A Very Open Prison - BBC2 Comedy Drama - British Comedy Guide (original) (raw)
Genre
Broadcast
Channel
Episodes
1
Stars
Tom Wilkinson, Ronald Pickup, Stephen Tompkinson, Emily Mortimer, Peter Wingfield, Michael Hordern, Geoffrey Whitehead, John Fortune and more
Writer
Director
Producers
Geoffrey Perkins, Denise O'Donoghue and Dave Thompson
Company
After spearheading the Government's latest round of public sector privatisations - this time, of the prison service - Home Secretary David Hanratty finds himself in hot water when three apparently violent and unhinged inmates escape from one of the newly privatised prisons just hours after he has paid it a visit.
The escape is not only a major failing of security and a national scandal, but it the strong possibility of a looming General Election means it has severe ramifications directly on Hanratty's career. Hotly tipped to be the next leader of the party and Prime Minister, he is enraged that the three convicts could be getting in his way.
Complications are further unleashed, between a hostage situation, the manoeuvres of the current PM, a critically ill fellow MP, a leaked speech and a troubled womens' prison that has been dubbed the 'Hilton'.
It's a race against time for Hanratty to save not just his own skin, but the fate of the entire present Government.
Additional details
Also known as
- Screen Two: A Very Open Prison
Production
Location
Camera set-up
Single camera
Picture
Colour
Website links
Broadcast details
First broadcast
Sunday 26th March 1995 at 10pm on BBC Two
Episode length
1 hour