuades new prisoner Daphne Graham to tend to Mum's old rose garden to make new again that wore out after six years.
|-
| '''Rosie Hudson'''
| [[Anne-Maree McDonald]]) – episodes 2–73) (seen in recap of 74)
| a young prisoner who is heavily pregnant at the start of the series and gives birth during the riot of episodes 3–4. After giving birth, the character disappears from the series (being moved to the maternity block), but reappears in episodes 70–73. With her baby coming up to his first birthday (once again, not tallying with real time), she is in denial that he will be taken away from her by foster parents once he turns one. As a result, she suffers a breakdown, part of which, during a security alert, she punches the pregnant Chrissie in the stomach, endangering Chrissie's baby. Rosie is not seen again after these events, being taken into psychiatric care, this causes a lot of tension between the prisoners
|-
| '''Lorna Young'''
| [[Barbara Jungwirth]] – episodes 2-692
| One of the longest serving background characters: she appears regularly throughout the whole run of the series. Her first speaking contribution (and in a surprisingly posh voice too) is in 120, which is the first time the name Lorna is used for her, Later credits in 215 for an argument with Doreen over TV in the rec room 219 and 250 where her only line appears to be baaing like a sheep 253 where she criticises Bea for framing Marie Winter 293 when she contributes a present to use for the frame up on Joan. She gets the springs for the "bomb" to embarrass Joan. In episode 549 she replies "Yes, Miss Ferguson" whilst delivering food to solitary.
|-
| '''Tina Murray'''
| [[Hazel Henley]])– episodes 2-692
| Prisoner in Wentworth. The actress is one of the background characters throughout the whole series from, though not always with this name. she is first called Murray in 206. She usually isn't given lines, and so is only credited for episodes 593 and 607.
|-
| '''Christine Angela "Chrissie" Latham'''
| [[Amanda Muggleton]] – episodes 3-338
| a lascivious prostitute who spent much of her time behind bars lamenting the fact that there were no men around. She murdered Bill Jackson, Meg's husband, with a pair of scissors during the show's first riot. She returned in episode 065 after being in Barnhurst where it is discovered she became pregnant in custody. Chrissie keeps the baby to avoid a bashing from Bea and her daughter Elizabeth (named after Lizzie Birdsworth) becomes Chrissie's main focus causing her to turn over a new leaf. Whilst trying to protect or keep Elizabeth from being put into homes, Chrissie tried many stunts including running away interstate with the baby. Upon her return to Wentworth, new officer Joan 'The Freak' Ferguson begins work. It is here where Joan is often dangling the idea of visits with her daughter that causes Chrissie to reveal Bea's plans to set up the Freak. When Joan admits to Chrissie she will stand up in court and give bad character references at a custody hearing, Chrissie lashes out. During this fight we see the full extent of what the Freak is capable of and Chrissie becomes hospitalised at the hands of the Freaks first real bashing. At first, an enemy of Bea Smith, she later on became one of Bea's allies. She was eventually transferred to Barnhurst, as Bea herself later would be.
|-
| '''Helen Masters'''
| [[Louise Pajo]] – episodes 8–10
| an international businesswoman who was well known in the media due to her cosmetics enterprise remanded to Wentworth for running down and killing a child in a hit and run. She had denied all involvement and was found innocent although it was revealed that she was secretly guilty and had been driving the car when heavily intoxicated. Her haughty attitude alienates both staff and prisoners. She subsequently won over many of the prisoners, including Bea, as she demanded better conditions and promised to campaign for such when she was released. However, on a television interview after she was freed, she turned on the prisoners, saying they deserved all they got, humiliating Bea.
|-
| '''Monica "Monnie" Ferguson'''
| [[Lesley Baker]] – episodes 15–60
| a brutish, hulking inmate inside for bashing her weaselly husband Fred ([[Gary Files]]). A friend of Bea Smith (though the pair often argued) after the pair had previously been cellmates in another prison, she initially acts as a sidekick to her (at which point the character was a semi-regular), but upon Bea's escape, takes over as Top Dog herself, using very heavy-handed tactics and upsetting many of the women. After Bea's recapture, Monica attempts to remain Top Dog, leading to a brief power struggle. After one scuffle with Smith, in which Meg Jackson is injured, and with her parole coming up, Monica backs down rather than risk not getting paroled. However, with her release, she agrees to recover Joyce Martain's hidden loot from a payroll heist in return for a cut, in order to pay of husband Fred's gambling debts; but Fred has exaggerated his debts in order to get money out of her and run off with his fancy girl Denise "Blossom" Crabtree (see separate entry). When Monica finds out, distraught after she had done so much to make a fresh go with him, she bashes him, and is sent to Wentworth once again (and the loot is recovered soon after). During her second stint in Wentworth, Monica becomes involved in a couple of minor escapades (such as exploiting Deputy Governor Jim Fletcher's [[haemophobia]] with Bea), but for the most part tries to keep out of trouble in order to get her parole. Towards the end of her sentence, with Bea in solitary, Monica finds herself at odds with criminal mastermind Toni McNally (see separate entry), whom she refuses to bow down to, while Toni and henchman Martha suspect Monie of tipping off Vera with information about Toni's smuggling booze and drugs into the prison (although just how much Monica has told Vera, if anything, is never made overly clear). Monica's parole seems doomed when she finally flips over Martha's taunts and lashes out, until Officer Jackson speaks up for her in front of Governor Davidson, saying that she believes the incident was a setup to ruin Monica's parole. Erica decides to release Monnie, who is planning to start afresh in a new State, and it is the last time the character is seen in the series.
|-
| '''Barbara Davidson'''
| [[Sally Cahill (Australian actress)|Sally Cahill]] – episodes 17–24,
| the niece of governor Erica Davidson. Admitted to Wentworth on drug charges, a seemingly girly, innocent persona covers the fact that she is calculating and sly. She strikes up a partnership with Vera, which includes framing Monica Ferguson for possession of drugs. She is eventually transferred to Barnhurst after Doreen's bullying pushes her to dousing her cell in petrol and threatening to set light to herself, leading Erica to realise that it is unrealistic to have a close relation in Wentworth without risk of either special treatment or bullying. She is mentioned last in episode 215.|
|-
| '''Catherine Roberts'''
| [[Margo McLennan]] – episodes 18–24
| a middle-class housewife who runs down and kills the man who raped her teenage daughter. After she is sentenced, striking a friendship with Bea in the process, the character just disappears, and it is later revealed she has been moved to another block in Episode 28. It is assumed her husband Ken sends their daughter away to stay with her aunt, though this is never revealed one way or the other as, once Catherine's character disappears, so does the story|-
|-
| '''Phyllis Hunt'''
| [[Reylene Pearce]] – episodes 21–460
| background prisoner who eventually takes on a larger role around the time of Bea Smith's departure from the series, turning nasty in the process. After messing up Reb's drugs scheme at the Wentworth Fete, Reb takes revenge and horribly bashes her with a wooden statue, leading her to have permanent brain damage. her boyfriend takes revenge on Ann Reynolds.
|-
| '''Susan Rice'''
| [[Briony Behets]] – episodes 25–29
| an emotionally fragile woman sent to Wentworth after being caught [[shoplifting]]. As Officer Jackson becomes concerned about Susan's mental state, it becomes apparent that Susan is angry at a (fictional) pop star Jason Richards for taking her husband Fredrick away from her, destroying their marriage. It ultimately transpires that Richards is actually the [[stage name]] of Fredrick, and they are one and the same. Upon release, Susan invades a TV interview with "Richards", throwing acid in his face, before being taken away to a secure psychiatric unit.
|-
| '''Martha Eaves'''
| [[Kate Jason]] – episodes 29–64
| a dimwitted, burly prisoner ridiculed by the other women, but who often acts as hired muscle for wannabe top dogs or those needing physical back-up. She is involved in two notable storylines: the first comes in episodes 50–52 when, after constantly being bullied and belittled by the other woman for being stupid, she tries to befriend child murder Bella Albrecht (see separate entry), who is hated by the other women for her crime. But after Martha overhears Bella saying that she too thinks Martha is stupid, Martha attacks her in the shower blocks and drowns her. When Martha returns from solitary in episode 58, she starts working for criminal mastermind Antonia McNally, who uses Martha's muscle to take over Bea's position while Bea is in solitary. Eventually, as the other women begin to become disillusioned with McNally and start to side with Bea to go up against Vera Bennett and Jim Fletcher who are running the prison when Governor Erica Davidson takes a leave, Martha wants her and Toni to join in on the act but Toni wants no part of it due to her trial. She tells Martha that she could join them in the act if she wants to which she does. Although not written out of the series in any real manner, Martha is not seen after the conclusion of the McNally storyline in episode 64. In episode 128, Noeline Burke is scaring another woman accused of "baby bashing", Gail Summers, by telling her that Martha killed the previous such inmate and was sent to the loony bin as a result, which seemingly conflicts with Martha's involvement in the McNally storyline. (It might be presumed that Noeline was just trying to cause trouble).
|-
| '''Noeline Burke'''
| [[Jude Kuring]] – episodes 30–132,
| the head of a family of petty criminals usually inside for burglary and theft. An antagonist of both Bea Smith and Monica Ferguson, Noeline was famous for her refusal to take anything she considered charity. In Noeline's words, "The Burkes don't take charity, we just take." When she comes back to Wentworth she is very upset over Leanne Burke (see separate entry)'s death; she blames the officers for it and she doesn't understand that it was a tragic accident. She is later transferred to Barnhurst for her own safety. Note that Noeline's surname varies between Burke and Bourke in different sources; it is pronounced on-screen as "Burke".
|-
| '''Clara Goddard'''
| [[Betty Lucas]] – episodes 30–39
| a genteel, flighty socialite who initially planned to start a Halfway House for ex-prisoners, but ended up being remanded to Wentworth for embezzlement, where she gains considerable influence amongst the women, especially in the escaped Bea's absence. Sarcastically nicknamed "Madame Clara" and "[[Tinker Bell|Tinkerbell]]" by Bea when she returns, jealous of the way Clara manages to usurp her authority as top dog of the prisoners. During an examination of the running of the prison, the V.J. orders that Clara be moved to a dedicated remand section at Fairlea due to lack of remand facilities at Wentworth.
|-
| '''Kathleen Leach'''
| [[Penny Stewart]]] – episodes 30–149
| beginning as a background prisoner (often uncredited), Kathleen went on to be involved with two notable plotlines. She is put in to share a cell with Ros Coulson in episode 80, in the middle of Ros planning to escape with terrorist Janet Dominguez. Kathleen tries to convince her not to, fearing that the terrorists will kill the officers, but Ros escapes anyway during the botched break-out. Kath is last seen during this storyline in episode 89, being questioned by the police, and presumably goes on to be released. The character returns in episode 143, seemingly arrested on a short sentence for prostitution, but has in fact been put inside as a plant by Tracey Morris' "boyfriend" Joe to make sure that Tracey will not testify against him. When Tracey realises that Joe has been using her, Kathleen is given orders to kill Tracey; unable to carry out the instructions, she goes to Bea for help. Bea purposely scolds Kathleen's hand in the laundry steam press (episode 147), putting Kathleen out of action and sending her off to hospital, with a valid "excuse" to her employers for being unable to carry out her orders. The last time she is seen is saying to Doreen that she can give her a fat lip if she sees her on the outside, due to a previous argument the two had in the recreation room earlier on.
|-
| '''Leanne Burke'''
| [[Tracey-Jo Riley]]– episodes 33–121),
| Noeline Burke's daughter, who has inherited her mother's criminal tendencies. She first is seen visiting Noeline with her rather slow brother Col ([[Brian Granrott]]) in episode 33, telling her about the problems they are facing without her. Leanne returns in episode 50, where her mother and she are caught trying to rob a building. Although Leanne escapes charge, Noeline is once again sent to Wentworth, and Leanne meets Welfare Officer Jean Vernon while visiting. Jean gives her the address of the apartment she shares with Meg if she needs guidance – only for Leanne to rob the place with a young man, Denny ([[Tony Mahood]]) she's met. However, Jean is determined to try to set Leanne on the straight and narrow, and convinces Meg to let Leanne move in with them while they find Leanne a steady job. Leanne constantly abuses this trust, infuriating Meg; Jean continually convinces Meg to give Leanne "one more chance", until eventually, in episode 55/6, Leanne and Denny are caught trying to hold up a service station. Leanne disappears from the series at this point, and it is not clear what she is charged with (she is not sent to Wentworth). The character finally arrives at Wentworth in episode 120 charged with [[petty larceny]]. Although some of the other women are sceptical of Leanne as she is Noeline's daughter, she quickly becomes good friends with Judy, and is very active with helping arrange the riot to demand that murderous officer Jock Stewart be brought to justice. However, in episode 121, when the riot takes to the prison roof, Leanne falls to her death while trying to wave a banner for the gathering media to see. Note that, like mother Noeline, Leanne's surname varies between Burke and Bourke in different sources; it is pronounced on-screen as "Burke".
|-
| '''Irene Zervos'''
| [[Maria Mercedes (actor)|Maria Mercedes]] – episodes 38–40
| a young Greek woman admitted to Wentworth after being blackmailed into prostitution by a relative who is aware of her status as an illegal immigrant. Her brother and his wife were also illegal immigrants. Matters are complicated further by the fact that Irene does not speak English, leaving Karen, with only a smattering of basic Greek, trying to translate for her. Upon her release she was arrested by federal authorities at the gate of the prison due to her illegal status.
|-
| '''Joyce Martin'''
| [[Judy Nunn]] – episodes 40–48
| the wife of an armed robber inside for being an accessory, and the only person who knows the location of the loot. After her husband forcibly tries to have her abducted from the prison grounds to force her into revealing the loot's location to him, Joyce makes a deal with Monica, who is due for release, for Monica to retrieve the stash in return for giving Monica a cut. Heavies hired by Joyce's husband try to snatch Monica, but mistakenly grab Lynn, who is released on the same day. The loot is eventually recovered when Jim Fletcher double-crosses Denise Crabtree (see below entry) to find the stashed key to unlock the loot. With the storyline having run its course, Joyce is moved to D Block in episode 48, the last time the character is seen. Her husband was in the army with Jim Fletcher.
|-
| '''Denise "Blossom" Crabtree'''
| [[Lynda Keane]] – episodes 43–48
| a tartly young woman who is the girlfriend of Monica Ferguson's husband Fred, but who turns out to be using him to get her hands on the stolen loot from the robbery committed by Joyce Martin's husband. When she winds up in Wentworth, Monica is angry to find that she has been having an affair with Fred; while Denise, when released, tries to seduce Jim Fletcher into helping her, after the key to the loot was stashed in the prison. However, Jim double-crosses her, and hands the loot into the police.
|-
| '''Edith "Edie" Wharton'''
| [[Colleen Clifford]] – episodes 44–49
| an elderly, kindly woman who is made homeless with her partner Horrie. Horrie dies after the pair spend the night sleeping rough, and Edith ends up charged with a minor vandalism crime (against the shelter who refused to take them in) and ends up in Wentworth charged with vagrancy. Edie's stay in the prison brings out the softer side of deputy governor Jim Fletcher, who goes out of his way to see that she is comfortable and cared for. Lizzie quickly strikes up a close friendship with her, and they enjoy talking about the old days. With a roof over her head, regular meals and with the new friends she has made, Edith does not want to leave Wentworth to go to the shabby bedsit that Jean Vernon has arranged, but dies in her sleep the night before she is due to be released, leaving Lizzie contemplating the prospect of dying in prison herself. With no relations or estate to pay for Edie's funeral, Jim Fletcher quietly steps in to pay for the funeral himself, out of the reward for recovering Joyce Martin's stolen loot.
|-
| '''Melinda Cross'''
| [[Lulu Pinkus]] – episodes 47–58
| a devious young woman, who is a student at the same university as Karen. She tries to blackmail Tom ([[Hu Pryce]]), her lecturer with whom she has been having an affair, with intimate pictures of her with him, demanding money else she will show the pictures to Tom's wife. When Tom's wife does find out, she informs the police, and after being caught in the act receiving a pay-off, Melinda arrested and sent to Wentworth awaiting trial. She is pregnant with Tom's child, and after a brief spell in Wentworth, escapes conviction by convincing the Judge that she was only acting out of desperation of wanting the father of her baby. However, once released, she tells Greg (who has just opened up his own practice after leaving his job at the prison) that the story was just a convenient excuse, and that she plans to have an [[abortion]], putting Greg in an awkward position as it means that Melinda committed [[perjury]]. The newly released Karen very briefly moves in with Melinda, but after Melinda goes elsewhere to have an abortion after Greg refuses to help, and does it under Karen's name, Karen leaves to live elsewhere; this is the last time Melinda is seen in the series.
|-
| '''Bella Swan Albrecht'''
| [[Liddy Clark]] – episodes 51–52
| a remorseless child killer who had murdered her toddler daughter – which she saw as getting in the way of her securing a relationship – and arrives at Wentworth on remand. The officers attempt to keep her crime under wraps, knowing it will anger the other women, who despise those who harm children, but word soon leaks out after Bea dupes visiting psychologist Peter Clements into revealing why she is really in Wentworth. Although Bella tries to strike up a friendship with Karen, her only real 'friend' comes in Martha Eaves, feeling lonely after bullying by the other woman. Bella winds up attacked in the shower block and drowned in a wash basin; Martha is later found out to be the culprit. She's later mentioned in episode 277 by Lizzie when the women feel that a new prisoner who have arrived and placed in solitary that they aren't being told about or allowed to see due to possibly being dangerous. Lizzie then refers to the prisoner possibly doing something similar to Bella's crime of killing children due to her possibly doing something big they're not being led on about.
|-
| '''Antonia "Toni" McNally'''
| [[Pat Bishop]] – episodes 57–64
|, a cool, classy woman on remand for the murder of the woman who was having an affair with her husband, and who tries to buy the women's favour and take over as top dog while Bea Smith is away in solitary confinement. Antonia is the wife of the head of the local underworld with friends in high places – amongst other things, she pulls strings to have Jim Fletcher given leave to get him off her back – and pressure is brought to bear on governor Erica Davidson to give her special privileges that further cements Toni's high status amongst the prisoners. Toni also starts smuggling in [[contraband]], including booze and drugs, and hires Martha Eaves as her muscle and lackey. When Bea is released from solitary, the two briefly strike up an uneasy alliance, until Bea learns that Toni has been smuggling in drugs, at which point the two become involved in a power struggle. By this point, though, Governor Davidson takes a temporary leave and the other women begin to side with Bea to go up against Vera Bennett and Jim Fletcher who are now in charge of the prison. Toni however refuses to take part in this. Shortly after, Antonia is sent for trial, but is let off Scot free after thugs hired by her intimidate the only witness into giving a false statement. Walking free from court, she is shot by Ros Coulson, the daughter the woman Toni killed, and dies soon after.
|-
| '''Roslyn Louise "Ros" Coulson'''
| [[Sigrid Thornton]] – episodes 63–92
| an idealistic young woman, in her last year at convent school, who first appears in episode 63 claiming to be a relation of Antonia McNally. However, Ros is actually the daughter of the woman McNally murdered. When McNally gets off Scot free, Ros fatally shoots her, seeing it as justified. Once sentenced, the gentle Ros's attitude quickly changes, as she believes she has done nothing wrong. She orchestrates an escape, arranging a distraction, allowing her to stow away in a visiting van. She seeks refuge at the newly opened halfway house, but – despite Doreen's pleas – Karen turns her away, telling her that if they were found harbouring a fugitive, it would destroy the whole project. Ros tries the [[brothel]] where her late mother worked, but when an associate of McNally's tries to force her into prostitution, she flees, and is captured soon after. Back in Wentworth, she is won over by terrorist Janet Dominquez, who plans to escape and offers to take Ros with her in return for Ros's help. But the terrorist break-out doesn't go as planned; Ros saves Governor Davidson from being fatally shot, and escapes on her own; following a tip-off from Chrissie, she is re-captured a while later. After this, Ros, with encouragement from Erica, begins to see that her attitude will not get her anywhere, and under the guidance of welfare officer Paul Reid, begins studying. To aid her in this, Erica has her moved to a quieter block with some other studying prisoners, in episode 92 – the last time the character is seen. When Doreen gets married at the prison in episode 116, she mentions asking permission for Ros to be a guest, but the character does not appear. In episode 158, while giving a pep talk to Doreen, Erica mentions that Ros got her qualification. She is lastly mentioned in episode 176 when prisoner Evelyn Randall offers Lizzie some of her homemade tea that helps a person sleep easily; to which Lizzie tells her how she wishes that can put the prison staff to sleep for a while like how Roslyn did in episode 81 with some drugs in an attempt to escape from Wentworth with terrorist Janet Dominguez (see below) that unfortunately went unsuccessful.
|-
| '''Patricia Mary Theresa "Pat" O'Connell'''
| [[Monica Maughan]] – episodes 65–110
| a level headed, kind hearted middle-aged mother who is transferred from Barnhurst along with Chrissie Latham in episode 65. She is inside for aiding and abetting her criminal husband in an armed robbery (although, confusingly, on the character's first mention before her transfer, in episode 60, we hear that she is charged for driving a car through a shop window that had repossessed her furniture, something that is never mentioned again). Pat is being forced to go through with a divorce from her husband in order to give her a better chance of keeping her children, and is determined to keep out of trouble so that she might get her parole by Christmas and be reunited with her son and daughter, who are staying with her elderly mother who is finding it hard to cope with them. Despite jeopardising her parole by meeting with her eldest son David, who is also in prison and visiting Wentworth on a work party, Pat is paroled and reunited with her youngest children in time for Christmas. However, around this time David escapes from prison, which leads to a police shoot-out when he tries to visit her, resulting in Pat being returned to Wentworth when the police are convinced she was in cohorts with David, and leaving David jaded at Dr. Greg Miller, whom he is certain tipped the police off, prompting him to try to shoot Greg but getting Karen in error. Unable to cope in prison, David kills himself soon after. Pat's kind nature comes through when she insists that Bea not attack the pregnant Chrissie, and with both Doreen and Lizzie on release, she becomes Bea's main sidekick for a spell. Pat is eventually released when her sentence is reduced on appeal and she is given parole; she is last seen when Paul Reid drives her home with her kids.
|-
| '''Janet Rose Dominguez'''
| [[Deidre Rubenstein]] – episodes 79–83
| a terrorist brought to Wentworth awaiting extradition to the US to face charges in connection with the bombing of a South American official outside the UN building. She is held in solitary away from the other women, as the officers do not want her interacting with or influencing the other women, but she wins over Ros Coulson, who is being held in the adjoining solitary cell. Ros helps aid an escape and is given an instant sleep powder to drug the guards while armed terrorists brake into the prison to free Janet. However, the break-out does not go according to plan, and Dominguez is shot and wounded trying to escape. She is taken away from Wentworth on a stretcher soon after, accompanied by federal police. She's mentioned in episode 277 by Lizzie after the women are surprised a letter they written and sent to be published in a newspaper wasn't published in it. This led to Lizzie believing that terrorist could have been responsible behind it and refers to Janet.
|-
| '''Caroline Margaret Simpson'''
| [[Rosalind Speirs]] – episodes 89–114
| arrives at the Halfway House with her fragile mother Vivienne (see below entry), who is seeking shelter from her abusive husband but is turned away. Soon after, when her father's violent temper boils over and he threatens to kill her mother with a shotgun, Caroline fatally stabs him. Caroline convinces Vivienne that they must say intruders killed him, but their story is soon exposed and they end up in Wentworth awaiting trial. Once inside, Officer Jim Fletcher shows an interest in Caroline, subtlety at first, but it is soon noticed by the other women (reinforcing his nickname "Fletch the Letch"), although Caroline does not return his advances. Caroline's estranged, possessive ex-husband Michael ([[Peter Ford (Australian actor)|Peter Ford]]) offers to pay bail, but she refuses to bow down to his terms; while Michael becomes jaded at Jim, whom he sees as coming between Caroline and himself. Although Jim also offers to pay bail, Caroline refuses, not wanting to be in his debt, but when Vivienne's frail state of health worsens, Caroline finally agrees. Eventually Jim bails Caroline too; when she moves into the Halfway House, she continues seeing him and she finally returns his advances, and the pair begin a romantic relationship, even though Jim is breaking the terms of Caroline's bail. When Michael and Geoff Butler ([[Ray Meagher]]) (who is bitter at Jim for turning him in to the police over a previous incident) join forces, Butler dupes Michael – who insists that he wants no-one badly hurt – into delivering a bomb to Jim's motel room, it kills Jim's wife and children. This puts a severe strain on Caroline and Jim's relationship, with him telling her after the explosion that he blames her. But when Vivienne and Caroline finally go to trial, and are released on good behaviour bonds, she visits him one last time and they part on reasonable terms. This parting scene with Jim, before she goes to stay with Michael's sister, is Caroline's last appearance in the series. Note: Although billed as Caroline, many characters, including her own mother, pronounced her name as ''Carolyn''.
|-
| '''Vivienne Anne Williams'''
| [[Bernadette Gibson]] episodes 89–114,
| the mother of Caroline (see above entry), who is suffering at the hands of her abusive husband. After Caroline kills him in self-defence, the pair arrive at Wentworth, where Vivienne's fragile health worsens. Eventually, it is Lizzie (who at the time is on release and visits to see Bea) who recognises Vivienne and Caroline from seeking shelter at the Halfway House, adding some support to their claims of abuse, and Vivienne is released awaiting trial. However, once home, the strain of events is too much for Vivienne and she tries to commit [[suicide]], after which she is put into a care home, not seen for a few episodes. Eventually, in episode 114, Vivienne and Caroline come up for trial, and their charges are reduced to [[manslaughter]], allowing them to be freed on good behaviour bonds.
|-
| '''Sharon Gilmour'''
| [[Margot Knight]] – episodes 90–116
|, a scheming, spoiled young woman who is imprisoned for drug dealing after a police raid where she was selling dope to a group of youths (including Social Worker Paul Reid's son Tony (John Higginson)). Being a drug dealer, not to mention a vindictive trouble-stirrer, Sharon immediately becomes an enemy of Bea. Despite having a lover, Judy Bryant (see separate entry), on the outside, Sharon becomes involved in a romantic relationship with Chrissie Latham, and the pair work together for a time to become Top Dog(s) while Bea is in isolation. Jealous of this romantic relationship, Judy purposely gets herself arrested so she can be inside with Sharon, but Sharon uses her spiteful ways to manipulate Judy as she does with everyone else. With Chrissie moved to maternity to be with her baby, Sharon later starts vicious rumours that Kerry Vincent (see separate entry) is a "lagger" (informant) after Kerry turns down her romantic advances. Judy finally becomes tired of Sharon's scheming, [[Psychological manipulation|manipulative]] ways and puts an end to their relationship. When Sharon witnesses corrupt officer Jock Stewart ([[Tommy Dysart]]) blackmailing and physically attacking Doreen, she tries to strike up working deal with him – she'll keep quiet about what she has seen in return for him protecting her. But soon after, she is found at the bottom of a flight of stairs with her neck broken. Judy, Bea and Kerry are all suspects, but it was Jock who murdered her.
|-
| '''Judith Francis "Judy" Bryant'''
| [[Betty Bobbitt]] – episodes 91-534
| an American ex-pat lesbian who deliberately committed a crime to join her lover Sharon Gilmour in prison. She was initially an agitator, but later became one of Bea's allies, as well as a long-term inmate. Judy ran Driscoll House, a Half-Way House for ex-criminals to get back on their feet. Judy was sent back to Wentworth after helping friend, Hazel Kent, kill herself while she was suffering from a terminal brain tumour. Served as a sort of "deputy Top Dog," to both Bea and Myra. She was later released to become a successful songwriter.
|-
| '''Lilian "Lil" Stokes'''
| [[Judith McLorinan]] – episodes 91–392,
| The smaller one of Margo Gaffney's goons. Most of her appearances come without a speaking part. she is first seen in episode 91 briefly in the background with Margo Gaffney's bigger goon: Bev Covelli. Lil has her first big scene when she helps Margo and Bev give Sharon a "haircut". In her last appearance she dies when the prison is under quarantine, in deputy governor Colleen Powell's arms.
|-
| '''Margo Jane Gaffney'''
| [[Jane Clifton]] – episodes 92–448
|, one of a long line of agitators in the prison cell block who generally played rival to the reigning top-dog. Margo took charge of all gambling inside Wentworth and was usually accompanied by her stooges "Lil and Bev" (played by extras Judith McLorinan and Kaye Chadwick). Margo went back and forth during the series run from a good to bad guy, usually leaning toward the bad side. One of Margo's most heinous acts was the bashing of guard Meg Morris, who was temporarily a prisoner for contempt of court, and this earned her the combined wrath of Bea and Chrissie (who ironically saved Meg, despite her killing Meg's first husband, Bill Jackson), and avenged her bashing, by tying her up and tarring and feathering her in the lavatory. Margo was also later bashed by Bea and Chrissie when it was discovered that she set the storeroom on fire with a [[Molotov cocktail]] at Wentworth, thus beginning the Great Fire at Wentworth, and lied about it to the cops. She later tries to frame Reb for attacking Myra Desmond but is found out and transferred to Blackmoore. Note: In the character's second appearance, in episode 93, her surname is given as Dempsey, not Gaffney.
|-
| '''Bernadette'''
| [[Anne Phelan]] – episodes 94–95
| A dopey background prisoner who appears to be good mates with Top Dog: Bea Smith.
|-
| '''Heather "Mouse" Trapp'''
| [[Jentah Sobott]] – episodes 106*-326
| a rather timid young woman in and out for Wentworth for petty crime. She escapes and goes on the run with Judy Bryant after crawling through the tunnel during the pantomime. Later she returns to Wentworth and gets mixed up in the plans for the Great fire where she perishes in the flames and burns to death. * – Note: although first credited in episode 106, Sobott had been appearing as an uncredited extra in the series for some time beforehand (first seen in Episode 67). The character – with no dialogue – is first referred to as "Mouse" in episode 100. it's revealed she dies in the great fire in ep 326/327
|-
| '''Kerry Vincent'''
| [[Penny Downie]] – episodes 112–124
| a young prisoner transferred to Wentworth to give her room to let her artistic talent flourish. Some of the women are sceptical of the special treatment that Kerry is given, such as being given a double cell to herself to give her room to do her paintings. Bea in particular does not take to her after she finds that Kerry's transfer was arranged by Ken Pearce ([[Tom Oliver]]), whom Bea has developed a crush on. As we learn more about Kerry, we hear that she is a former prostitute who is inside after violently attacking a client. Kerry's agent is David Austin ([[Rod Mullinar]]), a smarmy art dealer who is exploiting Kerry's status as a prisoner to drum up publicity and sell her work for huge profit. Kerry tries to get on with the other women, but they turn on her when malicious Sharon Gilmour starts spreading rumours of her being a "lagger" (informant) after Kerry turned down her romantic advances. During this period, Kerry also gives Vera a painting that she intends to destroy, only for Austin to concoct a story of Vera bribing it out of Kerry, in order to give him more publicity, nearly costing Vera her job until Jock Stewart helps her set things straight with Austin; as a result, Austin is banned from visiting her at Wentworth. Kerry is given parole in episode 117 and set up in a small studio flat, but only on the proviso that she does not see Austin, but Kerry is oblivious to his manipulating her and continues seeing him, and becomes jealous of other women he is seeing. This leads her to several drunken benders, the last of which results in her smashing David over the head with an ashtray, causing her to think she has killed him. She plans to flee the area; Helen Smart (see separate entry)'s [[pimp]] sells her some drugs to calm her down, but she takes them with alcohol, nearly killing her. When David finds her in this state, instead of calling for medical aid, he takes her paintings instead. Helen discovers Kerry and alerts Parole Officer Paul Reid just in time; after she is out of danger, he arranges that her parole not be cancelled if she agrees to be treated in a [[sanatorium]]. Kerry agrees to this, and it is the last time she is seen in the series.
|-
| '''Helen Pamela Smart'''
| [[Caroline Gillmer]] – episodes 118–441
| a likeable, amusing prostitute frequently sent to Wentworth for soliciting who becomes a useful contact for the women on the outside. Became good friends with Judy Bryant. Helen was known to the prison as "The 'tart' with a heart." Attempted victim of the leather gloved killer, she also helps Judy a lot with Driscoll House. Her younger sister Sharon becomes involved with a cult so Helen kidnaps her and tries to de-programme her. Sharon stabs and murders one man who was helping causing Helen to be admitted to Wentworth for kidnapping – her first offence other than prostitution. She later develops a tropical disease brought in by Glynis Ladd whilst Wentworth is under quarantine. She was sent to Barnhurst after her trial. She returns to Wentworth and her last episode sees her transferred to B Block after being part of a practical joke on Joan Ferguson and she is never seen again.
|-
| '''Gail Audery Summers'''
| [[Susanne Howarth]] – episodes 124–133
| a harassed, downtrodden housewife who becomes Meg's new neighbour when Meg moves to a new apartment. Meg soon becomes concerned when she hears Gail's young children constantly crying and ferocious arguments between Gail and her short-tempered husband Tim ([[Jeremy Higgins]]); when Meg notices bruises on the children she believes that Tim is abusing them, but when, after some debating, she goes with Welfare Officer Paul Reid and the Police to intervene, Gail breaks down and confesses that it is her that has been abusing the children, driven to it being unable to cope being left with them all day with no help or support from Tim. She is sent to Wentworth on remand, where she instantly faces the anger of the other women when they find what she is in for, branding her a "baby basher". Eventually, a talk from Captain Barton (standing in for the departed Paul Reid) convinces her to stand up for herself; she gives an emotional speech to the other women telling them how she simply could not cope but loves her children, after which the women ease up on her. Gail goes to trial and is given a suspended sentence, on condition that she seek help. She moves away to join a support group.
|-
| '''Kay Frances White'''
| [[Sandy Gore]] – episodes 127–145
| the sly administrator of Andrew Reynolds's clothing factory, where a work scheme has been arranged with Wentworth for some of the prisoners. Kay places several large bets with bookie Margo (and holds out on paying up the money she owes), and agreeing to help Judy make a dress for an escape attempt. With suspicion on her for a series of thefts from the factory, she sets up Noeline to take the blame, to try to get Mr. Reynolds off of her back. Soon after, her long-running embezzlement of company funds, to fund her compulsive gambling habit, is uncovered when she "borrows" payroll money to place a large bet, in hope of making back the money she has taken from the company, but she is caught in the act, and sent to Wentworth awaiting trial. There, she tries to use her gambling addiction as a claim that she needs psychiatric help in order to escape charge, but having got on the wrong side of the women over the cancellation of the work programme, and her generally manipulative attitude, Bea orchestrates a scheme to expose that Kay is still willingly gambling; the plot is successful, and Kay does not escape charge, returning to Wentworth as an inmate with a five-year sentence. But from this point, Kay's manner only get more extreme – she opens her own book to overtake Margo's, and using very heavy-handed methods to secure bets. This leads to Bea being sent to solitary after giving Kay a "bashing", and in Bea's absence, Kay makes a move to be Top Dog. Judy, with help from Lizzie and others, plan to put Kay's racket out of action by placing large bets that she can't possibly afford to cover. After this backfires, they record a dog race from the radio on Tracey Morris's tape recorder, place a huge bet with Kay (knowing the outcome) and doctor the newspaper's racing page accordingly, and play the tape back next day as if it were live. The scheme works, but when Kay "borrows" Tracey's tape recorder and realises she's been set up, she goes frantic and violently attacks Lizzie in her cell, nearly strangling her until Linda Jones smashes Kay over the head with a kettle jug to save Lizzie, leaving Kay unconscious and covered in blood. She later dies from a blood clot on the brain. Lizzie stows Linda away from the scene and insist that she herself must take the blame (for more on this, see Linda Jones's profile, below).
|-
| '''Linda Mary Jones'''
| [[Elaine Cusick]] – episodes 140–150
| first introduced as an existing prisoner who is working as a runner for Margo's betting racket, Linda also has concerns when her son Danny ([[Darren Sole]]) is unhappy living with her overbearing, bullying sister while she is inside and runs away. Officer Fletcher later tracks down Danny and offers to take him in to live with him until Linda gets her parole; Danny's behaviour at first causes some trouble, but Jim soon licks him into shape and the pair form a close bond. Meanwhile, Kay White, starting her own more heavy-handed bookie racket, forces Linda into acting as runner for her, something that Linda reluctantly does. When the women try to put Kay out of action with a gambling con, Kay flips out at Lizzie and tries to strangle her in her cell; Linda arrives and smashes Kay over the head with a kettle jug, leaving Kay unconscious. Lizzie manages to stow Linda away before any officers arrive on the scene, and insists that she take the wrap for it instead, both in return for Linda saving her life, and concerned about her being reunited with Danny. Linda insists she tell Erica what really happened, but Lizzie insists she keep quiet. Kay later dies, but Lizzie convinces the V.J. that she was behind Kay's injuries, allowing Linda to get her parole and be reunited with Danny, leaving to live in the new apartment that Danny and Jim have organised. However, a few episodes after Linda's departure, a jaded Doreen goes to Mrs. Davidson and tries to tell her the real circumstances of Kay's death. Erica sends Jim Fletcher to visit Linda and question her, but she convinces him that Lizzie's version is correct. She attends Lizzie's trial, where Lizzie – expecting an 18-month extension to her sentence for manslaughter – is given a heavy sentence.
|-
| '''Tracey Morris'''
| [[Sue Devine]] – episodes 141–198 & (Michelle Thomas – episodes 463–464),
| a young woman on remand accused of smuggling heroin into Australia but claims that she was set up by her gangster boyfriend. Tracey's father Bob becomes romantically involved and marries officer Meg Jackson. She returned in episode 463, landing herself on her ex-step mother and creating problems when she and her boyfriend held Meg hostage.
|-
| '''Hazel Jean Kent'''
| [[Belinda Davey]] – episodes 142–399 Flashbacks in episode 534),
| background prisoner whose situation is eventually explored. A generally decent sort, later episodes show Hazel as being a depressed, drunken loser, turning to the bottle after her partner leaves her for another woman, taking their children with him. Hazel was suffering from a brain tumour and asked Judy Bryant to give her an overdose – leading to Judy's return to Wentworth for her final stint.
|-
| '''Sarah Forrest / Jacqueline Mary "Jacki" Nolan'''
| [[Diane Craig]] – episodes 149–159
| a classy, sophisticated and well spoken women that Jim meets at a party. They arrange to see more of each other, and, trying to impress her and not put her off about his job, Jim tells her that he works as a building contractor. Sarah is part-owner of an interior design business, and offers Jim a business deal, much to the disdain of Sarah's haughty partner, Julian ([[Peter Stratford]]). After Sarah and Jim spend the night together, Sarah finds Jim's Prison Officer jacket and flees, and when he visits her at the interior design business, she is very cold towards him and tells him that the relationship is over. At the same time, Erica is thinking of having some home decorating done, and Meg mentions that she has heard Jim has an interior design friend. Although Jim tries to put her off, Erica visits Sarah's business and seems to recognise her. Soon after, she realises that she is actually Jacki Nolan, who escaped from Barnhurst a few years previously, and is now using Sarah Forrest as an alias. Erica convinces Jim to try to persuade Jacki to turn herself in; Jim is unsure what to do and stalls, but Jacki turns herself in on her own accord. Sent to Wentworth, Sarah and Jim try to play down their relationship to both Erica and the other inmates. Jim joins Erica at a Prisoners Reform Group meeting, where the group comes up with a high-profile publicity campaign to get Jacki pardoned – insisting that she has self-rehabilitated and that her successful business proves this – amongst other propaganda. But Julia has his own campaign to get Jacki pardoned, and warns Jim to keep away else it will ruin the whole petition. Jacki faces going back to Barnhurst, but she is loath to as she was molested by a bullying lesbian officer (who some fans have theorised may have been Joan Ferguson) during her previous sentence, hence her escape in the first place. With increasing media attention over the case, Jacki is just about to be transferred to Barnhurst when her pardon comes through. She leaves Wentworth, presumably to resume running the business with Julian, and never to see Jim again.
|-
| '''Myra June Desmond'''
| [[Anne Phelan]] – episodes 154–552
| a former prisoner who had worked with the Prison Reform Group before arriving back at Wentworth and replacing Bea Smith as the show's second long-running "top dog". She was a thoughtful but strong woman who gave up her own life for the safety of the other hostages during The Ballanger Siege. Before the siege, Desmond organised a scheme to set up Joan Ferguson by bashing Lou Kelly and then framing Joan for the assault. The scheme worked until inmate Anita Selby revealed the truth to then-Governor Ann Reynolds. Reynolds then reinstated Ferguson and introduced a stricter security regime at the prison. She later confronted Desmond and told her that she would no longer recognise her as top dog. She also threatened Desmond with a transfer to Blackmoor if she caused any more trouble.
|-
| '''Anne Griffin'''
| [[Rowena Wallace]] – episodes 160–167
| a seemingly meek, timid young woman sent to Wentworth for robbing a shopkeeper and knife-point. She insists that she is innocent, and the money found on her when she was arrested was loaned to her by her friend Megan; however, no trace (or even proof of existence) can be found of Megan and so with no alibi, Anne is to await trial. Soon after Anne's arrival, Bea is attacked from behind in the corridor, and it eventually emerges that Anne was responsible (not liking Bea's authority over the other inmates); Bea plans her revenge but Judy persuades her to hold off, convincing her that Anne is mentally unwell. Anne tries to convince the authorities that Megan has written to her, giving her the alibi she needs, but it turns out that Anne wrote the letter herself. As Erica realises that Anne needs psychiatric help, various details come to light about Anne's abusive upbringing, her imaginary friend Megan, and the baby she later had that died, also called Megan, which has left Anne in a very confused state. Anne is inside during the big tunnel escape plan of the end of the 1980 season; after the other woman realise Anne is unreliable, they try to cover up all proof of the escape plans, telling her it was merely a prank, in fear that she might inform the officers. Things come to a head during the escape attempt (165); Judy, Mouse, Doreen and another inmate; Irene Nagel, make their escape, but Lizzie decides at the last minute to join Doreen, leading both her down into the tunnels, and Bea after her trying to call her back. As the tunnels collapse, trapping Bea, Lizzie and the injured Doreen, Anne deliberately covers the cover to the tunnel (with a "grave" for Megan) to stop them from getting out, leaving them trapped in the collapsed tunnel for several days. Eventually Mouse is recaptured, and raises the alarm, leading the officers to rescue Bea and co. Bea plans to kill Anne for what she did, but Dr. Weisman by this time certifies her to be mentally unbalanced, and she is led away to a psychiatric hospital before Bea can exact her revenge.
|-
| '''Irene Nagel'''
| Heather Howard - episode 165
| An inmate who joins in on the escape from Wentworth at the last minute. She was mentioned by Judy as being in on the escape in episode 163, though her name was mentioned way before in episode 126 as one of the first of the women to attend the Reynolds clothing factory job. She didn't speak any lines and just followed the escape instructions with the other escapees. She was the one who inadvertently caused the tunnel collapsed by slipping and grabbing hold of an old rickety support beam that couldn't hold her weight. The tunnel collapsed, killing her. It's implied that her body was dug out and in episode 167, Erika Davidson was on the phone to inform one of her relatives of her death.
|-
| '''Sandra "Sandy" Hamilton'''
| [[Candy Raymond]] – episodes 173–180
| a new prisoner who arrives claiming to be inside for the first time after being caught driving with expired tax. However, Bea and others soon become suspicious as, for a supposed first timer, Sandra seems very familiar with prisoner etiquette, and asks a lot of questions, particularly around and concerning Judy. They suspect her to be an undercover police officer after information about Judy's recent escape and recapture, heightened even more when she convinces the Governor to move her into Judy's cell, and she even tries making seductive advances towards Judy; but after Bea and Judy put the heavy on her, she confesses that she is actually a newspaper [[journalist]] who deliberately got herself put inside to try to get the [[Scoop (term)|scoop]] on Judy's escape. When Evelyn Randall (see below profile) arrives in episode 175, Sandra offers to write an article about how Evelyn has been unjustly imprisoned in return for Evelyn getting information with her; when Bea and the women plant Evelyn's stolen file in Sandra's cell, Sandra is sent to isolation. When the prison is struck by an unidentified disease (episodes 177–179), and the isolation cells needed to bed [[quarantine]]d officers, Sandra is returned to the women, where she becomes very scared of becoming infected, after seeing her mother waste away some years earlier, and even tries to escape during a food pick-up, leaving Jim Fletcher threatening to shoot her if she does not return, for fear of her infecting people outside the prison. With the mysterious disease "cured" in episode 179, Sandra finds herself framed for scarring Evelyn in a fire [[booby trap]] under Evelyn's bed, which will stop any chances of her imminent release; Sandra strikes up a deal with Bea, for Bea to prove she was innocent, in return for Sandra writing an exposé on poor prison conditions when she is released. However, after she is released in 180, she instead writes a story written around her and her time inside, neglecting to mention the conditions she promised to expose.
|-
| '''Evelyn Randall'''
| [[Julia Blake]] – episodes 175–179 seen in recap of 180)
| referred to as 'Evie' only by Lizzie, she is an eccentric, middle-aged [[herbalist]] who arrives with other new prisoners Jenny Armstrong and Georgie Baxter (see separate profiles). She has been accused of manslaughter after poisoning one of her patients, but insists that she is innocent, and has a grudge against conventional medicine, insisting that everyone should see that herbal remedies are the true cure. Her haughty attitude soon gets Bea's back up, but most of the other prisoners take a liking her, annoying Bea even more. When an under-the-weather Doreen asks Evelyn for a remedy, she falls ill, leading Bea to believe that Evelyn has poisoned her; but Evelyn finds that Doreen has mistakenly heated the remedy first, which has resulted in Doreen falling sick. Soon after, a mysterious bug breaks out in the prison; it is assumed to be a tropical disease brought in by Jenny Armstrong, who had just returned from overseas. As many prisoners and officers fall dangerously ill and Wentworth is quarantined, Evelyn insists that her herbal remedies could find a cure, as conventional doctors struggle to find the cause. The other prisoners even start to believe her, when one of her secretly brewed remedies begins to heal the very ill Meg; but it eventually emerges that Evelyn was behind the "disease", lacing people's food with enough special ingredients to cause them to fall sick, giving her the opportunity to "heal them" and prove herself. When the other women find out, Bea insists that they do not take action straight away, instead biding their time and making Evie nervous. But a booby trap fire using [[Turpentine|turps]] placed under Evelyn's bed badly scalds her, seeing her led away to hospital in episode 179. She is not seen after this because Erica organised a transfer to Barnhurst for the day after, and although Bea was aware that the booby trap was placed, it was only designed that it would scare her. It is never fully revealed how Evie came to be so badly scalded, although is suggested that Bea did not authorise the incident.
|-
| '''Jennie Armstrong'''
| [[Sally Cooper]] – episode 175
| a young, naive prisoner brought to Wentworth at the same time as Georgie Baxter and Evie Randall, and emerges from the prison truck covered in blood and terrified after being attacked by Georgie. While in the prison hospital recovering, she explains to Lizzie that she is only in prison after not paying a minor traffic fine, thinking that prison sounded "fun". Lizzie scares her about prison life, leading Jennie to quickly decide to pay the fine and get out. However, very soon after, prisoners and staff being to fall dangerously ill; it is suspected that Jennie might have been the cause, as she has just returned from [[Africa]] and might have brought a rare disease back with her. Jennie is only ever seen in episode 175; after her release, Police try to find her to trace the "disease", until it is finally discovered that Evelyn Randall is behind the matter, lacing people's food with poison.
|-
| '''Georgina "Georgie" Baxter'''
| [[Tracy Mann]] – episodes 175–186
| a violent, illiterate biker's moll who arrives in a prison van with Jeannie Armstrong and Evelyn Randall in episode 175, and who has viciously attacked Armstrong during the journey. Georgie is immediately put in solitary, and stays there after a series of volatile outbursts. Several inmates and staff alike, compare her to Franky Doyle. Prison teacher David Andrews ([[Serge Lazareff]]) convinces Governor Davidson to let him see Georgie to try to get to the root of her behaviour, and suggests putting Georgie in with Judy, who can more than take care of herself, and Judy becomes Georgie's first real friend inside. During the mysterious "plague" that sweeps through the prison (176–178), Georgie stays at Judy's bedside and tends to her, but, once the mystery disease has passed, Judy misinterprets Georgie's caring friendship and makes a pass at her, sending Georgie into a rage and seeing her sent to another stint in solitary (despite Judy's trying to explain to the Governor that it was her own mistake). Visiting Georgie in solitary once again, David realises that Georgie suffers from a severe hearing impediment, which has led her to misunderstand many things through life and believe people are laughing at her. Georgie soon undergoes an operation and her hearing remarkably improves. Once back at Wentworth, David suggests putting Georgie in with Bea (and Lizzie), which angers Doreen for being turfed out of her old cell, igniting a never-ending feud between the pair. Bea soon takes Georgie under her wing, but when Doreen is sent to solitary for a fight that Georgie instigated, Judy and Bea clash after Bea let Doreen take the blame. This leads to a big split between Judy and Bea, with various prisoners taking each side, and which Georgie, still furious at Judy's advances, works in the middle of to deliberately inflame even further. During this time, Georgie's mother Jeannie (see separate profile) also arrives at the prison for running a brothel, but Georgie wants nothing to do with her; while in David's classes, he begins teaching the illiterate Georgie how to read. By this time, Georgie's chance for parole is coming up, but David puts in a recommendation that she not yet be realised so that he can ensure she continues with her education. When the women discover this from Vera, they boycott David's classes, but a positive word to the V.J. from Meg, who has found Georgie a job, as well as David backing down his request so long as it is ensured Georgie continues her education outside, sees Georgie get her parole. Georgie leaves to live with biker friend "Mike the Bike" ([[Jon Geros]]), who had visited her inside several times, but finding the shabby flat a mess and that the bullying Mike only wants her for sex, Georgie storms out. After this bust up, Meg can't find her when she is due to take her to the first day of the new job, working in a supermarket, and goes to the store to apologise to the manager, only to find that Georgie has turned up on her own accord and is happily hard at work, and seems to be making a real go of going straight and putting her problems behind her.
|-
| '''Jean Nancy "Jeannie" Baxter'''
| [[Leila Hayes]] – episodes 180–183
| Georgie Baxter's mother, who had neglected and belittled her as a child. She first appears when visiting Georgie after her operation in episode 180, which results in an argument between the pair. The following episode, Jeannie is admitted to Wentworth for "living off immoral earnings" as a brothel madam. She immediately falls on the wrong side of Bea, who has taken Georgie under her wing and is determined to see that she gets an education and goes straight, and Georgie wants nothing to do with her. Before Jeannie is released, she tries to apologise to Georgie for her treatment, but Georgie doesn't want to know. However, just as Jeannie is leaving, Georgie convinces David Andrews to let her see her mother, and the pair part on amicable terms, with Georgie even calling her "Mum" for the first time.
|-
| '''Marie Winter'''
| [[Maggie Millar]] – episodes 197–471
| a tough long-term prisoner who was top dog of country prison Barnhurst, specialising in pushing drugs. She escaped with help from Lou Kelly and The Freak by climbing over the fence in afternoon exercise and clinging onto a helicopter and flying away. We are told that a few days later she is captured and sent to Blackmoor.
|-
| '''Michelle Parks'''
| [[Nina Landis]] – episodes 209–213
| an attractive young athlete with Olympic potential, Michelle is remanded to Wentworth charged with stealing from the office where she worked and once inside, literally runs rings around deputy governor Jim Fletcher.
|-
| '''Lori Young'''
| [[Susannah Fowle]] – episodes 209–347
| a young girl who visits Wentworth searching for her biological mother who had given her up for adoption – Judy Bryant. Lori later deliberately gets herself imprisoned to spend more time getting to know her mother.
|-
| '''Dinah Walford'''
| [[Trudy Simms]] – episodes 213–223,
| a middle-age woman who arrives with Kathy Hall (see below). She is imprisoned for soliciting and sentenced to two weeks imprisonment. She is sent over to D-block. While on cleaning duty in the hallways alone, she pulls an alarm in episode 215 to help keep the prison officers busy while an attack is made on prisoner Kathy Hall. Bea and Judy both suspect she was responsible for the attack after a briefly questioning her whereabouts during the incident, as she was around when Kathy was attacked. However, she is released on parole in episode 215 before Bea got the chance to question her some more. However Bea informs Kathy about the possible thought of Dinah being responsible for the attack as well as the other threats she's gotten before hand. Kathy would later inform this to her ex-husband Terry Harrison who works at the Wentworth prison, but still remains in denial on it as she doesn't know Dinah. In episode 216, Harrison confronts Walford after looking for her on the street who denies knowing anything about the attack. Instead, she would take him to see a male friend of hers who threatens to beat him up. As it would turn out however, she is indeed be one who attacked Kathy to keep her silent about something she knows about illegal business going on in a [[pawn shop]] she went to one night involving Dinah and her gangster friends. In episode 223, she and some of her gangster friends confront Terry Harrison to help them with some business. After one of them witness a conversation between him and Inspector Grace outside of Wentworth, this is looked at the wrong way and Terry is soon killed during a hit-and-run.
|-
| '''Kathy Hall'''
| [[Sue Jones (actress)|Sue Jones]] – episodes 213–220
| a woman imprisoned for theft who is heavily involved with the local underworld. She's also the ex-wife of prison officer Terry Harrison (Brian Hannan) who works at the prison during her time there. She also falls victim to harmful attempts by prisoner Dinah Walford (see above) which is unknown at first, to silence her for good on something she knows about illegal business that goes on at the pawn shop Dinah and her friends hang out at that Kathy went to visit one night. After Dinah's release on parole, Bea informs Kathy that she expects Dinah was responsible, and strangely after Dinah is released on parole, the harmful attempts stop, but Kathy still remains in denial on Dinah until Terry Harrison confronts her after being beaten up by Dinah's friends. Kathy admits to being in the pawn shop they hang out at where she met a man named John who made some secretive business with them. Upon the time of her release, she tries to pull schemes around the prison to keep her from the possible danger on her life on the outside but is unsuccessful. In episode 220 unknowingly to her, Terry Harrison decided to set her up to have her killed as revenge for ending their relationship and losing his unborn child Kathy was pregnant with while having a relationship with another man who was abusive. Terry informs the pawn shop manager by phone (not knowing it's Harrison) on the date of Kathy's release. When she is released towards the end of the episode, she is run over by a hit-and-run driver and dies. Her body is discovered in episode 221 by a prison guard on duty and is taken away by an ambulance.
|-
| '''Alison Page'''
| [[Fay Kelton]] – episodes 215–227
| troubled suburban prisoner inside for shoplifting and unhappy at being locked up with "common criminals". She strikes out at some of the other women resulting in some conflict with them, most importantly bumping heads with Doreen. In episode 216 she tries to commit suicide by electrocuting herself but is found by Bea in time and taken to the prison hospital where she recovers. When she does, she is put into sharing a cell with Judy Bryant who isn't pleased. She is also given permission by the Governor to work in the reception area which angers the other women who feels she is being given "special treatment". Bea uses this as a way to get information in exchange for her protection from the other women. But Alison feels uncomfortable doing this and is requested a transfer to the isolation block to be by herself. In the meantime she face family trouble with her 15-year-old son Chris acting out at school and running away from home temporarily unable to cope with her imprisonment. When her husband Don gets into an accident at work, their teenage son and 10-year-old daughter Susan are fostered by ex-prisoner Myra Desmond. On the day her children are taken care of by their father again who gets out of the hospital, Myra gives Alison some advice on how to cope with the other women in prison when she visits them a couple weeks before her release. This convinces Alison to transfer back to H block to reconcile with the other women and apologises for acting as though she was better than them and they forgive her. Afterwards she clashes in with a newly bitter prison officer Colleen Powell a few times, leading to an assault by Powell to which Alison strikes back at her. Powell presses assault charges, possibly causing Alison to have a longer stay at Wentworth. However Powell decides to drop the charges after the women decide to go on strike regarding the issue, much to Powell's dismay. Alison is then released.
|-
| '''Andrea Hennessy'''
| [[Bethany Lee]] – episodes 228–236
| a student and political activist who is admitted to Wentworth after assaulting officer Colleen Powell during a demonstration outside the prison. She tries to fight for "true freedom" on the inside such as leaving messages written all over her cell and the rec room; causing her to quickly bump heads with the other women inside. To secure her release, two of her followers kidnap governor Erica Davidson and keep her tied up at their hideout. However, their hideout is discovered by the police who shoot one of the women, killing her. The other, Linda Golman (see below), is taken to Wentworth in episode 233. After her friend Linda commits suicide in her cell, Andrea is pressured by new coming prisoner Sandy Edwards resulting in the two having a fight. She is later transferred to E block for her own protection.
|-
| '''Linda Golman'''
| [[Mary Charleston]] – episodes 230–236
| an associate of Andrea Hennessy, who is remanded to Wentworth for her part in the kidnapping of governor Erica Davidson. She changes after being placed in solitary and ends up being very, very depressed. She was then found hanging in Andrea's cell, which is looked at as a suicide, but people wonder if Andrea actually hanged her, which she denies.
|-
| '''Sandy Edwards'''
| [[Louise Le Nay]] – episodes 235–264
| a cocky gangster's moll, inside for murder. She briefly takes over as top dog whilst Bea Smith is away in hospital, inciting a riot with the help of Kate Peterson. During this riot she makes advances to officer Steve Faulkner, who is held hostage. After the riot, the two have an affair. She later disappears after a fixed 'meeting' with Kate Peterson at the rubbish bins, but when the girls are called in Kate returns instead of Sandy. Helen overhears Kate's charge: the murder of Sandy Edwards.
|-
| '''Kathryn Elaine "Kate" Peterson ("Doc")'''
| [[Olivia Hamnett]] – episodes 235–273
| a former general physician who had poisoned her lover. A refined, intelligent and coolly self-reliant inmate. Kate was one of the few characters on the show that was a "good guy", who later turned "bad". Gently sitting on the fence whilst being involved with lagging to screws, lagging to cops, murder, trafficking drugs, fraud and bribery. Acted as though she was untouchable. She left Wentworth for a mental institution for the criminally insane after being given a death sentence from the rest of the women, realising she had burned all her bridges and succumbing to mental illness, which many of the women had predicted she would do, given that she was more educated than anyone else to fake it.
|-
| '''Susan Elaine "Susie" Driscoll'''
| [[Jacqui Gordon]] – episodes 260–302|
| a young girl who is admitted to Wentworth after she has escaped from all the juvenile institutions she has been placed in. She spent most of her time in Wentworth trying to escape. Due to her young age and innocent nature, she is taken under the collective maternal wing of most of the women, including the sarcastic guard, Colleen Powell. She is later released on her 17th birthday and eventually is led by Donna Mason into prostitution. She is the first resident of the halfway house run by Judy Bryant, which is later named 'Driscoll House'. She eventually moves to the country to live with Joanne Slater.
|-
| '''Jackie Louise Donahue'''
| [[Catherine Lynch]] – episodes 261–290
| a young prostitute who is picked up by a middle-aged man named Ron Crosby in episode 261 and goes back with him to his motel in a taxi driven by prisoner Judy Bryant who is now on parole who witness Crosby treating Jackie in a harsh manner during the ride. When they get to the motel, Jackie changes her mind going with him which leads to Judy fighting Crosby off who tries to take Jackie with him. During this, Jackie robs the wallet off of him taking all the money inside of it, and leaves the empty wallet in Judy's taxi. When Crosby goes to the police and press charges on both Judy and Jackie for assault and robbery, the police then arrive and search through the home Judy's been staying at and finds the empty wallet in her possession. This leads to Judy being sent back to Wentworth when she is suspected of assaulting and robbing Ron Crosby. Jackie later turns up in Wentworth for a two-week stay on remand on a soliciting charge in episode 280. Judy recognises her and is angry due to her being the cause of her being back in Wentworth. She clashes with the other women in particularly Bea Smith who convinces her to tell the Governor the truth about the whole incident to let Judy off. When Jackie decides to write a written confession on what happened, she gets bashed by Doreen and Margo – angering Judy who feels Jackie wouldn't confess now. However Jackie does decides to sign a written confession on the whole incident and Judy is released from Wentworth. She is released from her remand in episode 283 but is seen again in episode 290 when prisoner Susie Driscoll is released and meets her on the street. Jackie takes her for dinner and introduces her to another prostitute Donna Mason.
|-
| '''Joanne Slater'''
| [[Carole Yelland]] – episodes 273–302
| Imprisoned for parking violations, Susie Driscoll believes her to be her birth mother, however to stop Susie from escaping, the women let Susie believe it. Joanne offers for Susie to stay with her and her family out on their farm.
|-
| '''Carol Francis Lewis'''
| [[Elizabeth Crosby]]– episodes 276–284
| a young woman imprisoned for shooting her husband Doug to death who was responsible for kidnapping prison officer Colleen Powell's daughter Jenny along with his friend Mel. While Jenny was held captive, Carol made sure was well protected. While trying to contact her parents at their hideout to let them know she was alright, Doug catches her and beats her unconscious. After he rapes Jenny, Carol awakens and scratches Doug. In episode 279, Doug, Mel, and Carol flee from their hideout to stay at a hotel while the police were on to them taking Jenny with them. That night, Carol was fed up with Doug's actions and kills him, later telling Mel to take Jenny and dump her in the middle of nowhere for her protection. Jenny makes her way to the police station and is reunited with her parents. Carol is then sent to Wentworth for killing her husband. Despite saving her daughter, Powell finds her to be just as guilty as her husband by not acting against him sooner. Carol is mistreated by Powell who forces her to do massive chores while she is on remand. Powell goes as far as sabotaging Carol's work efforts on two occasions to turn the women against her; costing them their buy up privileges. This happens temporarily, but prisoner Margo Gaffney has always been convinced that Powell was behind sabotaging Carol and took every chance defending her. Soon, Carol convinces the other women to put the pieces together and they soon start to believe her. Bea confronts Powell who denies everything and threatens to put a charge on her. Carol receives a letter from Jenny who thanks her for helping her out which angers Powell who takes it from her and burns it to keep her from using at her upcoming trial. At the trial, Lewis pleas guilty and Jenny testifies at her trial and tells the truth about her helping her and Doug abusing Carol. Carol gets lightened sentenced to three years which upsets Powell. For her own protection against her, Carol is transferred over to Barnhurst along with Margo Gaffney due to her gambling activities.
|-
| '''Faye Quinn'''
| [[Anne Lucas]] – episodes 285–352
| a petty criminal inmate who attempts to take charge of all gambling at Wentworth and the first inmate to actively collude with corrupt officer Joan "The Freak" Ferguson. By episode 287 she's operating as the prison bookie, replacing Margo who's just been transferred to Barnhurst. She is then transferred to another block in episode 313 but makes a return in episode 340. She is pressured by Nola McKenzie to front for her insurance racket and provide cash for Nola's deals. She is released in episode 346 after Joan has forced her to lag on Nola's dealing, and goes to live with mother, but can't keep away from her old racing friends. Her sister Glynis ([[Kirsty Child]]) forbids her to see her nephew Billy who soon turns out to really be her own son. After she gets involved with stealing VCRs from her job, she is caught and returns to Wentworth. She is last seen being reduced to tears after being transferred to C-Block and reading a letter from her son, Billy.
|-
| '''Hannah Simpson'''
| [[Julieanne Newbould]] – episodes 288–303
| a young woman on remand for armed robbery who becomes the first unwilling object of officer Joan "The Freak" Ferguson's Sapphist lust. While she is there, Joan repeatedly has her put in solitary to put pressure on her which makes her unable to take part in an escape planned for her by Duncan Campbell. She was transferred to Barnhurst after her court hearing.
|-
| '''Donna Mason'''
| [[Arkie Whiteley]] – episodes 290–303
| a doomed heroin addict and prostitute who leads Susie Driscoll astray and manipulates her into joining prostitution. Bea Smith tries to help her come clean cold turkey as she reminded of her own late daughter Debbie. She later died when she injected herself with spiked drugs and in Bea Smith's arms.
|-
| '''Maxine Daniels'''
| [[Lisa Crittenden]] – episodes 297–391
| a young biker frequently inside Wentworth for petty theft. She escaped with Lucy Ferguson but was shot dead by a security guard whilst on the run and trying to escape the scene of a robbery.
|-
| '''Barbara Fields'''
| Susan Guerin – episodes 300–326)
| a devious middle-class woman imprisoned after being caught with [[embezzled]] funds from the shoe factory where she worked. Barbara is the first Wentworth inmate to pose a threat to Joan Ferguson after she acquires the Freak's secret diaries full of incriminating evidence of the cold screw's dodgy dealings. During The Great Fire she tries to recover the diaries from Erica's office but collapses and dies.
|-
| '''Paddy Lawson'''
| [[Anna Hruby]] – episodes 304–339
| a highly aggressive young woman imprisoned for assaulting a work colleague after they got locked into a storage room together during an office party. It is eventually discovered that Paddy's violent behaviour is a result of claustrophobia. After this, she settles down and becomes a good friend of Bea Smith. After Paddy exposed escaped murderer Nola McKenzie's involvement in a bank robbery, McKenzie callously murdered Paddy by drowning, incurring Bea's wrath.
|-
| '''Penny Seymour'''
| [[Joy Dunstan]] – episodes 307–309
| a young woman imprisoned for prostitution. After she was released, she fell victim of the Black Gloved Killer who broke her neck and left her dead in an alley.
|-
| '''Tina Lee Gibson'''
| [[Debbie Cumming]] – episodes 310–311
| a young woman sentenced for seven days in Wentworth for prostitution. She arrives with returning prisoner Helen Smart and afterwards soon bumps heads with Joan Ferguson who shows her lets her in on her dislike for prostitutes. Both she and Helen are released together where Tina then goes back on the streets. She then becomes the second victim of the Black Gloved Killer.
|-
| '''Sally Dempster'''
| [[Liz Harris]] – episodes 313–320
| a neurotic, alcoholic middle-class housewife imprisoned trying to run down her neglectful husband after an argument in episode 316. Like Gail Summers, she too was given rough treatment by the other women after she revealed she abused her daughter Michelle. She attempts suicide in her cell but is saved by Colleen Powell. Colleen makes Sally's husband realize that his selfish behaviour provoked Sally's actions and in episode 320 he gets Sally released and they reconcile and she reunites with their daughter.
|-
| '''Jeannie Stanton'''
| [[Rona McLeod]] – episodes 325–329
| pregnant prisoner whose baby is delivered by Bea Smith and Chrissie Latham in a men's prison (as the men rioted).
|-
| '''Valerie Jacobs'''
| [[Barbara Angell]] – episodes 330–332
| an old friend of deputy governor Colleen Powell having stolen goods for her boyfriend to sell in his shop.
|-
| '''Jean Carter'''/'''Nola McKenzie'''
| [[Carole Skinner]] – episodes 331–369,
| a double murderer who had escaped from death row in Western Australia. Possibly Bea Smith's deadliest rival. She is first introduced as Jean Carter, who takes refuge at Judy's halfway house, however she gets arrested for knocking a cop unconscious at the house, who was coming close to revealing her true identity. It was later revealed at Wentworth and why she faced a death penalty in Western Australia; for killing a cop there. She angered Bea after callously murdering Paddy Lawson by drowning her in a wash basin. Bea brands Nola with a soldering iron. She eventually tries to drive Bea insane with the aid for the Freak and Zara Moonbeam, until Bea eliminated her by shooting her with a Zip Gun.
|-
| '''Trixie Mann'''
| [[Anna Mizza]] – episodes 311–340
| a young woman imprisoned for prostitution who becomes a brief offsider of Nola McKenzie. She was released.
|-
| '''Ruth Shaw'''
| [[Mary Murphy (Australian Actor)|Mary Murphy]] – episodes 343–537
| a prisoner first seen showing hatred towards Nola McKenzie after Bea tells the prisoners that she had branded her in revenge of her killing Paddy. Shaw is later caught with some of Nola's stolen cigarettes taken from the storage room given to her by Faye Quinn who is trying to sell items to make money for her and Nola while operating an insurance scheme. After her appearances during the Nola McKenzie storyline, Shaw makes more frequent appearances on the show playing minor roles until episode 537.
|-
| '''Janice Young'''
| [[Catherine Wilkin (actor)|Catherine Wilkin]] – episodes 344–352,
| proud suburban wife and mother imprisoned for refusing to pay a court fine. Her husband Chris ([[Roger Oakley]]) becomes involved with deputy governor Colleen Powell while she is inside.
|-
| '''Roxanne Bradshaw'''
| [[Peppie D'Or]] – episodes 345–381
| friend of Maxine Daniels who is the courier when Maxine, Nola and the Freak are smuggling goods into the prison. She is later admitted to Wentworth for receiving stolen goods and is pregnant after agreeing to a surrogacy arrangement with a middle-class couple. Once she gives birth, she is transferred to Barnhurst.
|-
| '''Jill Clark'''
| [[Katy Brinson]] – episodes 348–353
| a departmental employee posing as an inmate in order to conduct a covert investigation of the prison.
|-
| '''Lainie Dobson'''
| [[Marina Finlay]] – episodes 354–366
| tattoo-covered shoplifter who turns to drugs while inside. She is admitted with 'Elen' Farmer and the two are thought to be having a homosexual relationship, however it is discovered that 'Ellen' is really Allan. She tries to remove her tattoos by dipping her cut arms into caustic soda, she was released.
|-
| '''Allan "Ellen" Farmer'''
| [[Michael Cormick]] – episodes 354–360,
| a shy woman who is brought to Wentworth alongside Lainie Dobson. Lainie first refers to her as shy. Joan later finds Ellen and Lainie in bed together, Joan assumes it's a homosexual relationship. in the shower blocks Helen Smart discovers that Ellen is a man. He claims that the police had a mix-up and then just went with it. Meg discovers that Ellen is Allan after Maxine tries to seduce him. he is later released so the department does not face causing a mix-up like that. Judy later visits him to make sure he is still waiting for Lainie.
|-
| '''Diane Henley'''
| [[Rhonda Cressey]] – episodes 355–361
| illiterate prisoner whose plight highlights the lack of educational facilities at Wentworth. She is taught to read by the prison's new teacher John Maxwell who stays for a brief time period.
|-
| '''Denise Tyler'''
| [[Geraldene Morrow]] – episodes 361–367
| working-class single mother on remand for apparently killing one of her sons. It is later revealed by Judy she was covering for her other eight-year-old son and is therefore released.
|-
| '''Zara Moonbeam'''
| [[Ilona Rodgers]] – episodes 362–370
| on remand for fraud. Zara claims to be a medium with "second sight" and becomes embroiled in a scheme by Joan Ferguson and Nola McKenzie to drive Bea Smith insane. she was released.
|-
| '''Tracey Belman'''
| [[Alyson Best]] – episodes 368–372
| paraplegic prisoner who poisoned her husband after a car crash which left her using a wheelchair. Joan is assigned special care of Tracey, but after learning Joan is a lesbian, she accuses her of attempting to kiss her when she is awoken from a nightmare. Joan Ferguson proved everyone wrong when she caused Tracy to reveal she could walk and did not need a wheelchair. She is sentenced to three years and transferred to Barnhurst.
|-
| '''Maggie May Kennedy (née Mullins)'''
| [[Davina Whitehouse]] – episodes 371–376
| geriatric drugs mule convicted for smuggling heroin, who turns out to be an old friend of Lizzie Birdsworth. At first convinces the women she was convinced she was carrying diamonds, however after her and Bea smuggle out a letter to the newspaper regarding imprisonment of older people, it is revealed that this was at least the third time but the first time she was caught. She applies for an extradition back to the USA where she believes her "press friends" will help her get a release. When she receives the extradition order, Ted Douglas informs her it is on condition that she carries out her full twenty-year sentence.
|-
| '''Carol Colsen'''
| [[Merrin Canning]] – episodes 373–377
| next-door neighbour of Joan Ferguson and an abused housewife who finally snaps and kills her husband as Joan enters the house. She holds her daughter Jill and Joan hostage. Once admitted to Wentworth, the women don't look favourably upon her for threatening her daughter. Joan takes Jill under her wing and brings her in to see her mother, but upon Jill's rejection to her mother, Carol hangs herself in her cell with her stockings.
|-
| '''Laura Gardiner/Brandy Carter'''
| [[Roslyn Gentle]] – episodes 373–382
| admitted to Wentworth as a surly, antagonistic prostitute named Brandy, officer Meg Morris recognises her as a meek librarian named Laura. After Laura tries to commit suicide in an attempt to get a rid of Brandy, a third personality emerges after recovery who calls herself Susan. However, it is not simply a case of a woman living a triple life as it soon becomes apparent that Laura/Brandy is schizophrenic. During a psychiatric examination, Laura manages to "get rid" of Brandy (though the whereabouts regarding "Susan" are never covered) and is sent off to a mental hospital.
|-
| '''Frances Harvey '''
| [[Wanda Davidson]] – episodes 373–525
| a tough heavy who is introduced as a halfway house resident but ends up in Wentworth without an explanation in episode 384. She bashes Hannah Geldschmidt with Alice Jenkins in episode 453 and is responsible for killing Sarah Higgins later on, but the case gets closed and she is never charged with the murder. Her last appearance is as a punch-bag when Myra Desmond bashes Lou Kelly's heavies to isolate her.
|-
| '''Sandra Louise "Pixie" Mason'''
| [[Judy McBurney]] – episodes 377–510 recap episode 534
| a flighty, romantic inmate initially admitted on [[bigamy]] charges (addicted to weddings that lead to her marrying a number of men). She applied for a job on the outside and still kept the job after the owners found out that she was a prisoner. Pixie was cruelly raped by Frank Burke, but her friends and Joan Ferguson helped set up evil screw, Len Murphy, for the rape. She never recovered from her ordeal with Frank and was transferred to Ingleside.
* '''Gerri Doogan''' ([[Deborah Kennedy]] – episodes 381–382), brought to Wentworth on soliciting charges, but she is really a plant attempting to recover the photo of Lionel Fellowes paying a bribe. Bea tricks her into exposing her hand too soon by pretending to have hidden the photo in a lump of modelling clay.
|-
| '''Petra Roberts'''
| [[Penny Maegraith]]– episodes 383–407
| a former teacher remanded to Wentworth for murdering her father. It is revealed he raped her and her younger sister. She was engaged to prison doctor Scott Collins. Once her sister is found dead, Petra reveals that she was actually not the murderer, but covered for her younger sister. Her storyline was basically a re-hash of the Karen Travers one from several years earlier. She was released.
|-
| '''Sharon Smart'''
| [[Liddy Clark]] – episodes 383–388
| the younger sister of Helen Smart who becomes involved with a crooked religious cult. When Helen, Judy, a former cult member and deprogramming man lock her in the Driscoll House attic to help de-programme her, she stabs and kills the man helping. She is charged and ultimately convicted of murder but is sentenced to probation due to being held against her will.
|-
| '''Lucy Ferguson'''
| [[Yoni Prior]] – episodes 385–389
| the niece of officer Joan Ferguson who arrives inside on drug charges. She breaks into Joan's house, persuades her to let her stay while she looks for a job and to lend her money to but new clothes for an interview. She buys drugs, which she and her boyfriend hide in Joan's house until they can deal them. Lucy is arrested for possession but comes in under the last name "Walker" to keep hidden her relationship with Joan, but uses this to black mail her in the process so she'll do her favours. She manages to escape from Wentworth in a laundry truck along with Maxine Daniels with the help of Joan herself.
|-
| '''Glynis Ladd'''
| [[Debbie Cumming]] – episodes 389–391
| a dealer and junkie who admits she has previously been inside Barnhurst. She develops the tropical disease; [[Lassa fever]] causing Wentworth to be locked under quarantine. Shortly after, she dies.
|-
| '''Rosemary Kaye'''
| [[Jodie Yemm]] – episodes 391–402
| a naive country girl who comes to the city looking for work and has all of her money stolen. Wally then sends her to a boarding house where she is sexually harassed by Rod Miller, a supermarket manager and one of the residents of the boarding house; after she bashes him with an ashtray, he presses charges against her and she ends up in Wentworth on remand. After Wally manages to convince Rod to drop the charges against her, she is released and returns to the country to get married.
|-
| '''Sonia Elizabeth Stevens'''
| [[Tina Bursill]] – episodes 394–447
| a cool vice queen who had operated a protection racket fleecing prostitutes whilst maintaining cover as a policeman's wife. Imprisoned for heroin trafficking and soon took over as top dog before Bea was sent to Barnhurst. Her position was taken over by Minnie Donovan for a short time while Judy and Helen ensured Sonia would not return to be top dog. She escaped and was last seen standing on a clifftop, but we later see bullets through the window of her car which might explain she was shot down by the criminal Renner or by her husband Eddie's people.
|-
| '''Randi Goodlove'''
| [[Zoe Bertram]] – episodes 394–414
| a mercenary, high-class prostitute who crosses swords with officer Meg Morris when she tries to manipulate her son Marty ([[Andrew McKaige]]) into marriage as a cover for her prostitution. Randi fell victim to murderous officer David Bridges; she was killed and stashed high above the infrastructure in the boiler room which is never discovered by the staff or prisoners.
|-
| '''Cass Parker'''
| [[Babs McMillan]] – episodes 401–460 Recap ep 534),
| a gentle-natured farmer's daughter imprisoned for manslaughter. She is introduced when she is transferred from Barnhurst (where she was initially incarcerated) after killing an officer there. She is taken to Wentworth to finish her sentence and it soon becomes apparent that her docile demeanor hides a violent temper and at tendency to lose control. During her time, she decapitated murderous officer David Bridges with a garden spade when he tried to kill her. She subsequently became friends with both Minnie Donovan and Bobbie Mitchell. She was later transferred to a mental hospital after attempting to strangle officer Dennis Cruikshank when he caused Bobbie to miscarry her baby.
|-
| '''Louise Jane 'Lou' Kelly'''
| [[Louise Siversen]] – episodes 404–616
| a vicious prison thug and perhaps the most violent agitator in H Block during the later years of the series. She starts out as a background prisoner making casual appearances before being put into the spotlight in episode 452. She led a riot in which she killed Eve Wilder, the Phantom Lagger, but was later killed while in solitary, being beaten to death with a glass bottle by Janet "Maggot" Williams. Lou escaped after the riot she caused by faking a murder attempt by cutting herself with a knife, setting up Rita Connors. While she escaped she was raped by Alice Jenkins's brother and killed him and his mother.
|-
| '''Minerva Edith "Minnie" Donovan'''
| [[Wendy Playfair]] – episodes 405–437
| an elderly woman who had been a foster carer and had organised her charges into a team of shoplifters. Became the series' most unorthodox top dog. She is transferred to B-Block after spending an 'escape day' with Bobbie Mitchell in a country town following the glee club singing competition.
|-
| '''Roberta "Bobbie" Mitchell'''
| [[Maxine Klibingaitis]] – episodes 405–533
| a streetwise and rebellious youngster and punk imprisoned for shoplifting and assault. Accused of pushing Reb over the catwalk but cleared of the charge. Bobbie is eventually released in episode 513. She later returns for a special one off appearance for Marlene's wedding in episode 533.
|-
| '''Brenda Hewitt''' |
| [[Carmen Warrington]] – episodes 408–416
| a talented forger working for the local underworld who is involved in a brief business partnership with Sonia Stevens while inside.
|-
| '''Belinda Margaret Johns'''
| [[Jane Turner]] – episodes 414–428
| an embittered blind woman who gets herself imprisoned to take revenge on Sonia Stevens, whose protection racket partner left her blind after a bashing. She was transferred to another cell block and away from Sonia after an attempted bashing which involved a wrench.
|-
| '''Sarah Higgins - "Hangin' Higgins"'''
| Nell Johnson – episodes 416–499
| Visiting Justice notorious for her tough attitude and the harsh sentences she gives out to the prisoners. Sarah gets a taste of life on the other side of the bars when she is remanded on corruption charges. Tried by the inmates and shunned. She is then found with her throat slit, which turns out to have been done by prisoner Frances Harvey.
|-
| '''Alice "Lurch" Jenkins'''
| [[Lois Collinder]] – episodes 419–692
| a prisoner who, like many, graduated from a small non-speaking part into a more fleshed-out role. Alice makes her spotlight appearance in episode 448. Her character, initially a thug, later mellowed and became an ally of Rita Connors after the riot she took part in, realising Lou was no good for her and what she did was wrong. This was further consolidated after Lou killed Alice's brother and mother. Lou was also raped by Alice's brother while escaped.
|-
| '''Marge Briggs'''
| [[Christine Best]] – episodes 419–534
| Transferred from D block by Joan to act as muscle for Sonia. She manages to goad Cass into a fight. Seen over a year later as a prisoner waiting for her parole decision and mentions Hazel to Judy. Despite her bitter comments, Alice tells us later she does get parole.
|-
| '''Rebecca Anne "Reb" Kean'''
| [[Janet Andrewartha]] – episodes 422–589
| a tough inmate who played rival to top dog Myra Desmond. She was born into money, but rebelled against her wealthy family. she also pushed Joan Ferguson off the catwalk in self-defence and was also pushed off the catwalk by Marie Winter. She was transferred to Blackmoor after attacking Myra and assaulted Joan swearing to her that she will be back. She was returned to Wentworth later in the series, a changed character following electric shock treatment and a nice bashing from evil Blackmoor officer Cynthia Leech. She is released after she is cleared of the attack on Joyce Barry.
|-
| '''Mo Maguire'''
| [[Bronwyn Gibbs]] – episodes 428–432
| antagonistic remand prisoner protesting her innocence of a burglary charge. she was released along Camilla Wells.
|-
| '''Camilla Wells'''
| [[Annette Andre]] – episodes 429–432
| a radio show hostess and journalist who arrives at Wentworth as a "celebrity" inmate for not paying a parking fine. she was released.
|-
| '''Meryl King'''
| [[Marilyn Maguire]]– episodes 429–432
| a prostitute imprisoned for drug possession with links to the local underworld. She was released and later shot dead.
|-
| '''Gloria Payne'''
| [[Tottie Goldsmith]] – episodes 430–445
| trouble-making inmate and early antagonist of new top dog Myra Desmond, having been her husband's mistress on the outside. She was last seen suffering in hospital after having boiling water tipped on her by Philis, attempting to frame Myra.
|-
| '''Sarah Webster'''
| [[Fiona Paul]] – episodes 433–441
| a young single mother who finds herself remanded to Wentworth after sheltering her old friend Reb Kean while she is on the run. She is later released when she was cleared of a murder charge.
|-
| '''Diana Hardy'''
| (Julia Gardner – episode 445
| a remand prisoner put into uniform by Meg due to her pill-induced amnesia. She is quickly transferred to another prison.
|-
| '''Rachel Millsom'''
| [[Kim Trengove]] – episodes 450–472
| a young woman whose story began on the outside before she is sent to Wentworth. She is introduced as working at a goods shop with her elderly father and soon begins a relationship with officer Rick Manning. In episode 454 her father is hit and killed by a drunk driver named Trevor Priest. Priest tries to manipulate Rachel by offering her money and condolences in return for her not having him prosecuted. Rachel testifies against him but he manipulates the court and is found not guilty. After a final confrontation with Priest outside court, Rachel runs him over and kills him at the end of episode 457. She is remanded to Wentworth and is subsequently transferred to a prison farm in episode 472 after her trial to continue her sentence.
|-
| '''Hannah Geldschmidt'''
| [[Agnieszka Perepeczko]] – episodes 451–456
| an East German Jewish concentration camp survivor and illegal immigrant who arrives at Wentworth awaiting extradition back to East Germany.
|-
| '''Leigh Templar'''
| [[Virginia Hey]] – episodes 457–470
| a glamorous fashion model remanded to Wentworth after killing her manager, who had been blackmailing her with some porn films she had made at the start of her career. After Ann Reynolds is dismissed from the prison thanks to Joan Ferguson and scheming inmate Marie Winter, Templar uses her influence to get her reinstated, thanks in part to Ann saving her life during the riot started by Winter. As a result, Templar gets a two-year probation bond and leaves the prison with high gratitude from Ann.
|-
| '''Marlene "Rabbit" Warren (later Delaney)'''
| [[Genevieve Lemon]] – episodes 461–534
| a juvenile prankster imprisoned for manslaughter after a practical joke of throwing stones at cars had gone tragically wrong. When new officer Heather Rogers is introduced to the women, Marlene realises that they went to the same school together and makes her a target for her practical jokes. Another joke intended for Marie Winter earns her first bashing, when she loosens Marie's bed so that it will collapse and finds her stash of drugs, Marie then forces Marlene to give her information on Heather and her family which she uses to blackmail Heather to smuggle drugs into the prison for her. Marlene starts running books on whatever comes to her mind, including Pixie's knowledge of the bible and cockroach racing. Her fathers gift of the Guinness book of world records gives her the idea to start a charity fundraising waltzing marathon to support deaf children. Marlene falls in love with and marries Matt Delaney (one of the Woodridge prisoners who had been transferred to Wentworth temporarily), after the ceremony Marlene is released and Matt is sent to a prison farm to serve the remainder of his sentence.
|-
| '''Dot Farrar'''
| [[Alethea McGrath]] – episodes 462–486
| an elderly, hypochondriac prisoner who had served years inside. Generally regarded as a nuisance by the other women. After being poisoned by fellow prisoner Angela Adams, she was transferred to the prison farm.
|-
| '''Edna May Pearson'''
| [[Vivean Gray]] – episodes 463–468
| a genteel woman imprisoned for trying to poison her second husband. Most UK viewers saw Edna arrive, do very little and then disappear. (Note: the episodes featuring Edna Pearson were edited to remove all her scenes after a woman who had been acquitted of a similar offence threatened to sue Grundy's, claiming similarities between the character and her own case. The complete storyline has been screened in certain subsequent international screenings but is missing from the SHOCK DVD box set release. However, recently all the Edna Pearson episodes have been re-released uncut on their own DVD set from SHOCK). Edna appeared all sweet and genteel, having hated being called a poisoner. She gets most of the women, and even officers, onside by convincing them she is innocent. She tells the women her first husband died by taking poison after dealing with illness, which she claims was suicide and the reason she was arrested for apparently attempting to poison her second husband which she swears she hasn't done. The women mostly still believe she is innocent and support Edna with her appeal to get her released, however when she lets something slip to Marlene which makes it clear she did indeed poison her husband she then tries to poison Marlene multiple times despite Marlene not even hearing what Edna had said. She also accidentally poisons Alice and Frances by lacing drink which was meant for Marlene. In episode 468 Meg Morris tells Edna her appeal has been successful and she is being released immediately with no further charges. Only once Edna has gone (ep 469) do Marlene and the others put together the pieces and realise Edna was indeed as guilty as hell.
|-
| '''Diedre Kean'''
| [[Anne Charleston]] – episodes 464–492
| Reb Kean's estranged socialite mother, first seen when she tries to persuade Reb to see her father who is dying of multiple sclerosis. She visits Reb when she is hospitalised after a bashing from Marie Winter to tell her that her father has left all her money to her and she helps her escape, but worried that she might die without medical treatment she informs the police of her whereabouts and ends up in Wentworth with Reb. Whilst she is in Wentworth she is tortured by Frances, Alice and Lou but Reb refuses to help her and even joins in by salting her food and pushing her face into it. Myra eventually manages to persuade Reb to take notice of her mother after she is severely beaten by some of the women. Reb and Diedre reconcile just before someone mysteriously posts her bail and she is released. When Lou Kelly escapes, she seeks refuge with Diedre and holds her hostage in her house and later visits Reb to tell her what happened.
|-
| '''Beverly "Bev The Beast" Baker'''
| [[Maggie Dence]] – episodes 472–477
| an infamous serial killer, dubbed "The Beast" by the tabloids, who terrifies both staff and inmates alike as it transpires she hurts and kills people simply because it gives her a 'high'. After a reign of terror inside Wentworth (which includes cutting open Bobbie's hands with a razor and deliberately burning Judy Bryant with a soldering iron), she eventually kills new social worker Rob Summerton, by stabbing him with a knitting needle. Soon after this, Bev commits suicide by injecting herself with an empty hypodermic needle in front of Judy Bryant and Ann Reynolds.
|-
| '''Angela "Angel" Adams'''
| [[Kylie Foster]] – episodes 477–488
| a "sweet and innocent" young girl imprisoned for her involvement in her boyfriends crimes signing fraudulent dole cheques. She turns out to be a vicious and manipulative monster. Whilst in Wentworth she takes an interest in the social worker Phil Cleary who was dating Meg and sets her up to be raped. Mrs Adams, her grandmother visits her in Wentworth to reveal her true colours to Mrs Reynolds and her suspicions that the fire in which Angela's parents were killed was started deliberately. She was ostracised by the women and had all of her hair chopped off after she poisoned fellow prisoner Dot Farrar. After stabbing The Freak and putting caustic soda in the women's shampoo bottles she was transferred to a psychiatric hospital.
|-
| '''Kath Deacon'''
| Michele Sargent – episodes 481–557
| one of Lou Kelly's gang. Lures Myra to be set-up for the murder of Joan Ferguson, which is unsuccessful.
|-
| '''Kerryn Adele Davies'''
| [[Jill Forster]] – episodes 485–495
| a white-collar fraudster who finds it hard to cope being in prison and separated from her husband. Hangs herself after going through "the change" and being rejected by her husband.
|-
| '''Samantha "Sam" Greenway'''
| Robyn Gibbes – episodes 495–520
| a young arts student framed for drug possession. While she is in prison, she asks for her real parents to be traced and finds out that her real name is Julie Ann Cameron. After being denied permission to see her mother, she escapes from Wentworth to visit her and meets her sister Sally as well. Sally is happy to see Sam but her mother tells Sam that she wants nothing to do with her and orders her to leave. A heartbroken Sam promptly turns herself in and is taken back to Wentworth where Ann Reynolds admits that shortly after Sam's incarceration, she talked to her mother who said adamantly that she did not want to see Sam. Ann said she didn't tell Sam this because she thought Sally could convince her mother to come around. Sally later visits Sam to try to explain about why her mother rejected her and says she can still be her sister but Sam tells Sally that if she doesn't have a mother then she doesn't have a sister either. Shortly after this, Sam died when she was electrocuted by a wired door handle which had been set up for Myra by Lou Kelly and Alice Jenkins.
|-
| '''Matt Delaney'''
| [[Peter Bensley]] – episodes 499–533
| one of a trio of male prisoners transferred to Wentworth for their own safety after they had foiled a mass break-out attempt. A softer touch than the other two male prisoners, he is suspected of being gay, however eventually falls in love and marries Marlene Warren.
|-
| '''Geoff Macrae'''
| [[Leslie Dayman]] – episodes 500–556
| the unofficial top dog of the male inmates transferred from Woodridge men's prison. Becomes romantically involved with top dog Myra Desmond. He was last seen at Myra's funeral.
|-
| '''Francis Joseph "Frank" Burke'''
| [[Trevor Kent]] – episodes 500–555
| the last of the male Woodridge inmates moved to Wentworth, Frank is a convicted rapist and all-round villain. Raped Pixie Mason. He escaped and eventually took his revenge on Dennis Cruikshank by shooting him, leaving him paralysed.
|-
| '''Yemil Bakarta'''
| [[Maria Mercedes (actor)|Maria Mercedes]] – episodes 504–516
| a Middle Eastern Islamic inmate charged with causing a car accident when attempting to escape from her brutal husband. Attacks Dennis Cruickshank, believing it to be Frank Burke, although Judy takes the blame. She is released on a bond, but later sends a letter to Ann telling her that Judy was innocent to pave the way for her release.
|-
| '''Alexis "Lexie" Patterson'''
| [[Pepe Trevor]] – episodes 509–650
| a loud-mouth punk and card-shark, who spent her first few months in [[Boy George]]-style garb. (Note: With George's change in image and subsequent fall from favour occurring prior to Lexie's on-air debut in February 1985, these episodes already seemed dated at the time of first broadcast.) Meets her real mother inside for the first time, Jessie Windom. Suspected of being the Phantom lagger, and escapes, where she is hunted down, by the same killer of Nora Flynn. She is later released with Nancy McCormack and given a very social farewell from Rita, Alice and Lorelei.
|-
| '''Ethel May "Ettie" Parslow'''
| [[Lois Ramsay]] – episodes 514–600)
| a senile old dear who turns out to have been imprisoned since the Second World War due to a bureaucratic mix-up. Develops a close relationship with officer Meg Morris when it turns out that Ettie nursed her as a new-born baby in prison. After getting released and $250,000 compensation, she manages to get herself put back inside by accidentally shooting a police officer. Is released again, and decides to run a 'halfway' house, where Ann Reynolds briefly works. She was last seen begging to be let into Wentworth to see Julie Egbert on her birthday.
|-
| '''Janice Mary Grant'''
| [[Jenny Ludlam]] – episodes 514–528
| a sophisticated solicitor imprisoned for dangerous driving. It turns out that Janice is an alcoholic suffering from withdrawal symptoms. Lou Kelly quickly catches onto her alcoholism and supplies her with methylated spirits. Despite Myra and Ettie's attempts to sober her up, she manages to get alcohol from Lou, Alice and Frank. Janice takes an interest in Ettie's case and reveals to her that she has been imprisoned for 45 years without a trial and pushes for her to be compensated. Alice and Lexie force her to drink grain alcohol and she is sent to a psychiatric ward, where Ettie pays for her to receive the best possible treatment.
|-
| '''Sheila "Shelly" Brady'''
| [[Colleen Hewett]] episodes 519–534)
| misfit remand inmate inside for heroin possession with a secret singing talent. The women struggle with her 'odour' initially. Found not guilty and released – but is seen on TV by Judy shortly after, having turned 'Pixie's song' into a chart hit. Judy tries to sue her, until they come to an agreement that she will write an album of songs for Sheila and join her on tour. Last seen driving off with Judy for stardom. Her version of 'Pixie's Song', is the only other piece of music ever to close an episode of the series.
|-
| '''Anita Selby'''
| [[Diane Craig]] – episodes 526–536),
| a Catholic nun imprisoned for causing a disturbance at a nuclear disarmament demonstration. Anita's overall goodness and willingness to seek such virtue in others brought about a brief moral chaos to Wentworth, its prisoners and staff. In particular she proved to be the perfect character foil for cell mate Lou Kelly and evil officer Joan Ferguson. She was released on bail and last seen having a heart to heart with Joan Ferguson.
|-
| '''Nora Flynn'''
| [[Sonja Tallis]] – episodes 537–588)
| a long-term, self-reformed prisoner transferred from Barnhurst. She acts as the new 'Top Dog' after the death of Myra Desmond. She had served 23 years for her involvement in the thrill-kill murder of three hitch-hikers. Perhaps inspired by the situation of the Charles Manson gang members, despite appearing to be self-reformed Flynn is repeatedly denied parole. When she arrives she has already escaped once from prison, and in doing so managed to get herself pregnant. But a scuffle with Lou denies Nora her dream of becoming a mother. Later learns her mother has died, and with little left to live for, she executes a mysterious escape from prison. Later her murdered corpse is dumped outside the prison: it transpires that after her escape she had been hunted down and killed by an ex-policeman serial killer with a grudge against prisoners.
|-
| '''"Auntie" May Collins'''
| [[Billie Hammerberg]] – episodes 537–587)
| an earthy career criminal who was a famous cat burglar. Although getting on in years, May is a tough lady who watches out for the more vulnerable, younger prisoners. After her "escape", she works with a gang to rob an art gallery and after much disagreement she is shot in her chest.
|-
| '''Wilhelmina "Willie" Beecham'''
| [[Kirsty Child]] – episodes 537–682
| May Collins' partner-in-crime. Willie was a fence on the outside and runs a bartering business in prison. Willie is something of a snob, and often antagonises the women with her supercilious attitude. When offered the opportunity of a full pardon, May and Willie worked with the police to try to expose a new criminal syndicate, when May was shot and killed, Willie made sure everyone at Wentworth knew and left the series feeling she no longer had anyone who cared for her. She returned for a surprising, one-off appearance later in the series as an employee which Joan goes to see for a job.
|-
| '''Julie "Chook" Egbert (later Ryan)'''
| [[Jackie Woodburne]] – episodes 537–628),
| a shy but highly intelligent young girl who had stolen from her workplace to help her terminally ill mother who later dies. She is transferred back to Barnhurst until her release so she can live with her new husband, Steve Ryan.
|-
| '''Daphne "Daffy" Graham'''
| [[Debra Lawrance]] – episodes 537–590
| a garden-loving inmate who had been a juvenile offender before ending up in prison. It is later discovered that Daphne's crime and her subsequent self-harming in prison is linked to extreme PMT. Ben Fulbright, later to marry Pippa Reynolds, fought for her release on these grounds and she left Wentworth. Briefly was seen on TV making her case known to the public. Acts as 'PA' to Ruth Ballinger during her time in Wentworth.
|-
| '''Ruth Ballinger'''
| [[Lindy Davies]] – episodes 538–552
| the shady wife of an international drugs baron remanded to Wentworth with special privileges in the hope that she will assist the Federal Police with their efforts to nail her husband's drug trade. One of the few prisoners to really ruffle the feathers of The Freak, when she discovers among her crimes she was involved with child pornography. Ruth's time in the series climaxes in a three-episode-long terrorist siege when her husband sends a team of armed mercenaries to spring her from the prison. After the successful escape, she is caught at the airport and is transferred to Blackmoor. (Joan phones Cynthia Leach to have Ruth 'taken care of') Seen as ruthless and cold, the only other prisoner to seemingly 'soften' Ruth up during her spell in Wentworth is [[Daphne Graham]] as Daphne acts as a sort of PA to Ruth and Ruth seems to genuinely hold some care for her; for instance, whilst giving free handouts to the fellow women, Daphne is given a whole cell full of plants in return for her work.
|-
| '''Jennifer Elise "Jenny" Hartley'''
| [[Jenny Lovell]] – episodes 540–588
| a young woman on remand protesting her innocence of the murder of her wealthy grandmother. Initially introduced as a friend of Pippa Reynolds, she is also a professional piano player, who teaches Daphne Graham to play. Shortly after her arrival at Wentworth, a group of terrorists break into the prison to help Ruth Ballinger escape and torture her by putting an unloaded gun to her head and pulling the trigger. After she finds out that her lawyer is being paid off by her aunt to conceal evidence, she fires him and appoints a detective, Howard Simmons suggested by May Collins who investigates the case. Grows in strength and character through her time in the prison. She was released after her uncle was arrested for murdering her aunt and confessed to her grandmothers murder. She was last seen when she decides to leave Ann's house to look for a flat of her own.
|-
| '''Queenie Marshall'''
| [[Marilyn Rodgers]] – episodes 556–573
| sassy prostitute who later becomes a friend to the women on the outside when they need her help to ensure that Nikki Lennox does not end up in prison. Queenie also led to Andrew Fry's resignation as he was known as her "best" customer
|-
| '''Nicole "Nikki" Lennox'''
| [[Vicki Mathios]] – episodes 568–574
| the self-imposed leader of the juvenile delinquents sent to Wentworth to spend time with convicted criminals as part of a "scared straight" scheme. She became an enemy of Lexie Patterson when she cheated at a game of cards and they broke out in a fight. Nora, May & Willie teamed up with Queenie Marshall on the outside to make sure she would never return to the prison.
|-
| '''Cindy Moran'''
| [[Robyn Frank]] – episodes 568–574
| another juvenile offender sent to Wentworth to be "scared straight". Attacked May, discovered Daphne having hanged herself amongst other things that worked to ensure she would not return to prison.
|-
| '''Lisa Snell'''
| Liza Bermingham - episodes 568-569
| another juvenile offender sent to Wentworth to be "scared straight". Couldn't cope with life on the inside and asked Ann Reynolds to send her home.
|}

