ITV's scandalous drama Bad Girls first hit screens 22 years ago today and had an incredible eight suspenseful series.

The nail-biting drama portrayed the fictional lives of inmates and prison wardens of the notorious G-Wing in women's HMP Larkhall prison.

Over the course of seven years the popular show illustrated heart wrenching story lines as well as graphic violence, language, and sexual content which was unlike any other series aired on terrestrial television during it's time.

The well-liked programme was nominated for nine National Television Awards and received the award twice for most popular drama in 2000 and again in 2001.

The show also won eight TV Quick awards between the years 2000 and 2004.

As many die-hard fans have requested ITV to bring the BAG Girls back, Daily Star have taken a look at some of the original cast and what they've been up to since.

Debra Stephenson as Shell Dockley

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Shell Dockley played by actress Debra Stephenson was one of the most remembered characters from the series.

While behind bars the ruthless inmate was considered to be one of the Top Dog's among the prisoners of G-Wing.

She also had an ongoing affair with bent principal officer Jim Fenner.

But after the show, Debra continued working and landed a role in Coronation Street where she played the likeable cockney, Frankie Baldwin.

Though she only starred in the programme for two years, Frankie played an integral character as Bradley Walsh's wife in 2004.

During 2009 and 2011 Debra co-starred with Jon Culshaw in The Impressions Show. She was also one of the voices in the satirical puppet show Newzoids in 2015.

In 2020 Debra appeared in the revived Britbox version of Spitting Image where she played Queen Elizabeth II.

Linda Henry as Yvonne Atkins

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For those who may not know, Linda Henry played Bad Girls icon Yvonne Atkins from 1999 until 2003.

Since leaving the show, Linda has starred in popular British series, The Bill, Birds of a Feather, A Touch of Frost and Trial and Retribution.

But many soap fans will know Linda for playing EastEnders legend Shirley Carter.

Since Linda joined the soap in 2006 she has been a regular and much-loved character on the Square ever since.

Over the last 15 years, Linda's character Shirley has been involved in some of the soaps biggest storylines. From her on and off again relationship with Phil Mitchell to the introduction of her son Mick, played by Danny Dyer.

Jack Ellis as Jim Fenner

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Jack played the role of bent prison officer Jim Fenner in the show.

In the penultimate series of the ITV drama Jim was murdered by inmate Julie J.

Once he left the show, Jack went on to be a regular in ITV drama Where the Heart Is, and he also starred in ITV's Coronation Street as bookies owner Harry Mason in 2007.

Jack's character wasn't on the cobbles for long and left Weatherfield a year later in 2008. Since then, Jack’s had guest roles in Vera and Doctors.

In 2017 he also played Julius Caesar in Channel 5’s 8 Days That Made Rome.

Now in his mid 60's Jack has continued his career in acting and has also had a number of stage roles, including productions of Richard III and Great Expectations.

In 2016, the actor starred as Warden Stammas in the theatre production of Stephen King's The Shawshank Redemption, playing alongside actors Paul Nicholls and Ben Onwukwe.

Helen Fraser as Sylvia Hollamby

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Actress Helen played the iconic Sylvia Hollamby and was the only prison officer to appear in all eight series of the popular show.

Sylvia was a no- nonsense prison warden and was called "bodybag" by the inmates.

Since leaving Bad Girls, Helen, now 79, has also continued acting and has toured the UK as Mrs Fisher in a stage version of Billy Liar.

One of her most memorable roles since the programme ended was in 2011's Calendar Girls where she got her kit off.

But just like her co-stars Helen also appeared in Coronation Street in Doris Babbage in 2013. The star went on to appear in daytime soap Doctors and also featured in Bad Girls: The Musical.

Joanne Froggatt as Rachel Hicks

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Despite Joanne Froggatt only appearing in four episodes of the first series of Bad Girls her character Rachel Hicks was one of the most unforgettable storylines throughout the years.

Rachel Hicks was 19 at the time and was serving a 12-month sentence for drug possession.

However, she ended up committing suicide after she discovered her mother had put her daughter up for adoption.

Before starring in Bad Girls Joanne appeared Coronation Street as Zoe Tattersall and has gone on to become one of the soap's biggest exports.

Joanne played Anna Bates in Downton Abbey in 2010 and won a Golden Globe and an Emmy nomination for the role.

She also appeared in ITV drama Liar as Laura Nelson. As well as TV, the actress also appeared in theatre productions and in February 2019 she starred as Frances Thorpe in the thriller Alys, Always at the Bridge Theatre in London.

Claire King as Karen Betts

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Iconic actress Claire King joined Bad Girls in series two as the new G-Wing governor she also had an ongoing relationship with prison officer Jim Fenner. Jim later framed Karen for a hit and run incident.

Before she joined Bad Girls, Karen played Kim Tate in Emmerdale for a decade until 1999. She later reprised her role as Kim in October 2018 and has been causing havoc in the dales since then.

But Emmerdale and Bad Girls are not the only soaps the actress has been involved in. She also starred in Coronation Street as Erica Holroyd.

Not only this, but Kim has also appeared on reality TV shows such as Strictly Come Dancing in 2006 and Celebrity Big Brother in 2014.

Sharon Duncan-Brewster as Crystal Gordon

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Starring in the first four series of the iconic drama, actress Sharon Duncan-Brewster played the role of Crystal Gordon.

After she left the programme she went on to guest star in Holby City, Waking Dead, Babyfather and Doctors.

Sharon also joined the cast of Eastenders as Trina Johnson, who was the ex-wife of serial killer Lucas Johnson.

Lucas famously murdered Trina as he impaled her with a rake to the throat.

The actress also went on to play the role of Catherine Hunter, who is Alex Hunter's mother, in the FIFA 17's story mode known as "The Journey". She later reprised this role a year later.

In more recent times, Sharon starred in popular Netflix series Sex Education where she played the role of Jackson's mums, Roz Marchetti.

• ITV

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