# Bad Girls series 8

The eighth and final series of British drama series Bad Girls premiered on ITV on 13 July 2006. This, the final series, consists of eleven episodes which concluded with a Christmas special on 20 December 2006.
Series Eight introduces Amanda Donohoe (Lou Stoke), Sid Owen (Donny Kimber), Colin Salmon (Rowan Dunlop) and Angela Bruce (Mandy Goodhue). James Gaddas appears for the final time as Neil Grayling in the first episode in a guest appearance. Tracey Wilkinson (Di Barker), Rebecca Hazlewood (Arun Palmer) and Andrew Scarborough (Kevin Spiers) are not featured and no explanation for their absence is given.
This series does not follow the previous series and commences with new storylines, leaving several from the previous season unresolved.

## Episodes

| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | UK viewers (millions) |
| 97 | 1 | "Episode One" | Barnaby Southcombe | Liz Lake | 13 July 2006 (2006-07-13) | 5.40 |
| New Deputy Governor Lou Stoke has her work cut out on her first day at Larkhall when a sudden illness starts striking down the inmates. As rumours of a chemical attack start to spread, panic sets in, and all fingers point to new inmate Emira Al Jahani who is sent to Larkhall on suspicion of terrorism. Plus, Neil is found dead in his office following the sudden outbreak of Legionnaires' disease. Natalie's new right arm woman, Ashley Wilcox, is also found dead after contracting Legionnaires' disease. Phyl is shot in a bid for freedom with Bev. Note: final appearance of Neil Grayling (James Gaddas); first appearance of Lou Stoke (Amanda Donohoe); Donny Kimber (Sid Owen); Rowan Dunlop (Colin Salmon); Mandy Goodhue (Angela Bruce) |||||||
| 98 | 2 | "Episode Two" | Barnaby Southcombe | Ann McManus & Maureen Chadwick | 20 July 2006 (2006-07-20) | 4.47 |
| Donny Kimber and Lou escort Janine to her mother's funeral, unaware that Natalie has blackmailed their grieving charge into smuggling drugs back into Larkhall. New SMO Rowan Dunlop, records all his work with his patients and falls for Lou. Phyl and Bev blackmail Rowan into transferring her to an open hospital. Pat exacts revenge on Natalie, forcing drugs down her throat. |||||||
| 99 | 3 | "Episode Three" | Lance Kneeshaw | Jodi Reynolds | 27 July 2006 (2006-07-27) | 4.41 |
| New arrival Angela Robbins has been sent down for arson and attempted murder. She looks like she wouldn't say boo to a goose, but she is hiding a disturbing secret that is about to be revealed. Rowan and Lou grow closer and end up having sex. Also, Emira is freed from Larkhall after it is revealed that her husband, Hassan, was the real terrorist. |||||||
| 100 | 4 | "Episode Four" | Lance Kneeshaw | Phil Ford | 3 August 2006 (2006-08-03) | 4.18 |
| Joy is delighted when inmate Stella Gough decides that she wants to join the army. However, is Stella being completely honest about why she wants to join up? Janine starts using drugs and falls for Donny. Lou finds her sister, Vicky, in a strip club and a catfight erupts. |||||||
| 101 | 5 | "Episode Five" | Laurence Moody | Roxanne Harvey | 10 August 2006 (2006-08-10) | 4.28 |
| Julie S gets good news from her son. It gets steamy between Janine and Donny when they use an "appointment" to get to know each other a little more intimately. Will they manage to keep their romance under wraps? Items from the Four Bed Dorm are missing and Stella is the main suspect, so Darlene headbutts her. Phyl returns with plans to get alcohol into Larkhall, while Stella attacks Joy and is transferred. Natalie goes too far and Pat plots revenge, with the help of the Julies and Tina. Natalie attempts to force Julie S to reveal Pat's revenge plan by beating her up. |||||||
| 102 | 6 | "Episode Six" | Laurence Moody | Paul Mousley | 17 August 2006 (2006-08-17) | 4.87 |
| Lou and Vicky fall out following Vicky's suicide bid. It's the day of David and Fidelity's wedding and Pat's plan to get rid of Natalie backfires dramatically. As a massive fight ensues, it quickly becomes clear that there's a bitter and bloody end in store for one of them. Joy takes leave when she starts abusing alcohol. Janine slaps Darlene when she begins stealing her love letters to Donny. |||||||
| 103 | 7 | "Episode Seven" | Jim Loach | Liz Lake | 24 August 2006 (2006-08-24) | 5.00 |
| Tina's in court and hoping for an extended sentence. But when the Judge grants her release, she panics - she has absolutely no idea how to live on the outside. The Julies find Natalie and help Pat to hide her body. |||||||
| 104 | 8 | "Episode Eight" | Jim Loach | Phil Ford | 31 August 2006 (2006-08-31) | 4.56 |
| Tina is returned to Larkhall and almost kills herself when she self harms. Vicky becomes a Music teacher at Larkhall. Pat and the Julies are sweating over what to do with Natalie's dead body. They know they have to move it - a hot laundry is no place to hide a festering corpse. |||||||
| 105 | 9 | "Episode Nine" | Jim Loach | Roxanne Harvey | 7 September 2006 (2006-09-07) | 4.62 |
| Lou is glowing after a surprise marriage proposal from Rowan. She's totally unaware that he has no intention of divorcing his wife, or that he is supplying her sister with drugs. Janine goes on a day visit to her mother's grave with Donny, and the two get intimate and Janine attempts to free herself from Larkhall. Lou is sacked from Larkhall when she attacks Rowan. Note: final appearance of Lou Stoke (Amanda Donohoe); final appearance of Rowan Dunlop (Colin Salmon) |||||||
| 106 | 10 | "Episode Ten" | Lance Kneeshaw | Harriet Warner | 14 September 2006 (2006-09-14) | 4.98 |
| Famous new inmate, entrepreneur and interior design goddess Catherine Earlham decides to make Darlene a pawn in her twisted and dangerous game. Sylvia becomes acting G-Wing Governor, while Janine discovers she is pregnant but has to fool Joy into believing that her boyfriend "Michael" is responsible. Note: final appearance of Darlene Cake (Antonia Okonma); final appearance of Joy Masterton (Ellie Haddington) |||||||
| 107 | 11 | "Episode Eleven" | Laurence Moody | Phil Ford | 20 December 2006 (2006-12-20) | 5.13 |
| It's been a tough Christmas Eve on G-Wing, but things look to get even worse when Sylvia receives a nightmare visit from her very own ghost of Christmas past - Natalie Buxton. |||||||