==Others==
* '''Joanna "Jo" James''' (Nicole Dixon - episodes 568-569), another juvenile offender sent to Wentworth to be "scared straight". Forced to participate in the robbery of a pharmacy by Nikki and was caught by the police, whilst Nikki made her escape. Transferred to a young offenders' centre.
* '''Eve Marie Wilder''' ([[Lynda Stoner]] – episodes 574–600), a beautiful, but sinister socialite who arrives in Wentworth protesting her innocence at having shot the man she had been having an affair with, claiming she mistook him for a burglar. Her innocent act gains her enough popularity with the women to be asked to host a beauty/talent contest. After her first solicitor Adrian Forster tells her the police can't find any bullets where she claims to have shot Robin, Eve asks for another solicitor and gets appointed David Adams. Eve finds out from Pippa Reynolds that David's marriage has just broken up and a flashback occurs where we find out that Eve really shot Robin after he told her that their love affair was over. Eve starts manipulating David Adams by flirting with him and persuades him to go to her apartment and destroy any incriminating evidence, after she finds out that officer Joyce Barry has been listening in on their conversations she batters her unconscious with the door, drags her into a cell and bashes her with a kettle, letting Reb Kean take the blame. She tries to convince David to finish her off whilst she is in a coma but he can't go through with it and leaves a note for Ann Reynolds before shooting himself in front of Eve. A series of notes are later found around the prison informing the officers of the prisoners activity signed "the phantom lagger", and Eve joins forces with Lou Kelly to try to discover the identity of the phantom lagger. Eve starts trading information with Joan Ferguson. Unfortunately, Alice overhears one conversation between Eve and Joan in which Eve admits that she was the phantom lagger. As a result, Eve is killed by Lou Kelly by hanging during the riot of episode 600.
* '''Rita "The Beater" Connors''' ([[Glenda Linscott]] – episodes 585–692), a spirited bikie, nicknamed "Rita the Beater" who arrives inside for grievous bodily harm and becomes the show's third long-running top dog. She also brought down The Freak. Stepped down from Top Dog when she contracted terminal cancer
* '''Barbara "Barbie" Cox''' ([[Jayne Healey]] – episodes 586–602), a daffy young woman whose vocabulary is limited to "Hi-de-hi!" and "Naughty, naughty!" As part of a running joke, it is never revealed why Barbie is in prison. She is released with Jesse Windon, but returns the following episode to throw tennis balls to the women, that were filled with alcohol.
* '''Nancy May McCormack''' ([[Julia Blake]] – episodes 589–650), a demure, dignified housewife imprisoned for killing her abusive husband. In fact, Nancy is covering up for her son, who had accidentally killed his father during a fight. She is released alongside Lexie Patterson.
* '''Jessie Windom''' ([[Pat Evison]] – episodes 589–620), a no-nonsense, resourceful former brothel madam who deliberately gets herself imprisoned in order to search for the daughter she gave away years before – Lexie Patterson. She is released and later takes Lexie's son until Lexie is released.
* '''Ida Brown''' ([[Paddy Burnet]] – episodes 592–691), Rita Connors' formidable elderly auntie involved with her niece's biker gang. She is last seen visiting Rita in 691.
* '''Fay Donnelly''' ([[Maud Clark]] – episodes 594–601), Tall lanky prisoner, a crony of Lou Kelly's.
* '''Rachel "Roach" Waters''' ([[Linda Hartley]] – episodes 595–643), a young punk inside for armed robbery. "Roach" is the girlfriend of Rita Connors' brother Bongo ([[Shane Connor]]). She escaped while on work release.
* '''Wendy Stone''' ([[Vivien Davies]] – episodes 598–601), Short prisoner with wild hair (and teeth) supporting Lou Kelly together with Faye Donnelly during the riots. She is first seen in 598, and bashes Julie badly in 600, which results in Julie and Dr. Steve becoming involved when he gives her medical attention. When the riots ended Wendy and Faye got transferred to D-Block and never returned.
* '''Janet "Maggot" Williams''' ([[Christine Earle]] – episodes 599–639), a second-rate prison thug who becomes an offsider to a number of the wannabe top dogs at Wentworth. She murdered Lou Kelly. She is later transferred to A-Block following a bashing from Kath Maxwell.
* '''Katherine Lorraine "Kath" Maxwell''' ([[Kate Hood]] – episodes 601–692), a middle-class woman committed for killing her terminally sick, handicapped daughter. Initially brutalised by the other women, Kath toughens up and becomes Rita Connors' main rival for the top dog position. She is the last top dog of the series.
* '''Vicki McPherson''' ([[Rebecca Dines]] – episodes 608–692), a wisecracking inmate who becomes an ally to Kath Maxwell and "Spider" Simpson.
* '''Lurlene "Lorelei" Wilkinson''' ([[Paula Duncan]] – episodes 623–677), a vivacious con-woman imprisoned for posing as a policewoman. She was transferred to Ingleside Mental Institution after stabbing Ernest Craven, in which she became mentally unstable.
* '''Merle "Loony" Jones''' ([[Rosanne Hull-Brown]] – episodes 625–692), a mentally disabled, illiterate prisoner initially regarded as a figure of fun by the other women, but finds friendship from inmate Kath Maxwell. She escaped with Kath but was left behind after an injury and sent to a psychiatric hospital; was subsequently returned to Wentworth where Kath made several attempts to make up with her – they eventually reconciled in 691.
* '''Margie Anson''' ([[Samantha Carter (actress)|Samantha Carter]] – episodes 645–691), Prisoner beaten up by Kath and Vicki as part of Kath's bid to take over top dog. She backs off from helping Spider unload contraband when van is searched and keeps nit while Spike fixes up the playback of Lisa's tape of Rodney.
* '''Rose "Spider" Simpson''' ([[Taya Straton]] – episodes 649–686), a sneering career criminal who takes charge of all rackets and contraband trading at Wentworth. also became jealous of Spike Marsh. She was transferred to Barnhurst.
* '''Lisa Marie Mullins''' ([[Nicki Paull]]/[[Terrie Waddell]] – episodes 651–692), a young woman arrested for operating a prostitution and blackmail racket on the outside. (Note: Lisa was played by Nikki Paul for her first six episodes. When Paul suddenly became ill, the part was taken over by Terrie Waddell).
* '''Wendy Glover''' ([[Julieanne Newbould]] – episodes 651–659), an undercover policewoman whose real name is Tricia Haynes, sent into Wentworth to shadow endangered inmate Lisa Mullins and to gather information about her case. When the women find out Wendy receives a very nasty bashing and they write a tattoo on her forehead reading "cop." She is last seen visiting Lisa to tell her that her boyfriend Lester is dead. During her last appearance, it is revealed that Wendy Glover is an alias and her real name is Tricia Haynes.
* '''Sarah West''' ([[Kylie Belling]] – episodes 658–668), a fiery, impulsive Aboriginal inmate who suffers from abuse from racist prisoners, especially from Spider and Vicki who tie her up and paint her white, and to get back at the women, Sarah sets up a tripod releasing poisonous fumes of hydrochloric acid through the air conditioning. Rita eventually gets through to Sarah and Pamela manages to trace her foster parents, who tell Sarah the truth about her real parents, her mother has died and her father is a white alcoholic. She was transferred to Barnhurst for her own safety after Craven's threats to Pamela.
* '''Michelle "Brumby" Tucker''' ([[Sheryl Munks]] – episodes 665–692), a young prisoner first seen at Blackmoor prison. A misfit and a troublemaker.
* '''Margaret "Spike" Marsh''' ([[Victoria Rowland]] – episodes 665–691), "Brumby"'s best friend at Blackmoor who was framed for heroin trafficking. "Spike" was a university student studying the sciences before being imprisoned and has kept her middle-class background hidden from the other prisoners. She was released to be with her parents.
* '''Billy Slocum''' ([[Glennan Fahey]] – episodes 668–684), Blackmoor prisoner transferred to Wentworth after the fire there, and first seen when Merle tries to trade comics with him. Craven lets him and Stud Wilson into solitary to rape Lorelei, and when the women find out they were responsible, they are held hostage in a store room for some mental torture with a razor. He was transferred back to Blackmoor.
* '''"Stud" Wilson''' ([[Peter Lindsay (actor)|Peter Lindsay]] – episodes 668–684), male former Blackmoor inmate transferred to Wentworth after Blackmoor is burnt down following a riot. A convicted rapist and an underling of evil governor Ernest Craven. He was transferred back to Blackmoor.
* '''Harry Grosvenor''' ([[Mike Bishop (actor)|Mike Bishop]] – episodes 679–692), former male Blackmoor prisoner moved to Wentworth, becoming a love interest for Alice Jenkins. He was transferred to Barnhurst in the last episode telling Alice that he loves her.
* '''Helen Stephens''' ([[Anna McCrossin]] - episode 692), the last prisoner of the series. Transferred from Barnhurst and was impressed by the way Kath handled Rodney Adams.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Prisoner (TV series)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Prisoner characters - inmates}}
[[Category:Lists of Prisoner (TV series) characters]]

List of Father Brown episodes

2023-02-12T11:29:47Z

Vodkamad: /* Series 10 (2023) */

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{short description|TV series}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:List of ''Father Brown'' episodes}}
{{for|the episodes from the 1974 series|Father Brown (1974 TV series)#Episodes}}
''[[Father Brown (2013 TV series)|Father Brown]]'' is a [[Television in the United Kingdom|British television]] [[detective]] [[period drama]] which has aired on [[BBC One]] since 14 January 2013. It features [[Mark Williams (actor)|Mark Williams]] as the eponymous [[crime]]-solving [[Roman Catholic]] [[priest]]. The series is loosely based on [[Father Brown|short stories]] by [[G. K. Chesterton]]. {{Aired episodes|2022|1|14|uk=y|showpage=Father Brown (2013 TV series)|finished=9}}

== Series overview ==
<onlyinclude>{{Series overview
| color1 = #9F260E
| link1 = <includeonly>List of Father Brown episodes</includeonly>#Series 1 (2013)
| episodes1 = 10
| start1 = {{Start date|2013|1|14|df=y}}
| end1 = {{End date|2013|1|25|df=y}}

| color2 = #003CEE
| link2 = <includeonly>List of Father Brown episodes</includeonly>#Series 2 (2014)
| episodes2 = 10
| start2 = {{Start date|2014|1|6|df=y}}
| end2 = {{End date|2014|1|17|df=y}}

| color3 = #FD6A00
| link3 = <includeonly>List of Father Brown episodes</includeonly>#Series 3 (2015)
| episodes3 = 15
| start3 = {{Start date|2015|1|5|df=y}}
| end3 = {{End date|2015|1|23|df=y}}

| color4 = #333679
| link4 = <includeonly>List of Father Brown episodes</includeonly>#Series 4 (2016)
| episodes4 = 10
| start4 = {{Start date|2016|1|4|df=y}}
| end4 = {{End date|2016|1|15|df=y}}

| color5 = #E97451
| link5 = <includeonly>List of Father Brown episodes</includeonly>#Series 5 (2016–17)
| episodes5 = 15
| start5 = {{Start date|2016|12|23|df=y}}
| end5 = {{End date|2017|1|19|df=y}}

| color6 = #00A1D7
| link6 = <includeonly>List of Father Brown episodes</includeonly>#Series 6 (2017–18)
| episodes6 = 10
| start6 = {{Start date|2017|12|18|df=y}}
| end6 = {{End date|2018|1|12|df=y}}

| color7 = #B11035
| link7 = <includeonly>List of Father Brown episodes</includeonly>#Series 7 (2019)
| episodes7 = 10
| start7 = {{Start date|2019|1|7|df=y}}
| end7 = {{End date|2019|1|18|df=y}}

| color8 = #7190FF
| link8 = <includeonly>List of Father Brown episodes</includeonly>#Series 8 (2020)
| episodes8 = 10
| start8 = {{Start date|2020|1|6|df=y}}
| end8 = {{End date|2020|1|17|df=y}}

| color9 = #B11035
| link9 = <includeonly>List of Father Brown episodes</includeonly>#Series 9 (2022)
| episodes9 = 10
| start9 = {{Start date|2022|1|3|df=y}}
| end9 = {{End date|2022|1|14|df=y}}

| color10 = #A90F71
| link10 = <includeonly>List of Father Brown episodes</includeonly>#Series 10 (2023)
| episodes10 = 10
| start10 = {{Start date|2023|1|6|df=y}}
| end10 =

}}</onlyinclude>

== Episodes ==
===Series 1 (2013)===
{{Episode table |background=#9F260E |overall=5 |series=5 |title=32 |director=18 |writer=22 |airdate=18 |episodes=
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 1
| EpisodeNumber2 = 1
| Title = [[The Hammer of God (short story)|The Hammer of God]]
| DirectedBy = Ian Barber
| WrittenBy = Tahsin Guner
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2013|1|14|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = The brother of an Anglican vicar is killed with a blacksmith's hammer. When the blacksmith's wife confesses to the murder, Father Brown is convinced she is lying. With little time to save her, the priest must work hard to deduce who among the victim's enemies was truly responsible for the crime.
| LineColor = 9F260E
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 2
| EpisodeNumber2 = 2
| Title = The Flying Stars
| DirectedBy = Ian Barber
| WrittenBy = Rachel Flowerday
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2013|1|15|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = The wife of Colonel Adams is found drowned while wearing her ornate necklace, known as the Flying Stars. The necklace is bequeathed to her daughter, but it is then stolen from the family home while the occupants are performing a play. Father Brown investigates the death and the theft, and his suspicions are aroused by the discovery of an Italian coin.
| LineColor = 9F260E
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 3
| EpisodeNumber2 = 3
| Title = The Wrong Shape
| DirectedBy = Dominic Keavey
| WrittenBy = Nicola Wilson
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2013|1|16|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Leonard Quinton, a former doctor turned poet living with his estranged wife, a young mistress, and an Indian guru manservant, is told by the guru that he will die that day. Before a poetry recital at his home, Quinton asks Father Brown to look after his wife if something happens to him. Quinton is found dead later that day, after apparently hanging himself, but Father Brown and Inspector Valentine suspect murder. A poisoned cat and the unmarked headstone of a baby buried in the garden, along with a German drug for morning sickness treatment that Quinton gave to his wife the previous year, provide the tragic answer.
| LineColor = 9F260E
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 4
| EpisodeNumber2 = 4
| Title = The Man in the Tree
| DirectedBy = Dominic Keavey
| WrittenBy = Rebecca Wojciechowski
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2013|1|17|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = While Father Brown is at the train station to meet a visiting German priest, Lady Felicia discovers a man in a tree, who is badly injured. The man had been stripped of his belongings, and Brown surmises that he was pushed from a train crossing a viaduct nearby. The injured man is taken to the hospital but remains unconscious, with his identity unknown. The police eventually suspect Sid Carter of robbing the man, but Brown sets out to prove his innocence.
| LineColor = 9F260E
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 5
| EpisodeNumber2 = 5
| Title = The Eye of Apollo
| DirectedBy = Matt Carter
| WrittenBy = Tahsin Guner
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2013|1|18|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = The cult known as the Church of Apollo comes to Kembleford, led by its charismatic leader Kalon. Shortly after their arrival, jealously emerges amongst it followers before Kalon's wife is found murdered. Brown is convinced someone found a way of reaching her within her locked room, and works to discover the culprit while finding a way to prevent Susie leaving with Kalon thanks to his charms.
| LineColor = 9F260E
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 6
| EpisodeNumber2 = 6
| Title = The Bride of Christ
| DirectedBy = Ian Barber
| WrittenBy = Jude Tindall
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2013|1|21|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Father Brown is shocked when a nun dies before him, and discovers her death was due to [[cyanide]] poisoning. When a second nun dies in the same manner while being interviewed by Inspector Valentine, suspicions are placed on the victims' convent, especially when it transpires the nuns there are holding onto bottles of cyanide.
| LineColor = 9F260E
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 7
| EpisodeNumber2 = 7
| Title = The Devil's Dust
| DirectedBy = Dominic Keavey
| WrittenBy = Dan Muirden
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2013|1|22|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = A 14-year-old Ruth Bennett is ostracised by Kembleford's villagers for a skin complaint believed to be caused by her father's work. When she goes missing and her blood-stained pyjamas are found in the search for her, Father Brown determines to discover what happened, and has plenty of suspects with links to the missing girl.
| LineColor = 9F260E
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 8
| EpisodeNumber2 = 8
| Title = The Face of Death
| DirectedBy = Matt Carter
| WrittenBy = Lol Fletcher
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2013|1|23|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = When Lady Margaret runs a man down in a road accident, the victim's son blames her for deliberately killing them. At a masked charity garden party, an attempt is made on Margaret that leads to the death of another guest wearing an identical mask to her husband's. When she is eventually murdered afterwards, Father Brown investigates the matter, after the police's prime suspect disappears.
| LineColor = 9F260E
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 9
| EpisodeNumber2 = 9
| Title = The Mayor and the Magician
| DirectedBy = Dominic Keavey
| WrittenBy = Nicola Wilson
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2013|1|24|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = At the Kembleford's annual village fête, the obnoxious mayor William Knight is [[electrocution|electrocuted]] at the microphone while making a speech. Father Brown investigates when the mayor's wife is arrested for murder, and receives a surprising clue from confessional. Meanwhile, Mrs. McCarthy is shocked when her deceased husband turns up dressed as a magician.
| LineColor = 9F260E
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 10
| EpisodeNumber2 = 10
| Title = [[The Blue Cross (short story)|The Blue Cross]]
| DirectedBy = Ian Barber
| WrittenBy = Paul Matthew Thompson
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2013|1|25|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Father Brown receives a warning from the international thief, [[Flambeau (character)|Hercule Flambeau]], that he intends to steal a pricelss [[relic]]. To pre-empt the theft, Brown enters a battle of wits to ensure that the item, the Blue Cross, is not stolen, and in the process discovers there is a deep connection between himself and Flambeau, linked with the [[World War I|Great War]].
| LineColor = 9F260E
}}
}}

===Series 2 (2014)===
{{Episode table |background=#003CEE |overall=5 |series=5 |title=32 |director=18 |writer=22 |airdate=18 |episodes=
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 11
| EpisodeNumber2 = 1
| Title = The Ghost in the Machine
| DirectedBy = Matt Carter
| WrittenBy = Rachel Flowerday
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2014|1|6|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Father Brown investigates the disappearance of a parishioner, Charlotte McKinley, who believed she was being haunted by her sister who had disappeared nine years previously. Husband Victor ([[Andrew Havill]]), a struck-off doctor, is arrested as being responsible for the murder of both women.
''Final regular appearance of [[Hugo Speer]] as Inspector Valentine. First appearance of [[Tom Chambers (actor)|Tom Chambers]] as Inspector Sullivan.''
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 12
| EpisodeNumber2 = 2
| Title = The Maddest of All
| DirectedBy = Matt Carter
| WrittenBy = Tahsin Guner
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2014|1|7|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Ex-serviceman Felix Underwood (Peter Bramhill), a mental patient at the Danvers Retreat, dies suddenly in the street. Events take an unusual turn when he returns to life two days later at his church committal. Father Brown assists Inspector Sullivan to discover the reason for the resurrection, and gets himself committed at Danvers to covertly investigate the premises.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 13
| EpisodeNumber2 = 3
| Title = The Pride of the Prydes
| DirectedBy = Paul Gibson
| WrittenBy = Jude Tindall
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2014|1|8|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = The opening to the public of Pryde Castle, an estate mired in death duties, ends when guide Audrey Diggle ([[Marcia Warren]]), is struck and killed by an arrow. She was an expert on the Pryde's family history, including an old curse that the first born would be mad. Father Brown is convinced that the motive lies in the Pryde family's past, when a page from the parish birth records goes missing. All the family members are known to use a [[longbow]].
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 14
| EpisodeNumber2 = 4
| Title = The Shadow of the Scaffold
| DirectedBy = Paul Gibson
| WrittenBy = Rachel Flowerday
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2014|1|9|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Violet Fernsley ([[Emma Stansfield]]), convicted of killing her pig-farmer husband whose body has never been found, is given a temporary reprieve from the [[gallows]] when she claims she is pregnant. The pregnancy test gives Father Brown three days to find the real killer. When her husband's finger turns up in a pig's stomach, it points to a serial killer amongst the family. Father Brown's investigation concludes God's law is above man's law.
''First appearance of [[John Burton (actor)|John Burton]] as Sergeant Goodfellow''
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 15
| EpisodeNumber2 = 5
| Title = The Mysteries of the Rosary
| DirectedBy = Ian Barber
| WrittenBy = Paul Matthew Thompson
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2014|1|10|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = The Lannington Rosary, missing for 500 years, is a relic blessed with healing powers. Professor Hilary Ambrose ([[James Laurenson]]) has sent an ancient prayer book containing a clue to its whereabouts to his old friend Father Brown, before he goes missing and his home is ransacked. Father Brown receives unexpected help from the untrustworthy [[Flambeau (character)|Flambeau]], returned from the dead. A terminally ill fellow priest, Father Ignatius ([[Anton Lesser]]), also desperately seeks the rosary to heal both himself and others.
''Second appearance of [[John Light (actor)|John Light]] as Hercule Flambeau.''
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 16
| EpisodeNumber2 = 6
| Title = The Daughters of Jerusalem
| DirectedBy = Matt Carter
| WrittenBy = Jude Tindall
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2014|1|13|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Father Brown is laid up in his attic bedroom with a broken leg, and young Father Roland Eager is acting as his [[locum]]. His film of African orphans being shown at the Kembleford [[Women's Institute]] is switched for a pornographic film. In the following days, two members of the Institute are murdered, one poisoned and one stabbed with a hat pin. Inspector Sullivan arrests Dianah Fortescue, whose husband was earlier arrested in a Soho pornographic cinema. Father Brown investigates with the help of Mrs. McCarthy, Lady Felicia, Sid Carter, and a telescope.
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}}{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 17
| EpisodeNumber2 = 7
| Title = The Three Tools of Death
| DirectedBy = Paul Gibson
| WrittenBy = Lol Fletcher
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2014|1|14|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Alice Armstrong has been treated by [[electroconvulsive therapy|electroshock therapy]] for memory loss and depression after she accidentally killed her mother. When her father is murdered and a rope, gun, and knife are left behind, Magnus the chauffeur is suspected together with Peter, Armstrong's secretary, whom Alice loves. The truth of a father in debt leads Father Brown to another conclusion about the deaths.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 18
| EpisodeNumber2 = 8
| Title = The Prize of Colonel Gerard
| DirectedBy = Ian Barber
| WrittenBy = Dominique Moloney
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2014|1|15|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Edward Gerard, a prisoner of war who returns from North Korea sympathetic to his captors, greatly displeases his martinet uncle, Colonel Cecil Gerard ([[Nicholas Jones (actor)|Nicholas Jones]]), who threatens to commit him to an asylum. When the Colonel is murdered, the suspects include Edward, the Colonel's daughter (an adopted Chinese girl) who was going to run away with Edward, the brother-in-law, and the victim's wife, Edward's mother. Father Brown finds the solution lies in the family history and the Colonel's sexual intentions to his adopted daughter.
''Jai-Li Gerard was portrayed by [[Katie Leung]]. She had starred with Mark Williams in the [[Harry Potter (film series)|Harry Potter film series]].''
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 19
| EpisodeNumber2 = 9
| Title = The Grim Reaper
| DirectedBy = Matt Carter
| WrittenBy = David Semple
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2014|1|16|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Obnoxious farmer John Tatton has an equally obnoxious son, Alfred, who covets the young wife Oona (Maureen O'Connell) of Dr. Crawford ([[James Fleet]]). When Alfred is killed in a threshing machine, the doctor is suspected when accusatory [[poison pen letter]]s appear. John Tatton believes his son was having an affair with the doctor's wife, who is pregnant.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 20
| EpisodeNumber2 = 10
| Title = The Laws of Motion
| DirectedBy = Paul Gibson
| WrittenBy = Tahsin Guner
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2014|1|17|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Audrey MacMurray ([[Tracy-Ann Oberman]]) is a ruthless businesswoman with many enemies. While racing her car at a local [[hillclimbing|hill climb track]], she is killed when her brake line has been cut. Father Brown's investigation infuriates Inspector Sullivan, who already has his own suspect in custody, and the Inspector arrests Father Brown for a [[breach of the peace]] to put an end to his amateur sleuthing. While in jail however, Father Brown receives more information that makes him believe that he is right and, with Sid and Mrs. McCarthy, he escapes to convince the guilty party to do the right thing.
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}}
}}

===Series 3 (2015)===
{{Episode table |background=#FD6A00 |overall=5 |series=5 |title=32 |director=18 |writer=22 |airdate=18 |episodes=
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 21
| EpisodeNumber2 = 1
| Title = The Man in the Shadows
| DirectedBy = Paul Gibson
| WrittenBy = Rob Kinsman
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2015|1|5|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Sid stumbles across a dead man about to be put in a river and Inspector Sullivan covers up the death as an accident. Sid is arrested when he and Father Brown investigate and Lady Felicia is blackmailed by an MI5 spymaster looking for a Soviet agent who has infiltrated an intelligence base in a stately home.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 22
| EpisodeNumber2 = 2
| Title = The Curse of Amenhotep
| DirectedBy = Matt Carter
| WrittenBy = Jude Tindall
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2015|1|6|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = The young wife of Sir Raleigh Beresford dies mysteriously after seeing the coffin of Amenhotep, an Egyptian mummy Beresford had brought back from his excavations some 26 years earlier where his first wife was killed during a rock fall; a curse from the coffin is suspected.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 23
| EpisodeNumber2 = 3
| Title = The Invisible Man
| DirectedBy = Matt Carter
| WrittenBy = Tahsin Guner
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2015|1|7|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = The circus returns to Kembleford and local waitress Laura is held to her promise given in jest the year before to marry the clown or the hypnotist. The clown is murdered; in his dying breath he names the hypnotist. Laura's boyfriend, the clown's girlfriend, and another clown are all suspected. Laura's willingness to marry the hypnotist puzzles Father Brown, even though he agrees to marry the couple.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 24
| EpisodeNumber2 = 4
| Title = The Sign of the Broken Sword
| DirectedBy = Ian Barber
| WrittenBy = Stephen McAteer
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2015|1|8|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = A major is murdered on an army base by a legendary broken sword during commemoration of the men killed during the evacuation of Dunkirk. The sword belonged to the regiment's colonel who used the sword to charge an enemy position with his men. Father Brown has to uncover the secret of two murders being kept to uphold the honour of the regiment. Loosely based on the 1911 story of the same title.
| LineColor = FD6A00
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 25
| EpisodeNumber2 = 5
| Title = The Last Man
| DirectedBy = John Greening
| WrittenBy = Jude Tindall
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2015|1|9|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = The arrest of the new cricket captain of Kembleford's cricket team for the murder of the team's fast bowler, a suicide the year before in the cricket pavilion, and a match against a rival village to determine the ownership of the cricket ground finds Father Brown consoling the victim's mother, solving a murder involving blackmail, playing cricket, and watching Lady Felicia as the "last man" of the innings.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 26
| EpisodeNumber2 = 6
| Title = The Upcott Fraternity
| DirectedBy = Paul Gibson
| WrittenBy = Paul Matthew Thompson
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2015|1|12|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Father Brown is visiting his old Rector ([[Dudley Sutton]]) at Upcott Seminary for trainee priests when a student commits suicide, Father Brown attempts to find the truth behind his death and that of a student a year earlier, both members of a secret fraternity that has closed ranks. Father Brown enlists Sid to go undercover as a trainee priest despite Mrs. McCarthy's misgivings.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 27
| EpisodeNumber2 = 7
| Title = The Kembleford Boggart
| DirectedBy = John Greening
| WrittenBy = Jonathan Neil
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2015|1|13|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = The domineering father ([[Simon Williams (actor)|Simon Williams]]) of a successful young writer, 22-year-old Hannah, is murdered in a locked room and the only suspect is an itinerant [[Irish Travellers|traveller]] who comes to Kembleford every year in a caravan with his mother. Father Brown's suspicions are aroused when the murder has the hallmarks of a boggart, an unwelcome infant from another world created by Hannah in her book.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 28
| EpisodeNumber2 = 8
| Title = The Lair of the Libertines
| DirectedBy = Matt Carter
| WrittenBy = Lol Fletcher
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2015|1|14|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Father Brown, Mrs. McCarthy, and Lady Felicia find themselves stranded at a hotel hired by Madame Chania ([[Ronni Ancona]]) and her guests, international playboys, seeking [[Hedonism|hedonistic]] pleasures. When a local prostitute is found murdered in the grounds and two of the guests are killed, Father Brown realises they are in the lair of a hunter intent on killing them all.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 29
| EpisodeNumber2 = 9
| Title = The Truth in the Wine
| DirectedBy = Ian Barber
| WrittenBy = Kit Lambert
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2015|1|15|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = A dead dog in a vat of wine precedes the shooting to death of an itinerant labourer and theft of wages from the safe in the study of Colonel Anthony Forbes-Leith, owner of a failing winery. Father Brown discovers none of the suspects are who they pretend to be.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 30
| EpisodeNumber2 = 10
| Title = The Judgement of Man
| DirectedBy = Ian Barber
| WrittenBy = Paul Matthew Thompson
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2015|1|16|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = An exhibition of valuable art at the Belvedere Museum includes a priceless artwork on loan from the Vatican. Father Brown spots his nemesis [[Flambeau (character)|Hercule Flambeau]], not realising he is a pawn in Flambeau's plan to steal the picture and wreak revenge on the museum's curator, a man who during the war had helped the Nazis loot paintings from Jewish families. Flambeau is shocked to find a woman from his past he thought dead seeking to avenge the death of her parents by killing the curator.
''Third appearance of [[John Light (actor)|John Light]] as Hercule Flambeau.''
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 31
| EpisodeNumber2 = 11
| Title = The Time Machine
| DirectedBy = Ian Barber
| WrittenBy = Tahsin Guner
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2015|1|19|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Lady Felicia involves Father Brown with Jacob Francis, a young quantum physicist, who claims to have built a time machine so he can go back in time to prove his father was murdered in his locked laboratory by one of his family. When Francis proves his machine works, he is murdered in the same laboratory, leaving Father Brown's only option to use the machine and see who killed the father and son.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 32
| EpisodeNumber2 = 12
| Title = The Standing Stones
| DirectedBy = Matt Carter
| WrittenBy = Rachel Flowerday
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2015|1|20|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Father Brown and Mrs. McCarthy visit the cottage hospital in the village of Standing where many of the children have been struck down by an outbreak of polio. When a local barmaid is found murdered at the local stone circle, her best friend Ginnie is arrested for her murder when it is discovered that they had fallen out over Ginnie blaming her for her son contracting polio. Unfortunately, the supposed murder weapon that is hoped will clear her only seems to strengthen the case against her. Then a local mystic makes a connection between the death and a legend about sacrificing an innocent at the stones – and someone tries to kill Ginnie and make it look like suicide.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 33
| EpisodeNumber2 = 13
| Title = The Paradise of Thieves
| DirectedBy = Diana Patrick
| WrittenBy = Rob Kinsman
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2015|1|21|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Father Brown and Mrs. McCarthy are at the local bank when armed raiders force the manager to open the locked safe using Father Brown as a witness. The robbers flee when the vault is opened and the manager's son-in-law is discovered dead inside. As the only key-holder, the manager is arrested by Inspector Sullivan. Father Brown uncovers fraud at the bank by the manager, financing a seedy nightclub owned by his son-in-law, but he needs Sid's help to break into the vault to discover how the murder was committed.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 34
| EpisodeNumber2 = 14
| Title = The Deadly Seal
| DirectedBy = Diana Patrick
| WrittenBy = Dan Muirden
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2015|1|22|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Father Brown hears a penitent in confessional declare that they are going to kill Bishop Talbot the next day during a shooting party organised by a theatrical producer. Unable to reveal what he has heard, Father Brown also attends the shoot and although saving the Bishop, the Bishop's Assistant, Albert Davies, is killed instead. Father Brown discovers a deadly pact involving a child abuse victim and the murdered man's wife to kill another man while providing unbreakable alibis.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 35
| EpisodeNumber2 = 15
| Title = The Owl of Minerva
| DirectedBy = Matt Carter
| WrittenBy = Jude Tindall
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2015|1|23|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = A body of a journalist about to expose an offshoot of the Freemasons, The Owl of Minerva, is found dead in the woods. Inspector Sullivan's investigations find him on the run for killing a fellow detective and seeking sanctuary in the confessional at St Mary's. Father Brown, with the aid of Mrs. McCarthy, Lady Felicia, and Sid, rally round to try prove his innocence and protect him from a deadly organisation with members highly placed in the community.
''Final regular appearance of [[Tom Chambers (actor)|Tom Chambers]] as Inspector Sullivan.''
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}}
}}

===Series 4 (2016)===
{{Episode table |background=#333679 |overall=5 |series=5 |title=32 |director=18 |writer=22 |airdate=18 |episodes=
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 36
| EpisodeNumber2 = 1
| Title = The Mask of the Demon
| DirectedBy = Paul Gibson
| WrittenBy = Jude Tindall
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2016|1|4|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Lady Felicia knows the Hollywood star Rex Bishop who is in Kembleford filming a "B" movie ''The Brides of the Demon''. He invites Father Brown and Mrs. McCarthy, a fan of Bishop, to view the filming. Tensions are evident between the film's participants, the director, his actress wife, a starlet, Rex Bishop, and the writer. The director is found dead wearing a demon's mask and Inspector Mallory does not appreciate Father Brown's help.
''First appearance of [[Jack Deam]] as Inspector Mallory''. Filming took place at [[Coughton Court]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4860336/|title=The Mask of the Demon|via=www.imdb.com|access-date=27 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170212220625/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4860336/|archive-date=12 February 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 37
| EpisodeNumber2 = 2
| Title = The Brewer's Daughter
| DirectedBy = Paul Gibson
| WrittenBy = Kit Lambert
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2016|1|5|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Sid falls for Grace Fitzgerald, the married heiress to a brewery, and is her alibi when Mallory arrests her for murdering her father in a fire. Fitzgerald, refusing to use Sid as an alibi, asks Father Brown to search for the real killer and he uncovers evidence that Fitzgerald's husband and her younger sister killed the father. The suicide and a note left by another lover of Fitzgerald complicates the issue as he had been sacked by her husband when he caught them kissing.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 38
| EpisodeNumber2 = 3
| Title = The Hangman's Demise
| DirectedBy = David Beauchamp
| WrittenBy = Dan Muirden
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2016|1|6|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = A former hangman, Henry Lee, is confronted at his wedding anniversary by a mother about her son whom he executed a year before for the murder of a court secretary – an execution where the condemned man whispered to Lee the identity of the real killer. The following morning Lee is poisoned with hemlock. His friend George, an ex-policeman, is arrested and released. The mother, recently released from prison, is arrested and a motive for Lee's wife emerges. Father Brown untangles a web of deceit and corruption in the police as Lee lies dying.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 39
| EpisodeNumber2 = 4
| Title = The Crackpot of the Empire
| DirectedBy = David Beauchamp
| WrittenBy = Lol Fletcher
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2016|1|7|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Father Brown is apprehensive when he receives an invitation to a party given by the recently-released Uncle Mirth, a former music hall comedian whom Father Brown helped put in an asylum. When Father Brown and the other invitees arrive at the venue, a derelict warehouse, he and Mirth's brother find envelopes containing their death certificates. Inspector Mallory finds another death certificate for a second brother who had died of a heart attack outside the presbytery the previous day.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 40
| EpisodeNumber2 = 5
| Title = The Daughter of Autolycus
| DirectedBy = Paul Gibson
| WrittenBy = Jude Tindall
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2016|1|8|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Father Brown knows the Pope's coronation gift to the Queen of a priceless cross is too tempting to [[Flambeau (character)|Flambeau]] and Father Brown convinces the Bishop to let him guard it. Flambeau arrives on Father Brown's doorstep seeking his help to steal the cross in order to save the life of his daughter whom he has never met, and who has been kidnapped by Flambeau's criminal partner he once left for dead. Before they can steal the cross it goes missing from the Bishop's Palace. Father Brown has underestimated Papal politics, Flambeau's daughter, and the consciences of men.
''Fourth appearance of [[John Light (actor)|John Light]] as Hercule Flambeau.''
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 41
| EpisodeNumber2 = 6
| Title = The Rod of Asclepius
| DirectedBy = David Beauchamp
| WrittenBy = Jude Tindall
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2016|1|11|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Lady Felicia's reckless driving lands her and Mrs. McCarthy in adjoining hospital beds. A new admittance to the ward dies the following morning on the operating table. A nurse claims it is murder and is found dead the same afternoon, forcing Inspector Mallory to do more than his initial cursory investigation. Father Brown, once Sid makes it past the officious substitute Parish Secretary and notifies him of developments, follows a different line of inquiry and Lady Felicia and Mrs. McCarthy's snooping put the latter in danger on the same operating table.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 42
| EpisodeNumber2 = 7
| Title = The Missing Man
| DirectedBy = David Beauchamp
| WrittenBy = Rachel Flowerday
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2016|1|12|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = A pilot returns from the dead after eight years as Father Brown is about to marry his wife to his brother. No one except his daughter and the family's dog is pleased to see him, especially his father who believes him to be a deserter. When the returnee is found shot in the head and blood-stained women's clothing is found, Inspector Mallory charges the wife, dismissing the daughter's claims that another woman entered the house. Father Brown finds a visiting card for a cross-dressing bar, realises the identity of the real killer, and decides the culprit cannot be exposed.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 43
| EpisodeNumber2 = 8
| Title = The Resurrectionists
| DirectedBy = James Larkin
| WrittenBy = Rob Kinsman
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2016|1|13|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Father Brown is puzzled when the grave of a recent burial is opened and the body is missing, only for it to turn up at the premises of a different undertaker. Inspector Mallory is even more mystified as the victim died of decapitation in a motor cycle accident with no sign of other injury. The undertaker is arrested and the animosity between him and the victim's mother is evident for all to see. Father Brown uncovers the reason behind their hatred and the forbidden love which the victim had for the undertaker's daughter.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 44
| EpisodeNumber2 = 9
| Title = The Sins of the Father
| DirectedBy = Paul Gibson
| WrittenBy = Al Smith
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2016|1|14|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Robert Twyman, a leading aeronautics magnate, receives a note that his son, a piano player and contestant in a local variety show, would be killed if he does not confess. Next morning the son is found strangled next to his piano in a locked house with only his father and butler present. Twyman is convinced a journalist piano-player rival of his son is the killer. Inspector Mallory arrests Twyman after Lady Felicia finds him standing over the journalist's dead body by her piano. Father Brown notices that both pianists had been somehow playing the same music and the answer is to be found in a book given to him by Doctor Mordaunt Jackson, a psycho-analyst currently giving a lecture in Kembleford.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 45
| EpisodeNumber2 = 10
| Title = The Wrath of Baron Samdi
| DirectedBy = James Larkin
| WrittenBy = Tahsin Guner
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2016|1|15|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = [[Baron Samedi|Baron Samdi]] is the voodoo spirit of the dead that Emmanuel Jannite invokes when he follows his love, Yveline Lafond, to Kembleford. Lafond is working as lead singer in a Haitian jazz band. The band leader, also in love with Lafond, is found dead in a swimming pool, poisoned, and Jannite dies following a police chase. Inspector Mallory believes the case closed but Father Brown's snooping uncovers the real killer. As he confronts the culprit, Father Brown collapses after being informed that he has already been poisoned that morning.
''Final regular appearance of [[Alex Price]] as Sid Carter until the Series 9 opener "The Menace of Mephistopheles" (2022).''
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}}
}}

===Series 5 (2016–17)===
{{Episode table |background=#E97451 |overall=5 |series=5 |title=32 |director=18 |writer=22 |airdate=18 |episodes=
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 46
| EpisodeNumber2 = 1
| Title = The Star of Jacob
| DirectedBy = Paul Gibson
| WrittenBy = Jude Tindall
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2016|12|23|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = The Duke of Frome, John Langton, with his wife, their baby born after complications during childbirth, a domineering nanny, nursery maid, and valet arrive at Montague Hall for Lady Felicia's Yuletide ball. During the evening, the baby is taken from his cot. Inspector Mallory suspects an inside job by the valet when his secret wife arrives, while Father Brown is more interested in the birth of the baby at a home for unmarried mothers. Mrs. McCarthy, under pressure from the diocese to provide a Christmas service fit for a Duke, receives unexpected help from Michael Negal, a vagrant she finds sleeping in the confessional.
| LineColor = E97451
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 47
| EpisodeNumber2 = 2
| Title = The Labyrinth of the Minotaur
| DirectedBy = Paul Gibson
| WrittenBy = Jude Tindall
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2017|1|2|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Robert Malmort and Joan Vanderlande are brought together by their respective parents with a view to marriage. When the maid Ruby is found dead, Lady Felicia's niece, Bunty, is suspected. Father Brown suspects the answer lies at the end of a Labyrinth and a sad secret the Malmorts are hiding. Following her latest scandalous headlines, Bunty's father insists she stay in Kembleford and Lady Felicia needs her to look after her home as she is leaving with her husband, Monty, who has been appointed [[Governor of Northern Rhodesia]].
''Final regular appearance of [[Nancy Carroll (British actress)|Nancy Carroll]] as Lady Felicia Montague. First appearance of [[Emer Kenny]] as Penelope (Bunty) Windermere.''
| LineColor = E97451
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 48
| EpisodeNumber2 = 3
| Title = The Eve of St John
| DirectedBy = Gary Williams
| WrittenBy = Jude Tindall
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2017|1|3|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Kembleford District Council holds an emergency meeting attended by the local clergy to discuss a coven in Crow's wood. Father Brown's liberal views on witchcraft do not go down well and when the dead body of one of the coven is found, feelings run high in the village. Tensions are fanned by the Reverend Gillespie, a Methodist minister whose wife and daughter died in the blitz. Father Brown invites the warlock, Eugene Bone; his partner, Selina Crow; new initiate, Dione Moon; and the Reverend Allsworthy to dinner. Mrs. McCarthy sends Bunty to gather mushrooms for her soup and, over dinner, Allsworthy, smitten by Bunty, has reason to propose marriage.
| LineColor = E97451
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 49
| EpisodeNumber2 = 4
| Title = The Chedworth Cyclone
| DirectedBy = Paul Gibson
| WrittenBy = Paul Matthew Thompson
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2017|1|4|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Roy Tomkins, a washed up boxer and rival of Jed Cornish, the 'Chedworth Cyclone', is found dead. Father Brown is drawn into the shady world of London Boxing promoter and racketeer, Denis Nelson, who is involved in illegal betting, fixed fights, and blackmail. Jed, suspected of murder, is arrested and then bailed into the care of Father Brown who uncovers Jed's secret love for Nelson's girlfriend. She has lured a town councillor into a compromising position so Nelson can obtain a boxing venue. Father Brown has to uncover the murderer, ensure a fair fight, and break Nelson's hold over everyone.
| LineColor = E97451
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 50
| EpisodeNumber2 = 5
| Title = The Hand of Lucia
| DirectedBy = Paul Gibson
| WrittenBy = Lol Fletcher
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2017|1|5|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Bankrupt writer of erotic novel 'Lulu and Lucia', Lucia Morell is murdered with an axe and her hand removed. Subject of a previous attack, her threat to reveal on whom Lulu was based is thought to be the motive. Suspects include Lady Ursula Lansford of Uxbridge who runs a home for released female prisoners, Lansford's son whom Lucia humiliated, the gardener, and two ex-prisoners. Bunty becomes ill after eating the gardener's soup and one of the girls is poisoned; and when the hand is discovered in Lady Ursula's private bathroom, the gardener confesses. Father Brown believes the answer is in the novel, leading to tragic consequences.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 51
| EpisodeNumber2 = 6
| Title = The Eagle and the Daw
| DirectedBy = Gary Williams
| WrittenBy = Kit Lambert
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2017|1|6|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Katherine Corven, awaiting execution for murdering her husband, summons Father Brown, who helped to convict her, to hear her confession: that she has arranged the death of her lover Raymond Worrall. When Inspector Mallory finds Worrall, in a locked cottage, dead from a gunshot to the head and Father Brown in possession of a pistol and the key to the cottage, he arrests him on suspicion of murder. Bunty and Mrs. McCarthy seek to prove his innocence and Sergeant Goodfellow contrives his escape from the police station cell. A [[Western jackdaw|Jackdaw]] egg at the cottage provides Father Brown with a clue to explain the death of Worrall.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 52
| EpisodeNumber2 = 7
| Title = The Smallest of Things
| DirectedBy = Bob Thomson
| WrittenBy = Tahshin Guner
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2017|1|9|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Agnes Lesser creates aids to detection in the form of dioramas of crime scenes. She invites Father Brown to an awards ceremony at her home where she unveils an exact diorama of her mother's death, at the bottom of a staircase ten years previously, to the shocked guests including her father, the Chief Constable, and the detective who investigated at the time; hoping the death would be reinvestigated. When the detective is murdered after removing a miniature newspaper from the diorama; Inspector Mallory is arrested for his murder and Father Brown realises the newspaper holds the clue to the tragic events that had befallen the Lesser family, including the death of Agnes' younger sister by drowning.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 53
| EpisodeNumber2 = 8
| Title = The Crimson Feather
| DirectedBy = Paul Gibson
| WrittenBy = Kit Lambert
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2017|1|10|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Joselyn, Mrs. McCarthy' niece and goddaughter, visits and then disappears. A red feather leads Father Brown to a private gentlemen's club, The Crimson Feather. With Bunty's help, Father Brown discovers Joselyn is at the club where she has been working for months. When one of the other girls, Verity, is murdered at the club wearing Joselyn's costume, both Bunty (as Pepper Seymore, a burlesque dancer) and Mrs. McCarthy (as a cleaner) take undercover jobs at the club looking for clues. Father Brown uncovers a pregnant victim, jealousy, unrequited love, blackmail, along with other services being offered within the club.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 54
| EpisodeNumber2 = 9
| Title = The Lepidopterist's Companion
| DirectedBy = Paul Gibson
| WrittenBy = Kit Lambert
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2017|1|11|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Mrs. McCarthy looks after Kembleford's Mobile Library when the manager, Margaret Cartwright, is discovered injured in the library by her assistant Ada. Cartwright's husband, a photographer, accidentally kills his assistant, Lewis, boyfriend of Ada, with a cricket bat believing him a burglar. Lewis is found to have been poisoned and Father Brown discovers his cache of nude photographs of local girls. One of the photographs is of Ada. Inspector Mallory arrests the photographer while Father Brown wonders why a book, ''The [[Lepidopterist]]'s Companion'', is loaned out so often for only a day or two, and who used the photographer's studio where the pictures were taken. Mrs. McCarthy begins walks out with a ne'er-do-well.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 55
| EpisodeNumber2 = 10
| Title = The Alchemist's Secret
| DirectedBy = [[Simon Gibney]]
| WrittenBy = Rob Kinsman
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2017|1|12|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Professor Hilary Ambrose, who is experiencing memory loss and delusions, seeks the help of Father Brown to solve a riddle over 300 years old relating to an Alchemist who hid a formula believed to turn lead into gold. When one of his students is murdered and the evidence points to Ambrose, Inspector Mallory arrests him. To prove his innocence, Father Brown has to solve the riddle, find the hidden formula, and discover the real killer. Discovering the terrible secret of the formula and the killer poses a dilemma for Father Brown but explains why an entire village, Thorndike, disappeared from the map over 300 years ago.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 56
| EpisodeNumber2 = 11
| Title = The Sins of Others
| DirectedBy = Diana Patrick
| WrittenBy = Tahsin Guner
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2017|1|13|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Sid Carter is released from prison after a year following his conviction of assault on Judith Miles, then a prostitute, now working in a solicitor’s office. Bent on revenge, Sid confronts his defence lawyer, Giles Foster, now a judge, with Father Brown at the home of a Edward Reese, who appointed Foster. When Foster is found dead from stabbing by a glass to the throat, Sid is accused by Reese's son of the murder. Father Brown becomes a target of a paid assassin and his only clue is a pail of ashes.
''First guest appearance of [[Alex Price]] as Sid Carter''
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 57
| EpisodeNumber2 = 12
| Title = The Theatre of the Invisible
| DirectedBy = Bob Thomson
| WrittenBy = David Semple
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2017|1|16|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = The radio quiz show Up to You comes to Kembleford and Mrs. McCarthy and Bunty win an audition to become contestants. Their landlady is murdered by smoke from a blocked chimney, yet her three kittens survived. The three cast members and new producer, who falls for Bunty and wants to impress, are suspected. Father Brown is concerned when Bunty invites the cast members to stay at Montague Hall. Bunty finds the show announcer's diary revealing his colourful lifestyle and his newfound prospects. When he is found dead in a locked bathroom, Father Brown realises Bunty and blackmail are the motives.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 58
| EpisodeNumber2 = 13
| Title = The Tanganyika Green
| DirectedBy = Simon Gibney
| WrittenBy = Catherine Skinner
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2017|1|17|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Aldous Kemp and his daughter Grace arrive in Kembleford for the County Fair to sell a valuable item so he can pay for her training as a doctor. Kemp was an employee of the East African Postal Service which he had in common with John Hammond, whose father's business is failing. When Kemp is murdered, Inspector Mallory arrests first the daughter, then John Hammond. Father Brown recognises John's skill as an engraver and that the Tanganyika Green is a stamp. Bunty lodges the antiques valuer at Montague Hall and is surprised when petrol is stolen from her car while Mrs. McCarthy believes he's a fraud.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 59
| EpisodeNumber2 = 14
| Title = The Fire in the Sky
| DirectedBy = Diana Patrick
| WrittenBy = Kit Lambert
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2017|1|18|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Fear of alien invasion hits Kembleford as Charlotte, daughter of widower William Bailey, goes missing overnight and lights are seen in the sky. Charlotte arrives at the police station and collapses from injury and abdominal pains. The hospital doctor, a war hero, confirms she is pregnant. William Bailey is found dead the following day from poisoning and Inspector Mallory arrests Bailey's gardener, Sean Crimp, whom he had recently dismissed and is Charlotte's boyfriend. More lights in the sky overnight and Crimp disappears from his police cell. Father Brown finds the answer in a science fiction comic that the younger brother of Charlotte's hospital nurse is reading.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 60
| EpisodeNumber2 = 15
| Title = The Penitent Man
| DirectedBy = Paul Gibson
| WrittenBy = Tahsin Guner
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2017|1|19|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Hercule Flambeau, awaiting trial for murder, asks for Father Brown to act as his chaplain and professes his innocence. However, at his pre-trial hearing, he pleads guilty and is condemned to death. Father Brown realises he is part of Flambeau's plan to find a gold medallion hidden by the architect of the prison where Flambeau is being held. A plan that begins to unravel when Flambeau's victim fails to reappear after he is murdered by his wife intent on obtaining the gold medallion for herself. Father Brown has to engineer Flambeau's escape from the death cell.
''Fifth appearance of [[John Light (actor)|John Light]] as Hercule Flambeau.''
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}}
}}

===Series 6 (2017–18)===
{{Episode table |background=#00A1D7 |overall=5 |series=5 |title=32 |director=18 |writer=22 |airdate=18 |episodes=
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 61
| EpisodeNumber2 = 1
| Title = The Tree of Truth
| DirectedBy = Paul Gibson
| WrittenBy = Jude Tindall
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2017|12|18|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = A skeleton from a seven-year-old murder case is found buried in the woods, bringing doubts on the conviction of the confessed killer. Inspector Mallory and Father Brown reinvestigate the murder. Sid Carter brings letters for Father Brown and Bunty as well as a Christmas present for Mrs. McCarthy. Father Brown, Mrs. McCarthy, and Bunty audition for the local amateur pantomime, ''Cinderella'', but do not get the roles they expected. Sid is recruited to partner Father Brown; Mallory and Sergeant Goodfellow get roles as the ugly stepsisters. When an accident happens during rehearsals, Father Brown realises the truth lies within the theatre.
''Second guest appearance of [[Alex Price]] as Sid Carter and voice-over cameo of [[Nancy Carroll (British actress)|Nancy Carroll]] as Lady Felicia''.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 62
| EpisodeNumber2 = 2
| Title = The Jackdaw's Revenge
| DirectedBy = Gary Williams
| WrittenBy = Kit Lambert
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|1|2|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Katherine Corven awaiting execution for murdering her husband is reprieved on the confession of her housekeeper. Father Brown is afraid she will take revenge on his friends. A wardress from Corven's prison is found hanged in a locked cottage and Corven's alibi is provided by the [[Abbess|Mother Superior]] of a convent where she is training as a [[postulant]]. A local reporter pursues Father Brown, accusing him in the press of impropriety with Corven. Bunty goes missing while Father Brown is blackmailed to confirm the story under the threat of Bunty's life. A Jackdaw flying in the church gives Father Brown the clue to the death of the wardress.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 63
| EpisodeNumber2 = 3
| Title = The Kembleford Dragon
| DirectedBy = Christiana Ebohon-Green
| WrittenBy = David Semple
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|1|3|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = British Railways proposes closing Kembleford Station due to non-profitability, causing its stationmaster Ben Webb, to have a heart attack. A fete to save the station finds Webb bludgeoned to death in a trunk on the platform. Learning Webb was a philanderer over many years gives Father Brown many suspects ranging from his pregnant wife Julia, a bus company boss, a British Railways manager, and the church's new cleaner Pandora. The murder is complicated by the fact that Webb died from drowning.

''This episode guest-stars [[Jessie Cave]], another former [[Harry Potter (film series)|Harry Potter]] co-star of Mark Williams''.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 64
| EpisodeNumber2 = 4
| Title = The Angel of Mercy
| DirectedBy = Niall Fraser
| WrittenBy = Dan Muirden
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|1|4|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Mrs. McCarthy's friend, Freda, dies in her sleep at a care home. Father Brown suspects foul play when he smells an unusual odour from the body. Animosity between Freda's son and Freda's new friend, Charlie, who is to inherit Freda's estate arouses Father Brown's suspicions until Charlie dies in his sleep. Another death and Mallory arrests Freda's son. All the victims were terminally ill and a white feather at each scene confirmed they were [[assisted suicide|complicit in their own death]] by an [[Angel of mercy (criminology)|angel of mercy]]. Bunty's friend, Ellen, who is terminally ill and uses a wheelchair, goes missing and Bunty fears the worst after finding a white feather in her room.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 65
| EpisodeNumber2 = 5
| Title = The Face of the Enemy
| DirectedBy = Christiana Ebohon-Green
| WrittenBy = Tahsin Guner
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|1|5|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Lady Felicia and Sid return from Northern Rhodesia and visit Kembleford while her husband, Monty, is in London. Lady Felicia finds herself blackmailed by an MI5 agent, Daniel Whittaker, to exchange a roll of film one of her lovers, a known soviet agent, has. At a party, her task goes wrong when a sculptor is shot dead, and Whittaker orders Mallory to find Lady Felicia as the prime suspect. Father Brown becomes involved with spies, British and Soviet, not knowing who is friend or foe, traitor or patriot. Lady Felicia has to choose between lover and husband; and Moscow get the film they do not expect.
''Third guest appearance of [[Alex Price]] as Sid Carter and second guest appearance (first as more than a voice-over cameo) of [[Nancy Carroll (British actress)|Nancy Carroll]] as Lady Felicia.''
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 66
| EpisodeNumber2 = 6
| Title = The Devil You Know
| DirectedBy = Niall Fraser
| WrittenBy = Jude Tindall
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|1|8|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Alec Frobisher, deputy commander at Scotland Yard, formerly with the War Crimes Commission, is found garrotted at Kembleford Bowls club. Inspector Mallory is taken off the case as he was present at the time. Replaced by Inspector Ironside who is after Mallory's job, Mallory seeks Father Brown's help. Eric and Christina Worcester are immigrants from post-war Europe, later found to have had connections with the SS and a concentration camp, respectively, in occupied Poland. When Eric apparently commits suicide, a typewritten suicide note gives Father Brown the clue to solve the murders.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 67
| EpisodeNumber2 = 7
| Title = The Dance of Death
| DirectedBy = Piotr Szkopiak
| WrittenBy = Rob Kinsman
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|1|9|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Father Brown, Mrs. McCarthy, and Bunty attend a ballroom competition and one of the contestants, Lucy Dawes, is murdered; her blind dancing partner Alexander Walgrave, who found the body, believes he knows who the murderer is and asks Father Brown and Bunty prove it. A necklace Lucy was wearing is missing, and Inspector Mallory arrests Lucy's fiancé, Oliver, when he is found in possession of it. Father Brown realises the answer lies some time ago when Alexander was blinded when pushed downstairs. To continue his investigation, Father Brown, Mrs. McCarthy, and Bunty join the competition.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 68
| EpisodeNumber2 = 8
| Title = The Cat of Mastigatus
| DirectedBy = Piotr Szkopiak
| WrittenBy = Mark Hiser & Bridget Colgan
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|1|10|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = St Saviours schoolgirl, May Lewis, is found with a serious head injury in the boiler room of the adjoining boys school. Father Brown discovers the weapon, a cricket bat, and Inspector Mallory arrests the owner: schoolboy Daniel Gates, her boyfriend, and grandson of the headmaster. In hospital, May is attacked again and her suspected attacker, gardener Jack Coll, is found dead. Father Brown uncovers years of bullying at the school and the use of a modified cat o' nine tails.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 69
| EpisodeNumber2 = 9
| Title = The Flower of the Fairway
| DirectedBy = Gary Williams
| WrittenBy = Rachel Flowerday
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|1|11|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Raylan Reeve, an ostentatious American, opens a golf course. During the inaugural competition, The Flower of the Fairway for women with Bunty taking part, a serious rival to Reeve's granddaughter finds a body in the reeds. Inspector Mallory allows the contest to continue when a gunshot is heard and Reeve is found shot dead in his study. Mallory arrests neighbour Hermione Harvey who had a revolver and hated Reeve. Father Brown investigates the father, daughter, and granddaughter and uncovers a dark family secret, when a daughter can also be a sister.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 70
| EpisodeNumber2 = 10
| Title = The Two Deaths of Hercule Flambeau
| DirectedBy = Paul Gibson
| WrittenBy = Kit Lambert
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|1|12|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Two items catch Father Brown's eye in the newspaper: Flambeau's death in Italy and the [[Iron Crown of Lombardy]] containing a nail from the [[True Cross]] on display at Gloucester cathedral. Father Brown opens a letter with a key that Flambeau had sent to him a few days before his death. A woman claiming to be his wife (Lisandra Flambeau) wants the key, but it is stolen while the presbytery is empty. Father Brown becomes part of an elaborate plan of Flambeau and his wife to steal the crown requiring a key and a combination to a safe. Flambeau double crosses his wife and to flush out her husband, she injects Father Brown with a slow-acting poison.
''Sixth appearance of [[John Light (actor)|John Light]] as Hercule Flambeau.''
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}}
}}

===Series 7 (2019)===
{{Episode table |background=#B11035 |overall=5 |series=5 |title=32 |director=18 |writer=22 |airdate=18 |episodes=
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 71
| EpisodeNumber2 = 1
| Title = The Great Train Robbery
| DirectedBy = Paul Gibson
| WrittenBy = Jude Tindall
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|1|7|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Opera diva Bianca Norman offers Lady Felicia and Mrs. McCarthy passage in her personal Pullman train carriage with her adopted children, latest husband, and staff. The carriage is stopped and robbed; the lights are shot out by two shots fired and a third kills Norman. To escape, the robbers kidnap Lady Felicia and Mrs. McCarthy. Father Brown and Bunty reconstruct the robbery with the family, while Lady Felicia and Mrs. McCarthy deal with the inept robbers to discover that family problems are the motive for both the robbery and the killing.
''Third guest appearance of [[Nancy Carroll (British actress)|Nancy Carroll]] as Lady Felicia''.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 72
| EpisodeNumber2 = 2
| Title = The Passing Bell
| DirectedBy = Ian Barber
| WrittenBy = David Semple
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|1|8|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Mervyn Glossop, St Mary's Bell Captain, is upset when Canon Fox's nephew is appointed the new musical director. Glossop is found dead in the bell tower and Father Brown uncovers a web of secrets among the group of bellringers: gambling, forbidden love, robbery, perjury, and blackmail—giving all a motive to kill Glossop.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 73
| EpisodeNumber2 = 3
| Title = The Whistle in the Dark
| DirectedBy = Ian Barber
| WrittenBy = Tahsin Guner
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|1|9|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Professor Robert Wiseman, who prides himself on his rationality, organises an auction of a medieval whistle that can conjure demons. Father Brown enveigles himself into the house as a severe thunderstorm moves into the area. The bidders soon arrive: an army major, a clairvoyant and her son, and a collector of objets d’art. Father Brown soon finds the professor has been faking the whistle’s power because he needs money for his impoverished daughter and grandchildren. As the night progresses, Wiseman is murdered and the whistle goes missing. A second murder occurs, with the Father's dangerous conclusion that the murderer is one of the remaining guests.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 74
| EpisodeNumber2 = 4
| Title = The Demise of the Debutante
| DirectedBy = Paul Gibson
| WrittenBy = Lol Fletcher
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|1|10|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Maude Riley, a nurse at the Rosewood Finishing School for Girls, is murdered following her release from prison after being prevented from performing an illegal abortion on student Nel Winford. Father Brown uncovers the hidden desires of staff and students at the school while Mallory arrests Maude’s husband, Jimbo, bent on revenge on the school's lecherous American chaplain responsible for his wife's arrest.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 75
| EpisodeNumber2 = 5
| Title = The Darkest Noon
| DirectedBy = Christiana Ebohon-Green
| WrittenBy = Kit Lambert
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|1|11|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Father Brown and Inspector Mallory are called to Spencer Hall, but are missing the morning after when Edmund Noon is found dead in St Mary’s churchyard next to grave of George and Jasmin Haggard, whom he is believed to have murdered. Flashbacks show Noon lured both Mallory and Father Brown to profess his innocence of the crime. Sergeant Goodfellow, Mrs McCarthy, and Bunty use reasoning, deduction, and clues to try finding the missing men. Even Harold "Blind 'Arry" Slow pitches in, finding a key in the churchyard.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 76
| EpisodeNumber2 = 6
| Title = The Sacrifice of Tantalus
| DirectedBy = Dominic Keavey
| WrittenBy = Kit Lambert
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|1|14|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Alan Tylett, wanted for killing a policeman, is pursued by Inspector Mallory and Sergeant Goodfellow. Goodfellow is shot saving Mallory and both are hospitalised. Inspector Sullivan posing as “Inspector Trueman” is sent from Special Branch to take over the case. With Father Brown's help, they capture Tylett, who protests his innocence. A wide-ranging web of police corruption is uncovered. Regaining consciousness at the hospital, Goodfellow might be in danger if he is able to identify the shooter.
''First guest appearance of [[Tom Chambers (actor)|Tom Chambers]] as Inspector Sullivan''.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 77
| EpisodeNumber2 = 7
| Title = The House of God
| DirectedBy = Paul Gibson
| WrittenBy = Dan Muirden
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|1|15|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Patrick O'Leary, a stalwart of St Mary’s, finds his romantic overtures to Mrs. McCarthy turn sour when his sacked gardener Angelica Evans dies of cyanide poisoning in front of the congregation. Father Brown uncovers the secret of O’Leary’s house of God where three women, his gardener, his widowed niece, his housekeeper and her son lived together. Mrs McCarthy provides Father Brown with the clues to solve the murder while Inspector Mallory pursues the wrong suspect.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 78
| EpisodeNumber2 = 8
| Title = The Blood of the Anarchists
| DirectedBy = Dominic Keavey
| WrittenBy = Lol Fletcher
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|1|16|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Lionel, the writer/actor for a performing troupe of travelling anarchists is found dead, an apparent suicide, in a locked farm outbuilding. The troupe had been invited to perform by farmer’s wife Sally Clegg, who knew Titan Stark, the troupe leader, when she was much younger. Titan is found dead, leaving the two other members of the troupe in fear for their lives. Titan’s daughter Magdelana seeks comfort from married actor Angus Boyle, who rejects her. Inspector Mallory arrests Sally’s husband and Father Brown uncovers the desires within the troupe and the love between husbands and wives.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 79
| EpisodeNumber2 = 9
| Title = The Skylark Scandal
| DirectedBy = Christiana Ebohon-Green
| WrittenBy = Rachel Smith
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|1|17|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Lord Hollingworth is murdered at the Skylark Youth Hostel where Father Brown, Mrs. McCarthy, Bunty, Inspector Mallory, and Sergeant Goodfellow are all staying on an outing with the Kembleford Ramblers and Twitchers. Ill feeling between Hollingworth and the ramblers and owners of the hostel was apparent; his sponsorship of the hostel and nearby girls convent ended 15 years previously and his daughter, Hetty, an old schoolfriend of Bunty’s has been covering up blackmail letters her father had been receiving.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 80
| EpisodeNumber2 = 10
| Title = The Honourable Thief
| DirectedBy = Paul Gibson
| WrittenBy = Kit Lambert
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|1|18|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Lady Felicia returns to Kembleford to sell their valuables after her husband, Monty, loses a fortune in a diamond mine. Nicholai Solevey who had offered to buy her necklace steals it and places it in an impregnable safe in his hotel room. Father Brown asks Flambeau for help who agrees because Solevey had betrayed him previously. Flambeau hatches a plan using Bunty, Mrs McCarthy, and Lady Felicia as distractions while he attempts to break into the safe. Father Brown finds his trust in Flambeau could be misplaced when he steals the entire contents of the safe and disappears and returns to Paris.
''Fourth guest appearance of [[Nancy Carroll (British actress)|Nancy Carroll]] as Lady Felicia.'' ''Seventh appearance of [[John Light (actor)|John Light]] as Hercule Flambeau.''
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}}
}}

===Series 8 (2020)===
{{Episode table |background=#7190FF |overall=5 |series=5 |title=32 |director=18 |writer=22 |airdate=18 |episodes=
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 81
| EpisodeNumber2 = 1
| Title = The Celestial Choir
| DirectedBy = Paul Gibson
| WrittenBy = Kit Lambert
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|1|6|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = The Kembleford Choristers, this year run by Mrs. McCarthy, reach the final of the Three Counties Choir Competition 1953 at Worcester Cathedral. Mrs. McCarthy arranges a coach to take the choristers that include Sergeant Goodfellow and Lady Felicia, together with Inspector Mallory, whose daughter is singing in a junior competition, and Father Brown. Events conspire to prevent them reaching Worcester in time. Both Mallory and Father Brown suspect sabotage by one of the choristers and Mrs. McCarthy suspects a rival choir. A dark secret from the past proves them right.
''Fifth guest appearance of [[Nancy Carroll (British actress)|Nancy Carroll]] as Lady Felicia''.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 82
| EpisodeNumber2 = 2
| Title = The Queen Bee
| DirectedBy = Dominic Keavey
| WrittenBy = David Semple
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|1|7|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Bee Keeper Beatie May, a flamboyant outgoing over-protective mother of her adopted son Shambu, is found dead in a smoke-filled room. Mallory arrests her son because of recent accidents involving his mother. May had recently changed her will leaving a diamond hidden on her property with a coded anagram that her son could decipher. Father Brown suspects Miss Slither, her neighbour of sixty years; a missing cake and a photograph of a soldier killed in the first world war who was May's gardener provide the answer.
| LineColor = 7190FF
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 83
| EpisodeNumber2 = 3
| Title = The Scales of Justice
| RTitle =
| DirectedBy = Darcia Martin
| WrittenBy = Dominique Moloney
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|1|8|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Inspector Mallory arrests Bunty for the murder of wealthy socialite Teddy Neville-Crowley at a party the previous day. Blood on her dress and her admitting she hit him with a branch while rejecting his advances sends her to trial where her dubious morals are laid bare. Father Brown and Sergeant Goodfellow, looking to clear Bunty, discover Teddy was being blackmailed, a secret baby whose mother killed herself, and a sister-in-law who hated him. Father Brown gains access to Teddy's blood soaked clothes and discovers an anomaly of blood on his socks. With Goodfellow and Mallory, they search amongst grass cuttings for a broken fingernail.
|LineColor = 7190FF
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 84
| EpisodeNumber2 = 4
| Title = The Wisdom of the Fool
| RTitle =
| DirectedBy = Paul Gibson
| WrittenBy = Lol Fletcher
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|1|9|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = A "Convention of Merriment" fair of jesters, led by an ex-Chief Inspector, is in Kembleford, home of Uncle Mirth. When a discredited doctor stumbles into the fair and dies, Father Brown, Mrs. McCarthy, and Bunty find themselves amongst a group of vigilantes righting wrongs throughout the country. The group, fearing exposure, condemn the three to be executed. The execution is to be carried out by Bunty's friend, whose brother had been murdered.
| LineColor = 7190FF
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 85
| EpisodeNumber2 = 5
| Title = The Folly of Jephthah
| RTitle =
| DirectedBy = Darcia Martin
| WrittenBy = Kit Lambert
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|1|10|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Flambeau seeks Father Brown's help to catch a thief, Alexander Romanici, who is actually Flambeau's daughter Marianne Delacroix. She has been stealing items ahead of her father, including from an Italian crime lord, Vincenzo Murgida ([[Vincenzo Nicoli]]), who will kill to recover his property. Father Brown is asked to act as referee and organise a contest between the pair, with the loser having to give up criminal ways. Father Brown devises a contest to recover five chess pieces; the person with the most pieces wins. Neither Flambeau nor Father Brown realise Marianne has made a deal with Murgida; a deal he does not intend to honour.
''Eighth appearance of [[John Light (actor)|John Light]] as Hercule Flambeau.''
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 86
| EpisodeNumber2 = 6
| Title = The Numbers of the Beast
| RTitle =
| DirectedBy = Paul Gibson
| WrittenBy = Dan Muirden
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|1|13|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Mrs. McCarthy's sister, Roisin, turns up in Kembleford owing money to loan sharks. She takes Mrs. McCarthy to her newfound friend, a fortune teller and lifter of curses. Reading Mrs. McCarthy's tea leaves, he predicts the winning numbers in a charity bingo game worth £750 -- a game Mrs. McCarthy wins. She gives half the money to the bingo organiser raising money to pay for the restoration of a church roof. Also at the game are Anna Bailey and her husband Peter, who suffers from schizophrenia. When Anna -- who had told Father Brown she's discovered a fraud -- is found dead and her husband found with the murder weapon, Mallory arrests him. Father Brown looks for the connection between the fortune teller, the bingo organiser, Alison, Peter, and Mrs. McCarthy's win.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 87
| EpisodeNumber2 = 7
| Title = The River Corrupted
| RTitle =
| DirectedBy = Jennie Paddon
| WrittenBy = Kit Lambert
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|1|14|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Sid returns to Kembleford aboard a canal boat with his new girlfriend Maeve and her father, Pat Lochlin. Lochlin has an argument in a pub with local factory owner, Roger Barford, who is later found dead, bludgeoned with one of Lochlin's fishing tools, a [[Priest (tool)|Priest]], and with a jeweler's receipt for a gold necklace stuffed into his mouth. Barford had asked Lochlin to collect a valuable necklace from a jeweler, but Lochlin replaced it with a cheap imitation. Father Brown discovers Barford got the barmaid her job at the pub after she was dismissed from his factory because she was pregnant. The original necklace is found in the possession of Maeve, who found it on the ground near her father's boat. Father Brown discovers that Barford truly loved his childless wife, though she suspected her husband of infidelity.
''Fourth guest appearance of [[Alex Price]] as Sid Carter.''
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 88
| EpisodeNumber2 = 8
| Title = The Curse of the Aesthetic
| RTitle =
| DirectedBy = Paul Gibson
| WrittenBy = Lol Fletcher
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|1|15|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = An artist's model, Isabella, appears to commit suicide, though no body is found. Father Brown, Bunty, and Mrs. McCarthy are drawn into artist Benjamin Milton's obsessive and hallucinatory thoughts of Isabella and his overprotective nanny. When the nanny is murdered, Benjamin expects to die. An equally obsessed art critic wants to buy all his artworks of Isabella and is nearly electrocuted. Father Brown discovers finger scratch marks on the inside of a locked store cupboard door in the artist's studio. He also discovers a book of Jacobean plays that the artist loved, which included the play [[A Chaste Maid in Cheapside]]; in her suicide note, Isabella referred to herself as a Chaste Maid.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 89
| EpisodeNumber2 = 9
| Title = The Fall of the House of St Gardner
| RTitle =
| DirectedBy = Jennie Paddon
| WrittenBy = Rachel Smith
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|1|16|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Bunty helps her latest boyfriend, Harvey St Gardner, and his sister, fashion designer Lady Vivien St Gardner-Verde, hold a fashion show in Kembleford, housing the entourage at Montague Hall. They are followed by gossip columnist Barbara Farrell, who has Bunty, Harvey, Vivien, her husband Sir Ralph, and top model Camille in her sights for past and present misdemeanours, since Harvey had her sacked for printing gossip about Bunty. When Farrell is murdered, Father Brown uncovers secrets of opium use, gambling debts, assault, and the cryptic message of deadheading the roses leading to a back street abortionist in London's East End. Mallory pursues Bunty's boyfriend, testing her loyalties.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 90
| EpisodeNumber2 = 10
| Title = The Tower of Lost Souls
| RTitle =
| DirectedBy = Dominic Keavey
| WrittenBy = Tahsin Guner
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|1|17|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Reginald Brody is found dead at the bottom of a tower owned by Alistair Hemsley MP, an apparent suicide by jumping from the sealed roof. Chief Inspector Valentine returns and believes that a red scarf Brody was wearing is related to an eight-year-old murder in which Valentine arrested Brody's son, who was convicted and recently hanged himself in prison. The next day Valentine and Hemsley's brother William, who had purchased a red scarf the morning before Brody's body was found, go back to the top of the tower. William tells Valentine his family members are "evil" right before someone strikes Valentine over the head, knocking him out. When he regains consciousness, William is lying dead, a bloody knife is in Valentine's hand, and Inspector Mallory and Sgt Goodfellow break through the door, which had been wedged shut. Chief Inspector Sullivan returns to investigate Valentine's arrest, to the annoyance of Mallory, who had already been moved aside by Valentine. Father Brown with Bunty and Mrs. McCarthy have to solve three murders. They discover a secret room in the house left as a shrine to Hemsley's late father.
''First guest appearance of [[Hugo Speer]] as Inspector Valentine.'' ''Second guest appearance of [[Tom Chambers (actor)|Tom Chambers]] as Inspector Sullivan.'' ''Final regular appearance of [[Emer Kenny]] as Bunty Windermere.''
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}}
}}

===Series 9 (2022)===
{{Episode table |background=#B11035 |overall=5 |series=5 |title=32 |director=18 |writer=22 |airdate=18 |episodes=
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 91
| EpisodeNumber2 = 1
| Title = The Menace of Mephistopheles
| DirectedBy = Isher Sahota
| WrittenBy = Dominique Moloney
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|1|3|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Phillip Darlington is stabbed to death and Inspector Mallory arrests his son Lawrence after finding a knife in his bedroom; a knife Sergeant Goodfellow saw Mallory plant. Goodfellow after confronting Mallory seeks Father Brown's help who with Sid Carter discover Mallory's wife and children are missing complicating matters. Darlington's daughter, Arabella, also returns home from Oxford having just married that weekend. Brother and sister claim they slept all night; the brother in the house and the sister with her new husband in Oxford. A stolen car and a man, known to Sid's prison contacts, Mallory wronged ten years ago has returned for retribution.

''[[Alex Price]] as Sid Carter returns to the series.''
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 92
| EpisodeNumber2 = 2
| Title = The Viper's Tongue
| DirectedBy = Steve M Kelly
| WrittenBy = Kit Lambert
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|1|4|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Walter Penmark is found burnt to death in a locked room after receiving a warning, in latin, IGNIS meaning fire. Peggy Langdon is also murdered by a block of ice after receiving a warning, GRANDO meaning Hail. Mrs McCarthy receives a warning, FAMES meaning starvation. Father Brown and Sid investigate to save Mrs McCarthy's life, that Walter Penmark's wife had committed suicide and had been the subject of domestic violence, gossip, and advice from Mrs McCarthy to give up her lover, a local fireman. Her sister, Ruby Nellins, had returned from America for her funeral and stayed on in Kembleford to run a business. A businessman entrepreneur was trying to buy along with Peggy Langdon's home properties owned by Walter Penmark.

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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 93
| EpisodeNumber2 = 3
| Title = The Requiem for the Dead
| DirectedBy = John Maidens
| WrittenBy = Michelle Lipton
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|1|5|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Ned Hannigan, a notorious child killer, is found dead in the woods after serving 14 years for confessing to the murder of his childhood girlfriend 14 year old Maggie Banks who was besotted with him. Inspector Mallory arrests Maggie's mother after finding fingerprint evidence. Maggie's father, John, had already attacked Hannigan and her brother, Daniel, had visited him, both now adults, just before his release from prison. Hannigan had never revealed where the body was. Father Brown wonders why Hannigan returned to Kembleford and who he was meeting and his only clue in his prison bag was a wooden symbol of the star system Gemini.

