Karen Betts

The following is a full list of actors / actresses featured in all eight series of Bad Girls. The character Shell Dockley was voted #8 on Virgin Media's "Top 10 TV Criminals". Listed by the series they were first introduced.

Helen Stewart was Wing Governor of G-Wing, whose authority was seldom adhered to, by the prisoners or the screws. Following a personal struggle with her sexuality, the battle to stand as an authority figure in Larkhall and the breakup from her fiancé Sean, she went on holiday to clear her head. After a delay in her flight, Helen is replaced by Jim Fenner. She returns shortly after but leaves. She then returns and began working with the lifers, was sexually assaulted by Jim Fenner (Jack Ellis), and struggled with coming to terms with her sexuality, she fell in love with prisoner Nikki Wade (Mandana Jones). When Simon is fired following the escape of Shell Dockley, Denny blood and Shaz Wylie, Helen becomes the new governing governor of Larkhall. Her feud with Fenner comes to a head and she resigns from Larkhall before he manages to have her sacked.

Nikki Wade is serving a life sentence for killing a policeman who raped her then-girlfriend Trisha. An out lesbian, Nikki is an outspoken strong-minded inmate who clashes with new wing governor Helen Stewart (Simone Lahbib) at the start of the series. Hated by Jim Fenner (Jack Ellis), Nikki is respected by most of the other inmates apart from Shell Dockley (Debra Stephenson). The pair frequently clash over Shell's relationship with Fenner and the fact that Nikki is not at all impressed or intimidated by Shell. After being dumped by Trisha, Nikki falls for Helen, but their relationship has many ups and downs. Nikki escapes from Larkhall in the Series 2 finale and the pair finally make love. However, Helen refuses to run away with Nikki and returns her to prison and ends their relationship. Nikki organises a peaceful protest when some of the officers brutally restrain Femi Bada, a non-English speaking inmate that is separated from her kids. This soon escalates into a riot and Helen ends their relationship once again but continues to help her with her appeal. In the final episode of Series 3, Dr. Waugh breaks up with Helen after realising she is still in love with Nikki and Helen reunites with Nikki on the outside after she wins her appeal.

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