Wentworth season 5

The fifth season of the television drama series Wentworth premiered on Showcase in Australia on 4 April 2017, having previously aired on SoHo, and concluded on 20 June 2017. It was executive produced by FremantleMedia's Director of Drama, Jo Porter. The season comprised 12 episodes. The fifth season picks up just days after the death of Bea Smith and is therefore noted as the first season not to feature Danielle Cormack.

Plot
Following Bea Smith's tragic death at the hands of Joan Ferguson, emotional, psychological and professional shockwaves pound the inmates and staff of Wentworth Correctional Centre. Governor Vera Bennett is under fire from Corrective Services and, with Will on suspension, she is relying more on her deputy Jake, not realising he is now Ferguson's puppet. New top dog Kaz has a challenge to restore order amongst the traumatised inmates, though Sonia remains aloof focusing on her upcoming trial. Liz has to decide if she follows her heart or her head. Doreen struggles with being separated from her son and Boomer supports Maxine as she continues her battle with breast cancer. On the outside, it falls to Franky to break the devastating news about Bea to Allie.

Regular

 * Nicole da Silva as Franky Doyle
 * Sigrid Thornton as Sonia Stevens
 * Celia Ireland as Liz Birdsworth
 * Shareena Clanton as Doreen Anderson
 * Katrina Milosevic as Sue "Boomer" Jenkins
 * Robbie Magasiva as Deputy Governor Will Jackson
 * Socratis Otto as Maxine Conway
 * Tammy Macintosh as Kaz Proctor
 * Kate Jenkinson as Allie Novak
 * Bernard Curry as Jake Stewart
 * Kate Atkinson as Governor Vera Bennett
 * Pamela Rabe as Joan Ferguson

Recurring

 * Libby Tanner as Bridget Westfall
 * Jacquie Brennan as Linda Miles
 * Martin Sacks as Derek Channing Acting Governor
 * Steve Bastoni as Don Kaplan
 * Hunter Page-Lochard as Shayne Butler
 * Sally-Anne Upton as Lucy "Juice" Gambaro
 * Charli Tjoe as Tina Mercado
 * Ra Chapman as Kim Chang
 * Daniielle Alexis as Dana Malouf
 * Zahra Newman as Iman Farah
 * Richard Sutherland as Alan Doyle
 * Bessie Holland as Stella Radic
 * Sophia Katos as Mel Barratt
 * Maddy Jevic as Nurse Lee Radcliffe

Production
On 21 July 2016, it was announced that FremantleMedia had renewed Wentworth for a fifth season, set to air in 2017.

Jo Porter, the Director of Drama at FremantleMedia stated, "As season four comes to a close, the audience has witnessed a dangerous shift in the power base at Wentworth which is building to an unmissable conclusion next week. Wentworth has built a reputation for delivering a world with unexpected twists and turns where no character is safe. The season’s end provides a chilling platform for our script producer Marcia Gardner and the writing team to shape the next chapter for our regular characters, along with some new faces in the yard and on the outside. With series producer Pino Amenta at the helm, our ambition to keep lifting the bar and reward our audience both locally and internationally couldn’t be stronger."

Penny Win, the Head of Drama at Foxtel stated, "Wentworth has gone from strength to strength over the past four seasons. Not only is it an international television success story, now showing in 141 territories, it is a ratings blockbuster and fan favourite for Foxtel audiences. We are extremely proud of this long-running drama juggernaut. It was a very easy decision to commission a further season of this brilliantly constructed and crafted program from our production partner FremantleMedia. There is a lot in store both for the women behind bars and those on the outside."

Accolades

 * AACTA Awards
 * Nominated: Best Television Drama Series — Wentworth
 * Nominated: Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama — Pamela Rabe
 * Won: Subscription Television Award for Best New Talent — Zarah Newman
 * Australian Directors Guild
 * Won: Best Direction in a TV or SVOD Drama Series — Fiona Banks (for "Belly of the Beast")
 * Logie Awards
 * Nominated: Most Outstanding Actress — Kate Atkinson
 * Won: Most Outstanding Actress — Pamela Rabe
 * Won: Logie Award for Most Outstanding Drama Series — Wentworth
 * Nominated: Most Outstanding Supporting Actress — Celia Ireland
 * Won: Most Popular Drama Program — Wentworth