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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 94
| EpisodeNumber2 = 4
| Title = The Children of Kalon
| DirectedBy = Jo Hallows
| WrittenBy = Tahsin Guner
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|1|6|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Gerald Firth (Kalon - see Series 1, Episode 5) beseeches Father Brown to speak on his behalf at his parole hearing. Father Brown secures his release but is shocked when Gerald returns to rejoin The Church of Apollo now run by his disciple Tobias. Tobias' partner, Thelma, is unhappy to have Kalon back as she remembers Kalon's past actions with the girls of the church and she has a daughter, Clara. When Thelma is found dead in Kalon's locked room Inspector Mallory arrests Firth. Father Brown believes Firth is innocent even though Clara had written to him in prison, and delves into the various relationships at the church - but to solve the crime, he has to fish in murky waters...
''[[Michael Maloney]] reprises his role of Kalon from series 1 episode 5''.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 95
| EpisodeNumber2 = 5
| Title = The Final Devotion
| DirectedBy = Steve M Kelly
| WrittenBy = Kit Lambert
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|1|7|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Cardinal Ratcliffe tasks Father Brown to find a priceless [[Papal tiara]] hidden in a 15th-century castle. Father Brown takes Lady Felicia, visiting after a row with her husband, to pose as a prospective bride looking for a wedding venue, and Mrs McCarthy – reluctantly – as the bride's mother. Flambeau appears at the castle, having announced himself to the castle owner, Lady Cecily, as the groom wanting to surprise his fiancée. Flambeau declares his love for Lady Felicia, and that he is a reformed man. Circumstances dictate that Father Brown and Flambeau work together to find the tiara when a criminal partner whom Flambeau wronged in the past turns up.
''Sid Carter is absent.'' ''Sixth guest appearance of [[Nancy Carroll (British actress)|Nancy Carroll]] as Lady Felicia.'' ''Ninth guest appearance of [[John Light (actor)|John Light]] as Hercule Flambeau.''
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 96
| EpisodeNumber2 = 6
| Title = The New Order
| DirectedBy = Jo Hallows
| WrittenBy = Neil Irvine
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|1|10|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Lord Arthur Hawthorne and his wife return to Kembleford when he retires from editorship of his newspaper and holds a garden party to announce his son Gabe would takeover as editor. At the garden party Hawthorne is threatened by Stanley Buchanan, a homosexual exposed in Hawthorne's newspaper, then a rifle shot wounds Hawthorne. Hawthorne had expected Father Brown to give him his personal attention, and when he refuses, finds himself accused of breaking the seal of the confessional and is suspended from his parish; his place taken by Father Featherstone, Hawthorne's London priest. Inspector Mallory arrests Buchanan, although Hawthorne suspects his wife or son. A second attempt on Hawthorne's life leads to Buchanan's release. Father Brown investigates with Mrs McCarthy's help, and uncovers Hawthorne's philandering, his wife's unhappiness, his son's unwillingness to take over editorship, and Father Featherstone's thwarted ambitions.
''Sid Carter is absent.''
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 97
| EpisodeNumber2 = 7
| Title = The Island of Dreams
| DirectedBy = Ruth Carney
| WrittenBy = David Semple
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|1|11|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Father Brown, Sergeant Goodfellow, Inspector Mallory and his family receive an invite for the 20th anniversary of Chummy's holiday camp. During the visit, owner Marjorie Chummy is strangled with an apron belonging to Mavis Jug, maid and general [[dogsbody]] at the camp. Inspector Mallory arrests her while Father Brown and Sergeant Goodfellow look at the other staff, Jock McCudgeon, Griff Grimshaw, and Sandy Beauchamp, at the camp who Mrs Chummy kept under a tight rein. Father Brown discovers that a child, Billy Fairfield, had died in the past in the camp swimming pool that Mavis Jug, then an [[Butlins Redcoats|"Orangecoat"]], and Mrs Chummy should have been supervising.
''Mrs McCarthy and Sid Carter are absent.''
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 98
| EpisodeNumber2 = 8
| Title = The Wayward Girls
| DirectedBy = Ruth Carney
| WrittenBy = Dominique Moloney
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|1|12|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Bunty, facing a speeding fine issued by Sergeant Goodfellow, agrees to give a talk at Langley Hall, a [[Borstal]] (British Juvenile Hall) for girls of ages 16-23 years. Bunty's compact mirror is stolen, and found in the possession of one of the girls, Brenda Palmer, who is placed in solitary confinement. Governor Cecilia Watson of the Borstal is found murdered, and Brenda is on the run after hiding in Bunty's car. Father Brown and Bunty return to the Borstal to help Sergeant Goodfellow's investigation; Inspector Mallory is on annual leave. They have to unravel the lies and ill feeling between two girls, Kate Goodall (who has a secret boyfriend) and Brenda, and tensions among the uniformed staff, as the governor's deputy, liberal-leaning Emily Harris takes charge over long-serving Helen Delaney who is as hardline as the murdered governor. Father Brown uncovers exploitation of recently released girls such as the recalled Brenda and the newly released Kate.
'' Mrs McCarthy, Inspector Mallory and Sid Carter are absent. First guest appearance of [[Emer Kenny]] as Bunty Windermere. First appearance of Ruby Ray-Martinwood as Brenda Palmer.''
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 99
| EpisodeNumber2 = 9
| Title = The Enigma of Antigonish
| DirectedBy = Isher Sahota
| WrittenBy = Lol Fletcher
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|1|13|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Ex-employee Finbar Finch served time in jail after a brutal attack on spa owner Elsie Peters during a robbery at the spa. The long term effects of the attack has left Peters with seizures. After his release, Finch returns to the area, vowing to Father Brown that he has a new life since experiencing a religious epiphany during his incarceration. Elsie, her husband Captain Peters, and her sister Lola are rattled by his return and tensions run high at an open event being run that day. Shortly afterward, Finbar Finch is found dead with a gunshot wound to his face; the shotgun used was taken from the spa, and a brooch found at the shooting leads to Inspector Mallory arresting Lola. Father Brown finds a clue in a poem Finch had read, ''[[Antigonish (poem)|Antigonish]]''

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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 100
| EpisodeNumber2 = 10
| Title = The Red Death
| DirectedBy = John Maidens
| WrittenBy = Kit Lambert
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|1|14|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Sir Charles Hakeworth is garrotted at a New Year's Eve masked ball held at Montague Hall by Lord "Monty" and Lady Felicia Montague. A death threat, stating that the Red Death was coming, had already led to Inspector Mallory closing the estate, trapping the killer. Father Brown with the aid of Mrs McCarthy, Sid, and Bunty look to discover the killer from four people who knew Hakeworth would be present: his wife; his doctor; Bunty's friend Ruth Moulton; and Robert, Earl of Finchmore whose father committed suicide after Hakeworth's adulterous affair with Robert's mother. Father Brown sees a figure in a red mask escaping after stabbing Moulton. Lady Felicia, unhappy with her marriage, has a decision to make when a one-way airline ticket to New York arrives from Flambeau.
''Seventh guest appearance of [[Nancy Carroll (British actress)|Nancy Carroll]] as Lady Felicia.'' ''Tenth guest appearance of [[John Light (actor)|John Light]] as Hercule Flambeau.'' ''Second guest appearance of [[Emer Kenny]] as Bunty Windermere''. ''Last Appearance of [[Sorcha Cusack]] as Mrs Mccarthy.''
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}}
}}

===Series 10 (2023)===
All episodes for this series became available on the [[BBC iPlayer]] from the 6 January 2023
{{Episode table |background=#A90F71 |overall=5 |series=5 |title=32 |titleR = <ref name="Series!EpisodeGuide" /> |director=18 |writer=22 |airdate=18 |episodes=

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 101
| EpisodeNumber2 = 1
| Title = The Winds of Change
| DirectedBy = John Maidens
| WrittenBy = Dan Muirden
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|01|06|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = The newly opened Kembleford Model Village features two inch figurines of village characters such as Father Brown, Sergeant Goodfellow, Mrs McCarthy who has returned to Ireland and Bunty on safari in Africa. A proposed housing development by Harry Grover, is causing tensions in the village before a crucial parish council vote on the proposal. When two of the council members, Joe Telford and Jennifer Mossop, opposed to the development are murdered Father Brown noticed their figurines had been moved to where they had been killed before their respective murders. Inspector Sullivan, temporary replacement for Inspector Mallory who has transferred to Scotland, arrests Grover found with Mossop, murder weapon in hand. Father Brown is aided by Mrs Devine hoping to become the next housekeeper; a position Father Brown has given to Mrs Burns. When Father Brown and Devine find his figurine is missing she is given the task of finding it while Father Brown looks for one of many suspects. Good news for Mrs Devine and bad news for Inspector Sullivan follow the apprehension of the murderer.
''First Appearance of [[Claudie Blakley]] as Mrs Devine. Return of [[Tom Chambers (actor)|Tom Chambers]] as Inspector Sullivan as a series regular''

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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 102
| EpisodeNumber2 = 2
| Title = The Company of Men
| DirectedBy = Paul Riordan
| WrittenBy = Dominique Moloney
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|01|13|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Brenda Palmer, whom Father Brown met at a [[Borstal]] for girls, arrives at his door asking for help after being accused of theft by the owner, Jasper Granford, of a Gentlemens club she worked at. Lady Felicia and Mrs Devine decide to accompany both to the club. Father Brown quickly discovers the real culprit; the owner's son Bertie. Lady Felecia is annoyed when Granford orders her and Mrs Devine out of the club. When Granford is murdered and his safe robbed Inspector Sullivan arrests Bertie who is desperate for money for a past indiscretion. A club member, Colonel Partridge, has disappeared leaving his jacket at the murder scene, the club manager was bankrupted by Granford, and Granford's wife was abused by her husband. Father Brown with Mrs Devine's help uncovers Granford's shady business dealings making money by bankrupting businesses. Brenda is befriended by night cleaner Moira, who worked in a theatre Granford bankrupted, teaching her to juggle. The jacket left at the scene provides a clue with its odour of candlewax and turpentine. Brenda is taken on by Father Brown as housekeeper.
''First series regular appearance of Ruby-May Martinwood as Brenda Palmer.'' ''Eighth guest appearance of [[Nancy Carroll (British actress)|Nancy Carroll]] as Lady Felicia.''
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 103
| EpisodeNumber2 = 3
| Title = The Gardeners of Eden
| DirectedBy = Michael Lacey
| WrittenBy = David Semple
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|01|20|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Celebrity florist Octavia Eden, diagnosed with a terminal illness, returns to live in Kembleford where she was born. Living at the manor with her daughter, Lizzy Eden, and niece, Noele Scharma, she gives them a series of tasks to determine who will inherit her estate. At one of the events previous owner of the manor, John Mulch, dies of aconite poisoning. Mulch was an embittered man and Sullivan arrests his wife who had aconite growing in her back garden. Father Brown believing her to be innocent probes into the reason Octavia Eden had left Kembleford heartbroken 45 years previously, inadvertently getting Brenda Palmer arrested for breaking and entering. The daughter and niece call a truce and complete the last task together to the delight of the dying Octavia Eden knowing they had more in common than she had told them.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 104
| EpisodeNumber2 = 4
| Title = The Beast of Wedlock
| DirectedBy = John Maidens
| WrittenBy = Lol Fletcher
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|01|27|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = The vicar of the village of Wedlock, Rev'd Duncan, asks for Father Brown's help to find Gabriel Wadey, the missing son of his churchwarden Sam Wadey. Believed to have been attacked by a phantom big cat that had already attacked Sylvia Garcia who's ex husband, Professor Garcia, was making money from writing about the cat. Father Brown recognises Sam Wadey who had saved his life when they were both soldiers in [[World War 1|The Great War]]. When the Rev'd Duncan is found dead seemingly attacked by the cat, Inspector Sullivan arrests Sam Wadey but he is soon released following Father Brown's discovery that Professor Garcia had been with-holding information about Gabriel Wadey's affair with his ex-wife who was upset when Gabriel broke off the affair to move to London to earn a living as a [[Gigolo]]. The Rev'd Duncan's hobby as a zoologist gives Father Brown a clue to the whereabouts of Gabriel and the death of the vicar.
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 105
| EpisodeNumber2 = 5
| Title = The Hidden Man
| DirectedBy = Michael Lacey
| WrittenBy = Tahsin Guner
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|02|3|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Flambeau believes he is being framed for a theft and murder across Europe when valuables he stole 25 years earlier are being re-stolen and his handkerchief calling card is left at the scene. He asks for Father Brown's help as the last item he stole, a gold bracelet, is up for sale at a nearby auction house. Inspector Sullivan in pursuit of Flambeau receives an anonymous tip and arrives at the auction house as a security guard is murdered and the bracelet stolen. Flambeau is captured claiming the auctioneer killed the security guard, but Sullivan is swayed by the evidence and arrests Flambeau, which maybe his ticket back to Scotland Yard, despite Father Brown finding evidence to support Flambeau's claim. As Flambeau is led away he secretly gives Father Brown the bracelet. Father Brown investigates the background of the bracelet and its theft 25 years ago and the suicide of a businessman. Father Brown is kidnapped by the killer and his accomplice. Flambeau escapes from Sullivan to find Father Brown and the bracelet aided by Mrs Brown and Brenda.
''Eleventh guest appearance of [[John Light (actor)|John Light]] as Hercule Flambeau.''
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{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 106
| EpisodeNumber2 = 6
| Title = The Royal Visit
| DirectedBy = Paul Riordan
| WrittenBy = Mark Brotherhood
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|02|10|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Plans for a royal visit by Princess Margaret to open a new school library in Kembleford are thrown into disarray when the library is vandalised and caretaker Reginald Harrison is murdered. Harrison, a pickpocket who had been in prison, carried a locket with a schoolgirl photo of the current headmistress Amanda Clement. Harrison also owed money to Mayor Wood; and Royal protection officer Inspector Beckett and Royal aide to Princess Margaret, Elizabeth Barnes were also present. Inspector Sullivan arrests Clement who's fingerprints were on the murder weapon. Father Brown is more interested in a gold lighter that Barnes had which actually belonged to Princess Margaret and pickpocketed from Barnes and recovered by Inspector Beckett who knew of Harrison's past. An old newspaper of Harrison's, now missing, also interests Father Brown but that relies on Inspector Sullivan remembering a football match played in 1937.
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{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 107
| EpisodeNumber2 = 7
| Title = The Show Must Go On
| DirectedBy = Miranda Howard-Williams
| WrittenBy = Sarah-Louise Hawkins
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|02|17|df=y}}
| ShortSummary =
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 108
| EpisodeNumber2 = 8
| Title = The Sands of Time
| DirectedBy = Dominic Keavey
| WrittenBy = Neil Irvine
| OriginalAirDate =
| ShortSummary =
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 109
| EpisodeNumber2 = 9
| Title = The Wheels of Wrath
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy =
| OriginalAirDate =
| ShortSummary =
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}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 110
| EpisodeNumber2 = 10
| Title = The Serpent Within
| DirectedBy =
| WrittenBy =
| OriginalAirDate =
| ShortSummary =
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}}
}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em|refs=


<ref name="Series!EpisodeGuide">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03pmw4m/episodes/guide|title=Father Brown – Episode guide |website=BBC One|access-date=19 December 2022 |at=Choose appropriate episode}}</ref>
}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03pmw4m ''Father Brown''] BBC programme homepage
* {{IMDb episodes|id=2215842|episodes=Father Brown}}

{{G. K. Chesterton}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Father Brown episodes, List of}}
[[Category:Lists of British crime drama television series episodes]]

Stuart Laing (actor)

2022-05-16T10:33:41Z

Vodkamad: /* Filmography */

{{short description|British actor}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{BLP sources|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Stuart Laing
| image =
| caption =
| birth_place = London
| occupation = Actor
| yearsactive = 1993–present
| television =
}}

'''Stuart Laing''' is a British actor.

==Career==

=== TV and Film ===
Laing started his TV career with roles in [[Casualty (TV series)]], [[The Bill]] and [[Minder (TV series)]] in 1993. In 1994, Laing played a lead role in the two part [[BBC]] drama, Blood and Peaches. That same year, he appeared in his first feature film, 3 Steps to Heaven for [[Channel 4]]. Additionally, in 1995 Laing played the role of [[Lena Headey]]'s Italian boyfriend in Devil's Advocate.

In 1995, Laing played one of the leads in the TV drama ''Strike Force'', a show about RAF tornado pilots.

In 1996, Laing played the part of another pilot in the [[World War II]] feature ''[[Gaston's War]]'', opposite [[Olivia Williams]] playing the character Harry.

Other notable TV roles in the late 1990s include two 10-part series: ''[[Berkeley Square (TV series)|Berkeley Square]]'' as the character Jack Wickham and the [[BBC]] drama, ''[[In a Land of Plenty]]'', as the character Robert.

Laing also appeared in the late 1990s in two [[Simon Rumley]] feature films, ''Strong Language'' and ''The Truth Game''. In 2001, Laing played one of the leads in the film ''[[South West 9]]''. In 2002, he played the role of David in the film ''The Lawless Heart'' and the lead role in the 2002 film ''[[Butterfly Man]]''. In 2003, Laing played Jack Hewitt in the four part [[BBC]] series ''[[Cambridge Spies]]''.

TV roles followed in 2003–2005, playing an assassin in ''[[Spooks (TV series)|Spooks]]'', a semi regular in ''[[Holby City]]'', and the [[BBC]] series ''[[Burn It]]''. Laing also played a guest role in the [[Ray Winstone]] drama ''[[Vincent (TV series)|Vincent]]'', ''[[Poirot (TV series)|Poirot]]'', the TV drama ''Every Time you Look at Me'', Francis Tuesday and [[Keeley Hawes]]'s boyfriend in the date rape drama ''Sex & Lies''.

Also in 2005, Laing appeared in ''[[The Inspector Lynley Mysteries]]'' and played the lead role in the [[Channel 4]] drama ''The Animator''. Laing played the guest lead in a one hour live episode of ''[[The Bill]]'', playing a war veteran who takes hostages.

In 2006, Laing became a regular on [[BBC]]'s ''[[EastEnders]]'',<ref>{{cite news|work=BBC|title=Rob Minter Character Page|url =https://www.bbc.co.uk/eastenders/characters_cast/characters/character_rob_m.shtml|accessdate=6 June 2009}}</ref> playing over 86 episodes as Rob Minter, caught in a love triangle between May and Dawn.

Other TV roles have included ''[[Trial & Retribution]]'', ''[[Silent Witness]]'', ''[[How TV Ruined Your Life]]'', ''[[Emmerdale]]'' and in 2019, Laing played a traumatised father who kills his stepson in the [[ITV Studios]] drama ''[[Vera (TV series)|Vera]]''.

=== Theatre ===
In 1993, Laing made his professional theatre debut in [[Joe Orton]]'s ''[[Loot (play)|Loot]]'' at the [[Thorndike Theatre]]. This was followed by the play ''Salt Lake Psycho'' and ''Bad Company'' at the [[Bush Theatre]]. Laing then appeared in two plays at the [[Leicester Haymarket Theatre]], ''Over Hear'' and ''Kiss of the Spiderwoman'', playing the role of Molina.

In 1998, Laing performed six short plays at the [[Soho Theatre]] called ''Food for Thought''. This was the first of several plays at the Soho Theatre, the most recent being ''Hundreds and Thousands'' in 2011.

In 1999, he played opposite [[Andrew Lincoln]] in ''Hushabye Mountain'' at [[Hampstead Theatre]]. Other theatre roles followed in ''Indian Country'' at [[Chapter Arts Centre]], ''[[Streetcar Named Desire]]'' at [[Theatr Clwyd]], ''Seasons Greetings'' at [[Liverpool Playhouse]] and another [[Alan Ayckbourn]] play ''[[Drowning on Dry Land (play)|Drowning on Dry Land]]'' at [[Salisbury Playhouse]].

In the [[West End of London]], in 2008 Laing performed in the three hander [[Blowing Whistles]] at [[Leicester Square Theatre]],<ref>{{Citation
|title = Blowing Whistles, Production Page
|url = http://www.blowingwhistles.co.uk/theshow.html
|access-date = 8 June 2009
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090105225239/http://www.blowingwhistles.co.uk/theshow.html
|archive-date = 5 January 2009
|df = dmy-all
}}</ref> followed by the premier of a [[Neil LaBute]] trilogy of plays that went on tour in the [[UK]].

In 2014, Laing played the title role in [[Macbeth]] at the [[Mercury Theatre, Colchester]].

In 2015, on tour in the [[UK]], Laing played the role of Ed Boone in the [[Royal National Theatre]]'s [[Laurence Olivier Awards|Olivier]] and [[Tony Award]] winning production of [[The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (play)]]. Laing played the role again for five months at the [[Piccadilly Theatre]] in 2019, after having also performed the play in [[China]] and [[Australia]].

Additionally in 2019, Laing performed in another production of [[Macbeth]] at [[Chichester Festival Theatre]], this time playing Banquo to [[John Simm]]'s Macbeth.

== Filmography ==

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Film
|1994
|3 Steps to Heaven
|Sean
|
|-
|1997
|[[Gaston's War]]
|Harry
|
|-
|1998
|Inbetween
|Job
|Short
|-
|2000
|Strong Language
|Mark
|
|-
|2001
|The Truth Game
|Eddie
|
|-
|2001
|[[South West 9]]
|Jake
|
|-
|2001
|The Lawless Heart
|David
|
|-
|2002
|[[Butterfly Man]]
|Adam
|
|-
|2003
|Stag
|Luke
|Short
|-
|2005
|[[The Great Ecstasy of Robert Carmichael]]
|Stuart Reeves
|
|-
|2005
|Compartment
|
|Short
|-
|2005
|Lie Stil
|John Hare
|
|-
|2008
|Albert's Speech
|Simon
|Short
|-
|2010
|Big Mouth
|Dad
|Short
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Television
!Year
!Title
!Role
!Notes
|-
|1994
|[[Minder (TV series)]]
|Parker
|
|-
|1994
|Blood and Peaches
|Steve
|2 part drama
|-
|1995
|Devil's Advocate
|Vincent
|2 part drama
|-
|1995
|[[Casualty (TV series)]]
|Johnny Morrissey
|
|-
|1996
|In Your Dreams
|Ben
|2 part drama
|-
|1996
|[[Kavanagh QC]]
|Mark Holland
|
|-
|1996
|[[Heartbeat (British TV series)]]
|Jack Abbott
|
|-
|1997
|[[The Bill]]
|James Rowleigh
|Series 15, Episode 140
|-
|1998
|[[Berkeley Square (TV series)]]
|Jack
|5 episodes
|-
|2001
|[[Bob Martin (TV series)]]
|Alex
|
|-
|2001
|[[In a Land of Plenty]]
|Robert
|5 episodes
|-
|2002
|[[Cambridge Spies]]
|Jack Hewitt
|4 episodes
|-
|2003
|Murphy's Law
|Pete
|
|-
|2003
|Burn It
|Mike
|5 Episodes
|-
|2003
|Poirot: Sad Cypress
|Ted Horlick
|
|-
|2004
|Every Time you Look at Me
|Steve
|
|-
|2004
|Sex & Lies
|Alex
|
|-
|2004
|Francis Tuesday
|Sean
|
|-
|2004
|[[Spooks (TV series)]]
|Johnny
|
|-
|2004
|[[Holby City]]
|Simon Parker
|Semi regular
|-
|2005
|[[The Inspector Lynley Mysteries]]
|Daniel Gill
|
|-
|2005
|The Animator
|Mondo
|
|-
|2005
|[[The Bill]]
|Jeff Clarke
|2 part & 1 hour live episode
|-
|2005
|[[Vincent (TV series)]]
|Donnie
|
|-
|2005
|[[Wire in the Blood]]
|DS Harry Winter
|
|-
|2006
|[[EastEnders]]
|Rob Minter
|86 episodes
|-
|2008
|[[Trial & Retribution]]
|Jamie Johnson
|
|-
|2008
|[[The Bill]]
|Rory Walsh
|
|-
|2011
|[[How TV Ruined Your Life]]
|Daniel Batarat-Parat
|
|-
|2012
|[[Doctors (2000 TV series)]]
|Alex Redmond<ref name="harrison">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s16/doctors/news/a402542/doctors-lines-up-red-button-specials-for-harrison-return.html|title='Doctors' lines up Red Button specials for Harrison return|date=29 August 2012|work=[[Digital Spy]]|publisher=[[Hearst Magazines UK]]|first=Daniel|last=Kilkelly|accessdate=30 August 2012}}</ref>
|
|-
|2014
|[[Father Brown (2013 TV series)]]
|Charlie Denham
|
|-
|2015
|[[Silent Witness]]
|Martin Cross
|
|-
|2016
|[[Casualty (TV series)]]
|Gary
|
|-
|2020
|[[Vera (TV series)]]
|Rob Baylis
|
|-
|2020
|[[Emmerdale]]
|George
|
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Theatre
|[[Loot (play)]]
|Dennis
|[[Thorndike Theatre]]
|-
|Salt Lake Psycho
|Gary O
|The Man in the Moon Theatre
|-
|Bad Company
|Ian Smith
|[[Bush Theatre]]
|-
|Over Hear
|Mike
|[[Leicester Haymarket Theatre]] & UK Tour
|-
|Kiss of the Spiderwoman
|Molina
|[[Leicester Haymarket Theatre]]
|-
|Food for Thought
|Various
|[[Soho Theatre]]
|-
|Hushabye Mountain
|Conor
|[[Hampstead Theatre]]
|-
|The Games Room
|
|[[Soho Theatre]]
|-
|Indian Country
|Greg
|[[Chapter Arts Centre]]
|-
|[[Streetcar Named Desire]]
|Mitch
|[[Theatr Clwyd]]
|-
|Seasons Greetings
|Clive
|[[Liverpool Playhouse]]
|-
|Drowning on Dry Land
|Charlie
|[[Salisbury Playhouse]]
|-
|[[Blowing Whistles]]
|Nigel
|[[Leicester Square Theatre]]
|-
|The Furies / Land of the Dead
|Jimmy / Man
|UK tour
|-
|Hundreds and Thoudands
|Allan
|[[Soho Theatre]]
|-
|The Dolls House
|Krogstad
|[[Belgrade Theatre]]
|-
|Love and Money
|Paul / Father / Duncan
|[[Royal Academy of Dramatic Art]]
|-
|Peckham the Soap Opera
|Ed
|[[Royal Court Theatre]]
|-
|[[Macbeth]]
|Macbeth
|[[Mercury Theatre, Colchester]]
|-
|[[The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (play)]]
|Ed
|The National Theatre
|-
|[[Macbeth]]
|Banquo
|[[Chichester Festival Theatre]]
|}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|0481931}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Laing, Stuart}}
[[Category:English male soap opera actors]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century male actors from Northern Ireland]]
[[Category:21st-century male actors from Northern Ireland]]
[[Category:English male film actors]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]

Todd Edwards

2022-03-21T11:17:38Z

Vodkamad: /* Remixes */

{{short description|American musician}}
{{use mdy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{About|Todd Edwards the musician|the film writer|Todd Edwards (film writer)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Todd Edwards
| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| image = Toddedwardstogether2012 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Edwards producing in 2012
| birth_name = Todd Edward Imperatrice
| alias = {{hlist|The Messenger|The Sample Choir}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1972|12|9}}
| birth_place = [[Bloomfield, New Jersey]], U.S.
| instrument = {{hlist|[[Digital audio workstation]]|[[Phonograph|turntable]]|[[MIDI keyboard]]}}
| genre = {{hlist|[[House music|House]]|[[garage house]]|[[speed garage]]|[[UK garage]]}}
| occupation = {{hlist|Record producer|DJ|singer|songwriter}}
| years_active = 1992–present
| associated_acts = {{hlist|[[Daft Punk]]|Sunshine Brothers|[[Marc Kinchen]]|[[Masters at Work]]|[[DJ EZ]]|}}
| website = {{URL|toddedwardsmusic.com/}}
}}
'''Todd Edward Imperatrice''' (born December 9, 1972{{Citation needed|date=April 2017}}), known professionally as '''Todd Edwards''', is an American [[garage house]] record producer, DJ and singer from [[Bloomfield, New Jersey]]. He began producing for New York's [[Nervous Records (US)|Nervous Records]] in the 1990s, including under aliases such as '''the Messenger''' and '''the Sample Choir'''.<ref name=all/> Edwards' music is known for its influence on the [[UK garage]] scene that developed in the United Kingdom in the mid-1990s.<ref name=":0" />

Beginning with his 1993 single "Guide My Soul," Edwards became a chief inspiration for the UK's [[speed garage]] genre.<ref name=all/> His work is known for his "innovative blend of rhythmic, cut-and-paste vocal samples, rubbery basslines, and slapping percussion,"<ref name=all>{{cite web |last1=Bush |first1=John |title=Todd Edwards - Biography |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/todd-edwards-mn0000611007/biography |website=AllMusic |access-date=8 March 2022}}</ref> which showcased an intensive [[music sample|sampling]] and remixing technique in which vocals are [[Chopping (sampling technique)|chopped]] into micro-sized sections.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://www.thewire.co.uk/in-writing/essays/the-wire-300_simon-reynolds-on-the-hardcore-continuum-series_6_two-step-garage_1999_|title=The Wire 300: Simon Reynolds on the Hardcore Continuum Series #6: Two-Step Garage (1999) – The Wire|last=Reynolds|first=Simon|work=The Wire Magazine – Adventures In Modern Music|access-date=2017-04-19|language=en}}</ref> His 1994 single "Saved My Life" became a club hit in the UK.<ref name=all/> In 1999, Nervous collected his productions on the compilation ''Todd Edwards' Nervous Tracks'' and i! Records released the LP ''Prima Edizione'', collecting several more tracks from this era.<ref name=all/>

Edwards has remixed hundreds of artists, including [[Roger McKenzie|Wildchild]], [[St. Germain (musician)|St. Germain]], [[Benjamin Diamond]], [[Justice (French band)|Justice]], [[Klaxons]] and [[Dimitri from Paris]]. Edwards co-produced and performed vocals on the [[Daft Punk]] song "[[Face to Face (Daft Punk song)|Face to Face]]" from the album ''[[Discovery (Daft Punk album)|Discovery]]'' (2001). Edwards worked again with Daft Punk, co-writing, co-producing and contributing vocals to the song "[[Fragments of Time]]" from their 2013 album ''[[Random Access Memories]]'', for which he won a Grammy.

==History==
Todd Edwards began his musical career around 1992. He employs vocal reconstruction techniques to his songs, creating a unique vocal collage set to a [[four-on-the-floor]] beat. [[Marc Kinchen|Marc "MK" Kinchen]], who is primarily responsible for pioneering this technique, is one of Edwards's influences.<ref name="Dutty Arts">[http://www.duttyartz.com/2008/nj-garage-todd-edwards/ DuttyArtz.com]</ref>

Edwards became a committed [[Christians|Christian]] in the 1990s after having negative experiences with religion in his youth.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Warren|first1=Emma|title=Todd Edwards|url=http://www.redbullmusicacademy.com/lectures/todd-edwards|website=Red Bull Music Academy|accessdate=26 March 2018}}</ref> This is evident by recurring hidden messages found in his compositions, which often contain [[religious]] phrases.<ref name="Stylus">{{cite news |title=Todd Edwards - The Stylus Interview |url=http://www.stylusmagazine.com/articles/weekly_article/todd-edwards-the-stylus-interview.htm |accessdate=6 April 2020 |work=[[Stylus Magazine]] |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080229050955/http://www.stylusmagazine.com/articles/weekly_article/todd-edwards-the-stylus-interview.htm |archivedate=29 February 2008 |language=en}}</ref>

===Beginnings===
In his early records, Todd Edwards was influenced by [[house music]] and grew into the [[UK garage]] and [[2-step garage]] scene. Inspired by [[Todd Terry]], MK, and experiences from his own trials and errors, Todd Edwards developed a unique sound of vocal sampling in place of musical instrument sampling on his tracks.<ref name="Stylus" /> In 1995, there was some talk developing about Edwards. His manager was approached by [[St. Germain (musician)|St. Germain]], who asked Edwards to do a remix of his song, "Alabama Blues". Although Edwards has produced and remixed some great remixes in this time, he didn't begin to DJ until the early 2000s.<ref name="lwe">{{cite news |title=Little White Earbuds Interviews Todd Edwards |url=http://www.littlewhiteearbuds.com/feature/lwe-interviews-todd-edwards/#.UH4BKRgzL_I |accessdate=6 April 2020 |work=Little White Earbuds}}</ref> He went out gradually landing more gigs in the UK, hoping to land a bigger one than the next.<ref name="Stylus" /> For an American native, Edwards quickly gained underground popularity in Europe.<ref>{{cite news |title=Born Again: After Years Toiling in Relative Obscurity, US Garage Producer Todd Edwards Gets His Come-Uppance |url=http://www.xlr8r.com/features/2010/03/born-again-after-years-toiling-r |accessdate=6 April 2020 |work=www.xlr8r.com |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100325143826/http://www.xlr8r.com/features/2010/03/born-again-after-years-toiling-r |archivedate=25 March 2010}}</ref>

===2001–present===
Edwards co-produced and performed vocals on the [[Daft Punk]] song "[[Face to Face (Daft Punk song)|Face to Face]]" from the album ''[[Discovery (Daft Punk album)|Discovery]]''. The song reached No. 1 on the ''Billboard'' Club chart in 2004. In 2006, Edwards sang on each track of the LP ''Odyssey'', using multiple aliases on the album.<ref name="lwe" />

In 2012, Edwards released the EP ''I Want You Back'' made in collaboration with French producer [[Surkin]].<ref>[http://www.discogs.com/Surkin-Todd-Edwards-I-Want-You-Back/master/466081I Discogs, I want You Back]{{deadlink|date=April 2020}}</ref> In April 2013, Edwards revealed that he had contributed to Daft Punk's album ''[[Random Access Memories]]''; he expressed that it was difficult keeping his involvement a secret.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yf2bu0P_4Vo Daft Punk | Random Access Memories | The Collaborators: Todd Edwards]. [[YouTube]]. Retrieved on April 8, 2013.</ref> He provided vocals for and co-wrote the song "[[Fragments of Time]]", as well as providing additional production.<ref name="T"/>

In 2013, Edwards appeared alongside many other garage pioneers in a documentary exploring the legacy of UK garage, ''Rewind 4Ever: The History of UK Garage''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.factmag.com/2013/06/27/todd-edwards-wookie-and-more-to-appear-in-documentary-exploring-the-legacy-of-uk-garage/ |title=Todd Edwards, Wookie and more to appear in documentary exploring the legacy of UK garage – FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music |publisher=Factmag.com |date=2013-06-27 |accessdate=2014-01-10}}</ref>

At the [[2014 Grammy Awards]], ''Random Access Memories'' won awards for [[Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronica Album|Best Dance/Electronica Album]] as well as [[Grammy Award for Album of the Year|Album of the Year]]; Edward's contributions to "Fragments of Time" thus earned him his first Grammy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scionav.com/2014/01/26/congratulations-scion-av-artists-grammys/|title=Daft Punk and Todd Edwards Win Best Dance Electronic Album and Album of the Year at Grammys|location=Los Angeles, California, U.S.|accessdate=2014-03-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/grammy-awards-2014-the-complete-winners-list-20140126|title=Grammy Awards 2014: The Complete Winners List|date=January 27, 2014|location=Los Angeles, California, U.S.|accessdate=2014-03-19}}</ref>

[[Red Bull Music Academy]] teamed up with director Ralf Schmerberg to produce ''What Difference Does It Make: A Film About Making Music'' for its fifteenth anniversary. The film features Edwards sharing his thoughts and beliefs on the music industry.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.redbullmusicacademy.com/events/rbma-film-premiere|title=Global Premiere Events: What Difference Does It Make? A Film About Making Music|location=Los Angeles, California, U.S.|accessdate=2014-03-19}}</ref> Edwards continues to produce and remix tracks today, with planned tours for the future. One of his projects is a vocal album featuring his own singing and co-produced by engineer [[Peter Franco]]. Edwards noted that [[Thomas Bangalter]] of Daft Punk convinced him to pursue such a project, and may oversee it.<ref>McGrath, Alan. [http://www.djmag.com/content/gods-garage Gods of Garage]. [[DJ Magazine]]. Retrieved on January 28, 2014.</ref>

In May 2021, Edwards's back catalogue was released on streaming services through [[Defected Records]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://djmag.com/news/todd-edwards-back-catalogue-hit-streaming-services-first-time|title=TODD EDWARDS' BACK CATALOGUE TO HIT STREAMING SERVICES FOR THE FIRST TIME|date=April 30, 2021|website=[[DJ Mag]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://mixmag.net/read/todd-edwards-back-catalogue-digital-news|date=May 4, 2021|author=Edrich, Paddy|website=[[Mixmag]]|title=TODD EDWARDS' BACK CATALOGUE TO BE RELEASED ON DIGITAL FOR THE FIRST TIME}}</ref>

He currently resides in Los Angeles.<ref name="T">{{cite web|last=Hawgood|first=Alex|title=Q + A {{!}} Daft Punk's Secret Weapon: Producer Todd Edwards|url=http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/05/14/q-a-daft-punks-secret-weapon-producer-todd-edwards/|work=T|publisher=[[New York Times Company]]|accessdate=May 17, 2013|date=May 14, 2013}}</ref>

==Discography==
===Albums===
* ''Todd Edwards' Nervous Tracks'' (1999)
* ''Prima Edizione'' (1999)
* ''Nervous Innovator Series Vol 4/5'' (2000)
* ''Full On (Volume 1)'' (2001)
* ''Full On (Volume 2)'' (2003)
* ''New Trend Sounds'' (2004)
* ''New Trend Sounds (Classics, Remixes & Beyond)'' (2004)
* ''Odyssey'' (2006)
* ''Full On (Volume 3)'' (2007)

===Singles and EPs===
{{Div col}}
* "Guide My Soul" (1993) (as the Messenger)
* "F.O.T." (1994)
* "Underground People" (collab. DJ Shorty) (1995)
* "Dancing for Heaven" (1995)
* "Stronger" (1995)
* "New Trends Sound" (1995)
* "Saved My Life" (1995)
* "Saved My Life" (Remixes) (1995) - UK #69
* "Fly Away (One)" (1996)
* "Push the Love" (1997)
* "Never Far from You" (1998)
* "41:13" (1998)
* ''The Prima EP'' (1998)
* "One Day" (collab. [[Tuff Jam]]) (1999)
* "Look Out" (1999)
* ''Incidental EP'' (2000)
* "Shut the Door" (2000)
* "Show Me a Sign" (2000)
* "Saved My Life" (2000)
* ''2 EP'' (2001)
* "Restless Soul" (2001)
* "Full On (Volume 1)" (Unmixed) (2001)
* "Shut the Door" (Remixes) (2002)
* "New Trends 2002" (2002)
* "New Trends 1995" (2002)
* "You Came to Me" (2002)
* "You're the One" (2003)
* "Beckon Call" (2003)
* "Face to Face" (collab. Daft Punk) (2003)
* "Full On (Volume 2)" (Unmixed) (2003)
* "Full On (Volume 2)" (Remixes) (2003)
* "Stop the Fighting" (2003)
* "Can't Live Without You" (Reissue) (2003)
* "Are You There" (2003)
* "Stormy Day" (collab. Filthy Rich) (2004)
* "Stormy Day" (collab. Filthy Rich) (Remixes) (2004)
* "Hold On to Me" (2004)
* "Winter Behaviour" (2004)
* "Who You Are" (2004)
* "When Your Alone" (2004)
* "New Trends Sounds 2004 (Part 1)" (2004)
* "New Trends Sounds 2004 (Part 2)" (2004)
* "New Trends Sounds 2004 (Part 3)" (2004)
* "Mystery" (2005)
* "Like a Fire" (2005)
* "Heaven" (2005)
* "No Scrubs" (2005)
* "The Journey" (2006)
* "Far Away" (2006)
* "Next to You" (2007)
* "I Might Be" (2010)
* "I Doubted You" (2010)
* "Stand Right Now" (2010)
* "Head Held High" (2011)
* ''Shall Go EP'' (2012)
* "Love Inside" (2012)
* ''Searching EP'' (2012)
* ''No Place Like London EP'' (2012)
*"Javid Khan" (2013)
*"I've Still Got Sunshine" (collab. Robert Lux) (2014)
*"I Want To Be In Fabric" (2016)
*"Come Together) (collab. Golf Clap) (2017)
*"Catch My Breath" (2017)
*"Is It Wrong" (2017)
* "[[You're Sorry]]" (2019)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/youre-sorry-single/1449836552|title=You're Sorry – Single by Todd Edwards|website=iTunes Store|accessdate=April 19, 2019}}</ref> - U.S. Dance #1
*"Deeper" (collab. Sinden) (2019)
*"Getting There From Here" (collab. [[Poolside (band)|Poolside]] and Turbotito) (2020)
*"Lover 4 Now" (collab. [[Groove Armada]]) (2020)
*"Inspire Me" (2020)
*"The Chant" (2021)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://earmilk.com/2021/03/29/todd-edwards-delivers-new-single-the-chant/|title=Todd Edwards delivers new single "The Chant"|author=Burr, Jessica|website=[[Earmilk]]|date=March 29, 2021}}</ref>
*"My Angel" (collab. Electric Enemy) (2021)
*"Think I'm In Love" (collab. Vantage) (2021)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://datatransmission.co/news/vantage-todd-edwards-collab-on-think-im-in-love/|title=Vantage & Todd Edwards collab on 'Think I'm In Love'|author=Farmer, Grahame|date=May 21, 2021|website=Data Transmission}}</ref>
{{Div col end}}

===Remixes===
{{Div col}}
* [[Fatboy Slim]] – "Rockafeller Skank" (Todd Edwards Remix) (2021)
* [[Four of Diamonds (band)|Four of Diamonds]] – "Blind" (Todd Edwards Remix) (2019)
* [[Disclosure (band)|Disclosure]] – "White Noise" (Todd Edwards Edit) (2015)
* LION BABE featuring Childish Gambino – "Jump Hi (Todd Edwards Remix)" (2014)
* [[Netsky (musician)|Netsky]] featuring Beth Ditto – "Running Low (Todd Edwards Remix)" (2014)
* [[Sam Smith (singer)|Sam Smith]] – "Lay Me Down (Todd Edwards Remix)" (2014)
* [[Chase & Status]] featuring Jacob Banks – "Alive (Todd Edwards Remix)" (2014)
* [[Rudimental]] – "Waiting All Night (Todd Edwards Vocal Mix)" (2013)
* [[Phoenix (band)|Phoenix]] – "Entertainment (Todd Edwards Remix)" (2013)
* Bo Saris – "The Addict (Todd Edwards Remix)" (2013)
* [[Jessie Ware]] – "No To Love (Todd Edwards Remix)" (2012)
* Toxic Avenger – "Toxic Is Dead (Todd Edwards Remix)" (2012)
* One Dark Martian – "Falling (Todd Edwards Remix)" (2012)
* [[Infinity Ink]] – "Infinity (Todd Edwards Remix)" (2012)
* LOL Boys – "Changes (Todd Edwards Remix)" (2012)
* [[Modestep]] – "Show Me A Sign (Todd Edwards Remix)" (2012)
* Kastle – "Time Traveler (Todd Edwards Remix)" (2011)
* [[Matthew Dear]] – "Slowdance (Todd Edwards Remix)" (2011)
* Wretch 32 – "Forgiveness (Todd Edwards Take Me To Church Dub)" (2011)
* [[Hot Chip]] – "Hand Me Down Your Love (Todd Edward Micro Chip Remix)" (2010)
* Kingdom featuring Shyvonne – "Mind Reader (Todd Edwards Remix)" (2010)
* [[Spank Rock]] – "What It Look Like (Todd Edwards Remix)" (2010)
* Appaloosa – "The Day (We Feel In Love) [Todd Edwards Liturgical Mix]" (2009)
* Surkin – "Next Of Kin (Todd Edwards Re-Kindled Mix)" (2008)
* [[Justice (band)|Justice]] – "DVNO (Todd Edwards' Sunshine Brothers Remix)" (2008)
* [[Klaxons]] – "Gravity's Rainbow (Todd Edwards Remix)" (2007)
* [[TLC (group)|TLC]] – "No Scrubs (Todd Edwards Remix)" (2006)
* [[Beyoncé]] – "Crazy In Love (Todd Edwards Remix)" (2005)
* Paul Johnson – "She Got Me On (Todd Edwards Remix)" (2005)
* Zoot Woman – "Taken It All (Todd Edwards 'Soul Line' Remix)" (2004)
* Space Cowboy – "Crazy Talk (Todd Edwards Remix)" (2003)
* Nio – "Do You Think You're Special? (Todd Edwards So Special UK Remix)" (2003)
* Boniface – "Cheeky (Todd Edwards 'Time Like No Other' Remix)" (2002)
* [[Craig David]] – "What's Your Flava? (Todd Edwards Underground Flava Mix)" (2002)
* Daniel Bedingfield – "James Dean (I Wanna Know) [Todd Edwards Life Line Vocal Remix)" (2002)
* St. Germain – "Sure Thing (Todd Edwards Remix)" (2001)
* [[Phoenix (band)|Phoenix]] – "If I Ever Feel Better (Todd Edwards Remix)" (2000)
* [[Moloko]] – "Pure Pleasure Seeker (Todd Edwards Mix)" (2000)
* [[MJ Cole]] – "Crazy Love (Todd Edwards Save Your Crys Dub)" (2000)
* [[Lonyo]] - "In Ayia Napa (Todd Edwards Perfect Dub)"
* Benjamin Diamond – "Little Scare (Todd Edwards Remix)" (2000)
* Kevin Yost – "If She Only Knew (Todd Edward's She Only Knew Disco Remix)" (1999)
* Ultymate featuring Jacquee Bennett – Vybe (Todd Edwards Remix)" (1998)
* Mad Moses - Panther Party (Todd Edwards Remix) (1997)
* [[Kristine Blond]] – "Love Shy (Todd Edwards Remix)" (1997)
* [[Robin S.]] – "Show Me Love (Todd Edwards Remix)" (1997)
* Da Mob featuring Jocelyn Brown – "Fun (Todd Edwards Remix)" (1997)
* Indo – "R U Sleeping (Todd Edwards Remix)" (1996)
* The Ride Committee featuring Roxy – Accident (Todd Edwards Dub) (1995)
* Veda Simpson – "Oohhh Baby (Todd Edwards Remix)" (1994)
{{Div col end}}

===Collaborations===
* "I Want You Back" (with [[Surkin]]) (2012)
* "I've Still Got Sunshine" (with Robert Lux) (2014)
* "Jaco" (with Nick Hook & Kilo Kish) (2014)
* "Go Crazy" ([[Pete Tong]] and Her-o featuring Todd Edwards) (2019)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/7LeYUCGm9MtaNiEsn9Gcr4 |title=Go Crazy by Pete Tong on Spotify |website=iTunes Store |accessdate=October 29, 2019}}</ref>
* "Getting There from Here" (with [[Poolside (band)|Poolside]]) (2020)
* "Lover 4 Now" ([[Groove Armada]] featuring Todd Edwards) (2020)

===Production credits===
* [[Daft Punk]] – "[[Face to Face (Daft Punk song)|Face to Face]]" (2001) - U.S. Dance #1
* [[Daft Punk]] – "[[Fragments of Time]]" (2013)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Facebook|toddedwards3000|Official page}}
* {{Twitter|toddedwards3000|Official page}}
*[http://www.tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/05/14/q-a-daft-punks-secret-weapon-producer-todd-edwards/ New York Times Style Magazine – Q. & A. | Daft Punk’s Secret Weapon: Producer Todd Edwards]
*[http://www.littlewhiteearbuds.com/lwe-interviews-todd-edwards/ LWE Interviews Todd Edwards]
*[http://www.scionav.com/media/8200/Interview-with-Todd-Edwards/ Interview with Todd Edwards (Scion A/V)]
*[http://www.stylusmagazine.com/articles/weekly_article/todd-edwards-the-stylus-interview.htm/ Todd Edwards The Stylus Interview]
*[http://www.xlr8r.com/features/2010/03/born-again-after-years-toiling-r/ XLR8R Born Again Todd Edwards]
*[http://pitchfork.com/features/5-10-15-20/9538-todd-edwards/ Todd Edwards (Pitchfork)]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Edwards, Todd}}
[[Category:1972 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American DJs]]
[[Category:American electronic musicians]]
[[Category:American garage house musicians]]
[[Category:American house musicians]]
[[Category:Record producers from New Jersey]]
[[Category:Musicians from New Jersey]]
[[Category:People from Bloomfield, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Speed garage musicians]]
[[Category:UK garage musicians]]
[[Category:Grammy Award winners]]
[[Category:Deep house musicians]]
[[Category:Electronic dance music DJs]]

Olly Murs

2022-02-26T23:00:30Z

Vodkamad:

{{short description|English singer, songwriter, presenter, and director}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Olly Murs
| image = Olly Murs-9859.jpg
| caption = Murs in 2017
| birth_name = Oliver Stanley Murs
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1984|5|14|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Witham]], [[Essex]], England
| death_date =
| occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter|dancer|television presenter|voice actor|director}}
| years_active = 2009–present
| television = ''[[The X Factor (UK TV series)|The X Factor]]'' (2009, 2015) ''[[The Xtra Factor (UK TV series)|The Xtra Factor]]'' (2011–2012) ''[[The Voice UK]]'' (2018–present)
| module = {{Infobox musical artist|embed=yes
| background = solo_singer
| instrument = {{hlist|Vocals|guitar|piano|keyboards}}
| genre = {{hlist|[[Pop music|Pop]]|[[Ska music|ska]]|[[funk]]|[[disco]]}}
| label = {{hlist|[[Epic Records|Epic]]|[[Syco Music|Syco]]|[[Columbia Records|Columbia]]|[[RCA Records|RCA UK]]|[[Sony Music UK]]}}
| associated_acts = {{hlist|[[List of The X Factor finalists (UK series 6)|''The X Factor'' 2009 finalists]]|[[Demi Lovato]]|[[Louisa Johnson]]}}
| website = {{url|ollymurs.com}}
}}
}}
'''Oliver Stanley Murs'''<ref>[http://xfactor.itv.com/2009/episodes/video/item_201004.htm Olly's diary – Week 10 – Part 1] ITV – X Factor, 9 December 2009</ref> (born 14 May 1984) is an English singer in the UK, songwriter, dancer, television presenter, voice actor, and director. He first came to national attention for coming second in the [[The X Factor (British series 6)|sixth series]] of ''[[The X Factor (British TV series)|The X Factor]]'' in 2009. He is currently signed to [[RCA Records]] and [[Sony Music UK]] in the United Kingdom, and [[Columbia Records]] in the United States.

In 2010, Murs released his debut single "[[Please Don't Let Me Go]]", which debuted at number one on the [[UK Singles Charts]] and received a Gold certification by the [[British Phonographic Industry|BPI]]. It was Murs' first number one single after "[[You Are Not Alone#The X Factor UK 2009 finalists version|You Are Not Alone]]" with the [[List of The X Factor finalists (UK series 6)|other series 6 finalists]]. His second single from his debut album, "[[Thinking of Me]]" reached number 4 on the UK Singles Charts and received a Silver certification by the BPI. "[[Heart Skips a Beat]]" was his second number-one single. Murs' second single from his next album, "[[Dance with Me Tonight]]", became his fourth to reach number one.

In November 2010, Murs released his self-titled debut album, ''[[Olly Murs (album)|Olly Murs]]'', which entered the [[UK Albums Chart]] at number two, with the biggest week one album sales for a debut album in 2010, with over 108,000 albums sold. The album went on to sell over 600,000 copies, and was certified double platinum by the BPI. In November 2011, Murs' released his second album, ''[[In Case You Didn't Know]]'', which entered the charts at number one and resulted in two number-one singles.

As of December 2014, Murs has sold over 10 million records worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/olly-murs-reveals-pays-himself-4731643|title=Olly Murs reveals he pays himself the same salary as a PLUMBER – despite being worth £5million|first=Ashleigh|last=Rainbird|date=2 December 2014|work=Daily Mirror|access-date=14 January 2017}}</ref> In May 2011, it was announced that Murs would return to ''The X Factor'' to co-present the spin-off show ''[[The Xtra Factor (UK TV series)|The Xtra Factor]]'' with [[Caroline Flack]]. His autobiography, ''Happy Days'', was published in October 2012. In November 2012, Murs released his third album ''[[Right Place Right Time (album)|Right Place Right Time]]'', and released 6 singles from it; the first, "[[Troublemaker (Olly Murs song)|Troublemaker]]", was his fourth number one.

On 16 November 2014, Murs released the single, "[[Wrapped Up]]" featuring [[Gym Class Heroes]]' [[Travie McCoy]], which peaked at number 3. This was to be the first song to be released from his new album [[Never Been Better|''Never Been Bette''r]] which entered the charts at number 1 on 24 September 2014, followed by a second single, "[[Up (Olly Murs song)|Up]]" featuring American singer [[Demi Lovato]] which peaked within the top 4. Murs also announced that he would tour the UK in spring 2015. On 15 June, Murs released his fourth single "Beautiful to Me" in which the music video included ''[[Game of Thrones]]'' actress [[Charlotte Hope]]. On 16 April 2015, it was announced that Murs would be reunited with Caroline Flack to replace [[Dermot O'Leary]] as co-presenters of ''[[The X Factor (UK TV series)|The X Factor]]'' from series 12. Murs later released his fifth studio album, ''[[24 Hrs (album)|24 Hrs]]'', which debuted at number one on the [[UK Albums Chart]].

Since 2018, Murs has been a coach on ''[[The Voice UK]]''. He won the [[The Voice UK (series 8)|eighth series]] with [[Molly Hocking]] and the [[The Voice UK (series 9)|ninth series]] with [[Blessing Chitapa]].

==Early life==
Murs was born in [[Witham]], [[Essex]], the son of Vicky-Lynn and Pete Murs.<ref name="wedding">{{cite news |url= http://www.nowmagazine.co.uk/celebrity-news/tv-news/433380/olly-murs-to-miss-brother-s-wedding-over-x-factor-commitments/1/ |title=Olly Murs to miss brother's wedding over X Factor commitments |date=3 December 2009 |work=[[NOW (British magazine)|NOW]] |location= London |access-date=1 May 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.stereoboard.com/content/view/162469/9 |title=Olly Murs Extends Spring 2011 UK Tour & Tickets |author=Stickler, Jon |work=Stereoboard.com |access-date=11 March 2015}}</ref> He has a twin brother, Ben, and a sister, Fay. He is of [[Latvia]]n descent and his great grandparents were Edward and Kathe Murs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.unrealitytv.co.uk/x-factor/x-factor-olly-murs-descended-from-famous-circus-performers/ |title=X Factor: Olly Murs descended from famous circus performers |publisher=Unreality TV |access-date=11 March 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206221950/http://www.unrealitytv.co.uk/x-factor/x-factor-olly-murs-descended-from-famous-circus-performers/ |archive-date=6 February 2015}}</ref> He attended Howbridge Junior School in [[Witham]] and [[Notley High School]] in [[Braintree, Essex|Braintree]], Essex,<ref>{{Cite news |url= http://www.eveningstar.co.uk/content/x-factor/story.aspx?brand=EADOnline&category=XFactor&tBrand=EADOnline&tCategory=xDefault&itemid=IPED16%20Oct%202009%2017%3A58%3A40%3A717 |title=X Factor's Olly: 'I won't win, but I'm enjoying every second of working with Lauren' |work=Evening Star |location= Ipswich |first=Kate |last=McGrath |date=17 October 2009 |access-date=19 October 2009}}</ref> where he was a striker in the school's football team.

Murs played semi-professionally for [[Isthmian League Division One North|Isthmian Division One North]] side [[Witham Town F.C.|Witham Town]] between 2006 and 2008. He excelled for the club's [[reserve team]] during the 2006–2007 season, scoring 12 goals in 13 appearances and winning the Ridgeons Reserve Teams Cup.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://football.mitoo.co/PlayersHistory2.cfm?PI%3D107908%26LeagueCode%3DECFL2006 |title=Archived copy |access-date=4 June 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140607001337/http://football.mitoo.co/PlayersHistory2.cfm?PI=107908&LeagueCode=ECFL2006 |archive-date= 7 June 2014 }}</ref> He made three first team appearances in the following season, scoring once,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://football.mitoo.co/PlayersHistory2.cfm?PI%3D116957%26LeagueCode%3DISTH2007 |title=Archived copy |access-date=4 June 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140607001700/http://football.mitoo.co/PlayersHistory2.cfm?PI=116957&LeagueCode=ISTH2007 |archive-date= 7 June 2014 }}</ref> but was forced to give up his football career following an injury.<ref>{{Cite news |url= http://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/4672560.Olly_always_had_the_X_Factor_at_school___/ |title=Olly always had the X Factor at school... |work=Daily Gazette |location= Colchester |date=9 October 2009 |access-date=19 October 2009}}</ref>

Prior to ''[[The X Factor]]'', Murs worked as a recruitment consultant at Prime Appointments in Witham, and performed as part of a covers band called the Small Town Blaggers with a friend, Jon Goodey.<ref>[http://www.myspace.com/smalltownblaggers Small Town Blaggers | Free Music, Tour Dates, Photos, Videos]. MySpace. 7 May 2009. Retrieved 1 September 2012.</ref> He also appeared on the game show ''[[Deal or No Deal (UK game show)|Deal or No Deal]]'' in 2007, where he won the meagre sum of £10. Murs returned for a celebrity version of the show in 2012, which made him the only person to appear on the programme as a contestant twice. In 2008, he travelled to Australia, backpacking alone along the [[Gold Coast, Queensland|Gold Coast]] for three months.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.okmagazine.com.au/celebrities/olly-murs-in-oz.htm|title=Olly Murs in Oz!|work=OK! Magazine Australia|date=14 May 2012|access-date=1 September 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120805034954/http://www.okmagazine.com.au/celebrities/olly-murs-in-oz.htm|archive-date=5 August 2012}}</ref> It was upon his return that he decided, having tried it out unsuccessfully twice in the past (when he failed to make it past the stage where he had to audition in front of the producers), to re-audition for ''The X Factor'' again.

==Music career==

===2009–10: ''The X Factor''===
In 2009, Murs auditioned for the [[The X Factor (UK series 6)|sixth series]] of ''[[The X Factor (UK TV series)|The X Factor]]'', performing [[Stevie Wonder]]'s "[[Superstition (song)|Superstition]]". Judge [[Simon Cowell]] said it was "the easiest yes I've ever given". At bootcamp Murs sang [[Elton John]]'s song [[Your Song]]. On the first live show, he sang "[[She's the One (World Party song)|She's the One]]" and on the second, "[[A Fool in Love]]", a performance which Cowell described as being "in a different league." For week three he took on "[[B*Witched|Bewitched]]". Walsh commented that he was the "dark horse of the competition," and Cowell said he was "coming into his own each week." He frequently employed dance moves in his performance including his trademark "Olly wiggle."<ref>[http://xfactor.itv.com/2009/finalists/detail/fnl_80008.htm Olly Murs – All finalists] ITV – The X Factor</ref> In week 4 he sang "[[Come Together]]" and again received positive comments, with Walsh predicting, "I think you're in the final three," and Cowell saying he was "progressing better than just about everybody."<ref>[http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/xfactor/news/a184626/x-factor-week-four-what-the-judges-said.html 'X Factor' Week Four: What The Judges Said] Digital Spy, 31 October 2009</ref> In week 5 he performed "[[Twist and Shout]]" and in week 6 "[[Don't Stop Me Now]]", after which he was labelled by Minogue as, "absolutely the best performer we have on the show by far."<ref>[http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/xfactor/news/a186903/x-factor-week-six-what-the-judges-said.html 'X Factor' Week Six: What the judges said] Digital Spy, 14 November 2009</ref>

In week 7, after a performance of "[[Fastlove]]", he was in the bottom two with [[Jedward|John & Edward]]. Cowell and [[Cheryl Cole]] and [[Dannii Minogue]] voted to send Murs through to the quarter-final while [[Louis Walsh]] voted to send John & Edward through to the quarter-final. However, voting statistics revealed that John & Edward received more votes than Murs meaning if Minogue sent the result to deadlock, John & Edward would've advanced to the quarter-final and Murs would've been eliminated. To participate in the semi-finals, Murs had to miss his brother's wedding. The ceremony took place just {{convert|16|mi|km}} from the show's studio, but Cowell was against allowing him off for a few hours on the day of the semi-final.<ref>[https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/12/06/cowell-has-ruined-my-big-day-115875-21876618/ Daily Mirror: Cowell Has Ruined My Big Say]. Mirror.co.uk (6 December 2009). Retrieved 19 September 2011.</ref> He sang "[[Can You Feel It (The Jacksons song)|Can You Feel It]]" and "[[We Can Work It Out]]" in the semi-final and ended up as one of the three finalists, breaking down on hearing the result.<ref>[https://books.google.ca/books?id=2Yc7AAAAQBAJ&pg=RA1-PT18&lpg=RA1-PT18&dq=murs+%22can+you+feel+it%22+%22we+can+work+it+out%22&source=bl&ots=Tr2oPkBYkR&sig=ACfU3U3mSUizm_ddxZ4WBvfLQR0ACCc42Q&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiynf62m4DhAhUo54MKHYJ_Bj8Q6AEwCHoECAgQAQ#v=onepage&q=murs%20%22can%20you%20feel%20it%22%20%22we%20can%20work%20it%20out%22&f=false ''Olly Murs: a Biography'']</ref>

[[File:Olly Murs (Live X Factor Tour) 1.png|thumb|upright|left|Olly Murs performing on [[The X Factor (UK)|The X Factor]] tour in 2010]]

In the final on 12 December, he repeated his audition song, "Superstition", following which Cowell said putting him in the final 12 was "the best risk I have ever taken in my life". Murs then sang with British entertainer [[Robbie Williams]] on a duet of "[[Angels (Robbie Williams song)|Angels]]", in which Williams fluffed his lines as he walked on stage to join Murs and came in at the wrong time, singing the second line of the song, but was helped by Murs to find the right spot.<ref>[http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/robbie-williams-fluffs-lines-to-angels-as-he-walks-on-stage-to-duet-with-olly-murs-in-x-factor/story-e6frfn09-1225810036184 Robbie Williams fluffs lines to Angels as he walks on stage to duet with Olly Murs in X Factor] news.com.au, 14 December 2009</ref> There was then a repeat performance of his week 2 song "Fool in Love". Murs qualified for the final two and first sang a repeat performance of "[[Twist and Shout]]", following which Walsh commented, "You're a born, born showman and no matter what happens tonight you're going to have a great career in music."

In his final performance on the show he performed the winner's song, "[[The Climb (Miley Cyrus song)|The Climb]]". He was told by Cole, "You absolutely tore it from your soul. I've never heard you sing like that. I thought it was a beautiful version of the song."<ref>[http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/xfactor/news/a191224/x-factor-final-what-the-judges-said.html 'X Factor' Final: What the judges said] Digital Spy, 13 December 2009</ref> He lost the final to [[Joe McElderry]] the next day and finished as the runner-up.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8411103.stm|title=Joe McElderry wins X Factor crown |date=13 December 2009|work=BBC News|access-date=14 December 2009}}</ref>
On 15 December, two days after the final, it was reported that Cowell was going to offer Murs a record deal in early 2010.{{citation needed|date=December 2019}} Following his defeat, Murs was reportedly texted by duet partner Robbie Williams and invited to visit him in his Los Angeles mansion and participate in the forthcoming [[Soccer Aid]], organised by Williams.<ref name=Papa>[http://www.mrpaparazzi.com/post/9643/BFF-ALERT-Robbie-Williams-Bombards-Olly-Murs-With-Texts.aspx BFF ALERT: Robbie Williams Bombards Olly Murs With Texts...] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091220045621/http://www.mrpaparazzi.com/post/9643/BFF-ALERT-Robbie-Williams-Bombards-Olly-Murs-With-Texts.aspx |date=20 December 2009 }} Mr Paparazzi, 17 December 2009</ref> Murs performed on the X Factor tour, alongside Joe McElderry, [[Jedward|John & Edward]], [[Stacey Solomon]], Lucie Jones and several other finalists. It was later revealed on ''The Xtra Factor'' that Murs was predicted by all the judges and presenters (except Minogue who had said Nicole Jackson, and Cole who had said Miss Frank as a second choice) as the favourite to win the series at the Boot Camp stage.<ref>[http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/xfactor/news/a191306/judges-hosts-predicted-olly-murs-win.html Judges, hosts predicted Olly Murs win] Digital Spy, 14 December 2009</ref><ref>[http://xfactor.itv.com/2009/episodes/video/item_201059.htm Xtra Final: Guess Who?] ITV – X Factor 18 December 2009</ref> Footage of Murs appearing on ''[[Deal or No Deal (UK game show)|Deal or No Deal]]'' was later featured in an edition of the BBC's ''Almost Famous'' on 2 January 2010.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00ggq08 BBC Three Programmes – Almost Famous] BBC</ref>

===2010–11: Major label success and ''Olly Murs''===
Rumours began that Murs would record a debut album almost immediately after the final, where he finished in second place to [[Joe McElderry]]. After the rumours broke out, Murs announced he signed a joint record deal between [[Epic Records]] and [[Syco Music]] in February 2010.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/music/newsid_10050000/newsid_10058400/10058417.stm |work=BBC News |title= Olly Murs signs to Cowell's label |date=23 February 2010}}</ref> It was announced that Murs began working with [[John Shanks]] and [[Eg White]].<ref name="excited">{{cite news |url= http://entertainment.stv.tv/tv/185219-olly-murs-excited-over-single-release/ |title=Olly Murs excited over single release |date=2 July 2010 |publisher=[[STV (TV network)|STV]]|access-date=27 July 2010}}</ref> It was later confirmed that Roy Stride, [[Trevor Horn]], [[Wayne Hector]] and Matty Benbrook would have involvement on the album which he collaborated with to make the "best possible songs".<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.glasswerk.co.uk/news/national/9469/Olly+Murs+-+Please+Dont+Let+Me+Go |title= Olly Murs – Please Don't Let Me Go |author= Laura |date= 26 July 2010 |publisher= glasswerk.co.uk |access-date= 27 July 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120427205934/http://www.glasswerk.co.uk/news/national/9469/Olly+Murs+-+Please+Dont+Let+Me+Go |archive-date= 27 April 2012 |url-status= dead |df= dmy-all }}</ref> More writers and producers were confirmed to be working with Murs in the studio, including: [[Phil Thornalley]], [[Martin Brammer]], [[Samuel Preston (singer)|Samuel Preston]], [[Mark Taylor (record producer)|Mark Taylor]],<ref name="Levine">{{Cite news |url= http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a264071/olly-murs-discusses-debut-album.html |title=Exclusive: Olly Murs discusses debut album |last=Levine |first=Nick |date=19 August 2010 |work=[[Digital Spy]] |location= London |access-date=20 August 2010}}</ref> [[Chris Difford]]<ref name="Levine"/> and [[Professor Green]] were due to appear on the album; however, the duet fell through before recording was completed.

Murs confirmed the first single from the album to be titled "[[Please Don't Let Me Go]]", which was released on 27 August 2010 following the circulation of the accompanying music video.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgfwS5rP7u4 Music Video for Olly Murs' Please Don't Let Me Go] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130815005437/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgfwS5rP7u4 |date=15 August 2013 }}</ref> The song was written by Murs himself and with other songwriters, [[Claude Kelly]] and [[Steve Robson]]; the single was also produced by Future Cut.<ref name="excited"/> The song is about a minor relationship Murs was in where he ended up feeling something for the other person. Murs commented: "Sadly she kept giving me the impression that she didn't like me as much, and ultimately it didn't work out, so that's where the idea of me singing 'Please Don't Let Me Go' came from."<ref name="Levine3">{{cite news |url= http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/s103/the-x-factor/interviews/a263925/olly-murs.html |title=Olly Murs |last=Levine |first=Nick |date=19 August 2010 |work=[[Digital Spy]] |access-date=19 August 2010 |location=London}}</ref> The song was described as "a lovely summery [[reggae]]-tinged pop tune that bobs along in a thoroughly hummable and not un-[[Will Young]]-like fashion" and said that the music video "is just as quintessentially ''pleasant''".<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/thesound/a249494/good-golly-its-olly.html |title=Good golly, it's Olly! |last=Levine |first=Nick |date=24 July 2010 |work=[[Digital Spy]] |access-date=21 August 2010 |location=London}}</ref> During the release, Murs was told not to get his hopes up for a number-one due to [[Katy Perry]] releasing "[[Teenage Dream (Katy Perry song)|Teenage Dream]]" the same day. On 5 September 2010, the single entered the [[UK Singles Charts]] at number 1 beating Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream". The song was released with the B-side track, entitled "This One's for the Girls" also entered the UK Singles Charts, debuting at number 69, was written for all of his female fans.
[[File:OllyMurs2.jpg|thumb|right|Murs performing material from ''Olly Murs'' in 2012]]
His debut album was released in November 2010;<ref name=autogenerated1>{{Cite news |url= http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a264071/olly-murs-discusses-debut-album.html |title=Exclusive: Olly Murs discusses debut album |last=Levine |first=Nick |date=19 August 2010 |work=Digital Spy |access-date=20 August 2010}}</ref> which was a self-titled album, ''[[Olly Murs (album)|Olly Murs]]''. The album's tracking list was revealed on 15 October 2010.<ref>[https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B003V4A5ZW Olly Murs' self-titled album tracking list was revealed]. Amazon.com. Retrieved 19 September 2011.</ref> The album entered the [[UK Albums Chart]] at number two, with the biggest week-one album sales for a debut album in 2010, with over 108,000 albums sold.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a291537/take-that-remain-at-top-of-uk-album-chart.html |title= Olly Murs Record Entry on UK Album Charts |date=5 December 2010 |work=Digital Spy |access-date=5 December 2010}}</ref> The album also charted on the [[Irish Albums Chart]] where it found itself peaking at number eleven. The second single was "[[Thinking of Me]]",<ref name="thinking of me">{{cite web |url=http://www.ollymurs.com/news/post/ollys_new_single_unveiled/ |title=Ollys' new single unveiled |date=8 October 2010 |publisher=OllyMurs.com |access-date=11 October 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101012021630/http://www.ollymurs.com/news/post/ollys_new_single_unveiled |archive-date=12 October 2010 }}</ref> written by Murs, [[Steve Robson]] and Hector, and co-produced by Future Cut and [[Steve Robson]].<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/s103/the-x-factor/news/a281439/olly-murs-confirms-second-single-details.html |title=Exclusive: Olly Murs confirms second single details |last=Levine |first=Nick |date=11 October 2010 |work=Digital Spy |access-date=11 October 2010}}</ref> It was released on 19 November 2010,<ref name="thinking of me"/> prior to the album's release.<ref name="Levine" /> The single was added to [[BBC Radio 1]]'s C Playlist on 3 November 2010. Murs performed the single for the first time on ''[[The X Factor (UK)|The X Factor]]''. Upon the release the single charted at number four on the UK Singles Charts and thirteen on the Irish Singles Charts. On 13 November Murs turned the Christmas lights on in [[Paisley, Renfrewshire|Paisley]] and he also turned on the Christmas lights near his hometown in [[Chelmsford]], Essex. [[Renfrewshire|Renfrewshire Council]] was criticised in the media for the £15,000 fee that Murs was paid to turn on the lights, after announcing that they were axing 500 jobs. Murs however donated his fee for his appearance at this event.<ref>[http://news.stv.tv/scotland/west-central/208601-council-slammed-over-x-factor-star-olly-murs-christmas-lights-fee/ "Council slammed over X Factor star Olly Murs Christmas lights fee".] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101114101419/http://news.stv.tv/scotland/west-central/208601-council-slammed-over-x-factor-star-olly-murs-christmas-lights-fee/ |date=14 November 2010 }} ''STV News''. 12 November 2010. Retrieved 19 September 2011.</ref>

Two further singles were released from the first album into 2011 – the [[James Morrison (singer)|James Morrison]] penned "[[Heart on My Sleeve (Michael Johns song)|Heart on My Sleeve]]", which charted at No. 20 in March 2011, and "[[Busy (Olly Murs song)|Busy]]" which charted at No. 45 in June 2011. Murs completed a theatre tour for his first album in spring 2011, commencing on 26 April in Rhyl at the Pavilion Theatre and playing four sold out nights at London's [[Hammersmith Apollo]] in late May. He also toured as the support act of [[JLS]] on their summer stadium tour.

===2011: ''In Case You Didn't Know''===
It was rumoured in June 2011, that Murs had started working on his second studio album, which he later confirmed. Murs claimed that he would "take the album from a different approach", and claimed he would like to record a rap track, stating, "I'm secretly not a bad rapper, I really like to do a bit of beat boxing, [[Eminem]] is always a favourite, or maybe [[Vanilla Ice]], "[[Ice Ice Baby]]" is a classic."<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121004162845/http://www.tourdates.co.uk/news/19419-olly-murs-a-secret-rapper Murs reveals he would like to rap on new upcoming second album]. Tourdates.co.uk. Retrieved 19 September 2011.</ref> Murs revealed that he will attempt to build himself a more of a "soulful" sound through writing the second album, and also expressed interest in recording with English entertainer [[Robbie Williams]] after the two met on [[The X Factor (UK series 6)#Week 10(12/13 December)|''The X Factor'' Live Final]].<ref name="Album2">{{cite news|url=http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/story/olly-murs-wants-to-reconnect-with-robbie_1235463|title=Olly Murs reveals debut second album details|publisher=Contract Music|access-date=23 July 2011|location=London}}</ref> Murs confirmed in July 2011, that the lead single from the album would be called "[[Heart Skips a Beat]]", and it would feature up-and-coming Brithop Rap duo [[Rizzle Kicks]].<ref name="HSAB">{{cite news|url=http://entertainment.stv.tv/tv/261184-olly-murs-reveals-new-single-heart-skips-a-beat/|title=Olly Murs announced first single from second album|publisher=Entertainment TV|access-date=5 July 2011|location=London}}</ref> He described it as a "parallel" to the remainder of the album, calling it a "summer party song".<ref name="Album2"/> The song premiered on ''[[The Chris Moyles Show]]'' on 7 July 2011 and has since been well received by fans.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/user/OllyMursChannel Olly Murs' fans love his new song with Rizzle Kicks]. Youtube.com (7 December 2009). Retrieved 19 September 2011.</ref> The video for the track was later released via Murs' official [[YouTube]] channel. Murs said that the song is one of his favourite tracks from the new album, stating, "I'm loving the tune at the moment. It's going down really, really well."<ref name="HSAB"/> "Heart Skips a Beat" later peaked at number one on the [[UK Singles Chart]], marking his second number one. It later went on to peak at number one in Germany and Switzerland, also reaching top ten in numerous countries in Europe.

In September 2011, Murs announced via Twitter that his second album would be entitled ''In Case You Didn't Know'', taken from a song of the same name which appears on the album.<ref>[http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a341182/olly-murs-announces-new-album-in-case-you-didnt-know.html "Olly Murs announces new album 'In Case You Didn't Know'"]. ''Digital Spy''. 19 September 2011. Retrieved 22 November 2011.</ref> On 14 October 2011, Murs released the audio of "Dance with Me Tonight", the album's second single, via his YouTube Channel. The track was released on 21 November 2011, again peaking at No. 1 on the [[UK Singles Chart]]. The album, ''In Case You Didn't Know'' was released a week later on 28 November 2011. The album peaked at number one on the [[UK Albums Chart]], two on the [[Irish Recorded Music Association|Irish Charts]], and in the top ten in Germany, Switzerland and Poland. Murs confirmed via his Twitter account in February 2012 that the album's third single would be "Oh My Goodness", and that it would be released on 2 April. It peaked at No. 13 on the [[UK Singles Chart]]. The single was his second release in Europe after "Heart Skips a Beat", released on 10 August, and has so far peaked in the top 40 in Germany and Austria.

===2012–13: ''Right Place Right Time''===
[[File:GIBRALTAR MUSIC FESTIVAL 2013 - OLLY MURS (9703114360) (4).jpg|thumb|right|Murs performing at the 2013 [[Gibraltar Music Festival]]]]
In April 2012, it was revealed that Murs was in the process of writing his third studio album, which was released on 26 November 2012. Murs has once again written with [[Steve Robson]] and [[Claude Kelly]]. [[Ed Drewett]] (best known for his work for [[The Wanted]]) and Andrew Frampton and [[Steve Kipner]] (producers of both albums for [[The Script]]) are other names that have been confirmed for the third album, and in a June 2012 interview with the website Examiner he confirmed the name of a new song, "One of These Days", which he described as a 'follow-on' song from "I Need You Now" on his previous album.<ref>[http://medleymag.com/content/2012-07-25/Olly-Murs-Pens-New-Song-Inspired-By-Adele Medley Mag – Olly Murs pens new song inspired by Adele]. Medley Mag (25 July 2012). Retrieved 17 August 2012.</ref> On 17 September, Murs announced the first single from his third album, "[[Troublemaker (Olly Murs song)|Troublemaker]]", a collaboration with Claude Kelly and Steve Robson which features American rapper [[Flo Rida]] and was released on 18 November. It also served as Murs's second U.S. single. The same day, he also announced the name of the third album, ''[[Right Place Right Time (album)|Right Place Right Time]]''.<ref>[http://www.facebook.com/ollymurs/posts/10152113141790080 – Buzzing loads today!!!...]. Facebook (17 September 2012). Retrieved 17 September 2012.</ref> The cover artwork and track listing for the album was unveiled on 1 October. Murs will be embarking on a second arena tour of the UK and Ireland in February/March 2013 to support the album, as well as performing his first live European dates in Germany, Switzerland, Sweden and Denmark in April 2013. On 14 January 2013, Murs confirmed that the second single from the album would be "[[Army of Two (Olly Murs song)|Army of Two]]", which was released on 10 March 2013. The album's third single, "[[Dear Darlin']]", was released on 3 June 2013. On 25 August 2013, the album's title track "[[Right Place Right Time (song)|Right Place Right Time]]" was released as the fourth single.

Murs was the opening act for English boy band [[One Direction]] on the North American leg of their [[Up All Night Tour]], which began on 29 May in [[Toronto]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Olly Murs to support One Direction on US tour|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/17529892|last=Cochraine|first=Greg|publisher=BBC|access-date=15 May 2012}}</ref> "Heart Skips a Beat" was released as Murs' first U.S. single through Columbia Records on 29 May 2012, replacing Rizzle Kicks with American rappers [[Chiddy Bang]] for its release. As of September 2012, it has peaked at No. 96 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]]. Murs was set to release 'In Case You Didn't Know' as his debut U.S. album on 25 September 2012, also through Columbia, however Examiner.com reported on 2 September that the release had been 'postponed until further notice', with no definite new release date given. On 17 September, Columbia then confirmed a new release date of 3 December and that they would now be releasing Murs' third UK album, ''Right Place Right Time'' as his debut U.S. release instead. The track listing for this will include "Heart Skips a Beat", "Dance with Me Tonight" and "Oh My Goodness" alongside "Troublemaker" and six other tracks from the new UK album. The release has since been delayed again, however, and is now due for release in the U.S. on 4 April 2013. While visiting Chicago, IL for a performance of 25 January, Murs spoke with WBBM-FM B96 and confirmed that the final U.S. release date is 16 April 2013 and he will be featured as February 2013's VH1 "You Oughta Know" artist.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://b96.cbslocal.com/2013/01/25/olly-murs-on-being-vh1s-february-you-outta-know-artist-confirming-haylor-being-a-sex-icon/|title=Olly Murs Performs "Troublemaker," Talks Being VH1′s February "You Outta Know" Artist, Confirming Haylor & Being A Sex Icon|date=25 January 2013|publisher=B96 Chicago|access-date=29 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130619221341/http://b96.cbslocal.com/2013/01/25/olly-murs-on-being-vh1s-february-you-outta-know-artist-confirming-haylor-being-a-sex-icon/|archive-date=19 June 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Murs provided support for English entertainer [[Robbie Williams]] on his [[Take the Crown Stadium Tour]] and also performed a duet with him on [[Kids (Robbie Williams and Kylie Minogue song)|Kids]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.capitalfm.com/artists/robbie-williams/news/take-the-crown-stadium-tour-launch/|title=Robbie Williams Kicks Off 'Take The Crown' Stadium Tour With Show In Dublin|work=Capital FM|access-date=4 November 2015|archive-url=http://www.freezepage.com/1372658960QXYZDQIJNH?url=http://www.capitalfm.com/artists/robbie-williams/news/take-the-crown-stadium-tour-launch/|archive-date=1 July 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> In July 2013, Murs served as the headline act at [[Alton Towers]] Live. In September, was announced that a new French version of "Dear Darlin", with participation of the famous singer [[Alizée]], would be released in the second day of the month, with also the support of a concert in Paris to attack the [[Music of France|France]] market.

On 11 September, Murs announced on his Facebook page that he was going to release a re-packaged edition of ''[[Right Place Right Time (album)|Right Place Right Time]]'', which would be released in November 2013. Also on the same day Murs announced that he will feature on English entertainer [[Robbie Williams]]'s upcoming album ''[[Swings Both Ways]]'', singing "[[I Wan'na Be Like You (The Monkey Song)|I Wan'na Be Like You]]", a song which he had sung on his first attempt to audition for ''The X Factor''. Murs also featured on the UK version of rapper [[Classified (rapper)|Classified]]'s song "[[Inner Ninja]]", released on 10 November 2013. Murs unveiled "[[Hand on Heart]]" as the lead single from the re-release of ''Right Place Right Time'' and was released on 24 November with the re-release following a week later.

===2014–15: ''Never Been Better''===
In July 2013, Murs revealed that he had been back in the studio writing and recording new material for his fourth album, due to be released in Summer 2014. In February 2014, it was revealed that work had begun on his fourth studio album. He worked with [[Demi Lovato]], [[Wayne Hector]], [[Claude Kelly]] and [[Steve Robson]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://m.fans.sonymusicemail.com/nl/jsp/m.jsp?c=88e0a8b20b6c008aa9 |title=Exclusive blog from the studio! – The latest news from Olly Murs |work=Sony Music Email |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140206184109/http://m.fans.sonymusicemail.com/nl/jsp/m.jsp?c=88e0a8b20b6c008aa9 |archive-date=6 February 2014 }}</ref> On 28 September, Murs announced that the title of the album will be called ''[[Never Been Better]]'' and also announced the track list alongside it. The album was released on 24 November and debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart. The album's first single "[[Wrapped Up (song)|Wrapped Up]]" was released on 16 November 2014 and debuted at number three on the UK Singles Chart. The album's second single "[[Up (Olly Murs song)|Up]]" featuring American actress [[Demi Lovato]] reached number four in the UK singles chart. On 10 February 2015, Murs confirmed on his Twitter account that the third single to be released from the album would be "[[Seasons (Olly Murs song)|Seasons]]". On 12 December 2014, Murs released an Christmas EP titled ''Unwrapped'' exclusivity on [[Google Play]]. In February 2015, it was announced that a waxwork figure of Murs would be put into [[Madame Tussauds]] Waxworks in [[Blackpool]], which was unveiled on 30 March 2015. During a concert at The O2 Arena on 4 May 2015 and later on his Twitter account, Murs confirmed that the fourth single to be released from the album would be "Beautiful to Me". On 2 October 2015, Murs announced on his Twitter account that he would release a special edition of ''Never Been Better'' (which like the special edition of ''Right Place Right Time'' will feature extra tracks and a tour DVD) on 20 November 2015 and the first single released was ''Kiss Me'' which reached number 11 in the UK singles chart.

===2016–2017: ''24 Hrs''===
[[File:Olly Murs-9859.jpg|thumb|right|Murs at the [[Südwestrundfunk|SWR3]] New Pop Festival 2017]]
In early 2016, Murs began work on his fifth studio album which will be released later in the year. On 1 July 2016, Murs revealed on his Twitter account that the album's first single "[[You Don't Know Love (Olly Murs song)|You Don't Know Love]]" would be released on 8 July.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.entertainment-focus.com/music-section/music-news/olly-murs-announces-new-single-you-dont-know-love/|title=Olly Murs announces new single You Don't Know Love – Entertainment Focus|work=entertainment-focus.com|access-date=14 January 2017}}</ref> On 9 July 2016, Murs served as a support act for British five piece vocal group [[Take That]] at their British Summer Time concert at Hyde Park in London. On 2 September 2016, Murs announced on his Twitter account that his fifth album would be called ''[[24 Hrs (album)|24 Hrs]]'' and would be released on 11 November. On the same day, Murs announced that he would be going on tour in March and April 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://celebmix.com/olly-murs-announces-new-album-uk-tour-dates-2017/|title=Olly Murs announces new album and UK tour dates for 2017! – CelebMix|date=2 September 2016|work=celebmix.com|access-date=14 January 2017}}</ref> On 22 June 2017, Murs released his collaboration with [[Louisa Johnson]] called Unpredictable, the video already has more than five million views on YouTube.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.capitalfm.com/artists/louisa-johnson/news/olly-murs-relationship-rumours/|title=Louisa Johnson Claps Back At "Ridiculous" Rumours That She Is Dating Olly Murs, After Split|date=2 September 2016|work=capitalfm.com|access-date=14 January 2018}}</ref>

===2018–present: ''You Know I Know''===
On 9 January 2018, Murs revealed on his Instagram story to be working on his sixth album. In October 2018, Murs announced that his sixth album would be a double album called [[You Know I Know (album)|You Know I Know]] with one disc featuring new tracks and the second disc continuing singles from Murs' previous albums.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/olly-murs-announces-a-double-album-of-new-songs-and-greatest-hits-you-know-i-know-will-be-released-on-november-9__24232/|title=Olly Murs announces a double album of new songs and greatest hits|website=[[Official Charts Company|Official Charts]]}}</ref> The first single from the album was "Moves" and featured guest vocals from [[Snoop Dogg]] and an appearance from [[Rowan Atkinson]] as the waiter in the bar as himself.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://planetradio.co.uk/hits-radio/entertainment/music/olly-murs-rowan-atkinson-moves-music-video/|title=Olly Murs drops his 'Moves' music video and it includes a VERY famous face}}</ref> The album is compiled of both new and old songs, detailing the title of what his fandom know and what he knows. The creation of this album brought new music to his audience and reprised versions of popular songs from his previous albums.

==Other work==
{{prose|1=section|date=April 2018}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name =
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| height =
| position =
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 =
| years1 = 2006–2008
| clubs1 = [[Witham Town F.C.|Witham Town]]
| caps1 = 2
| goals1 = 1
| years2 =
| clubs2 = Valley Swifts<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/withamtown/news/olly-murs-to-sign-for-witham-town-1025256.html|title=Olly Murs to sign for Witham Town ??|date=29 August 2013|publisher=Witham Town F.C.|access-date=5 November 2018}}</ref>
| caps2 =
| goals2 =
| years3 = 2016–2017
| clubs3 = [[Coggeshall Town F.C.|Coggeshall Town]]
| caps3 =
| goals3 =
|nocat_wdimage=yes
}}
On 28 October 2011, Murs was the first artist to be confirmed to play at [[Capital (radio network)|Capital FM]]'s Jinglebell Ball 2011.<ref>[http://www.capitalfm.com/artists/olly-murs/news/calvin-harris-2011-jingle-bell-ball/ Olly Murs And Calvin Harris To Play 2011 Jingle Bell Ball]. Capital FM. Retrieved 22 November 2011.</ref>

In November 2011, Murs won the award for "Best Male Artist" at the [[BT Digital Music Awards]] and the award for "Best Album" for ''Olly Murs'' at the [[BBC Radio 1]] Teen Awards.

On 5 and 6 December, Murs supported [[Gary Barlow]] at Barlow's [[Gary Barlow: In Concert|Concerts]] at the [[Royal Albert Hall]], where they performed together on the [[Take That]] hit "[[Shine (Take That song)|Shine]]".<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-16039514 | work=BBC News | title=Gary Barlow concert: Fan worship and surprising guests | date=6 December 2011}}</ref>

In March 2012, Murs performed at the 'Big Gig' event in [[Birmingham]]. On 24 March, In aid of [[Sport Relief 2012|Sport Relief]], Murs performed alongside [[Rizzle Kicks]], Vida and [[JLS]] at a special charity concert, held at [[The O2 Arena]] in London.

On 16 April, Murs won the ''[[Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards|Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award]]'' for "Favourite British Male Artist".

On 19 April, a three-part documentary trailing Murs throughout his UK Arena Tour, entitled ''Olly: Life on Murs'', premiered on [[ITV2]]. It drew over half a million viewers.

In July 2012, Murs performed at [[T in the Park]]. In August 2012, Murs performed at [[V Festival]] where he did his own set and also joined [[Madness (band)|Madness]] for a performance of "[[It Must Be Love (Labi Siffre song)|It Must Be Love]]" and "[[One Step Beyond (song)|One Step Beyond]]".

Murs' keen interest in football, and support of Manchester United means that he has also frequently appeared on sport based TV shows and radio stations such as [[Talksport]], either during promotion of his music or as a talking head giving his opinion on matches.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsR2PjkFGK4 Olly Murs – Interview (talkSPORT.co.uk)]. YouTube. 23 November 2011. Retrieved 2 October 2012.</ref> In April 2016, Murs began to play for [[Coggeshall Town F.C.|Coggeshall Town]].<ref>[http://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/14488618.Singer_Olly_Murs_celebrates_league_win_with_Coggeshall_Town/ Singer Olly Murs celebrates league win with Coggeshall Town FC] Daily Gazette, 12 May 2016</ref>

He also released a special DVD, entitled "Olly Murs: 7 Deadly Sins of Football", through [[2Entertain]] on 28 November 2011. In this DVD he introduced archive clips of [[Premier League]] matches well noted for displaying "when players get too greedy, when they get angry, [''and''] when they get lazy", as well as offering opinions from [[Ray Parlour]], [[Alvin Martin]], [[Jason Cundy]], [[Ray Houghton]] and [[Micky Quinn]] from talkSPORT.<ref>[https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005O05IDU Olly Murs – 7 Deadly Sins of Football (DVD)]. Amazon.com.</ref>

In January 2013, as part of celebrations to mark the 150th anniversary of the founding of [[The FA]], Murs was appointed as an FA150 Ambassador, along with other leading figures from the world of football such as [[Alan Shearer]], [[Gary Lineker]] and [[Bobby Charlton|Sir Bobby Charlton]].<ref>[https://www.thefa.com/about-football-association/fa150/fa150-ambassadors "FA150 Ambassadors"]. Football Association. 16 January 2013. Retrieved 17 February 2013.</ref>

Murs has also been involved in modelling/fashion work, including some modelling for the autumn/winter 2012 range of Robbie Williams' clothing label [[Farrell (clothing label)|Farrell]].<ref>[http://farrelluk.tumblr.com/post/30522078226/as-we-march-headlong-into-the-new-season-its-time/ FARRELL: As we march headlong into the new season]. Farrell Blog. Retrieved 30 August 2012.</ref>

Murs released an illustrated autobiography, ''Happy Days'', published by Coronet (an imprint of [[Hodder & Stoughton]]) on 11 October 2012. Photography for the book was shot by Dean Freeman, who has also worked on books for JLS, [[Michael Bublé]] and [[David Beckham]], and Murs also recorded an audio version of the book that was made available to download. In January 2013 it was confirmed that Murs would guest star in a [[90210 (season 5)|season 5]] episode of the American drama series ''[[90210 (TV series)|90210]]'' where he would perform "Troublemaker" and "Right Place Right Time". The episode aired on 22 April 2013. On 6 October 2013, Murs returned to ''[[The X Factor (UK series 10)|The X Factor]]'' as a guest mentor to help judge [[Gary Barlow]] pick his finalist for the finals of the competition.{{citation needed|date=November 2017}}

On 10 November 2014, Murs confirmed on his Twitter account that he would join the line up for [[Band Aid 30]].

On 12 March 2015, Murs confirmed that he would be releasing a second book titled ''On The Road''.

On 11 October 2017, it was confirmed by ITV that Murs had become a coach on the [[The Voice UK (series 7)|seventh series]] of ''[[The Voice UK]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.itv.com/presscentre/press-releases/olly-murs-joins-superstar-panel-coaches-new-series-itvs-voice-uk|title=Olly Murs joins the superstar panel of coaches on the new series of ITV's The Voice UK|work=ITV.com}}</ref> He has returned for the [[The Voice UK (series 8)|eighth series]], [[The Voice UK (series 9)|ninth series]], and the [[The Voice UK (series 10)|tenth series]].

In September 2021, Heart Bingo announced that Murs will be their new brand ambassador.<ref>{{Cite web|date=28 September 2021|title=Olly Murs Unveiled as New Heart Bingo Ambassador|url=https://www.casinoreviews.net/news/olly-murs-unveiled-as-new-heart-bingo-ambassador/|url-status=live|access-date=30 September 2021|website=CasinoReviews.net}}</ref> The partnership will involve promoting the company on various ads like television, radio, billboards, print media, online, and via his social media handles. The endorsement package also includes video content, organizing competitions for Heart Bingo players to win tickets to his shows, and a customized Olly Murs Slot game.

===Philanthropy===
In February 2011, it was announced that Murs would participate in the BT Charity Trek, with other celebrities, as part of the 2011 [[Comic Relief]] [[Red Nose Day]] campaign. The celebrities spent five days in the Kaisut desert in north [[Kenya]], covering {{convert|100|km|miles}} in temperatures up to 40 °C.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/essex/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_9390000/9390777.stm | work=BBC News | title=Murs up for 'toughest challenge' | date=8 February 2011}}</ref> On 2 April 2011, Murs appeared in a celebrity version of ''[[Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (UK game show)|Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?]]'' and won £10,000 for charity.<ref>[http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s2/eastenders/news/a311887/patsy-palmer-for-live-millionaire-special.html "Patsy Palmer for live Millionaire special"]. ''Digital Spy''. 30 March 2011. Retrieved 19 September 2011.</ref><ref>[https://twitter.com/ollyofficial/status/54294644254715904 Twitter / Olly Murs: Ha ha when have I declared]. Twitter. Retrieved 19 September 2011.</ref> On 22 April, he appeared on a celebrity edition of ''[[Deal or No Deal]]'', where he won 50p for his chosen charity, Brainwave, a local charity based in Murs' home town of which he had become a patron, for children with brain conditions such as [[cerebral palsy]] or developmental delay.<ref>[http://www.brainwave.org.uk Brainwave – Helping Children achieve their potential]. Brainwave Centre. Retrieved 5 October 2012.</ref>

On 27 May 2012, Murs played for England in a charity match for [[Soccer Aid]] at [[Old Trafford]], but was taken off in the first half due to a hamstring injury. England ended up winning the match in a 3–1 victory against the rest of the world. This was the second time Murs had played for the England Team at Soccer Aid. He played back in 2010, a third time in 2014 and made a fourth appearance in 2016. He is also a patron for the [[Nordoff-Robbins]] music therapy charity,<ref>[http://www.nordoff-robbins.org.uk/content/get-involved/why-support-us Why support us? – Music Transforming Lives] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019120244/http://www.nordoff-robbins.org.uk/content/get-involved/why-support-us |date=19 October 2012 }}. Nordoff-Robbins. Retrieved 5 October 2012.</ref> and more recently he has become a patron for the Rays of Sunshine Children's Charity, who grant wishes to seriously or terminally ill children aged 3–18 in the United Kingdom.<ref>[https://www.raysofsunshine.org.uk/news/view.php?Id=137 News – Rays of Sunshine] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605212443/https://www.raysofsunshine.org.uk/news/view.php?Id=137 |date=5 June 2013 }}. Rays of Sunshine Children's Charity. 1 October 2012. Retrieved 5 October 2012.</ref> On 21 March 2014, Murs took part in the Clash of the Titans event in aid for [[Sport Relief 2014]] as part of [[Sebastian Coe]]'s team, Team Coe who were crowned champions. He took part in Men's Cycling Elimination and Rhythmic Gymnastics.

