POPS were delighted to welcome Prisoners’ Wives actresses Pippa Haywood and Sally Carman to POPS Head Office last week. Their visit followed an appearance on BBC Breakfast to promote the much anticipated second series of the critically acclaimed drama. Debbie Hayes, POPS Adult Services Manager, joined Pippa and Sally on the BBC Breakfast sofa to share her experience of having a partner in prison and to promote the role of real-life families in developing the series. During their visit to POPS, Pippa and Sally met the team who staff the National Offenders’ Families Helpline, an essential service offering information and support for offenders’ families throughout the criminal justice system.
Prisoners’ Wives Series 2 explores the distinct but interwoven stories of four different women affected by the imprisonment of a loved one. The four part series includes performances from Pippa Haywood and Polly Walker who reprise their roles as Harriet and Francesca alongside new cast members Karla Crome (Misfits) and Sally Carman (Shameless).
Underpinning the tensions and dramatic plot-twists, this drama taps into the true stories and experiences of men and women who have faced the reality of supporting a family member through a prison sentence. Back in 2010, fifteen family members were supported by POPS to contribute to the development of the original script, sharing their experiences with the writers and visiting the set to meet the cast, following an approach by Tiger Aspect Productions to act as consultants for the drama. Established by families of prisoners in 1988, POPS now deliver support services to families throughout the Criminal Justice System both locally and nationally.