Within These Walls: On The Second Day of Christmas (ITV 20 Dec 1975, with Toni Palmer)

In On The Second Day of Christmas it’s the festive season at Stone Park but for Christmas in prison is too much to bear. There are plenty of activities planned, from the Christmas Day dinner and a special concert. Troubled inmate Jenny Palmer seems determined to do her best to spoil things for everyone.

There is a surprise return for Mrs Weeks, despite the fact that she had been taken in by Mrs Dobin, unfortunately Mrs D had broken her hip in a fall and Georgina Weeks had been left alone and returned to the demon drink.

The whole third act is pretty much given over to the concert with performances from Georgie, Barbara and Fran as well as Mrs Armitage who performs the famous monologue Albert and the Lion.

It’s all going rather well until Jenny causes a major disturbance in the hall. In the kerfuffle that follows, Sue Fields (who has organised the concert and is currently serving a four year sentence) manages to escape. It means major trouble for Stone Park and Faye is convinced that the escape will put all her efforts at reform back to square one. It sees the season end on something of a down beat and it would in fact turn out to be Googie Wither’s last appearance on the show. Katherine Blake would arrive for season four as new governor Helen Forester.

production details
UK / ITV – London Weekend Television / 1×50 minute episode / Broadcast Saturday 20 December 1975 at 9.30pm

Writer: David Butler / Production Design: Bryan Bagge / Director: Christopher Hodson

Series: Within These Walls Season 3 Episode 16

cast
Googie Withers as Faye Boswell
Jerome Willis as Charles Radley
Mona Bruce as Mrs Armitage
Beth Harris as Miss Clarke
Denys Hawthorne as Dr Peter Mayes
Sonia Graham as Martha Parrish
Floella Benjamin as Barbara
Toni Palmer as Fran
Annie Hayes as Pauline
Hazel Clyne as Marian Collins
Diane Fletcher as Sue Fields
Pamela Mosiewitch as Jenny Palmer
Diana Rayworth as P.O. Berryman
Betty Romaine as Mrs Weeks
Elaine Wells as Prison Offer Spencer
Raymond Adamson as Bill Boswell
Crispin Gillbard as Paul Boswell
Suzan Cameron as Eileen Armitage
Patricia Maynard as Beth Radley
Richard Aylen as Geoffrey Rushcote