In June 2021, Murs organised the "Climb for Caroline", a sponsored climb of mountain peaks in the [[Lake District]]. The walk intended to raise money for the mental health support charity [[Samaritans (charity)|Samaritans]], and named after Caroline Flack, who had died the previous February.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-57466307|title=Olly Murs and friends of Caroline Flack in Lake District peaks challenge|work=BBC News|date=14 June 2021|access-date=14 June 2021|archive-date=16 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210616190456/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-57466307|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Presenting===
On 4 April 2011, Murs stood in for [[Comedy Dave|Comedy Dave Vitty]] on ''[[The Chris Moyles Show]]'' on [[BBC Radio 1|Radio 1]] for one week while Vitty was rehearsing for ''[[Dancing on Ice]]''.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00zqfmd BBC – BBC Radio 1 Programmes – The Chris Moo yles Show, Tuesday – Olly has to win it to sing it]. BBC. Retrieved 30 August 2012.</ref> In 2011, Murs appeared on [[CBBC (TV channel)|CBBC]]'s children's hidden camera show Remote Control Star.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00yb1s0 BBC – CBBC Programmes – Remote Control Star, Olly Murs] BBC. Retrieved 30 August 2012.</ref> At the end of May 2011, Murs presented a Celebrity Club Classics show on [[Heart FM]]. He went on to present a Celebrity Special over the Christmas Period in 2011<ref>[http://www.heart.co.uk/on-air/celebrity-special-olly-murs/ On Air – Heart – Celebrity Special with Olly Murs] Heart Essex. Retrieved 30 August 2012.</ref> and again in 2012. On 31 May 2011, it was confirmed that Murs would be co-presenting the [[The X Factor (UK series 8)|eighth series]] of ''[[The Xtra Factor (UK TV series)|The Xtra Factor]]'' alongside [[Caroline Flack]].<ref>{{cite web |url= https://twitter.com/TheXFactor/status/75650579753472001 |title=@carolineflack1 and Olly Murs @ollyofficial confirmed as hosts on Xtra Factor for a pay rise! #xfactor |first=Stephen |last=Saul |date=31 May 2011 |work=The X Factor |publisher=Twitter |access-date=31 May 2011}}</ref> On 10 November 2011, Murs turned on the Christmas Lights at [[Cribbs Causeway]] in [[South Gloucestershire]], where 7,000 fans attended. Murs concluded his appearance with a performance of "Dance with Me Tonight", the first time he had performed the song live. On 2 December, Murs appeared on ''[[The Late Late Toy Show]]'' with [[Ryan Tubridy]], a popular television show in Ireland.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/tv-radio/tubridy-in-stitches-after-toy-show-jumpers-labelled-a-crime-2947867.html |title=Tubridy in stitches after Toy Show jumpers labelled a crime |date=29 November 2011 |first=Ken |last=Sweeney |work=[[Irish Independent]] |location= Dublin |access-date=29 November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/ten/2011/1202/thelatelateshow.html |title=Tubridy reveals the Toy Show set |date=2 December 2011 |work=RTÉ Ten |publisher=[[Raidió Teilifís Éireann]] |access-date=2 December 2011}}</ref>

On 1 February 2012, Murs began his 22-date arena tour, starting with an audience of 20,000 in [[Cardiff]]. Due to his international release and touring with [[One Direction]] over the summer, he was not present for the [[The Xtra Factor (British TV series)|Xtra Factor]] audition, boot camp and judges' houses stages of this year's series, but did however record some special segments with selected auditionees that were broadcast in these episodes. He returned to the show full-time with Flack on the first live show of the series on 6 October 2012. In April 2013, it was confirmed that Murs had quit his role as co-presenter of ''The Xtra Factor'' to concentrate on his music career. He was replaced by [[Matt Richardson]].{{citation needed|date=November 2017}}

In June 2014, Murs along with [[Rio Ferdinand]] presented ''World Cup's 50 Greatest Moments'' on [[BBC Three]] on the run up to the [[2014 FIFA World Cup|World Cup 2014]].

On 12 December 2014, Murs performed and presented his ITV special ''A Night In With Olly Murs''. The show featured him performing some of his songs as well as photobomb with [[Nicole Scherzinger]], prank [[Caroline Flack]], appear in a special episode of ''[[EastEnders]]'' and lip sync with [[John Bishop (comedian)|John Bishop]].

On 25 December 2014, Murs reunited with Flack to co-present a Christmas Day radio show on British radio station [[Magic Radio (London radio station)|Magic]]. They later did another radio show for Magic on New Year's Eve.

On 16 April 2015, it was confirmed that Murs and Flack would take over from [[Dermot O'Leary]] as the presenters of twelfth series of ''The X Factor''. However, on 22 February 2016, Flack and Murs confirmed that they would not be returning to the thirteenth series of ''[[The X Factor (UK TV series)|The X Factor]]'' and were permanently replaced by [[Dermot O'Leary]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/the-x-factor/news/a784324/the-x-factor-now-caroline-flack-officially-quits-just-hours-after-co-host-olly-murs-but-says-shes-had-a-brilliant-time|title=Caroline Flack follows Olly Murs and quits The X Factor|date=22 February 2016|website=Digitalspy.com|access-date=13 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2016/mar/29/dermot-oleary-returns-to-x-factor-run-dermot-run-while-you-still-can-|title=Run, Dermot! Run while you still can! Dermot O'Leary returns to X Factor|last=Heritage|first=Stuart|date=29 March 2016|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=21 April 2016}}</ref>

On 18 December 2015, Murs and Flack served as presenters for ITV's Christmas telethon [[Text Santa]].

On 26 July 2016, Murs served as both a guest and guest panelist on ''[[Loose Women]]'' in place of [[Katie Price]] who had fallen ill.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://metro.co.uk/2016/07/26/olly-murs-becomes-a-loose-woman-as-he-replaces-sick-katie-price-6030402/|title=Olly Murs becomes a Loose Woman as he replaces 'sick' Katie Price|first=Rebecca|last=Lewis|date=26 July 2016|work=Metro|location=UK|access-date=14 January 2017}}</ref>

On 15 December 2018, Murs hosted an [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] special titled ''Happy Hour with Olly Murs''. He invited several guests, including [[Bradley Walsh]], [[Tom Jones (singer)|Tom Jones]], [[Emma Willis]], [[Megan McKenna]], [[Rochelle Humes]], [[Chris & Kem|Chris Hughes]] and [[Kem Cetinay]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.whatsontv.co.uk/events/happy-hour-olly-murs-itv-15-dec-18/|title=Happy Hour with Olly Murs – ITV|last=TV|first=What' s on|website=What' s on TV|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-15}}</ref>

In April 2021, it was announced that Murs will present an ITV talent show series titled ''Starstruck''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.list.co.uk/article/125305-itv-confirm-starstruck/|title = ITV confirm Starstruck|date = 9 April 2021}}</ref>

===Acting===
In 2019, Murs made his acting debut as the voice of Spike the Doberman in a two-part special of the [[Disney Channel]] series ''[[101 Dalmatian Street]]'' titled "A Summer to Remember".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://tellymix.co.uk/reality-tv/the-voice/395840-olly-murs-lands-first-acting-role-as-spike-the-cornish-doberman-in-new-disneys-101-dalmatian-street.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=17 March 2019 |archive-date=22 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622195818/https://tellymix.co.uk/reality-tv/the-voice/395840-olly-murs-lands-first-acting-role-as-spike-the-cornish-doberman-in-new-disneys-101-dalmatian-street.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Murs made his voice acting film debut in ''[[Spies in Disguise]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Chilton |first=Louis |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/film/2019-12-16/olly-murs-joins-will-smith-and-tom-holland-in-cast-of-spies-in-disguise/ |title=Olly Murs joins Will Smith and Tom Holland in Spies In Disguise |publisher=[[Radio Times]] |date=2019-12-16 |access-date=2020-04-25}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Murs lived with his twin brother Ben and parents Vicky and Pete Murs until [[Easter]] 2012, when he moved into a five-bedroom house of his own in [[Toot Hill, Essex]]. He is an avid supporter of [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] and also he is a supporter and chairman of local side [[Coggeshall Town F.C.|Coggeshall Town]].<ref name="Papa" />

Olly stated on ''[[The Jonathan Ross Show]]'' in March 2015 that Ben was estranged from his parents and that the incident stemmed from Murs not being able to attend Ben's wedding because of ''[[The X Factor (British TV series)|X Factor]]'' commitments.<ref name="jr810">''[[The Jonathan Ross Show]]'', Series 8, Episode 10; 28 March 2015.</ref>

In 2015, Murs first opened up about ongoing [[Mental health|mental health issues]], admitting that he turned to [[Alcohol abuse|alcohol]] to cope with [[Depression (mood)|depression]] caused by the pressure of a new career during his time on the X Factor tour.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://heatworld.com/celebrity/news/olly-murs-opens-post-x-factor-depression-drinking-problem-like-zombie/|title=Olly Murs opens up about post-X Factor depression and drinking problem: "I was like a zombie"|date=2015-01-12|website=Heat|language=en|access-date=2019-08-07}}</ref> In 2016, he experienced [[Generalized anxiety disorder|anxiety]] and [[panic attack]]s after facing stark criticism about his short lived career as a presenter for ''[[The Xtra Factor (British TV series)|The Xtra Factor]]''. Appearing for a "routine performance" on the ''[[The Graham Norton Show|Graham Norton Show]]'' to promote his new music, Murs was struck with sudden, overwhelming panic, stating his "heart was pounding" and he "couldn't breathe".<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.irishmirror.ie/showbiz/celebrity-news/olly-murs-suffered-terrifying-panic-14151947|title=Olly Murs suffered terrifying panic attack as he forgot lyrics to his own song|last=Irishmirror.ie|date=2019-03-17|website=irishmirror|access-date=2019-08-07}}</ref> He continued to experience panic attacks when he was confirmed as a coach for ''The Voice UK'', which led to him seeking therapy to cope with his anxiety.<ref name=":0" /> He went on to write the song "Talking to Yourself" about his anxiety and encourages other men to speak up about their mental health.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.celebretainment.com/music/olly-murs-encouraging-fans-to-open-up-about-mental-health/article_3114351a-ef56-5638-92d1-980282715a39.html|title=Olly Murs encouraging fans to open up about mental health|last=Celebretainment|first=By|website=Celebretainment|language=en|access-date=2019-08-07}}</ref>

On 24 November 2017, Murs was caught up in the [[Oxford Circus panic]] while shopping in [[Selfridges, Oxford Street]]. He was criticised by the police and the media for tweeting false claims about gunshots in Selfridges, and for alleging in April 2018 that the police had covered up a terrorist attack in the shop.<ref name="OxfordCircus">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/oxford-circus-olly-murs-gunshots-selfridges-piers-morgan-a8075331.html|title=Oxford Circus incident: Olly Murs defends Tweets mistakenly claiming 'gunshots' in Selfridges|newspaper=The Independent|date=25 November 2017|access-date=3 September 2020|first=Jack|last=Shepherd}}</ref><ref name="NMEOxfordCircus">{{cite news|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/olly-murs-hints-oxford-circus-terror-attack-scare-cover-2286964|title=Police respond to Olly Murs' suggestion of Oxford Circus terror attack 'cover up'|first=Nick|last=Reilly|date=9 April 2018|access-date=3 September 2020|newspaper=NME}}</ref>

==Discography==
{{Main|Olly Murs discography}}
* ''[[Olly Murs (album)|Olly Murs]]'' (2010)
* ''[[In Case You Didn't Know]]'' (2011)
* ''[[Right Place Right Time (album)|Right Place Right Time]]'' (2012)
* ''[[Never Been Better]]'' (2014)
* ''[[24 Hrs (album)|24 Hrs]]'' (2016)
* ''[[You Know I Know (album)|You Know I Know]]'' (2018)

==Concert tours==

===Headlining===
* [[In Case You Didn't Know#Tour|In Case You Didn't Know Tour]] {{small|(2012)}}
* [[Right Place Right Time Tour]] {{small|(2013)}}
* [[Never Been Better Tour]] {{small|(2015)}}
* [[24 Hrs Tour]] {{small|(2017)}}
* [[You Know I Know (album)#Tour|You Know I Know Tour]] {{small|(2019)}}
* Summer Tour {{small|(2021)}}

===Supporting===
* [[JLS]]'s [[Outta This World]] tour (UK leg) (2011)
* [[One Direction]]'s [[Up All Night Tour]] (USA leg) (2012)
* [[Robbie Williams]]'s [[Take the Crown Stadium Tour]] (2013)

== Filmography ==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 2009, 2015
|''[[The X Factor (UK TV series)|The X Factor]]''
| rowspan="16" | Himself
| Contestant (2009) Co–presenter (2015)
|-
| 2010, 2011
|''[[Never Mind the Buzzcocks]]''
| Guest panelist (Series 24 Episode 5 and Series 25 Episode 7)
|-
| 2011–2012
|''[[The Xtra Factor (UK TV series)|The Xtra Factor]]''
| Presenter
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2011
|''[[8 Out of 10 Cats]]''
| Guest panelist (Series 12 Episode 9)
|-
|''Olly Murs Ye Olde Christmas Carol''
| Presenter
|-
|''An Olly Good Christmurs''
| Presenter
|-
| 2013
|''[[90210 (TV series)|90210]]''
| Season 5 Episode 19: ''The Empire State Strikes Back''
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2014
|''A Night In With Olly Murs''
| Presenter
|-
|''An Olly Jolly Christmurs''
| Presenter for [[Heart TV]]'s Christmas line-up
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2015
|''[[Text Santa]]''
| Co-presenter
|-
|''[[Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway]]''
|Guest; Undercover victim, Series 12 Episode 1
|-
| 2017
|''[[John Bishop: In Conversation With...]]''
|Guest, Series 2 Episode 2
|-
| 2018–present
|''[[The Voice UK]]''
|Coach/Judge
|-
|2018
|''[[Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway]]''
| Guest announcer
|-
|2018
|''Happy Hour with Olly Murs''
| Host
|-
| rowspan="3" |2019
|''[[All Round to Mrs. Brown's]]''
|Guest and Music Performer, Series 3 Episode 2
|-
|''[[101 Dalmatian Street]]''
| Spike
| Voice role; "A Summer to Remember"
|-
|''[[Spies in Disguise]]''
| Junior Agent #1
| Voice role
|-
|2020
|''[[Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway]]''
|Himself
|Guest and Music Performer, Series 16 Episode 5
|-
|2022
|''Starstruck''
|Himself
|Presenter
|}

==Awards and nominations==

===BBC Radio 1 Teen Awards===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:75%;"
|-
! width=5%|Year
! style="width:40%;"| Nominated
! style="width:45%;"| Award
! style="width:10%;"| Result
|-
||2011
| ''Olly Murs''
| Best British Album
| rowspan="6" {{nom}}
|-
||2013
| Olly Murs
| Best British Solo Artist
|}

===BRIT Awards===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:75%;"
|-
! width=5%|Year
! style="width:40%;"| Nominated
! style="width:45%;"| Award
! style="width:10%;"| Result
|-
|| 2011
| "Please Don't Let Me Go"
| rowspan="2"| [[BRIT Award for British Single of the Year|British Single of the Year]]
| rowspan="6" {{nom}}
|-
|| 2012
| "Heart Skips a Beat" (featuring [[Rizzle Kicks]])
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2013
| Olly Murs
| [[BRIT Award for British Male Solo Artist|British Male Solo Artist]]
|-
| "Troublemaker" (featuring [[Flo Rida]])
| rowspan="3"| [[BRIT Award for British Single of the Year|British Single of the Year]]
|-
|| 2014
| "Dear Darlin'"
|-
|| 2016
| "Up" (featuring [[Demi Lovato]])
|}

===Ivor Novello Award===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:75%;"
|-
! width=5%|Year
! style="width:40%;"| Won
! style="width:45%;"| Award
! style="width:10%;"| Result
|-
||2013
|"[[Dance with Me Tonight]]"
|rowspan="2"| Most Performed Work
|rowspan="2" {{nom}}
|-
||2014
|"[[Troublemaker (Olly Murs song)|Troublemaker]]"
|}

===MTV Europe Music Awards===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:75%;"
|-
! width=5%|Year
! style="width:40%;"| Nominated
! style="width:45%;"| Award
! style="width:10%;"| Result
|-
||2013
| Olly Murs
| Best UK & Ireland Act
| {{nom}}
|}

===UK Music Video Awards===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:75%;"
|-
! width=5%|Year
! style="width:40%;"| Won
! style="width:45%;"| Award
! style="width:10%;"| Results
|-
| 2013
| ''Right Place Right Time''
| Best Music Ad – TV or Online
| rowspan="6" {{nom}}
|}

===[[Goldene Kamera|Goldene Kamera Awards]]===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:75%;"
|-
! width=5%|Year
! style="width:40%;"| Nominated
! style="width:45%;"| Award
! style="width:10%;"| Result
|-
| 2015
| ''Olly Murs''
| Best International Music<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.goldenekamera.de/bildergalerie-50-verleihung-2015/preistraeger-murs/ |language=de |title=Olly Murs |work=[[Goldene Kamera]] |access-date=1 March 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150301194314/http://www.goldenekamera.de/bildergalerie-50-verleihung-2015/preistraeger-murs/ |archive-date=1 March 2015 }}</ref>
! style="width:40%;"| Nominated
|}

===[[Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards]]===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:75%;"
|-
! width=5%|Year
! style="width:40%;"| Nominated
! style="width:45%;"| Award
! style="width:10%;"| Result
|-
| 2017
| Olly Murs
| UK Male Solo Megastar
! style="width:40%;"|Winner
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Olly Murs}}
*{{Facebook|ollymurs}}
*{{Twitter}}
*{{Instagram|ollymurs}}
*{{IMDb name|id=3638243}}
*{{Official website|http://www.ollymurs.com}}

{{Olly Murs}}
{{The X Factor contestants}}
{{The Voice (UK)}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Murs, Olly}}
[[Category:1984 births]]
[[Category:21st-century English singers]]
[[Category:English people of Latvian descent]]
[[Category:English pop singers]]
[[Category:British contemporary R&B singers]]
[[Category:English male singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:English rock singers]]
[[Category:English television presenters]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Musicians from Essex]]
[[Category:People from Witham]]
[[Category:Columbia Records artists]]
[[Category:Epic Records artists]]
[[Category:RCA Records artists]]
[[Category:Sony Music UK artists]]
[[Category:Syco Music artists]]
[[Category:Participants in British reality television series]]
[[Category:The X Factor (British TV series) contestants]]
[[Category:Twin people from the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Witham Town F.C. players]]
[[Category:Coggeshall Town F.C. players]]
[[Category:Association footballers not categorized by position]]
[[Category:21st-century British male singers]]
[[Category:English footballers]]
[[Category:Contestants on British game shows]]

The Masque of Mandragora

2022-01-29T12:17:41Z

Vodkamad: /* Plot */

{{Infobox Doctor Who episode
| number = 086
| serial_name = The Masque of Mandragora
| show = DW
| type = serial
| image =
| caption =
| doctor = [[Tom Baker]] – [[Fourth Doctor]]
| companion = [[Elisabeth Sladen]] – [[Sarah Jane Smith]]
| guests =
*[[Jon Laurimore]] – Count Federico
* [[Gareth Armstrong]] – Giuliano
* [[Tim Pigott-Smith]] – Marco
* [[Norman Jones (actor)|Norman Jones]] – Hieronymous
* [[Robert James (actor)|Robert James]] – High Priest
* Brian Ellis – Brother
* Antony Carrick – Rossini
* [[Pat Gorman]] – Soldier
* [[Jay Neill (actor)|Jay Neill]], Peter Walshe – Pikemen
* James Appleby, John Clamp – Guards
* [[Peter Tuddenham]] – Voice
* Peggy Dixon, Jack Edwards, Alistair Fullarton, Michael Reid, Kathy Wolff – Dancers
* [[Stuart Fell]] – Entertainer
| director = [[Rodney Bennett]]
| writer = [[Louis Marks]]
| script_editor = [[Robert Holmes (scriptwriter)|Robert Holmes]]
| producer = [[Philip Hinchcliffe]]
| executive_producer = None
| composer = [[Dudley Simpson]]
| production_code = 4M
| series = [[Doctor Who (season 14)|Season 14]]
| length = 4 episodes, 25 minutes each
| date = 4–25 September 1976
| preceding = ''[[The Seeds of Doom]]''
| following = ''[[The Hand of Fear]]''
}}

'''''The Masque of Mandragora''''' is the first serial of the [[Doctor Who (season 14)|14th season]] of the British [[science fiction television]] series ''[[Doctor Who]]'', which was first broadcast in four weekly parts on [[BBC1]] from 4 to 25 September 1976.

The serial is set in the fictional European duchy of San Martino in the late 15th century. In the serial, the [[Astrology|astrologer]] Hieronymous ([[Norman Jones (actor)|Norman Jones]]) seeks to summon the power of an intelligence called the Mandragora Helix to rule the Earth.

==Plot==
{{Long plot|date=June 2018}}
The Doctor shows [[Sarah Jane Smith|Sarah]] some of the [[TARDIS]] interior, and they come across the secondary console room. Activating the viewscreen, the Doctor sees a swirl of living energy in the [[Time vortex (Doctor Who)|time vortex]] – the Mandragora Helix, which starts to draw them in. The intelligence within the Helix psychically attacks them as the Doctor tries to pilot the TARDIS through it. The ship ends up inside the Helix, and the Doctor and Sarah duck behind the TARDIS as a fragment of glowing Helix energy flies by. They escape in the TARDIS, not knowing that the fragment has entered with them.

In 15th century San Martino in Italy, a peasant revolt is violently put down by Count Federico and his men, led by Captain Rossini. In a palace, Federico's brother, the Duke of San Martino, lies dying, attended to by his son Giuliano and Giuliano's companion Marco. The Duke's death had been foretold by Hieronymous, the court [[astrology|astrologer]], but Giuliano, a man of science, does not believe in such superstition. In fact, Hieronymous is working for Federico, and the horoscope's prediction of the Duke's death was helped along by poison. Hieronymous tells the Count that he feels his powers are growing, but all Federico wants is for the astrologer to foretell Giuliano's death next, and he will take care of the rest.

The TARDIS materialises in a field near San Martino, and when the Doctor and Sarah exit, the energy fragment flies out of the TARDIS, unseen. Sarah wanders off and is kidnapped by a group of men in hooded robes. The Doctor tries to rescue her but is knocked out, and when he awakes he witnesses the energy fragment fly towards and kill a peasant. Searching for Sarah, the Doctor is confronted by the Count's men and arrested.

At the court, the Doctor tells Federico that the energy fragment could spell the end of the world. The Count at first thinks the Doctor is a seer, like Hieronymous, but when the astrologer quizzes the Doctor, it becomes clear that the Doctor does not believe in any of it. Federico orders the Doctor to be executed as a spy. Meanwhile, Sarah is brought before a priest and told that she is the foretold sacrifice to Demnos, the Roman god of moonlight and solstice. In the palace courtyard, the Doctor is led to the executioner.

Before the executioner's sword lands, the Doctor unfurls his scarf and hooks it around the executioner's ankle, throwing him off balance. The Doctor escapes and finds his way into catacombs beneath the city. The guards, fearing the Brethren of Demnos who reside in those passages, stop their pursuit. Inside, Sarah is laid out on an altar. A purple-robed figure is about to stab her when the Doctor snatches Sarah away, just as the fragment appears in the chamber, suffusing it with a red glow and providing a distraction for the two to escape.

Giuliano examines the body of a guard who was killed earlier by the fragment, and while he does not know the cause of the guard's death, he dismisses ideas that it was some kind of fire demon. The Doctor and Sarah are found by palace guards. In the temple, the Helix manifests itself as a pillar of red light and tells the purple-robed figure that he will be given undreamed-of powers to carry out its will on Earth and become the planet's supreme ruler. After the Helix vanishes, the figure removes his mask, revealing the face of Hieronymous.

The guards take the Doctor and Sarah to Giuliano, who shows him the dead guard's body and tells the Doctor of fears that if Federico rules San Martino, all knowledge and learning will be suppressed. Elsewhere, Federico discovers that Giuliano has invited several nobles to San Martino to celebrate his succession to the Dukedom. Angered, Federico demands Hieronymous make up a new horoscope and poison Giuliano before the next evening.

The Doctor deduces that the Helix chose San Martino because the Brethren provided a ready-made power base. The Doctor asserts that the 15th century was the transition between the [[Dark Ages (historiography)|Dark Ages]] and the dawn of the [[Renaissance]] – the Helix could gain control of the Earth now through a new religion. The Doctor tells Giuliano the temple must be destroyed. They go to the temple, and the Doctor enters the catacombs alone. Giuliano tells Sarah that he and a few others believe that the earth is a sphere ([[Myth of the flat Earth|although that was common knowledge of the day]]).

As the Doctor enters the main chamber the Helix attacks him psychically. Rossini informs Federico of Giuliano's trip to the temple, and the Count decides to kill his "pagan" nephew. The guards corner Giuliano and attack. Sarah runs into the catacombs calling for the Doctor, but is caught by the Brethren.

The Helix attack stops, but the Doctor is prevented from venturing further into the temple. He leaves to find Giuliano fighting the guards and joins in. Giuliano is wounded, and suddenly, the Brethren emerge from the forest and force the guards to retreat. The Doctor and Giuliano enter the catacombs. Sarah is brought back to the astrologer's chambers where she is left gagged as the Priest and Hieronymous talk. The priest is eager to sacrifice Sarah, but Hieronymous decides to use her as bait for the Doctor. Hieronymous allowed the Brethren to save Giuliano because the young prince may still have value. Sarah is hypnotised to believe the Doctor is an evil sorcerer. Hieronymous gives her a poisoned needle to kill the Doctor.

At the palace, the invited nobles begin to arrive, and Federico realizes he does not have much time to eliminate Giuliano, but Rossini is unable to find Giuliano in San Martino. Hieronymous warns Federico that his life is in danger. Federico scoffs, believing Hieronymous to be a fraud, but is suspicious enough to tell Rossini to banish Hieronymous from the city.

In the catacombs, Giuliano and the Doctor find Sarah, who cannot remember anything after her capture by the cult. They reach the palace dungeons through a secret passage. The Doctor confronts Hieronymous, whom he has deduced is the leader of the Brethren, in his rooms. Sarah secretly follows, trying to carry out her post-hypnotic orders. When the Doctor speaks to Hieronymous, Sarah sneaks up behind him with the needle, but the Doctor snaps her out of the trance, just as the guards come for Hieronymous. The astrologer escapes, but the guards capture the Doctor, Sarah, and Giuliano.

In the dungeons, Federico accuses the prisoners of being followers of Demnos. Rossini rushes in, informing the Count that members of the Brethren are gathering on the streets and moving towards the temple. The Doctor tries to convince Federico that Hieronymous is the real threat. Federico takes the Doctor with him and some guards, leaving the others as hostages. In the temple, Hieronymous summons the Helix, which begins infusing him and his followers with power. Disguised in hoods, the Doctor, Federico and the guards enter and witness the ceremony. Federico steps forward, calls Hieronymous a traitor, and rips off the golden mask, only to reveal glowing energy in place of a face. Hieronymous raises a finger, and electrical energy stabs out at the Count, reducing him to ashes.

Hieronymous then fires at and kills the two guards as well, but does not seem to have seen the Doctor. The Doctor joins the circle around the Helix as Hieronymous announces that Mandragora will swallow the [[moon]] the next evening and then the Brethren will strike. The Doctor slips away unnoticed. Back in the palace dungeons, Rossini is about to kill the prisoners when the Doctor arrives and reveals that Federico is dead. The guards change their allegiance to Giuliano and take Rossini into custody. The Doctor observes that the Brethren are still a danger. He tells Giuliano to fortify the palace in preparation for their attack.

In the meantime, the Brethren are driving people out of the city, isolating the palace. Giuliano wants to cancel the [[masque]] that will celebrate his accession, but Marco is confident they can defend the palace against the Brethren. The Doctor calculates there will be a lunar eclipse that evening – Mandragora swallowing the Moon – and when the Helix takes over, it will remove all sense of purpose from mankind. Right now, however, the Helix energy is spread thinly over all the Brethren, and it could be exhausted. He asks Giuliano for a breastplate and a length of wire. Wearing the breastplate under his coat, if he has guessed right about the nature of Helix energy, he could drain it off.

Hieronymous knows of a secret way into the palace, and he intends to infiltrate his men under cover of the masque. The Doctor makes his way into the temple and [[Ground (electricity)|grounds]] the altar with wire. Hieronymous addresses the Doctor as "[[Time Lord]]", and says that Earth has to be possessed; if mankind's ambition is not checked, it will eventually spread into the Galaxy and the powers of Mandragora will not allow a rival within their domain. Hieronymous fires repeated bolts of energy into the Doctor's chest, knocking him back painfully, but the Doctor survives.

At the masque, the Brethren make their appearance, and the masqueraders run about in panic as they fire into the crowd. Hieronymous then appears and tells the Brethren to take the others into the temple for the final sacrifice. The Moon goes into eclipse, and the Brethren place their hands on the altar as a ball of Helix energy descends. However, it consumes the Brethren, expanding and then fading away. "Hieronymous" removes his mask – it was the Doctor, imitating the cult leader's voice. The Doctor explains it as a case of "energy squared", putting the Mandragora Helix back where it came from.

The Doctor and Sarah make their goodbyes to Giuliano. Just before they leave in the TARDIS, the Doctor tells Sarah that while Giuliano will not have any more trouble with Mandragora, humanity will. The constellation will be in position at about the end of the 20th century.

==Production==
Working titles for this story included ''The Catacombs of Death'' and ''The Curse of Mandragora''. The ultimate name references the masque, entertainment performed by masked players, that later plays a key role in the plot.

Location shooting for the serial was done at the resort of [[Portmeirion]] in Wales,<ref>
{{cite web
|url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/arts/sites/doctor-who-wales/alllocations/gwynedd-portmeirion
|title= Walesarts, Portmeirion, Gwynedd
|publisher = BBC
|access-date = 2010-05-30
}}
</ref> better known as the setting for the cult series ''[[The Prisoner]]''.

===Cast notes===
Tim Pigott-Smith previously played Captain Harker in ''[[The Claws of Axos]]'' (1971).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/clawsofaxos/detail.shtml|title=BBC – Doctor Who Classic Episode Guide – ''The Claws of Axos'' – Details|website=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> Norman Jones previously played Khrisong in ''[[The Abominable Snowmen]]'' (1967)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/abominablesnowmen/detail.shtml|title=BBC – Doctor Who Classic Episode Guide – ''The Abominable Snowmen'' – Details|website=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> and Major Baker in ''[[Doctor Who and the Silurians]]'' (1970).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/silurians/detail.shtml|title=BBC – Doctor Who Classic Episode Guide – ''Doctor Who and the Silurians'' – Details|website=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> Robert James had previously played Lesterson in ''[[The Power of the Daleks]]'' (1966).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/powerdaleks/detail.shtml|title=BBC – Doctor Who Classic Episode Guide – ''The Power of the Daleks'' – Details|website=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref>

==Themes and analysis==
Martin Wiggins, senior lecturer and fellow at the [[Shakespeare Institute]] at Stratford-upon-Avon, has compared this story's plot with ''[[Hamlet]]'': "It has an inexperienced, intellectual prince, a usurping duke, and a debate about the conflict between science and religion that recalls Hamlet's musings on the nature of the supernatural world."<ref name="indy hamlet">{{cite news |first=Matthew |last=Sweet |author-link=Matthew Sweet (writer) |title=Who is Hamlet: Playing the Time Lord is perfect preparation for David Tennant's new role |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/film-and-tv/features/who-is-hamlet-playing-the-time-lord-is-perfect-preparation-for-david-tennants-new-role-870518.html |work=[[The Independent]] |date=2008-07-20 |access-date=2008-07-20 }}</ref>

==Broadcast and reception==
{{Episode table
|background =
|series = 6 |title = 20 | aux1=6 | airdate = 10 | viewers = 6 | country = UK
|seriesT = Episode
|aux1T = Run time
|viewersR = <ref name="AllRatings" />
|episodes =
{{Episode list/sublist|The Masque of Mandragora
|EpisodeNumber = 1
|Title = Part One
|RTitle =
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1976|9|4|df=y}}
|Viewers = 8.3
|Aux1 = 24:31
|LineColor =
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|The Masque of Mandragora
|EpisodeNumber = 2
|Title = Part Two
|RTitle =
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1976|9|11|df=y}}
|Viewers = 9.8
|Aux1 = 24:44
|LineColor =
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|The Masque of Mandragora
|EpisodeNumber = 3
|Title = Part Three
|RTitle =
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1976|9|18|df=y}}
|Viewers = 9.2
|Aux1 = 24:34
|LineColor =
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|The Masque of Mandragora
|EpisodeNumber = 4
|Title = Part Four
|RTitle =
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1976|9|25|df=y}}
|Viewers = 10.6
|Aux1 = 24:45
|LineColor =
}}
}}

[[Paul Cornell]], [[Martin Day (writer)|Martin Day]], and [[Keith Topping]] wrote of the serial in ''[[The Discontinuity Guide]]'' (1995), "One of the few metaphors in ''Doctor Who'' history (nasty alien energy mass = superstition and scientific ignorance) is blurred by the lack of actual scientific understanding that the story exhibits. Looks and sounds great, though."<ref name="discontinuity">{{cite book |title=[[The Discontinuity Guide]] |last1=Cornell |first1=Paul |author-link1=Paul Cornell |last2=Day |first2=Martin |author-link2=Martin Day (writer) |last3=Topping |first3=Keith |author-link3=Keith Topping |year=1995 |publisher=[[Virgin Books]] |location=London |isbn=0-426-20442-5 |chapter=The Masque of Mandragora|chapter-url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/masquemandragora/detail.shtml }}</ref> In ''The Television Companion'' (1998), David J. Howe and Stephen James Walker reported that viewers had a mixed reaction to the serial, according to the BBC's Audience Research Report, but there had been a majority of "moderate approval".<ref name="television companion">{{cite book | author = [[David J. Howe|Howe, David J]] & [[Stephen James Walker|Walker, Stephen James]] | year = 1998 | title = Doctor Who: The Television Companion | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/masquemandragora/detail.shtml| edition = 1st | location = London | publisher = [[BBC Books]] | isbn = 978-0-563-40588-7 }}</ref> Howe and Walker themselves commended the "very well written and highly intelligent" scripts, the "polished production", and strong cast.<ref name="television companion"/> In 2010, Patrick Mulkern of ''[[Radio Times]]'' described the serial as "polished" with "an air of confidence in the writing and performances". He praised the masked ball ending and the costumes and music, and remarked that "perhaps the only feeble note is the representation of the Helix".<ref name="Radio Times">{{cite web|first=Patrick|last=Mulkern|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2010-08-14/the-masque-of-mandragora|title=Doctor Who: The Masque of Mandragora|work=[[Radio Times]]|date=14 August 2010|access-date=9 October 2013}}</ref> [[DVD Talk]]'s Ian Jane gave ''The Masque of Mandragora'' three and a half out of five stars, calling it "pretty entertaining stuff". While he felt that "it's a bit predictable and most of the supporting cast is surprisingly poorly defined", he praised Baker and the atmosphere of the serial and wrote that ultimately the good outweighs the bad.<ref name="DVD Talk">{{cite web|first=Ian|last=Jane|url=http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/41945/doctor-who-the-masque-of-mandragora/|title=Doctor Who: The Masque of Mandragora|publisher=[[DVD Talk]]|date=19 May 2010|access-date=9 August 2013}}</ref>

==Commercial releases==
===In print===
{{Infobox book
|name = Doctor Who and the Masque of Mandragora
|image = Doctor Who and the Masque of Mandragora.jpg
|caption =
|author = [[Philip Hinchcliffe]]
|cover_artist = Mike Little
|series = ''[[Doctor Who]]'' book: [[List of Doctor Who novelisations|Target novelisations]]
|release_number = 42
|release_date = 8 December 1977
|publisher = [[Target Books]]
|pages =
|isbn= 0-426-11893-6
}}
A novelisation of this serial, written by [[Philip Hinchcliffe]], was published by [[Target Books]] in December 1977. A French translation of it was published in 1987. An unabridged reading of the novelisation read by Tim Pigott-Smith was released by BBC Audiobooks in April 2009.

===Home media===
This story was released on [[VHS]] in August 1991, on DVD on 8 February 2010, and as part of the Season 14 Collection on Bluray on 4 May 2020. This serial was also released as part of the ''[[Doctor Who DVD Files]]'' in issue 64 on 15 June 2011.

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="AllRatings">{{cite web|title=Ratings Guide |url=http://guide.doctorwhonews.net/info.php?detail=ratings&type=date |website=Doctor Who News |access-date=28 May 2017}}</ref>
}}

==External links==
{{wikiquote|Fourth Doctor}}
* {{BBCCDW|id=masquemandragora|title=The Masque of Mandragora}}

===Target novelisation===
*{{Isfdb title|id=10618|title=Doctor Who and the Masque of Mandragora}}

{{Doctor Who episodes|C14}}
{{Fourth Doctor stories|selected=Television}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Masque Of Mandragora, The}}
[[Category:Fourth Doctor serials]]
[[Category:Doctor Who pseudohistorical serials]]
[[Category:Doctor Who serials novelised by Philip Hinchcliffe]]
[[Category:Television episodes set in Italy]]
[[Category:1976 British television episodes]]
[[Category:Fiction set in the 15th century]]

Christopher Bowen

2022-01-07T13:29:31Z

Vodkamad: /* Filmography */

{{short description|British actor}}
{{for|other people named Christopher Bowen|Christopher Bowen (disambiguation)}}
{{BLP sources|date=February 2009}}
'''Christopher Bowen''' (born 20 October 1959) is a [[United Kingdom|British]] actor.

Bowen was educated at the Cathedral School, Llandaff, [[Radley College]],<ref name="radley">{{cite web| url=http://radleyarchives.co.uk/browse/magazines/the-old-radleian/the-old-radleian-2010-present/the-old-radleian-2010/4818 | title=News & Notes | work=The Old Radleian | publisher=[[Radley College]] | location=UK | date=2010 | accessdate=29 April 2017 }}</ref> and [[Magdalene College]], [[Cambridge University]].{{citation needed|date=April 2017}} He trained at the [[Bristol Old Vic Theatre School|Old Vic Theatre School]] in [[Bristol]] and spent three years with the [[Royal Shakespeare Company|RSC]] in the 1980s.{{citation needed|date=April 2017}} Other theatre credits include the title role in "[[Macbeth]]" at the [[Southwark Playhouse]], Laertes in "[[Hamlet]]" at the [[Young Vic]], Veit Kunz in "Franziska" at the Gate Theatre, Oberon in "[[A Midsummer Night's Dream]]" for the City of London Festival, Maecenas in "[[Antony and Cleopatra]]" at the [[Haymarket Theatre]].

His [[television]] credits include: Mr Briggs in "[[Jane Eyre]]" for the BBC, [[Alastair Campbell]] in ''"Why We Went to War"'' for C4, Ant Johnson in "[[Holby City]]", Richard Carey in "[[Murder in Mesopotamia]]" (Poirot), ''[[Dempsey and Makepeace]]'', ''[[Knights of God]]'', John Dexter in ''[[Tanamera – Lion of Singapore]]'', [[Mordred]] in the ''[[Doctor Who]]'' serial "[[Battlefield (Doctor Who)|Battlefield]]", ''Little Lord Fauntleroy'', ''[[Waiting for God (TV series)|Waiting for God]]'', ''Castles'', ''[[Peak Practice]]'', ''[[Heartbeat (UK TV series)|Heartbeat]]'', ''[[Doctors (2000 TV series)|Doctors]]'', ''[[Rosemary & Thyme]]'' and the [[Darkman (character)|title role]] in an unaired pilot of ''[[Darkman]]''.

His film credits include: Commander Day in the [[James Bond]] [[film]] ''[[Tomorrow Never Dies]]'', Charles Fairford in ''[[Cold Comfort Farm]]'' directed by [[John Schlesinger]], the Prince of Wales in ''[[Richard III (1995 film)|Richard III]]'', Hamilton in ''[[Gaudi Afternoon]]'' directed by [[Susan Seidelman]].

==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Film
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
|1995|| ''[[Richard III (1995 film)|Richard III]]'' || Prince Edward ||
|-
|1995|| ''[[Cold Comfort Farm (film)|Cold Comfort Farm]]''|| Charles Fairford || Originally a TV Movie, but then theatrically released
|-
|1997|| ''[[Tomorrow Never Dies]]'' || Cmdr. Richard Day (HMS Devonshire) ||
|-
|2001|| ''[[Gaudi Afternoon]]'' || Hamilton ||
|-
|2003|| ''[[Monsieur N.]]'' || Col. Bingham ||
|-
|2016|| ''Maigret Sets a Trap'' || Inspector Lefors || TV Movie
|-
|2017|| ''[[On Chesil Beach (film)|On Chesil Beach]]'' || Cricket Captain
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Film
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
|1987|| ''[[Knights of God]]'' || Helicopter Pilot || 7 episodes
|-
|1989|| ''[[Tanamera – Lion of Singapore]]'' || John Dexter || 7 episodes
|-
|1989|| ''[[Doctor Who]]'' || Mordred || [[Battlefield (Doctor Who)|4 episodes]]
|-
|1995|| ''[[Castles (TV series)|Castles]]'' || Alex Milburn || 24 episodes
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.chrisbowenactor.com/ Christopher Bowen website]
* {{IMDb name|id=0100817|name=Christopher Bowen}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bowen, Christopher}}
[[Category:1959 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People educated at Radley College]]
[[Category:Alumni of Magdalene College, Cambridge]]
[[Category:British male film actors]]
[[Category:Place of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:British male television actors]]

{{UK-screen-actor-stub}}

Thriller (British TV series)

2022-01-02T23:15:07Z

Vodkamad: /* Series 1 (1973) */

{{Short description|British TV series}}
{{More citations needed|date=December 2019}}

{{Use British English|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox television
| name = Thriller
| image = Thriller title.jpg
| caption =UK opening titles
| runtime = 63–67 Min.
| audio_format = [[Monaural|Mono]]
| creator = [[Brian Clemens]]
| starring = Various
| country = UK
| network = [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]
| first_aired = {{start date|1973|4|14|df=y}}
| last_aired = {{end date|1976|5|22|df=y}}
| num_episodes = 43
}}
'''''Thriller''''' is a British television series, originally broadcast in the UK from 1973 to 1976.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nostalgiacentral.com/television/tv-by-decade/tv-shows-1970s/thriller/|title=Thriller | Nostalgia Central}}</ref> It is an anthology series: each episode has a self-contained story and its own cast.<ref name=screenonline/> As the title suggests, each story is a thriller of some variety, from tales of the supernatural to down-to-earth [[whodunit]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.markmcm.co.uk/blacknun/thriller/dvdreleases.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140829095531/http://www.markmcm.co.uk/blacknun/thriller/dvdreleases.html|archive-date=2014-08-29|title=THRILLER - The Complete Series A 16-disc Box Set From Network|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Background==

The series was created by [[Brian Clemens]], who also scripted the majority of the episodes and story-lined every installment.<ref name=screenonline>{{Cite web|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/1396589/index.html|title=BFI Screenonline: Thriller (1973-76)|website=www.screenonline.org.uk}}</ref> It was produced by [[John Sichel]] (the first 3 series), John Cooper (series 4) and Ian Fordyce (the final two series) for [[Associated Television]] (ATV) at their Elstree studios north of London.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/1396589/credits.html|title=BFI Screenonline: Thriller (1973-76) Credits|website=www.screenonline.org.uk}}</ref> The series evolved from Clemens' previous work, in particular two films in a similar style: ''[[And Soon the Darkness]]'' (1970) and ''Blind Terror'' (aka ''[[See No Evil (1971 film)|See No Evil]]'', 1971); the latter shares plot similarities with the ''Thriller'' episodes ''The Eyes Have It'' and ''The Next Voice You See''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/news-bfi/lists/five-things-watch-weekend-11-13-october|title=Five things to watch this weekend – 11-13 October|website=British Film Institute}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/see-no-evil-v43608|title=See No Evil (1971) - Richard Fleischer | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie|via=www.allmovie.com}}</ref> Original music, including the theme-tune, was supplied by Clemens' regular collaborator [[Laurie Johnson]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba16d6be6|title=Laurie Johnson|website=BFI}}</ref>

The original UK title-sequence featured still-shots of locations in the story, devoid of people, shot through a [[fisheye lens]], bordered in bright red and set to Johnson's eerie, discordant theme-music.<ref name=screenonline/> With an eye to the American re-broadcast market, most episodes, especially from the second season onwards, featured at least one American principal character, portrayed by an American actor.<ref name=tvheaven/> After originally being screened late at night in the U.S. under the [[ABC's Wide World of Entertainment|''ABC Wide World of Entertainment'']] billing from 1973, some episodes were retitled for U.S. syndication in 1978, and all had additional opening sequences shot with new titles and credits but without the original cast and, for this reason, often only featuring menacing figures seen from the neck down.<ref name=someone/><ref name=tvheaven>{{Cite web|url=https://televisionheaven.co.uk/reviews/thriller|title=Thriller|first=Laurence|last=Marcus|website=Television Heaven}}</ref> These title sequences were used in Britain when the series was repeated on regional ITV stations in the 1980s, and are also included as extras on the Complete Series box set. When the series was re-broadcast as part of [[The CBS Late Movie]] however, the original title-sequences and music were restored.

The stories were often set in the [[London commuter belt]]. A particular trademark of the series' storytelling was to hook the viewer with a simple yet totally baffling situation, of the kind seen in films such as ''[[Les Diaboliques (film)|Les Diaboliques]]'' (1955).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/473675/index.html|title=BFI Screenonline: Clemens, Brian (1931-) Biography|website=www.screenonline.org.uk}}</ref> ''Come Out Come Out, Wherever You Are'' took place at a creaky country-house hotel: a female guest begins asking about her missing travelling-companion who the owner claims was not with her upon arrival the previous evening and whom none of the other guests initially recall seeing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/come-out-come-out-wherever-you-are-v124570|title=Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are (1974) - | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie|via=www.allmovie.com}}</ref> One episode, ''Screamer'', concerns a rape-victim who murders her attacker, only to then see the man stalking her everywhere.<ref name=screamer>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/screamer-v43253|title=Screamer (1974) - Shaun O'Riordan | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie|via=www.allmovie.com}}</ref> Perhaps the most ingenious episode is the ''[[Dial M for Murder]]'' style ''The Double Kill'', in which a man hires a hitman to kill his wife, but makes a fatal error in his otherwise meticulous planning.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/the-double-kill-v125142|title=The Double Kill (1975) - | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie|via=www.allmovie.com}}</ref>

Other memorable episodes include: ''Someone at the Top of the Stairs'', one of a handful of forays into the supernatural, in which two female students move into a boarding house and begin to notice that none of the other residents ever go out or receive any mail; and ''I'm The Girl He Wants to Kill'', in which a witness to a murder finds herself trapped in a deserted office-block overnight with the killer, and is forced to play a deadly game of cat-and-mouse with him to survive (there is barely any dialogue throughout its second half).<ref name=someone>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/someone-at-the-top-of-the-stairs-v129082|title=Someone at the Top of the Stairs (1973) - John Sichel | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie|via=www.allmovie.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/im-the-girl-he-wants-to-kill-v24196|title=I'm the Girl He Wants to Kill (1974) - | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie|via=www.allmovie.com}}</ref> [[Brian Clemens]]' own favourite episode, ''A Coffin for the Bride'' (US: ''Kiss Kiss, Kill Kill''), featured a performance from a young [[Helen Mirren]].<ref name=coffin>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7028db39|title=A Coffin for the Bride (1974)|website=BFI}}</ref>

Following a worldwide audit during 2003-04 by the then copyright-holders [[Carlton Television#Expansion|Carlton]], almost all the original UK PAL fisheye-titled [[Quadruplex videotape|2" videotapes]] of ''Thriller'' were located and transferred onto modern digital tape by the [[British Film Institute]], with subsequent restoration-work by BBC Resources. One exception was the story ''Nurse Will Make It Better''; however, this too exists in PAL/original format on the later [[Type C videotape|1" videotape]] format as a dub from the original master-tape (this version was broadcast on the satellite-channel Bravo in 1996).

In 2008 a DVD box set containing all six series was released. https://networkonair.com/all-products/109-thriller-the-complete-series

==Episodes==
For episodes that used a different title in the U.S., the U.S. title is shown in italics underneath the original British title.

===Series 1 (1973)===
{{Episode table |background=#500650 |overall=4 |series=4 |title=15 |Aux1=35 |Aux1T=Cast |OriginalAirDate=6 |episodes=

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 1
| EpisodeNumber2 = 1
| Title = Lady Killer
| RTitle = <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://mysteryfile.com/blog/?p=31875|title=» A British TV Review: THRILLER "Lady Killer" (1973).}}</ref>
| AltTitle = ''The Death Policy''
| Aux1 = [[Barbara Feldon]], [[Robert Powell]], [[Linda Thorson]], [[T. P. McKenna]], [[Mary Wimbush]], [[John Boswall]], [[Ivor Roberts (actor)|Ivor Roberts]], Howard Rawlinson, Ronald Mayer, David Billa
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1973|4|14|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 2
| EpisodeNumber2 = 2
| Title = Possession
| Aux1 = [[John Carson (actor)|John Carson]], [[Joanna Dunham]], Hilary Hardiman, Athol Coats, [[James Cossins]], Richard Aylen, [[Jack Galloway]], [[Mary Ann Severne]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1973|4|21|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 3
| EpisodeNumber2 = 3
| Title = Someone at the Top of the Stairs
| Aux1 = [[Donna Mills]], [[Judy Carne]], [[David de Keyser]], Francis Wallis, [[Alethea Charlton]], Brian McGrath, [[Peter Cellier]], Clifford Parrish, [[Scott Forbes]], Rhoda Lewis, Alan Roberto, Laura Collins, Richard Corbet, Charles Hill
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1973|4|28|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 4
| EpisodeNumber2 = 4
| Title = An Echo of Theresa
| AltTitle = ''Anatomy of Terror''
| Aux1 = [[Paul Burke (actor)|Paul Burke]], [[Polly Bergen]], [[Dinsdale Landen]], [[Basil Henson]], [[Vernon Dobtcheff]], Meriel Brooke, William Job, Roger Hume, [[Larry Taylor (actor)|Larry Taylor]], Betty Woolfe, Neville Phillips, Ted Richards, John Caesar
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1973|5|5|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 5
| EpisodeNumber2 = 5
| Title = The Colour of Blood
| AltTitle = ''The Carnation Killer''
| Aux1 = [[Norman Eshley]], Katherine Schofield, Derek Smith, [[Garrick Hagon]], [[Geoffrey Chater]], [[Malcolm Terris]], [[Tim Wylton]], [[A. J. Brown (actor)|A. J. Brown]], Roy Sone, [[Eric Mason]], Michael Corcoran, Godfrey Jackman
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1973|5|12|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 6
| EpisodeNumber2 = 6
| Title = Murder in Mind
| Aux1 = [[Richard Johnson (actor)|Richard Johnson]], [[Zena Walker]], Donald Gee, [[Ronald Radd]], [[Robert Dorning]], Christina Greatrex, Anthony Boden, David Lampson
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1973|5|19|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 7
| EpisodeNumber2 = 7
| Title = A Place to Die
| Aux1 = [[Bryan Marshall]], [[Alexandra Hay]], [[John Turner (actor)|John Turner]], [[Glynn Edwards]], Sally Stephens, [[John Moreno|Juan Moreno]], Georgine Anderson, [[Lila Kaye]], [[Sydney Bromley]], [[Jenny Laird]], [[Peggy Ann Wood]], Graham Weston, Bill Ward, John Flint, [[Arnold Ridley]], [[Harold Bennett]], [[Elsie Wagstaff]], John Gabriel, Lewis Wilson
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1973|5|26|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 8
| EpisodeNumber2 = 8
| Title = File It Under Fear
| Aux1 = [[Maureen Lipman]], [[Richard O'Callaghan]], [[Jan Francis]], [[James Grout]], [[John Le Mesurier]], Colin Fisher, [[Rose Hill (actress)|Rose Hill]], Richard Pendrey, [[John Nightingale (actor)|John Nightingale]], [[Jan Francis]], Jenny Quayle, Georgina Melville, [[Sue Bond]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1973|6|2|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 9
| EpisodeNumber2 = 9
| Title = The Eyes Have It
| Aux1 = [[Peter Vaughan]], [[Dennis Waterman]], [[William Marlowe]], [[Sinéad Cusack]], [[Leslie Schofield]], [[David Jackson (British actor)|David Jackson]], Michael Lees, [[Alun Armstrong]], [[Colin McCormack]], Angela Walker, Catherine Chase, David Sands
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1973|6|9|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 10
| EpisodeNumber2 = 10
| Title = Spell of Evil
| Aux1 = [[Diane Cilento]], [[Edward de Souza]], Jeremy Longhurst, [[Jennifer Daniel]], William Dexter, Iris Russell, [[Martin Wyldeck]], Philip Anthony, Linda Cunningham, David Belcher, [[Reg Lye]], [[Patricia Kneale]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1973|6|16|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}
}}

===Series 2 (1974)===
{{Episode table |background=#500650 |overall=4 |series=4 |title=15 |Aux1=35 |Aux1T=Cast |OriginalAirDate=6 |episodes=

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 11
| EpisodeNumber2 = 1
| Title = Only a Scream Away
| RTitle = <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b750dda12|title=Only a Scream Away (1974)|website=BFI}}</ref>
| Aux1 = [[Hayley Mills]], [[Gary Collins (actor)|Gary Collins]], [[Joyce Carey]], [[David Warbeck]], [[Jeremy Bulloch]], [[Jonathan Elsom]], Ronald Mayer, Barrie Fletcher, [[Richard Beaumont (actor)|Richard Beaumont]], Candida Brown
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1974|1|26|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 12
| EpisodeNumber2 = 2
| Title = Once the Killing Starts
| Aux1 = [[Patrick O'Neal (actor)|Patrick O'Neal]], [[Angharad Rees]], [[Michael Kitchen]], [[Gerald Sim]], [[Gary Watson]], Patricia Donahue, Terry Wright
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1974|2|2|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 13
| EpisodeNumber2 = 3
| Title = Kiss Me and Die
| AltTitle = ''The Savage Curse''
| Aux1 = [[Jenny Agutter]], [[George Chakiris]], [[Anton Diffring]], [[Russell Hunter]], John Sharpe, [[Stephen Greif]], [[Peggy Sinclair]], John Atkinson, Barry James, Raymond Mason, Sue Robinson, Peter Casillas, Peter Elliott
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1974|2|9|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 14
| EpisodeNumber2 = 4
| Title = One Deadly Owner
| Aux1 = [[Donna Mills]], [[Jeremy Brett]], [[Robert Morris (actor)|Robert Morris]], [[Laurence Payne]], Eric Lander, Michael Beint, Anthony Dawes, [[Bob Holness]], Ray Marioni
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1974|2|16|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 15
| EpisodeNumber2 = 5
| Title = Ring Once for Death
| AltTitle = ''Death in Small Doses''
| Aux1 = [[Michael Jayston]], [[Nyree Dawn Porter]], [[Barry Nelson (actor)|Barry Nelson]], [[Thorley Walters]], [[Janet Key]], [[Victor Winding]], Clare Sutcliffe, [[Richard Oldfield]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1974|2|23|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 16
| EpisodeNumber2 = 6
| Title = K is for Killing
| AltTitle = ''Color Him Dead''
| Aux1 = [[Gayle Hunnicutt]], [[Stephen Rea]], Jean Kent, [[Christopher Cazenove]], [[Peter Dyneley]], [[Derek Francis]], Frances Bennett, [[Shirley Cain]], [[Oliver Smith (actor)|Oliver Smith]], [[Arthur White (actor)|Arthur White]], James Appleby, Sally Miles, Francis Mortimer, [[Gilly Flower]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1974|3|2|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 17
| EpisodeNumber2 = 7
| Title = Sign it Death
| Aux1 = [[Francesca Annis]], [[Patrick Allen]], [[Moira Redmond]], [[Edward Judd]], Gerald James, Barry Stanton, [[James Bate (actor)|James Bate]], [[Sheila Fearn]], [[Jacqueline Tong|Jackie Tong]], [[John Arnatt]], Leon Eagles, Jeremy Pearce, Carmen Blanck, [[Alan Bennion]], [[Sonia Graham]], Lisa Young, [[Jimmy Gardner (actor)|Jimmy Gardner]], Stuart Nichol
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1974|3|9|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}


}}

===Series 3 (1974)===
{{Episode table |background=#500650 |overall=4 |series=4 |title=15 |Aux1=35 |Aux1T=Cast |OriginalAirDate=6 |episodes=

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 18
| EpisodeNumber2 = 1
| Title = A Coffin for the Bride
| RTitle = <ref name=coffin/>
| AltTitle = ''Kiss Kiss, Kill Kill''
| Aux1 = [[Michael Jayston]], [[Helen Mirren]], [[Michael Gwynn]], [[Richard Coleman]], [[Margaret Courtenay (actress)|Margaret Courtenay]], [[Josephine Tewson]], [[Arthur English]], [[Tony Steedman]], Marcia Fox, [[Hugh Morton (actor)|Hugh Morton]], Richard Hampton, Jeffrey Taylor, Peter Mackriel, Mark Rodbert
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1974|6|1|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 19
| EpisodeNumber2 = 2
| Title = I'm the Girl He Wants to Kill
| Aux1 = [[Robert Lang (actor)|Robert Lang]], [[Julie Sommars]], [[Tony Selby]], [[Anthony Steel (actor)|Anthony Steel]], [[Ken Jones (actor)|Ken Jones]], Trisha Hooker, [[Geoffrey Whitehead]], Susan Tracy, Colin Haig, Annette Woollett, [[Patrick Connor (actor)|Patrick Connor]], Robert Oates
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1974|6|8|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 20
| EpisodeNumber2 = 3
| Title = Death to Sister Mary
| AltTitle = ''Murder is a One-Act Play''
| Aux1 = [[George Maharis]], [[Robert Powell]], [[Jennie Linden]], [[Anthony Newlands]], [[Joan Haythorne]], [[Derek Fowlds]], [[Leigh Lawson]], Gerry Cowan, [[Windsor Davies]], [[Norman Mitchell]], Jill Shakespeare, Maggie Rennie
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1974|6|15|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 21
| EpisodeNumber2 = 4
| Title = In the Steps of a Dead Man
| Aux1 = [[John Nolan (British actor)|John Nolan]], [[Richard Vernon]], Denise Buckley, [[Faith Brook]], Skye Aubrey, Derek Anders, [[Christopher Benjamin (actor)|Christopher Benjamin]], Anne Robson, John Garvin, Robert Marsh
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1974|6|22|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 22
| EpisodeNumber2 = 5
| Title = Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are
| Aux1 = [[Lynda Day George]], [[Peter Jeffrey]], [[John Carson (actor)|John Carson]], [[Colette O'Neil]], [[Bernard Holley]], Richard Corbet, Kathleen Mallory, John Line, [[Molly Weir]], [[Kevin Brennan (actor)|Kevin Brennan]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1974|6|29|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 23
| EpisodeNumber2 = 6
| Title = The Next Scream You Hear
| AltTitle = ''Not Guilty''
| Aux1 = [[Dinsdale Landen]], [[Richard Todd]], [[Suzanne Neve]], [[Edward Hardwicke]], [[Derek Bond]], [[Christopher George]], [[Hans Meyer (actor)|Hans Meyer]], Frank Wylie, Andrew Mann, Marian Diamond, [[Belinda Mayne]], Simon Merrick
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1974|7|6|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}
}}

===Series 4 (1975)===
{{Episode table |background=#500650 |overall=4 |series=4 |title=15 |Aux1=35 |Aux1T=Cast |OriginalAirDate=6 |episodes=

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 24
| EpisodeNumber2 = 1
| Title = Screamer
| RTitle = <ref name=screamer/>
| Aux1 = [[Pamela Franklin]], [[Donal McCann]], [[Frances White (actress)|Frances White]], [[Jim Norton (Irish actor)|Jim Norton]], Derek Smith, [[Wolfe Morris]], [[Peter Howell (actor)|Peter Howell]], Harry Walker, Stephen Bateman, Ambrosine Phillpotts, Michael Hall, Carinthia West
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1975|1|4|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 25
| EpisodeNumber2 = 2
| NumParts = 2
| Title_1 = Nurse Will Make It Better
| Title_2 = ''The Devil's Web''
| AltTitle_2 = ''Night Nurse''
| Aux1 = [[Andrea Marcovicci]], [[Diana Dors]], [[Ed Bishop]], [[Cec Linder]], [[Michael Culver]], Linda Liles, Tiffany Kinney, [[Patrick Troughton]], Alan Wilson, John Rapley, [[Wendy Williams (British actress)|Wendy Williams]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1975|1|11|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 26
| EpisodeNumber2 = 3
| Title = Night is the Time for Killing
| AltTitle = ''Murder on the Midnight Express''
| Aux1 = [[Judy Geeson]], [[Charles Gray (actor)|Charles Gray]], [[James Smillie|Jim Smilie]], [[Jeffry Wickham]], [[Edward Burnham]], Anthony Nash, [[Jacki Piper]], [[Duncan Preston]], Milos Kirek, [[Alister Williamson]], Robert MacLeod, Reg Pritchard, Aimée Delamain, Bill Horsley
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1975|1|18|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 27
| EpisodeNumber2 = 4
| Title = Killer with Two Faces
| Aux1 = [[Donna Mills]], [[Ian Hendry]], [[Roddy McMillan]], [[David Lodge (actor)|David Lodge]], [[Robin Parkinson]], Susan Dury, Jonathan Dennis, [[Hazel McBride]], [[Serretta Wilson|Seretta Wilson]], Christine Shaw, Susannah MacMillan, James Greene, Ralph Ball, John Saunders
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1975|1|25|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 28
| EpisodeNumber2 = 5
| Title = A Killer in Every Corner
| Aux1 = [[Patrick Magee (actor)|Patrick Magee]], [[Joanna Pettet]], [[Max Wall]], [[Eric Flynn]], [[Don Henderson]], [[Petra Markham]], [[Peter Settelen]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1975|2|1|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 29
| EpisodeNumber2 = 6
| Title = Where the Action Is
| AltTitle = ''The Killing Game''
| Aux1 = [[Edd Byrnes]], James Berwick, [[Ingrid Pitt]], [[Trevor Baxter]], [[George Innes]], Frank Coda, [[Oliver MacGreevy|Oliver McGreevy]], Larry Cross, Suzannah Williams, Ray Marioni
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1975|2|8|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}
}}

===Series 5 (1975)===
{{Episode table |background=#500650 |overall=4 |series=4 |title=15 |Aux1=35 |Aux1T=Cast |OriginalAirDate=6 |episodes=

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 30
| EpisodeNumber2 = 1
| Title = If It's a Man, Hang Up
| RTitle = <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7ea17d3c|title=If It's a Man - Hang Up! (1975)|website=BFI}}</ref>
| Aux1 = [[Carol Lynley]], [[Gerald Harper]], [[David Gwillim]], [[Tom Conti]], [[Michael Byrne (actor)|Michael Byrne]], [[Paul Angelis]], [[John Cater]], Colin Etherington, [[Sue Holderness|Susan Holderness]], Jo Beadle, Michael Cronin, Martin Chamberlain, Beatrice Shaw
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1975|4|12|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 31
| EpisodeNumber2 = 2
| Title = The Double Kill
| Aux1 = [[Gary Collins (actor)|Gary Collins]], [[James Villiers]], [[Peter Bowles]], [[Stuart Wilson (actor)|Stuart Wilson]], [[Penelope Horner]], John Flanagan, [[Hilda Fenemore]], Griffith Davies, Michael Stainton, [[Gordon Salkilld]], [[Norman Mitchell]], Paul Nicholson
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1975|4|19|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 32
| EpisodeNumber2 = 3
| Title = Won't Write Home Mom - I'm Dead
| AltTitle = ''Terror from Within''
| Aux1 = [[Ian Bannen]], [[Pamela Franklin]], [[Suzanne Neve]], [[Oliver Tobias]], [[Dallas Adams]], Lesley North, Norman Scace, [[Christopher Malcolm]], Anabel Littledale, Diana Patrick, Sarah Porter
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1975|4|26|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 33
| EpisodeNumber2 = 4
| Title = The Crazy Kill
| AltTitle = ''Fear is Spreading''
| Aux1 = [[Denholm Elliott]], [[Anthony Valentine]], Tandy Cronyn, [[Alan Browning]], [[Claire Nielson]], [[John Moreno|Juan Moreno]], [[David Horovitch]], [[Ken Parry]], [[Dennis Chinnery]], Brian Haines, [[Mark Wing-Davey]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1975|5|3|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 34
| EpisodeNumber2 = 5
| Title = Good Salary - Prospects - Free Coffin
| AltTitle = ''Mirror of Deception''
| Aux1 = [[James Maxwell (actor)|James Maxwell]], [[Kim Darby]], [[Keith Barron]], [[Julian Glover]], Susan Dury, Gillian Hawser, [[John Abineri]], [[Bruce Boa]], [[Janina Faye]], Martin Read, [[Reg Lye]], Peter Hill, Julie Crosthwaite, [[Carl Held|Karl Held]], Annette Woollett, Norman Chancer, Christina Palmer, [[James Greene (Northern Irish actor)|James Greene]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1975|5|10|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 35
| EpisodeNumber2 = 6
| Title = The Next Voice You See
| AltTitle = ''Look Back in Darkness''
| Aux1 = [[Bradford Dillman]], [[Catherine Schell]], [[Geoffrey Chater]], Terence Sewards, [[Nigel Havers]], [[Rachel Davies]], [[Neil Hallett]], John Oxley, Annette Lynton, [[Ian Redford (actor)|Ian Redford]], Roger Mutton, Peter Geddis, [[Holly Palance]], [[John Forbes-Robertson (actor)|John Forbes-Robertson]], [[Robert Lankesheer]], Stan Tracey, Celia Foxe, Anthea Holloway, Paddy Glynn, Hedger Wallace, William Wilde, Eilian Wyn
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1975|5|17|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 36
| EpisodeNumber2 = 7
| Title = Murder Motel
| Aux1 = Robyn Millan, [[Ralph Bates]], [[Edward Judd]], [[Derek Francis]], Allan McClelland, [[John Hallam]], Anne Rutter, June Watson, [[Gillian McCutcheon]], [[Patrick Jordan]], Paul Humpoletz, Patrick Tull, [[Keith Anderson (actor)]], [[Lynne Miller]], Adrian Shergold, Peter Mackriel
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1975|5|24|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}
}}

===Series 6 (1976)===
{{Episode table |background=#500650 |overall=4 |series=4 |title=15 |Aux1=35 |Aux1T=Cast |OriginalAirDate=6 |episodes=

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 37
| EpisodeNumber2 = 1
| Title = Sleepwalker
| RTitle = <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mubi.com/films/thriller-sleepwalker|title=MUBI|website=mubi.com}}</ref>
| Aux1 = [[Darleen Carr]], [[Robert Beatty]], [[Michael Kitchen]], [[Ian Redford (actor)|Ian Redford]], Basil Lord, Elaine Donnelly, Eileen Peel, Harry Webster, [[John Challis]], Desmond Jordan, Jane Williams, George Herbert
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1976|4|10|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 38
| EpisodeNumber2 = 2
| Title = The Next Victim
| Aux1 = [[Carroll Baker]], [[T. P. McKenna]], [[Ronald Lacey]], [[Maurice Kaufmann]], Max Mason, [[Ian Gelder]], Brenda Cavendish, [[Martin Benson (actor)|Martin Benson]], Margo Reid, [[Anita Sharp-Bolster]], Paul Haley, [[Andrea Allan]], [[Martin Fisk]], Dorothea Phillips, [[Harold Bennett]], Alan Gerrard, Felicity Harrison, Patsy Dermott
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1976|4|17|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 39
| EpisodeNumber2 = 3
| Title = Nightmare for a Nightingale
| AltTitle = ''Melody of Hate''
| Aux1 = [[Susan Flannery]], [[Keith Baxter (actor)|Keith Baxter]], [[Sydney Tafler]], [[Ronald Leigh-Hunt]], [[Stuart Damon]], Gita Denise, [[Stephen Greif]], Peter Hill, Anthony Dawes, [[Edwin Brown (actor)|Edwin Brown]], Michael Dickinson, [[Mike Kinsey]], Charles Cork, Teresa Cahill (singing), Richard Lewis (singing)
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1976|4|24|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 40
| EpisodeNumber2 = 4
| Title = Dial a Deadly Number
| Aux1 = [[Gary Collins (actor)|Gary Collins]], [[Gemma Jones]], [[Beth Morris]], Linda Liles, [[Cavan Kendall]], Peter Schofield, [[Richard Warner (actor)|Richard Warner]], [[Charles Lamb (actor)]], Dennis Blanch
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1976|5|1|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 41
| EpisodeNumber2 = 5
| Title = Kill Two Birds
| AltTitle = ''Cry Terror!''
| Aux1 = [[Susan Hampshire]], [[Gabrielle Drake]], [[David Daker]], [[Dudley Sutton]], [[Bob Hoskins]], Rita Giovannini, [[Stephen Yardley]], Bunny May, John Flanagan, Donald Morley, [[John Bailey (British actor)|John Bailey]], Granville Saxton, [[William Hoyland]], [[Christopher Ellison]], Dawn Perllman
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1976|5|8|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 42
| EpisodeNumber2 = 6
| Title = A Midsummer Nightmare
| AltTitle = ''Appointment with a Killer''
| Aux1 = [[Joanna Pettet]], [[Brian Blessed]], [[Freddie Jones]], [[Norman Rodway]], Anthony Pedley, [[Elsie Randolph]], [[Tony Anholt]], [[John Ruddock]], [[Alison Glennie]], Thom Delaney
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1976|5|15|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 43
| EpisodeNumber2 = 7
| Title = Death in Deep Water
| Aux1 = [[Bradford Dillman]], [[Suzan Farmer]], [[Ian Bannen]], [[Philip Stone]], [[Diana Weston]], Lawrence James, Anna Marshal, John Gatrell
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1976|5|22|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}
}}



==Trivia==

Dinsdale Landen is the only actor playing the same role, that of private investigator Matthew Earp, in two episodes: ''An Echo of Theresa'' and ''The Next Scream You Hear'', although Reg Lye played an unnamed 'Caretaker' in both 'Spell of Evil' and 'Good Salary - Prospects - Free Coffin' who could conceivably be the same character.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.mcmweb.co.uk/blacknun/thriller/ THRILLER website]
*[https://dobermann.wymark.org.uk/2021/01/18/a-thriller-in-every-corner/ A THRILLER in Every Corner]
*[https://headpress.com/a-thriller-in-every-corner/ Thriller interview at Headpress]
*[https://www.zani.co.uk/film-tv/item/3228-humour-in-thriller/ Humour in Thriller]
*{{IMDb title|id=0164295|title=Thriller}}
* {{Screenonline TV title|1396589}}
*{{epguides|Thriller_UK|Thriller}}
*[http://www.shoutfactorytv.com/series/thriller ShoutFactoryTV]

[[Category:British supernatural television shows]]
[[Category:British fantasy television series]]
[[Category:ITV television dramas]]
[[Category:Television series by ITV Studios]]
[[Category:1973 British television series debuts]]
[[Category:1976 British television series endings]]
[[Category:1970s British anthology television series]]
[[Category:1970s British drama television series]]
[[Category:Television shows produced by Associated Television (ATV)]]
[[Category:English-language television shows]]

Thriller (British TV series)

2022-01-02T23:12:09Z

Vodkamad: /* Series 1 (1973) */

{{Short description|British TV series}}
{{More citations needed|date=December 2019}}

{{Use British English|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox television
| name = Thriller
| image = Thriller title.jpg
| caption =UK opening titles
| runtime = 63–67 Min.
| audio_format = [[Monaural|Mono]]
| creator = [[Brian Clemens]]
| starring = Various
| country = UK
| network = [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]
| first_aired = {{start date|1973|4|14|df=y}}
| last_aired = {{end date|1976|5|22|df=y}}
| num_episodes = 43
}}
'''''Thriller''''' is a British television series, originally broadcast in the UK from 1973 to 1976.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nostalgiacentral.com/television/tv-by-decade/tv-shows-1970s/thriller/|title=Thriller | Nostalgia Central}}</ref> It is an anthology series: each episode has a self-contained story and its own cast.<ref name=screenonline/> As the title suggests, each story is a thriller of some variety, from tales of the supernatural to down-to-earth [[whodunit]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.markmcm.co.uk/blacknun/thriller/dvdreleases.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140829095531/http://www.markmcm.co.uk/blacknun/thriller/dvdreleases.html|archive-date=2014-08-29|title=THRILLER - The Complete Series A 16-disc Box Set From Network|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Background==

The series was created by [[Brian Clemens]], who also scripted the majority of the episodes and story-lined every installment.<ref name=screenonline>{{Cite web|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/1396589/index.html|title=BFI Screenonline: Thriller (1973-76)|website=www.screenonline.org.uk}}</ref> It was produced by [[John Sichel]] (the first 3 series), John Cooper (series 4) and Ian Fordyce (the final two series) for [[Associated Television]] (ATV) at their Elstree studios north of London.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/1396589/credits.html|title=BFI Screenonline: Thriller (1973-76) Credits|website=www.screenonline.org.uk}}</ref> The series evolved from Clemens' previous work, in particular two films in a similar style: ''[[And Soon the Darkness]]'' (1970) and ''Blind Terror'' (aka ''[[See No Evil (1971 film)|See No Evil]]'', 1971); the latter shares plot similarities with the ''Thriller'' episodes ''The Eyes Have It'' and ''The Next Voice You See''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/news-bfi/lists/five-things-watch-weekend-11-13-october|title=Five things to watch this weekend – 11-13 October|website=British Film Institute}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/see-no-evil-v43608|title=See No Evil (1971) - Richard Fleischer | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie|via=www.allmovie.com}}</ref> Original music, including the theme-tune, was supplied by Clemens' regular collaborator [[Laurie Johnson]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba16d6be6|title=Laurie Johnson|website=BFI}}</ref>

The original UK title-sequence featured still-shots of locations in the story, devoid of people, shot through a [[fisheye lens]], bordered in bright red and set to Johnson's eerie, discordant theme-music.<ref name=screenonline/> With an eye to the American re-broadcast market, most episodes, especially from the second season onwards, featured at least one American principal character, portrayed by an American actor.<ref name=tvheaven/> After originally being screened late at night in the U.S. under the [[ABC's Wide World of Entertainment|''ABC Wide World of Entertainment'']] billing from 1973, some episodes were retitled for U.S. syndication in 1978, and all had additional opening sequences shot with new titles and credits but without the original cast and, for this reason, often only featuring menacing figures seen from the neck down.<ref name=someone/><ref name=tvheaven>{{Cite web|url=https://televisionheaven.co.uk/reviews/thriller|title=Thriller|first=Laurence|last=Marcus|website=Television Heaven}}</ref> These title sequences were used in Britain when the series was repeated on regional ITV stations in the 1980s, and are also included as extras on the Complete Series box set. When the series was re-broadcast as part of [[The CBS Late Movie]] however, the original title-sequences and music were restored.

The stories were often set in the [[London commuter belt]]. A particular trademark of the series' storytelling was to hook the viewer with a simple yet totally baffling situation, of the kind seen in films such as ''[[Les Diaboliques (film)|Les Diaboliques]]'' (1955).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/473675/index.html|title=BFI Screenonline: Clemens, Brian (1931-) Biography|website=www.screenonline.org.uk}}</ref> ''Come Out Come Out, Wherever You Are'' took place at a creaky country-house hotel: a female guest begins asking about her missing travelling-companion who the owner claims was not with her upon arrival the previous evening and whom none of the other guests initially recall seeing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/come-out-come-out-wherever-you-are-v124570|title=Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are (1974) - | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie|via=www.allmovie.com}}</ref> One episode, ''Screamer'', concerns a rape-victim who murders her attacker, only to then see the man stalking her everywhere.<ref name=screamer>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/screamer-v43253|title=Screamer (1974) - Shaun O'Riordan | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie|via=www.allmovie.com}}</ref> Perhaps the most ingenious episode is the ''[[Dial M for Murder]]'' style ''The Double Kill'', in which a man hires a hitman to kill his wife, but makes a fatal error in his otherwise meticulous planning.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/the-double-kill-v125142|title=The Double Kill (1975) - | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie|via=www.allmovie.com}}</ref>

Other memorable episodes include: ''Someone at the Top of the Stairs'', one of a handful of forays into the supernatural, in which two female students move into a boarding house and begin to notice that none of the other residents ever go out or receive any mail; and ''I'm The Girl He Wants to Kill'', in which a witness to a murder finds herself trapped in a deserted office-block overnight with the killer, and is forced to play a deadly game of cat-and-mouse with him to survive (there is barely any dialogue throughout its second half).<ref name=someone>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/someone-at-the-top-of-the-stairs-v129082|title=Someone at the Top of the Stairs (1973) - John Sichel | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie|via=www.allmovie.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/im-the-girl-he-wants-to-kill-v24196|title=I'm the Girl He Wants to Kill (1974) - | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie|via=www.allmovie.com}}</ref> [[Brian Clemens]]' own favourite episode, ''A Coffin for the Bride'' (US: ''Kiss Kiss, Kill Kill''), featured a performance from a young [[Helen Mirren]].<ref name=coffin>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7028db39|title=A Coffin for the Bride (1974)|website=BFI}}</ref>

Following a worldwide audit during 2003-04 by the then copyright-holders [[Carlton Television#Expansion|Carlton]], almost all the original UK PAL fisheye-titled [[Quadruplex videotape|2" videotapes]] of ''Thriller'' were located and transferred onto modern digital tape by the [[British Film Institute]], with subsequent restoration-work by BBC Resources. One exception was the story ''Nurse Will Make It Better''; however, this too exists in PAL/original format on the later [[Type C videotape|1" videotape]] format as a dub from the original master-tape (this version was broadcast on the satellite-channel Bravo in 1996).

In 2008 a DVD box set containing all six series was released. https://networkonair.com/all-products/109-thriller-the-complete-series

==Episodes==
For episodes that used a different title in the U.S., the U.S. title is shown in italics underneath the original British title.

