Prison drama Wentworth finally gets a season eight release date

‘Lockdown is over’: Prison drama Wentworth finally gets a season eight premiere date – as Foxtel releases a chilling new trailer

It’s arguably one of Australia’s most popular television series ever.

And on Tuesday, Foxtel announced that prison drama Wentworth was returning for its eighth season on Tuesday, July 28.

The Logie-winning program will pick up where its season seven finale left off, with the revelation that Joan ‘The Freak’ Ferguson is very much alive.

‘Lockdown is ending’: On Tuesday, Foxtel announced that prison drama Wentworth was returning for its eighth season on Tuesday, July 28

Meanwhile, a chilling teaser trailer offers viewers a tour of the famous prison.

The hallways and cells are completely empty – presumably because all the inmates are in lockdown elsewhere due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The season seven finale had seen inmates being murdered by a corrupt guard, new life born amongst the chaos, and the death of a much-loved inmate.  

Haunting: The Logie-winning program will pick up where its season seven finale left off, with the revelation that Joan 'The Freak' Ferguson (pictured) is very much alive

Haunting: The Logie-winning program will pick up where its season seven finale left off, with the revelation that Joan ‘The Freak’ Ferguson (pictured) is very much alive 

Desolate: A chilling teaser trailer offers viewers a tour of the famous prison. The hallways and cells are completely empty - presumably because all the inmates are in lockdown elsewhere due to the coronavirus pandemic

Desolate: A chilling teaser trailer offers viewers a tour of the famous prison. The hallways and cells are completely empty – presumably because all the inmates are in lockdown elsewhere due to the coronavirus pandemic

This year’s season will bring back actors Leah Purcell (Rita Connors), Pamela Rabe (Joan ‘The Freak’ Ferguson), Kate Atkinson (Vera Bennett) and Bernard Curry (Jake Stewart).

Foxtel has previously revealed it will drag out the final two seasons, as Wentworth is scheduled to end following its ninth sires.

As a result, this year’s mid-season break will be extended. The first 10 episodes will be released in July, and the remaining 10 episodes in 2021.  

To be continued: The season seven finale had seen inmates being murdered by a corrupt guard, new life born amongst the chaos, and the death of a much-loved inmate

To be continued: The season seven finale had seen inmates being murdered by a corrupt guard, new life born amongst the chaos, and the death of a much-loved inmate

It comes after Foxtel and Fremantle revealed plans to start filming the remaining episodes after production had been postponed amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Filming for the eighth season had started in late October.

At the time, Foxtel’s Executive Director of Television, Brian Walsh, confirmed that Kate Box, Zoe Terakes and Jane Hall would be joining the cast. 

Filming for the eighth season had started in late October. Pictured: the cast of Wentworth

Filming for the eighth season had started in late October. Pictured: the cast of Wentworth