## Reception
### Ratings

| No. | Title | Air date | Timeslot | Weekly ratings | Weekly ratings | Ref(s) |
| No. | Title | Air date | Timeslot | Viewers | Rank | Ref(s) |
| 1 | Episode 1 | 13 July 2006 | Thursday 9:00 pm | 5,400,000 | 11 | |
| 2 | Episode 2 | 20 July 2006 | Thursday 9:00 pm | 4,470,000 | 14 | |
| 3 | Episode 3 | 27 July 2006 | Thursday 9:00 pm | 4,410,000 | 15 | |
| 4 | Episode 4 | 3 August 2006 | Thursday 9:00 pm | 4,180,000 | 16 | |
| 5 | Episode 5 | 10 August 2006 | Thursday 9:00 pm | 4,280,000 | 15 | |
| 6 | Episode 6 | 17 August 2006 | Thursday 9:00 pm | 4,870,000 | 15 | |
| 7 | Episode 7 | 24 August 2006 | Thursday 9:00 pm | 5,000,000 | 16 | |
| 8 | Episode 8 | 31 August 2006 | Thursday 9:00 pm | 4,560,000 | 17 | |
| 9 | Episode 9 | 7 September 2006 | Thursday 9:00 pm | 4,620,000 | 18 | |
| 10 | Episode 10 | 14 September 2006 | Thursday 9:00 pm | 4,980,000 | 22 | |
| 11 | Episode 11 | 20 December 2006 | Wednesday 9:00 pm | 5,130,000 | 16 | |

### Awards nomination

* National Television Awards – Most Popular Drama (Nominated)

## Home Media

United Kingdom
* "Series Eight" – 26 December 2006 (3-DVD set distributed by 2 Entertain)
** As part of "Series Five to Eight" (14-DVD set distributed by 2 Entertain)
** "The Complete Series Eight" re-release – 2 April 2012 (3-DVD set distributed by Acorn Media)
** As part of "The Complete Collection" – 2 July 2012 (28-DVD set distributed by Acorn Media)
Australia
* "Series Eight" – 1 September 2007 (3-DVD set distributed by Shock Records)
** As part of "The Complete Collection" – 10 November 2010 (32-DVD set distributed by Shock Records)
** "Series Eight" re-release (individual from "The Complete Collection") – 1 June 2011 (3-DVD set distributed by Shock Records)