===Series 1 (1973)===
{{Episode table |background=#500650 |overall=4 |series=4 |title=15 |Aux1=35 |Aux1T=Cast |OriginalAirDate=6 |episodes=

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 1
| EpisodeNumber2 = 1
| Title = Lady Killer
| RTitle = <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://mysteryfile.com/blog/?p=31875|title=» A British TV Review: THRILLER "Lady Killer" (1973).}}</ref>
| AltTitle = ''The Death Policy''
| Aux1 = [[Barbara Feldon]], [[Robert Powell]], [[Linda Thorson]], [[T. P. McKenna]], [[Mary Wimbush]], [[John Boswall]], [[Ivor Roberts (actor)|Ivor Roberts]], Howard Rawlinson, Ronald Mayer, David Billa
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1973|4|14|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 2
| EpisodeNumber2 = 2
| Title = Possession
| Aux1 = [[John Carson (actor)|John Carson]], [[Joanna Dunham]], Hilary Hardiman, Athol Coats, [[James Cossins]], Richard Aylen, [[Jack Galloway]], [[Mary Ann Severne]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1973|4|21|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 3
| EpisodeNumber2 = 3
| Title = Someone at the Top of the Stairs
| Aux1 = [[Donna Mills]], [[Judy Carne]], [[David de Keyser]], Francis Wallis, [[Alethea Charlton]], Brian McGrath, [[Peter Cellier]], Clifford Parrish, [[Scott Forbes]], Rhoda Lewis, Alan Roberto, Laura Collins, Richard Corbet, Charles Hill
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1973|4|28|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 4
| EpisodeNumber2 = 4
| Title = An Echo of Theresa
| AltTitle = ''Anatomy of Terror''
| Aux1 = [[Paul Burke (actor)|Paul Burke]], [[Polly Bergen]], [[Dinsdale Landen]], [[Basil Henson]], [[Vernon Dobtcheff]], Meriel Brooke, William Job, Roger Hume, [[Larry Taylor (actor)|Larry Taylor]], Betty Woolfe, Neville Phillips, Ted Richards, John Caesar
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1973|5|5|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 5
| EpisodeNumber2 = 5
| Title = The Colour of Blood
| AltTitle = ''The Carnation Killer''
| Aux1 = [[Norman Eshley]], Katharine Schofield, Derek Smith, [[Garrick Hagon]], [[Geoffrey Chater]], [[Malcolm Terris]], [[Tim Wylton]], [[A. J. Brown (actor)|A. J. Brown]], Roy Sone, [[Eric Mason]], Michael Corcoran, Godfrey Jackman
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1973|5|12|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 6
| EpisodeNumber2 = 6
| Title = Murder in Mind
| Aux1 = [[Richard Johnson (actor)|Richard Johnson]], [[Zena Walker]], Donald Gee, [[Ronald Radd]], [[Robert Dorning]], Christina Greatrex, Anthony Boden, David Lampson
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1973|5|19|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 7
| EpisodeNumber2 = 7
| Title = A Place to Die
| Aux1 = [[Bryan Marshall]], [[Alexandra Hay]], [[John Turner (actor)|John Turner]], [[Glynn Edwards]], Sally Stephens, [[John Moreno|Juan Moreno]], Georgine Anderson, [[Lila Kaye]], [[Sydney Bromley]], [[Jenny Laird]], [[Peggy Ann Wood]], Graham Weston, Bill Ward, John Flint, [[Arnold Ridley]], [[Harold Bennett]], [[Elsie Wagstaff]], John Gabriel, Lewis Wilson
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1973|5|26|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 8
| EpisodeNumber2 = 8
| Title = File It Under Fear
| Aux1 = [[Maureen Lipman]], [[Richard O'Callaghan]], [[Jan Francis]], [[James Grout]], [[John Le Mesurier]], Colin Fisher, [[Rose Hill (actress)|Rose Hill]], Richard Pendrey, [[John Nightingale (actor)|John Nightingale]], [[Jan Francis]], Jenny Quayle, Georgina Melville, [[Sue Bond]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1973|6|2|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 9
| EpisodeNumber2 = 9
| Title = The Eyes Have It
| Aux1 = [[Peter Vaughan]], [[Dennis Waterman]], [[William Marlowe]], [[Sinéad Cusack]], [[Leslie Schofield]], [[David Jackson (British actor)|David Jackson]], Michael Lees, [[Alun Armstrong]], [[Colin McCormack]], Angela Walker, Catherine Chase, David Sands
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1973|6|9|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 10
| EpisodeNumber2 = 10
| Title = Spell of Evil
| Aux1 = [[Diane Cilento]], [[Edward de Souza]], Jeremy Longhurst, [[Jennifer Daniel]], William Dexter, Iris Russell, [[Martin Wyldeck]], Philip Anthony, Linda Cunningham, David Belcher, [[Reg Lye]], [[Patricia Kneale]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1973|6|16|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}
}}

===Series 2 (1974)===
{{Episode table |background=#500650 |overall=4 |series=4 |title=15 |Aux1=35 |Aux1T=Cast |OriginalAirDate=6 |episodes=

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 11
| EpisodeNumber2 = 1
| Title = Only a Scream Away
| RTitle = <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b750dda12|title=Only a Scream Away (1974)|website=BFI}}</ref>
| Aux1 = [[Hayley Mills]], [[Gary Collins (actor)|Gary Collins]], [[Joyce Carey]], [[David Warbeck]], [[Jeremy Bulloch]], [[Jonathan Elsom]], Ronald Mayer, Barrie Fletcher, [[Richard Beaumont (actor)|Richard Beaumont]], Candida Brown
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1974|1|26|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 12
| EpisodeNumber2 = 2
| Title = Once the Killing Starts
| Aux1 = [[Patrick O'Neal (actor)|Patrick O'Neal]], [[Angharad Rees]], [[Michael Kitchen]], [[Gerald Sim]], [[Gary Watson]], Patricia Donahue, Terry Wright
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1974|2|2|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 13
| EpisodeNumber2 = 3
| Title = Kiss Me and Die
| AltTitle = ''The Savage Curse''
| Aux1 = [[Jenny Agutter]], [[George Chakiris]], [[Anton Diffring]], [[Russell Hunter]], John Sharpe, [[Stephen Greif]], [[Peggy Sinclair]], John Atkinson, Barry James, Raymond Mason, Sue Robinson, Peter Casillas, Peter Elliott
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1974|2|9|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 14
| EpisodeNumber2 = 4
| Title = One Deadly Owner
| Aux1 = [[Donna Mills]], [[Jeremy Brett]], [[Robert Morris (actor)|Robert Morris]], [[Laurence Payne]], Eric Lander, Michael Beint, Anthony Dawes, [[Bob Holness]], Ray Marioni
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1974|2|16|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 15
| EpisodeNumber2 = 5
| Title = Ring Once for Death
| AltTitle = ''Death in Small Doses''
| Aux1 = [[Michael Jayston]], [[Nyree Dawn Porter]], [[Barry Nelson (actor)|Barry Nelson]], [[Thorley Walters]], [[Janet Key]], [[Victor Winding]], Clare Sutcliffe, [[Richard Oldfield]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1974|2|23|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 16
| EpisodeNumber2 = 6
| Title = K is for Killing
| AltTitle = ''Color Him Dead''
| Aux1 = [[Gayle Hunnicutt]], [[Stephen Rea]], Jean Kent, [[Christopher Cazenove]], [[Peter Dyneley]], [[Derek Francis]], Frances Bennett, [[Shirley Cain]], [[Oliver Smith (actor)|Oliver Smith]], [[Arthur White (actor)|Arthur White]], James Appleby, Sally Miles, Francis Mortimer, [[Gilly Flower]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1974|3|2|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 17
| EpisodeNumber2 = 7
| Title = Sign it Death
| Aux1 = [[Francesca Annis]], [[Patrick Allen]], [[Moira Redmond]], [[Edward Judd]], Gerald James, Barry Stanton, [[James Bate (actor)|James Bate]], [[Sheila Fearn]], [[Jacqueline Tong|Jackie Tong]], [[John Arnatt]], Leon Eagles, Jeremy Pearce, Carmen Blanck, [[Alan Bennion]], [[Sonia Graham]], Lisa Young, [[Jimmy Gardner (actor)|Jimmy Gardner]], Stuart Nichol
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1974|3|9|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}


}}

===Series 3 (1974)===
{{Episode table |background=#500650 |overall=4 |series=4 |title=15 |Aux1=35 |Aux1T=Cast |OriginalAirDate=6 |episodes=

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 18
| EpisodeNumber2 = 1
| Title = A Coffin for the Bride
| RTitle = <ref name=coffin/>
| AltTitle = ''Kiss Kiss, Kill Kill''
| Aux1 = [[Michael Jayston]], [[Helen Mirren]], [[Michael Gwynn]], [[Richard Coleman]], [[Margaret Courtenay (actress)|Margaret Courtenay]], [[Josephine Tewson]], [[Arthur English]], [[Tony Steedman]], Marcia Fox, [[Hugh Morton (actor)|Hugh Morton]], Richard Hampton, Jeffrey Taylor, Peter Mackriel, Mark Rodbert
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1974|6|1|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 19
| EpisodeNumber2 = 2
| Title = I'm the Girl He Wants to Kill
| Aux1 = [[Robert Lang (actor)|Robert Lang]], [[Julie Sommars]], [[Tony Selby]], [[Anthony Steel (actor)|Anthony Steel]], [[Ken Jones (actor)|Ken Jones]], Trisha Hooker, [[Geoffrey Whitehead]], Susan Tracy, Colin Haig, Annette Woollett, [[Patrick Connor (actor)|Patrick Connor]], Robert Oates
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1974|6|8|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 20
| EpisodeNumber2 = 3
| Title = Death to Sister Mary
| AltTitle = ''Murder is a One-Act Play''
| Aux1 = [[George Maharis]], [[Robert Powell]], [[Jennie Linden]], [[Anthony Newlands]], [[Joan Haythorne]], [[Derek Fowlds]], [[Leigh Lawson]], Gerry Cowan, [[Windsor Davies]], [[Norman Mitchell]], Jill Shakespeare, Maggie Rennie
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1974|6|15|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 21
| EpisodeNumber2 = 4
| Title = In the Steps of a Dead Man
| Aux1 = [[John Nolan (British actor)|John Nolan]], [[Richard Vernon]], Denise Buckley, [[Faith Brook]], Skye Aubrey, Derek Anders, [[Christopher Benjamin (actor)|Christopher Benjamin]], Anne Robson, John Garvin, Robert Marsh
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1974|6|22|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 22
| EpisodeNumber2 = 5
| Title = Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are
| Aux1 = [[Lynda Day George]], [[Peter Jeffrey]], [[John Carson (actor)|John Carson]], [[Colette O'Neil]], [[Bernard Holley]], Richard Corbet, Kathleen Mallory, John Line, [[Molly Weir]], [[Kevin Brennan (actor)|Kevin Brennan]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1974|6|29|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 23
| EpisodeNumber2 = 6
| Title = The Next Scream You Hear
| AltTitle = ''Not Guilty''
| Aux1 = [[Dinsdale Landen]], [[Richard Todd]], [[Suzanne Neve]], [[Edward Hardwicke]], [[Derek Bond]], [[Christopher George]], [[Hans Meyer (actor)|Hans Meyer]], Frank Wylie, Andrew Mann, Marian Diamond, [[Belinda Mayne]], Simon Merrick
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1974|7|6|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}
}}

===Series 4 (1975)===
{{Episode table |background=#500650 |overall=4 |series=4 |title=15 |Aux1=35 |Aux1T=Cast |OriginalAirDate=6 |episodes=

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 24
| EpisodeNumber2 = 1
| Title = Screamer
| RTitle = <ref name=screamer/>
| Aux1 = [[Pamela Franklin]], [[Donal McCann]], [[Frances White (actress)|Frances White]], [[Jim Norton (Irish actor)|Jim Norton]], Derek Smith, [[Wolfe Morris]], [[Peter Howell (actor)|Peter Howell]], Harry Walker, Stephen Bateman, Ambrosine Phillpotts, Michael Hall, Carinthia West
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1975|1|4|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 25
| EpisodeNumber2 = 2
| NumParts = 2
| Title_1 = Nurse Will Make It Better
| Title_2 = ''The Devil's Web''
| AltTitle_2 = ''Night Nurse''
| Aux1 = [[Andrea Marcovicci]], [[Diana Dors]], [[Ed Bishop]], [[Cec Linder]], [[Michael Culver]], Linda Liles, Tiffany Kinney, [[Patrick Troughton]], Alan Wilson, John Rapley, [[Wendy Williams (British actress)|Wendy Williams]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1975|1|11|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 26
| EpisodeNumber2 = 3
| Title = Night is the Time for Killing
| AltTitle = ''Murder on the Midnight Express''
| Aux1 = [[Judy Geeson]], [[Charles Gray (actor)|Charles Gray]], [[James Smillie|Jim Smilie]], [[Jeffry Wickham]], [[Edward Burnham]], Anthony Nash, [[Jacki Piper]], [[Duncan Preston]], Milos Kirek, [[Alister Williamson]], Robert MacLeod, Reg Pritchard, Aimée Delamain, Bill Horsley
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1975|1|18|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 27
| EpisodeNumber2 = 4
| Title = Killer with Two Faces
| Aux1 = [[Donna Mills]], [[Ian Hendry]], [[Roddy McMillan]], [[David Lodge (actor)|David Lodge]], [[Robin Parkinson]], Susan Dury, Jonathan Dennis, [[Hazel McBride]], [[Serretta Wilson|Seretta Wilson]], Christine Shaw, Susannah MacMillan, James Greene, Ralph Ball, John Saunders
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1975|1|25|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 28
| EpisodeNumber2 = 5
| Title = A Killer in Every Corner
| Aux1 = [[Patrick Magee (actor)|Patrick Magee]], [[Joanna Pettet]], [[Max Wall]], [[Eric Flynn]], [[Don Henderson]], [[Petra Markham]], [[Peter Settelen]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1975|2|1|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 29
| EpisodeNumber2 = 6
| Title = Where the Action Is
| AltTitle = ''The Killing Game''
| Aux1 = [[Edd Byrnes]], James Berwick, [[Ingrid Pitt]], [[Trevor Baxter]], [[George Innes]], Frank Coda, [[Oliver MacGreevy|Oliver McGreevy]], Larry Cross, Suzannah Williams, Ray Marioni
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1975|2|8|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}
}}

===Series 5 (1975)===
{{Episode table |background=#500650 |overall=4 |series=4 |title=15 |Aux1=35 |Aux1T=Cast |OriginalAirDate=6 |episodes=

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 30
| EpisodeNumber2 = 1
| Title = If It's a Man, Hang Up
| RTitle = <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7ea17d3c|title=If It's a Man - Hang Up! (1975)|website=BFI}}</ref>
| Aux1 = [[Carol Lynley]], [[Gerald Harper]], [[David Gwillim]], [[Tom Conti]], [[Michael Byrne (actor)|Michael Byrne]], [[Paul Angelis]], [[John Cater]], Colin Etherington, [[Sue Holderness|Susan Holderness]], Jo Beadle, Michael Cronin, Martin Chamberlain, Beatrice Shaw
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1975|4|12|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 31
| EpisodeNumber2 = 2
| Title = The Double Kill
| Aux1 = [[Gary Collins (actor)|Gary Collins]], [[James Villiers]], [[Peter Bowles]], [[Stuart Wilson (actor)|Stuart Wilson]], [[Penelope Horner]], John Flanagan, [[Hilda Fenemore]], Griffith Davies, Michael Stainton, [[Gordon Salkilld]], [[Norman Mitchell]], Paul Nicholson
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1975|4|19|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 32
| EpisodeNumber2 = 3
| Title = Won't Write Home Mom - I'm Dead
| AltTitle = ''Terror from Within''
| Aux1 = [[Ian Bannen]], [[Pamela Franklin]], [[Suzanne Neve]], [[Oliver Tobias]], [[Dallas Adams]], Lesley North, Norman Scace, [[Christopher Malcolm]], Anabel Littledale, Diana Patrick, Sarah Porter
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1975|4|26|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 33
| EpisodeNumber2 = 4
| Title = The Crazy Kill
| AltTitle = ''Fear is Spreading''
| Aux1 = [[Denholm Elliott]], [[Anthony Valentine]], Tandy Cronyn, [[Alan Browning]], [[Claire Nielson]], [[John Moreno|Juan Moreno]], [[David Horovitch]], [[Ken Parry]], [[Dennis Chinnery]], Brian Haines, [[Mark Wing-Davey]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1975|5|3|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 34
| EpisodeNumber2 = 5
| Title = Good Salary - Prospects - Free Coffin
| AltTitle = ''Mirror of Deception''
| Aux1 = [[James Maxwell (actor)|James Maxwell]], [[Kim Darby]], [[Keith Barron]], [[Julian Glover]], Susan Dury, Gillian Hawser, [[John Abineri]], [[Bruce Boa]], [[Janina Faye]], Martin Read, [[Reg Lye]], Peter Hill, Julie Crosthwaite, [[Carl Held|Karl Held]], Annette Woollett, Norman Chancer, Christina Palmer, [[James Greene (Northern Irish actor)|James Greene]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1975|5|10|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 35
| EpisodeNumber2 = 6
| Title = The Next Voice You See
| AltTitle = ''Look Back in Darkness''
| Aux1 = [[Bradford Dillman]], [[Catherine Schell]], [[Geoffrey Chater]], Terence Sewards, [[Nigel Havers]], [[Rachel Davies]], [[Neil Hallett]], John Oxley, Annette Lynton, [[Ian Redford (actor)|Ian Redford]], Roger Mutton, Peter Geddis, [[Holly Palance]], [[John Forbes-Robertson (actor)|John Forbes-Robertson]], [[Robert Lankesheer]], Stan Tracey, Celia Foxe, Anthea Holloway, Paddy Glynn, Hedger Wallace, William Wilde, Eilian Wyn
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1975|5|17|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 36
| EpisodeNumber2 = 7
| Title = Murder Motel
| Aux1 = Robyn Millan, [[Ralph Bates]], [[Edward Judd]], [[Derek Francis]], Allan McClelland, [[John Hallam]], Anne Rutter, June Watson, [[Gillian McCutcheon]], [[Patrick Jordan]], Paul Humpoletz, Patrick Tull, [[Keith Anderson (actor)]], [[Lynne Miller]], Adrian Shergold, Peter Mackriel
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1975|5|24|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}
}}

===Series 6 (1976)===
{{Episode table |background=#500650 |overall=4 |series=4 |title=15 |Aux1=35 |Aux1T=Cast |OriginalAirDate=6 |episodes=

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 37
| EpisodeNumber2 = 1
| Title = Sleepwalker
| RTitle = <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mubi.com/films/thriller-sleepwalker|title=MUBI|website=mubi.com}}</ref>
| Aux1 = [[Darleen Carr]], [[Robert Beatty]], [[Michael Kitchen]], [[Ian Redford (actor)|Ian Redford]], Basil Lord, Elaine Donnelly, Eileen Peel, Harry Webster, [[John Challis]], Desmond Jordan, Jane Williams, George Herbert
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1976|4|10|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 38
| EpisodeNumber2 = 2
| Title = The Next Victim
| Aux1 = [[Carroll Baker]], [[T. P. McKenna]], [[Ronald Lacey]], [[Maurice Kaufmann]], Max Mason, [[Ian Gelder]], Brenda Cavendish, [[Martin Benson (actor)|Martin Benson]], Margo Reid, [[Anita Sharp-Bolster]], Paul Haley, [[Andrea Allan]], [[Martin Fisk]], Dorothea Phillips, [[Harold Bennett]], Alan Gerrard, Felicity Harrison, Patsy Dermott
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1976|4|17|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 39
| EpisodeNumber2 = 3
| Title = Nightmare for a Nightingale
| AltTitle = ''Melody of Hate''
| Aux1 = [[Susan Flannery]], [[Keith Baxter (actor)|Keith Baxter]], [[Sydney Tafler]], [[Ronald Leigh-Hunt]], [[Stuart Damon]], Gita Denise, [[Stephen Greif]], Peter Hill, Anthony Dawes, [[Edwin Brown (actor)|Edwin Brown]], Michael Dickinson, [[Mike Kinsey]], Charles Cork, Teresa Cahill (singing), Richard Lewis (singing)
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1976|4|24|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 40
| EpisodeNumber2 = 4
| Title = Dial a Deadly Number
| Aux1 = [[Gary Collins (actor)|Gary Collins]], [[Gemma Jones]], [[Beth Morris]], Linda Liles, [[Cavan Kendall]], Peter Schofield, [[Richard Warner (actor)|Richard Warner]], [[Charles Lamb (actor)]], Dennis Blanch
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1976|5|1|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 41
| EpisodeNumber2 = 5
| Title = Kill Two Birds
| AltTitle = ''Cry Terror!''
| Aux1 = [[Susan Hampshire]], [[Gabrielle Drake]], [[David Daker]], [[Dudley Sutton]], [[Bob Hoskins]], Rita Giovannini, [[Stephen Yardley]], Bunny May, John Flanagan, Donald Morley, [[John Bailey (British actor)|John Bailey]], Granville Saxton, [[William Hoyland]], [[Christopher Ellison]], Dawn Perllman
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1976|5|8|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 42
| EpisodeNumber2 = 6
| Title = A Midsummer Nightmare
| AltTitle = ''Appointment with a Killer''
| Aux1 = [[Joanna Pettet]], [[Brian Blessed]], [[Freddie Jones]], [[Norman Rodway]], Anthony Pedley, [[Elsie Randolph]], [[Tony Anholt]], [[John Ruddock]], [[Alison Glennie]], Thom Delaney
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1976|5|15|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 43
| EpisodeNumber2 = 7
| Title = Death in Deep Water
| Aux1 = [[Bradford Dillman]], [[Suzan Farmer]], [[Ian Bannen]], [[Philip Stone]], [[Diana Weston]], Lawrence James, Anna Marshal, John Gatrell
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1976|5|22|df=y}}
| LineColor = 500650
}}
}}



==Trivia==

Dinsdale Landen is the only actor playing the same role, that of private investigator Matthew Earp, in two episodes: ''An Echo of Theresa'' and ''The Next Scream You Hear'', although Reg Lye played an unnamed 'Caretaker' in both 'Spell of Evil' and 'Good Salary - Prospects - Free Coffin' who could conceivably be the same character.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.mcmweb.co.uk/blacknun/thriller/ THRILLER website]
*[https://dobermann.wymark.org.uk/2021/01/18/a-thriller-in-every-corner/ A THRILLER in Every Corner]
*[https://headpress.com/a-thriller-in-every-corner/ Thriller interview at Headpress]
*[https://www.zani.co.uk/film-tv/item/3228-humour-in-thriller/ Humour in Thriller]
*{{IMDb title|id=0164295|title=Thriller}}
* {{Screenonline TV title|1396589}}
*{{epguides|Thriller_UK|Thriller}}
*[http://www.shoutfactorytv.com/series/thriller ShoutFactoryTV]

[[Category:British supernatural television shows]]
[[Category:British fantasy television series]]
[[Category:ITV television dramas]]
[[Category:Television series by ITV Studios]]
[[Category:1973 British television series debuts]]
[[Category:1976 British television series endings]]
[[Category:1970s British anthology television series]]
[[Category:1970s British drama television series]]
[[Category:Television shows produced by Associated Television (ATV)]]
[[Category:English-language television shows]]

James Cossins

2022-01-01T15:58:03Z

Vodkamad: /* Television */

{{short description|British actor}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{more citations needed|date=March 2013}}
{{Infobox person
| image = James_Cossins.jpg
| name = James Cossins
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1933|12|4}}
| birth_place = [[Beckenham]], [[Kent]], England
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|1997|2|12|1933|12|4}}
| death_place = [[Hampshire]], England
| othername =
| occupation = Actor
| years_active = 1962–1994
}}

'''James Cossins''' (4 December 1933 – 12 February 1997) was an English character actor. Born in [[Beckenham]], Kent, he became widely recognised as the abrupt, bewildered Mr Walt in the ''[[Fawlty Towers]]'' episode "[[The Hotel Inspectors]]" and as Mr Watson, the frustrated Public Relations training course instructor, in an episode of ''[[Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thefawltytowersguide.co.uk/fawltytowers-thehotelinspectors.htm |title=The Hotel Inspectors |publisher=Thefawltytowersguide.co.uk |access-date=7 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181223073543/http://thefawltytowersguide.co.uk/fawltytowers-thehotelinspectors.htm |archive-date=23 December 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=comedyguide>[http://www.comedy.co.uk/guide/tv/some_mothers_do_ave_em/episodes/2/3Comedy Guide Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em Episodes at Comedy guide]. Retrieved 14 August 2015</ref>

==Early life==
He was born in [[Beckenham]] and educated at the [[City of London School]].<ref name=":0" /> After serving in the [[Royal Air Force]], he trained at [[Royal Academy of Dramatic Art]], where he won the silver medal in 1952.

==Career==
He first appeared in repertory theatre<ref name="who'swho">{{cite book|year=1985|author=Eddie Pedder|isbn=0-907965-31-8|title=Who's Who on Television, 3rd Edition|publisher=Michael Joseph}}</ref> and at the [[Nottingham Playhouse]]. He played a wide range of characters throughout his colourful and extensive career on television and stage, often portraying blustering, pompous, crusty and cantankerous characters. Cossins appeared in ''[[Charley's Aunt]]'' at the Apollo Theatre in 1971 with Tom Courtenay, David Horovitch, Garth Forwood, Joanna McCallum, and Celia Bannerman. He appeared in more than forty films,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.britmovie.co.uk/forums/actors-actresses/102356-james-cossins.html |title=James Cossins |publisher=Britmovie.co.uk |access-date=7 March 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140307125800/http://www.britmovie.co.uk/forums/actors-actresses/102356-james-cossins.html |archive-date=7 March 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> including ''[[The Anniversary (1968 film)|The Anniversary]]'' (recreating his West End stage role), and ''[[The Lost Continent (1968 film)|The Lost Continent]]'' (both 1968), ''[[Gandhi (film)|Gandhi]]'' (1982), and ''[[The Man with the Golden Gun (film)|The Man with the Golden Gun]]'' (1974). On the small screen, he appeared as a guest in a variety of shows, including ''[[The Likely Lads]]'' and ''[[Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?]]'', ''[[Minder (TV series)|Minder]]'', ''[[Bergerac (TV series)|Bergerac]]'', ''[[The Sweeney]]'', ''[[Bless This House (UK TV series)|Bless This House]]'', ''[[Shadows (TV series)|Shadows]]'', ''[[All Creatures Great and Small (1978 TV series)|All Creatures Great and Small]]'', ''[[Citizen Smith]]'', ''[[Just William]]'', ''[[The Good Life (1975 TV series)|The Good Life]]'', ''[[L for Lester]]'', Neville Dennis in ''[[Callan (TV series)|Callan]]'' "Rules of the Game" (1972), ''[[Z-Cars]]'', and as the regular character Bruce Westrop (in 1979) in ''[[Emmerdale Farm]]''. He also played Major Bagstock in ''[[Dombey and Son (1983 miniseries)|Dombey and Son]]'' (1983), and appeared in the first series of ''[[All in Good Faith]]'' in 1985. He played a magistrate in episodes of four different British sitcoms, ''[[Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?]]'', ''[[The Good Life (1975 TV series)|The Good Life]]'', ''[[Citizen Smith]]'' and ''Minder''.

His later appearances were limited by ill health and he lived in semi-retirement in Surrey. Cossins died from heart disease at the age of 63, in 1997.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|title=Obituary: James Cossins|date=11 March 1997|work=[[The Times]]|issue=65834|page=23}}</ref>

==Filmography==
===Film===
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
* ''[[Darling (1965 film)|Darling]]'' (1965) as Basildon
* ''[[The Deadly Bees]]'' (1966) as Coroner
* ''[[Privilege (film)|Privilege]]'' (1967) as Professor Tatham
* ''[[How I Won the War]]'' (1967) as Drogue
* ''[[The Anniversary (1968 film)|The Anniversary]]'' (1968) as Henry Taggart
* ''[[A Dandy in Aspic]]'' (1968) as Heston-Stevas
* ''[[The Lost Continent (1968 film)|The Lost Continent]]'' (1968) as Nick, Chief Engineer
* ''[[Otley (film)|Otley]]'' (1968) as Geffcock
* ''[[Scrooge (1970 film)|Scrooge]]'' (1970) as Party Guest
* ''[[The Horror of Frankenstein]]'' (1970) as Dean
* ''[[The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer]]'' (1970) as Crodder
* ''[[Wuthering Heights (1970 film)|Wuthering Heights]]'' (1970 as Mr. Linton
* ''[[Say Hello to Yesterday]]'' (1971) as Policeman
* ''[[Melody (1971 film)|Melody]]'' (1971) as Headmaster
* ''[[Villain (1971 film)|Villain]]'' (1971) as Brown
* ''[[Blood from the Mummy's Tomb]]'' (1971) as Older Male Nurse
* ''[[Death Line]]'' (1972) as James Manfred, OBE
* ''[[Fear in the Night (1972 film)|Fear in the Night]]'' (1972) as The Doctor
* ''[[Follow Me! (1972 film)|Follow Me!]]'' (1972) as Party Guest
* ''[[Young Winston]]'' (1972) as Barnsby
* ''[[Bequest to the Nation (film)|Bequest to the Nation]]'' (1973) as McKillop - HMS Victory
* ''[[Hitler: The Last Ten Days]]'' (1973) as German Officer
* ''[[The Man with the Golden Gun (film)|The Man with the Golden Gun]]'' (1974) as Colthorpe
* ''[[The First Great Train Robbery]]'' (1979) as Harranby
* ''[[Loophole (1981 film)|Loophole]]'' (1981) as 1st Interviewer
* ''[[Sphinx (film)|Sphinx]]'' (1981) as Lord Carnarvon
* ''[[Gandhi (film)|Gandhi]]'' (1982) as Brigadier
* ''Immaculate Conception'' (1992) as Godfrey
{{div col end}}

===Television===
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
* ''[[The Dangerous Game (TV series)|The Dangerous Game]]'' (1958, 1 episode) as Auctioneer
* ''[[Saturday Playhouse]]'' (1959, 1 episode) as Frank Coppin
* ''[[Theatre Night (1957 TV series)|Theatre Night]]'' (1961, 1 episode) as Edgar Lucas, the bride's father
* ''[[The Caucasian Chalk Circle]]'' (1962, 3 episodes) as Schauwa
* ''[[Z Cars]]'' (1962-1963, 11 episodes) as Sergeant Michaelson
* ''[[Compact (TV series)|Compact]]'' (1963, 13 episodes) as Newcastle Pope
* ''[[Armchair Theatre]]'' (1963-1973, 3 episodes) as Partridge
* ''[[ITV Television Playhouse]]'' (1963, 1 episode) as Hilliard
* ''[[The Sullavan Brothers]]'' (1965, 1 episode) as Maurice Ashley
* ''[[Londoners (TV series)|Londoners]]'' (1965, 1 episode) as The interviewer
* ''[[No Hiding Place]]'' (1965, 1 episode) as 'Muddy' Waters
* ''[[Coronation Street]]'' (1965, 1 episode) as Interviewer
* ''[[The Man in Room 17]]'' (1965, 1 episode) as Harry Morrison
* ''[[Legend of Death]]'' (1965, 4 episodes) as Irwin
* ''[[The Likely Lads]]'' (1965-1966, 2 epsidoes) as Scoutmaster/Vicar
* ''[[Mystery and Imagination]]'' (1966, 1 episode) as Landlord
* ''[[The Power Game]]'' (1966-1969, 2 episodes) as Henry Outram/Candleford
* ''[[Theatre 625]]'' (1966, 1 episode) as Henry
* ''[[The Fellows]]'' (1967, 1 episode) as Visitor
* ''[[Out of the Unknown]]'' (1967, 1 episode) as Interviewer
* ''[[The Contenders (TV series)|The Contenders]]'' (1969, 1 episode) as Bloater
* ''[[Strange Report]]'' (1969, 1 episode) as Churchill
* ''[[Dr. Finlay's Casebook]]'' (1969, 1 episode) as Robbie Cannock
* ''[[The ITV Play]]'' (1969, 1 episode) as Mr. Peachham
* ''[[The Avengers (TV programme)|The Avengers]]'' (1969, 1 episode) as Henry
* ''[[Paul Temple (TV series)|Paul Temple]]'' (1970, 1 episode) as Inspector Lescoe
* ''[[The Wednesday Play]]'' (1970, 1 episode) as Colonel Jones-William
* ''[[Thirty-Minute Theatre]]'' (1970, 1 episode) as Tim Singleton
* ''[[Dear Mother...Love Albert]]'' (1970-1972, 2 episodes) as S.M.N. Beanstock/Col. Tomlinson
* ''[[Special Branch (TV series)|Special Branch]]'' (1970, 1 episode) as Det. Sgt. Davis
* ''[[Menace (TV series)|Menace]]'' (1970, 1 episode) as Controller
* ''[[Bless This House (British TV series)|Bless This House]]'' (1971, 1 episode) as Tom Williams
* ''[[The Ten Commandments (1971 TV series)|The Ten Commandments]]'' (1971, 1 episode) as Tom
* ''[[Bel Ami (1971 TV series)|Bel Ami]]'' (1971, 4 episodes) as Forestier
* ''[[The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes (TV series)|The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes]]'' (1971, 1 episode) as . Dr. Jervis
* ''[[Play for Today]]'' (1971, 3 episodes) as Jeremy
* ''[[Callan (TV series)|Callan]]'' (1972, 1 episode) as Neville Dennis
* ''[[Pretenders (TV series)|Pretenders]]'' (1972, 13 episodes) as Old Elam
* ''[[The Incredible Robert Baldick|The Incredible Robert Baldick: Never Come Nigh]]'' (1972, 1 episode) as Rev. Peter Elmstead
* ''[[Man at the Top (TV series)|Man at the Top]]'' (1972, 1 episode) as Colonel Broadhurst
* ''[[A Day Out (film)|A Day Out]]'' (1972, TV film) as Shorter
* ''[[Crown Court (TV series)|Crown Court]]'' (1973, 4 episodes) as Graham Erringburn
* ''[[Thriller (British TV series)|Thriller]]'' (1973, 1 episode) as Kellet
* ''[[Harriet's Back in Town]]'' (1973, 2 episodes) as Arthur
* ''[[Marked Personal]]'' (1973, 2 episodes) as J.C. Smart
* ''[[Van der Valk]]'' (1973, 1 episode) as Noordhoff
* ''[[Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em ]]'' (1973, 1 episode) as Watson
* ''[[Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?]]'' (1974, 1 episode) as Magistrate
* ''[[Fall of Eagles]]'' (1974, 1 episode) as Count Josi Hoyos
* ''[[The Pallisers]]'' (1974, 2 episodes) as Sergeant Bunfit
* ''[[Justice (1971 TV series)|Justice]]'' (1974, 1 episode) as Mr. Ritson
* ''[[The Double Dealers]]'' (1974, 1 episode) as Sir Julian
* ''[[Good Girl (TV series)|Good Girl]]'' (1974, 1 episode) as Manager
* ''[[Oh No, It's Selwyn Froggitt]]'' (1974, 1 episode) as Chairman
* ''[[Notorious Woman]]'' (1974, 1 episode) as Gustave Flaubert
* ''[[Centre Play]]'' (1975, 1 episode) as Burret
* ''[[Churchill's People]]'' (1975, 1 episode) as William
* ''[[Fawlty Towers]]'' (1975, 1 episode) as Mr. Walt
* ''[[Shadows (TV series)|Shadows]]'' (1975, 1 episode) as Custodian
* ''[[The Good Life (1975 TV series)|The Good Life]]'' (1976, 1 episode) as Magistrate
* ''[[Jackanory]]'' (1976, 6 episodes) as Storyteller
* ''[[Love Thy Neighbour (1972 TV series)|Love Thy Neighbour]]'' (1976, 1 episode) as George Brittain
* ''[[One-Upmanship]]'' (1976, 1 episode)
* ''[[Shades of Greene]]'' (1976, 1 episode) as . Shop assistant
* ''[[The Sweeney]]'' (1976, 1 episode) as Col. Rosier
* ''[[Don't Forget to Write!]]'' (1977-1979, 3 episodes) as Phillip Mounter
* ''[[Bernie (TV series)|Bernie]]'' (1978, 2 episodes) as Various parts
* ''[[The Devil's Crown]]'' (1978, 1 episode) as Hugues de Lusignan
* ''[[Just William (1977 TV series)|Just William]]'' (1978, 1 episode) as Uncle Frederick
* ''[[Prince Regent (TV series)|Prince Regent]]'' (1979, 1 episode) as Sir Robert Gifford
* ''[[All Creatures Great and Small (1978 TV series)|All Creatures Great and Small]]'' (1980, 1988, 2 episodes) as Aloysius Barge
* ''[[Citizen Smith]]'' (1980, 1 episode) as Judge
* ''[[The Jim Davidson Show]]'' (1980, 1 episode) as Various parts
* ''[[Jukes of Piccadilly]]'' (1980, 2 episodes) as Geoffrey Martindale
* ''[[Why Didn't They Ask Evans?#1980 television adaptation|Why Didn't They Ask Evans?]]'' (1980, TV film) as Henry Bassington-ffrench
* ''[[Bergerac (TV series)|Bergerac]]'' (1981, 2 episodes) as Tuchel/Calhoun
* ''[[Roger Doesn't Live Here Anymore]]'' (1981, 2 episodes) as Baxter
* ''[[Shelley (TV series)|Shelley]]'' (1981, 1 episode) as Bernard Nelson
* ''[[BBC Television Shakespeare|Timon of Athens]]'' (1981, TV film) as Lucullus
* ''[[Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years]]'' (1981, 1 episode) as Lord Lothian
* ''[[The Confessions of Felix Krull (TV series)|The Confessions of Felix Krull]]'' (1982, 5 episodes) as Lord Kilmarnock
* ''[[L for Lester]]'' (1982, 6 episodes) as Chief Insp. Rodgers
* ''[[Minder (TV series)|Minder]]'' (1982, 1 episode) as Judge
* ''[[Dombey and Son (1983 miniseries)|Dombey and Son]]'' (1983, 5 episodes) as Major Bagstock
* ''[[Goodnight and God Bless]]'' (1983, 6 episodes) as Geoffrey
* ''[[Nanny (TV series)|Nanny]]'' (1983, 1 episode) as Mr. Croome
* ''[[Number 10 (TV series)|Number 10]]'' (1983, 1 episode) as Lord Harcourt
* ''[[The Lady Is a Tramp (TV series)|The Lady Is a Tramp]]'' (1984, 1 episode) as Man
* ''[[The Masks of Death]]'' (1984, TV film) as Frederick Baines
* ''[[Sharing Time]]'' (1984, 1 episode) as Arthur
* ''[[Strangers and Brothers (TV series)|Strangers and Brothers]]'' (1984, 3 episodes) as Mr. Knight
* ''[[All in Good Faith]]'' (1985, 5 episodes) as Major Andrews
* ''[[My Brother Jonathan (TV series)|My Brother Jonathan]]'' (1985, 2 episodes) as Reverend Perry
* ''[[Marjorie and Men]]'' (1985, 4 episodes) as Henry Bartlett
* ''[[The Pickwick Papers (TV series)|The Pickwick Papers]]'' (1985, 1 episode) as Nupkins
* ''[[Up the Elephant and Round the Castle]]'' (1985, 1 episode) as The Major
* ''[[Call Me Mister (TV series)|Call Me Mister]]'' (1986, 1 episode) as Charlie Staples
* ''[[Miss Marple (1984 TV series)|Miss Marple]]'' (1987, 1 episode) as Colonel Luscombe
* ''[[Grand Larceny]]'' (1987, TV film)
* ''[[Rude Health]]'' (1988, 1 episode) as Col. Jardine
* ''[[Chelworth (TV series)|Chelworth]]'' (1989, 2 episodes) as Mr. Kilbeck
* ''[[Woof!]]'' (1990, 1 episode) as Mr. Hudson
* ''[[Murder Most Horrid]]'' (1991, 1 episode) as Sir Hugh Lotterby
*''[[Adam Dalgliesh (TV series)|Adam Dalgliesh]]'' (1993, 1 episode) as Justin Bryce
* ''[[Under the Hammer]]'' (1994, 1 episode) as Meredith Bland
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|id=0181980|name=James Cossins}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cossins, James}}
[[Category:1933 births]]
[[Category:1997 deaths]]
[[Category:English male film actors]]
[[Category:English male television actors]]
[[Category:People from Beckenham]]
[[Category:Male actors from Kent]]
[[Category:20th-century Royal Air Force personnel]]
[[Category:Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art]]
[[Category:People educated at the City of London School]]
[[Category:20th-century English male actors]]

Jonathan Guy Lewis

2021-12-02T20:35:37Z

Vodkamad: /* Career */

{{use dmy dates|date=April 2015}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Jonathan Guy Lewis
| image =
| imagesize = 150px
| caption =
| birth_name = Jonathan Guy Lewis
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1963|5|20}}<ref>{{cite web |title=JONATHAN GUY LEWIS AND MICHAEL BRANDON CAST IN A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE |url=https://www.theatrecloud.com/news/jonathan-guy-lewis-and-michael-brandon-cast-in-a-view-from-the-bridge |website=Theater Cloud |accessdate=19 July 2018}}</ref>
| birth_place = [[Woolwich]], [[London]], [[England]]
| death_date =
| death_place =
| othername = Jonathan Lewis
| nationality = British
| occupation = Actor
| yearsactive = 1992–present
| spouse =
| children = Abraham Lewis
| website =
}}
'''Jonathan Guy Lewis''' (born 20 May 1963 in [[Woolwich]], [[London]]) is an [[English people|English]] actor known for his role as Chris Hammond in ''[[London's Burning (TV series)|London's Burning]]''.

==Early life==

After attending university, Lewis was an officer trainer at [[Royal Military Academy Sandhurst|Sandhurst]] before a recurring back injury led to his discharge from the army at 22 years old. Lewis then enrolled in drama school to begin his new career.<ref name=TheStage>{{cite web |title=Jonathan Guy Lewis: 'Soldiers and actors are similar – both dress up and put on a show' |url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/features/interviews/2018/jonathan-guy-lewis-soldiers-actors-similar-dress-put-show/ |website=The Stage UK |accessdate=6 January 2019}}</ref>

==Career==

Lewis's first major acting role was the role of Sgt. Chris McCleod in ''Soldier Soldier''. His most recent TV series roles were on ''[[Skins (UK TV series)|Skins]]'' and ''[[Endeavour (TV series)|Endeavour]]''.

Lewis has also worked as a writer and director. His most notable work as a writer is the award-winning play ''[[Our Boys (1993 play)|Our Boys]]'',<ref name=TheStage/> which was staged at the [[Donmar Warehouse]] in 1995 and revived at the [[Duchess Theatre]] in 2012. In 2015, Lewis co starred in the revival of [[Arthur Miller]]'s ''[[A View from the Bridge]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=A View from the Bridge review – murky sexual undercurrents |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2015/apr/01/a-view-from-the-bridge-arthur-miller-touring-consortium-review |website=The Guardian |accessdate=19 July 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=UK Tour of A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE Announces Full Cast, Featuring Jonathan Guy Lewis |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/UK-Tour-of-A-VIEW-FROM-THE-BRIDGE-Announces-Full-Cast-Featuring-Jonathan-Guy-Lewis-20150218 |website=Broadway World |accessdate=19 July 2018}}</ref>

==Select television works==
*''[[Holby City]]'', 2003, as Anthony Woods (3 episodes)
*''[[London's Burning (TV series)|London's Burning]]'', 1998-2001, as Chris Hammond (25 episodes)
*''[[Coronation Street]]'', 1999, as [[Ian Bentley (Coronation Street)|Ian Bentley]] (43 episodes)
*''[[Soldier Soldier]]'', 1996–1997, as Sgt Chris McLeod (17 episodes)
*'' Heartbeat 2005 as Peter Roberts (1 episode)

==References==

{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|id=0507388|name=Jonathan Guy Lewis}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lewis, Jonathan Guy}}
[[Category:1963 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:English male television actors]]
[[Category:English male soap opera actors]]
[[Category:People from Woolwich]]
[[Category:Male actors from London]]
[[Category:20th-century English male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century English male actors]]

Rip Off Britain (TV programme)

2021-10-18T07:36:49Z

Vodkamad: /* Live */

{{More citations needed|date=December 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2012}}
{{Infobox television
| name = Rip Off Britain
| image =
| genre = [[Factual television|Factual]]
| presenter = [[Julia Somerville]] (2011—) [[Angela Rippon]] (2009—) [[Gloria Hunniford]] (2009—) [[Jennie Bond]] (2009—10) 
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
| num_series = 13 (Regular: Daytime) 3 (Regular: Primetime) 9 (Holidays) 5 (Food) 8 (Live)
| num_episodes = 235 (Regular: Daytime) 28 (Regular: Primetime) 75 (Holidays) 50 (Food) 30 (Live)
| runtime = 45 minutes
| company = [[BBC Studios]] Documentary Unit
| channel = [[BBC One]]
| picture_format = [[16:9]]
| first_aired = {{start date|2009|11|30|df=yes}}
| last_aired = present
| theme_music_composer = [[Martin Medina]]
}}

'''''Rip Off Britain''''' is a [[BBC One]] series which exposes Britain's [[rip-off]]s and helps consumers. It began on 30 November 2009, presented by former news journalists [[Angela Rippon]], [[Gloria Hunniford]] and [[Jennie Bond]]. Newsreader [[Julia Somerville]] replaced Bond from series three. It has two spin-off series, ''Rip Off Britain Food'' and ''Rip Off Britain: Holidays''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00wck32|title = BBC One - Rip off Britain}}</ref> ''Rip Off Britain Live'' is shown for a week twice a year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0538dlr/p0538fk9|title = BBC One - Rip off Britain, Rip off Britain: Live - Rip off Britain: Live}}</ref>

==Format==
The presenters investigate viewers' stories of being ripped-off, expose some of the rip-offs, and seek answers and, where appropriate, refunds or compensation. Numerous consumer experts advise consumers on their rights in short films within the programmes and at "Pop Ups" around the country. Experts include [[Simon Calder]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/kXBrncq8cYNrDvxLpNTgrJ/holiday-problems-simon-calder|title=BBC One - Rip off Britain - Holiday problems: Simon Calder}}</ref> David McClelland,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3MYrmqpw0CjvnTQk7ZDyQ8Y/technology-david-mcclelland|title = BBC One - Rip off Britain - Technology: David McClelland}}</ref> Kate Hardcastle,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p062gvfc/p062klbg|title = BBC One - Rip off Britain, Rip off Britain: Pop up Shop at the Intu Trafford Centre Manchester 2018 - Kate Hardcastle on hand giving our consumers some invaluable advice about holidays and travel}}</ref> Sylvia Rook,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p062gvfc/p062kj9j|title = BBC One - Rip off Britain, Rip off Britain: Pop up Shop at the Intu Trafford Centre Manchester 2018 - Sylvia Rook from the Trading Standards Institute offers valuable advice to our consumers}}</ref> [[The Complaining Cow|Helen Dewdney]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p062gvfc/p062klw3|title = BBC One - Rip off Britain, Rip off Britain: Pop up Shop at the Intu Trafford Centre Manchester 2018 - Helen Dewdney consumer expert was on hand to offer advice to our consumers}}</ref> [[Which?|Adam French]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p062gvfc/p062h005|title = BBC One - Rip off Britain, Rip off Britain: Pop up Shop at the Intu Trafford Centre Manchester 2018 - Adam French Consumer Rights Editor from Which? Offered advice to our consumers at our Pop up Shop}}</ref> Gary Rycroft,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p062gvfc/p062gybj|title = BBC One - Rip off Britain, Rip off Britain: Pop up Shop at the Intu Trafford Centre Manchester 2018 - Gary Rycroft one of our experts provided valuable advice to our consumers in Manchester}}</ref> Sarah Pennels,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3LZz1s6lttSKSYnGHY7BrW1/personal-finance-sarah-pennells|title=BBC One - Rip off Britain - Personal finance: Sarah Pennells}}</ref> [[Paul Lewis (broadcaster)|Paul Lewis]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00yqgyl|title = BBC One - Rip off Britain, PPI: How you can claim back mis-sold Payment Protection Insurance}}</ref> and Martyn James.<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/progr,mmes/articles/115BDmytRHvBZgLSVRQ6YdV/more-consumer-gripes-martyn-james</ref>

==Transmissions==

=== Daytime ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! Series !! Start date !! End date !! Episodes
|-
| '''1''' || 30 November 2009 || 4 December 2009 || 5
|-
| '''2''' || 22 November 2010 || 17 December 2010 || 20
|-
| '''3''' || 28 November 2011 || 23 December 2011 || 20
|-
| '''4''' || 3 September 2012 || 28 September 2012 || 20
|-
| '''5''' || 2 September 2013 || 27 September 2013 || 20
|-
| '''6''' || 15 September 2014 || 10 October 2014 || 20
|-
| '''7''' || 14 September 2015 || 9 October 2015 || 20
|-
| '''8''' || 12 September 2016 || 7 October 2016 || 20
|-
| '''9''' || 1 May 2017 || 13 October 2017 || 20
|-
| '''10''' || 11 June 2018 || 12 October 2018 || 20
|-
| '''11''' || 6 May 2019 || 11 October 2019 || 20
|-
| '''12''' || 6 July 2020 || 16 October 2020 || 20
|-
| '''13''' || 3 May 2021 || 14 May 2021 || 10
|}

=== Primetime ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! Series !! Start date !! End date !! Episodes
|-
| '''1''' || 5 January 2011 || 8 April 2011 || 12
|-
| '''2''' || 18 January 2012 || 30 May 2012 || 8
|-
| '''3''' || 7 January 2013 || 5 August 2013 || 8
|-
| '''4''' || 2 August 2021 || 26 August 2021 || 6
|}
===Holidays===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! Series !! Start date !! End date !! Episodes
|-
| '''1''' || 7 January 2013 || 11 January 2013 || 5
|-
| '''2''' || 6 January 2014 || 10 January 2014 || 5
|-
| '''3''' || 5 January 2015 || 16 January 2015 || 10
|-
| '''4''' || 4 January 2016 || 15 January 2016 || 10
|-
| '''5''' || 2 January 2017 || 20 January 2017 || 15
|-
| '''6''' || 2 January 2018 || 22 January 2018 || 15
|-
| '''7''' || 7 January 2019 || 25 January 2019 || 15
|-
| '''8''' || 6 January 2020 || 17 January 2020 || 10
|-
| '''9''' || 4 January 2021 || 15 January 2021 || 10
|}

===Food===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! Series !! Start date !! End date !! Episodes
|-
| '''1''' || 17 March 2014 || 28 March 2014 || 10
|-
| '''2''' || 13 April 2015 || 24 April 2015 || 10
|-
| '''3''' || 25 April 2016 || 6 May 2016 || 10
|-
| '''4''' || 29 May 2017 || 9 June 2017 || 10
|-
| '''5''' || 23 April 2018 || 4 May 2018 || 10
|}

===Live===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! Series !! Start date !! End date !! Episodes
|-
| '''1''' || 20 October 2014 || 24 October 2014 || 5
|-
| '''2''' || 19 October 2015 || 23 October 2015 || 5
|-
| '''3''' || 10 October 2016 || 14 October 2016 || 5
|-
| '''4''' || 15 May 2017 || 19 May 2017 || 5
|-
| '''5''' || 16 October 2017 || 20 October 2017 || 5
|-
| '''6''' || 25 June 2018 || 29 June 2018 || 5
|-
| '''7''' || 18 January 2021 || 22 January 2021 || 5
|-
| '''8''' || 17 May 2021 || 21 May 2021 || 5
|-
| '''9''' || 18 October 2021 || 22 October 2021 || 5
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{BBC programme|b00wck32}}
{{Consumer protection}}

[[Category:2009 British television series debuts]]
[[Category:2010s British television series]]
[[Category:2020s British television series]]
[[Category:BBC high definition shows]]
[[Category:BBC Television shows]]
[[Category:Television series by BBC Studios]]
[[Category:Business-related television series in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Consumer protection in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Consumer protection television series]]
[[Category:English-language television shows]]

Mannequin Two: On the Move

2021-09-18T19:15:21Z

Vodkamad: /* Plot */

{{Infobox film
| name = Mannequin Two: On the Move
| image = Mannequin On the Move.jpg
| caption = Original movie poster
| writer = {{plainlist|
* Edward Rugoff
* [[Michael Gottlieb (director)|Michael Gottlieb]]
* [[David Isaacs (writer)|David Isaacs]]
* [[Ken Levine (TV personality)|Ken Levine]]
* Betsy Israel
}}
| producer = Edward Rugoff
| starring = {{Plainlist|
* [[Kristy Swanson]]
* [[William Ragsdale]]
* [[Terry Kiser]]
* [[Stuart Pankin]]
* [[Meshach Taylor]]
}}
| director = [[Stewart Raffill]]
| music = David McHugh
| cinematography = Larry Pizer
| editing = {{plainlist|
* John Rosenberg
* Joan E. Chapman
}}
| studio = [[Gladden Entertainment]]
| distributor = [[20th Century Fox]]<ref name="mojo" />
| released = {{Film date|1991|5|17}}
| runtime = 95 minutes
| country = United States
| language = English
| budget = $13 million<ref name="mojo" />
| gross = $3.8 million<ref name="mojo">{{Mojo title|mannequin2}}</ref>
}}

'''''Mannequin Two: On the Move''''' is a 1991 romantic comedy film and a [[sequel]] to the 1987 film ''[[Mannequin (1987 film)|Mannequin]]''. The film stars [[Kristy Swanson]] as a "peasant girl" named Jessie who is enchanted by an evil [[Magician (fantasy)|sorcerer]]'s magic necklace, freezing her in the form of a wooden mannequin. She is to remain frozen for one thousand years, or until the necklace is removed by the person who will be her true love. In modern day Philadelphia, she is freed by Jason Williamson ([[William Ragsdale]]), a new employee of the Prince & Company department store and the descendant of Jesse's original love. The two fall in love while avoiding Count Spretzle ([[Terry Kiser]]), the descendant of the evil sorcerer.

The original film's theme song "[[Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now]]" by [[Starship (band)|Starship]], written by [[Diane Warren]] and [[Albert Hammond]], was featured in this film. The original music score was composed by David McHugh. Though the sequel takes place in the same Philadelphia department store Prince & Company as the original movie, only actors [[Meshach Taylor|Mesach Taylor]] and Andrew Hill Newman returned from the original film. While Taylor reprises the role of Hollywood Montrose and briefly references having witnessed a similar romance during the first movie, it is unclear if Newman plays the same character as he did in the first film or is portraying a new character.

==Plot==
In the year 1391, Prince William of the small Germanic kingdom of Hauptmann-Koenig falls in love with a peasant girl named Jessie. Not approving of the romance, the queen plots with her court sorcerer Spretzel, who enchants a necklace intended for Jessie. Putting on the necklace, she is transformed into a wooden statue and the magic prevents William from freeing her. He is told Jessie will be frozen for a thousand years and can only wake earlier if a true love from another land removes the necklace. Angry, William declares the kingdom will then also be cursed for a thousand years. Perpetual rainfall begins.

"Almost" one thousand years later, Hauptmann-Koenig is a poor country enduring endless rain and financial hardship. Jessie stands as a museum piece in the castle, where a tour guide recites the fairy tale of the "Enchanted Peasant Girl." To boost tourism, Count Gunther Spretzle sends the statue to be displayed at the Prince & Company department store in Philadelphia. The store will do a dramatic stage presentation celebrating the Hauptman-Koenig's history and culture. Secretly, Count Spretzle is
the descendant of the sorcerer and knows the fairy tale is true. When Jessie awakens in a few days, he plans to make her his bride and then escape to Bermuda with his henchmen, using stolen crown jewels to fund his retirement.

In the Germantown section of Northwest Philadelphia, Jason Williamson, a descendant of Prince William, lives with his mother who runs a matchmaking service. He begins work at Prince & Company where store manager Mr. James makes him assistant to visual merchandising head Hollywood Montrose, who is directing the Enchanted Peasant Girl presentation. When the delivery truck with the Hauptmann-Koenig artifacts crashes over the Schuylkill River, Hollywood and James arrive on the scene. Seeing a female figure falls into the river, Jason saves her, only then realizing it's the statue from Europe. Jessie is briefly restored to life when James touches her necklace.

Back at Prince & Company, Jason is romantically drawn to Jessie. Removing her necklace with ease, he is shocked when she comes to life. Learning she is in the future, Jessie concludes Jason is William reincarnated. Jason shows Jessie the modern world and they have a whirlwind romance, sharing their feelings, dreams, and cultures with each other. The next morning, unaware of its magic, Jessie puts on her necklace and is frozen again. Heartbroken and unsure what to do, Jason returns the statue to Prince & Company.

Admiring Jessie's necklace, Hollywood tries it on, becoming a statue and restoring her to life. Jessie leaves to explore the mall. Spretzle's henchmen find Hollywood, remove the necklace, then rush to find Jessie. The Queen of Hauptman-Koenig then calls Spretzle, warning him she knows the crown jewels are missing. Jason finds Hollywood and explains Jessie came to life. Hollywood believes him, remarking, [[Mannequin (1987 film)|"This has happened before."]]

Recognizing Jason is William reincarnated, Spretzel tries to kill him. Seeing Spretzel's henchmen, Jessie takes a go-kart and escapes to Jason's home. Spretzle and the authorities follow Jason to his home. The count confronts Jessie alone and puts the necklace on her. Seeing her frozen again, Jason realizes the necklace is cursed and demands it be removed. The cops (which Hollywood calls them "The Heat"), believing he is unhealthily fixated on a mannequin, arrest him for theft. Spretzle wants to leave with Jessie but Mr. James reminds the count they have a contract and a show happening tomorrow.

The next day, Hollywood dresses in his former [[United States Marine Corps|US Marine Corps]] uniform and bluffs a policeman into releasing Jason into his custody. At the Enchanted Peasant Girl presentation, Jason removes Jessie's necklace on stage, restoring her to life in front of spectators who assume it is part of the show. Enraged, Spretzle takes Jessie and forces her into his hot air balloon. Jason follows and they struggle. Jessie puts the necklace on Spretzle, repeating the ancient curse. The now-frozen Spretzle is knocked out of the balloon and smashes into pieces on the street.

Later in Hauptmann-Koenig, the glued together statue of Count Spretzle is the castle centerpiece and inspires his own fairy tale. Meanwhile, the newly married Jason and Jessie pick up a new necklace at Prince & Company before leaving on their honeymoon.

==Cast==
* [[Kristy Swanson]] as Jessie
* [[William Ragsdale]] as Jason Williamson/Prince William
* [[Meshach Taylor]] as Hollywood Montrose/Club Doorman
* [[Terry Kiser]] as Count Gunther Spretzle/Sorcerer
* [[Stuart Pankin]] as Mr. James
* [[Cynthia Harris]] as Mrs. Williamson/Queen
* Andrew Hill Newman as Andy Ackerman

==Production==
The first film had been financially successful and the production company wanted a sequel. A script was written and [[David Begelman]] hired [[Stewart Raffill]], who had made ''[[The Ice Pirates]]'' (1984) for Begelman earlier, to direct.<ref name="int2">{{cite web |date=15 July 2016 |author=Blake Harris |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/stewart-raffill-mannequin-2-interview/2/ |website=Slashfilm |title=Interview with Stewart Raffill Part 2 }}</ref> Raffill said his philosophy was "just to play the humor" and look for interesting reactions to the situations.<ref name="int2"/> Filming took place in Philadelphia at [[Wanamaker's]] department store. Raffill said that Swanson "was a charm to work with".<ref name="int2"/>

== Soundtrack ==

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ Track list: ''Mannequin Two: On the Move'' <ref>{{cite web|title=Soundtracks for|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102395/soundtrack|work=Mannequin: On the Move|publisher=[[Internet Movie Database]]|access-date=30 October 2012|year=1991}}</ref>
|-
! Title:
! Performed by:
! Produced by:
! Courtesy of:
! Composed by:
|-
| "Do It For Love"
| Gene Miller
| Phil Galdston [[John Van Tongeren]]
|
| [[John Van Tongeren]] Phil Galdston
|-
| "Wake Up"
| Gene Miller
| Phil Galdston John Van Tongeren
|
| John Van Tongeren Phil Galdston
|-
| "Can't Believe My Eyes"
| Gene Miller
| [[Jon Lind]]
|
| [[John Bettis]] [[Jon Lind]]
|-
| "[[Pick Up the Pieces (To My Heart)]]"
| [[Cindy Valentine]]
| Tony Green for TGO Records, Ltd.
| [[Arista Records|Arista Records, Inc.]]
| [[Cindy Valentine]] Tony Green
|-
| "Casa De Coati"
| [[Meshach Taylor]] [[Coati Mundi (musician)|Coati Mundi]]
| Coati Mundi
|
| [[Coati Mundi (musician)|Coati Mundi]]
|-
| "The Sea Hawk"
|
|
|
| [[Erich Wolfgang Korngold]]
|-
| "Feel the Way I Do"
| [[Shoes (American band)|Shoes]]
| Shoes
| Black Vinyl Records
| [[Shoes (American band)|John Murphy]]
|-
| "That Love Thang"
| E.I.E.I.O.
| Phil Bonanno & E.I.E.I.O.
| [[Frontier Records]]
| Richard Szeluga [[David Kendrick]]
|-
| "[[Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now]]"
| [[Starship (band)|Starship]]
| [[Narada Michael Walden]]
| [[RCA Records]]
| [[Albert Hammond]] [[Diane Warren]]
|}

==Reception==
{{Anchor|Box office}}
Unlike its predecessor, it was a [[box office bomb]], grossing just less than $4 million against its $13 million budget.<ref name="mojo" />

{{Anchor|Critical response}}
On [[Rotten Tomatoes]], it has an approval rating of 13% based on reviews from 23 critics.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mannequin 2: On the Move (1991) |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mannequin_two_on_the_move |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |access-date=2020-05-04 }}</ref> Audiences surveyed by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film a grade of "B" on scale of A+ to F.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/ |title= Cinemascore |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181220122629/https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/ |archive-date= 2018-12-20 }}</ref> This sequel was dubbed as "one of the worst follow-ups ever made."<ref>{{cite web|title=Kim Cattrall, Andrew McCarthy's ''Mannequin'' set for remake|url=http://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/movies/kim-cattrall-andrew-mccarthy-s-mannequin-set-for-remake_50994.htm|work=Zee News|date=11 January 2010|access-date=15 May 2013}}</ref>

[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] gave it a negative review: "It took four writers to struggle with another idea of why a mannequin would come to life in a department store and what would happen if she did."<ref>{{cite web |date=1 January 1991|author=Variety Staff |title=Mannequin on the Move |url=https://variety.com/review/VE1117792935 |website=Variety }}</ref> Kevin Thomas of the [[Los Angeles Times]] called it "even more feeble than the original" and "insipid in the extreme".<ref>{{cite web |date=20 May 1991 |author=Kevin Thomas |title=MOVIE REVIEWS : 'Mannequin Two' Is a Dummy Too |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-05-20-ca-1376-story.html |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] }}</ref>

David Cornelius of ''DVD Talk'' called it "as woefully incompetent as its predecessor".<ref name="dvdtalk">{{cite web |date=April 15, 2008 |author=David Cornelius |title=Mannequin & Mannequin 2: On the Move |url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/33081/mannequin-mannequin-2-on-the-move/ |website=DVD Talk |access-date=2020-05-04 }}</ref>

==Home media==
''Mannequin Two: On the Move'' was first released on VHS and LaserDisc in 1992 by [[Artisan Entertainment|Live Home Video]]. [[MGM Home Entertainment]] released the film to DVD for the first time on January 16, 2008 as part of a [[double feature]] two-disc set with the first ''Mannequin'' as the first disc.<ref name="dvdtalk" /> ''Mannequin Two: On the Move'' was released on Blu-ray for the first time by Olive Films (under license from MGM) on September 22, 2015.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mannequin Two: On the Move |url=https://www.amazon.com/Mannequin-Move-Blu-ray-Kristy-Swanson/dp/B013C6OQ6C |website=Amazon.com }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title|0102395}}
* {{Amg title|75759}}

{{Stewart Raffill}}

[[Category:1991 films]]
[[Category:1991 independent films]]
[[Category:1991 romantic comedy films]]
[[Category:1990s fantasy-comedy films]]
[[Category:1990s romantic fantasy films]]
[[Category:American fantasy-comedy films]]
[[Category:American independent films]]
[[Category:American romantic comedy films]]
[[Category:American romantic fantasy films]]
[[Category:American sequel films]]
[[Category:American films]]
[[Category:English-language films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Stewart Raffill]]
[[Category:Films set in department stores]]
[[Category:Films set in Philadelphia]]
[[Category:Films shot in Philadelphia]]
[[Category:20th Century Fox films]]
[[Category:Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films]]
[[Category:Mannequins in films]]

Mannequin Two: On the Move

2021-09-18T19:12:57Z

Vodkamad: /* Plot */

{{Infobox film
| name = Mannequin Two: On the Move
| image = Mannequin On the Move.jpg
| caption = Original movie poster
| writer = {{plainlist|
* Edward Rugoff
* [[Michael Gottlieb (director)|Michael Gottlieb]]
* [[David Isaacs (writer)|David Isaacs]]
* [[Ken Levine (TV personality)|Ken Levine]]
* Betsy Israel
}}
| producer = Edward Rugoff
| starring = {{Plainlist|
* [[Kristy Swanson]]
* [[William Ragsdale]]
* [[Terry Kiser]]
* [[Stuart Pankin]]
* [[Meshach Taylor]]
}}
| director = [[Stewart Raffill]]
| music = David McHugh
| cinematography = Larry Pizer
| editing = {{plainlist|
* John Rosenberg
* Joan E. Chapman
}}
| studio = [[Gladden Entertainment]]
| distributor = [[20th Century Fox]]<ref name="mojo" />
| released = {{Film date|1991|5|17}}
| runtime = 95 minutes
| country = United States
| language = English
| budget = $13 million<ref name="mojo" />
| gross = $3.8 million<ref name="mojo">{{Mojo title|mannequin2}}</ref>
}}

'''''Mannequin Two: On the Move''''' is a 1991 romantic comedy film and a [[sequel]] to the 1987 film ''[[Mannequin (1987 film)|Mannequin]]''. The film stars [[Kristy Swanson]] as a "peasant girl" named Jessie who is enchanted by an evil [[Magician (fantasy)|sorcerer]]'s magic necklace, freezing her in the form of a wooden mannequin. She is to remain frozen for one thousand years, or until the necklace is removed by the person who will be her true love. In modern day Philadelphia, she is freed by Jason Williamson ([[William Ragsdale]]), a new employee of the Prince & Company department store and the descendant of Jesse's original love. The two fall in love while avoiding Count Spretzle ([[Terry Kiser]]), the descendant of the evil sorcerer.

The original film's theme song "[[Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now]]" by [[Starship (band)|Starship]], written by [[Diane Warren]] and [[Albert Hammond]], was featured in this film. The original music score was composed by David McHugh. Though the sequel takes place in the same Philadelphia department store Prince & Company as the original movie, only actors [[Meshach Taylor|Mesach Taylor]] and Andrew Hill Newman returned from the original film. While Taylor reprises the role of Hollywood Montrose and briefly references having witnessed a similar romance during the first movie, it is unclear if Newman plays the same character as he did in the first film or is portraying a new character.

==Plot==
In the year 1391, Prince William of the small Germanic kingdom of Hauptmann-Koenig falls in love with a peasant girl named Jessie. Not approving of the romance, the queen plots with her court sorcerer Spretzel, who enchants a necklace intended for Jessie. Putting on the necklace, she is transformed into a wooden statue and the magic prevents William from freeing her. He is told Jessie will be frozen for a thousand years and can only wake earlier if a true love from another land removes the necklace. Angry, William declares the kingdom will then also be cursed for a thousand years. Perpetual rainfall begins.

Six hundred years later, Hauptmann-Koenig is a poor country enduring endless rain and financial hardship. Jessie stands as a museum piece in the castle, where a tour guide recites the fairy tale of the "Enchanted Peasant Girl." To boost tourism, Count Gunther Spretzle sends the statue to be displayed at the Prince & Company department store in Philadelphia. The store will do a dramatic stage presentation celebrating the Hauptman-Koenig's history and culture. Secretly, Count Spretzle is
the descendant of the sorcerer and knows the fairy tale is true. When Jessie awakens in a few days, he plans to make her his bride and then escape to Bermuda with his henchmen, using stolen crown jewels to fund his retirement.

In the Germantown section of Northwest Philadelphia, Jason Williamson, a descendant of Prince William, lives with his mother who runs a matchmaking service. He begins work at Prince & Company where store manager Mr. James makes him assistant to visual merchandising head Hollywood Montrose, who is directing the Enchanted Peasant Girl presentation. When the delivery truck with the Hauptmann-Koenig artifacts crashes over the Schuylkill River, Hollywood and James arrive on the scene. Seeing a female figure falls into the river, Jason saves her, only then realizing it's the statue from Europe. Jessie is briefly restored to life when James touches her necklace.

Back at Prince & Company, Jason is romantically drawn to Jessie. Removing her necklace with ease, he is shocked when she comes to life. Learning she is in the future, Jessie concludes Jason is William reincarnated. Jason shows Jessie the modern world and they have a whirlwind romance, sharing their feelings, dreams, and cultures with each other. The next morning, unaware of its magic, Jessie puts on her necklace and is frozen again. Heartbroken and unsure what to do, Jason returns the statue to Prince & Company.

Admiring Jessie's necklace, Hollywood tries it on, becoming a statue and restoring her to life. Jessie leaves to explore the mall. Spretzle's henchmen find Hollywood, remove the necklace, then rush to find Jessie. The Queen of Hauptman-Koenig then calls Spretzle, warning him she knows the crown jewels are missing. Jason finds Hollywood and explains Jessie came to life. Hollywood believes him, remarking, [[Mannequin (1987 film)|"This has happened before."]]

Recognizing Jason is William reincarnated, Spretzel tries to kill him. Seeing Spretzel's henchmen, Jessie takes a go-kart and escapes to Jason's home. Spretzle and the authorities follow Jason to his home. The count confronts Jessie alone and puts the necklace on her. Seeing her frozen again, Jason realizes the necklace is cursed and demands it be removed. The cops (which Hollywood calls them "The Heat"), believing he is unhealthily fixated on a mannequin, arrest him for theft. Spretzle wants to leave with Jessie but Mr. James reminds the count they have a contract and a show happening tomorrow.

The next day, Hollywood dresses in his former [[United States Marine Corps|US Marine Corps]] uniform and bluffs a policeman into releasing Jason into his custody. At the Enchanted Peasant Girl presentation, Jason removes Jessie's necklace on stage, restoring her to life in front of spectators who assume it is part of the show. Enraged, Spretzle takes Jessie and forces her into his hot air balloon. Jason follows and they struggle. Jessie puts the necklace on Spretzle, repeating the ancient curse. The now-frozen Spretzle is knocked out of the balloon and smashes into pieces on the street.

Later in Hauptmann-Koenig, the glued together statue of Count Spretzle is the castle centerpiece and inspires his own fairy tale. Meanwhile, the newly married Jason and Jessie pick up a new necklace at Prince & Company before leaving on their honeymoon.

==Cast==
* [[Kristy Swanson]] as Jessie
* [[William Ragsdale]] as Jason Williamson/Prince William
* [[Meshach Taylor]] as Hollywood Montrose/Club Doorman
* [[Terry Kiser]] as Count Gunther Spretzle/Sorcerer
* [[Stuart Pankin]] as Mr. James
* [[Cynthia Harris]] as Mrs. Williamson/Queen
* Andrew Hill Newman as Andy Ackerman

==Production==
The first film had been financially successful and the production company wanted a sequel. A script was written and [[David Begelman]] hired [[Stewart Raffill]], who had made ''[[The Ice Pirates]]'' (1984) for Begelman earlier, to direct.<ref name="int2">{{cite web |date=15 July 2016 |author=Blake Harris |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/stewart-raffill-mannequin-2-interview/2/ |website=Slashfilm |title=Interview with Stewart Raffill Part 2 }}</ref> Raffill said his philosophy was "just to play the humor" and look for interesting reactions to the situations.<ref name="int2"/> Filming took place in Philadelphia at [[Wanamaker's]] department store. Raffill said that Swanson "was a charm to work with".<ref name="int2"/>

== Soundtrack ==

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ Track list: ''Mannequin Two: On the Move'' <ref>{{cite web|title=Soundtracks for|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102395/soundtrack|work=Mannequin: On the Move|publisher=[[Internet Movie Database]]|access-date=30 October 2012|year=1991}}</ref>
|-
! Title:
! Performed by:
! Produced by:
! Courtesy of:
! Composed by:
|-
| "Do It For Love"
| Gene Miller
| Phil Galdston [[John Van Tongeren]]
|
| [[John Van Tongeren]] Phil Galdston
|-
| "Wake Up"
| Gene Miller
| Phil Galdston John Van Tongeren
|
| John Van Tongeren Phil Galdston
|-
| "Can't Believe My Eyes"
| Gene Miller
| [[Jon Lind]]
|
| [[John Bettis]] [[Jon Lind]]
|-
| "[[Pick Up the Pieces (To My Heart)]]"
| [[Cindy Valentine]]
| Tony Green for TGO Records, Ltd.
| [[Arista Records|Arista Records, Inc.]]
| [[Cindy Valentine]] Tony Green
|-
| "Casa De Coati"
| [[Meshach Taylor]] [[Coati Mundi (musician)|Coati Mundi]]
| Coati Mundi
|
| [[Coati Mundi (musician)|Coati Mundi]]
|-
| "The Sea Hawk"
|
|
|
| [[Erich Wolfgang Korngold]]
|-
| "Feel the Way I Do"
| [[Shoes (American band)|Shoes]]
| Shoes
| Black Vinyl Records
| [[Shoes (American band)|John Murphy]]
|-
| "That Love Thang"
| E.I.E.I.O.
| Phil Bonanno & E.I.E.I.O.
| [[Frontier Records]]
| Richard Szeluga [[David Kendrick]]
|-
| "[[Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now]]"
| [[Starship (band)|Starship]]
| [[Narada Michael Walden]]
| [[RCA Records]]
| [[Albert Hammond]] [[Diane Warren]]
|}

==Reception==
{{Anchor|Box office}}
Unlike its predecessor, it was a [[box office bomb]], grossing just less than $4 million against its $13 million budget.<ref name="mojo" />

{{Anchor|Critical response}}
On [[Rotten Tomatoes]], it has an approval rating of 13% based on reviews from 23 critics.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mannequin 2: On the Move (1991) |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mannequin_two_on_the_move |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |access-date=2020-05-04 }}</ref> Audiences surveyed by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film a grade of "B" on scale of A+ to F.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/ |title= Cinemascore |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181220122629/https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/ |archive-date= 2018-12-20 }}</ref> This sequel was dubbed as "one of the worst follow-ups ever made."<ref>{{cite web|title=Kim Cattrall, Andrew McCarthy's ''Mannequin'' set for remake|url=http://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/movies/kim-cattrall-andrew-mccarthy-s-mannequin-set-for-remake_50994.htm|work=Zee News|date=11 January 2010|access-date=15 May 2013}}</ref>

[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] gave it a negative review: "It took four writers to struggle with another idea of why a mannequin would come to life in a department store and what would happen if she did."<ref>{{cite web |date=1 January 1991|author=Variety Staff |title=Mannequin on the Move |url=https://variety.com/review/VE1117792935 |website=Variety }}</ref> Kevin Thomas of the [[Los Angeles Times]] called it "even more feeble than the original" and "insipid in the extreme".<ref>{{cite web |date=20 May 1991 |author=Kevin Thomas |title=MOVIE REVIEWS : 'Mannequin Two' Is a Dummy Too |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-05-20-ca-1376-story.html |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] }}</ref>

David Cornelius of ''DVD Talk'' called it "as woefully incompetent as its predecessor".<ref name="dvdtalk">{{cite web |date=April 15, 2008 |author=David Cornelius |title=Mannequin & Mannequin 2: On the Move |url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/33081/mannequin-mannequin-2-on-the-move/ |website=DVD Talk |access-date=2020-05-04 }}</ref>

==Home media==
''Mannequin Two: On the Move'' was first released on VHS and LaserDisc in 1992 by [[Artisan Entertainment|Live Home Video]]. [[MGM Home Entertainment]] released the film to DVD for the first time on January 16, 2008 as part of a [[double feature]] two-disc set with the first ''Mannequin'' as the first disc.<ref name="dvdtalk" /> ''Mannequin Two: On the Move'' was released on Blu-ray for the first time by Olive Films (under license from MGM) on September 22, 2015.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mannequin Two: On the Move |url=https://www.amazon.com/Mannequin-Move-Blu-ray-Kristy-Swanson/dp/B013C6OQ6C |website=Amazon.com }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title|0102395}}
* {{Amg title|75759}}

{{Stewart Raffill}}

[[Category:1991 films]]
[[Category:1991 independent films]]
[[Category:1991 romantic comedy films]]
[[Category:1990s fantasy-comedy films]]
[[Category:1990s romantic fantasy films]]
[[Category:American fantasy-comedy films]]
[[Category:American independent films]]
[[Category:American romantic comedy films]]
[[Category:American romantic fantasy films]]
[[Category:American sequel films]]
[[Category:American films]]
[[Category:English-language films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Stewart Raffill]]
[[Category:Films set in department stores]]
[[Category:Films set in Philadelphia]]
[[Category:Films shot in Philadelphia]]
[[Category:20th Century Fox films]]
[[Category:Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films]]
[[Category:Mannequins in films]]

Pose (TV series)

2021-08-17T19:29:10Z

Vodkamad: /* Premiere */

{{short description|2018 American drama television series}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox television
| name = Pose
| image = PoseTitleScreen.png
| genre = [[Drama (film and television)|Drama]]
| creator = {{Plainlist|
* [[Ryan Murphy (writer)|Ryan Murphy]]
* [[Brad Falchuk]]
* [[Steven Canals]]
}}
| starring = {{Plainlist|

* [[Evan Peters]]
* [[Kate Mara]]
* [[James Van Der Beek]]
* [[Mj Rodriguez]]
* [[Dominique Jackson (model)|Dominique Jackson]]
* [[Billy Porter (entertainer)|Billy Porter]]
* [[Indya Moore]]
* [[Ryan Jamaal Swain]]
* [[Charlayne Woodard]]
* [[Hailie Sahar]]
* [[Angelica Ross]]
* [[Angel Bismark Curiel]]
* [[Dyllón Burnside]]
* [[Sandra Bernhard]]
* [[Jason A. Rodriguez]]
}}
| composer = Mac Quayle
| country = United States
| language = English
| num_seasons = 3
| num_episodes = 26
| list_episodes = #Episodes
| executive_producer = {{Plainlist|
* Ryan Murphy
* [[Brad Falchuk]]
* [[Nina Jacobson]]
* [[Janet Mock]]
* Brad Simpson
* Alexis Martin Woodall
* Sherry Marsh
* Steven Canals
}}
| producer = {{Plainlist|
* [[Our Lady J]]
* [[Lou Eyrich]]
* Erica Kay
}}
| cinematography = {{Plainlist|
* Simon Dennis
* [[Nelson Cragg]]
}}
| editor =
| camera = [[Single camera setup|Single-camera]]
| runtime = 45–78 minutes
| company = {{Plainlist|
* [[Color Force]]
* {{nowrap|Brad Falchuk Teley-Vision}}
* Ryan Murphy Television
* [[Touchstone Television]]{{efn|Known as Fox 21 Television Studios until 2020}} (seasons 1–2)
* [[20th Television]] (season 3)
* FXP
}}
| distributor = [[20th Television]] (Seasons 1-2) [[Disney-ABC Domestic Television]] (Season 3)
| network = [[FX (TV channel)|FX]]
| picture_format = [[1080i]] ([[HDTV]])
| audio_format = [[5.1 surround sound|5.1 surround]]
| first_aired = {{Start date|2018|6|3}}
| last_aired = {{End date|2021|6|6}}
}}

'''''Pose''''' (stylized as '''''POSE''''') is an American [[Drama (film and television)|drama]] television series about New York City's [[African-American]] and [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Latino]] [[LGBTQ]] and [[gender-nonconforming]] [[drag ball culture]] scene in the 1980s, early 1990s in the second season, and the mid-to-late 1990s in the third season. Featured characters are dancers and models, who compete for trophies and recognition in this underground culture and who support one another in a network of chosen families known as [[ball culture#Houses|Houses]].

Created by [[Ryan Murphy (writer)|Ryan Murphy]], [[Brad Falchuk]], and [[Steven Canals]], the series aired from June 3, 2018, to June 6, 2021, on [[FX (TV channel)|FX]]. It stars an ensemble cast including [[Evan Peters]], [[Kate Mara]], [[James Van Der Beek]], [[Mj Rodriguez]], [[Dominique Jackson (model)|Dominique Jackson]], [[Billy Porter (entertainer)|Billy Porter]], [[Indya Moore]], [[Ryan Jamaal Swain]], [[Charlayne Woodard]], [[Hailie Sahar]], [[Angelica Ross]], [[Angel Bismark Curiel]], [[Dyllón Burnside]], [[Sandra Bernhard]], and [[Jason A. Rodriguez]].

The first season was met with largely positive reception and subsequently received numerous award nominations including the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Drama]] and the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama]] for Billy Porter. In 2019, Porter was awarded the [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series]] – the first openly gay black man to be nominated for and win in an Emmy lead acting category. The series was nominated for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series|Outstanding Drama Series]] at the same ceremony.

The second season premiered on June 11, 2019, to further acclaim. The third and final season premiered on May 2, 2021, and concluded on June 6, 2021, to further positive reviews.
During the course of the series 26 episodes of pose have aired over three seasons

==Premise==
''Pose'' season 1 is set in 1987–88 and looks at "the juxtaposition of several segments of life and society in [[New York City|New York]]": the African-American and Latino [[ball culture]] world, the [[Lower Manhattan|downtown]] social and literary scene, and the rise of the [[yuppie]] milieu.<ref name="BroadwayWorld">{{cite web|title=New Ryan Murphy Musical Dance Series POSE Gets Full Season Order|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/New-Ryan-Murphy-Musical-Dance-Series-POSE-Gets-Full-Season-Order-20171227|website=BroadwayWorld.com|date=December 27, 2017|access-date=December 27, 2017|language=en}}</ref>

The second season begins in 1990. More of the characters are now either [[HIV-positive people|HIV-positive]] or [[People With AIDS|living with AIDS]]. Some have become [[HIV/AIDS activism|AIDS activists]] with [[ACT UP]], and everyone is now attending frequent fundraisers, funerals and memorial services for their many friends and lovers in the community that has been hard-hit by the [[AIDS pandemic]]. With the release of songs by [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]], [[Malcolm McLaren]], and others, some aspects of the ballroom dance styles begin to go mainstream, and members of the community find new opportunities as dancers and dance teachers. Others are working as [[dominatrix|dominatrices]] and [[stripper]]s.

The final season begins in 1994, with Blanca focuses on balancing her life as nurse aide, a mother and present partner to Christopher, her new love who works in the same hospital as hers. The season also focuses on the reassembly of House of Evangelista due to Lemar's father role in the unruly new group House of Khan, and Pray Tell's health scare.<ref name="S3Premiere"/>

==Cast and characters==
{{main|List of Pose characters}}

===Main===

* [[Evan Peters]] as Stan Bowes, Patty's [[yuppie]] husband who works in [[Trump Tower]] and later becomes Angel's lover. (season 1)<ref name="RollingStone">{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-reviews/pose-season-2-review-845765/|title='Pose' Season 2 Review: A Revolutionary World Where Hope Prevails|last=Sepinwall|first=Alan|date=June 10, 2019|work=Rolling Stone|access-date=June 11, 2012}}</ref>
* [[Kate Mara]] as Patty Bowes, Stan's wife and mother of their children. (season 1)<ref name="RollingStone" />
* [[James Van Der Beek]] as Matt Bromley, Stan's kingpin boss. (season 1)<ref name="RollingStone" />
* [[Mj Rodriguez]] as Blanca Rodriguez-Evangelista, a [[trans woman]] with [[HIV/AIDS]] and former member of the House of Abundance. She is the founder and [[Ball culture#Houses|mother]] of the House of Evangelista.
* [[Dominique Jackson (model)|Dominique Jackson]] as Elektra Evangelista, mother of the former House of Abundance. After brief stints in the Houses of Evangelista and Ferocity, she forms the House of Wintour before rejoining the House of Evangelista in the final season.
* [[Billy Porter (entertainer)|Billy Porter]] as Pray (Prayerful) Tell, [[emcee]] of the [[ball culture|balls]] in New York, fashion designer, and mentor to members of the community, especially the members of House Evangelista. He later enters a relationship with Ricky.
* [[Indya Moore]] as Angel Vasquez-Evangelista, a trans woman sex worker who joins the House of Evangelista after leaving the House of Abundance. She has an affair with Stan during the first season, before entering a relationship with Papi.
* [[Ryan Jamaal Swain]] as Damon Richards-Evangelista, a homeless, talented dancer who becomes the first member of the House of Evangelista. After the season 3 premiere, the character was written out of the show due to the murder of Swain's sister in their hometown of Birmingham, Alabama. Damon was said to have relapsed into alcoholism and moved to his cousin's home in South Carolina. In the series finale, he was revealed to be in Chicago, teaching dancing.<ref>{{Cite web|title='Pose's Damon Was Barely Featured in the Season 3 Premiere Due to a Family Tragedy|url=https://www.distractify.com/p/what-happened-to-damon-on-pose|access-date=2021-06-07|website=Distractify|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-07-30|title=‘Pose’ actor mourns sister killed in Birmingham: ‘We will have swift justice’|url=https://www.al.com/news/birmingham/2020/07/pose-actor-mourns-sister-killed-in-birmingham-we-will-have-swift-justice.html|access-date=2021-06-07|website=al|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Turchiano|first=Danielle|date=2021-06-07|title=‘Pose’ Series Finale Ends With a Heartbreaking Death and Powerful Message: ‘Ballroom is Love’|url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/pose-series-finale-recap-billy-porter-fx-1234989297/|access-date=2021-06-07|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Charlayne Woodard]] as Helena St. Rogers, a modern dance teacher at the New School for Dance. (season 1; guest star in season 2)
* [[Hailie Sahar]] as Lulu Evangelista, the founder of the House of Ferocity alongside Candy. She joins the House of Evangelista in the final season.
* [[Angelica Ross]] as Candy Johnson-Ferocity, the founder of the House of Ferocity alongside Lulu. Murdered in Season 2, she appeared sporadically in the final season. (seasons 1–2; guest star in season 3)
* [[Angel Bismark Curiel]] as Esteban "Lil Papi" Martinez-Evangelista, a member of the House of Evangelista.
* [[Dyllón Burnside]] as Ricky Evangelista, Damon's ex-boyfriend and a former member of the House of Evangelista who joins the House of Wintour. In the final season he rejoins the House of Evangelista.
* [[Sandra Bernhard]] as Judy Kubrak, a nurse who works with [[people with AIDS]] and member of [[ACT UP]]. (seasons 2–3; guest star in season 1)<ref name=":0" />
* [[Jason A. Rodriguez]] as Lemar Khan, a former member of the House of Abundance, Ferocity, Evangelista and Wintour. In the final season, he becomes the father of the House of Khan. (season 3; recurring seasons 1–2)

===Recurring===
{{div col|colwidth=33em}}
;Introduced in season 1
* [[Charlayne Woodard]] as Helena St. Rogers, a performing arts teacher, who recognizes Damon's talent and helps him get a scholarship to the dance academy. She also appears in two episodes in Season 2.
* Jeremy McClain as Cubby Wintour, a young gay man and a former member of the House of Abundance, Ferocity, and Evangelista, who joins the House of Wintour. He died in Season 3 Episode 1
* Alexia Garcia as Aphrodite Ferocity, a trans woman who defects from the House of Xtravaganza to the House of Ferocity.
* [[Jiggly Caliente|Bianca Castro]] as Veronica Ferocity, a thrift store cashier who joins the House of Ferocity.
* Samantha Grace Blumm as Amanda Bowes, Stan and Patty's daughter.
* [[Jose Gutierez Xtravaganza]] as himself, a Judge and member of the real-life [[House of Xtravaganza]].
* [[Johnny Sibilly]] as Costas Perez, Pray Tell's boyfriend who dies of [[AIDS]].
* Jack Mizrahi as himself, a ballroom emcee and member of the Masters of Ceremony Council.
* [[Leiomy Maldonado]] as Florida Ferocity, a member of the House of Ferocity.
*Sol Williams (a/k/a Grandfather Sol Pen'davis) as a member of the judges panel. Sol also was in the iconic documentary movie, ''[[Paris Is Burning (film)|Paris Is Burning]]'' (1990).
;Introduced in season 2
* [[Patti LuPone]] as Frederica Norman, a wealthy and shady real estate mogul.
* [[Damaris Lewis]] as Jazmine Wintour, a member of the House of Wintour.
* Brielle Rheames as Silhouette Wintour, a member of the House of Wintour.
* Dashaun Wesley as Shadow Wintour, a member of the House of Wintour.
* Danielle Cooper as Wanda, Judy's girlfriend and member of ACT UP.
* [[Trudie Styler]] as Eileen Ford, a fashion [[model agent]].
* André Ward as Manhattan, a member of the Masters of Ceremony Council.
* J. Cameron Barnet as Castle, a member of the Masters of Ceremony Council.
* Patricia Black as Chi Chi, Elektra's co-worker at the Hellfire Club.
{{div col end}}

===Notable guest stars===
{{div col|colwidth=33em}}
;Introduced in season 1
* Clark Jackson as Lawrence Richards ("Pilot"), Damon's father
* Roslyn Ruff as Mrs. Richards ("Pilot"), Damon's mother
* [[Deidre Goodwin]] as Wanda Green ("Pilot"), employee at the New School for Dance
* [[Matt McGrath (actor)|Matt McGrath]] as Mitchell ("Access"), the manager of Boy Lounge
* Tamara M. Williams as Summer, a trans woman who attempts to seduce Stan ("Access", "The Fever")
* Sol Williams Pendavis as himself ("Access", "Mother of the Year"), a Judge and member of the real-life House of Pendavis
* [[Kathryn Erbe]] as Dr. Gottfried ("Giving and Receiving", "The Fever"), Elektra's physician
* [[Christine Ebersole]] as Bobbi ("Giving and Receiving"), Patty's mother
* [[Christopher Meloni]] as Dick Ford ("The Fever", "Pink Slip"), Elektra's wealthy lover and financier
* Cecilia Gentili as Miss Orlando ("The Fever", "Butterfly/Cocoon"), a shady woman that offers discounted plastic surgery
* Flor de Liz Perez as Carmen Rodriguez ("Mother's Day"), Blanca's sister
* Charles Brice as Darius ("Love Is the Message"), Blanca's love interest
* [[Our Lady J]] as Sherilyn ("Love Is the Message", "Love's in Need of Love Today"), a local pianist
* [[Trace Lysette]] as Tess Wintour ("Love is the Message", "Worth It"), a clothing store saleswoman who later joins House of Wintour
;Introduced in season 2
* [[Alexander DiPersia]] as Andre Taglioni ("Acting Up", "Revelations"), a famed photographer and fetishistic predator
* Edward Carnevale as Jonas Norman ("Worth It", "Love's in Need of Love Today"), Frederica Norman's son
* Blaine Alden Krauss as Chris ("Worth it", "What Would Candy Do?"), dancer and Ricky's former lover
* [[Peppermint (drag queen)|Peppermint]] as Euphoria ("Butterfly/Cocoon"), a trans sex worker
* Danny Johnson as Darnell Johnson ("Never Knew Love Like This Before"), Candy's father
* Patrice Johnson Chevannes as Vivica Johnson ("Never Knew Love Like This Before"), Candy's mother
* Austin Scott as Adrian ("Life's a Beach"), a lifeguard and Blanca's love interest
* KJ Aikens as Quincy and Gia Parr as Chilly ("In My Heels"), street kids who Blanca takes under her wing
{{div col end}}

==Episodes==
{{Series overview
| color1 = #EFAFD8
| link1 = #Season 1 (2018)
| episodes1 = 8
| start1 = {{Start date|2018|6|3}}
| end1 = {{End date|2018|7|22}}

| color2 = #7C0046
| link2 = #Season 2 (2019)
| episodes2 = 10
| start2 = {{Start date|2019|6|11}}
| end2 = {{End date|2019|8|20}}

| color3 = #2D4C5E
| link3 = #Season 3 (2021)
| episodes3 = 8
| start3 = {{Start date|2021|5|2}}
| end3 = {{End date|2021|6|6}}
}}

===Season 1 (2018)===
{{Episode table |background=#EFAFD8 |overall=5 |season=5 |title=26 |director=17 |writer=19 |airdate=13 |prodcode=6 |viewers=9 |country=U.S. |episodes=
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 1
|EpisodeNumber2 = 1
|Title = [[Pilot (Pose)|Pilot]]
|DirectedBy = [[Ryan Murphy (writer)|Ryan Murphy]]
|WrittenBy = Ryan Murphy & [[Brad Falchuk]] & [[Steven Canals]]
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|6|3}}
|Viewers = 0.688<ref name="Premiere">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-6-3-2018.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180610034324/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-6-3-2018.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 10, 2018|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 6.3.2018|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=June 5, 2018|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=June 5, 2018}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 1WBF01
|ShortSummary = After being diagnosed as [[HIV]]-positive, Blanca decides to leave the House of Abundance and start the House of Evangelista. A young dancer, Damon, is kicked out of his conservative and religious parents' home after they discover he is gay. Blanca invites Damon to join the House of Evangelista. Angel is picked up by Stan, a married man who has just begun working at [[Trump Tower]]. The two kiss and talk but do not have sex. Abundance and Evangelista face off at a ball and Abundance is victorious. Damon auditions for the [[The New School|New School for Dance]] and is accepted.
|LineColor = EFAFD8
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 2
|EpisodeNumber2 = 2
|Title = Access
|DirectedBy = Ryan Murphy
|WrittenBy = Ryan Murphy & Brad Falchuk & Steven Canals
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|6|10}}
|Viewers = 0.548<ref name="1.02">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-6-10-2018.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612163628/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-6-10-2018.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 12, 2018|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 6.10.2018|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=June 12, 2018|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=June 12, 2018}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 1WBF02
|ShortSummary = Blanca is [[Transphobia#In gay, lesbian, and bisexual communities|denied entry]] to a [[gay bar]] and sets out to gain access through a solo [[sit-in]]. Stan asks for a raise at work so that he may give Angel her own apartment. Damon meets a dancer named Ricky and is enamored, but resists Ricky's seduction, as he's not ready to have sex. Blanca offers Damon guidance regarding love and relationships and encourages him to practice [[safe sex]]. Damon misses his first date with Ricky to attend the ballet. The two make amends and attend the ballet together. Despite being kicked out of the bar multiple times and even being arrested, Blanca keeps returning to the bar in protest.
|LineColor = EFAFD8
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 3
|EpisodeNumber2 = 3
|Title = Giving and Receiving
|DirectedBy = [[Nelson Cragg]]
|WrittenBy = [[Janet Mock]] & {{no wrap|[[Our Lady J]]}}
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|6|17}}
|Viewers = 0.561<ref name="1.03">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-6-17-2018.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619163553/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-6-17-2018.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 19, 2018|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 6.17.2018|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=June 19, 2018|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=June 19, 2018}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 1WBF03
|ShortSummary = Pray Tell pays a visit to his lover, Costas, who is dying of [[HIV/AIDS|AIDS]]. Elektra enlists two of her children, Lulu and Candy, to help her steal from a [[The Salvation Army|Salvation Army]] donation bucket. She uses the money for a down payment on her [[sex reassignment surgery|gender confirmation surgery]]. Stan welcomes Angel to her new studio apartment. She makes him promise to be with her for just an hour on [[Christmas]]. Stan's boss, Matt, arrives at Stan's home bearing gifts and makes a pass at Stan's wife, Patty, who is home alone. Patty rebuffs Matt's advances. Matt is angry and subtly implies that Stan has a [[affair|mistress]]. Stan is unable to visit Angel on Christmas after Patty questions him. The House of Evangelista has Christmas dinner at a Chinese restaurant with Pray Tell.
|LineColor = EFAFD8
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 4
|EpisodeNumber2 = 4
|Title = The Fever
|DirectedBy = [[Gwyneth Horder-Payton]]
|WrittenBy = Janet Mock
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|6|24}}
|Viewers = 0.719<ref name="1.04">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-6-24-2018.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626192228/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-6-24-2018.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 26, 2018|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 6.24.2018|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=June 26, 2018|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=June 26, 2018}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 1WBF04
|ShortSummary = Damon is sick with a high [[fever]] and Blanca fears that he may have [[seroconversion|contracted HIV]] after he tells her that he and Ricky haven't always been practicing safe-sex. Pray Tell takes Damon, Ricky, Lil Papi, and himself to get tested and everyone's results are negative except for Pray Tell, who chooses not to tell anyone except Blanca. Candy resorts to getting cheap, amateur [[buttock augmentation|silicone injections]] after getting ridiculed at a ball for her frame which has a negative impact on her health; Angel also considers plastic surgery after an incident with Stan leaves her feeling insecure. Meanwhile, Elektra undergoes gender confirmation surgery, despite the objections and disapproval of her [[Gold digger|sugar daddy]].
|LineColor = EFAFD8
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 5
|EpisodeNumber2 = 5
|Title = Mother's Day
|DirectedBy = [[Silas Howard]]
|WrittenBy = Steven Canals
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|7|1}}
|Viewers = 0.582<ref name="1.05">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-7-1-2018.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703162814/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-7-1-2018.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 3, 2018|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.1.2018|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=July 3, 2018|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=July 3, 2018}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 1WBF05
|ShortSummary = A flashback shows Blanca's attending her first ball and fails to impress; however, Elektra takes her into the House of Abundance. In the present day, Blanca receives the news that her biological mother has died, and attends her [[funeral]] and [[wake (ceremony)|wake]], much to the distaste of her biological family. Blanca visits Elektra in the hospital where she is recovering from her gender confirmation surgery. Meanwhile, Stan gets a promotion at work which angers Matt, and he seeks revenge by telling Patty about Stan's ongoing affair with Angel. Matt provides Angel's whereabouts to Patty who shows up at the home of the House of Evangelista, and Lil' Papi takes Patty to the ball where she confronts Angel.
|LineColor = EFAFD8
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 6
|EpisodeNumber2 = 6
|Title = Love Is the Message
|DirectedBy = Janet Mock
|WrittenBy = Ryan Murphy & Janet Mock
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|7|8}}
|Viewers = 0.594<ref name="1.06">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-7-8-2018.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710164150/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-7-8-2018.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 10, 2018|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.8.2018|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=July 10, 2018|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=July 10, 2018}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 1WBF06
|ShortSummary = Patty and Angel have a long conversation in a nearby diner about Angel's relationship with Stan, and Patty is shocked to learn that she is transgender. Later, Patty takes Stan to [[couples therapy]], and after a lengthy session tells Stan that she wants some time apart and kicks Stan out of the family home. Stan retaliates by physically confronting Matt at the office, in which Matt comes out on top. Pray Tell hosts a [[cabaret]] at the AIDS ward where his boyfriend Costas is staying; subsequently Costas dies from complications from HIV. Although initially angry, Pray Tell is consoled and comforted by Blanca and her children.
|LineColor = EFAFD8
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 7
|EpisodeNumber2 = 7
|Title = Pink Slip
|DirectedBy = [[Tina Mabry]]
|WrittenBy = Steven Canals & Our Lady J
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|7|15}}
|Viewers = 0.689<ref name="1.07">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-7-15-2018.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717184120/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-7-15-2018.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 17, 2018|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.15.2018|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=July 17, 2018|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=July 17, 2018}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 1WBF07
|ShortSummary = Stan and Angel are now living together as a couple, however, this is short-lived when Angel takes Stan to a ball. He is overwhelmed by the atmosphere and culture and realizes this life isn't for him and leaves Angel. Meanwhile, Elektra finds herself out on the street when her sugar daddy, and others like him, reject her due to her gender confirmation surgery and resorts to [[strip club|stripping]] to keep herself afloat after being [[eviction|evicted]] from her apartment. Elsewhere, Lulu and Candy, tired of living in Elektra's shadow and under her rule, leave and form their own house called the House of Ferocity. Blanca finds out that Lil' Papi is [[illegal drug trade|dealing drugs]] and evicts him from the house. He later joins the House of Ferocity, and during a confrontation with Blanca at a ball, tells her they are determined to take her down.
|LineColor = EFAFD8
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 8
|EpisodeNumber2 = 8
|Title = Mother of the Year
|DirectedBy = Gwyneth Horder-Payton
|WrittenBy = Ryan Murphy & Brad Falchuk & Steven Canals
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|7|22}}
|Viewers = 0.781<ref name="1.08">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-7-22-2018.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724155529/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-7-22-2018.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 24, 2018|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.22.2018|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=July 24, 2018|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=July 24, 2018}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 1WBF08
|ShortSummary = Blanca and Elektra reunite after she invites and welcomes Elektra into the House of Evangelista and helps her get a job at an elegant restaurant. Damon and Ricky successfully audition to tour with [[Al B. Sure!]] as part of the dance troupe, however Damon stays behind to continue his studies while Ricky goes on tour. Before the Princess Ball, Stan shows up and begs Angel to take him back but she rejects him. Elektra manages to recruit two new members into the House of Evangelista, and Lil' Papi also returns to the house. The House of Ferocity challenges the House of Evangelista at the Princess Ball, the latter wins and Blanca is crowned Mother of the Year.
|LineColor = EFAFD8
}}
}}

===Season 2 (2019)===
{{Episode table |background=#7C0046 |overall=5 |season=5 |title=26 |director=17 |writer=19 |airdate=13 |prodcode=6 |viewers=9 |country=U.S. |episodes=
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 9
|EpisodeNumber2 = 1
|Title = Acting Up
|DirectedBy = [[Gwyneth Horder-Payton]]
|WrittenBy = [[Ryan Murphy (writer)|Ryan Murphy]] & [[Brad Falchuk]] & [[Steven Canals]]
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|6|11}}
|Viewers = 0.672<ref name="2.01">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-6-11-2019.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190614160317/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-6-11-2019.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 14, 2019|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 6.11.2019|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=June 12, 2019|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=June 12, 2019}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 2WBF01
|ShortSummary = It is now 1990, and the [[Vogue (dance)|voguing]] aspect of [[Ball culture|ballroom culture]] is beginning to go mainstream with the release of [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna's]] song, "[[Vogue (Madonna song)|Vogue]]". The community has conflicted feelings about this. Blanca, though still feeling healthy, discovers her T cell count has dropped to 200, which means her diagnosis has shifted from HIV positive to [[AIDS]]. Judy Kubrak helps Blanca get [[AZT]], and brings a reluctant Pray Tell to an [[ACT UP]] meeting. Judy, Blanca, Pray Tell, and most of Blanca's household participate in ACT UP's [[ACT UP#"Stop the Church"|"Stop the Church" protest]] at [[St. Patrick's Cathedral (Manhattan)|St Patrick's Cathedral]], and are arrested for [[civil disobedience]]. Angel enters a modeling competition held by [[Ford Models]], and is selected as a top-ten finalist, but is exploited by a photographer who fetishizes her. Blanca and Papi beat up the exploitative photographer and take back the photos and negatives.
|LineColor = 7C0046
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 10
|EpisodeNumber2 = 2
|Title = Worth It
|DirectedBy = Gwyneth Horder-Payton
|WrittenBy = [[Janet Mock]]
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|6|18}}
|Viewers = 0.567<ref name="2.02">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-6-18-2019.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190619202209/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-6-18-2019.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 19, 2019|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 6.18.2019|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=June 19, 2019|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=June 19, 2019}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 2WBF02
|ShortSummary = Elektra embarks on a new career as a dominatrix. Feeling empowered, she leaves the House of Ferocity and recruits members for her new House of [[Anna Wintour|Wintour]]. Blanca rents a storefront from shady real estate mogul Frederica Norman with plans to open a nail salon. When Frederica finds out Blanca is transgender she tries to evict her but Blanca claims squatter's rights. Damon suspects Ricky is having sex with other people, so he breaks up with him. Ricky leaves the House of Evangelista and joins the House of Wintour.
|LineColor = 7C0046
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 11
|EpisodeNumber2 = 3
|Title = Butterfly/Cocoon
|DirectedBy = Janet Mock
|WrittenBy = [[Our Lady J]]
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|6|25}}
|Viewers = 0.589<ref name="2.03">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-6-25-2019.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626202226/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-6-25-2019.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 26, 2019|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 6.25.2019|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=June 26, 2019|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=June 26, 2019}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 2WBF03
|ShortSummary = Newly-minted [[dominatrix]] Elektra leaves a client alone in her dungeon and is horrified upon her return to discover him dead. The client had snorted [[cocaine]], overdosed and suffocated in the bondage mask. Elektra enlists the aid of Blanca and then Candy, who help her mummify and seal the client's body in a trunk and hide it in Elektra's closet. Angel and Papi begin to explore their relationship but a last-minute modeling assignment derails their first official date. At the end of the episode, Angel becomes the new face of Wet 'n Wild cosmetics.
|LineColor = 7C0046
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 12
|EpisodeNumber2 = 4
|Title = Never Knew Love Like This Before
|DirectedBy = Ryan Murphy
|WrittenBy = Ryan Murphy & Janet Mock
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|7|9}}
|Viewers = 0.580<ref name="2.04">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-7-9-2019.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711142227/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-7-9-2019.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 11, 2019|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.9.2019|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=July 11, 2019|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=July 11, 2019}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 2WBF04
|ShortSummary = Candy is murdered while [[prostitution|working]] at a motel. Candy attends her funeral in spirit, where she and Blanca hum and sing together. Pray Tell, Angel, Lulu, and Candy's parents all see Candy in spirit form. Before Candy's demise, Pray Tell and the council of emcees had rejected having the lip sync category at the balls (leading them to be showered with diner cutlery by Candy). At Candy's funeral Pray Tell announces that, in honor of Candy, they will now have the lip synching, naming it "Candy's Sweet Refrain". At the end of the episode Candy lip sync [[Stephanie Mills]] song "[[Never Knew Love Like This Before]]".
|LineColor = 7C0046
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 13
|EpisodeNumber2 = 5
|Title = What Would Candy Do?
|DirectedBy = [[Tina Mabry]]
|WrittenBy = Steven Canals
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|7|16}}
|Viewers = 0.497<ref name="2.05">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-7-16-2019.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190717201944/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-7-16-2019.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 17, 2019|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.16.2019|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=July 17, 2019|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=July 17, 2019}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 2WBF05
|ShortSummary = Ricky and Damon both audition to be dancers for [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]]’s [[Blond Ambition World Tour]]. Elektra schemes to have Damon injured by Candy’s hammer (handed off to various potential assailants) in an effort to better Ricky’s chances of securing a spot on the tour, but calls off the plan after she is berated by Blanca.
|LineColor = 7C0046
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 14
|EpisodeNumber2 = 6
|Title = Love's In Need Of Love Today
|DirectedBy = Tina Mabry
|WrittenBy = Brad Falchuk & Our Lady J
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|7|23}}
|Viewers = 0.505<ref name="2.06">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-7-23-2019.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724202329/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-7-23-2019.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 24, 2019|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.23.2019|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=July 24, 2019|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=July 24, 2019}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 2WBF06
|ShortSummary = Pray Tell has a severe, adverse reaction to [[AZT]] and is hospitalized. Blanca organizes his annual AIDS cabaret in his place. She shares that she is HIV-positive to the cabaret crowd, for the first time, before performing “Love’s in Need of Love Today” by [[Stevie Wonder]] with Pray Tell. The ballroom community, led by Lulu and Elektra, comes together to protest Frederica after Frederica betrays Blanca and has Blanca’s nail salon boarded up while everyone is at the cabaret/benefit.
|LineColor = 7C0046
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 15
|EpisodeNumber2 = 7
|Title = Blow
|DirectedBy = [[Jennie Livingston]]
|WrittenBy = Janet Mock
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|7|30}}
|Viewers = 0.405<ref name="2.07">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-7-30-2019.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190731202633/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-7-30-2019.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 31, 2019|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.30.2019|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=July 31, 2019|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=July 31, 2019}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 2WBF07
|ShortSummary = Pray Tell and Blanca realize they are now elders in the community, and challenge the young members of House Evangelista to organize an [[ACT UP#Condoming of Jesse Helms' house|ACT UP action]],<ref name="Street2019">{{cite web | last=Street | first=Mikelle | title= ''Pose'' 'Condom Over the House' Scene Actually Happened – Here's How | website=[[Out (magazine)|Out]] | date=2019-07-31 | url=https://www.out.com/television/2019/7/31/poses-condom-over-house-scene-actually-happened-heres-how | access-date=2020-08-01}}</ref> inflating a giant condom to cover Frederica Norman's house, protesting her financial exploitation of Blanca and others. Angel and Papi drink and sniff cocaine at an uptown party, causing Angel to arrive late and hungover to an important modeling job, where the photographer is revealed to be the fetishistic predator from episode 1 ("Acting Up"). Ricky learns his HIV test was positive.
|LineColor = 7C0046
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 16
|EpisodeNumber2 = 8
|Title = Revelations
|DirectedBy = Steven Canals
|WrittenBy = Steven Canals
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|8|6}}
|Viewers = 0.508<ref name="2.08">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-8-6-2019.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190807203633/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-8-6-2019.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 7, 2019|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 8.6.2019|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=August 7, 2019|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=August 7, 2019}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 2WBF08
|ShortSummary = Ricky and Pray Tell, who have been growing closer as friends, become lovers. Damon graduates from the dance academy. At the graduation party back home, Damon confronts Angel and Pray Tell about their secret drug use and lying to Blanca, and informs Blanca. Angel and Papi move out, and into an apartment in [[Greenwich Village|The Village]] that Papi found. Damon leaves to perform on a European tour for [[Malcolm McLaren]]. Blanca begins to feel [[empty nest syndrome]].
|LineColor = 7C0046
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 17
|EpisodeNumber2 = 9
|Title = Life's a Beach
|DirectedBy = Gwyneth Horder-Payton
|WrittenBy = Janet Mock and Our Lady J
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|8|13}}
|Viewers = 0.547<ref name="2.09">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-8-13-2019.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190814202311/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-8-13-2019.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 14, 2019|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 8.13.2019|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=August 14, 2019|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=August 14, 2019}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 2WBF09
|ShortSummary = Blanca's nail salon burns down. Elektra, Blanca, Angel and Lulu take a girls trip to a fancy [[Long Island]] beach house owned by one of Elektra's clients. Blanca meets a man there and they have a romantic date on the beach. On the drive home to the city, Candy appears in spirit, singing along with them in the car.
|LineColor = 7C0046
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 18
|EpisodeNumber2 = 10
|Title = In My Heels
|DirectedBy = Janet Mock
|WrittenBy = Ryan Murphy & Brad Falchuk & Steven Canals
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|8|20}}
|Viewers = 0.536<ref name="2.10">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-8-20-2019.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190821202222/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-8-20-2019.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 21, 2019|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 8.20.2019|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=August 21, 2019|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=August 21, 2019}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 2WBF10
|ShortSummary = Fast forward to May 1991, Blanca is running her nail salon inside her home. While visited by Pray Tell, Blanca becomes so sick that she must be hospitalized. Blanca and Pray Tell see on the news that Frederica Norman is responsible for [[arson|burning]] Blanca's nail salon; Frederica is arrested for her crimes. Damon returns from Europe. Angel is outed as trans, and loses her Ford Modeling contract. During the Mother's Day Ball, Angel and Papi become engaged, and Angel secures a new modelling job overseas thanks to Papi becoming her manager. Angel is scared she'll be outed again, but Papi has founded an agency based on truth and transparency – all the new clients know the truth about the models. Shortly afterwards, Angel is booked through Papi's new agency for a job in Berlin and they get engaged at the next ball. Followed by Blanca's lip sync win and Elektra's Mother of the Year coronation, Elektra takes Pray Tell's position as MC, and Pray Tell, Ricky and other male contestants walk in drag for the first time. At the end of the episode, after bidding Angel and Papi farewell, Blanca, now in a wheelchair, meets two homeless teenagers outside, Quincy and Chilly. She and Pray Tell take the new kids to dinner.
|LineColor = 7C0046
}}
}}

===Season 3 (2021)===
{{Episode table |background=#2D4C5E |overall=5 |season=5 |title=26 |director=17 |writer=19 |airdate=13 |prodcode=6 |viewers=9 |country=U.S. |episodes=
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 19
|EpisodeNumber2 = 1
|Title = On the Run
|DirectedBy = [[Janet Mock]]
|WrittenBy = [[Steven Canals]] & Janet Mock
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|5|2}}
|Viewers = 0.498<ref name="3.01–3.02">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-5-2-2021.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504142704/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-5-2-2021.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 4, 2021|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.2.2021|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=May 4, 2021|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=May 4, 2021}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 3WBF01
|ShortSummary = The year is now 1994. Newly-elected New York mayor [[Rudy Giuliani]] has cracked down on sex work in the city, forcing Elektra to leave the Hellfire Club. Lemar has become the house father of the greedy, fame-hungry House of Khan. Blanca juggles working as a nurse's aide with dating Christopher, a doctor who works at the same hospital. Papi's talent agency is thriving, while Angel's modeling career has stagnated. The House of Evangelista (including Elektra and Lulu) is brought together by both the live coverage of O.J. Simpson's slow-speed chase (in which they share differentiating opinions) and by the death of Cubby after his battle with AIDS. These events encourage Blanca to re-form the House of Evangelista once again. At the Summer Solstice Ball, they face off against the House of Khan and win.

