How big was Prisoner in Australia

[The~Governor]

How big was Prisoner in Australia during its original 1979 to 1986 run?

Was it as popular as Coronation Street and Eastenders are in the UK?

Presumably, the ratings must have fallen off towards the end for it to have been cancelled by the network.

Does anyone know at what point Australian viewers started to lose interest in the serial?

I have heard it said that the ratings did fall after Val Lehman departed the series and that it was a slump from which it would never fully recover. I believe some stations even took the series off and stopped showing it after Bea left.

[Chucky]

Originally Posted by The~Governor

I have heard it said that the ratings did fall after Val Lehman departed the series and that it was a slump from which it would never fully recover. I believe some stations even took the series off and stopped showing it after Bea left.

Probably a rumour started by... Val Lehman.

[JAMIOUSE]

From what I've managed to gather from various forums and Prisoner sites it was pretty big at the time. Primetime tv that got decent ratings and fairly good press coverage.

[Robert]

Originally Posted by The~Governor

Presumably, the ratings must have fallen off towards the end for it to have been cancelled by the network.

well that has never been the reason given ..but who knows..I dont know anything as fact but have heard it had more viewers for the first 4 years?