Note: Prior to this episode, House of Wintour and House of Ferocity were disbanded at an unknown date. This is also [[Ryan Jamaal Swain]]'s last episode.
|LineColor = 2D4C5E
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 20
|EpisodeNumber2 = 2
|Title = Intervention
|DirectedBy = Steven Canals
|WrittenBy = Steven Canals & [[Our Lady J]]
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|5|2}}
|Viewers = 0.370<ref name="3.01–3.02"/>
|ProdCode = 3WBF02
|ShortSummary = Blanca stages an intervention when Pray Tell's alcoholism leads to expected consequences. Ricky leaves Pray Tell due to Pray Tell's alcoholism. Damon's alcoholism relapses, thus making him relocate to his cousin's place in South Carolina. Blanca nervously prepares to meet Christopher's parents, and his mother is not very friendly to her after their meeting. Pray Tell first refuses to go to rehab, but later relents. Elektra prevents Lulu from performing at the ball in order for her to be sober. Angel decides to clean up from her crack habit.
|LineColor = 2D4C5E
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 21
|EpisodeNumber2 = 3
|Title = The Trunk
|DirectedBy = [[Tina Mabry]]
|WrittenBy = Janet Mock & [[Brad Falchuk]]
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|5|9}}
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|ProdCode = 3WBF03
|ShortSummary = Elektra was unjustly arrested by police, and she requested for Blanca to remove the trunk containing her client's remains (Season 2 Episode 3) from her home before the police found out. This episode also focuses on Elektra's backgrounds and foundations of House of Abundance in 1983-1984. Angel, Candy, Cubby, Lemar, Lulu, and Pray Tell appeared in flashbacks.
|LineColor = 2D4C5E
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 22
|EpisodeNumber2 = 4
|Title = Take Me To Church
|DirectedBy = Janet Mock
|WrittenBy = Janet Mock & Steven Canals & Brad Falchuk
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|5|16}}
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|ProdCode = 3WBF04
|ShortSummary = Pray Tell visits his hometown after the lymphoma diagnosis. Jackee Harry guest stars as Aunt Jada, Janet Hubert guest stars as Aunt Latrice.
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}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 23
|EpisodeNumber2 = 5
|Title = Something Borrowed, Something Blue
|DirectedBy = Steven Canals
|WrittenBy = Brad Falchuk & Steven Canals
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|5|23}}
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|ProdCode = 3WBF05
|ShortSummary = Lil Papi found out that he had a love child named Beto from his previous relationship. Meanwhile, Elektra decided to finance Angel and Lil Papi's wedding, much to Lil Papi's initial disapproval.
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}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 24
|EpisodeNumber2 = 6
|Title = Something Old, Something New
|DirectedBy = Janet Mock
|WrittenBy = Janet Mock
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|5|30}}
|Viewers = 0.430<ref name="TVSeriesFinale"/>
|ProdCode = 3WBF06
|ShortSummary = In order to make amends with Lil Papi and accepting Beto, Angel went to see her estranged father. Before Angel and Papi get their marriage license, Angel's anxiety over her license went to the roof. Cubby and Candy appeared in this episode.
|LineColor = 2D4C5E
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 25
|EpisodeNumber2 = 7
|Title = Series Finale (Part I)
|DirectedBy = Steven Canals
|WrittenBy = [[Ryan Murphy (writer)|Ryan Murphy]] & Brad Falchuk & Steven Canals & Janet Mock & Our Lady J
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|6|6}}
|Viewers = 0.530<ref>{{cite web|url=https://programminginsider.com/sunday-ratings-abc-and-cbs-split-modest-leadership/|title=Sunday Ratings: ABC and CBS Split Modest Leadership|date=June 7, 2021|last=Berman|first=Marc|work=Programming Insider|access-date=June 20, 2021}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 3WBF07
|ShortSummary =
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}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 26
|EpisodeNumber2 = 8
|Title = Series Finale (Part II)
|DirectedBy = Steven Canals
|WrittenBy = Ryan Murphy & Brad Falchuk & Steven Canals & Janet Mock & Our Lady J
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|6|6}}
|Viewers = 0.485<ref name="TVSeriesFinale"/>
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|ShortSummary =
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}}

==Production==
===Development===
On March 16, 2017, it was announced that FX had given the production a pilot order. The pilot was written by [[Ryan Murphy (writer)|Ryan Murphy]], [[Brad Falchuk]], and Steven Canals all of whom were also set to executive produce alongside [[Nina Jacobson]], Brad Simpson, and Sherry Marsh. Production companies involved with the pilot were slated to consist of include FX Productions and Fox21 Television Studios.<ref>{{cite web |first1=Nellie |last1=Andreeva |title=Ryan Murphy Sets His Next TV Series: 1980s New York Drama ''Pose'' At FX |url=https://deadline.com/2017/03/ryan-murphy-pose-fx-series-1980s-new-york-drama-1202044800/|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=March 16, 2017 |access-date=May 11, 2018 }}</ref> In October 2018, it was reported that [[Leiomy Maldonado]] and [[Danielle Polanco]] would be choreographing the series' ball scenes<ref name="CastStaff">{{Cite web |first=Nellie |last=Andreeva |url=https://deadline.com/2017/10/pose-ryan-murphy-transgender-cast-fx-series-1202194718/ |title=FX's ''Pose'': Ryan Murphy Sets Largest Transgender Cast Ever For Scripted Series |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=October 25, 2017 |access-date=November 16, 2017 }}</ref> and that [[Janet Mock]] and [[Our Lady J]] had joined the show's writing and producing staff.<ref>{{cite web |first1=James Michael |last1=Nichols |title=Ryan Murphy's New Show Makes History By Casting Record Number Of Trans Actors |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/transgender-actors-ryan-murphy_us_59f1f455e4b077d8dfc7d23f |website=[[Huffington Post]] |date=October 26, 2017 |access-date=December 27, 2017 }}</ref>

On December 27, 2017, it was announced that FX had given the production a series for a first season consisting of eight episodes.<ref name="SeriesOrder">{{cite web |first1=Denise |last1=Petski |title=Ryan Murphy's Dance Musical ''Pose'' Gets Series Order At FX |url=https://deadline.com/2017/12/ryan-murphy-dance-musical-pose-series-order-fx-1202232916/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=December 27, 2017 |access-date=December 27, 2017 }}</ref> On May 9, 2018, ahead of the series premiere, Murphy announced that he would be donating all of his profits from ''Pose'' to non-profit charitable organizations that work with LGBTQ+ people, including the [[Sylvia Rivera Law Project]], the [[Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund]], and the [[Callen-Lorde Community Health Center]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/933897/ryan-murphy-announces-100-percent-of-his-pose-profits-will-be-donated-to-lbgtq-charities |title=Ryan Murphy Announces 100 Percent of His ''Pose'' Profits Will Be Donated to LBGTQ Charities |first=Billy |last=Nilles |work=[[E! Online]] |date=May 9, 2018 |access-date=November 20, 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet |last=Murphy |first=Ryan |user=MrRPMurphy |number=997203104461410307 |date=May 17, 2018 |title=POSE GIVES BACK ORG OF THE DAY: Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund. Their mission is to end discrimination and achieve equality for transgender people, particularly those in the most vulnerable communities. http://www.transgenderlegal.org |access-date=November 20, 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet |last=Murphy |first=Ryan |user=MrRPMurphy |number=996469495999975429 |date=May 15, 2018 |title=POSE GIVES BACK ORG OF THE DAY: Callen-Lorde. This organization is the global leader in LGBTQ healthcare. Since Stonewall, they've been transforming lives free of judgment and regardless of ability to pay with the belief that healthcare is a human right. |access-date=November 20, 2018 }}</ref> Murphy explained this decision saying, "The thing that struck me in talking to so many of them, was how much they've struggled, how under attack they feel, how many of them find it difficult getting [[health care in the United States|healthcare]], and finding jobs. I just decided I need to do more than just making a show for this community. I want to reach out and help this community."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/ryan-murphy-pose-charity-trans-lgbtq-1202805172/ |title=Ryan Murphy on What Inspired Him to Donate ''Pose'' Profits to Trans and LGBTQ Charities |first=Debra |last=Birnbaum |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=May 9, 2018 |access-date=November 20, 2018 }}</ref> On July 12, 2018, it was announced that the series had been renewed for a second season which premiered on June 11, 2019.<ref>{{cite magazine |first1=Joe |last1=Otterson |title=''Pose'' Renewed for Season 2 at FX |url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/pose-renewed-season-2-fx-1202872217/ |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=July 12, 2018 |access-date=July 12, 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2019/04/pose-season-2-premiere-date-ryan-murphy-fx-trans-drama-1202591537/ |title='Pose': Season 2 Of Ryan Murphy's NYC Ballroom Drama For Summer Premiere |work=Deadline Hollywood |first=Erik |last=Pedersen |date=April 8, 2019 |access-date=April 8, 2019}}</ref> On June 17, 2019, FX renewed the series for a third season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/06/pose-renewed-season-3-fx-1202633872/|title='Pose' Renewed For Season 3 By FX|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Denise|last=Petski|date=June 17, 2019|access-date=June 17, 2019}}</ref> In March 2021, FX confirmed the third season would be its last. The final season premiered on May 2, 2021.<ref name="S3Premiere">{{cite web|url=https://tvline.com/2021/03/05/pose-ending-season-3-premiere-date-final-episodes-fx/|title=Pose Ending With Season 3 on FX|website=TVLine|first=Andy|last=Swift|date=March 5, 2021|access-date=March 5, 2021}}</ref>

===Casting===
[[File:Cast Pose at Los Angeles Pride Parade by dvsross 2.jpg|thumb|Stars from the show ''Pose'' at Los Angeles Pride Parade]]
In March 2017, Ryan Murphy and his team began casting for the series. On October 25, 2017, it was announced that [[transgender]] actors [[MJ Rodriguez]], [[Indya Moore]], [[Dominique Jackson (model)|Dominique Jackson]], [[Hailie Sahar]], and [[Angelica Ross]] and [[cisgender]] actors [[Ryan Jamaal Swain]], [[Billy Porter (entertainer)|Billy Porter]] and [[Dyllón Burnside]] had been cast in main roles. The series' production team claimed that they had assembled the largest transgender cast ever for a scripted series.<ref name="CastStaff" /><ref>{{cite web |first1=Lesley |last1=Goldberg |title=Ryan Murphy Makes History With Largest Cast of Transgender Actors for FX's ''Pose'' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/ryan-murphy-makes-history-largest-cast-transgender-actors-fxs-pose-1051877 |magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=October 25, 2017 |access-date=December 27, 2017 }}</ref> The series was expected to include over 50 transgender characters total.<ref name="BroadwayWorld" /> On October 26, 2017, it was announced that [[Evan Peters]], [[Kate Mara]], [[James Van Der Beek]], and [[Tatiana Maslany]] had also joined the main cast.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Joe |last=Otterson |url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/ryan-murphy-pose-fx-evan-peters-tatiana-maslany-james-van-der-beek-kate-mara-1202600227/ |title=Evan Peters, Tatiana Maslany Among Four Added to Cast of Ryan Murphy's ''Pose'' |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=October 26, 2017 |access-date=November 16, 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |first=Tim |last=Stack |url=https://ew.com/tv/2017/10/26/pose-evan-peters-kate-mara-james-van-der-beek-tatiana-maslany/ |title=''Pose'': Evan Peters, Kate Mara, James Van Der Beek, and Tatiana Maslany join new Ryan Murphy series |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=October 26, 2017 |access-date=November 16, 2017 }}</ref>

On December 27, 2017, it was reported that Maslany had exited the series following the redevelopment of her part into that of a 50-year-old African-American woman. The character was then recast with [[Charlayne Woodard]] assuming the role.<ref>{{cite web |first1=Chris |last1=Harnick |title=Ryan Murphy and FX Make TV History With New Series ''Pose'' |url=http://www.eonline.com/news/902373/pose-ordered-to-series-by-fx-making-tv-history-with-largest-transgender-cast-of-series-regulars |website=[[E! Online]] |date=December 27, 2017 |access-date=December 27, 2017 }}</ref> On September 19, 2018, it was announced that [[Sandra Bernhard]] would reprise her role of Nurse Judy in season two as a series regular.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |last1=Andreeva |first1=Nellie |title=''Pose'': Sandra Bernhard Promoted To Series Regular For Season 2 Of FX Drama |url=https://deadline.com/2018/09/pose-sandra-bernhard-promoted-series-regular-season-2-fx-nurse-judy-1202467784/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=September 19, 2018 |date=September 19, 2018 }}</ref> On March 23, 2019, at [[PaleyFest]], Ryan Murphy revealed that [[Patti LuPone]] would guest star in the second season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/patti-lupone-pose-season-two-fx-ryan-murphy-1203170910/|title=Patti LuPone Joins FX's 'Pose' as Season 2 Jumps to 1990|first=Jordan|last=Moreau|publisher=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=March 24, 2019|access-date=March 24, 2019}}</ref>

===Filming===
Production for the pilot began in New York City in October 2017.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Andreeva |first1=Nellie |date=March 16, 2017 |title=Ryan Murphy Sets His Next TV Series: 1980s New York Drama ''Pose'' at FX |url=https://deadline.com/2017/03/ryan-murphy-pose-fx-series-1980s-new-york-drama-1202044800/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |access-date=April 15, 2017 }}</ref> The following episodes of the first season were expected to begin production in February 2018.<ref name="SeriesOrder"/> Murphy directed the series' first two episodes<ref name="BroadwayWorld"/> and Mock directed the sixth, thus making her the first transgender woman of color to write and direct any episode of television.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gemmill |first1=Allie |title=Janet Mock Just Became the First Trans Woman of Color to Write and Direct a TV Episode |url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/janet-mock-wrote-directed-episode-of-pose-made-tv-history |website=[[Teen Vogue]] |access-date=July 18, 2018 |date=July 9, 2018 }}</ref> On March 14, 2020, production on the third season was suspended due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic|COVID-19 health crisis]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/03/empire-pose-queen-of-the-south-the-resident-american-housewife-shut-down-coronavirus-1202883591/|title='Empire', 'Pose', 'Queen Of the South', 'The Resident' & 'American Housewife' Shut Down Over Coronavirus|work=Deadline Hollywood|first=Nellie|last=Andreeva|date=March 14, 2020|access-date=March 14, 2020}}</ref>
The third and final season's filming wrapped on March 20, 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/03/pose-wraps-production-janet-mock-steven-canals-mj-rodriguez-fx-news-1234718754/|title='Pose' Shoot Comes To A Close; Creators & Stars Weigh In On Bringing Groundbreaking Drama To An End|work=Deadline Hollywood|first=Matt|last=Grobar|date=March 20, 2021|access-date=March 21, 2021}}</ref>

==Release==

===Marketing===
[[File:Pose.png|thumb|right|Promotional poster featuring Blanca Rodriguez-Evangelista ([[MJ Rodriguez]]), star of ''Pose'', portraying the [[ball culture|drag ball culture]] of [[LGBT culture in New York City|Manhattan]] in the late 1980s and early 1990s.]]

On April 12, 2018, FX released the first teaser trailer for the series. It was also announced that the series was set to premiere on June 3, 2018.<ref>{{cite web |first1=Denise |last1=Petski |title=''Pose'': Ryan Murphy's FX Dance Musical Gets Premiere Date & New Teaser |url=https://deadline.com/2018/04/pose-premiere-date-trailer-ryan-murphy-kate-mara-evan-peters-fx-1202362958/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=April 12, 2018 |access-date=April 12, 2018 }}</ref> On May 3, 2018, the first official trailer was released.<ref>{{cite web |first1=Erik |last1=Pedersen |title=''Pose'' Trailer: Ryan Murphy's FX Dance Musical Set In 1980s New York |url=https://deadline.com/2018/05/pose-trailer-ryan-murphys-fx-kata-mara-evan-peters-transgender-1202382125/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=May 3, 2018 |access-date=May 3, 2018 }}</ref>

===Premiere===
On May 17, 2018, the series held its world premiere at the [[Hammerstein Ballroom]] in [[Manhattan]].<ref name="variety info 1">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/scene/vpage/ryan-murphy-pose-premiere-lgbtq-1202815745|title=Ryan Murphy Wants ''Pose'' to Be 'Uplifting' for LGBTQ Community in Trump Era|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|first1=Taryn|last1=Tacher|date=May 18, 2018|access-date=July 18, 2018}}</ref><ref name="billboard info 1">{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/pride/8456700/pose-writer-janet-mock-essay|title=''Pose'' Writer Janet Mock Talks Working With Ryan Murphy to Create Honest Trans Narratives|website=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|first=Stephen|last=Daw|date=May 18, 2018 |access-date=July 18, 2018 }}</ref> On July 23, 2018, [[Dyllón Burnside]] emceed a benefit concert, duetting with co-stars [[Billy Porter (entertainer)|Billy Porter]] and [[Ryan Jamaal Swain]] to celebrate the season one finale, and raise money for [[GLSEN]].<ref name="timeout info 1">{{cite web|url=https://www.timeout.com/newyork/music/dyllon-burnside-up-close-and-personal|title=Dyllón Burnside: Up Close and Personal|website=[[Time Out New York]]|first=Adam|last=Feldman|date=July 17, 2018|access-date=August 26, 2018}}</ref><ref name="playbill info 1">{{cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/fxs-pose-stars-dyllon-burnside-mj-rodriguez-and-ryan-jamaal-swain-will-perform-nyc-concert|title=FX's ''Pose'' Stars, Dyllón Burnside, Mj Rodriguez, and Ryan Jamaal Swain, Will Perform NYC Concert|website=[[Playbill]]|first=Adam|last=Hetrick|date=July 14, 2018 |access-date=August 26, 2018}}</ref><ref name="BoyCulture">{{cite web|url=https://www.boyculture.com/boy_culture/2018/07/monday-night-at-the-cutting-room-was-the-highly-anticipated-concert-to-benefit-glsen-staged-by-my-pal-wayne-laako-and-featuri.html|title=To Be Real: The Cast Of ''Pose'' Gives Back — Already! — At NYC GLSEN Benefit|website=Boy Culture|date=July 24, 2018|access-date=November 19, 2018}}</ref> During the event, a conversation was held between Burnside and former ''[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]'' [[editor-in-chief]] [[Emil Wilbekin]], where Burnside discussed his [[coming out]] story and spoke about the importance of [[safe space]]s for LGBTQ people. Later on in the evening, Porter sang from his latest album and [[MJ Rodriguez]] sang "Waving Through a Window" from ''[[Dear Evan Hansen]]''.<ref name="BoyCulture"/>

In March 2019, the series was part of the [[Paley Center for Media]]'s annual Paleyfest LA at the [[Dolby Theatre]] in [[Los Angeles, California]].<ref name="deadline info 1">{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/12/paleyfest-la-2019-parks-and-rec-reunion-this-is-us-pose-panels-set-1202522530|title=PaleyFest LA 2019: 'Parks And Rec' Reunion, 'This Is Us' & 'Pose' Panels Set|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Erik|last=Pedersen|date=December 19, 2018|access-date=December 21, 2018}}</ref>

''Pose'' premiered in the [[United Kingdom]] on March 21, 2019 on [[BBC Two]]. <ref name="indie info 1">{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/pose-film-review-ryan-murphy-ballroom-drama-movie-video-a8829691.html|title=Pose: With the Largest Cast of Trans Actors in TV History, Ryan Murphy's Ballroom Drama Is A Strut in The Right Direction|first1=Alexandra|last1=Pollard|magazine=[[The Independent]]|date=March 21, 2019|access-date=March 22, 2019}}</ref>
Season 2 premiered on October 26, 2019, and Season 3 on August 8, 2021. All full series made available on [[BBC iPlayer]] straight after each series' premiere.

==Influences==
While a work of [[creative writing|creative fiction]], the series is "heavily inspired by" [[Jennie Livingston]]'s 1990 documentary, ''[[Paris Is Burning (film)|Paris Is Burning]]'';<ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/columns/pose-fx-season-finale-mother-of-the-year-1202880972/ |title=The Revolutionary Happiness of ''Pose'' |last=Framke |first=Caroline |date=July 23, 2018 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=September 14, 2018 }}</ref> Livingston also served as a consulting producer on the show. Several of the houses and characters were based on, or named after, real people, and several people featured in the documentary also made cameos in the series, such as [[Jose Gutierez Xtravaganza]], an icon of the [[voguing]] scene, who plays a judge throughout the first series, and Sol Pendavis Williams, of the House of Pendavis.<ref name="Venable">{{cite web |url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/pose-fx-paris-is-burning/|title=The Mind-Blowing 1990 Documentary You Must See Before Watching ''Pose'' |last=Venable |first=Malcolm |date=May 29, 2018 |work=[[TV Guide]]|access-date=September 14, 2018}}</ref> Creators and producers of the series, Murphy, Canals, and writer/producer Janet Mock all considered ''Paris Is Burning'' "a text that helped inform not only the show, but also their identities when they first saw it."<ref name="Venable"/>

{{quote|''Pose'' also expands on one of ''Paris Is Burning''{{'}}s subtler themes. At various points in the film, Livingston contrasts the drag performers with ordinary, affluent New Yorkers, walking down busy Manhattan sidewalks. It's often hard to tell which of these two groups is more "real", which of them are fashion models or Wall Street power players and which are simply costumed as such. ''Pose'' elaborates on those subtle distinctions with a subplot involving Stan (Evan Peters), a rising star in the Trump organization with an obnoxious boss (James Van Der Beek), a pretty wife (Kate Mara), and a secret relationship with Angel (Indya Moore), a trans woman. The show aims to capture some of the diversity of New York in the '80s, while also emphasizing the idea that, whether rich or poor, everyone in the city is pretending, in one way or another.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/6/1/17416736/paris-is-burning-ryan-murphy-pose-netflix-streaming-recommendation |title=Get ready for Ryan Murphy's ''Pose'' by watching ''Paris is Burning'' this weekend |last=Murray |first=Noel |date=June 1, 2018 |work=[[The Verge]] |access-date=September 14, 2018 }}</ref>|}}

==Reception==
===Critical response===
{{Television critical response
| rotten_tomatoes1 = 96% (82 reviews)<ref name="RT1"/>
| metacritic1 = 75 (27 reviews)<ref name="MC1"/>

| rotten_tomatoes2 = 98% (40 reviews)<ref name="RT2"/>
| metacritic2 = 79 (14 reviews)<ref name="MC2"/>

| rotten_tomatoes3 = 100% (14 reviews)<ref name="RT3"/>
| metacritic3 = 76 (8 reviews)<ref name="MC3"/>
}}

====Season 1====
On the review aggregation website [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the first season holds a 96% approval rating with an average rating of 8.3/10 based on 82 reviews. The website's critical consensus reads, "Charged with energy, poise, and confidence, ''Pose'' pirouettes between artistic opulence and deliciously soapy drama to create a fresh new addition to Ryan Murphy's lexicon."<ref name="RT1">{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/pose/s01|title=Pose: Season 1|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]]|access-date=April 29, 2021}}</ref> [[Metacritic]], which uses a weighted average, assigned the first season a score of 75 out of 100 based on 27 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".<ref name="MC1">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/pose/season-1|title=Pose: Season 1|website=[[Metacritic]]|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]|access-date=August 28, 2018}}</ref>

In a positive review, ''[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]''{{'}}s [[Richard Lawson (writer)|Richard Lawson]] was effusive describing the series as "an engaging portrait of dark days met with merriment. Pain and perseverance are sewn together to create something humble yet fabulous—and, it should be shouted over all the show's loud and glorious clamor, very much long overdue."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lawson |first1=Richard |title=''Pose'' Is Bold, Necessary Melodrama |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/05/pose-fx-ryan-murphy-review |website=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] |access-date=September 29, 2018 |date=May 30, 2018 }}</ref> In a similarly favorable critique, ''Vulture''{{'}}s Matt Zoller Seitz praised the series' ambition, aesthetic, and spotlight on minorities saying, "it shows American audiences a world that has never been visualized on television at this length and at such an obviously grand budget level. The camera swings and swoops, glides and tumbles as in a [[Martin Scorsese|Scorsese]] epic like ''[[Gangs of New York]]''; in both the outdoor street scenes and indoor crowd scenes, it's obvious that FX has spared no expense to get the clothes, the cars, the streets, the business signs, and even the distinctive yellow-brown glow of streetlights correct."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Seitz |first1=Matt Zoller |title=''Pose'' Is the Culmination of Ryan Murphy's Entire Career |url=https://www.vulture.com/2018/06/pose-fx-review.html |website=Vulture |access-date=September 29, 2018 |date=June 5, 2018 }}</ref> In a more mixed assessment, ''[[Newsday]]''{{'}}s gave the series two-and-a-half stars out of four and described it far less approvingly saying, "good intentions don't always lead to good TV, and a couple episodes in, that appears to be the case with ''Pose''. This certainly isn't bad TV—Murphy isn't about to leave his longtime home with a turkey—but it's often bland TV, and oddly enough, stock TV."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gay |first1=Verne |title=''Pose'': Formulaic drama, despite innovative casting |url=https://www.newsday.com/entertainment/tv/pose-review-1.18831003 |website=[[Newsday]] |access-date=September 29, 2018 |date=May 29, 2018}}</ref> In a negative evaluation, ''[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]''{{'}}s Willa Paskin was outright dismissive saying, "It's a TV show from one of the most canny creators working today, yet as a viewing experience it can feel like an object lesson." She continued on specifically criticizing the show's character development saying, "So many of the people on ''Pose'' are strong women, trans paragons, and this comes at the expense of them being recognizably flawed human beings."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Paskin |first1=Willa |title=Ryan Murphy's ''Pose'' Has Fallen Into the "Strong Character" Trap |url=https://slate.com/culture/2018/05/ryan-murphys-pose-reviewed.html |website=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] |access-date=September 29, 2018 |date=May 31, 2018}}</ref>

====Season 2====
On Rotten Tomatoes, the second season holds a 98% approval rating with an average rating of 8.39/10 based on 40 reviews. The website's critical consensus reads, "A delightful, delicate dance of light and dark, ''Pose''{{'}}s second season achieves a striking balance between the grittiness of reality and the glamour of the runway and shines even brighter."<ref name="RT2">{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/pose/s02|title=Pose: Season 2|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]]|access-date=November 12, 2019}}</ref> On Metacritic, season 2 holds a score of 79 out of 100 based on 14 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews."<ref name="MC2">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/pose/season-2|title=Pose: Season 2|website=[[Metacritic]]|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]|access-date=August 28, 2018}}</ref>

====Season 3====
On Rotten Tomatoes, the third season holds an 100% approval rating with an average rating of 7.83/10 based on 22 reviews. The website's critical consensus reads, "Though it's entirely too short, ''Pose''{{'}}s final season is a joyously entertaining celebration of life that is not to be missed."<ref name="RT3">{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/pose/s03|title=Pose: Season 3|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]]|access-date=May 12, 2021}}</ref> On Metacritic, season 3 holds a score of 76 out of 100 based on 8 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews."<ref name="MC3">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/pose/season-3|title=Pose: Season 3|website=[[Metacritic]]|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]|access-date=May 12, 2021}}</ref>

===Ratings===
{{Television season ratings
| hide_rank = y
| hide_tv_season = y

| link1 = #Season 1 (2018)
| episodes1 = 8
| timeslot1 = Sunday 9:00 pm
| start1 = {{Start date|2018|6|3}}
| startrating1 = 0.688<ref name="Premiere"/>
| end1 = {{End date|2018|7|22}}
| endrating1 = 0.781<ref name="1.08"/>
| viewers1 = 0.645<ref name="S1Ratings"/>
| 18_49_rating1 = 0.25<ref name="S1Ratings">{{cite web|url=https://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/pose-season-one-ratings/|title=Pose: Season One Ratings|website=TV Series Finale|date=July 24, 2018|access-date=May 22, 2019}}</ref>

| link2 = #Season 2 (2018–19)
| episodes2 = 10
| timeslot2 = Tuesday 10:00 pm
| start2 = {{Start date|2019|6|11}}
| startrating2 = 0.672<ref name="2.01"/>
| end2 = {{End date|2019|8|20}}
| endrating2 = 0.536<ref name="2.10"/>
| viewers2 = 0.541<ref name="S2Ratings"/>
| 18_49_rating2 = 0.19<ref name="S2Ratings">{{cite web|url=https://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/pose-season-two-ratings/|title=Pose: Season Two Ratings|date=August 21, 2019|work=TV Series Finale|access-date=August 21, 2019}}</ref>

| link3 = #Season 3
| episodes3 = 8
| timeslot3 = Sunday 10:00 pm
| start3 = {{Start date|2021|5|2}}
| startrating3 = 0.498<ref name="3.01–3.02"/>
| end3 = {{End date|2021|6|6}}
| endrating3 = 0.485<ref name="TVSeriesFinale"/>
| viewers3 =
| 18_49_rating3 =
|}}

==== Season 1 ====
{{Television episode ratings
| noshare = y
| title1 = [[#ep1|Pilot]]
| date1 = June 3, 2018
| rs1 = 0.2
| viewers1 = 0.688<ref name="Premiere"/>
| dvr1 = 0.2
| dvrv1 = 0.444
| total1 = 0.4
| totalv1 = 1.132<ref>{{cite web|url=http://programminginsider.com/live3-weekly-ratings-the-americans-series-finale-on-fx-hits-season-highs-and-more-than-doubles-its-original-telecast-viewership/|title=Live+3 Weekly Ratings: ''The Americans'' Series Finale on FX Hits Season-Highs and More Than Doubles its Original Telecast Viewership|last=Pucci|first=Douglas|date=June 8, 2018|work=Programming Insider|access-date=June 8, 2018}}</ref>

| title2 = [[#ep2|Access]]
| date2 = June 10, 2018
| rs2 = 0.2
| viewers2 = 0.548<ref name="1.02"/>
| dvr2 = 0.1
| dvrv2 = 0.338
| total2 = 0.3
| totalv2 = 0.887<ref>{{cite web|url=http://programminginsider.com/live3-weekly-ratings-code-black-on-cbs-gains-the-most-in-total-viewers/|title=Live+3 Weekly Ratings: ''Code Black'' on CBS Gains the Most in Total Viewers|last=Pucci|first=Douglas|date=June 15, 2018|work=Programming Insider|access-date=June 15, 2018}}</ref>

| title3 = [[#ep3|Giving and Receiving]]
| date3 = June 17, 2018
| rs3 = 0.2
| viewers3 = 0.561<ref name="1.03"/>
| dvr3 = 0.2
| dvrv3 = 0.358
| total3 = 0.4
| totalv3 = 0.919<ref>{{cite web|url=http://programminginsider.com/live3-weekly-ratings-code-black-staves-off-shades-of-blue-season-premiere-to-remain-the-leader-in-scripted-fare-in-total-viewer-gains/|title=Live+3 Weekly Ratings: ''Code Black'' Staves Off ''Shades of Blue'' Season Premiere to Remain the Leader in Scripted Fare in Total Viewer Gains|last=Pucci|first=Douglas|date=June 22, 2018|work=Programming Insider|access-date=June 22, 2018}}</ref>

| title4 = [[#ep4|The Fever]]
| date4 = June 24, 2018
| rs4 = 0.3
| viewers4 = 0.719<ref name="1.04"/>
| dvr4 = 0.2
| dvrv4 = 0.438
| total4 = 0.5
| totalv4 = 1.158<ref>{{cite web|url=http://programminginsider.com/live3-weekly-ratings-yellowstone-earns-best-ad-supported-cable-drama-series-premiere-in-2-years-code-black-the-top-scripted-fare-gainer-in-viewers-for-fourth-straight-week/|title=Live+3 Weekly Ratings: ''Yellowstone'' Earns Best Ad-Supported Cable Drama Series Premiere in 2 Years; ''Code Black'' the Top Scripted Fare Gainer in Viewers for Fourth Straight Week|last=Pucci|first=Douglas|date=June 29, 2018|work=Programming Insider|access-date=June 29, 2018}}</ref>

| title5 = [[#ep5|Mother's Day]]
| date5 = July 1, 2018
| rs5 = 0.3
| viewers5 = 0.582<ref name="1.05"/>
| dvr5 = 0.1
| dvrv5 = 0.390
| total5 = 0.4
| totalv5 = 0.973<ref>{{cite web|url=http://programminginsider.com/live3-weekly-ratings-code-black-leads-all-telecasts-in-viewer-lifts-big-brother-20-debuts-in-three-of-top-4-among-adults-18-49-gains/|title=Live+3 Weekly Ratings: ''Code Black'' Leads All Telecasts in Viewer Lifts; ''Big Brother 20'' Debuts in Three of Top 4 Among Adults 18–49 Gains|last=Pucci|first=Douglas|date=July 6, 2018|work=Programming Insider|access-date=July 6, 2018}}</ref>

| title6 = [[#ep6|Love Is the Message]]
| date6 = July 8, 2018
| rs6 = 0.3
| viewers6 = 0.594<ref name="1.06"/>
| dvr6 = 0.2
| dvrv6 = 0.436
| total6 = 0.5
| totalv6 = 1.031<ref>{{cite web|url=http://programminginsider.com/live3-weekly-ratings-code-black-july-4th-episode-tops-all-in-viewer-lifts-animal-kingdom-leads-scripted-cable-fare-in-raw-gains/|title=Live+3 Weekly Ratings: ''Code Black'' July 4th Episode Tops All in Viewer Lifts; ''Animal Kingdom'' Leads Scripted Cable Fare in Raw Gains|last=Pucci|first=Douglas|date=July 14, 2018|work=Programming Insider|access-date=July 14, 2018}}</ref>

| title7 = [[#ep7|Pink Slip]]
| date7 = July 15, 2018
| rs7 = 0.3
| viewers7 = 0.689<ref name="1.07"/>
| dvr7 = 0.1
| dvrv7 = 0.372
| total7 = 0.4
| totalv7 = 1.062<ref>{{cite web|url=http://programminginsider.com/live3-weekly-ratings-yellowstone-tops-in-raw-gains-among-all-scripted-fare/|title=Live+3 Weekly Ratings: ''Yellowstone'' Tops in Raw Gains Among All Scripted Fare|last=Pucci|first=Douglas|date=July 21, 2018|work=Programming Insider|access-date=July 21, 2018}}</ref>

| title8 = [[#ep8|Mother of the Year]]
| date8 = July 22, 2018
| rs8 = 0.3
| viewers8 = 0.781<ref name="1.08"/>
| dvr8 = 0.1
| dvrv8 = 0.371
| total8 = 0.4
| totalv8 = 1.153<ref>{{cite web|url=http://programminginsider.com/live3-weekly-ratings-code-black-cbs-finale-tops-all-scripted-telecasts-in-viewer-gains/|title=Live+3 Weekly Ratings: ''Code Black'' CBS Finale Tops All Scripted Telecasts in Viewer Gains|last=Pucci|first=Douglas|date=July 28, 2018|work=Programming Insider|access-date=July 28, 2018}}</ref>
}}

==== Season 2 ====
{{Television episode ratings
| noshare = y
| title1 = [[#ep9|Acting Up]]
| date1 = June 11, 2019
| rs1 = 0.3
| viewers1 = 0.672<ref name="2.01"/>
| dvr1 = n/a
| dvrv1 = 0.653
| total1 = n/a
| totalv1 = 1.328<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-june-10-16-2019/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190627184617/https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-june-10-16-2019/|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 27, 2019|title='Big Little Lies' scores big gains in cable Live +7 ratings for June 10–16|last=Welch|first=Alex|work=TV by the Numbers|date=June 27, 2019|access-date=June 27, 2019}}</ref>

| title2 = [[#ep10|Worth It]]
| date2 = June 18, 2019
| rs2 = 0.2
| viewers2 = 0.567<ref name="2.02"/>
| dvr2 = 0.2
| dvrv2 = 0.640
| total2 = 0.4
| totalv2 = 1.208<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-june-17-23-2019/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190709215223/https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-june-17-23-2019/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 9, 2019|title='Yellowstone' premiere doubles in cable Live +7 ratings for June 17–23|last=Welch|first=Alex|work=TV by the Numbers|date=July 9, 2019|access-date=July 9, 2019}}</ref>

| title3 = [[#ep11|Butterfly/Cocoon]]
| date3 = June 25, 2019
| rs3 = 0.2
| viewers3 = 0.589<ref name="2.03"/>
| dvr3 = 0.2
| dvrv3 = 0.573
| total3 = 0.4
| totalv3 = 1.163<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-june-24-30-2019/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716190432/https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-june-24-30-2019/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 16, 2019|title='Yellowstone' easily leads the cable Live +7 ratings for June 24–30|last=Welch|first=Alex|work=TV by the Numbers|date=July 16, 2019|access-date=July 16, 2019}}</ref>

| title4 = [[#ep12|Never Knew Love Like This Before]]
| date4 = July 9, 2019
| rs4 = 0.2
| viewers4 = 0.580<ref name="2.04"/>
| dvr4 = 0.2
| dvrv4 = 0.686
| total4 = 0.4
| totalv4 = 1.268<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-july-8-14-2019/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190812181310/https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-july-8-14-2019/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 12, 2019|title='Yellowstone' returns with the biggest gains in the cable Live +7 ratings for July 8–14|last=Welch|first=Alex|work=TV by the Numbers|date=August 12, 2019|access-date=August 12, 2019}}</ref>

| title5 = [[#ep13|What Would Candy Do?]]
| date5 = July 16, 2019
| rs5 = 0.1
| viewers5 = 0.497<ref name="2.05"/>
| dvr5 = 0.3
| dvrv5 = 0.596
| total5 = 0.4
| totalv5 = 1.094<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-july-15-21-2019/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190814182442/https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-july-15-21-2019/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 14, 2019|title='Yellowstone,' 'Below Deck Mediterranean' lead the cable Live +7 ratings for July 15–21|last=Welch|first=Alex|work=TV by the Numbers|date=August 14, 2019|access-date=August 14, 2019}}</ref>

| title6 = [[#ep14|Love's In Need Of Love Today]]
| date6 = July 23, 2019
| rs6 = 0.2
| viewers6 = 0.505<ref name="2.06"/>
| dvr6 = n/a
| dvrv6 = 0.588
| total6 = n/a
| totalv6 = 1.095<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-july-22-28-2019/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190816181125/https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-july-22-28-2019/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 16, 2019|title='Teen Mom' scores top 18–49 gain in cable Live +7 ratings for July 22–28|last=Welch|first=Alex|work=TV by the Numbers|date=August 16, 2019|access-date=August 16, 2019}}</ref>

| title7 = [[#ep15|Blow]]
| date7 = July 30, 2019
| rs7 = 0.2
| viewers7 = 0.405<ref name="2.07"/>
| dvr7 = n/a
| dvrv7 = 0.617
| total7 = n/a
| totalv7 = 1.023<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-july-29-aug-4-2019/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190819205346/https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-july-29-aug-4-2019/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 19, 2019|title='Descendants 3' scores big gains in cable Live +7 ratings for July 29 – August 4|last=Welch|first=Alex|work=TV by the Numbers|date=August 19, 2019|access-date=August 19, 2019}}</ref>

| title8 = [[#ep16|Revelations]]
| date8 = August 6, 2019
| rs8 = 0.2
| viewers8 = 0.508<ref name="2.08"/>
| dvr8 = 0.2
| dvrv8 = 0.540
| total8 = 0.4
| totalv8 = 1.051<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-aug-5-11-2019/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190826182820/https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-aug-5-11-2019/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 26, 2019|title='Yellowstone' doubles its audience in cable Live +7 ratings for August 5–11|last=Welch|first=Alex|work=TV by the Numbers|date=August 26, 2019|access-date=August 26, 2019}}</ref>

| title9 = [[#ep17|Life's a Beach]]
| date9 = August 13, 2019
| rs9 = 0.2
| viewers9 = 0.547<ref name="2.09"/>
| dvr9 = n/a
| dvrv9 = 0.553
| total9 = n/a
| totalv9 = 1.102<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-aug-12-18-2019/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829215513/https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-aug-12-18-2019/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 29, 2019|title='Yellowstone' stays on top of the cable Live +7 ratings for August 12–18|last=Welch|first=Alex|work=TV by the Numbers|date=August 29, 2019|access-date=August 29, 2019}}</ref>

| title10 = [[#ep18|In My Heels]]
| date10 = August 20, 2019
| rs10 = 0.2
| viewers10 = 0.536<ref name="2.10"/>
| dvr10 = n/a
| dvrv10 = n/a
| total10 = n/a
| totalv10 = n/a
}}

==== Season 3 ====
{{Television episode ratings
| noshare = y

| title1 = [[#ep19|On the Run]]
| date1 = May 2, 2021
| rs1 = 0.1
| viewers1 = 0.498<ref name="3.01–3.02"/>
| dvr1 =
| dvrv1 =
| total1 =
| totalv1 =

| title2 = [[#ep20|Intervention]]
| date2 = May 2, 2021
| rs2 = 0.1
| viewers2 = 0.370<ref name="3.01–3.02"/>
| dvr2 =
| dvrv2 =
| total2 =
| totalv2 =

| title3 = [[#ep21|The Trunk]]
| date3 = May 9, 2021
| rs3 = 0.1
| viewers3 = 0.394<ref name="3.03"/>
| dvr3 =
| dvrv3 =
| total3 =
| totalv3 =

| title4 = [[#ep22|Take Me To Church]]
| date4 = May 16, 2021
| rs4 = 0.1
| viewers4 = 0.404<ref name="3.04"/>
| dvr4 = 0.1
| dvrv4 = 0.399
| total4 = 0.3
| totalv4 = 0.803<ref name="3.04"/>

}}

===Accolades===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%"
! scope="col"| Year
! scope="col"| Award
! scope="col"| Category
! scope="col"| Nominee(s)
! scope="col"| Result
! scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{Abbr|Ref.|References}}
|-
| align="center" rowspan="2"| 2018
| align="left"| [[Gotham Independent Film Awards 2018|Gotham Independent Film Awards]]
| Breakthrough Series – Long Form
| ''Pose''
| {{nom}}
| align="center" |<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wagmeister |first1=Elizabeth |title=Gotham Awards: A24 Sweeps With Five Wins, Including ''First Reformed'', ''Eighth Grade'' (Full Winners List) |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/gotham-awards-winners-list-2018-new-york-1203037073/ |access-date=December 21, 2018 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=November 26, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| align="left"| [[American Film Institute Awards 2018|American Film Institute Awards]]
| Top 10 TV Programs of the Year
| ''Pose''
| {{won}}
| align="center"|<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pedersen |first1=Erik |title=AFI Awards 2018 TV: ''This Is Us'' Is Lone Broadcast Show As FX Nabs Four Of 10 Slots |url=https://deadline.com/2018/12/afi-awards-2018-tv-this-is-us-fx-hbo-1202513736/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |access-date=December 4, 2018 |date=December 4, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" rowspan="31"| 2019
| align="left" rowspan="2"| [[76th Golden Globe Awards|Golden Globe Awards]]
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Drama|Best Television Series – Drama]]
| ''Pose''
| {{nom}}
| align="center" rowspan="2"|<ref>{{cite web |last=Snierson |first=Dan |title=Golden Globes 2019: See the full winners list |url=https://ew.com/golden-globes/2019/01/06/golden-globes-2019-winners-list/ |website=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=January 6, 2019 |date=January 6, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama|Best Actor – Television Series Drama]]
| [[Billy Porter (entertainer)|Billy Porter]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| align="left" rowspan="4"| [[Dorian Awards]]
| TV Drama of the Year
| ''Pose''
| {{won}}
| align="center" rowspan="4"|<ref>{{cite web |last=Kilkenny |first=Katie |title=Unsung Film of the Year – ''The Favourite'', ''Pose'', ''Killing Eve'' Lead Dorian Award Nominations |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/2019-gay-lesbian-entertainment-critics-dorian-award-nominees-1172267 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=January 9, 2018 |date=January 3, 2018}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web |last=Kilday |first=Gregg |title=Dorian Awards: ''The Favourite'' Named Film of the Year |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/2019-dorian-awards-2019-winners-list-1174806 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=January 8, 2019 |date=January 8, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| TV Performance of the Year — Actor
| Billy Porter
| {{won}}
|-
| LGBTQ TV Show of the Year
| ''Pose''
| {{won}}
|-
| TV Musical Performance of the Year
| Billy Porter, [[Mj Rodriguez]] and [[Our Lady J]] (performing "Home")
| {{won}}
|-
| align="left" rowspan="2"| [[9th Critics' Choice Television Awards|Critics' Choice Television Awards]]
| [[Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Drama Series|Best Drama Series]]
| ''Pose''
| {{nom}}
| align="center" rowspan="2"|<ref>{{cite web |last=Crist |first=Allison |title=Critics' Choice Awards: ''Roma'', ''Americans'', ''Mrs. Maisel'' Top Winners |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/2019-critics-choice-awards-winners-list-full-1172261 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=January 13, 2019 |date=January 13, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| [[Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series|Best Actor in a Drama Series]]
| Billy Porter
| {{nom}}
|-
| align="left"| [[Writers Guild of America Awards 2018|Writers Guild of America Awards]]
| [[Writers Guild of America Award for Television: New Series|Television: New Series]]
| style="max-width: 18em;" | [[Steven Canals]], [[Brad Falchuk]], Todd Kubrak, [[Janet Mock]], [[Ryan Murphy (writer)|Ryan Murphy]] and Our Lady J
| {{nom}}
| align="center" |<ref>{{cite web |last=Hipes |first=Patrick |title=WGA Awards TV Nominations: ''The Handmaid's Tale'', ''Barry'', ''SNL'' Make List |url=https://deadline.com/2018/12/writers-guild-awards-tv-nominations-2019-list-1202515496/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |access-date=December 6, 2018 |date=December 6, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| align="left"| [[30th GLAAD Media Awards|GLAAD Media Awards]]
| [[GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Drama Series|Outstanding Drama Series]]
| ''Pose''
| {{won}}
| align="center" |<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/glaad-media-awards-complete-list-winners-2019-nyc-1206886/item/outstanding-drama-series-1197809|title=GLAAD Media Awards: ''Boy Erased'', ''Pose'', ''Gianni Versace'' Among Winners |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |first=Kimberly |last=Nordyke |date=May 4, 2019 |access-date=May 5, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| align="left" |[[List of Peabody Award winners (2010–2019)|Peabody Awards]]
| Entertainment honoree
| ''Pose''
| {{won}}
| align="center" | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/04/peabody-awards-barry-killing-eve-hannah-gadsby-pose-entertainment-winners-list-1202598447/|title=Peabody Awards: ''Barry'', ''Killing Eve'', Hannah Gadsby, ''Pose'' Among Entertainment Winners|last=Hipes|first=Patrick|date=April 18, 2019|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|access-date=April 18, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| [[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences|Television Academy Honors]]
| Outstanding Programs and Storytellers Advancing Social Change Through Television
| ''Pose''
| {{won}}
| align="center" | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.emmys.com/news/awards-news/honors-190416|title=Television Academy Honors Announced|publisher=[[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences]]|access-date=April 23, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| [[MTV Movie & TV Awards]]
| Breakthrough Performance
| Mj Rodriguez
| {{nom}}
| align="center" | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvline.com/2019/05/14/mtv-awards-2019-nominations-full-list-nominees/|title=MTV Movie & TV Awards: ''Riverdale'', ''Thrones'' Among 2019 Nominees|publisher=[[TV Line]]|access-date=May 15, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| align="left" rowspan="4"| [[35th TCA Awards|TCA Awards]]
| [[TCA Award for Program of the Year|Program of the Year]]
| rowspan="3"| ''Pose''
| {{nom}}
| align="center" rowspan="4"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/pose-russian-doll-hbo-lead-2019-tv-critic-awards-nominations-1219571 |title='Pose,' 'Russian Doll,' HBO Lead 2019 TV Critic Awards Nominations |website=The Hollywood Reporter |last=Goldberg |first=Lesley |date=June 19, 2019 |access-date=June 22, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| [[TCA Award for Outstanding New Program|Outstanding New Program]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[TCA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Drama|Outstanding Achievement in Drama]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[TCA Award for Individual Achievement in Drama|Individual Achievement in Drama]]
| Billy Porter
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="7"|Gold Derby Awards
| Best Drama Series
| ''Pose''
| {{nom}}
| align="center" rowspan="7"|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.goldderby.com/article/2019/gold-derby-tv-awards-2019-nominations-game-of-thrones-veep-news/ |title=Gold Derby TV Awards 2019 nominations: 'Game of Thrones' and 'Veep' lead, while 'Pose' is the top new show of the year |date=July 24, 2019 |publisher=[[Gold Derby]] |access-date=July 24, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2"|Best Drama Episode
| "Love Is the Message"
| {{nom}}
|-
| "Mother of the Year"
| {{nom}}
|-
| Best Drama Actor
| Billy Porter
| {{won}}
|-
| Best Drama Actress
| Mj Rodriguez
| {{nom}}
|-
| Best Drama Guest Actor
| [[Christopher Meloni]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| Best Ensemble
| The cast of ''Pose''
| {{nom}}
|-
| align="left" rowspan="2"| [[71st Primetime Emmy Awards|Primetime Emmy Awards]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series|Outstanding Drama Series]]
| Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, [[Nina Jacobson]], [[Brad Simpson (producer)|Brad Simpson]], Alexis Martin Woodall, Sherry Marsh, Steven Canals, [[Silas Howard]], Janet Mock, Our Lady J, [[Lou Eyrich]] and Erica Kay
| {{nom}}
| align="center" rowspan="7"| <ref name="THR 2019-07-16">{{cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/pose-star-billy-porter-nominated-emmy-trans-actresses-snubbed-1224617 |title=Emmys: ''Pose'' Star Billy Porter Nominated for Best Drama Actor, Trans Actresses Snubbed |author=Evan Real |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=July 16, 2019 |access-date=July 16, 2019 }}</ref> <ref name="71st Emmys full list">{{cite web|url=https://www.emmys.com/sites/default/files/Downloads/71st-nominations-list-v1.pdf|title=2019 Primetime Emmy® Awards: Nomination Press Release|date=July 16, 2019|publisher=[[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716161049/https://www.emmys.com/sites/default/files/Downloads/71st-nominations-list-v1.pdf|archive-date=July 16, 2019|access-date=July 16, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series|Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series]]
| Billy Porter (for "Love Is the Message")
| {{won}}
|-
| align="left" rowspan="5"| [[71st Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards|Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series|Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series]]
| Alexa L. Fogel
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Hairstyling for a Single-Camera Series|Outstanding Hairstyling for a Single-Camera Series]]
| Chris Clark, Barry Lee Moe, Jameson Eaton, Mia Neal, Tim Harvey and Sabana Majeed (for "[[Pilot (Pose)|Pilot]]")
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Makeup for a Single-Camera Series (Non-Prosthetic)|Outstanding Makeup for a Single-Camera Series]]
| Sherri Laurence, Nicky Pattison Illum, Chris Milone, Deja Smith, Lucy O'Reilly and Andrew Sotomayor (for "[[Pilot (Pose)|Pilot]]")
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Period Costumes|Outstanding Period Costumes]]
| Lou Eyrich, Analucia Mcgorty, Amy Ritchings and Kevin Ritter (for "[[Pilot (Pose)|Pilot]]")
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series|Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series]]
| ''Pose: Identity, Family Community (Inside Look)''
| {{nom}}
|-
| align="center" rowspan="22"| 2020
| align="left"|[[77th Golden Globe Awards|Golden Globe Awards]]
| Best Actor – Television Series Drama
| Billy Porter
| {{nom}}
| align="center"|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/2020-golden-globes-nominations-full-list-1259626 |title=Golden Globes: Full List of Nominations |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=December 9, 2019 |access-date=December 9, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| align="left" rowspan="3"| [[10th Critics' Choice Television Awards|Critics' Choice Television Awards]]
| Best Drama Series
| ''Pose''
| {{nom}}
| align="center" rowspan="3"|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tvline.com/2019/12/08/critics-choice-awards-nominations-2020-full-list-tv-nominees/ |title=Critics' Choice Awards 2020: Fleabag, Watchmen, When They See Us, Unbelievable Among TV Nominees |website=TVLine |date=December 8, 2019 |access-date=December 8, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Best Actor in a Drama Series
| Billy Porter
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series|Best Actress in a Drama Series]]
| Mj Rodriguez
| {{nom}}
|-
| align="left"| [[Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild]]s
| Television Series, Mini-Series or New Media – Best Period and/or Character Hair Styling
| Barry Lee Moe, Timothy Harvey and Sabana Majeed
| {{nom}}
| align="center"|<ref>{{cite web |title=WINNERS! 7th Annual MUAHS Guild Awards |url=http://www.local706.org/winners-7th-annual-muahs-guild-awards/ |access-date=January 12, 2020 |date=January 12, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| align="left"| [[Casting Society of America]]
| Television Pilot & First Season – Drama
| Alexa L. Fogel, Kathryn Zamora-Benson and Caitlin D. Jones
| {{won}}
| align="center"|<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/casting-society-tv-theatre-artios-awards-nominations-complete-list-1242878 | title = Artios Awards: 'Succession,' 'Pose,' 'Dead to Me' Among Casting Society TV, Theater Nominees |first = Hillary | last = Lewis | date = September 24, 2019 |work = [[The Hollywood Reporter]] | access-date = February 2, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| align="left"| [[31st GLAAD Media Awards|GLAAD Media Awards]]
| [[GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Drama Series|Outstanding Drama Series]]
| ''Pose''
| {{won}}
| align="center"|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/glaad-media-award-nominations-2020-full-list-nominees-1267736 |title=GLAAD Media Awards: 'Booksmart,' 'Bombshell,' 'Rocketman' Among Nominees |first1=Chris |last1=Gardner |first2=Annie |last2=Howard |date=January 8, 2020 |access-date=January 8, 2020 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref>
|-
| align="left" rowspan="4"| [[Dorian Awards]]
| TV Drama of the Year
| ''Pose''
| {{win}}
| align="center" rowspan="4"|<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nordyke |first1=Kimberly |title=TV Comedy of the Year – 'Parasite' Tops Dorian Awards With 5 Wins |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/2020-gay-lesbian-entertainment-critics-dorian-awards-full-list-1268129/item/tv-comedy-year-1265608 |access-date=14 July 2020 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=8 January 2020 }}</ref>
|-
| TV Performance of the Year — Actress
| Mj Rodriguez
| {{nom}}
|-
| TV Performance of the Year — Actress
| Billy Porter
| {{win}}
|-
| LGBTQ TV Show of the Year
| ''Pose''
| {{win}}
|-
| [[36th TCA Awards|TCA Awards]]
| Outstanding Achievement in Drama
| ''Pose''
| {{nom}}
| align="center"|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tvline.com/2020/07/09/tca-awards-nominations-2020-watchmen/ |title=TCA Awards: Watchmen, Unbelievable and Schitt's Creek Lead Nominations |website=TVLine |first=Matt Webb |last=Mitovich |date=July 9, 2020 |access-date=July 10, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| align="left"| [[72nd Primetime Emmy Awards|Primetime Emmy Awards]]
| Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
| Billy Porter (for "Love's in Need of Love Today")
| {{nom}}
| align="center" rowspan="6"|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/2020-emmy-nominations-live-updating-1303894 |title=Emmy Awards: Nominations List |first1=Jennifer |last1=Konerman |first2=Hilary |last2=Lewis |first3=Kimberly |last3=Nordyke |date=July 28, 2020 |access-date=July 28, 2020 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> <ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.emmys.com/sites/default/files/Downloads/72nd-nominations-list-v1.pdf?q=1 |title=2020 Primetime Emmy |date=July 28, 2020 |access-date=July 28, 2020 |publisher=[[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences]]}}</ref>
|-
| align="left" rowspan="5"| [[72nd Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards|Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards]]
| Outstanding Period Costumes
| Analucia McGorty, Nicky Smith, Alexa DeFazio and Linda Giammarese (for "Acting Up")
| {{nom}}
|-
| Outstanding Period and/or Character Hairstyling
| Barry Lee Moe, Timothy Harvey, Sabana Majeed, Liliana Meyrick, Lisa Thomas, Greg Bazemore, Jessie Mojica and Charlene Belmond (for "Worth It")
| {{nom}}
|-
| Outstanding Period and/or Character Makeup (Non-Prosthetic)
| Sherri Berman Laurence, Nicky Pattison Illum, Chris Milone, Deja Smith and Jessica Padilla (for "Acting Up")
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup for a Series, Limited Series, Movie or Special|Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup for a Series, Limited Series, Movie or Special]]
| David Presto, Greg Pikulski, Brett Schmidt, Lisa Forst and Keith Palmer (for "Love's in Need of Love Today")
| {{nom}}
|-
| Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series
| ''Pose: Identity, Family, Community''
| {{nom}}
|-
| align="left" rowspan="4"| [[Black Reel Awards of 2020|Black Reel Television Awards]]
| Outstanding Drama Series
| ''Pose''
| {{won}}
| align="center" rowspan="4"|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blackreelawards.com/watchmen-insecure-pace-the-black-reel-awards-for-tv-nominations/|title=''Watchmen'' & ''Insecure'' Pace the Black Reel Awards for TV Nominations|work=Black Reel Awards|date=June 18, 2020|accessdate=February 20, 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[Black Reel Award for Outstanding Actor, Drama Series|Outstanding Actor, Drama Series]]
| Billy Porter
| {{nom}}
|-
| Outstanding Directing, Drama Series
| Janet Mock (for "In My Heels")
| {{won}}
|-
| Outstanding Writing, Drama Series
| Janet Mock and Ryan Murphy (for "Love Like This Before")
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="12" align="center"| 2021
| rowspan="2"| [[37th TCA Awards|TCA Awards]]
| [[TCA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Drama|Outstanding Achievement in Drama]]
| ''Pose''
| {{pending}}
| rowspan="2" align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |last=Turchiano |first=Danielle |url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/2021-tca-awards-nominations-list-ted-lasso-wandavision-1235020447/ |title='Ted Lasso' Scores the Most 2021 TCA Awards Nominations |date=July 15, 2021 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=July 16, 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[TCA Award for Individual Achievement in Drama|Individual Achievement in Drama]]
| Mj Rodriguez
| {{pending}}
|-
| rowspan="5"| [[73rd Primetime Emmy Awards|Primetime Emmy Awards]]
| Outstanding Drama Series
| Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, Alexis Martin Woodall, Sherry Marsh, Steven Canals, Janet Mock, Our Lady J, Tanase Popa, Lou Eyrich, Jeff Dickerson, Todd Nenninger and Kip Davis Myers
| {{pending}}
| rowspan="10" style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2021/07/2021-emmy-nominations-list-1234791599/ |title=Emmy Nominations: ‘The Crown’, ‘The Mandalorian’ Top List; HBO/HBO Max Edges Netflix For Top Spot – Full List Of Nominees |website=Deadline |first=Patrick |last=Hipes |date=July 13, 2021 |access-date=July 13, 2021}}</ref>
|-
| Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
| Billy Porter {{small|(for "Take Me To Church")}}
| {{pending}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series|Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series]]
| Mj Rodriguez {{small|(for "Series Finale")}}
| {{pending}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series|Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series]]
| Steven Canals {{small|(for "Series Finale")}}
| {{pending}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series|Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series]]
| Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, Steven Canals, Janet Mock and Our Lady J {{small|(for "Series Finale")}}
| {{pending}}
|-
| rowspan="5"| [[73rd Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards|Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Contemporary Costumes|Outstanding Contemporary Costumes]]
| Analucia McGorty, Michelle Roy and Linda Giammarese {{small|(for "Series Finale")}}
| {{pending}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Contemporary Hairstyling|Outstanding Contemporary Hairstyling]]
| Barry Lee Moe, Timothy Harvey, Greg Bazemore, Tene Wilder, Lisa Thomas and Rob Harmon {{small|(for "Series Finale")}}
| {{pending}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Makeup (Non-Prosthetic)|Outstanding Contemporary Makeup (Non-Prosthetic)]]
| Sherri Berman Laurence, Nicky Pattison Illum, Charles Zambrano, Shaun Thomas Gibson, Jessica Padilla and Jennifer Suarez {{small|(for "Series Finale")}}
| {{pending}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup for a Series, Limited Series, Movie or Special|Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup]]
| Thomas Denier Jr. {{small|(for "On the Run")}}
| {{pending}}
|-
| Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series
| ''Pose: Identity, Family, Community''
| {{pending}}
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|LGBT|Television|Transgender}}
* [[LGBT culture in New York City]]
* [[List of dramatic television series with LGBT characters]]
{{Clear}}

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{notelist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website}}
* {{BBC programme|m0003g1h}}
* {{IMDb title|7562112}}

{{GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Drama Series}}
{{Ryan Murphy}}
{{Ball culture}}
{{Drag performance}}
{{FX network programming}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pose (TV series)}}
[[Category:2010s American black television series]]
[[Category:Hispanic and Latino American television]]
[[Category:2010s American drama television series]]
[[Category:2020s American black television series]]
[[Category:2020s American drama television series]]
[[Category:2018 American television series debuts]]
[[Category:2021 American television series endings]]
[[Category:2010s American LGBT-related drama television series]]
[[Category:2020s American LGBT-related drama television series]]
[[Category:LGBT African-American culture]]
[[Category:Ball culture]]
[[Category:Drag (clothing) television shows]]
[[Category:English-language television shows]]
[[Category:FX Networks original programming]]
[[Category:Gay-related television shows]]
[[Category:HIV/AIDS in television]]
[[Category:Peabody Award-winning television programs]]
[[Category:Prostitution in American television]]
[[Category:Television series by 20th Century Fox Television]]
[[Category:Television series created by Ryan Murphy (writer)]]
[[Category:Television series set in 1987]]
[[Category:Television series set in 1988]]
[[Category:Television series set in 1990]]
[[Category:Television series set in 1991]]
[[Category:Television series set in 1994]]
[[Category:Television series set in 1996]]
[[Category:Television series set in 1998]]
[[Category:Television series set in the 1980s]]
[[Category:Television series set in the 1990s]]
[[Category:Television shows set in New Jersey]]
[[Category:Television shows set in New York City]]
[[Category:Transgender-related television shows]]
[[Category:Television series created by Brad Falchuk]]
[[Category:Television productions suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic]]

Pose (TV series)

2021-08-17T19:28:00Z

Vodkamad: /* Premiere */

{{short description|2018 American drama television series}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox television
| name = Pose
| image = PoseTitleScreen.png
| genre = [[Drama (film and television)|Drama]]
| creator = {{Plainlist|
* [[Ryan Murphy (writer)|Ryan Murphy]]
* [[Brad Falchuk]]
* [[Steven Canals]]
}}
| starring = {{Plainlist|

* [[Evan Peters]]
* [[Kate Mara]]
* [[James Van Der Beek]]
* [[Mj Rodriguez]]
* [[Dominique Jackson (model)|Dominique Jackson]]
* [[Billy Porter (entertainer)|Billy Porter]]
* [[Indya Moore]]
* [[Ryan Jamaal Swain]]
* [[Charlayne Woodard]]
* [[Hailie Sahar]]
* [[Angelica Ross]]
* [[Angel Bismark Curiel]]
* [[Dyllón Burnside]]
* [[Sandra Bernhard]]
* [[Jason A. Rodriguez]]
}}
| composer = Mac Quayle
| country = United States
| language = English
| num_seasons = 3
| num_episodes = 26
| list_episodes = #Episodes
| executive_producer = {{Plainlist|
* Ryan Murphy
* [[Brad Falchuk]]
* [[Nina Jacobson]]
* [[Janet Mock]]
* Brad Simpson
* Alexis Martin Woodall
* Sherry Marsh
* Steven Canals
}}
| producer = {{Plainlist|
* [[Our Lady J]]
* [[Lou Eyrich]]
* Erica Kay
}}
| cinematography = {{Plainlist|
* Simon Dennis
* [[Nelson Cragg]]
}}
| editor =
| camera = [[Single camera setup|Single-camera]]
| runtime = 45–78 minutes
| company = {{Plainlist|
* [[Color Force]]
* {{nowrap|Brad Falchuk Teley-Vision}}
* Ryan Murphy Television
* [[Touchstone Television]]{{efn|Known as Fox 21 Television Studios until 2020}} (seasons 1–2)
* [[20th Television]] (season 3)
* FXP
}}
| distributor = [[20th Television]] (Seasons 1-2) [[Disney-ABC Domestic Television]] (Season 3)
| network = [[FX (TV channel)|FX]]
| picture_format = [[1080i]] ([[HDTV]])
| audio_format = [[5.1 surround sound|5.1 surround]]
| first_aired = {{Start date|2018|6|3}}
| last_aired = {{End date|2021|6|6}}
}}

'''''Pose''''' (stylized as '''''POSE''''') is an American [[Drama (film and television)|drama]] television series about New York City's [[African-American]] and [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Latino]] [[LGBTQ]] and [[gender-nonconforming]] [[drag ball culture]] scene in the 1980s, early 1990s in the second season, and the mid-to-late 1990s in the third season. Featured characters are dancers and models, who compete for trophies and recognition in this underground culture and who support one another in a network of chosen families known as [[ball culture#Houses|Houses]].

Created by [[Ryan Murphy (writer)|Ryan Murphy]], [[Brad Falchuk]], and [[Steven Canals]], the series aired from June 3, 2018, to June 6, 2021, on [[FX (TV channel)|FX]]. It stars an ensemble cast including [[Evan Peters]], [[Kate Mara]], [[James Van Der Beek]], [[Mj Rodriguez]], [[Dominique Jackson (model)|Dominique Jackson]], [[Billy Porter (entertainer)|Billy Porter]], [[Indya Moore]], [[Ryan Jamaal Swain]], [[Charlayne Woodard]], [[Hailie Sahar]], [[Angelica Ross]], [[Angel Bismark Curiel]], [[Dyllón Burnside]], [[Sandra Bernhard]], and [[Jason A. Rodriguez]].

The first season was met with largely positive reception and subsequently received numerous award nominations including the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Drama]] and the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama]] for Billy Porter. In 2019, Porter was awarded the [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series]] – the first openly gay black man to be nominated for and win in an Emmy lead acting category. The series was nominated for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series|Outstanding Drama Series]] at the same ceremony.

The second season premiered on June 11, 2019, to further acclaim. The third and final season premiered on May 2, 2021, and concluded on June 6, 2021, to further positive reviews.
During the course of the series 26 episodes of pose have aired over three seasons

==Premise==
''Pose'' season 1 is set in 1987–88 and looks at "the juxtaposition of several segments of life and society in [[New York City|New York]]": the African-American and Latino [[ball culture]] world, the [[Lower Manhattan|downtown]] social and literary scene, and the rise of the [[yuppie]] milieu.<ref name="BroadwayWorld">{{cite web|title=New Ryan Murphy Musical Dance Series POSE Gets Full Season Order|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/New-Ryan-Murphy-Musical-Dance-Series-POSE-Gets-Full-Season-Order-20171227|website=BroadwayWorld.com|date=December 27, 2017|access-date=December 27, 2017|language=en}}</ref>

The second season begins in 1990. More of the characters are now either [[HIV-positive people|HIV-positive]] or [[People With AIDS|living with AIDS]]. Some have become [[HIV/AIDS activism|AIDS activists]] with [[ACT UP]], and everyone is now attending frequent fundraisers, funerals and memorial services for their many friends and lovers in the community that has been hard-hit by the [[AIDS pandemic]]. With the release of songs by [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]], [[Malcolm McLaren]], and others, some aspects of the ballroom dance styles begin to go mainstream, and members of the community find new opportunities as dancers and dance teachers. Others are working as [[dominatrix|dominatrices]] and [[stripper]]s.

The final season begins in 1994, with Blanca focuses on balancing her life as nurse aide, a mother and present partner to Christopher, her new love who works in the same hospital as hers. The season also focuses on the reassembly of House of Evangelista due to Lemar's father role in the unruly new group House of Khan, and Pray Tell's health scare.<ref name="S3Premiere"/>

==Cast and characters==
{{main|List of Pose characters}}

===Main===

* [[Evan Peters]] as Stan Bowes, Patty's [[yuppie]] husband who works in [[Trump Tower]] and later becomes Angel's lover. (season 1)<ref name="RollingStone">{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-reviews/pose-season-2-review-845765/|title='Pose' Season 2 Review: A Revolutionary World Where Hope Prevails|last=Sepinwall|first=Alan|date=June 10, 2019|work=Rolling Stone|access-date=June 11, 2012}}</ref>
* [[Kate Mara]] as Patty Bowes, Stan's wife and mother of their children. (season 1)<ref name="RollingStone" />
* [[James Van Der Beek]] as Matt Bromley, Stan's kingpin boss. (season 1)<ref name="RollingStone" />
* [[Mj Rodriguez]] as Blanca Rodriguez-Evangelista, a [[trans woman]] with [[HIV/AIDS]] and former member of the House of Abundance. She is the founder and [[Ball culture#Houses|mother]] of the House of Evangelista.
* [[Dominique Jackson (model)|Dominique Jackson]] as Elektra Evangelista, mother of the former House of Abundance. After brief stints in the Houses of Evangelista and Ferocity, she forms the House of Wintour before rejoining the House of Evangelista in the final season.
* [[Billy Porter (entertainer)|Billy Porter]] as Pray (Prayerful) Tell, [[emcee]] of the [[ball culture|balls]] in New York, fashion designer, and mentor to members of the community, especially the members of House Evangelista. He later enters a relationship with Ricky.
* [[Indya Moore]] as Angel Vasquez-Evangelista, a trans woman sex worker who joins the House of Evangelista after leaving the House of Abundance. She has an affair with Stan during the first season, before entering a relationship with Papi.
* [[Ryan Jamaal Swain]] as Damon Richards-Evangelista, a homeless, talented dancer who becomes the first member of the House of Evangelista. After the season 3 premiere, the character was written out of the show due to the murder of Swain's sister in their hometown of Birmingham, Alabama. Damon was said to have relapsed into alcoholism and moved to his cousin's home in South Carolina. In the series finale, he was revealed to be in Chicago, teaching dancing.<ref>{{Cite web|title='Pose's Damon Was Barely Featured in the Season 3 Premiere Due to a Family Tragedy|url=https://www.distractify.com/p/what-happened-to-damon-on-pose|access-date=2021-06-07|website=Distractify|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-07-30|title=‘Pose’ actor mourns sister killed in Birmingham: ‘We will have swift justice’|url=https://www.al.com/news/birmingham/2020/07/pose-actor-mourns-sister-killed-in-birmingham-we-will-have-swift-justice.html|access-date=2021-06-07|website=al|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Turchiano|first=Danielle|date=2021-06-07|title=‘Pose’ Series Finale Ends With a Heartbreaking Death and Powerful Message: ‘Ballroom is Love’|url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/pose-series-finale-recap-billy-porter-fx-1234989297/|access-date=2021-06-07|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Charlayne Woodard]] as Helena St. Rogers, a modern dance teacher at the New School for Dance. (season 1; guest star in season 2)
* [[Hailie Sahar]] as Lulu Evangelista, the founder of the House of Ferocity alongside Candy. She joins the House of Evangelista in the final season.
* [[Angelica Ross]] as Candy Johnson-Ferocity, the founder of the House of Ferocity alongside Lulu. Murdered in Season 2, she appeared sporadically in the final season. (seasons 1–2; guest star in season 3)
* [[Angel Bismark Curiel]] as Esteban "Lil Papi" Martinez-Evangelista, a member of the House of Evangelista.
* [[Dyllón Burnside]] as Ricky Evangelista, Damon's ex-boyfriend and a former member of the House of Evangelista who joins the House of Wintour. In the final season he rejoins the House of Evangelista.
* [[Sandra Bernhard]] as Judy Kubrak, a nurse who works with [[people with AIDS]] and member of [[ACT UP]]. (seasons 2–3; guest star in season 1)<ref name=":0" />
* [[Jason A. Rodriguez]] as Lemar Khan, a former member of the House of Abundance, Ferocity, Evangelista and Wintour. In the final season, he becomes the father of the House of Khan. (season 3; recurring seasons 1–2)

===Recurring===
{{div col|colwidth=33em}}
;Introduced in season 1
* [[Charlayne Woodard]] as Helena St. Rogers, a performing arts teacher, who recognizes Damon's talent and helps him get a scholarship to the dance academy. She also appears in two episodes in Season 2.
* Jeremy McClain as Cubby Wintour, a young gay man and a former member of the House of Abundance, Ferocity, and Evangelista, who joins the House of Wintour. He died in Season 3 Episode 1
* Alexia Garcia as Aphrodite Ferocity, a trans woman who defects from the House of Xtravaganza to the House of Ferocity.
* [[Jiggly Caliente|Bianca Castro]] as Veronica Ferocity, a thrift store cashier who joins the House of Ferocity.
* Samantha Grace Blumm as Amanda Bowes, Stan and Patty's daughter.
* [[Jose Gutierez Xtravaganza]] as himself, a Judge and member of the real-life [[House of Xtravaganza]].
* [[Johnny Sibilly]] as Costas Perez, Pray Tell's boyfriend who dies of [[AIDS]].
* Jack Mizrahi as himself, a ballroom emcee and member of the Masters of Ceremony Council.
* [[Leiomy Maldonado]] as Florida Ferocity, a member of the House of Ferocity.
*Sol Williams (a/k/a Grandfather Sol Pen'davis) as a member of the judges panel. Sol also was in the iconic documentary movie, ''[[Paris Is Burning (film)|Paris Is Burning]]'' (1990).
;Introduced in season 2
* [[Patti LuPone]] as Frederica Norman, a wealthy and shady real estate mogul.
* [[Damaris Lewis]] as Jazmine Wintour, a member of the House of Wintour.
* Brielle Rheames as Silhouette Wintour, a member of the House of Wintour.
* Dashaun Wesley as Shadow Wintour, a member of the House of Wintour.
* Danielle Cooper as Wanda, Judy's girlfriend and member of ACT UP.
* [[Trudie Styler]] as Eileen Ford, a fashion [[model agent]].
* André Ward as Manhattan, a member of the Masters of Ceremony Council.
* J. Cameron Barnet as Castle, a member of the Masters of Ceremony Council.
* Patricia Black as Chi Chi, Elektra's co-worker at the Hellfire Club.
{{div col end}}

===Notable guest stars===
{{div col|colwidth=33em}}
;Introduced in season 1
* Clark Jackson as Lawrence Richards ("Pilot"), Damon's father
* Roslyn Ruff as Mrs. Richards ("Pilot"), Damon's mother
* [[Deidre Goodwin]] as Wanda Green ("Pilot"), employee at the New School for Dance
* [[Matt McGrath (actor)|Matt McGrath]] as Mitchell ("Access"), the manager of Boy Lounge
* Tamara M. Williams as Summer, a trans woman who attempts to seduce Stan ("Access", "The Fever")
* Sol Williams Pendavis as himself ("Access", "Mother of the Year"), a Judge and member of the real-life House of Pendavis
* [[Kathryn Erbe]] as Dr. Gottfried ("Giving and Receiving", "The Fever"), Elektra's physician
* [[Christine Ebersole]] as Bobbi ("Giving and Receiving"), Patty's mother
* [[Christopher Meloni]] as Dick Ford ("The Fever", "Pink Slip"), Elektra's wealthy lover and financier
* Cecilia Gentili as Miss Orlando ("The Fever", "Butterfly/Cocoon"), a shady woman that offers discounted plastic surgery
* Flor de Liz Perez as Carmen Rodriguez ("Mother's Day"), Blanca's sister
* Charles Brice as Darius ("Love Is the Message"), Blanca's love interest
* [[Our Lady J]] as Sherilyn ("Love Is the Message", "Love's in Need of Love Today"), a local pianist
* [[Trace Lysette]] as Tess Wintour ("Love is the Message", "Worth It"), a clothing store saleswoman who later joins House of Wintour
;Introduced in season 2
* [[Alexander DiPersia]] as Andre Taglioni ("Acting Up", "Revelations"), a famed photographer and fetishistic predator
* Edward Carnevale as Jonas Norman ("Worth It", "Love's in Need of Love Today"), Frederica Norman's son
* Blaine Alden Krauss as Chris ("Worth it", "What Would Candy Do?"), dancer and Ricky's former lover
* [[Peppermint (drag queen)|Peppermint]] as Euphoria ("Butterfly/Cocoon"), a trans sex worker
* Danny Johnson as Darnell Johnson ("Never Knew Love Like This Before"), Candy's father
* Patrice Johnson Chevannes as Vivica Johnson ("Never Knew Love Like This Before"), Candy's mother
* Austin Scott as Adrian ("Life's a Beach"), a lifeguard and Blanca's love interest
* KJ Aikens as Quincy and Gia Parr as Chilly ("In My Heels"), street kids who Blanca takes under her wing
{{div col end}}

==Episodes==
{{Series overview
| color1 = #EFAFD8
| link1 = #Season 1 (2018)
| episodes1 = 8
| start1 = {{Start date|2018|6|3}}
| end1 = {{End date|2018|7|22}}

| color2 = #7C0046
| link2 = #Season 2 (2019)
| episodes2 = 10
| start2 = {{Start date|2019|6|11}}
| end2 = {{End date|2019|8|20}}

| color3 = #2D4C5E
| link3 = #Season 3 (2021)
| episodes3 = 8
| start3 = {{Start date|2021|5|2}}
| end3 = {{End date|2021|6|6}}
}}

===Season 1 (2018)===
{{Episode table |background=#EFAFD8 |overall=5 |season=5 |title=26 |director=17 |writer=19 |airdate=13 |prodcode=6 |viewers=9 |country=U.S. |episodes=
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 1
|EpisodeNumber2 = 1
|Title = [[Pilot (Pose)|Pilot]]
|DirectedBy = [[Ryan Murphy (writer)|Ryan Murphy]]
|WrittenBy = Ryan Murphy & [[Brad Falchuk]] & [[Steven Canals]]
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|6|3}}
|Viewers = 0.688<ref name="Premiere">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-6-3-2018.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180610034324/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-6-3-2018.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 10, 2018|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 6.3.2018|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=June 5, 2018|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=June 5, 2018}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 1WBF01
|ShortSummary = After being diagnosed as [[HIV]]-positive, Blanca decides to leave the House of Abundance and start the House of Evangelista. A young dancer, Damon, is kicked out of his conservative and religious parents' home after they discover he is gay. Blanca invites Damon to join the House of Evangelista. Angel is picked up by Stan, a married man who has just begun working at [[Trump Tower]]. The two kiss and talk but do not have sex. Abundance and Evangelista face off at a ball and Abundance is victorious. Damon auditions for the [[The New School|New School for Dance]] and is accepted.
|LineColor = EFAFD8
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 2
|EpisodeNumber2 = 2
|Title = Access
|DirectedBy = Ryan Murphy
|WrittenBy = Ryan Murphy & Brad Falchuk & Steven Canals
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|6|10}}
|Viewers = 0.548<ref name="1.02">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-6-10-2018.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612163628/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-6-10-2018.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 12, 2018|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 6.10.2018|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=June 12, 2018|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=June 12, 2018}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 1WBF02
|ShortSummary = Blanca is [[Transphobia#In gay, lesbian, and bisexual communities|denied entry]] to a [[gay bar]] and sets out to gain access through a solo [[sit-in]]. Stan asks for a raise at work so that he may give Angel her own apartment. Damon meets a dancer named Ricky and is enamored, but resists Ricky's seduction, as he's not ready to have sex. Blanca offers Damon guidance regarding love and relationships and encourages him to practice [[safe sex]]. Damon misses his first date with Ricky to attend the ballet. The two make amends and attend the ballet together. Despite being kicked out of the bar multiple times and even being arrested, Blanca keeps returning to the bar in protest.
|LineColor = EFAFD8
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 3
|EpisodeNumber2 = 3
|Title = Giving and Receiving
|DirectedBy = [[Nelson Cragg]]
|WrittenBy = [[Janet Mock]] & {{no wrap|[[Our Lady J]]}}
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|6|17}}
|Viewers = 0.561<ref name="1.03">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-6-17-2018.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619163553/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-6-17-2018.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 19, 2018|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 6.17.2018|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=June 19, 2018|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=June 19, 2018}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 1WBF03
|ShortSummary = Pray Tell pays a visit to his lover, Costas, who is dying of [[HIV/AIDS|AIDS]]. Elektra enlists two of her children, Lulu and Candy, to help her steal from a [[The Salvation Army|Salvation Army]] donation bucket. She uses the money for a down payment on her [[sex reassignment surgery|gender confirmation surgery]]. Stan welcomes Angel to her new studio apartment. She makes him promise to be with her for just an hour on [[Christmas]]. Stan's boss, Matt, arrives at Stan's home bearing gifts and makes a pass at Stan's wife, Patty, who is home alone. Patty rebuffs Matt's advances. Matt is angry and subtly implies that Stan has a [[affair|mistress]]. Stan is unable to visit Angel on Christmas after Patty questions him. The House of Evangelista has Christmas dinner at a Chinese restaurant with Pray Tell.
|LineColor = EFAFD8
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 4
|EpisodeNumber2 = 4
|Title = The Fever
|DirectedBy = [[Gwyneth Horder-Payton]]
|WrittenBy = Janet Mock
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|6|24}}
|Viewers = 0.719<ref name="1.04">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-6-24-2018.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626192228/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-6-24-2018.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 26, 2018|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 6.24.2018|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=June 26, 2018|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=June 26, 2018}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 1WBF04
|ShortSummary = Damon is sick with a high [[fever]] and Blanca fears that he may have [[seroconversion|contracted HIV]] after he tells her that he and Ricky haven't always been practicing safe-sex. Pray Tell takes Damon, Ricky, Lil Papi, and himself to get tested and everyone's results are negative except for Pray Tell, who chooses not to tell anyone except Blanca. Candy resorts to getting cheap, amateur [[buttock augmentation|silicone injections]] after getting ridiculed at a ball for her frame which has a negative impact on her health; Angel also considers plastic surgery after an incident with Stan leaves her feeling insecure. Meanwhile, Elektra undergoes gender confirmation surgery, despite the objections and disapproval of her [[Gold digger|sugar daddy]].
|LineColor = EFAFD8
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 5
|EpisodeNumber2 = 5
|Title = Mother's Day
|DirectedBy = [[Silas Howard]]
|WrittenBy = Steven Canals
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|7|1}}
|Viewers = 0.582<ref name="1.05">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-7-1-2018.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703162814/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-7-1-2018.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 3, 2018|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.1.2018|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=July 3, 2018|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=July 3, 2018}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 1WBF05
|ShortSummary = A flashback shows Blanca's attending her first ball and fails to impress; however, Elektra takes her into the House of Abundance. In the present day, Blanca receives the news that her biological mother has died, and attends her [[funeral]] and [[wake (ceremony)|wake]], much to the distaste of her biological family. Blanca visits Elektra in the hospital where she is recovering from her gender confirmation surgery. Meanwhile, Stan gets a promotion at work which angers Matt, and he seeks revenge by telling Patty about Stan's ongoing affair with Angel. Matt provides Angel's whereabouts to Patty who shows up at the home of the House of Evangelista, and Lil' Papi takes Patty to the ball where she confronts Angel.
|LineColor = EFAFD8
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 6
|EpisodeNumber2 = 6
|Title = Love Is the Message
|DirectedBy = Janet Mock
|WrittenBy = Ryan Murphy & Janet Mock
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|7|8}}
|Viewers = 0.594<ref name="1.06">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-7-8-2018.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710164150/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-7-8-2018.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 10, 2018|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.8.2018|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=July 10, 2018|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=July 10, 2018}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 1WBF06
|ShortSummary = Patty and Angel have a long conversation in a nearby diner about Angel's relationship with Stan, and Patty is shocked to learn that she is transgender. Later, Patty takes Stan to [[couples therapy]], and after a lengthy session tells Stan that she wants some time apart and kicks Stan out of the family home. Stan retaliates by physically confronting Matt at the office, in which Matt comes out on top. Pray Tell hosts a [[cabaret]] at the AIDS ward where his boyfriend Costas is staying; subsequently Costas dies from complications from HIV. Although initially angry, Pray Tell is consoled and comforted by Blanca and her children.
|LineColor = EFAFD8
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 7
|EpisodeNumber2 = 7
|Title = Pink Slip
|DirectedBy = [[Tina Mabry]]
|WrittenBy = Steven Canals & Our Lady J
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|7|15}}
|Viewers = 0.689<ref name="1.07">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-7-15-2018.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717184120/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-7-15-2018.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 17, 2018|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.15.2018|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=July 17, 2018|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=July 17, 2018}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 1WBF07
|ShortSummary = Stan and Angel are now living together as a couple, however, this is short-lived when Angel takes Stan to a ball. He is overwhelmed by the atmosphere and culture and realizes this life isn't for him and leaves Angel. Meanwhile, Elektra finds herself out on the street when her sugar daddy, and others like him, reject her due to her gender confirmation surgery and resorts to [[strip club|stripping]] to keep herself afloat after being [[eviction|evicted]] from her apartment. Elsewhere, Lulu and Candy, tired of living in Elektra's shadow and under her rule, leave and form their own house called the House of Ferocity. Blanca finds out that Lil' Papi is [[illegal drug trade|dealing drugs]] and evicts him from the house. He later joins the House of Ferocity, and during a confrontation with Blanca at a ball, tells her they are determined to take her down.
|LineColor = EFAFD8
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 8
|EpisodeNumber2 = 8
|Title = Mother of the Year
|DirectedBy = Gwyneth Horder-Payton
|WrittenBy = Ryan Murphy & Brad Falchuk & Steven Canals
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|7|22}}
|Viewers = 0.781<ref name="1.08">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-7-22-2018.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724155529/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-7-22-2018.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 24, 2018|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.22.2018|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=July 24, 2018|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=July 24, 2018}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 1WBF08
|ShortSummary = Blanca and Elektra reunite after she invites and welcomes Elektra into the House of Evangelista and helps her get a job at an elegant restaurant. Damon and Ricky successfully audition to tour with [[Al B. Sure!]] as part of the dance troupe, however Damon stays behind to continue his studies while Ricky goes on tour. Before the Princess Ball, Stan shows up and begs Angel to take him back but she rejects him. Elektra manages to recruit two new members into the House of Evangelista, and Lil' Papi also returns to the house. The House of Ferocity challenges the House of Evangelista at the Princess Ball, the latter wins and Blanca is crowned Mother of the Year.
|LineColor = EFAFD8
}}
}}

===Season 2 (2019)===
{{Episode table |background=#7C0046 |overall=5 |season=5 |title=26 |director=17 |writer=19 |airdate=13 |prodcode=6 |viewers=9 |country=U.S. |episodes=
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 9
|EpisodeNumber2 = 1
|Title = Acting Up
|DirectedBy = [[Gwyneth Horder-Payton]]
|WrittenBy = [[Ryan Murphy (writer)|Ryan Murphy]] & [[Brad Falchuk]] & [[Steven Canals]]
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|6|11}}
|Viewers = 0.672<ref name="2.01">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-6-11-2019.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190614160317/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-6-11-2019.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 14, 2019|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 6.11.2019|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=June 12, 2019|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=June 12, 2019}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 2WBF01
|ShortSummary = It is now 1990, and the [[Vogue (dance)|voguing]] aspect of [[Ball culture|ballroom culture]] is beginning to go mainstream with the release of [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna's]] song, "[[Vogue (Madonna song)|Vogue]]". The community has conflicted feelings about this. Blanca, though still feeling healthy, discovers her T cell count has dropped to 200, which means her diagnosis has shifted from HIV positive to [[AIDS]]. Judy Kubrak helps Blanca get [[AZT]], and brings a reluctant Pray Tell to an [[ACT UP]] meeting. Judy, Blanca, Pray Tell, and most of Blanca's household participate in ACT UP's [[ACT UP#"Stop the Church"|"Stop the Church" protest]] at [[St. Patrick's Cathedral (Manhattan)|St Patrick's Cathedral]], and are arrested for [[civil disobedience]]. Angel enters a modeling competition held by [[Ford Models]], and is selected as a top-ten finalist, but is exploited by a photographer who fetishizes her. Blanca and Papi beat up the exploitative photographer and take back the photos and negatives.
|LineColor = 7C0046
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 10
|EpisodeNumber2 = 2
|Title = Worth It
|DirectedBy = Gwyneth Horder-Payton
|WrittenBy = [[Janet Mock]]
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|6|18}}
|Viewers = 0.567<ref name="2.02">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-6-18-2019.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190619202209/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-6-18-2019.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 19, 2019|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 6.18.2019|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=June 19, 2019|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=June 19, 2019}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 2WBF02
|ShortSummary = Elektra embarks on a new career as a dominatrix. Feeling empowered, she leaves the House of Ferocity and recruits members for her new House of [[Anna Wintour|Wintour]]. Blanca rents a storefront from shady real estate mogul Frederica Norman with plans to open a nail salon. When Frederica finds out Blanca is transgender she tries to evict her but Blanca claims squatter's rights. Damon suspects Ricky is having sex with other people, so he breaks up with him. Ricky leaves the House of Evangelista and joins the House of Wintour.
|LineColor = 7C0046
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 11
|EpisodeNumber2 = 3
|Title = Butterfly/Cocoon
|DirectedBy = Janet Mock
|WrittenBy = [[Our Lady J]]
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|6|25}}
|Viewers = 0.589<ref name="2.03">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-6-25-2019.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626202226/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-6-25-2019.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 26, 2019|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 6.25.2019|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=June 26, 2019|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=June 26, 2019}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 2WBF03
|ShortSummary = Newly-minted [[dominatrix]] Elektra leaves a client alone in her dungeon and is horrified upon her return to discover him dead. The client had snorted [[cocaine]], overdosed and suffocated in the bondage mask. Elektra enlists the aid of Blanca and then Candy, who help her mummify and seal the client's body in a trunk and hide it in Elektra's closet. Angel and Papi begin to explore their relationship but a last-minute modeling assignment derails their first official date. At the end of the episode, Angel becomes the new face of Wet 'n Wild cosmetics.
|LineColor = 7C0046
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 12
|EpisodeNumber2 = 4
|Title = Never Knew Love Like This Before
|DirectedBy = Ryan Murphy
|WrittenBy = Ryan Murphy & Janet Mock
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|7|9}}
|Viewers = 0.580<ref name="2.04">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-7-9-2019.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711142227/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-7-9-2019.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 11, 2019|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.9.2019|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=July 11, 2019|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=July 11, 2019}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 2WBF04
|ShortSummary = Candy is murdered while [[prostitution|working]] at a motel. Candy attends her funeral in spirit, where she and Blanca hum and sing together. Pray Tell, Angel, Lulu, and Candy's parents all see Candy in spirit form. Before Candy's demise, Pray Tell and the council of emcees had rejected having the lip sync category at the balls (leading them to be showered with diner cutlery by Candy). At Candy's funeral Pray Tell announces that, in honor of Candy, they will now have the lip synching, naming it "Candy's Sweet Refrain". At the end of the episode Candy lip sync [[Stephanie Mills]] song "[[Never Knew Love Like This Before]]".
|LineColor = 7C0046
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 13
|EpisodeNumber2 = 5
|Title = What Would Candy Do?
|DirectedBy = [[Tina Mabry]]
|WrittenBy = Steven Canals
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|7|16}}
|Viewers = 0.497<ref name="2.05">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-7-16-2019.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190717201944/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-7-16-2019.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 17, 2019|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.16.2019|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=July 17, 2019|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=July 17, 2019}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 2WBF05
|ShortSummary = Ricky and Damon both audition to be dancers for [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]]’s [[Blond Ambition World Tour]]. Elektra schemes to have Damon injured by Candy’s hammer (handed off to various potential assailants) in an effort to better Ricky’s chances of securing a spot on the tour, but calls off the plan after she is berated by Blanca.
|LineColor = 7C0046
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 14
|EpisodeNumber2 = 6
|Title = Love's In Need Of Love Today
|DirectedBy = Tina Mabry
|WrittenBy = Brad Falchuk & Our Lady J
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|7|23}}
|Viewers = 0.505<ref name="2.06">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-7-23-2019.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724202329/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-7-23-2019.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 24, 2019|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.23.2019|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=July 24, 2019|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=July 24, 2019}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 2WBF06
|ShortSummary = Pray Tell has a severe, adverse reaction to [[AZT]] and is hospitalized. Blanca organizes his annual AIDS cabaret in his place. She shares that she is HIV-positive to the cabaret crowd, for the first time, before performing “Love’s in Need of Love Today” by [[Stevie Wonder]] with Pray Tell. The ballroom community, led by Lulu and Elektra, comes together to protest Frederica after Frederica betrays Blanca and has Blanca’s nail salon boarded up while everyone is at the cabaret/benefit.
|LineColor = 7C0046
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 15
|EpisodeNumber2 = 7
|Title = Blow
|DirectedBy = [[Jennie Livingston]]
|WrittenBy = Janet Mock
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|7|30}}
|Viewers = 0.405<ref name="2.07">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-7-30-2019.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190731202633/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-7-30-2019.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 31, 2019|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.30.2019|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=July 31, 2019|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=July 31, 2019}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 2WBF07
|ShortSummary = Pray Tell and Blanca realize they are now elders in the community, and challenge the young members of House Evangelista to organize an [[ACT UP#Condoming of Jesse Helms' house|ACT UP action]],<ref name="Street2019">{{cite web | last=Street | first=Mikelle | title= ''Pose'' 'Condom Over the House' Scene Actually Happened – Here's How | website=[[Out (magazine)|Out]] | date=2019-07-31 | url=https://www.out.com/television/2019/7/31/poses-condom-over-house-scene-actually-happened-heres-how | access-date=2020-08-01}}</ref> inflating a giant condom to cover Frederica Norman's house, protesting her financial exploitation of Blanca and others. Angel and Papi drink and sniff cocaine at an uptown party, causing Angel to arrive late and hungover to an important modeling job, where the photographer is revealed to be the fetishistic predator from episode 1 ("Acting Up"). Ricky learns his HIV test was positive.
|LineColor = 7C0046
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 16
|EpisodeNumber2 = 8
|Title = Revelations
|DirectedBy = Steven Canals
|WrittenBy = Steven Canals
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|8|6}}
|Viewers = 0.508<ref name="2.08">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-8-6-2019.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190807203633/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-8-6-2019.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 7, 2019|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 8.6.2019|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=August 7, 2019|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=August 7, 2019}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 2WBF08
|ShortSummary = Ricky and Pray Tell, who have been growing closer as friends, become lovers. Damon graduates from the dance academy. At the graduation party back home, Damon confronts Angel and Pray Tell about their secret drug use and lying to Blanca, and informs Blanca. Angel and Papi move out, and into an apartment in [[Greenwich Village|The Village]] that Papi found. Damon leaves to perform on a European tour for [[Malcolm McLaren]]. Blanca begins to feel [[empty nest syndrome]].
|LineColor = 7C0046
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 17
|EpisodeNumber2 = 9
|Title = Life's a Beach
|DirectedBy = Gwyneth Horder-Payton
|WrittenBy = Janet Mock and Our Lady J
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|8|13}}
|Viewers = 0.547<ref name="2.09">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-8-13-2019.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190814202311/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-8-13-2019.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 14, 2019|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 8.13.2019|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=August 14, 2019|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=August 14, 2019}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 2WBF09
|ShortSummary = Blanca's nail salon burns down. Elektra, Blanca, Angel and Lulu take a girls trip to a fancy [[Long Island]] beach house owned by one of Elektra's clients. Blanca meets a man there and they have a romantic date on the beach. On the drive home to the city, Candy appears in spirit, singing along with them in the car.
|LineColor = 7C0046
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 18
|EpisodeNumber2 = 10
|Title = In My Heels
|DirectedBy = Janet Mock
|WrittenBy = Ryan Murphy & Brad Falchuk & Steven Canals
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|8|20}}
|Viewers = 0.536<ref name="2.10">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-8-20-2019.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190821202222/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-8-20-2019.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 21, 2019|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 8.20.2019|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=August 21, 2019|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=August 21, 2019}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 2WBF10
|ShortSummary = Fast forward to May 1991, Blanca is running her nail salon inside her home. While visited by Pray Tell, Blanca becomes so sick that she must be hospitalized. Blanca and Pray Tell see on the news that Frederica Norman is responsible for [[arson|burning]] Blanca's nail salon; Frederica is arrested for her crimes. Damon returns from Europe. Angel is outed as trans, and loses her Ford Modeling contract. During the Mother's Day Ball, Angel and Papi become engaged, and Angel secures a new modelling job overseas thanks to Papi becoming her manager. Angel is scared she'll be outed again, but Papi has founded an agency based on truth and transparency – all the new clients know the truth about the models. Shortly afterwards, Angel is booked through Papi's new agency for a job in Berlin and they get engaged at the next ball. Followed by Blanca's lip sync win and Elektra's Mother of the Year coronation, Elektra takes Pray Tell's position as MC, and Pray Tell, Ricky and other male contestants walk in drag for the first time. At the end of the episode, after bidding Angel and Papi farewell, Blanca, now in a wheelchair, meets two homeless teenagers outside, Quincy and Chilly. She and Pray Tell take the new kids to dinner.
|LineColor = 7C0046
}}
}}

===Season 3 (2021)===
{{Episode table |background=#2D4C5E |overall=5 |season=5 |title=26 |director=17 |writer=19 |airdate=13 |prodcode=6 |viewers=9 |country=U.S. |episodes=
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 19
|EpisodeNumber2 = 1
|Title = On the Run
|DirectedBy = [[Janet Mock]]
|WrittenBy = [[Steven Canals]] & Janet Mock
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|5|2}}
|Viewers = 0.498<ref name="3.01–3.02">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-5-2-2021.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504142704/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-5-2-2021.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 4, 2021|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.2.2021|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=May 4, 2021|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=May 4, 2021}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 3WBF01
|ShortSummary = The year is now 1994. Newly-elected New York mayor [[Rudy Giuliani]] has cracked down on sex work in the city, forcing Elektra to leave the Hellfire Club. Lemar has become the house father of the greedy, fame-hungry House of Khan. Blanca juggles working as a nurse's aide with dating Christopher, a doctor who works at the same hospital. Papi's talent agency is thriving, while Angel's modeling career has stagnated. The House of Evangelista (including Elektra and Lulu) is brought together by both the live coverage of O.J. Simpson's slow-speed chase (in which they share differentiating opinions) and by the death of Cubby after his battle with AIDS. These events encourage Blanca to re-form the House of Evangelista once again. At the Summer Solstice Ball, they face off against the House of Khan and win.

Note: Prior to this episode, House of Wintour and House of Ferocity were disbanded at an unknown date. This is also [[Ryan Jamaal Swain]]'s last episode.
|LineColor = 2D4C5E
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 20
|EpisodeNumber2 = 2
|Title = Intervention
|DirectedBy = Steven Canals
|WrittenBy = Steven Canals & [[Our Lady J]]
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|5|2}}
|Viewers = 0.370<ref name="3.01–3.02"/>
|ProdCode = 3WBF02
|ShortSummary = Blanca stages an intervention when Pray Tell's alcoholism leads to expected consequences. Ricky leaves Pray Tell due to Pray Tell's alcoholism. Damon's alcoholism relapses, thus making him relocate to his cousin's place in South Carolina. Blanca nervously prepares to meet Christopher's parents, and his mother is not very friendly to her after their meeting. Pray Tell first refuses to go to rehab, but later relents. Elektra prevents Lulu from performing at the ball in order for her to be sober. Angel decides to clean up from her crack habit.
|LineColor = 2D4C5E
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 21
|EpisodeNumber2 = 3
|Title = The Trunk
|DirectedBy = [[Tina Mabry]]
|WrittenBy = Janet Mock & [[Brad Falchuk]]
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|5|9}}
|Viewers = 0.394<ref name="3.03">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-5-9-2021.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511141413/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-5-9-2021.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 11, 2021|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.9.2021|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=May 11, 2021|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=May 11, 2021}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 3WBF03
|ShortSummary = Elektra was unjustly arrested by police, and she requested for Blanca to remove the trunk containing her client's remains (Season 2 Episode 3) from her home before the police found out. This episode also focuses on Elektra's backgrounds and foundations of House of Abundance in 1983-1984. Angel, Candy, Cubby, Lemar, Lulu, and Pray Tell appeared in flashbacks.
|LineColor = 2D4C5E
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 22
|EpisodeNumber2 = 4
|Title = Take Me To Church
|DirectedBy = Janet Mock
|WrittenBy = Janet Mock & Steven Canals & Brad Falchuk
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|5|16}}
|Viewers = 0.404<ref name="3.04">{{cite web|url=https://programminginsider.com/sunday-ratings-abc-and-cbs-share-dominance-3/|title=Sunday Ratings: ABC and CBS Share Dominance|last=Berman|first=Marc|work=Programming Insider|date=May 17, 2021|accessdate=May 26, 2021}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 3WBF04
|ShortSummary = Pray Tell visits his hometown after the lymphoma diagnosis. Jackee Harry guest stars as Aunt Jada, Janet Hubert guest stars as Aunt Latrice.
|LineColor = 2D4C5E
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 23
|EpisodeNumber2 = 5
|Title = Something Borrowed, Something Blue
|DirectedBy = Steven Canals
|WrittenBy = Brad Falchuk & Steven Canals
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|5|23}}
|Viewers = 0.360<ref name="TVSeriesFinale">{{cite web |url=https://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/pose-season-three-ratings/ |title=Pose: Season Three Ratings |website=TV Series Finale |date=June 10, 2021 |access-date=June 10, 2021}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 3WBF05
|ShortSummary = Lil Papi found out that he had a love child named Beto from his previous relationship. Meanwhile, Elektra decided to finance Angel and Lil Papi's wedding, much to Lil Papi's initial disapproval.
|LineColor = 2D4C5E
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 24
|EpisodeNumber2 = 6
|Title = Something Old, Something New
|DirectedBy = Janet Mock
|WrittenBy = Janet Mock
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|5|30}}
|Viewers = 0.430<ref name="TVSeriesFinale"/>
|ProdCode = 3WBF06
|ShortSummary = In order to make amends with Lil Papi and accepting Beto, Angel went to see her estranged father. Before Angel and Papi get their marriage license, Angel's anxiety over her license went to the roof. Cubby and Candy appeared in this episode.
|LineColor = 2D4C5E
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 25
|EpisodeNumber2 = 7
|Title = Series Finale (Part I)
|DirectedBy = Steven Canals
|WrittenBy = [[Ryan Murphy (writer)|Ryan Murphy]] & Brad Falchuk & Steven Canals & Janet Mock & Our Lady J
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|6|6}}
|Viewers = 0.530<ref>{{cite web|url=https://programminginsider.com/sunday-ratings-abc-and-cbs-split-modest-leadership/|title=Sunday Ratings: ABC and CBS Split Modest Leadership|date=June 7, 2021|last=Berman|first=Marc|work=Programming Insider|access-date=June 20, 2021}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 3WBF07
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 2D4C5E
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 26
|EpisodeNumber2 = 8
|Title = Series Finale (Part II)
|DirectedBy = Steven Canals
|WrittenBy = Ryan Murphy & Brad Falchuk & Steven Canals & Janet Mock & Our Lady J
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|6|6}}
|Viewers = 0.485<ref name="TVSeriesFinale"/>
|ProdCode = 3WBF07
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 2D4C5E
}}
}}

==Production==
===Development===
On March 16, 2017, it was announced that FX had given the production a pilot order. The pilot was written by [[Ryan Murphy (writer)|Ryan Murphy]], [[Brad Falchuk]], and Steven Canals all of whom were also set to executive produce alongside [[Nina Jacobson]], Brad Simpson, and Sherry Marsh. Production companies involved with the pilot were slated to consist of include FX Productions and Fox21 Television Studios.<ref>{{cite web |first1=Nellie |last1=Andreeva |title=Ryan Murphy Sets His Next TV Series: 1980s New York Drama ''Pose'' At FX |url=https://deadline.com/2017/03/ryan-murphy-pose-fx-series-1980s-new-york-drama-1202044800/|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=March 16, 2017 |access-date=May 11, 2018 }}</ref> In October 2018, it was reported that [[Leiomy Maldonado]] and [[Danielle Polanco]] would be choreographing the series' ball scenes<ref name="CastStaff">{{Cite web |first=Nellie |last=Andreeva |url=https://deadline.com/2017/10/pose-ryan-murphy-transgender-cast-fx-series-1202194718/ |title=FX's ''Pose'': Ryan Murphy Sets Largest Transgender Cast Ever For Scripted Series |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=October 25, 2017 |access-date=November 16, 2017 }}</ref> and that [[Janet Mock]] and [[Our Lady J]] had joined the show's writing and producing staff.<ref>{{cite web |first1=James Michael |last1=Nichols |title=Ryan Murphy's New Show Makes History By Casting Record Number Of Trans Actors |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/transgender-actors-ryan-murphy_us_59f1f455e4b077d8dfc7d23f |website=[[Huffington Post]] |date=October 26, 2017 |access-date=December 27, 2017 }}</ref>

On December 27, 2017, it was announced that FX had given the production a series for a first season consisting of eight episodes.<ref name="SeriesOrder">{{cite web |first1=Denise |last1=Petski |title=Ryan Murphy's Dance Musical ''Pose'' Gets Series Order At FX |url=https://deadline.com/2017/12/ryan-murphy-dance-musical-pose-series-order-fx-1202232916/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=December 27, 2017 |access-date=December 27, 2017 }}</ref> On May 9, 2018, ahead of the series premiere, Murphy announced that he would be donating all of his profits from ''Pose'' to non-profit charitable organizations that work with LGBTQ+ people, including the [[Sylvia Rivera Law Project]], the [[Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund]], and the [[Callen-Lorde Community Health Center]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/933897/ryan-murphy-announces-100-percent-of-his-pose-profits-will-be-donated-to-lbgtq-charities |title=Ryan Murphy Announces 100 Percent of His ''Pose'' Profits Will Be Donated to LBGTQ Charities |first=Billy |last=Nilles |work=[[E! Online]] |date=May 9, 2018 |access-date=November 20, 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet |last=Murphy |first=Ryan |user=MrRPMurphy |number=997203104461410307 |date=May 17, 2018 |title=POSE GIVES BACK ORG OF THE DAY: Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund. Their mission is to end discrimination and achieve equality for transgender people, particularly those in the most vulnerable communities. http://www.transgenderlegal.org |access-date=November 20, 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet |last=Murphy |first=Ryan |user=MrRPMurphy |number=996469495999975429 |date=May 15, 2018 |title=POSE GIVES BACK ORG OF THE DAY: Callen-Lorde. This organization is the global leader in LGBTQ healthcare. Since Stonewall, they've been transforming lives free of judgment and regardless of ability to pay with the belief that healthcare is a human right. |access-date=November 20, 2018 }}</ref> Murphy explained this decision saying, "The thing that struck me in talking to so many of them, was how much they've struggled, how under attack they feel, how many of them find it difficult getting [[health care in the United States|healthcare]], and finding jobs. I just decided I need to do more than just making a show for this community. I want to reach out and help this community."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/ryan-murphy-pose-charity-trans-lgbtq-1202805172/ |title=Ryan Murphy on What Inspired Him to Donate ''Pose'' Profits to Trans and LGBTQ Charities |first=Debra |last=Birnbaum |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=May 9, 2018 |access-date=November 20, 2018 }}</ref> On July 12, 2018, it was announced that the series had been renewed for a second season which premiered on June 11, 2019.<ref>{{cite magazine |first1=Joe |last1=Otterson |title=''Pose'' Renewed for Season 2 at FX |url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/pose-renewed-season-2-fx-1202872217/ |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=July 12, 2018 |access-date=July 12, 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2019/04/pose-season-2-premiere-date-ryan-murphy-fx-trans-drama-1202591537/ |title='Pose': Season 2 Of Ryan Murphy's NYC Ballroom Drama For Summer Premiere |work=Deadline Hollywood |first=Erik |last=Pedersen |date=April 8, 2019 |access-date=April 8, 2019}}</ref> On June 17, 2019, FX renewed the series for a third season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/06/pose-renewed-season-3-fx-1202633872/|title='Pose' Renewed For Season 3 By FX|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Denise|last=Petski|date=June 17, 2019|access-date=June 17, 2019}}</ref> In March 2021, FX confirmed the third season would be its last. The final season premiered on May 2, 2021.<ref name="S3Premiere">{{cite web|url=https://tvline.com/2021/03/05/pose-ending-season-3-premiere-date-final-episodes-fx/|title=Pose Ending With Season 3 on FX|website=TVLine|first=Andy|last=Swift|date=March 5, 2021|access-date=March 5, 2021}}</ref>

===Casting===
[[File:Cast Pose at Los Angeles Pride Parade by dvsross 2.jpg|thumb|Stars from the show ''Pose'' at Los Angeles Pride Parade]]
In March 2017, Ryan Murphy and his team began casting for the series. On October 25, 2017, it was announced that [[transgender]] actors [[MJ Rodriguez]], [[Indya Moore]], [[Dominique Jackson (model)|Dominique Jackson]], [[Hailie Sahar]], and [[Angelica Ross]] and [[cisgender]] actors [[Ryan Jamaal Swain]], [[Billy Porter (entertainer)|Billy Porter]] and [[Dyllón Burnside]] had been cast in main roles. The series' production team claimed that they had assembled the largest transgender cast ever for a scripted series.<ref name="CastStaff" /><ref>{{cite web |first1=Lesley |last1=Goldberg |title=Ryan Murphy Makes History With Largest Cast of Transgender Actors for FX's ''Pose'' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/ryan-murphy-makes-history-largest-cast-transgender-actors-fxs-pose-1051877 |magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=October 25, 2017 |access-date=December 27, 2017 }}</ref> The series was expected to include over 50 transgender characters total.<ref name="BroadwayWorld" /> On October 26, 2017, it was announced that [[Evan Peters]], [[Kate Mara]], [[James Van Der Beek]], and [[Tatiana Maslany]] had also joined the main cast.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Joe |last=Otterson |url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/ryan-murphy-pose-fx-evan-peters-tatiana-maslany-james-van-der-beek-kate-mara-1202600227/ |title=Evan Peters, Tatiana Maslany Among Four Added to Cast of Ryan Murphy's ''Pose'' |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=October 26, 2017 |access-date=November 16, 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |first=Tim |last=Stack |url=https://ew.com/tv/2017/10/26/pose-evan-peters-kate-mara-james-van-der-beek-tatiana-maslany/ |title=''Pose'': Evan Peters, Kate Mara, James Van Der Beek, and Tatiana Maslany join new Ryan Murphy series |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=October 26, 2017 |access-date=November 16, 2017 }}</ref>

On December 27, 2017, it was reported that Maslany had exited the series following the redevelopment of her part into that of a 50-year-old African-American woman. The character was then recast with [[Charlayne Woodard]] assuming the role.<ref>{{cite web |first1=Chris |last1=Harnick |title=Ryan Murphy and FX Make TV History With New Series ''Pose'' |url=http://www.eonline.com/news/902373/pose-ordered-to-series-by-fx-making-tv-history-with-largest-transgender-cast-of-series-regulars |website=[[E! Online]] |date=December 27, 2017 |access-date=December 27, 2017 }}</ref> On September 19, 2018, it was announced that [[Sandra Bernhard]] would reprise her role of Nurse Judy in season two as a series regular.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |last1=Andreeva |first1=Nellie |title=''Pose'': Sandra Bernhard Promoted To Series Regular For Season 2 Of FX Drama |url=https://deadline.com/2018/09/pose-sandra-bernhard-promoted-series-regular-season-2-fx-nurse-judy-1202467784/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=September 19, 2018 |date=September 19, 2018 }}</ref> On March 23, 2019, at [[PaleyFest]], Ryan Murphy revealed that [[Patti LuPone]] would guest star in the second season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/patti-lupone-pose-season-two-fx-ryan-murphy-1203170910/|title=Patti LuPone Joins FX's 'Pose' as Season 2 Jumps to 1990|first=Jordan|last=Moreau|publisher=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=March 24, 2019|access-date=March 24, 2019}}</ref>

===Filming===
Production for the pilot began in New York City in October 2017.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Andreeva |first1=Nellie |date=March 16, 2017 |title=Ryan Murphy Sets His Next TV Series: 1980s New York Drama ''Pose'' at FX |url=https://deadline.com/2017/03/ryan-murphy-pose-fx-series-1980s-new-york-drama-1202044800/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |access-date=April 15, 2017 }}</ref> The following episodes of the first season were expected to begin production in February 2018.<ref name="SeriesOrder"/> Murphy directed the series' first two episodes<ref name="BroadwayWorld"/> and Mock directed the sixth, thus making her the first transgender woman of color to write and direct any episode of television.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gemmill |first1=Allie |title=Janet Mock Just Became the First Trans Woman of Color to Write and Direct a TV Episode |url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/janet-mock-wrote-directed-episode-of-pose-made-tv-history |website=[[Teen Vogue]] |access-date=July 18, 2018 |date=July 9, 2018 }}</ref> On March 14, 2020, production on the third season was suspended due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic|COVID-19 health crisis]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/03/empire-pose-queen-of-the-south-the-resident-american-housewife-shut-down-coronavirus-1202883591/|title='Empire', 'Pose', 'Queen Of the South', 'The Resident' & 'American Housewife' Shut Down Over Coronavirus|work=Deadline Hollywood|first=Nellie|last=Andreeva|date=March 14, 2020|access-date=March 14, 2020}}</ref>
The third and final season's filming wrapped on March 20, 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/03/pose-wraps-production-janet-mock-steven-canals-mj-rodriguez-fx-news-1234718754/|title='Pose' Shoot Comes To A Close; Creators & Stars Weigh In On Bringing Groundbreaking Drama To An End|work=Deadline Hollywood|first=Matt|last=Grobar|date=March 20, 2021|access-date=March 21, 2021}}</ref>

==Release==

===Marketing===
[[File:Pose.png|thumb|right|Promotional poster featuring Blanca Rodriguez-Evangelista ([[MJ Rodriguez]]), star of ''Pose'', portraying the [[ball culture|drag ball culture]] of [[LGBT culture in New York City|Manhattan]] in the late 1980s and early 1990s.]]

On April 12, 2018, FX released the first teaser trailer for the series. It was also announced that the series was set to premiere on June 3, 2018.<ref>{{cite web |first1=Denise |last1=Petski |title=''Pose'': Ryan Murphy's FX Dance Musical Gets Premiere Date & New Teaser |url=https://deadline.com/2018/04/pose-premiere-date-trailer-ryan-murphy-kate-mara-evan-peters-fx-1202362958/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=April 12, 2018 |access-date=April 12, 2018 }}</ref> On May 3, 2018, the first official trailer was released.<ref>{{cite web |first1=Erik |last1=Pedersen |title=''Pose'' Trailer: Ryan Murphy's FX Dance Musical Set In 1980s New York |url=https://deadline.com/2018/05/pose-trailer-ryan-murphys-fx-kata-mara-evan-peters-transgender-1202382125/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=May 3, 2018 |access-date=May 3, 2018 }}</ref>

===Premiere===
On May 17, 2018, the series held its world premiere at the [[Hammerstein Ballroom]] in [[Manhattan]].<ref name="variety info 1">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/scene/vpage/ryan-murphy-pose-premiere-lgbtq-1202815745|title=Ryan Murphy Wants ''Pose'' to Be 'Uplifting' for LGBTQ Community in Trump Era|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|first1=Taryn|last1=Tacher|date=May 18, 2018|access-date=July 18, 2018}}</ref><ref name="billboard info 1">{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/pride/8456700/pose-writer-janet-mock-essay|title=''Pose'' Writer Janet Mock Talks Working With Ryan Murphy to Create Honest Trans Narratives|website=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|first=Stephen|last=Daw|date=May 18, 2018 |access-date=July 18, 2018 }}</ref> On July 23, 2018, [[Dyllón Burnside]] emceed a benefit concert, duetting with co-stars [[Billy Porter (entertainer)|Billy Porter]] and [[Ryan Jamaal Swain]] to celebrate the season one finale, and raise money for [[GLSEN]].<ref name="timeout info 1">{{cite web|url=https://www.timeout.com/newyork/music/dyllon-burnside-up-close-and-personal|title=Dyllón Burnside: Up Close and Personal|website=[[Time Out New York]]|first=Adam|last=Feldman|date=July 17, 2018|access-date=August 26, 2018}}</ref><ref name="playbill info 1">{{cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/fxs-pose-stars-dyllon-burnside-mj-rodriguez-and-ryan-jamaal-swain-will-perform-nyc-concert|title=FX's ''Pose'' Stars, Dyllón Burnside, Mj Rodriguez, and Ryan Jamaal Swain, Will Perform NYC Concert|website=[[Playbill]]|first=Adam|last=Hetrick|date=July 14, 2018 |access-date=August 26, 2018}}</ref><ref name="BoyCulture">{{cite web|url=https://www.boyculture.com/boy_culture/2018/07/monday-night-at-the-cutting-room-was-the-highly-anticipated-concert-to-benefit-glsen-staged-by-my-pal-wayne-laako-and-featuri.html|title=To Be Real: The Cast Of ''Pose'' Gives Back — Already! — At NYC GLSEN Benefit|website=Boy Culture|date=July 24, 2018|access-date=November 19, 2018}}</ref> During the event, a conversation was held between Burnside and former ''[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]'' [[editor-in-chief]] [[Emil Wilbekin]], where Burnside discussed his [[coming out]] story and spoke about the importance of [[safe space]]s for LGBTQ people. Later on in the evening, Porter sang from his latest album and [[MJ Rodriguez]] sang "Waving Through a Window" from ''[[Dear Evan Hansen]]''.<ref name="BoyCulture"/>

In March 2019, the series was part of the [[Paley Center for Media]]'s annual Paleyfest LA at the [[Dolby Theatre]] in [[Los Angeles, California]].<ref name="deadline info 1">{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/12/paleyfest-la-2019-parks-and-rec-reunion-this-is-us-pose-panels-set-1202522530|title=PaleyFest LA 2019: 'Parks And Rec' Reunion, 'This Is Us' & 'Pose' Panels Set|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Erik|last=Pedersen|date=December 19, 2018|access-date=December 21, 2018}}</ref>

''Pose'' premiered in the [[United Kingdom]] on March 21, 2019 on [[BBC Two]]. <ref name="indie info 1">{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/pose-film-review-ryan-murphy-ballroom-drama-movie-video-a8829691.html|title=Pose: With the Largest Cast of Trans Actors in TV History, Ryan Murphy's Ballroom Drama Is A Strut in The Right Direction|first1=Alexandra|last1=Pollard|magazine=[[The Independent]]|date=March 21, 2019|access-date=March 22, 2019}}</ref>
Season 2 premiered on [[BBC Two]] on October 26, 2019, and Season 3 on August 8, 2021. All full series are available on [[BBC iPlayer]].

==Influences==
While a work of [[creative writing|creative fiction]], the series is "heavily inspired by" [[Jennie Livingston]]'s 1990 documentary, ''[[Paris Is Burning (film)|Paris Is Burning]]'';<ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/columns/pose-fx-season-finale-mother-of-the-year-1202880972/ |title=The Revolutionary Happiness of ''Pose'' |last=Framke |first=Caroline |date=July 23, 2018 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=September 14, 2018 }}</ref> Livingston also served as a consulting producer on the show. Several of the houses and characters were based on, or named after, real people, and several people featured in the documentary also made cameos in the series, such as [[Jose Gutierez Xtravaganza]], an icon of the [[voguing]] scene, who plays a judge throughout the first series, and Sol Pendavis Williams, of the House of Pendavis.<ref name="Venable">{{cite web |url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/pose-fx-paris-is-burning/|title=The Mind-Blowing 1990 Documentary You Must See Before Watching ''Pose'' |last=Venable |first=Malcolm |date=May 29, 2018 |work=[[TV Guide]]|access-date=September 14, 2018}}</ref> Creators and producers of the series, Murphy, Canals, and writer/producer Janet Mock all considered ''Paris Is Burning'' "a text that helped inform not only the show, but also their identities when they first saw it."<ref name="Venable"/>

{{quote|''Pose'' also expands on one of ''Paris Is Burning''{{'}}s subtler themes. At various points in the film, Livingston contrasts the drag performers with ordinary, affluent New Yorkers, walking down busy Manhattan sidewalks. It's often hard to tell which of these two groups is more "real", which of them are fashion models or Wall Street power players and which are simply costumed as such. ''Pose'' elaborates on those subtle distinctions with a subplot involving Stan (Evan Peters), a rising star in the Trump organization with an obnoxious boss (James Van Der Beek), a pretty wife (Kate Mara), and a secret relationship with Angel (Indya Moore), a trans woman. The show aims to capture some of the diversity of New York in the '80s, while also emphasizing the idea that, whether rich or poor, everyone in the city is pretending, in one way or another.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/6/1/17416736/paris-is-burning-ryan-murphy-pose-netflix-streaming-recommendation |title=Get ready for Ryan Murphy's ''Pose'' by watching ''Paris is Burning'' this weekend |last=Murray |first=Noel |date=June 1, 2018 |work=[[The Verge]] |access-date=September 14, 2018 }}</ref>|}}

==Reception==
===Critical response===
{{Television critical response
| rotten_tomatoes1 = 96% (82 reviews)<ref name="RT1"/>
| metacritic1 = 75 (27 reviews)<ref name="MC1"/>

| rotten_tomatoes2 = 98% (40 reviews)<ref name="RT2"/>
| metacritic2 = 79 (14 reviews)<ref name="MC2"/>

| rotten_tomatoes3 = 100% (14 reviews)<ref name="RT3"/>
| metacritic3 = 76 (8 reviews)<ref name="MC3"/>
}}

====Season 1====
On the review aggregation website [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the first season holds a 96% approval rating with an average rating of 8.3/10 based on 82 reviews. The website's critical consensus reads, "Charged with energy, poise, and confidence, ''Pose'' pirouettes between artistic opulence and deliciously soapy drama to create a fresh new addition to Ryan Murphy's lexicon."<ref name="RT1">{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/pose/s01|title=Pose: Season 1|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]]|access-date=April 29, 2021}}</ref> [[Metacritic]], which uses a weighted average, assigned the first season a score of 75 out of 100 based on 27 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".<ref name="MC1">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/pose/season-1|title=Pose: Season 1|website=[[Metacritic]]|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]|access-date=August 28, 2018}}</ref>

In a positive review, ''[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]''{{'}}s [[Richard Lawson (writer)|Richard Lawson]] was effusive describing the series as "an engaging portrait of dark days met with merriment. Pain and perseverance are sewn together to create something humble yet fabulous—and, it should be shouted over all the show's loud and glorious clamor, very much long overdue."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lawson |first1=Richard |title=''Pose'' Is Bold, Necessary Melodrama |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/05/pose-fx-ryan-murphy-review |website=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] |access-date=September 29, 2018 |date=May 30, 2018 }}</ref> In a similarly favorable critique, ''Vulture''{{'}}s Matt Zoller Seitz praised the series' ambition, aesthetic, and spotlight on minorities saying, "it shows American audiences a world that has never been visualized on television at this length and at such an obviously grand budget level. The camera swings and swoops, glides and tumbles as in a [[Martin Scorsese|Scorsese]] epic like ''[[Gangs of New York]]''; in both the outdoor street scenes and indoor crowd scenes, it's obvious that FX has spared no expense to get the clothes, the cars, the streets, the business signs, and even the distinctive yellow-brown glow of streetlights correct."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Seitz |first1=Matt Zoller |title=''Pose'' Is the Culmination of Ryan Murphy's Entire Career |url=https://www.vulture.com/2018/06/pose-fx-review.html |website=Vulture |access-date=September 29, 2018 |date=June 5, 2018 }}</ref> In a more mixed assessment, ''[[Newsday]]''{{'}}s gave the series two-and-a-half stars out of four and described it far less approvingly saying, "good intentions don't always lead to good TV, and a couple episodes in, that appears to be the case with ''Pose''. This certainly isn't bad TV—Murphy isn't about to leave his longtime home with a turkey—but it's often bland TV, and oddly enough, stock TV."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gay |first1=Verne |title=''Pose'': Formulaic drama, despite innovative casting |url=https://www.newsday.com/entertainment/tv/pose-review-1.18831003 |website=[[Newsday]] |access-date=September 29, 2018 |date=May 29, 2018}}</ref> In a negative evaluation, ''[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]''{{'}}s Willa Paskin was outright dismissive saying, "It's a TV show from one of the most canny creators working today, yet as a viewing experience it can feel like an object lesson." She continued on specifically criticizing the show's character development saying, "So many of the people on ''Pose'' are strong women, trans paragons, and this comes at the expense of them being recognizably flawed human beings."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Paskin |first1=Willa |title=Ryan Murphy's ''Pose'' Has Fallen Into the "Strong Character" Trap |url=https://slate.com/culture/2018/05/ryan-murphys-pose-reviewed.html |website=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] |access-date=September 29, 2018 |date=May 31, 2018}}</ref>

====Season 2====
On Rotten Tomatoes, the second season holds a 98% approval rating with an average rating of 8.39/10 based on 40 reviews. The website's critical consensus reads, "A delightful, delicate dance of light and dark, ''Pose''{{'}}s second season achieves a striking balance between the grittiness of reality and the glamour of the runway and shines even brighter."<ref name="RT2">{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/pose/s02|title=Pose: Season 2|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]]|access-date=November 12, 2019}}</ref> On Metacritic, season 2 holds a score of 79 out of 100 based on 14 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews."<ref name="MC2">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/pose/season-2|title=Pose: Season 2|website=[[Metacritic]]|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]|access-date=August 28, 2018}}</ref>

====Season 3====
On Rotten Tomatoes, the third season holds an 100% approval rating with an average rating of 7.83/10 based on 22 reviews. The website's critical consensus reads, "Though it's entirely too short, ''Pose''{{'}}s final season is a joyously entertaining celebration of life that is not to be missed."<ref name="RT3">{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/pose/s03|title=Pose: Season 3|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]]|access-date=May 12, 2021}}</ref> On Metacritic, season 3 holds a score of 76 out of 100 based on 8 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews."<ref name="MC3">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/pose/season-3|title=Pose: Season 3|website=[[Metacritic]]|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]|access-date=May 12, 2021}}</ref>

===Ratings===
{{Television season ratings
| hide_rank = y
| hide_tv_season = y

| link1 = #Season 1 (2018)
| episodes1 = 8
| timeslot1 = Sunday 9:00 pm
| start1 = {{Start date|2018|6|3}}
| startrating1 = 0.688<ref name="Premiere"/>
| end1 = {{End date|2018|7|22}}
| endrating1 = 0.781<ref name="1.08"/>
| viewers1 = 0.645<ref name="S1Ratings"/>
| 18_49_rating1 = 0.25<ref name="S1Ratings">{{cite web|url=https://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/pose-season-one-ratings/|title=Pose: Season One Ratings|website=TV Series Finale|date=July 24, 2018|access-date=May 22, 2019}}</ref>

| link2 = #Season 2 (2018–19)
| episodes2 = 10
| timeslot2 = Tuesday 10:00 pm
| start2 = {{Start date|2019|6|11}}
| startrating2 = 0.672<ref name="2.01"/>
| end2 = {{End date|2019|8|20}}
| endrating2 = 0.536<ref name="2.10"/>
| viewers2 = 0.541<ref name="S2Ratings"/>
| 18_49_rating2 = 0.19<ref name="S2Ratings">{{cite web|url=https://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/pose-season-two-ratings/|title=Pose: Season Two Ratings|date=August 21, 2019|work=TV Series Finale|access-date=August 21, 2019}}</ref>

| link3 = #Season 3
| episodes3 = 8
| timeslot3 = Sunday 10:00 pm
| start3 = {{Start date|2021|5|2}}
| startrating3 = 0.498<ref name="3.01–3.02"/>
| end3 = {{End date|2021|6|6}}
| endrating3 = 0.485<ref name="TVSeriesFinale"/>
| viewers3 =
| 18_49_rating3 =
|}}

==== Season 1 ====
{{Television episode ratings
| noshare = y
| title1 = [[#ep1|Pilot]]
| date1 = June 3, 2018
| rs1 = 0.2
| viewers1 = 0.688<ref name="Premiere"/>
| dvr1 = 0.2
| dvrv1 = 0.444
| total1 = 0.4
| totalv1 = 1.132<ref>{{cite web|url=http://programminginsider.com/live3-weekly-ratings-the-americans-series-finale-on-fx-hits-season-highs-and-more-than-doubles-its-original-telecast-viewership/|title=Live+3 Weekly Ratings: ''The Americans'' Series Finale on FX Hits Season-Highs and More Than Doubles its Original Telecast Viewership|last=Pucci|first=Douglas|date=June 8, 2018|work=Programming Insider|access-date=June 8, 2018}}</ref>

| title2 = [[#ep2|Access]]
| date2 = June 10, 2018
| rs2 = 0.2
| viewers2 = 0.548<ref name="1.02"/>
| dvr2 = 0.1
| dvrv2 = 0.338
| total2 = 0.3
| totalv2 = 0.887<ref>{{cite web|url=http://programminginsider.com/live3-weekly-ratings-code-black-on-cbs-gains-the-most-in-total-viewers/|title=Live+3 Weekly Ratings: ''Code Black'' on CBS Gains the Most in Total Viewers|last=Pucci|first=Douglas|date=June 15, 2018|work=Programming Insider|access-date=June 15, 2018}}</ref>

| title3 = [[#ep3|Giving and Receiving]]
| date3 = June 17, 2018
| rs3 = 0.2
| viewers3 = 0.561<ref name="1.03"/>
| dvr3 = 0.2
| dvrv3 = 0.358
| total3 = 0.4
| totalv3 = 0.919<ref>{{cite web|url=http://programminginsider.com/live3-weekly-ratings-code-black-staves-off-shades-of-blue-season-premiere-to-remain-the-leader-in-scripted-fare-in-total-viewer-gains/|title=Live+3 Weekly Ratings: ''Code Black'' Staves Off ''Shades of Blue'' Season Premiere to Remain the Leader in Scripted Fare in Total Viewer Gains|last=Pucci|first=Douglas|date=June 22, 2018|work=Programming Insider|access-date=June 22, 2018}}</ref>

| title4 = [[#ep4|The Fever]]
| date4 = June 24, 2018
| rs4 = 0.3
| viewers4 = 0.719<ref name="1.04"/>
| dvr4 = 0.2
| dvrv4 = 0.438
| total4 = 0.5
| totalv4 = 1.158<ref>{{cite web|url=http://programminginsider.com/live3-weekly-ratings-yellowstone-earns-best-ad-supported-cable-drama-series-premiere-in-2-years-code-black-the-top-scripted-fare-gainer-in-viewers-for-fourth-straight-week/|title=Live+3 Weekly Ratings: ''Yellowstone'' Earns Best Ad-Supported Cable Drama Series Premiere in 2 Years; ''Code Black'' the Top Scripted Fare Gainer in Viewers for Fourth Straight Week|last=Pucci|first=Douglas|date=June 29, 2018|work=Programming Insider|access-date=June 29, 2018}}</ref>

| title5 = [[#ep5|Mother's Day]]
| date5 = July 1, 2018
| rs5 = 0.3
| viewers5 = 0.582<ref name="1.05"/>
| dvr5 = 0.1
| dvrv5 = 0.390
| total5 = 0.4
| totalv5 = 0.973<ref>{{cite web|url=http://programminginsider.com/live3-weekly-ratings-code-black-leads-all-telecasts-in-viewer-lifts-big-brother-20-debuts-in-three-of-top-4-among-adults-18-49-gains/|title=Live+3 Weekly Ratings: ''Code Black'' Leads All Telecasts in Viewer Lifts; ''Big Brother 20'' Debuts in Three of Top 4 Among Adults 18–49 Gains|last=Pucci|first=Douglas|date=July 6, 2018|work=Programming Insider|access-date=July 6, 2018}}</ref>

| title6 = [[#ep6|Love Is the Message]]
| date6 = July 8, 2018
| rs6 = 0.3
| viewers6 = 0.594<ref name="1.06"/>
| dvr6 = 0.2
| dvrv6 = 0.436
| total6 = 0.5
| totalv6 = 1.031<ref>{{cite web|url=http://programminginsider.com/live3-weekly-ratings-code-black-july-4th-episode-tops-all-in-viewer-lifts-animal-kingdom-leads-scripted-cable-fare-in-raw-gains/|title=Live+3 Weekly Ratings: ''Code Black'' July 4th Episode Tops All in Viewer Lifts; ''Animal Kingdom'' Leads Scripted Cable Fare in Raw Gains|last=Pucci|first=Douglas|date=July 14, 2018|work=Programming Insider|access-date=July 14, 2018}}</ref>

| title7 = [[#ep7|Pink Slip]]
| date7 = July 15, 2018
| rs7 = 0.3
| viewers7 = 0.689<ref name="1.07"/>
| dvr7 = 0.1
| dvrv7 = 0.372
| total7 = 0.4
| totalv7 = 1.062<ref>{{cite web|url=http://programminginsider.com/live3-weekly-ratings-yellowstone-tops-in-raw-gains-among-all-scripted-fare/|title=Live+3 Weekly Ratings: ''Yellowstone'' Tops in Raw Gains Among All Scripted Fare|last=Pucci|first=Douglas|date=July 21, 2018|work=Programming Insider|access-date=July 21, 2018}}</ref>

| title8 = [[#ep8|Mother of the Year]]
| date8 = July 22, 2018
| rs8 = 0.3
| viewers8 = 0.781<ref name="1.08"/>
| dvr8 = 0.1
| dvrv8 = 0.371
| total8 = 0.4
| totalv8 = 1.153<ref>{{cite web|url=http://programminginsider.com/live3-weekly-ratings-code-black-cbs-finale-tops-all-scripted-telecasts-in-viewer-gains/|title=Live+3 Weekly Ratings: ''Code Black'' CBS Finale Tops All Scripted Telecasts in Viewer Gains|last=Pucci|first=Douglas|date=July 28, 2018|work=Programming Insider|access-date=July 28, 2018}}</ref>
}}

==== Season 2 ====
{{Television episode ratings
| noshare = y
| title1 = [[#ep9|Acting Up]]
| date1 = June 11, 2019
| rs1 = 0.3
| viewers1 = 0.672<ref name="2.01"/>
| dvr1 = n/a
| dvrv1 = 0.653
| total1 = n/a
| totalv1 = 1.328<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-june-10-16-2019/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190627184617/https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-june-10-16-2019/|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 27, 2019|title='Big Little Lies' scores big gains in cable Live +7 ratings for June 10–16|last=Welch|first=Alex|work=TV by the Numbers|date=June 27, 2019|access-date=June 27, 2019}}</ref>

| title2 = [[#ep10|Worth It]]
| date2 = June 18, 2019
| rs2 = 0.2
| viewers2 = 0.567<ref name="2.02"/>
| dvr2 = 0.2
| dvrv2 = 0.640
| total2 = 0.4
| totalv2 = 1.208<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-june-17-23-2019/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190709215223/https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-june-17-23-2019/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 9, 2019|title='Yellowstone' premiere doubles in cable Live +7 ratings for June 17–23|last=Welch|first=Alex|work=TV by the Numbers|date=July 9, 2019|access-date=July 9, 2019}}</ref>

| title3 = [[#ep11|Butterfly/Cocoon]]
| date3 = June 25, 2019
| rs3 = 0.2
| viewers3 = 0.589<ref name="2.03"/>
| dvr3 = 0.2
| dvrv3 = 0.573
| total3 = 0.4
| totalv3 = 1.163<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-june-24-30-2019/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716190432/https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-june-24-30-2019/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 16, 2019|title='Yellowstone' easily leads the cable Live +7 ratings for June 24–30|last=Welch|first=Alex|work=TV by the Numbers|date=July 16, 2019|access-date=July 16, 2019}}</ref>

| title4 = [[#ep12|Never Knew Love Like This Before]]
| date4 = July 9, 2019
| rs4 = 0.2
| viewers4 = 0.580<ref name="2.04"/>
| dvr4 = 0.2
| dvrv4 = 0.686
| total4 = 0.4
| totalv4 = 1.268<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-july-8-14-2019/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190812181310/https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-july-8-14-2019/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 12, 2019|title='Yellowstone' returns with the biggest gains in the cable Live +7 ratings for July 8–14|last=Welch|first=Alex|work=TV by the Numbers|date=August 12, 2019|access-date=August 12, 2019}}</ref>

| title5 = [[#ep13|What Would Candy Do?]]
| date5 = July 16, 2019
| rs5 = 0.1
| viewers5 = 0.497<ref name="2.05"/>
| dvr5 = 0.3
| dvrv5 = 0.596
| total5 = 0.4
| totalv5 = 1.094<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-july-15-21-2019/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190814182442/https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-july-15-21-2019/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 14, 2019|title='Yellowstone,' 'Below Deck Mediterranean' lead the cable Live +7 ratings for July 15–21|last=Welch|first=Alex|work=TV by the Numbers|date=August 14, 2019|access-date=August 14, 2019}}</ref>

| title6 = [[#ep14|Love's In Need Of Love Today]]
| date6 = July 23, 2019
| rs6 = 0.2
| viewers6 = 0.505<ref name="2.06"/>
| dvr6 = n/a
| dvrv6 = 0.588
| total6 = n/a
| totalv6 = 1.095<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-july-22-28-2019/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190816181125/https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-july-22-28-2019/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 16, 2019|title='Teen Mom' scores top 18–49 gain in cable Live +7 ratings for July 22–28|last=Welch|first=Alex|work=TV by the Numbers|date=August 16, 2019|access-date=August 16, 2019}}</ref>

| title7 = [[#ep15|Blow]]
| date7 = July 30, 2019
| rs7 = 0.2
| viewers7 = 0.405<ref name="2.07"/>
| dvr7 = n/a
| dvrv7 = 0.617
| total7 = n/a
| totalv7 = 1.023<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-july-29-aug-4-2019/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190819205346/https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-july-29-aug-4-2019/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 19, 2019|title='Descendants 3' scores big gains in cable Live +7 ratings for July 29 – August 4|last=Welch|first=Alex|work=TV by the Numbers|date=August 19, 2019|access-date=August 19, 2019}}</ref>

| title8 = [[#ep16|Revelations]]
| date8 = August 6, 2019
| rs8 = 0.2
| viewers8 = 0.508<ref name="2.08"/>
| dvr8 = 0.2
| dvrv8 = 0.540
| total8 = 0.4
| totalv8 = 1.051<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-aug-5-11-2019/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190826182820/https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-aug-5-11-2019/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 26, 2019|title='Yellowstone' doubles its audience in cable Live +7 ratings for August 5–11|last=Welch|first=Alex|work=TV by the Numbers|date=August 26, 2019|access-date=August 26, 2019}}</ref>

| title9 = [[#ep17|Life's a Beach]]
| date9 = August 13, 2019
| rs9 = 0.2
| viewers9 = 0.547<ref name="2.09"/>
| dvr9 = n/a
| dvrv9 = 0.553
| total9 = n/a
| totalv9 = 1.102<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-aug-12-18-2019/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829215513/https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-aug-12-18-2019/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 29, 2019|title='Yellowstone' stays on top of the cable Live +7 ratings for August 12–18|last=Welch|first=Alex|work=TV by the Numbers|date=August 29, 2019|access-date=August 29, 2019}}</ref>

| title10 = [[#ep18|In My Heels]]
| date10 = August 20, 2019
| rs10 = 0.2
| viewers10 = 0.536<ref name="2.10"/>
| dvr10 = n/a
| dvrv10 = n/a
| total10 = n/a
| totalv10 = n/a
}}

==== Season 3 ====
{{Television episode ratings
| noshare = y

| title1 = [[#ep19|On the Run]]
| date1 = May 2, 2021
| rs1 = 0.1
| viewers1 = 0.498<ref name="3.01–3.02"/>
| dvr1 =
| dvrv1 =
| total1 =
| totalv1 =

| title2 = [[#ep20|Intervention]]
| date2 = May 2, 2021
| rs2 = 0.1
| viewers2 = 0.370<ref name="3.01–3.02"/>
| dvr2 =
| dvrv2 =
| total2 =
| totalv2 =

| title3 = [[#ep21|The Trunk]]
| date3 = May 9, 2021
| rs3 = 0.1
| viewers3 = 0.394<ref name="3.03"/>
| dvr3 =
| dvrv3 =
| total3 =
| totalv3 =

| title4 = [[#ep22|Take Me To Church]]
| date4 = May 16, 2021
| rs4 = 0.1
| viewers4 = 0.404<ref name="3.04"/>
| dvr4 = 0.1
| dvrv4 = 0.399
| total4 = 0.3
| totalv4 = 0.803<ref name="3.04"/>

}}

===Accolades===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%"
! scope="col"| Year
! scope="col"| Award
! scope="col"| Category
! scope="col"| Nominee(s)
! scope="col"| Result
! scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{Abbr|Ref.|References}}
|-
| align="center" rowspan="2"| 2018
| align="left"| [[Gotham Independent Film Awards 2018|Gotham Independent Film Awards]]
| Breakthrough Series – Long Form
| ''Pose''
| {{nom}}
| align="center" |<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wagmeister |first1=Elizabeth |title=Gotham Awards: A24 Sweeps With Five Wins, Including ''First Reformed'', ''Eighth Grade'' (Full Winners List) |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/gotham-awards-winners-list-2018-new-york-1203037073/ |access-date=December 21, 2018 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=November 26, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| align="left"| [[American Film Institute Awards 2018|American Film Institute Awards]]
| Top 10 TV Programs of the Year
| ''Pose''
| {{won}}
| align="center"|<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pedersen |first1=Erik |title=AFI Awards 2018 TV: ''This Is Us'' Is Lone Broadcast Show As FX Nabs Four Of 10 Slots |url=https://deadline.com/2018/12/afi-awards-2018-tv-this-is-us-fx-hbo-1202513736/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |access-date=December 4, 2018 |date=December 4, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" rowspan="31"| 2019
| align="left" rowspan="2"| [[76th Golden Globe Awards|Golden Globe Awards]]
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Drama|Best Television Series – Drama]]
| ''Pose''
| {{nom}}
| align="center" rowspan="2"|<ref>{{cite web |last=Snierson |first=Dan |title=Golden Globes 2019: See the full winners list |url=https://ew.com/golden-globes/2019/01/06/golden-globes-2019-winners-list/ |website=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=January 6, 2019 |date=January 6, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama|Best Actor – Television Series Drama]]
| [[Billy Porter (entertainer)|Billy Porter]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| align="left" rowspan="4"| [[Dorian Awards]]
| TV Drama of the Year
| ''Pose''
| {{won}}
| align="center" rowspan="4"|<ref>{{cite web |last=Kilkenny |first=Katie |title=Unsung Film of the Year – ''The Favourite'', ''Pose'', ''Killing Eve'' Lead Dorian Award Nominations |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/2019-gay-lesbian-entertainment-critics-dorian-award-nominees-1172267 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=January 9, 2018 |date=January 3, 2018}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web |last=Kilday |first=Gregg |title=Dorian Awards: ''The Favourite'' Named Film of the Year |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/2019-dorian-awards-2019-winners-list-1174806 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=January 8, 2019 |date=January 8, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| TV Performance of the Year — Actor
| Billy Porter
| {{won}}
|-
| LGBTQ TV Show of the Year
| ''Pose''
| {{won}}
|-
| TV Musical Performance of the Year
| Billy Porter, [[Mj Rodriguez]] and [[Our Lady J]] (performing "Home")
| {{won}}
|-
| align="left" rowspan="2"| [[9th Critics' Choice Television Awards|Critics' Choice Television Awards]]
| [[Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Drama Series|Best Drama Series]]
| ''Pose''
| {{nom}}
| align="center" rowspan="2"|<ref>{{cite web |last=Crist |first=Allison |title=Critics' Choice Awards: ''Roma'', ''Americans'', ''Mrs. Maisel'' Top Winners |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/2019-critics-choice-awards-winners-list-full-1172261 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=January 13, 2019 |date=January 13, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| [[Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series|Best Actor in a Drama Series]]
| Billy Porter
| {{nom}}
|-
| align="left"| [[Writers Guild of America Awards 2018|Writers Guild of America Awards]]
| [[Writers Guild of America Award for Television: New Series|Television: New Series]]
| style="max-width: 18em;" | [[Steven Canals]], [[Brad Falchuk]], Todd Kubrak, [[Janet Mock]], [[Ryan Murphy (writer)|Ryan Murphy]] and Our Lady J
| {{nom}}
| align="center" |<ref>{{cite web |last=Hipes |first=Patrick |title=WGA Awards TV Nominations: ''The Handmaid's Tale'', ''Barry'', ''SNL'' Make List |url=https://deadline.com/2018/12/writers-guild-awards-tv-nominations-2019-list-1202515496/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |access-date=December 6, 2018 |date=December 6, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| align="left"| [[30th GLAAD Media Awards|GLAAD Media Awards]]
| [[GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Drama Series|Outstanding Drama Series]]
| ''Pose''
| {{won}}
| align="center" |<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/glaad-media-awards-complete-list-winners-2019-nyc-1206886/item/outstanding-drama-series-1197809|title=GLAAD Media Awards: ''Boy Erased'', ''Pose'', ''Gianni Versace'' Among Winners |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |first=Kimberly |last=Nordyke |date=May 4, 2019 |access-date=May 5, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| align="left" |[[List of Peabody Award winners (2010–2019)|Peabody Awards]]
| Entertainment honoree
| ''Pose''
| {{won}}
| align="center" | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/04/peabody-awards-barry-killing-eve-hannah-gadsby-pose-entertainment-winners-list-1202598447/|title=Peabody Awards: ''Barry'', ''Killing Eve'', Hannah Gadsby, ''Pose'' Among Entertainment Winners|last=Hipes|first=Patrick|date=April 18, 2019|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|access-date=April 18, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| [[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences|Television Academy Honors]]
| Outstanding Programs and Storytellers Advancing Social Change Through Television
| ''Pose''
| {{won}}
| align="center" | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.emmys.com/news/awards-news/honors-190416|title=Television Academy Honors Announced|publisher=[[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences]]|access-date=April 23, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| [[MTV Movie & TV Awards]]
| Breakthrough Performance
| Mj Rodriguez
| {{nom}}
| align="center" | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvline.com/2019/05/14/mtv-awards-2019-nominations-full-list-nominees/|title=MTV Movie & TV Awards: ''Riverdale'', ''Thrones'' Among 2019 Nominees|publisher=[[TV Line]]|access-date=May 15, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| align="left" rowspan="4"| [[35th TCA Awards|TCA Awards]]
| [[TCA Award for Program of the Year|Program of the Year]]
| rowspan="3"| ''Pose''
| {{nom}}
| align="center" rowspan="4"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/pose-russian-doll-hbo-lead-2019-tv-critic-awards-nominations-1219571 |title='Pose,' 'Russian Doll,' HBO Lead 2019 TV Critic Awards Nominations |website=The Hollywood Reporter |last=Goldberg |first=Lesley |date=June 19, 2019 |access-date=June 22, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| [[TCA Award for Outstanding New Program|Outstanding New Program]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[TCA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Drama|Outstanding Achievement in Drama]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[TCA Award for Individual Achievement in Drama|Individual Achievement in Drama]]
| Billy Porter
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="7"|Gold Derby Awards
| Best Drama Series
| ''Pose''
| {{nom}}
| align="center" rowspan="7"|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.goldderby.com/article/2019/gold-derby-tv-awards-2019-nominations-game-of-thrones-veep-news/ |title=Gold Derby TV Awards 2019 nominations: 'Game of Thrones' and 'Veep' lead, while 'Pose' is the top new show of the year |date=July 24, 2019 |publisher=[[Gold Derby]] |access-date=July 24, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2"|Best Drama Episode
| "Love Is the Message"
| {{nom}}
|-
| "Mother of the Year"
| {{nom}}
|-
| Best Drama Actor
| Billy Porter
| {{won}}
|-
| Best Drama Actress
| Mj Rodriguez
| {{nom}}
|-
| Best Drama Guest Actor
| [[Christopher Meloni]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| Best Ensemble
| The cast of ''Pose''
| {{nom}}
|-
| align="left" rowspan="2"| [[71st Primetime Emmy Awards|Primetime Emmy Awards]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series|Outstanding Drama Series]]
| Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, [[Nina Jacobson]], [[Brad Simpson (producer)|Brad Simpson]], Alexis Martin Woodall, Sherry Marsh, Steven Canals, [[Silas Howard]], Janet Mock, Our Lady J, [[Lou Eyrich]] and Erica Kay
| {{nom}}
| align="center" rowspan="7"| <ref name="THR 2019-07-16">{{cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/pose-star-billy-porter-nominated-emmy-trans-actresses-snubbed-1224617 |title=Emmys: ''Pose'' Star Billy Porter Nominated for Best Drama Actor, Trans Actresses Snubbed |author=Evan Real |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=July 16, 2019 |access-date=July 16, 2019 }}</ref> <ref name="71st Emmys full list">{{cite web|url=https://www.emmys.com/sites/default/files/Downloads/71st-nominations-list-v1.pdf|title=2019 Primetime Emmy® Awards: Nomination Press Release|date=July 16, 2019|publisher=[[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716161049/https://www.emmys.com/sites/default/files/Downloads/71st-nominations-list-v1.pdf|archive-date=July 16, 2019|access-date=July 16, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series|Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series]]
| Billy Porter (for "Love Is the Message")
| {{won}}
|-
| align="left" rowspan="5"| [[71st Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards|Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series|Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series]]
| Alexa L. Fogel
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Hairstyling for a Single-Camera Series|Outstanding Hairstyling for a Single-Camera Series]]
| Chris Clark, Barry Lee Moe, Jameson Eaton, Mia Neal, Tim Harvey and Sabana Majeed (for "[[Pilot (Pose)|Pilot]]")
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Makeup for a Single-Camera Series (Non-Prosthetic)|Outstanding Makeup for a Single-Camera Series]]
| Sherri Laurence, Nicky Pattison Illum, Chris Milone, Deja Smith, Lucy O'Reilly and Andrew Sotomayor (for "[[Pilot (Pose)|Pilot]]")
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Period Costumes|Outstanding Period Costumes]]
| Lou Eyrich, Analucia Mcgorty, Amy Ritchings and Kevin Ritter (for "[[Pilot (Pose)|Pilot]]")
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series|Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series]]
| ''Pose: Identity, Family Community (Inside Look)''
| {{nom}}
|-
| align="center" rowspan="22"| 2020
| align="left"|[[77th Golden Globe Awards|Golden Globe Awards]]
| Best Actor – Television Series Drama
| Billy Porter
| {{nom}}
| align="center"|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/2020-golden-globes-nominations-full-list-1259626 |title=Golden Globes: Full List of Nominations |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=December 9, 2019 |access-date=December 9, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| align="left" rowspan="3"| [[10th Critics' Choice Television Awards|Critics' Choice Television Awards]]
| Best Drama Series
| ''Pose''
| {{nom}}
| align="center" rowspan="3"|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tvline.com/2019/12/08/critics-choice-awards-nominations-2020-full-list-tv-nominees/ |title=Critics' Choice Awards 2020: Fleabag, Watchmen, When They See Us, Unbelievable Among TV Nominees |website=TVLine |date=December 8, 2019 |access-date=December 8, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Best Actor in a Drama Series
| Billy Porter
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series|Best Actress in a Drama Series]]
| Mj Rodriguez
| {{nom}}
|-
| align="left"| [[Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild]]s
| Television Series, Mini-Series or New Media – Best Period and/or Character Hair Styling
| Barry Lee Moe, Timothy Harvey and Sabana Majeed
| {{nom}}
| align="center"|<ref>{{cite web |title=WINNERS! 7th Annual MUAHS Guild Awards |url=http://www.local706.org/winners-7th-annual-muahs-guild-awards/ |access-date=January 12, 2020 |date=January 12, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| align="left"| [[Casting Society of America]]
| Television Pilot & First Season – Drama
| Alexa L. Fogel, Kathryn Zamora-Benson and Caitlin D. Jones
| {{won}}
| align="center"|<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/casting-society-tv-theatre-artios-awards-nominations-complete-list-1242878 | title = Artios Awards: 'Succession,' 'Pose,' 'Dead to Me' Among Casting Society TV, Theater Nominees |first = Hillary | last = Lewis | date = September 24, 2019 |work = [[The Hollywood Reporter]] | access-date = February 2, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| align="left"| [[31st GLAAD Media Awards|GLAAD Media Awards]]
| [[GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Drama Series|Outstanding Drama Series]]
| ''Pose''
| {{won}}
| align="center"|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/glaad-media-award-nominations-2020-full-list-nominees-1267736 |title=GLAAD Media Awards: 'Booksmart,' 'Bombshell,' 'Rocketman' Among Nominees |first1=Chris |last1=Gardner |first2=Annie |last2=Howard |date=January 8, 2020 |access-date=January 8, 2020 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref>
|-
| align="left" rowspan="4"| [[Dorian Awards]]
| TV Drama of the Year
| ''Pose''
| {{win}}
| align="center" rowspan="4"|<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nordyke |first1=Kimberly |title=TV Comedy of the Year – 'Parasite' Tops Dorian Awards With 5 Wins |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/2020-gay-lesbian-entertainment-critics-dorian-awards-full-list-1268129/item/tv-comedy-year-1265608 |access-date=14 July 2020 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=8 January 2020 }}</ref>
|-
| TV Performance of the Year — Actress
| Mj Rodriguez
| {{nom}}
|-
| TV Performance of the Year — Actress
| Billy Porter
| {{win}}
|-
| LGBTQ TV Show of the Year
| ''Pose''
| {{win}}
|-
| [[36th TCA Awards|TCA Awards]]
| Outstanding Achievement in Drama
| ''Pose''
| {{nom}}
| align="center"|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tvline.com/2020/07/09/tca-awards-nominations-2020-watchmen/ |title=TCA Awards: Watchmen, Unbelievable and Schitt's Creek Lead Nominations |website=TVLine |first=Matt Webb |last=Mitovich |date=July 9, 2020 |access-date=July 10, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| align="left"| [[72nd Primetime Emmy Awards|Primetime Emmy Awards]]
| Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
| Billy Porter (for "Love's in Need of Love Today")
| {{nom}}
| align="center" rowspan="6"|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/2020-emmy-nominations-live-updating-1303894 |title=Emmy Awards: Nominations List |first1=Jennifer |last1=Konerman |first2=Hilary |last2=Lewis |first3=Kimberly |last3=Nordyke |date=July 28, 2020 |access-date=July 28, 2020 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> <ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.emmys.com/sites/default/files/Downloads/72nd-nominations-list-v1.pdf?q=1 |title=2020 Primetime Emmy |date=July 28, 2020 |access-date=July 28, 2020 |publisher=[[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences]]}}</ref>
|-
| align="left" rowspan="5"| [[72nd Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards|Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards]]
| Outstanding Period Costumes
| Analucia McGorty, Nicky Smith, Alexa DeFazio and Linda Giammarese (for "Acting Up")
| {{nom}}
|-
| Outstanding Period and/or Character Hairstyling
| Barry Lee Moe, Timothy Harvey, Sabana Majeed, Liliana Meyrick, Lisa Thomas, Greg Bazemore, Jessie Mojica and Charlene Belmond (for "Worth It")
| {{nom}}
|-
| Outstanding Period and/or Character Makeup (Non-Prosthetic)
| Sherri Berman Laurence, Nicky Pattison Illum, Chris Milone, Deja Smith and Jessica Padilla (for "Acting Up")
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup for a Series, Limited Series, Movie or Special|Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup for a Series, Limited Series, Movie or Special]]
| David Presto, Greg Pikulski, Brett Schmidt, Lisa Forst and Keith Palmer (for "Love's in Need of Love Today")
| {{nom}}
|-
| Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series
| ''Pose: Identity, Family, Community''
| {{nom}}
|-
| align="left" rowspan="4"| [[Black Reel Awards of 2020|Black Reel Television Awards]]
| Outstanding Drama Series
| ''Pose''
| {{won}}
| align="center" rowspan="4"|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blackreelawards.com/watchmen-insecure-pace-the-black-reel-awards-for-tv-nominations/|title=''Watchmen'' & ''Insecure'' Pace the Black Reel Awards for TV Nominations|work=Black Reel Awards|date=June 18, 2020|accessdate=February 20, 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[Black Reel Award for Outstanding Actor, Drama Series|Outstanding Actor, Drama Series]]
| Billy Porter
| {{nom}}
|-
| Outstanding Directing, Drama Series
| Janet Mock (for "In My Heels")
| {{won}}
|-
| Outstanding Writing, Drama Series
| Janet Mock and Ryan Murphy (for "Love Like This Before")
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="12" align="center"| 2021
| rowspan="2"| [[37th TCA Awards|TCA Awards]]
| [[TCA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Drama|Outstanding Achievement in Drama]]
| ''Pose''
| {{pending}}
| rowspan="2" align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |last=Turchiano |first=Danielle |url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/2021-tca-awards-nominations-list-ted-lasso-wandavision-1235020447/ |title='Ted Lasso' Scores the Most 2021 TCA Awards Nominations |date=July 15, 2021 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=July 16, 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[TCA Award for Individual Achievement in Drama|Individual Achievement in Drama]]
| Mj Rodriguez
| {{pending}}
|-
| rowspan="5"| [[73rd Primetime Emmy Awards|Primetime Emmy Awards]]
| Outstanding Drama Series
| Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, Alexis Martin Woodall, Sherry Marsh, Steven Canals, Janet Mock, Our Lady J, Tanase Popa, Lou Eyrich, Jeff Dickerson, Todd Nenninger and Kip Davis Myers
| {{pending}}
| rowspan="10" style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2021/07/2021-emmy-nominations-list-1234791599/ |title=Emmy Nominations: ‘The Crown’, ‘The Mandalorian’ Top List; HBO/HBO Max Edges Netflix For Top Spot – Full List Of Nominees |website=Deadline |first=Patrick |last=Hipes |date=July 13, 2021 |access-date=July 13, 2021}}</ref>
|-
| Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
| Billy Porter {{small|(for "Take Me To Church")}}
| {{pending}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series|Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series]]
| Mj Rodriguez {{small|(for "Series Finale")}}
| {{pending}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series|Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series]]
| Steven Canals {{small|(for "Series Finale")}}
| {{pending}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series|Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series]]
| Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, Steven Canals, Janet Mock and Our Lady J {{small|(for "Series Finale")}}
| {{pending}}
|-
| rowspan="5"| [[73rd Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards|Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Contemporary Costumes|Outstanding Contemporary Costumes]]
| Analucia McGorty, Michelle Roy and Linda Giammarese {{small|(for "Series Finale")}}
| {{pending}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Contemporary Hairstyling|Outstanding Contemporary Hairstyling]]
| Barry Lee Moe, Timothy Harvey, Greg Bazemore, Tene Wilder, Lisa Thomas and Rob Harmon {{small|(for "Series Finale")}}
| {{pending}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Makeup (Non-Prosthetic)|Outstanding Contemporary Makeup (Non-Prosthetic)]]
| Sherri Berman Laurence, Nicky Pattison Illum, Charles Zambrano, Shaun Thomas Gibson, Jessica Padilla and Jennifer Suarez {{small|(for "Series Finale")}}
| {{pending}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup for a Series, Limited Series, Movie or Special|Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup]]
| Thomas Denier Jr. {{small|(for "On the Run")}}
| {{pending}}
|-
| Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series
| ''Pose: Identity, Family, Community''
| {{pending}}
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|LGBT|Television|Transgender}}
* [[LGBT culture in New York City]]
* [[List of dramatic television series with LGBT characters]]
{{Clear}}

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{notelist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website}}
* {{BBC programme|m0003g1h}}
* {{IMDb title|7562112}}

{{GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Drama Series}}
{{Ryan Murphy}}
{{Ball culture}}
{{Drag performance}}
{{FX network programming}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pose (TV series)}}
[[Category:2010s American black television series]]
[[Category:Hispanic and Latino American television]]
[[Category:2010s American drama television series]]
[[Category:2020s American black television series]]
[[Category:2020s American drama television series]]
[[Category:2018 American television series debuts]]
[[Category:2021 American television series endings]]
[[Category:2010s American LGBT-related drama television series]]
[[Category:2020s American LGBT-related drama television series]]
[[Category:LGBT African-American culture]]
[[Category:Ball culture]]
[[Category:Drag (clothing) television shows]]
[[Category:English-language television shows]]
[[Category:FX Networks original programming]]
[[Category:Gay-related television shows]]
[[Category:HIV/AIDS in television]]
[[Category:Peabody Award-winning television programs]]
[[Category:Prostitution in American television]]
[[Category:Television series by 20th Century Fox Television]]
[[Category:Television series created by Ryan Murphy (writer)]]
[[Category:Television series set in 1987]]
[[Category:Television series set in 1988]]
[[Category:Television series set in 1990]]
[[Category:Television series set in 1991]]
[[Category:Television series set in 1994]]
[[Category:Television series set in 1996]]
[[Category:Television series set in 1998]]
[[Category:Television series set in the 1980s]]
[[Category:Television series set in the 1990s]]
[[Category:Television shows set in New Jersey]]
[[Category:Television shows set in New York City]]
[[Category:Transgender-related television shows]]
[[Category:Television series created by Brad Falchuk]]
[[Category:Television productions suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic]]

Pose (TV series)

2021-08-17T19:27:03Z

Vodkamad: /* Premiere */

{{short description|2018 American drama television series}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox television
| name = Pose
| image = PoseTitleScreen.png
| genre = [[Drama (film and television)|Drama]]
| creator = {{Plainlist|
* [[Ryan Murphy (writer)|Ryan Murphy]]
* [[Brad Falchuk]]
* [[Steven Canals]]
}}
| starring = {{Plainlist|

* [[Evan Peters]]
* [[Kate Mara]]
* [[James Van Der Beek]]
* [[Mj Rodriguez]]
* [[Dominique Jackson (model)|Dominique Jackson]]
* [[Billy Porter (entertainer)|Billy Porter]]
* [[Indya Moore]]
* [[Ryan Jamaal Swain]]
* [[Charlayne Woodard]]
* [[Hailie Sahar]]
* [[Angelica Ross]]
* [[Angel Bismark Curiel]]
* [[Dyllón Burnside]]
* [[Sandra Bernhard]]
* [[Jason A. Rodriguez]]
}}
| composer = Mac Quayle
| country = United States
| language = English
| num_seasons = 3
| num_episodes = 26
| list_episodes = #Episodes
| executive_producer = {{Plainlist|
* Ryan Murphy
* [[Brad Falchuk]]
* [[Nina Jacobson]]
* [[Janet Mock]]
* Brad Simpson
* Alexis Martin Woodall
* Sherry Marsh
* Steven Canals
}}
| producer = {{Plainlist|
* [[Our Lady J]]
* [[Lou Eyrich]]
* Erica Kay
}}
| cinematography = {{Plainlist|
* Simon Dennis
* [[Nelson Cragg]]
}}
| editor =
| camera = [[Single camera setup|Single-camera]]
| runtime = 45–78 minutes
| company = {{Plainlist|
* [[Color Force]]
* {{nowrap|Brad Falchuk Teley-Vision}}
* Ryan Murphy Television
* [[Touchstone Television]]{{efn|Known as Fox 21 Television Studios until 2020}} (seasons 1–2)
* [[20th Television]] (season 3)
* FXP
}}
| distributor = [[20th Television]] (Seasons 1-2) [[Disney-ABC Domestic Television]] (Season 3)
| network = [[FX (TV channel)|FX]]
| picture_format = [[1080i]] ([[HDTV]])
| audio_format = [[5.1 surround sound|5.1 surround]]
| first_aired = {{Start date|2018|6|3}}
| last_aired = {{End date|2021|6|6}}
}}

'''''Pose''''' (stylized as '''''POSE''''') is an American [[Drama (film and television)|drama]] television series about New York City's [[African-American]] and [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Latino]] [[LGBTQ]] and [[gender-nonconforming]] [[drag ball culture]] scene in the 1980s, early 1990s in the second season, and the mid-to-late 1990s in the third season. Featured characters are dancers and models, who compete for trophies and recognition in this underground culture and who support one another in a network of chosen families known as [[ball culture#Houses|Houses]].

Created by [[Ryan Murphy (writer)|Ryan Murphy]], [[Brad Falchuk]], and [[Steven Canals]], the series aired from June 3, 2018, to June 6, 2021, on [[FX (TV channel)|FX]]. It stars an ensemble cast including [[Evan Peters]], [[Kate Mara]], [[James Van Der Beek]], [[Mj Rodriguez]], [[Dominique Jackson (model)|Dominique Jackson]], [[Billy Porter (entertainer)|Billy Porter]], [[Indya Moore]], [[Ryan Jamaal Swain]], [[Charlayne Woodard]], [[Hailie Sahar]], [[Angelica Ross]], [[Angel Bismark Curiel]], [[Dyllón Burnside]], [[Sandra Bernhard]], and [[Jason A. Rodriguez]].

The first season was met with largely positive reception and subsequently received numerous award nominations including the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Drama]] and the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama]] for Billy Porter. In 2019, Porter was awarded the [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series]] – the first openly gay black man to be nominated for and win in an Emmy lead acting category. The series was nominated for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series|Outstanding Drama Series]] at the same ceremony.

The second season premiered on June 11, 2019, to further acclaim. The third and final season premiered on May 2, 2021, and concluded on June 6, 2021, to further positive reviews.
During the course of the series 26 episodes of pose have aired over three seasons

==Premise==
''Pose'' season 1 is set in 1987–88 and looks at "the juxtaposition of several segments of life and society in [[New York City|New York]]": the African-American and Latino [[ball culture]] world, the [[Lower Manhattan|downtown]] social and literary scene, and the rise of the [[yuppie]] milieu.<ref name="BroadwayWorld">{{cite web|title=New Ryan Murphy Musical Dance Series POSE Gets Full Season Order|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/New-Ryan-Murphy-Musical-Dance-Series-POSE-Gets-Full-Season-Order-20171227|website=BroadwayWorld.com|date=December 27, 2017|access-date=December 27, 2017|language=en}}</ref>

The second season begins in 1990. More of the characters are now either [[HIV-positive people|HIV-positive]] or [[People With AIDS|living with AIDS]]. Some have become [[HIV/AIDS activism|AIDS activists]] with [[ACT UP]], and everyone is now attending frequent fundraisers, funerals and memorial services for their many friends and lovers in the community that has been hard-hit by the [[AIDS pandemic]]. With the release of songs by [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]], [[Malcolm McLaren]], and others, some aspects of the ballroom dance styles begin to go mainstream, and members of the community find new opportunities as dancers and dance teachers. Others are working as [[dominatrix|dominatrices]] and [[stripper]]s.

The final season begins in 1994, with Blanca focuses on balancing her life as nurse aide, a mother and present partner to Christopher, her new love who works in the same hospital as hers. The season also focuses on the reassembly of House of Evangelista due to Lemar's father role in the unruly new group House of Khan, and Pray Tell's health scare.<ref name="S3Premiere"/>

==Cast and characters==
{{main|List of Pose characters}}

===Main===

* [[Evan Peters]] as Stan Bowes, Patty's [[yuppie]] husband who works in [[Trump Tower]] and later becomes Angel's lover. (season 1)<ref name="RollingStone">{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-reviews/pose-season-2-review-845765/|title='Pose' Season 2 Review: A Revolutionary World Where Hope Prevails|last=Sepinwall|first=Alan|date=June 10, 2019|work=Rolling Stone|access-date=June 11, 2012}}</ref>
* [[Kate Mara]] as Patty Bowes, Stan's wife and mother of their children. (season 1)<ref name="RollingStone" />
* [[James Van Der Beek]] as Matt Bromley, Stan's kingpin boss. (season 1)<ref name="RollingStone" />
* [[Mj Rodriguez]] as Blanca Rodriguez-Evangelista, a [[trans woman]] with [[HIV/AIDS]] and former member of the House of Abundance. She is the founder and [[Ball culture#Houses|mother]] of the House of Evangelista.
* [[Dominique Jackson (model)|Dominique Jackson]] as Elektra Evangelista, mother of the former House of Abundance. After brief stints in the Houses of Evangelista and Ferocity, she forms the House of Wintour before rejoining the House of Evangelista in the final season.
* [[Billy Porter (entertainer)|Billy Porter]] as Pray (Prayerful) Tell, [[emcee]] of the [[ball culture|balls]] in New York, fashion designer, and mentor to members of the community, especially the members of House Evangelista. He later enters a relationship with Ricky.
* [[Indya Moore]] as Angel Vasquez-Evangelista, a trans woman sex worker who joins the House of Evangelista after leaving the House of Abundance. She has an affair with Stan during the first season, before entering a relationship with Papi.
* [[Ryan Jamaal Swain]] as Damon Richards-Evangelista, a homeless, talented dancer who becomes the first member of the House of Evangelista. After the season 3 premiere, the character was written out of the show due to the murder of Swain's sister in their hometown of Birmingham, Alabama. Damon was said to have relapsed into alcoholism and moved to his cousin's home in South Carolina. In the series finale, he was revealed to be in Chicago, teaching dancing.<ref>{{Cite web|title='Pose's Damon Was Barely Featured in the Season 3 Premiere Due to a Family Tragedy|url=https://www.distractify.com/p/what-happened-to-damon-on-pose|access-date=2021-06-07|website=Distractify|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-07-30|title=‘Pose’ actor mourns sister killed in Birmingham: ‘We will have swift justice’|url=https://www.al.com/news/birmingham/2020/07/pose-actor-mourns-sister-killed-in-birmingham-we-will-have-swift-justice.html|access-date=2021-06-07|website=al|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Turchiano|first=Danielle|date=2021-06-07|title=‘Pose’ Series Finale Ends With a Heartbreaking Death and Powerful Message: ‘Ballroom is Love’|url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/pose-series-finale-recap-billy-porter-fx-1234989297/|access-date=2021-06-07|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Charlayne Woodard]] as Helena St. Rogers, a modern dance teacher at the New School for Dance. (season 1; guest star in season 2)
* [[Hailie Sahar]] as Lulu Evangelista, the founder of the House of Ferocity alongside Candy. She joins the House of Evangelista in the final season.
* [[Angelica Ross]] as Candy Johnson-Ferocity, the founder of the House of Ferocity alongside Lulu. Murdered in Season 2, she appeared sporadically in the final season. (seasons 1–2; guest star in season 3)
* [[Angel Bismark Curiel]] as Esteban "Lil Papi" Martinez-Evangelista, a member of the House of Evangelista.
* [[Dyllón Burnside]] as Ricky Evangelista, Damon's ex-boyfriend and a former member of the House of Evangelista who joins the House of Wintour. In the final season he rejoins the House of Evangelista.
* [[Sandra Bernhard]] as Judy Kubrak, a nurse who works with [[people with AIDS]] and member of [[ACT UP]]. (seasons 2–3; guest star in season 1)<ref name=":0" />
* [[Jason A. Rodriguez]] as Lemar Khan, a former member of the House of Abundance, Ferocity, Evangelista and Wintour. In the final season, he becomes the father of the House of Khan. (season 3; recurring seasons 1–2)

===Recurring===
{{div col|colwidth=33em}}
;Introduced in season 1
* [[Charlayne Woodard]] as Helena St. Rogers, a performing arts teacher, who recognizes Damon's talent and helps him get a scholarship to the dance academy. She also appears in two episodes in Season 2.
* Jeremy McClain as Cubby Wintour, a young gay man and a former member of the House of Abundance, Ferocity, and Evangelista, who joins the House of Wintour. He died in Season 3 Episode 1
* Alexia Garcia as Aphrodite Ferocity, a trans woman who defects from the House of Xtravaganza to the House of Ferocity.
* [[Jiggly Caliente|Bianca Castro]] as Veronica Ferocity, a thrift store cashier who joins the House of Ferocity.
* Samantha Grace Blumm as Amanda Bowes, Stan and Patty's daughter.
* [[Jose Gutierez Xtravaganza]] as himself, a Judge and member of the real-life [[House of Xtravaganza]].
* [[Johnny Sibilly]] as Costas Perez, Pray Tell's boyfriend who dies of [[AIDS]].
* Jack Mizrahi as himself, a ballroom emcee and member of the Masters of Ceremony Council.
* [[Leiomy Maldonado]] as Florida Ferocity, a member of the House of Ferocity.
*Sol Williams (a/k/a Grandfather Sol Pen'davis) as a member of the judges panel. Sol also was in the iconic documentary movie, ''[[Paris Is Burning (film)|Paris Is Burning]]'' (1990).
;Introduced in season 2
* [[Patti LuPone]] as Frederica Norman, a wealthy and shady real estate mogul.
* [[Damaris Lewis]] as Jazmine Wintour, a member of the House of Wintour.
* Brielle Rheames as Silhouette Wintour, a member of the House of Wintour.
* Dashaun Wesley as Shadow Wintour, a member of the House of Wintour.
* Danielle Cooper as Wanda, Judy's girlfriend and member of ACT UP.
* [[Trudie Styler]] as Eileen Ford, a fashion [[model agent]].
* André Ward as Manhattan, a member of the Masters of Ceremony Council.
* J. Cameron Barnet as Castle, a member of the Masters of Ceremony Council.
* Patricia Black as Chi Chi, Elektra's co-worker at the Hellfire Club.
{{div col end}}

===Notable guest stars===
{{div col|colwidth=33em}}
;Introduced in season 1
* Clark Jackson as Lawrence Richards ("Pilot"), Damon's father
* Roslyn Ruff as Mrs. Richards ("Pilot"), Damon's mother
* [[Deidre Goodwin]] as Wanda Green ("Pilot"), employee at the New School for Dance
* [[Matt McGrath (actor)|Matt McGrath]] as Mitchell ("Access"), the manager of Boy Lounge
* Tamara M. Williams as Summer, a trans woman who attempts to seduce Stan ("Access", "The Fever")
* Sol Williams Pendavis as himself ("Access", "Mother of the Year"), a Judge and member of the real-life House of Pendavis
* [[Kathryn Erbe]] as Dr. Gottfried ("Giving and Receiving", "The Fever"), Elektra's physician
* [[Christine Ebersole]] as Bobbi ("Giving and Receiving"), Patty's mother
* [[Christopher Meloni]] as Dick Ford ("The Fever", "Pink Slip"), Elektra's wealthy lover and financier
* Cecilia Gentili as Miss Orlando ("The Fever", "Butterfly/Cocoon"), a shady woman that offers discounted plastic surgery
* Flor de Liz Perez as Carmen Rodriguez ("Mother's Day"), Blanca's sister
* Charles Brice as Darius ("Love Is the Message"), Blanca's love interest
* [[Our Lady J]] as Sherilyn ("Love Is the Message", "Love's in Need of Love Today"), a local pianist
* [[Trace Lysette]] as Tess Wintour ("Love is the Message", "Worth It"), a clothing store saleswoman who later joins House of Wintour
;Introduced in season 2
* [[Alexander DiPersia]] as Andre Taglioni ("Acting Up", "Revelations"), a famed photographer and fetishistic predator
* Edward Carnevale as Jonas Norman ("Worth It", "Love's in Need of Love Today"), Frederica Norman's son
* Blaine Alden Krauss as Chris ("Worth it", "What Would Candy Do?"), dancer and Ricky's former lover
* [[Peppermint (drag queen)|Peppermint]] as Euphoria ("Butterfly/Cocoon"), a trans sex worker
* Danny Johnson as Darnell Johnson ("Never Knew Love Like This Before"), Candy's father
* Patrice Johnson Chevannes as Vivica Johnson ("Never Knew Love Like This Before"), Candy's mother
* Austin Scott as Adrian ("Life's a Beach"), a lifeguard and Blanca's love interest
* KJ Aikens as Quincy and Gia Parr as Chilly ("In My Heels"), street kids who Blanca takes under her wing
{{div col end}}

==Episodes==
{{Series overview
| color1 = #EFAFD8
| link1 = #Season 1 (2018)
| episodes1 = 8
| start1 = {{Start date|2018|6|3}}
| end1 = {{End date|2018|7|22}}

| color2 = #7C0046
| link2 = #Season 2 (2019)
| episodes2 = 10
| start2 = {{Start date|2019|6|11}}
| end2 = {{End date|2019|8|20}}

| color3 = #2D4C5E
| link3 = #Season 3 (2021)
| episodes3 = 8
| start3 = {{Start date|2021|5|2}}
| end3 = {{End date|2021|6|6}}
}}

===Season 1 (2018)===
{{Episode table |background=#EFAFD8 |overall=5 |season=5 |title=26 |director=17 |writer=19 |airdate=13 |prodcode=6 |viewers=9 |country=U.S. |episodes=
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 1
|EpisodeNumber2 = 1
|Title = [[Pilot (Pose)|Pilot]]
|DirectedBy = [[Ryan Murphy (writer)|Ryan Murphy]]
|WrittenBy = Ryan Murphy & [[Brad Falchuk]] & [[Steven Canals]]
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|6|3}}
|Viewers = 0.688<ref name="Premiere">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-6-3-2018.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180610034324/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-6-3-2018.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 10, 2018|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 6.3.2018|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=June 5, 2018|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=June 5, 2018}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 1WBF01
|ShortSummary = After being diagnosed as [[HIV]]-positive, Blanca decides to leave the House of Abundance and start the House of Evangelista. A young dancer, Damon, is kicked out of his conservative and religious parents' home after they discover he is gay. Blanca invites Damon to join the House of Evangelista. Angel is picked up by Stan, a married man who has just begun working at [[Trump Tower]]. The two kiss and talk but do not have sex. Abundance and Evangelista face off at a ball and Abundance is victorious. Damon auditions for the [[The New School|New School for Dance]] and is accepted.
|LineColor = EFAFD8
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 2
|EpisodeNumber2 = 2
|Title = Access
|DirectedBy = Ryan Murphy
|WrittenBy = Ryan Murphy & Brad Falchuk & Steven Canals
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|6|10}}
|Viewers = 0.548<ref name="1.02">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-6-10-2018.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612163628/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-6-10-2018.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 12, 2018|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 6.10.2018|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=June 12, 2018|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=June 12, 2018}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 1WBF02
|ShortSummary = Blanca is [[Transphobia#In gay, lesbian, and bisexual communities|denied entry]] to a [[gay bar]] and sets out to gain access through a solo [[sit-in]]. Stan asks for a raise at work so that he may give Angel her own apartment. Damon meets a dancer named Ricky and is enamored, but resists Ricky's seduction, as he's not ready to have sex. Blanca offers Damon guidance regarding love and relationships and encourages him to practice [[safe sex]]. Damon misses his first date with Ricky to attend the ballet. The two make amends and attend the ballet together. Despite being kicked out of the bar multiple times and even being arrested, Blanca keeps returning to the bar in protest.
|LineColor = EFAFD8
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 3
|EpisodeNumber2 = 3
|Title = Giving and Receiving
|DirectedBy = [[Nelson Cragg]]
|WrittenBy = [[Janet Mock]] & {{no wrap|[[Our Lady J]]}}
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|6|17}}
|Viewers = 0.561<ref name="1.03">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-6-17-2018.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619163553/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-6-17-2018.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 19, 2018|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 6.17.2018|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=June 19, 2018|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=June 19, 2018}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 1WBF03
|ShortSummary = Pray Tell pays a visit to his lover, Costas, who is dying of [[HIV/AIDS|AIDS]]. Elektra enlists two of her children, Lulu and Candy, to help her steal from a [[The Salvation Army|Salvation Army]] donation bucket. She uses the money for a down payment on her [[sex reassignment surgery|gender confirmation surgery]]. Stan welcomes Angel to her new studio apartment. She makes him promise to be with her for just an hour on [[Christmas]]. Stan's boss, Matt, arrives at Stan's home bearing gifts and makes a pass at Stan's wife, Patty, who is home alone. Patty rebuffs Matt's advances. Matt is angry and subtly implies that Stan has a [[affair|mistress]]. Stan is unable to visit Angel on Christmas after Patty questions him. The House of Evangelista has Christmas dinner at a Chinese restaurant with Pray Tell.
|LineColor = EFAFD8
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 4
|EpisodeNumber2 = 4
|Title = The Fever
|DirectedBy = [[Gwyneth Horder-Payton]]
|WrittenBy = Janet Mock
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|6|24}}
|Viewers = 0.719<ref name="1.04">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-6-24-2018.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626192228/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-6-24-2018.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 26, 2018|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 6.24.2018|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=June 26, 2018|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=June 26, 2018}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 1WBF04
|ShortSummary = Damon is sick with a high [[fever]] and Blanca fears that he may have [[seroconversion|contracted HIV]] after he tells her that he and Ricky haven't always been practicing safe-sex. Pray Tell takes Damon, Ricky, Lil Papi, and himself to get tested and everyone's results are negative except for Pray Tell, who chooses not to tell anyone except Blanca. Candy resorts to getting cheap, amateur [[buttock augmentation|silicone injections]] after getting ridiculed at a ball for her frame which has a negative impact on her health; Angel also considers plastic surgery after an incident with Stan leaves her feeling insecure. Meanwhile, Elektra undergoes gender confirmation surgery, despite the objections and disapproval of her [[Gold digger|sugar daddy]].
|LineColor = EFAFD8
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 5
|EpisodeNumber2 = 5
|Title = Mother's Day
|DirectedBy = [[Silas Howard]]
|WrittenBy = Steven Canals
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|7|1}}
|Viewers = 0.582<ref name="1.05">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-7-1-2018.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703162814/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-7-1-2018.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 3, 2018|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.1.2018|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=July 3, 2018|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=July 3, 2018}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 1WBF05
|ShortSummary = A flashback shows Blanca's attending her first ball and fails to impress; however, Elektra takes her into the House of Abundance. In the present day, Blanca receives the news that her biological mother has died, and attends her [[funeral]] and [[wake (ceremony)|wake]], much to the distaste of her biological family. Blanca visits Elektra in the hospital where she is recovering from her gender confirmation surgery. Meanwhile, Stan gets a promotion at work which angers Matt, and he seeks revenge by telling Patty about Stan's ongoing affair with Angel. Matt provides Angel's whereabouts to Patty who shows up at the home of the House of Evangelista, and Lil' Papi takes Patty to the ball where she confronts Angel.
|LineColor = EFAFD8
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 6
|EpisodeNumber2 = 6
|Title = Love Is the Message
|DirectedBy = Janet Mock
|WrittenBy = Ryan Murphy & Janet Mock
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|7|8}}
|Viewers = 0.594<ref name="1.06">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-7-8-2018.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710164150/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-7-8-2018.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 10, 2018|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.8.2018|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=July 10, 2018|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=July 10, 2018}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 1WBF06
|ShortSummary = Patty and Angel have a long conversation in a nearby diner about Angel's relationship with Stan, and Patty is shocked to learn that she is transgender. Later, Patty takes Stan to [[couples therapy]], and after a lengthy session tells Stan that she wants some time apart and kicks Stan out of the family home. Stan retaliates by physically confronting Matt at the office, in which Matt comes out on top. Pray Tell hosts a [[cabaret]] at the AIDS ward where his boyfriend Costas is staying; subsequently Costas dies from complications from HIV. Although initially angry, Pray Tell is consoled and comforted by Blanca and her children.
|LineColor = EFAFD8
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 7
|EpisodeNumber2 = 7
|Title = Pink Slip
|DirectedBy = [[Tina Mabry]]
|WrittenBy = Steven Canals & Our Lady J
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|7|15}}
|Viewers = 0.689<ref name="1.07">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-7-15-2018.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717184120/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-7-15-2018.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 17, 2018|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.15.2018|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=July 17, 2018|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=July 17, 2018}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 1WBF07
|ShortSummary = Stan and Angel are now living together as a couple, however, this is short-lived when Angel takes Stan to a ball. He is overwhelmed by the atmosphere and culture and realizes this life isn't for him and leaves Angel. Meanwhile, Elektra finds herself out on the street when her sugar daddy, and others like him, reject her due to her gender confirmation surgery and resorts to [[strip club|stripping]] to keep herself afloat after being [[eviction|evicted]] from her apartment. Elsewhere, Lulu and Candy, tired of living in Elektra's shadow and under her rule, leave and form their own house called the House of Ferocity. Blanca finds out that Lil' Papi is [[illegal drug trade|dealing drugs]] and evicts him from the house. He later joins the House of Ferocity, and during a confrontation with Blanca at a ball, tells her they are determined to take her down.
|LineColor = EFAFD8
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 8
|EpisodeNumber2 = 8
|Title = Mother of the Year
|DirectedBy = Gwyneth Horder-Payton
|WrittenBy = Ryan Murphy & Brad Falchuk & Steven Canals
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|7|22}}
|Viewers = 0.781<ref name="1.08">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-7-22-2018.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724155529/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-7-22-2018.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 24, 2018|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.22.2018|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=July 24, 2018|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=July 24, 2018}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 1WBF08
|ShortSummary = Blanca and Elektra reunite after she invites and welcomes Elektra into the House of Evangelista and helps her get a job at an elegant restaurant. Damon and Ricky successfully audition to tour with [[Al B. Sure!]] as part of the dance troupe, however Damon stays behind to continue his studies while Ricky goes on tour. Before the Princess Ball, Stan shows up and begs Angel to take him back but she rejects him. Elektra manages to recruit two new members into the House of Evangelista, and Lil' Papi also returns to the house. The House of Ferocity challenges the House of Evangelista at the Princess Ball, the latter wins and Blanca is crowned Mother of the Year.
|LineColor = EFAFD8
}}
}}

===Season 2 (2019)===
{{Episode table |background=#7C0046 |overall=5 |season=5 |title=26 |director=17 |writer=19 |airdate=13 |prodcode=6 |viewers=9 |country=U.S. |episodes=
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 9
|EpisodeNumber2 = 1
|Title = Acting Up
|DirectedBy = [[Gwyneth Horder-Payton]]
|WrittenBy = [[Ryan Murphy (writer)|Ryan Murphy]] & [[Brad Falchuk]] & [[Steven Canals]]
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|6|11}}
|Viewers = 0.672<ref name="2.01">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-6-11-2019.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190614160317/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-6-11-2019.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 14, 2019|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 6.11.2019|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=June 12, 2019|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=June 12, 2019}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 2WBF01
|ShortSummary = It is now 1990, and the [[Vogue (dance)|voguing]] aspect of [[Ball culture|ballroom culture]] is beginning to go mainstream with the release of [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna's]] song, "[[Vogue (Madonna song)|Vogue]]". The community has conflicted feelings about this. Blanca, though still feeling healthy, discovers her T cell count has dropped to 200, which means her diagnosis has shifted from HIV positive to [[AIDS]]. Judy Kubrak helps Blanca get [[AZT]], and brings a reluctant Pray Tell to an [[ACT UP]] meeting. Judy, Blanca, Pray Tell, and most of Blanca's household participate in ACT UP's [[ACT UP#"Stop the Church"|"Stop the Church" protest]] at [[St. Patrick's Cathedral (Manhattan)|St Patrick's Cathedral]], and are arrested for [[civil disobedience]]. Angel enters a modeling competition held by [[Ford Models]], and is selected as a top-ten finalist, but is exploited by a photographer who fetishizes her. Blanca and Papi beat up the exploitative photographer and take back the photos and negatives.
|LineColor = 7C0046
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 10
|EpisodeNumber2 = 2
|Title = Worth It
|DirectedBy = Gwyneth Horder-Payton
|WrittenBy = [[Janet Mock]]
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|6|18}}
|Viewers = 0.567<ref name="2.02">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-6-18-2019.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190619202209/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-6-18-2019.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 19, 2019|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 6.18.2019|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=June 19, 2019|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=June 19, 2019}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 2WBF02
|ShortSummary = Elektra embarks on a new career as a dominatrix. Feeling empowered, she leaves the House of Ferocity and recruits members for her new House of [[Anna Wintour|Wintour]]. Blanca rents a storefront from shady real estate mogul Frederica Norman with plans to open a nail salon. When Frederica finds out Blanca is transgender she tries to evict her but Blanca claims squatter's rights. Damon suspects Ricky is having sex with other people, so he breaks up with him. Ricky leaves the House of Evangelista and joins the House of Wintour.
|LineColor = 7C0046
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 11
|EpisodeNumber2 = 3
|Title = Butterfly/Cocoon
|DirectedBy = Janet Mock
|WrittenBy = [[Our Lady J]]
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|6|25}}
|Viewers = 0.589<ref name="2.03">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-6-25-2019.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626202226/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-6-25-2019.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 26, 2019|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 6.25.2019|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=June 26, 2019|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=June 26, 2019}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 2WBF03
|ShortSummary = Newly-minted [[dominatrix]] Elektra leaves a client alone in her dungeon and is horrified upon her return to discover him dead. The client had snorted [[cocaine]], overdosed and suffocated in the bondage mask. Elektra enlists the aid of Blanca and then Candy, who help her mummify and seal the client's body in a trunk and hide it in Elektra's closet. Angel and Papi begin to explore their relationship but a last-minute modeling assignment derails their first official date. At the end of the episode, Angel becomes the new face of Wet 'n Wild cosmetics.
|LineColor = 7C0046
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 12
|EpisodeNumber2 = 4
|Title = Never Knew Love Like This Before
|DirectedBy = Ryan Murphy
|WrittenBy = Ryan Murphy & Janet Mock
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|7|9}}
|Viewers = 0.580<ref name="2.04">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-7-9-2019.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711142227/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-7-9-2019.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 11, 2019|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.9.2019|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=July 11, 2019|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=July 11, 2019}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 2WBF04
|ShortSummary = Candy is murdered while [[prostitution|working]] at a motel. Candy attends her funeral in spirit, where she and Blanca hum and sing together. Pray Tell, Angel, Lulu, and Candy's parents all see Candy in spirit form. Before Candy's demise, Pray Tell and the council of emcees had rejected having the lip sync category at the balls (leading them to be showered with diner cutlery by Candy). At Candy's funeral Pray Tell announces that, in honor of Candy, they will now have the lip synching, naming it "Candy's Sweet Refrain". At the end of the episode Candy lip sync [[Stephanie Mills]] song "[[Never Knew Love Like This Before]]".
|LineColor = 7C0046
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 13
|EpisodeNumber2 = 5
|Title = What Would Candy Do?
|DirectedBy = [[Tina Mabry]]
|WrittenBy = Steven Canals
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|7|16}}
|Viewers = 0.497<ref name="2.05">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-7-16-2019.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190717201944/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-7-16-2019.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 17, 2019|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.16.2019|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=July 17, 2019|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=July 17, 2019}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 2WBF05
|ShortSummary = Ricky and Damon both audition to be dancers for [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]]’s [[Blond Ambition World Tour]]. Elektra schemes to have Damon injured by Candy’s hammer (handed off to various potential assailants) in an effort to better Ricky’s chances of securing a spot on the tour, but calls off the plan after she is berated by Blanca.
|LineColor = 7C0046
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 14
|EpisodeNumber2 = 6
|Title = Love's In Need Of Love Today
|DirectedBy = Tina Mabry
|WrittenBy = Brad Falchuk & Our Lady J
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|7|23}}
|Viewers = 0.505<ref name="2.06">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-7-23-2019.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724202329/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-7-23-2019.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 24, 2019|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.23.2019|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=July 24, 2019|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=July 24, 2019}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 2WBF06
|ShortSummary = Pray Tell has a severe, adverse reaction to [[AZT]] and is hospitalized. Blanca organizes his annual AIDS cabaret in his place. She shares that she is HIV-positive to the cabaret crowd, for the first time, before performing “Love’s in Need of Love Today” by [[Stevie Wonder]] with Pray Tell. The ballroom community, led by Lulu and Elektra, comes together to protest Frederica after Frederica betrays Blanca and has Blanca’s nail salon boarded up while everyone is at the cabaret/benefit.
|LineColor = 7C0046
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 15
|EpisodeNumber2 = 7
|Title = Blow
|DirectedBy = [[Jennie Livingston]]
|WrittenBy = Janet Mock
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|7|30}}
|Viewers = 0.405<ref name="2.07">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-7-30-2019.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190731202633/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-7-30-2019.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 31, 2019|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.30.2019|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=July 31, 2019|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=July 31, 2019}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 2WBF07
|ShortSummary = Pray Tell and Blanca realize they are now elders in the community, and challenge the young members of House Evangelista to organize an [[ACT UP#Condoming of Jesse Helms' house|ACT UP action]],<ref name="Street2019">{{cite web | last=Street | first=Mikelle | title= ''Pose'' 'Condom Over the House' Scene Actually Happened – Here's How | website=[[Out (magazine)|Out]] | date=2019-07-31 | url=https://www.out.com/television/2019/7/31/poses-condom-over-house-scene-actually-happened-heres-how | access-date=2020-08-01}}</ref> inflating a giant condom to cover Frederica Norman's house, protesting her financial exploitation of Blanca and others. Angel and Papi drink and sniff cocaine at an uptown party, causing Angel to arrive late and hungover to an important modeling job, where the photographer is revealed to be the fetishistic predator from episode 1 ("Acting Up"). Ricky learns his HIV test was positive.
|LineColor = 7C0046
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 16
|EpisodeNumber2 = 8
|Title = Revelations
|DirectedBy = Steven Canals
|WrittenBy = Steven Canals
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|8|6}}
|Viewers = 0.508<ref name="2.08">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-8-6-2019.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190807203633/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-8-6-2019.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 7, 2019|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 8.6.2019|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=August 7, 2019|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=August 7, 2019}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 2WBF08
|ShortSummary = Ricky and Pray Tell, who have been growing closer as friends, become lovers. Damon graduates from the dance academy. At the graduation party back home, Damon confronts Angel and Pray Tell about their secret drug use and lying to Blanca, and informs Blanca. Angel and Papi move out, and into an apartment in [[Greenwich Village|The Village]] that Papi found. Damon leaves to perform on a European tour for [[Malcolm McLaren]]. Blanca begins to feel [[empty nest syndrome]].
|LineColor = 7C0046
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 17
|EpisodeNumber2 = 9
|Title = Life's a Beach
|DirectedBy = Gwyneth Horder-Payton
|WrittenBy = Janet Mock and Our Lady J
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|8|13}}
|Viewers = 0.547<ref name="2.09">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-8-13-2019.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190814202311/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-8-13-2019.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 14, 2019|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 8.13.2019|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=August 14, 2019|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=August 14, 2019}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 2WBF09
|ShortSummary = Blanca's nail salon burns down. Elektra, Blanca, Angel and Lulu take a girls trip to a fancy [[Long Island]] beach house owned by one of Elektra's clients. Blanca meets a man there and they have a romantic date on the beach. On the drive home to the city, Candy appears in spirit, singing along with them in the car.
|LineColor = 7C0046
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 18
|EpisodeNumber2 = 10
|Title = In My Heels
|DirectedBy = Janet Mock
|WrittenBy = Ryan Murphy & Brad Falchuk & Steven Canals
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|8|20}}
|Viewers = 0.536<ref name="2.10">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-8-20-2019.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190821202222/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-tuesday-cable-originals-network-finals-8-20-2019.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 21, 2019|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 8.20.2019|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=August 21, 2019|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=August 21, 2019}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 2WBF10
|ShortSummary = Fast forward to May 1991, Blanca is running her nail salon inside her home. While visited by Pray Tell, Blanca becomes so sick that she must be hospitalized. Blanca and Pray Tell see on the news that Frederica Norman is responsible for [[arson|burning]] Blanca's nail salon; Frederica is arrested for her crimes. Damon returns from Europe. Angel is outed as trans, and loses her Ford Modeling contract. During the Mother's Day Ball, Angel and Papi become engaged, and Angel secures a new modelling job overseas thanks to Papi becoming her manager. Angel is scared she'll be outed again, but Papi has founded an agency based on truth and transparency – all the new clients know the truth about the models. Shortly afterwards, Angel is booked through Papi's new agency for a job in Berlin and they get engaged at the next ball. Followed by Blanca's lip sync win and Elektra's Mother of the Year coronation, Elektra takes Pray Tell's position as MC, and Pray Tell, Ricky and other male contestants walk in drag for the first time. At the end of the episode, after bidding Angel and Papi farewell, Blanca, now in a wheelchair, meets two homeless teenagers outside, Quincy and Chilly. She and Pray Tell take the new kids to dinner.
|LineColor = 7C0046
}}
}}

===Season 3 (2021)===
{{Episode table |background=#2D4C5E |overall=5 |season=5 |title=26 |director=17 |writer=19 |airdate=13 |prodcode=6 |viewers=9 |country=U.S. |episodes=
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 19
|EpisodeNumber2 = 1
|Title = On the Run
|DirectedBy = [[Janet Mock]]
|WrittenBy = [[Steven Canals]] & Janet Mock
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|5|2}}
|Viewers = 0.498<ref name="3.01–3.02">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-5-2-2021.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504142704/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-5-2-2021.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 4, 2021|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.2.2021|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=May 4, 2021|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=May 4, 2021}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 3WBF01
|ShortSummary = The year is now 1994. Newly-elected New York mayor [[Rudy Giuliani]] has cracked down on sex work in the city, forcing Elektra to leave the Hellfire Club. Lemar has become the house father of the greedy, fame-hungry House of Khan. Blanca juggles working as a nurse's aide with dating Christopher, a doctor who works at the same hospital. Papi's talent agency is thriving, while Angel's modeling career has stagnated. The House of Evangelista (including Elektra and Lulu) is brought together by both the live coverage of O.J. Simpson's slow-speed chase (in which they share differentiating opinions) and by the death of Cubby after his battle with AIDS. These events encourage Blanca to re-form the House of Evangelista once again. At the Summer Solstice Ball, they face off against the House of Khan and win.

Note: Prior to this episode, House of Wintour and House of Ferocity were disbanded at an unknown date. This is also [[Ryan Jamaal Swain]]'s last episode.
|LineColor = 2D4C5E
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 20
|EpisodeNumber2 = 2
|Title = Intervention
|DirectedBy = Steven Canals
|WrittenBy = Steven Canals & [[Our Lady J]]
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|5|2}}
|Viewers = 0.370<ref name="3.01–3.02"/>
|ProdCode = 3WBF02
|ShortSummary = Blanca stages an intervention when Pray Tell's alcoholism leads to expected consequences. Ricky leaves Pray Tell due to Pray Tell's alcoholism. Damon's alcoholism relapses, thus making him relocate to his cousin's place in South Carolina. Blanca nervously prepares to meet Christopher's parents, and his mother is not very friendly to her after their meeting. Pray Tell first refuses to go to rehab, but later relents. Elektra prevents Lulu from performing at the ball in order for her to be sober. Angel decides to clean up from her crack habit.
|LineColor = 2D4C5E
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 21
|EpisodeNumber2 = 3
|Title = The Trunk
|DirectedBy = [[Tina Mabry]]
|WrittenBy = Janet Mock & [[Brad Falchuk]]
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|5|9}}
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|ProdCode = 3WBF03
|ShortSummary = Elektra was unjustly arrested by police, and she requested for Blanca to remove the trunk containing her client's remains (Season 2 Episode 3) from her home before the police found out. This episode also focuses on Elektra's backgrounds and foundations of House of Abundance in 1983-1984. Angel, Candy, Cubby, Lemar, Lulu, and Pray Tell appeared in flashbacks.
|LineColor = 2D4C5E
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 22
|EpisodeNumber2 = 4
|Title = Take Me To Church
|DirectedBy = Janet Mock
|WrittenBy = Janet Mock & Steven Canals & Brad Falchuk
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|5|16}}
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|ProdCode = 3WBF04
|ShortSummary = Pray Tell visits his hometown after the lymphoma diagnosis. Jackee Harry guest stars as Aunt Jada, Janet Hubert guest stars as Aunt Latrice.
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}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 23
|EpisodeNumber2 = 5
|Title = Something Borrowed, Something Blue
|DirectedBy = Steven Canals
|WrittenBy = Brad Falchuk & Steven Canals
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|5|23}}
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|ProdCode = 3WBF05
|ShortSummary = Lil Papi found out that he had a love child named Beto from his previous relationship. Meanwhile, Elektra decided to finance Angel and Lil Papi's wedding, much to Lil Papi's initial disapproval.
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}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 24
|EpisodeNumber2 = 6
|Title = Something Old, Something New
|DirectedBy = Janet Mock
|WrittenBy = Janet Mock
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|5|30}}
|Viewers = 0.430<ref name="TVSeriesFinale"/>
|ProdCode = 3WBF06
|ShortSummary = In order to make amends with Lil Papi and accepting Beto, Angel went to see her estranged father. Before Angel and Papi get their marriage license, Angel's anxiety over her license went to the roof. Cubby and Candy appeared in this episode.
|LineColor = 2D4C5E
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 25
|EpisodeNumber2 = 7
|Title = Series Finale (Part I)
|DirectedBy = Steven Canals
|WrittenBy = [[Ryan Murphy (writer)|Ryan Murphy]] & Brad Falchuk & Steven Canals & Janet Mock & Our Lady J
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|6|6}}
|Viewers = 0.530<ref>{{cite web|url=https://programminginsider.com/sunday-ratings-abc-and-cbs-split-modest-leadership/|title=Sunday Ratings: ABC and CBS Split Modest Leadership|date=June 7, 2021|last=Berman|first=Marc|work=Programming Insider|access-date=June 20, 2021}}</ref>
|ProdCode = 3WBF07
|ShortSummary =
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{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 26
|EpisodeNumber2 = 8
|Title = Series Finale (Part II)
|DirectedBy = Steven Canals
|WrittenBy = Ryan Murphy & Brad Falchuk & Steven Canals & Janet Mock & Our Lady J
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|6|6}}
|Viewers = 0.485<ref name="TVSeriesFinale"/>
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}}

==Production==
===Development===
On March 16, 2017, it was announced that FX had given the production a pilot order. The pilot was written by [[Ryan Murphy (writer)|Ryan Murphy]], [[Brad Falchuk]], and Steven Canals all of whom were also set to executive produce alongside [[Nina Jacobson]], Brad Simpson, and Sherry Marsh. Production companies involved with the pilot were slated to consist of include FX Productions and Fox21 Television Studios.<ref>{{cite web |first1=Nellie |last1=Andreeva |title=Ryan Murphy Sets His Next TV Series: 1980s New York Drama ''Pose'' At FX |url=https://deadline.com/2017/03/ryan-murphy-pose-fx-series-1980s-new-york-drama-1202044800/|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=March 16, 2017 |access-date=May 11, 2018 }}</ref> In October 2018, it was reported that [[Leiomy Maldonado]] and [[Danielle Polanco]] would be choreographing the series' ball scenes<ref name="CastStaff">{{Cite web |first=Nellie |last=Andreeva |url=https://deadline.com/2017/10/pose-ryan-murphy-transgender-cast-fx-series-1202194718/ |title=FX's ''Pose'': Ryan Murphy Sets Largest Transgender Cast Ever For Scripted Series |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=October 25, 2017 |access-date=November 16, 2017 }}</ref> and that [[Janet Mock]] and [[Our Lady J]] had joined the show's writing and producing staff.<ref>{{cite web |first1=James Michael |last1=Nichols |title=Ryan Murphy's New Show Makes History By Casting Record Number Of Trans Actors |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/transgender-actors-ryan-murphy_us_59f1f455e4b077d8dfc7d23f |website=[[Huffington Post]] |date=October 26, 2017 |access-date=December 27, 2017 }}</ref>

On December 27, 2017, it was announced that FX had given the production a series for a first season consisting of eight episodes.<ref name="SeriesOrder">{{cite web |first1=Denise |last1=Petski |title=Ryan Murphy's Dance Musical ''Pose'' Gets Series Order At FX |url=https://deadline.com/2017/12/ryan-murphy-dance-musical-pose-series-order-fx-1202232916/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=December 27, 2017 |access-date=December 27, 2017 }}</ref> On May 9, 2018, ahead of the series premiere, Murphy announced that he would be donating all of his profits from ''Pose'' to non-profit charitable organizations that work with LGBTQ+ people, including the [[Sylvia Rivera Law Project]], the [[Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund]], and the [[Callen-Lorde Community Health Center]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/933897/ryan-murphy-announces-100-percent-of-his-pose-profits-will-be-donated-to-lbgtq-charities |title=Ryan Murphy Announces 100 Percent of His ''Pose'' Profits Will Be Donated to LBGTQ Charities |first=Billy |last=Nilles |work=[[E! Online]] |date=May 9, 2018 |access-date=November 20, 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet |last=Murphy |first=Ryan |user=MrRPMurphy |number=997203104461410307 |date=May 17, 2018 |title=POSE GIVES BACK ORG OF THE DAY: Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund. Their mission is to end discrimination and achieve equality for transgender people, particularly those in the most vulnerable communities. http://www.transgenderlegal.org |access-date=November 20, 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet |last=Murphy |first=Ryan |user=MrRPMurphy |number=996469495999975429 |date=May 15, 2018 |title=POSE GIVES BACK ORG OF THE DAY: Callen-Lorde. This organization is the global leader in LGBTQ healthcare. Since Stonewall, they've been transforming lives free of judgment and regardless of ability to pay with the belief that healthcare is a human right. |access-date=November 20, 2018 }}</ref> Murphy explained this decision saying, "The thing that struck me in talking to so many of them, was how much they've struggled, how under attack they feel, how many of them find it difficult getting [[health care in the United States|healthcare]], and finding jobs. I just decided I need to do more than just making a show for this community. I want to reach out and help this community."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/ryan-murphy-pose-charity-trans-lgbtq-1202805172/ |title=Ryan Murphy on What Inspired Him to Donate ''Pose'' Profits to Trans and LGBTQ Charities |first=Debra |last=Birnbaum |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=May 9, 2018 |access-date=November 20, 2018 }}</ref> On July 12, 2018, it was announced that the series had been renewed for a second season which premiered on June 11, 2019.<ref>{{cite magazine |first1=Joe |last1=Otterson |title=''Pose'' Renewed for Season 2 at FX |url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/pose-renewed-season-2-fx-1202872217/ |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=July 12, 2018 |access-date=July 12, 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2019/04/pose-season-2-premiere-date-ryan-murphy-fx-trans-drama-1202591537/ |title='Pose': Season 2 Of Ryan Murphy's NYC Ballroom Drama For Summer Premiere |work=Deadline Hollywood |first=Erik |last=Pedersen |date=April 8, 2019 |access-date=April 8, 2019}}</ref> On June 17, 2019, FX renewed the series for a third season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/06/pose-renewed-season-3-fx-1202633872/|title='Pose' Renewed For Season 3 By FX|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Denise|last=Petski|date=June 17, 2019|access-date=June 17, 2019}}</ref> In March 2021, FX confirmed the third season would be its last. The final season premiered on May 2, 2021.<ref name="S3Premiere">{{cite web|url=https://tvline.com/2021/03/05/pose-ending-season-3-premiere-date-final-episodes-fx/|title=Pose Ending With Season 3 on FX|website=TVLine|first=Andy|last=Swift|date=March 5, 2021|access-date=March 5, 2021}}</ref>

===Casting===
[[File:Cast Pose at Los Angeles Pride Parade by dvsross 2.jpg|thumb|Stars from the show ''Pose'' at Los Angeles Pride Parade]]
In March 2017, Ryan Murphy and his team began casting for the series. On October 25, 2017, it was announced that [[transgender]] actors [[MJ Rodriguez]], [[Indya Moore]], [[Dominique Jackson (model)|Dominique Jackson]], [[Hailie Sahar]], and [[Angelica Ross]] and [[cisgender]] actors [[Ryan Jamaal Swain]], [[Billy Porter (entertainer)|Billy Porter]] and [[Dyllón Burnside]] had been cast in main roles. The series' production team claimed that they had assembled the largest transgender cast ever for a scripted series.<ref name="CastStaff" /><ref>{{cite web |first1=Lesley |last1=Goldberg |title=Ryan Murphy Makes History With Largest Cast of Transgender Actors for FX's ''Pose'' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/ryan-murphy-makes-history-largest-cast-transgender-actors-fxs-pose-1051877 |magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=October 25, 2017 |access-date=December 27, 2017 }}</ref> The series was expected to include over 50 transgender characters total.<ref name="BroadwayWorld" /> On October 26, 2017, it was announced that [[Evan Peters]], [[Kate Mara]], [[James Van Der Beek]], and [[Tatiana Maslany]] had also joined the main cast.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Joe |last=Otterson |url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/ryan-murphy-pose-fx-evan-peters-tatiana-maslany-james-van-der-beek-kate-mara-1202600227/ |title=Evan Peters, Tatiana Maslany Among Four Added to Cast of Ryan Murphy's ''Pose'' |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=October 26, 2017 |access-date=November 16, 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |first=Tim |last=Stack |url=https://ew.com/tv/2017/10/26/pose-evan-peters-kate-mara-james-van-der-beek-tatiana-maslany/ |title=''Pose'': Evan Peters, Kate Mara, James Van Der Beek, and Tatiana Maslany join new Ryan Murphy series |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=October 26, 2017 |access-date=November 16, 2017 }}</ref>

On December 27, 2017, it was reported that Maslany had exited the series following the redevelopment of her part into that of a 50-year-old African-American woman. The character was then recast with [[Charlayne Woodard]] assuming the role.<ref>{{cite web |first1=Chris |last1=Harnick |title=Ryan Murphy and FX Make TV History With New Series ''Pose'' |url=http://www.eonline.com/news/902373/pose-ordered-to-series-by-fx-making-tv-history-with-largest-transgender-cast-of-series-regulars |website=[[E! Online]] |date=December 27, 2017 |access-date=December 27, 2017 }}</ref> On September 19, 2018, it was announced that [[Sandra Bernhard]] would reprise her role of Nurse Judy in season two as a series regular.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |last1=Andreeva |first1=Nellie |title=''Pose'': Sandra Bernhard Promoted To Series Regular For Season 2 Of FX Drama |url=https://deadline.com/2018/09/pose-sandra-bernhard-promoted-series-regular-season-2-fx-nurse-judy-1202467784/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=September 19, 2018 |date=September 19, 2018 }}</ref> On March 23, 2019, at [[PaleyFest]], Ryan Murphy revealed that [[Patti LuPone]] would guest star in the second season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/patti-lupone-pose-season-two-fx-ryan-murphy-1203170910/|title=Patti LuPone Joins FX's 'Pose' as Season 2 Jumps to 1990|first=Jordan|last=Moreau|publisher=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=March 24, 2019|access-date=March 24, 2019}}</ref>

===Filming===
Production for the pilot began in New York City in October 2017.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Andreeva |first1=Nellie |date=March 16, 2017 |title=Ryan Murphy Sets His Next TV Series: 1980s New York Drama ''Pose'' at FX |url=https://deadline.com/2017/03/ryan-murphy-pose-fx-series-1980s-new-york-drama-1202044800/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |access-date=April 15, 2017 }}</ref> The following episodes of the first season were expected to begin production in February 2018.<ref name="SeriesOrder"/> Murphy directed the series' first two episodes<ref name="BroadwayWorld"/> and Mock directed the sixth, thus making her the first transgender woman of color to write and direct any episode of television.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gemmill |first1=Allie |title=Janet Mock Just Became the First Trans Woman of Color to Write and Direct a TV Episode |url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/janet-mock-wrote-directed-episode-of-pose-made-tv-history |website=[[Teen Vogue]] |access-date=July 18, 2018 |date=July 9, 2018 }}</ref> On March 14, 2020, production on the third season was suspended due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic|COVID-19 health crisis]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/03/empire-pose-queen-of-the-south-the-resident-american-housewife-shut-down-coronavirus-1202883591/|title='Empire', 'Pose', 'Queen Of the South', 'The Resident' & 'American Housewife' Shut Down Over Coronavirus|work=Deadline Hollywood|first=Nellie|last=Andreeva|date=March 14, 2020|access-date=March 14, 2020}}</ref>
The third and final season's filming wrapped on March 20, 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/03/pose-wraps-production-janet-mock-steven-canals-mj-rodriguez-fx-news-1234718754/|title='Pose' Shoot Comes To A Close; Creators & Stars Weigh In On Bringing Groundbreaking Drama To An End|work=Deadline Hollywood|first=Matt|last=Grobar|date=March 20, 2021|access-date=March 21, 2021}}</ref>

==Release==

===Marketing===
[[File:Pose.png|thumb|right|Promotional poster featuring Blanca Rodriguez-Evangelista ([[MJ Rodriguez]]), star of ''Pose'', portraying the [[ball culture|drag ball culture]] of [[LGBT culture in New York City|Manhattan]] in the late 1980s and early 1990s.]]

On April 12, 2018, FX released the first teaser trailer for the series. It was also announced that the series was set to premiere on June 3, 2018.<ref>{{cite web |first1=Denise |last1=Petski |title=''Pose'': Ryan Murphy's FX Dance Musical Gets Premiere Date & New Teaser |url=https://deadline.com/2018/04/pose-premiere-date-trailer-ryan-murphy-kate-mara-evan-peters-fx-1202362958/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=April 12, 2018 |access-date=April 12, 2018 }}</ref> On May 3, 2018, the first official trailer was released.<ref>{{cite web |first1=Erik |last1=Pedersen |title=''Pose'' Trailer: Ryan Murphy's FX Dance Musical Set In 1980s New York |url=https://deadline.com/2018/05/pose-trailer-ryan-murphys-fx-kata-mara-evan-peters-transgender-1202382125/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=May 3, 2018 |access-date=May 3, 2018 }}</ref>

===Premiere===
On May 17, 2018, the series held its world premiere at the [[Hammerstein Ballroom]] in [[Manhattan]].<ref name="variety info 1">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/scene/vpage/ryan-murphy-pose-premiere-lgbtq-1202815745|title=Ryan Murphy Wants ''Pose'' to Be 'Uplifting' for LGBTQ Community in Trump Era|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|first1=Taryn|last1=Tacher|date=May 18, 2018|access-date=July 18, 2018}}</ref><ref name="billboard info 1">{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/pride/8456700/pose-writer-janet-mock-essay|title=''Pose'' Writer Janet Mock Talks Working With Ryan Murphy to Create Honest Trans Narratives|website=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|first=Stephen|last=Daw|date=May 18, 2018 |access-date=July 18, 2018 }}</ref> On July 23, 2018, [[Dyllón Burnside]] emceed a benefit concert, duetting with co-stars [[Billy Porter (entertainer)|Billy Porter]] and [[Ryan Jamaal Swain]] to celebrate the season one finale, and raise money for [[GLSEN]].<ref name="timeout info 1">{{cite web|url=https://www.timeout.com/newyork/music/dyllon-burnside-up-close-and-personal|title=Dyllón Burnside: Up Close and Personal|website=[[Time Out New York]]|first=Adam|last=Feldman|date=July 17, 2018|access-date=August 26, 2018}}</ref><ref name="playbill info 1">{{cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/fxs-pose-stars-dyllon-burnside-mj-rodriguez-and-ryan-jamaal-swain-will-perform-nyc-concert|title=FX's ''Pose'' Stars, Dyllón Burnside, Mj Rodriguez, and Ryan Jamaal Swain, Will Perform NYC Concert|website=[[Playbill]]|first=Adam|last=Hetrick|date=July 14, 2018 |access-date=August 26, 2018}}</ref><ref name="BoyCulture">{{cite web|url=https://www.boyculture.com/boy_culture/2018/07/monday-night-at-the-cutting-room-was-the-highly-anticipated-concert-to-benefit-glsen-staged-by-my-pal-wayne-laako-and-featuri.html|title=To Be Real: The Cast Of ''Pose'' Gives Back — Already! — At NYC GLSEN Benefit|website=Boy Culture|date=July 24, 2018|access-date=November 19, 2018}}</ref> During the event, a conversation was held between Burnside and former ''[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]'' [[editor-in-chief]] [[Emil Wilbekin]], where Burnside discussed his [[coming out]] story and spoke about the importance of [[safe space]]s for LGBTQ people. Later on in the evening, Porter sang from his latest album and [[MJ Rodriguez]] sang "Waving Through a Window" from ''[[Dear Evan Hansen]]''.<ref name="BoyCulture"/>

In March 2019, the series was part of the [[Paley Center for Media]]'s annual Paleyfest LA at the [[Dolby Theatre]] in [[Los Angeles, California]].<ref name="deadline info 1">{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/12/paleyfest-la-2019-parks-and-rec-reunion-this-is-us-pose-panels-set-1202522530|title=PaleyFest LA 2019: 'Parks And Rec' Reunion, 'This Is Us' & 'Pose' Panels Set|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Erik|last=Pedersen|date=December 19, 2018|access-date=December 21, 2018}}</ref>

''Pose'' premiered in the [[United Kingdom]] on March 21, 2019 on [[BBC Two]]. <ref name="indie info 1">{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/pose-film-review-ryan-murphy-ballroom-drama-movie-video-a8829691.html|title=Pose: With the Largest Cast of Trans Actors in TV History, Ryan Murphy's Ballroom Drama Is A Strut in The Right Direction|first1=Alexandra|last1=Pollard|magazine=[[The Independent]]|date=March 21, 2019|access-date=March 22, 2019}}</ref>
Season 2 premiered on [[BBC Two]] on October 26, 2019, and Season 3 on August 8, 2021. All full series released on [[BBC iPlayer]] straight after each season premiere on [[BBC Two]].

==Influences==
While a work of [[creative writing|creative fiction]], the series is "heavily inspired by" [[Jennie Livingston]]'s 1990 documentary, ''[[Paris Is Burning (film)|Paris Is Burning]]'';<ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/columns/pose-fx-season-finale-mother-of-the-year-1202880972/ |title=The Revolutionary Happiness of ''Pose'' |last=Framke |first=Caroline |date=July 23, 2018 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=September 14, 2018 }}</ref> Livingston also served as a consulting producer on the show. Several of the houses and characters were based on, or named after, real people, and several people featured in the documentary also made cameos in the series, such as [[Jose Gutierez Xtravaganza]], an icon of the [[voguing]] scene, who plays a judge throughout the first series, and Sol Pendavis Williams, of the House of Pendavis.<ref name="Venable">{{cite web |url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/pose-fx-paris-is-burning/|title=The Mind-Blowing 1990 Documentary You Must See Before Watching ''Pose'' |last=Venable |first=Malcolm |date=May 29, 2018 |work=[[TV Guide]]|access-date=September 14, 2018}}</ref> Creators and producers of the series, Murphy, Canals, and writer/producer Janet Mock all considered ''Paris Is Burning'' "a text that helped inform not only the show, but also their identities when they first saw it."<ref name="Venable"/>

{{quote|''Pose'' also expands on one of ''Paris Is Burning''{{'}}s subtler themes. At various points in the film, Livingston contrasts the drag performers with ordinary, affluent New Yorkers, walking down busy Manhattan sidewalks. It's often hard to tell which of these two groups is more "real", which of them are fashion models or Wall Street power players and which are simply costumed as such. ''Pose'' elaborates on those subtle distinctions with a subplot involving Stan (Evan Peters), a rising star in the Trump organization with an obnoxious boss (James Van Der Beek), a pretty wife (Kate Mara), and a secret relationship with Angel (Indya Moore), a trans woman. The show aims to capture some of the diversity of New York in the '80s, while also emphasizing the idea that, whether rich or poor, everyone in the city is pretending, in one way or another.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/6/1/17416736/paris-is-burning-ryan-murphy-pose-netflix-streaming-recommendation |title=Get ready for Ryan Murphy's ''Pose'' by watching ''Paris is Burning'' this weekend |last=Murray |first=Noel |date=June 1, 2018 |work=[[The Verge]] |access-date=September 14, 2018 }}</ref>|}}

==Reception==
===Critical response===
{{Television critical response
| rotten_tomatoes1 = 96% (82 reviews)<ref name="RT1"/>
| metacritic1 = 75 (27 reviews)<ref name="MC1"/>

| rotten_tomatoes2 = 98% (40 reviews)<ref name="RT2"/>
| metacritic2 = 79 (14 reviews)<ref name="MC2"/>

| rotten_tomatoes3 = 100% (14 reviews)<ref name="RT3"/>
| metacritic3 = 76 (8 reviews)<ref name="MC3"/>
}}

====Season 1====
On the review aggregation website [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the first season holds a 96% approval rating with an average rating of 8.3/10 based on 82 reviews. The website's critical consensus reads, "Charged with energy, poise, and confidence, ''Pose'' pirouettes between artistic opulence and deliciously soapy drama to create a fresh new addition to Ryan Murphy's lexicon."<ref name="RT1">{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/pose/s01|title=Pose: Season 1|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]]|access-date=April 29, 2021}}</ref> [[Metacritic]], which uses a weighted average, assigned the first season a score of 75 out of 100 based on 27 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".<ref name="MC1">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/pose/season-1|title=Pose: Season 1|website=[[Metacritic]]|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]|access-date=August 28, 2018}}</ref>

In a positive review, ''[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]''{{'}}s [[Richard Lawson (writer)|Richard Lawson]] was effusive describing the series as "an engaging portrait of dark days met with merriment. Pain and perseverance are sewn together to create something humble yet fabulous—and, it should be shouted over all the show's loud and glorious clamor, very much long overdue."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lawson |first1=Richard |title=''Pose'' Is Bold, Necessary Melodrama |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/05/pose-fx-ryan-murphy-review |website=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] |access-date=September 29, 2018 |date=May 30, 2018 }}</ref> In a similarly favorable critique, ''Vulture''{{'}}s Matt Zoller Seitz praised the series' ambition, aesthetic, and spotlight on minorities saying, "it shows American audiences a world that has never been visualized on television at this length and at such an obviously grand budget level. The camera swings and swoops, glides and tumbles as in a [[Martin Scorsese|Scorsese]] epic like ''[[Gangs of New York]]''; in both the outdoor street scenes and indoor crowd scenes, it's obvious that FX has spared no expense to get the clothes, the cars, the streets, the business signs, and even the distinctive yellow-brown glow of streetlights correct."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Seitz |first1=Matt Zoller |title=''Pose'' Is the Culmination of Ryan Murphy's Entire Career |url=https://www.vulture.com/2018/06/pose-fx-review.html |website=Vulture |access-date=September 29, 2018 |date=June 5, 2018 }}</ref> In a more mixed assessment, ''[[Newsday]]''{{'}}s gave the series two-and-a-half stars out of four and described it far less approvingly saying, "good intentions don't always lead to good TV, and a couple episodes in, that appears to be the case with ''Pose''. This certainly isn't bad TV—Murphy isn't about to leave his longtime home with a turkey—but it's often bland TV, and oddly enough, stock TV."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gay |first1=Verne |title=''Pose'': Formulaic drama, despite innovative casting |url=https://www.newsday.com/entertainment/tv/pose-review-1.18831003 |website=[[Newsday]] |access-date=September 29, 2018 |date=May 29, 2018}}</ref> In a negative evaluation, ''[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]''{{'}}s Willa Paskin was outright dismissive saying, "It's a TV show from one of the most canny creators working today, yet as a viewing experience it can feel like an object lesson." She continued on specifically criticizing the show's character development saying, "So many of the people on ''Pose'' are strong women, trans paragons, and this comes at the expense of them being recognizably flawed human beings."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Paskin |first1=Willa |title=Ryan Murphy's ''Pose'' Has Fallen Into the "Strong Character" Trap |url=https://slate.com/culture/2018/05/ryan-murphys-pose-reviewed.html |website=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] |access-date=September 29, 2018 |date=May 31, 2018}}</ref>

====Season 2====
On Rotten Tomatoes, the second season holds a 98% approval rating with an average rating of 8.39/10 based on 40 reviews. The website's critical consensus reads, "A delightful, delicate dance of light and dark, ''Pose''{{'}}s second season achieves a striking balance between the grittiness of reality and the glamour of the runway and shines even brighter."<ref name="RT2">{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/pose/s02|title=Pose: Season 2|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]]|access-date=November 12, 2019}}</ref> On Metacritic, season 2 holds a score of 79 out of 100 based on 14 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews."<ref name="MC2">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/pose/season-2|title=Pose: Season 2|website=[[Metacritic]]|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]|access-date=August 28, 2018}}</ref>

====Season 3====
On Rotten Tomatoes, the third season holds an 100% approval rating with an average rating of 7.83/10 based on 22 reviews. The website's critical consensus reads, "Though it's entirely too short, ''Pose''{{'}}s final season is a joyously entertaining celebration of life that is not to be missed."<ref name="RT3">{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/pose/s03|title=Pose: Season 3|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]]|access-date=May 12, 2021}}</ref> On Metacritic, season 3 holds a score of 76 out of 100 based on 8 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews."<ref name="MC3">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/pose/season-3|title=Pose: Season 3|website=[[Metacritic]]|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]|access-date=May 12, 2021}}</ref>

===Ratings===
{{Television season ratings
| hide_rank = y
| hide_tv_season = y

| link1 = #Season 1 (2018)
| episodes1 = 8
| timeslot1 = Sunday 9:00 pm
| start1 = {{Start date|2018|6|3}}
| startrating1 = 0.688<ref name="Premiere"/>
| end1 = {{End date|2018|7|22}}
| endrating1 = 0.781<ref name="1.08"/>
| viewers1 = 0.645<ref name="S1Ratings"/>
| 18_49_rating1 = 0.25<ref name="S1Ratings">{{cite web|url=https://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/pose-season-one-ratings/|title=Pose: Season One Ratings|website=TV Series Finale|date=July 24, 2018|access-date=May 22, 2019}}</ref>

| link2 = #Season 2 (2018–19)
| episodes2 = 10
| timeslot2 = Tuesday 10:00 pm
| start2 = {{Start date|2019|6|11}}
| startrating2 = 0.672<ref name="2.01"/>
| end2 = {{End date|2019|8|20}}
| endrating2 = 0.536<ref name="2.10"/>
| viewers2 = 0.541<ref name="S2Ratings"/>
| 18_49_rating2 = 0.19<ref name="S2Ratings">{{cite web|url=https://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/pose-season-two-ratings/|title=Pose: Season Two Ratings|date=August 21, 2019|work=TV Series Finale|access-date=August 21, 2019}}</ref>

| link3 = #Season 3
| episodes3 = 8
| timeslot3 = Sunday 10:00 pm
| start3 = {{Start date|2021|5|2}}
| startrating3 = 0.498<ref name="3.01–3.02"/>
| end3 = {{End date|2021|6|6}}
| endrating3 = 0.485<ref name="TVSeriesFinale"/>
| viewers3 =
| 18_49_rating3 =
|}}

==== Season 1 ====
{{Television episode ratings
| noshare = y
| title1 = [[#ep1|Pilot]]
| date1 = June 3, 2018
| rs1 = 0.2
| viewers1 = 0.688<ref name="Premiere"/>
| dvr1 = 0.2
| dvrv1 = 0.444
| total1 = 0.4
| totalv1 = 1.132<ref>{{cite web|url=http://programminginsider.com/live3-weekly-ratings-the-americans-series-finale-on-fx-hits-season-highs-and-more-than-doubles-its-original-telecast-viewership/|title=Live+3 Weekly Ratings: ''The Americans'' Series Finale on FX Hits Season-Highs and More Than Doubles its Original Telecast Viewership|last=Pucci|first=Douglas|date=June 8, 2018|work=Programming Insider|access-date=June 8, 2018}}</ref>

| title2 = [[#ep2|Access]]
| date2 = June 10, 2018
| rs2 = 0.2
| viewers2 = 0.548<ref name="1.02"/>
| dvr2 = 0.1
| dvrv2 = 0.338
| total2 = 0.3
| totalv2 = 0.887<ref>{{cite web|url=http://programminginsider.com/live3-weekly-ratings-code-black-on-cbs-gains-the-most-in-total-viewers/|title=Live+3 Weekly Ratings: ''Code Black'' on CBS Gains the Most in Total Viewers|last=Pucci|first=Douglas|date=June 15, 2018|work=Programming Insider|access-date=June 15, 2018}}</ref>

| title3 = [[#ep3|Giving and Receiving]]
| date3 = June 17, 2018
| rs3 = 0.2
| viewers3 = 0.561<ref name="1.03"/>
| dvr3 = 0.2
| dvrv3 = 0.358
| total3 = 0.4
| totalv3 = 0.919<ref>{{cite web|url=http://programminginsider.com/live3-weekly-ratings-code-black-staves-off-shades-of-blue-season-premiere-to-remain-the-leader-in-scripted-fare-in-total-viewer-gains/|title=Live+3 Weekly Ratings: ''Code Black'' Staves Off ''Shades of Blue'' Season Premiere to Remain the Leader in Scripted Fare in Total Viewer Gains|last=Pucci|first=Douglas|date=June 22, 2018|work=Programming Insider|access-date=June 22, 2018}}</ref>

| title4 = [[#ep4|The Fever]]
| date4 = June 24, 2018
| rs4 = 0.3
| viewers4 = 0.719<ref name="1.04"/>
| dvr4 = 0.2
| dvrv4 = 0.438
| total4 = 0.5
| totalv4 = 1.158<ref>{{cite web|url=http://programminginsider.com/live3-weekly-ratings-yellowstone-earns-best-ad-supported-cable-drama-series-premiere-in-2-years-code-black-the-top-scripted-fare-gainer-in-viewers-for-fourth-straight-week/|title=Live+3 Weekly Ratings: ''Yellowstone'' Earns Best Ad-Supported Cable Drama Series Premiere in 2 Years; ''Code Black'' the Top Scripted Fare Gainer in Viewers for Fourth Straight Week|last=Pucci|first=Douglas|date=June 29, 2018|work=Programming Insider|access-date=June 29, 2018}}</ref>

| title5 = [[#ep5|Mother's Day]]
| date5 = July 1, 2018
| rs5 = 0.3
| viewers5 = 0.582<ref name="1.05"/>
| dvr5 = 0.1
| dvrv5 = 0.390
| total5 = 0.4
| totalv5 = 0.973<ref>{{cite web|url=http://programminginsider.com/live3-weekly-ratings-code-black-leads-all-telecasts-in-viewer-lifts-big-brother-20-debuts-in-three-of-top-4-among-adults-18-49-gains/|title=Live+3 Weekly Ratings: ''Code Black'' Leads All Telecasts in Viewer Lifts; ''Big Brother 20'' Debuts in Three of Top 4 Among Adults 18–49 Gains|last=Pucci|first=Douglas|date=July 6, 2018|work=Programming Insider|access-date=July 6, 2018}}</ref>

| title6 = [[#ep6|Love Is the Message]]
| date6 = July 8, 2018
| rs6 = 0.3
| viewers6 = 0.594<ref name="1.06"/>
| dvr6 = 0.2
| dvrv6 = 0.436
| total6 = 0.5
| totalv6 = 1.031<ref>{{cite web|url=http://programminginsider.com/live3-weekly-ratings-code-black-july-4th-episode-tops-all-in-viewer-lifts-animal-kingdom-leads-scripted-cable-fare-in-raw-gains/|title=Live+3 Weekly Ratings: ''Code Black'' July 4th Episode Tops All in Viewer Lifts; ''Animal Kingdom'' Leads Scripted Cable Fare in Raw Gains|last=Pucci|first=Douglas|date=July 14, 2018|work=Programming Insider|access-date=July 14, 2018}}</ref>

| title7 = [[#ep7|Pink Slip]]
| date7 = July 15, 2018
| rs7 = 0.3
| viewers7 = 0.689<ref name="1.07"/>
| dvr7 = 0.1
| dvrv7 = 0.372
| total7 = 0.4
| totalv7 = 1.062<ref>{{cite web|url=http://programminginsider.com/live3-weekly-ratings-yellowstone-tops-in-raw-gains-among-all-scripted-fare/|title=Live+3 Weekly Ratings: ''Yellowstone'' Tops in Raw Gains Among All Scripted Fare|last=Pucci|first=Douglas|date=July 21, 2018|work=Programming Insider|access-date=July 21, 2018}}</ref>

| title8 = [[#ep8|Mother of the Year]]
| date8 = July 22, 2018
| rs8 = 0.3
| viewers8 = 0.781<ref name="1.08"/>
| dvr8 = 0.1
| dvrv8 = 0.371
| total8 = 0.4
| totalv8 = 1.153<ref>{{cite web|url=http://programminginsider.com/live3-weekly-ratings-code-black-cbs-finale-tops-all-scripted-telecasts-in-viewer-gains/|title=Live+3 Weekly Ratings: ''Code Black'' CBS Finale Tops All Scripted Telecasts in Viewer Gains|last=Pucci|first=Douglas|date=July 28, 2018|work=Programming Insider|access-date=July 28, 2018}}</ref>
}}

==== Season 2 ====
{{Television episode ratings
| noshare = y
| title1 = [[#ep9|Acting Up]]
| date1 = June 11, 2019
| rs1 = 0.3
| viewers1 = 0.672<ref name="2.01"/>
| dvr1 = n/a
| dvrv1 = 0.653
| total1 = n/a
| totalv1 = 1.328<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-june-10-16-2019/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190627184617/https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-june-10-16-2019/|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 27, 2019|title='Big Little Lies' scores big gains in cable Live +7 ratings for June 10–16|last=Welch|first=Alex|work=TV by the Numbers|date=June 27, 2019|access-date=June 27, 2019}}</ref>

| title2 = [[#ep10|Worth It]]
| date2 = June 18, 2019
| rs2 = 0.2
| viewers2 = 0.567<ref name="2.02"/>
| dvr2 = 0.2
| dvrv2 = 0.640
| total2 = 0.4
| totalv2 = 1.208<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-june-17-23-2019/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190709215223/https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-june-17-23-2019/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 9, 2019|title='Yellowstone' premiere doubles in cable Live +7 ratings for June 17–23|last=Welch|first=Alex|work=TV by the Numbers|date=July 9, 2019|access-date=July 9, 2019}}</ref>

| title3 = [[#ep11|Butterfly/Cocoon]]
| date3 = June 25, 2019
| rs3 = 0.2
| viewers3 = 0.589<ref name="2.03"/>
| dvr3 = 0.2
| dvrv3 = 0.573
| total3 = 0.4
| totalv3 = 1.163<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-june-24-30-2019/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716190432/https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-june-24-30-2019/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 16, 2019|title='Yellowstone' easily leads the cable Live +7 ratings for June 24–30|last=Welch|first=Alex|work=TV by the Numbers|date=July 16, 2019|access-date=July 16, 2019}}</ref>

| title4 = [[#ep12|Never Knew Love Like This Before]]
| date4 = July 9, 2019
| rs4 = 0.2
| viewers4 = 0.580<ref name="2.04"/>
| dvr4 = 0.2
| dvrv4 = 0.686
| total4 = 0.4
| totalv4 = 1.268<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-july-8-14-2019/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190812181310/https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-july-8-14-2019/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 12, 2019|title='Yellowstone' returns with the biggest gains in the cable Live +7 ratings for July 8–14|last=Welch|first=Alex|work=TV by the Numbers|date=August 12, 2019|access-date=August 12, 2019}}</ref>

| title5 = [[#ep13|What Would Candy Do?]]
| date5 = July 16, 2019
| rs5 = 0.1
| viewers5 = 0.497<ref name="2.05"/>
| dvr5 = 0.3
| dvrv5 = 0.596
| total5 = 0.4
| totalv5 = 1.094<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-july-15-21-2019/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190814182442/https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-july-15-21-2019/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 14, 2019|title='Yellowstone,' 'Below Deck Mediterranean' lead the cable Live +7 ratings for July 15–21|last=Welch|first=Alex|work=TV by the Numbers|date=August 14, 2019|access-date=August 14, 2019}}</ref>

| title6 = [[#ep14|Love's In Need Of Love Today]]
| date6 = July 23, 2019
| rs6 = 0.2
| viewers6 = 0.505<ref name="2.06"/>
| dvr6 = n/a
| dvrv6 = 0.588
| total6 = n/a
| totalv6 = 1.095<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-july-22-28-2019/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190816181125/https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-july-22-28-2019/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 16, 2019|title='Teen Mom' scores top 18–49 gain in cable Live +7 ratings for July 22–28|last=Welch|first=Alex|work=TV by the Numbers|date=August 16, 2019|access-date=August 16, 2019}}</ref>

| title7 = [[#ep15|Blow]]
| date7 = July 30, 2019
| rs7 = 0.2
| viewers7 = 0.405<ref name="2.07"/>
| dvr7 = n/a
| dvrv7 = 0.617
| total7 = n/a
| totalv7 = 1.023<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-july-29-aug-4-2019/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190819205346/https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-july-29-aug-4-2019/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 19, 2019|title='Descendants 3' scores big gains in cable Live +7 ratings for July 29 – August 4|last=Welch|first=Alex|work=TV by the Numbers|date=August 19, 2019|access-date=August 19, 2019}}</ref>

| title8 = [[#ep16|Revelations]]
| date8 = August 6, 2019
| rs8 = 0.2
| viewers8 = 0.508<ref name="2.08"/>
| dvr8 = 0.2
| dvrv8 = 0.540
| total8 = 0.4
| totalv8 = 1.051<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-aug-5-11-2019/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190826182820/https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-aug-5-11-2019/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 26, 2019|title='Yellowstone' doubles its audience in cable Live +7 ratings for August 5–11|last=Welch|first=Alex|work=TV by the Numbers|date=August 26, 2019|access-date=August 26, 2019}}</ref>

| title9 = [[#ep17|Life's a Beach]]
| date9 = August 13, 2019
| rs9 = 0.2
| viewers9 = 0.547<ref name="2.09"/>
| dvr9 = n/a
| dvrv9 = 0.553
| total9 = n/a
| totalv9 = 1.102<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-aug-12-18-2019/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829215513/https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-aug-12-18-2019/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 29, 2019|title='Yellowstone' stays on top of the cable Live +7 ratings for August 12–18|last=Welch|first=Alex|work=TV by the Numbers|date=August 29, 2019|access-date=August 29, 2019}}</ref>

| title10 = [[#ep18|In My Heels]]
| date10 = August 20, 2019
| rs10 = 0.2
| viewers10 = 0.536<ref name="2.10"/>
| dvr10 = n/a
| dvrv10 = n/a
| total10 = n/a
| totalv10 = n/a
}}

==== Season 3 ====
{{Television episode ratings
| noshare = y

| title1 = [[#ep19|On the Run]]
| date1 = May 2, 2021
| rs1 = 0.1
| viewers1 = 0.498<ref name="3.01–3.02"/>
| dvr1 =
| dvrv1 =
| total1 =
| totalv1 =

| title2 = [[#ep20|Intervention]]
| date2 = May 2, 2021
| rs2 = 0.1
| viewers2 = 0.370<ref name="3.01–3.02"/>
| dvr2 =
| dvrv2 =
| total2 =
| totalv2 =

| title3 = [[#ep21|The Trunk]]
| date3 = May 9, 2021
| rs3 = 0.1
| viewers3 = 0.394<ref name="3.03"/>
| dvr3 =
| dvrv3 =
| total3 =
| totalv3 =

| title4 = [[#ep22|Take Me To Church]]
| date4 = May 16, 2021
| rs4 = 0.1
| viewers4 = 0.404<ref name="3.04"/>
| dvr4 = 0.1
| dvrv4 = 0.399
| total4 = 0.3
| totalv4 = 0.803<ref name="3.04"/>

}}

===Accolades===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%"
! scope="col"| Year
! scope="col"| Award
! scope="col"| Category
! scope="col"| Nominee(s)
! scope="col"| Result
! scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{Abbr|Ref.|References}}
|-
| align="center" rowspan="2"| 2018
| align="left"| [[Gotham Independent Film Awards 2018|Gotham Independent Film Awards]]
| Breakthrough Series – Long Form
| ''Pose''
| {{nom}}
| align="center" |<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wagmeister |first1=Elizabeth |title=Gotham Awards: A24 Sweeps With Five Wins, Including ''First Reformed'', ''Eighth Grade'' (Full Winners List) |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/gotham-awards-winners-list-2018-new-york-1203037073/ |access-date=December 21, 2018 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=November 26, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| align="left"| [[American Film Institute Awards 2018|American Film Institute Awards]]
| Top 10 TV Programs of the Year
| ''Pose''
| {{won}}
| align="center"|<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pedersen |first1=Erik |title=AFI Awards 2018 TV: ''This Is Us'' Is Lone Broadcast Show As FX Nabs Four Of 10 Slots |url=https://deadline.com/2018/12/afi-awards-2018-tv-this-is-us-fx-hbo-1202513736/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |access-date=December 4, 2018 |date=December 4, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" rowspan="31"| 2019
| align="left" rowspan="2"| [[76th Golden Globe Awards|Golden Globe Awards]]
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Drama|Best Television Series – Drama]]
| ''Pose''
| {{nom}}
| align="center" rowspan="2"|<ref>{{cite web |last=Snierson |first=Dan |title=Golden Globes 2019: See the full winners list |url=https://ew.com/golden-globes/2019/01/06/golden-globes-2019-winners-list/ |website=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=January 6, 2019 |date=January 6, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama|Best Actor – Television Series Drama]]
| [[Billy Porter (entertainer)|Billy Porter]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| align="left" rowspan="4"| [[Dorian Awards]]
| TV Drama of the Year
| ''Pose''
| {{won}}
| align="center" rowspan="4"|<ref>{{cite web |last=Kilkenny |first=Katie |title=Unsung Film of the Year – ''The Favourite'', ''Pose'', ''Killing Eve'' Lead Dorian Award Nominations |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/2019-gay-lesbian-entertainment-critics-dorian-award-nominees-1172267 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=January 9, 2018 |date=January 3, 2018}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web |last=Kilday |first=Gregg |title=Dorian Awards: ''The Favourite'' Named Film of the Year |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/2019-dorian-awards-2019-winners-list-1174806 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=January 8, 2019 |date=January 8, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| TV Performance of the Year — Actor
| Billy Porter
| {{won}}
|-
| LGBTQ TV Show of the Year
| ''Pose''
| {{won}}
|-
| TV Musical Performance of the Year
| Billy Porter, [[Mj Rodriguez]] and [[Our Lady J]] (performing "Home")
| {{won}}
|-
| align="left" rowspan="2"| [[9th Critics' Choice Television Awards|Critics' Choice Television Awards]]
| [[Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Drama Series|Best Drama Series]]
| ''Pose''
| {{nom}}
| align="center" rowspan="2"|<ref>{{cite web |last=Crist |first=Allison |title=Critics' Choice Awards: ''Roma'', ''Americans'', ''Mrs. Maisel'' Top Winners |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/2019-critics-choice-awards-winners-list-full-1172261 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=January 13, 2019 |date=January 13, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| [[Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series|Best Actor in a Drama Series]]
| Billy Porter
| {{nom}}
|-
| align="left"| [[Writers Guild of America Awards 2018|Writers Guild of America Awards]]
| [[Writers Guild of America Award for Television: New Series|Television: New Series]]
| style="max-width: 18em;" | [[Steven Canals]], [[Brad Falchuk]], Todd Kubrak, [[Janet Mock]], [[Ryan Murphy (writer)|Ryan Murphy]] and Our Lady J
| {{nom}}
| align="center" |<ref>{{cite web |last=Hipes |first=Patrick |title=WGA Awards TV Nominations: ''The Handmaid's Tale'', ''Barry'', ''SNL'' Make List |url=https://deadline.com/2018/12/writers-guild-awards-tv-nominations-2019-list-1202515496/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |access-date=December 6, 2018 |date=December 6, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| align="left"| [[30th GLAAD Media Awards|GLAAD Media Awards]]
| [[GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Drama Series|Outstanding Drama Series]]
| ''Pose''
| {{won}}
| align="center" |<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/glaad-media-awards-complete-list-winners-2019-nyc-1206886/item/outstanding-drama-series-1197809|title=GLAAD Media Awards: ''Boy Erased'', ''Pose'', ''Gianni Versace'' Among Winners |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |first=Kimberly |last=Nordyke |date=May 4, 2019 |access-date=May 5, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| align="left" |[[List of Peabody Award winners (2010–2019)|Peabody Awards]]
| Entertainment honoree
| ''Pose''
| {{won}}
| align="center" | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/04/peabody-awards-barry-killing-eve-hannah-gadsby-pose-entertainment-winners-list-1202598447/|title=Peabody Awards: ''Barry'', ''Killing Eve'', Hannah Gadsby, ''Pose'' Among Entertainment Winners|last=Hipes|first=Patrick|date=April 18, 2019|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|access-date=April 18, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| [[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences|Television Academy Honors]]
| Outstanding Programs and Storytellers Advancing Social Change Through Television
| ''Pose''
| {{won}}
| align="center" | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.emmys.com/news/awards-news/honors-190416|title=Television Academy Honors Announced|publisher=[[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences]]|access-date=April 23, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| [[MTV Movie & TV Awards]]
| Breakthrough Performance
| Mj Rodriguez
| {{nom}}
| align="center" | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvline.com/2019/05/14/mtv-awards-2019-nominations-full-list-nominees/|title=MTV Movie & TV Awards: ''Riverdale'', ''Thrones'' Among 2019 Nominees|publisher=[[TV Line]]|access-date=May 15, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| align="left" rowspan="4"| [[35th TCA Awards|TCA Awards]]
| [[TCA Award for Program of the Year|Program of the Year]]
| rowspan="3"| ''Pose''
| {{nom}}
| align="center" rowspan="4"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/pose-russian-doll-hbo-lead-2019-tv-critic-awards-nominations-1219571 |title='Pose,' 'Russian Doll,' HBO Lead 2019 TV Critic Awards Nominations |website=The Hollywood Reporter |last=Goldberg |first=Lesley |date=June 19, 2019 |access-date=June 22, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| [[TCA Award for Outstanding New Program|Outstanding New Program]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[TCA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Drama|Outstanding Achievement in Drama]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[TCA Award for Individual Achievement in Drama|Individual Achievement in Drama]]
| Billy Porter
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="7"|Gold Derby Awards
| Best Drama Series
| ''Pose''
| {{nom}}
| align="center" rowspan="7"|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.goldderby.com/article/2019/gold-derby-tv-awards-2019-nominations-game-of-thrones-veep-news/ |title=Gold Derby TV Awards 2019 nominations: 'Game of Thrones' and 'Veep' lead, while 'Pose' is the top new show of the year |date=July 24, 2019 |publisher=[[Gold Derby]] |access-date=July 24, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2"|Best Drama Episode
| "Love Is the Message"
| {{nom}}
|-
| "Mother of the Year"
| {{nom}}
|-
| Best Drama Actor
| Billy Porter
| {{won}}
|-
| Best Drama Actress
| Mj Rodriguez
| {{nom}}
|-
| Best Drama Guest Actor
| [[Christopher Meloni]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| Best Ensemble
| The cast of ''Pose''
| {{nom}}
|-
| align="left" rowspan="2"| [[71st Primetime Emmy Awards|Primetime Emmy Awards]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series|Outstanding Drama Series]]
| Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, [[Nina Jacobson]], [[Brad Simpson (producer)|Brad Simpson]], Alexis Martin Woodall, Sherry Marsh, Steven Canals, [[Silas Howard]], Janet Mock, Our Lady J, [[Lou Eyrich]] and Erica Kay
| {{nom}}
| align="center" rowspan="7"| <ref name="THR 2019-07-16">{{cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/pose-star-billy-porter-nominated-emmy-trans-actresses-snubbed-1224617 |title=Emmys: ''Pose'' Star Billy Porter Nominated for Best Drama Actor, Trans Actresses Snubbed |author=Evan Real |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=July 16, 2019 |access-date=July 16, 2019 }}</ref> <ref name="71st Emmys full list">{{cite web|url=https://www.emmys.com/sites/default/files/Downloads/71st-nominations-list-v1.pdf|title=2019 Primetime Emmy® Awards: Nomination Press Release|date=July 16, 2019|publisher=[[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716161049/https://www.emmys.com/sites/default/files/Downloads/71st-nominations-list-v1.pdf|archive-date=July 16, 2019|access-date=July 16, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series|Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series]]
| Billy Porter (for "Love Is the Message")
| {{won}}
|-
| align="left" rowspan="5"| [[71st Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards|Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series|Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series]]
| Alexa L. Fogel
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Hairstyling for a Single-Camera Series|Outstanding Hairstyling for a Single-Camera Series]]
| Chris Clark, Barry Lee Moe, Jameson Eaton, Mia Neal, Tim Harvey and Sabana Majeed (for "[[Pilot (Pose)|Pilot]]")
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Makeup for a Single-Camera Series (Non-Prosthetic)|Outstanding Makeup for a Single-Camera Series]]
| Sherri Laurence, Nicky Pattison Illum, Chris Milone, Deja Smith, Lucy O'Reilly and Andrew Sotomayor (for "[[Pilot (Pose)|Pilot]]")
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Period Costumes|Outstanding Period Costumes]]
| Lou Eyrich, Analucia Mcgorty, Amy Ritchings and Kevin Ritter (for "[[Pilot (Pose)|Pilot]]")
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series|Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series]]
| ''Pose: Identity, Family Community (Inside Look)''
| {{nom}}
|-
| align="center" rowspan="22"| 2020
| align="left"|[[77th Golden Globe Awards|Golden Globe Awards]]
| Best Actor – Television Series Drama
| Billy Porter
| {{nom}}
| align="center"|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/2020-golden-globes-nominations-full-list-1259626 |title=Golden Globes: Full List of Nominations |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=December 9, 2019 |access-date=December 9, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| align="left" rowspan="3"| [[10th Critics' Choice Television Awards|Critics' Choice Television Awards]]
| Best Drama Series
| ''Pose''
| {{nom}}
| align="center" rowspan="3"|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tvline.com/2019/12/08/critics-choice-awards-nominations-2020-full-list-tv-nominees/ |title=Critics' Choice Awards 2020: Fleabag, Watchmen, When They See Us, Unbelievable Among TV Nominees |website=TVLine |date=December 8, 2019 |access-date=December 8, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Best Actor in a Drama Series
| Billy Porter
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series|Best Actress in a Drama Series]]
| Mj Rodriguez
| {{nom}}
|-
| align="left"| [[Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild]]s
| Television Series, Mini-Series or New Media – Best Period and/or Character Hair Styling
| Barry Lee Moe, Timothy Harvey and Sabana Majeed
| {{nom}}
| align="center"|<ref>{{cite web |title=WINNERS! 7th Annual MUAHS Guild Awards |url=http://www.local706.org/winners-7th-annual-muahs-guild-awards/ |access-date=January 12, 2020 |date=January 12, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| align="left"| [[Casting Society of America]]
| Television Pilot & First Season – Drama
| Alexa L. Fogel, Kathryn Zamora-Benson and Caitlin D. Jones
| {{won}}
| align="center"|<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/casting-society-tv-theatre-artios-awards-nominations-complete-list-1242878 | title = Artios Awards: 'Succession,' 'Pose,' 'Dead to Me' Among Casting Society TV, Theater Nominees |first = Hillary | last = Lewis | date = September 24, 2019 |work = [[The Hollywood Reporter]] | access-date = February 2, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| align="left"| [[31st GLAAD Media Awards|GLAAD Media Awards]]
| [[GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Drama Series|Outstanding Drama Series]]
| ''Pose''
| {{won}}
| align="center"|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/glaad-media-award-nominations-2020-full-list-nominees-1267736 |title=GLAAD Media Awards: 'Booksmart,' 'Bombshell,' 'Rocketman' Among Nominees |first1=Chris |last1=Gardner |first2=Annie |last2=Howard |date=January 8, 2020 |access-date=January 8, 2020 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref>
|-
| align="left" rowspan="4"| [[Dorian Awards]]
| TV Drama of the Year
| ''Pose''
| {{win}}
| align="center" rowspan="4"|<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nordyke |first1=Kimberly |title=TV Comedy of the Year – 'Parasite' Tops Dorian Awards With 5 Wins |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/2020-gay-lesbian-entertainment-critics-dorian-awards-full-list-1268129/item/tv-comedy-year-1265608 |access-date=14 July 2020 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=8 January 2020 }}</ref>
|-
| TV Performance of the Year — Actress
| Mj Rodriguez
| {{nom}}
|-
| TV Performance of the Year — Actress
| Billy Porter
| {{win}}
|-
| LGBTQ TV Show of the Year
| ''Pose''
| {{win}}
|-
| [[36th TCA Awards|TCA Awards]]
| Outstanding Achievement in Drama
| ''Pose''
| {{nom}}
| align="center"|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tvline.com/2020/07/09/tca-awards-nominations-2020-watchmen/ |title=TCA Awards: Watchmen, Unbelievable and Schitt's Creek Lead Nominations |website=TVLine |first=Matt Webb |last=Mitovich |date=July 9, 2020 |access-date=July 10, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| align="left"| [[72nd Primetime Emmy Awards|Primetime Emmy Awards]]
| Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
| Billy Porter (for "Love's in Need of Love Today")
| {{nom}}
| align="center" rowspan="6"|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/2020-emmy-nominations-live-updating-1303894 |title=Emmy Awards: Nominations List |first1=Jennifer |last1=Konerman |first2=Hilary |last2=Lewis |first3=Kimberly |last3=Nordyke |date=July 28, 2020 |access-date=July 28, 2020 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> <ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.emmys.com/sites/default/files/Downloads/72nd-nominations-list-v1.pdf?q=1 |title=2020 Primetime Emmy |date=July 28, 2020 |access-date=July 28, 2020 |publisher=[[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences]]}}</ref>
|-
| align="left" rowspan="5"| [[72nd Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards|Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards]]
| Outstanding Period Costumes
| Analucia McGorty, Nicky Smith, Alexa DeFazio and Linda Giammarese (for "Acting Up")
| {{nom}}
|-
| Outstanding Period and/or Character Hairstyling
| Barry Lee Moe, Timothy Harvey, Sabana Majeed, Liliana Meyrick, Lisa Thomas, Greg Bazemore, Jessie Mojica and Charlene Belmond (for "Worth It")
| {{nom}}
|-
| Outstanding Period and/or Character Makeup (Non-Prosthetic)
| Sherri Berman Laurence, Nicky Pattison Illum, Chris Milone, Deja Smith and Jessica Padilla (for "Acting Up")
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup for a Series, Limited Series, Movie or Special|Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup for a Series, Limited Series, Movie or Special]]
| David Presto, Greg Pikulski, Brett Schmidt, Lisa Forst and Keith Palmer (for "Love's in Need of Love Today")
| {{nom}}
|-
| Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series
| ''Pose: Identity, Family, Community''
| {{nom}}
|-
| align="left" rowspan="4"| [[Black Reel Awards of 2020|Black Reel Television Awards]]
| Outstanding Drama Series
| ''Pose''
| {{won}}
| align="center" rowspan="4"|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blackreelawards.com/watchmen-insecure-pace-the-black-reel-awards-for-tv-nominations/|title=''Watchmen'' & ''Insecure'' Pace the Black Reel Awards for TV Nominations|work=Black Reel Awards|date=June 18, 2020|accessdate=February 20, 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[Black Reel Award for Outstanding Actor, Drama Series|Outstanding Actor, Drama Series]]
| Billy Porter
| {{nom}}
|-
| Outstanding Directing, Drama Series
| Janet Mock (for "In My Heels")
| {{won}}
|-
| Outstanding Writing, Drama Series
| Janet Mock and Ryan Murphy (for "Love Like This Before")
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="12" align="center"| 2021
| rowspan="2"| [[37th TCA Awards|TCA Awards]]
| [[TCA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Drama|Outstanding Achievement in Drama]]
| ''Pose''
| {{pending}}
| rowspan="2" align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |last=Turchiano |first=Danielle |url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/2021-tca-awards-nominations-list-ted-lasso-wandavision-1235020447/ |title='Ted Lasso' Scores the Most 2021 TCA Awards Nominations |date=July 15, 2021 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=July 16, 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[TCA Award for Individual Achievement in Drama|Individual Achievement in Drama]]
| Mj Rodriguez
| {{pending}}
|-
| rowspan="5"| [[73rd Primetime Emmy Awards|Primetime Emmy Awards]]
| Outstanding Drama Series
| Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, Alexis Martin Woodall, Sherry Marsh, Steven Canals, Janet Mock, Our Lady J, Tanase Popa, Lou Eyrich, Jeff Dickerson, Todd Nenninger and Kip Davis Myers
| {{pending}}
| rowspan="10" style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2021/07/2021-emmy-nominations-list-1234791599/ |title=Emmy Nominations: ‘The Crown’, ‘The Mandalorian’ Top List; HBO/HBO Max Edges Netflix For Top Spot – Full List Of Nominees |website=Deadline |first=Patrick |last=Hipes |date=July 13, 2021 |access-date=July 13, 2021}}</ref>
|-
| Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
| Billy Porter {{small|(for "Take Me To Church")}}
| {{pending}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series|Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series]]
| Mj Rodriguez {{small|(for "Series Finale")}}
| {{pending}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series|Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series]]
| Steven Canals {{small|(for "Series Finale")}}
| {{pending}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series|Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series]]
| Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, Steven Canals, Janet Mock and Our Lady J {{small|(for "Series Finale")}}
| {{pending}}
|-
| rowspan="5"| [[73rd Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards|Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Contemporary Costumes|Outstanding Contemporary Costumes]]
| Analucia McGorty, Michelle Roy and Linda Giammarese {{small|(for "Series Finale")}}
| {{pending}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Contemporary Hairstyling|Outstanding Contemporary Hairstyling]]
| Barry Lee Moe, Timothy Harvey, Greg Bazemore, Tene Wilder, Lisa Thomas and Rob Harmon {{small|(for "Series Finale")}}
| {{pending}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Makeup (Non-Prosthetic)|Outstanding Contemporary Makeup (Non-Prosthetic)]]
| Sherri Berman Laurence, Nicky Pattison Illum, Charles Zambrano, Shaun Thomas Gibson, Jessica Padilla and Jennifer Suarez {{small|(for "Series Finale")}}
| {{pending}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup for a Series, Limited Series, Movie or Special|Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup]]
| Thomas Denier Jr. {{small|(for "On the Run")}}
| {{pending}}
|-
| Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series
| ''Pose: Identity, Family, Community''
| {{pending}}
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|LGBT|Television|Transgender}}
* [[LGBT culture in New York City]]
* [[List of dramatic television series with LGBT characters]]
{{Clear}}

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{notelist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website}}
* {{BBC programme|m0003g1h}}
* {{IMDb title|7562112}}

{{GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Drama Series}}
{{Ryan Murphy}}
{{Ball culture}}
{{Drag performance}}
{{FX network programming}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pose (TV series)}}
[[Category:2010s American black television series]]
[[Category:Hispanic and Latino American television]]
[[Category:2010s American drama television series]]
[[Category:2020s American black television series]]
[[Category:2020s American drama television series]]
[[Category:2018 American television series debuts]]
[[Category:2021 American television series endings]]
[[Category:2010s American LGBT-related drama television series]]
[[Category:2020s American LGBT-related drama television series]]
[[Category:LGBT African-American culture]]
[[Category:Ball culture]]
[[Category:Drag (clothing) television shows]]
[[Category:English-language television shows]]
[[Category:FX Networks original programming]]
[[Category:Gay-related television shows]]
[[Category:HIV/AIDS in television]]
[[Category:Peabody Award-winning television programs]]
[[Category:Prostitution in American television]]
[[Category:Television series by 20th Century Fox Television]]
[[Category:Television series created by Ryan Murphy (writer)]]
[[Category:Television series set in 1987]]
[[Category:Television series set in 1988]]
[[Category:Television series set in 1990]]
[[Category:Television series set in 1991]]
[[Category:Television series set in 1994]]
[[Category:Television series set in 1996]]
[[Category:Television series set in 1998]]
[[Category:Television series set in the 1980s]]
[[Category:Television series set in the 1990s]]
[[Category:Television shows set in New Jersey]]
[[Category:Television shows set in New York City]]
[[Category:Transgender-related television shows]]
[[Category:Television series created by Brad Falchuk]]
[[Category:Television productions suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic]]