Bad Girls returned to ITV with its third series on 20 March 2001 and ended on 3 July 2001. It consists of 16 episodes.
The third series picks up directly from the series two finale. Shell has led Fenner into her trap by luring him into her cell and stabbing him with a broken bottle she smuggled back from Bodybag's anniversary party. Fenner almost loses his life, while Hollamby has Shell transferred to the mental health wing where she comes face-to-face with an old enemy. Helen manages to get Nikki back into Larkhall where Helen puts an end to their relationship. Shell and Denny escape and wreak havoc in London, as they pay Hollamby a surprise visit at her home. Things seem to be going well for Crystal, who has recently been released from prison and is now engaged to Josh, but things are set to get worse as Shell and Denny arrive at her house. Maxi & Tina Purvis and Al MacKenzie (aka The Peckham Bootgang) arrive on G-Wing and make their presence known to the prisoners and officers alike. Josh has just become a prison officer, but he's in for a shock when he sees that Crystal is back on the wing. Nikki is set for her appeal, and if she wins will she find Helen waiting for her?
Cast
Main
Simone Lahbib as Helen Stewart
Claire King as Karen Betts
Mandana Jones as Nikki Wade
Debra Stephenson as Shell Dockley
Linda Henry as Yvonne Atkins
Jack Ellis as Jim Fenner
Alicya Eyo as Denny Blood
Sharon Duncan-Brewster as Crystal Gordon
Nathan Constance as Josh Mitchell
Isabelle Amyes as Barbara Hunt
Lindsey Fawcett as Shaz Wylie
Kim Oliver as Buki Lester
Kerry Norton as Maxi Purvis
Victoria Bush as Tina Purvis
Pauline Campbell as Al McKenzie
Lisa Turner as Gina Rossi
Paul Opacic as Mark Waddle
Tracey Wilkinson as Di Barker
Helen Fraser as Sylvia Hollamby
Victoria Alcock as Julie Saunders
Kika Mirylees as Julie Johnston
Special guest
Kate O'Mara as Virginia O'Kane
Recurring
Michael Higgs as Dr. Thomas Waugh
Kate Steavenson-Payne as Charlotte Myddleton
Philip McGough as Dr. Malcolm Nicholson
Roland Oliver as Simon Stubberfield
Kim Taylforth as Marilyn Fenner
Eugene Walker as Officer Blakeson
Danielle King as Lauren Atkins
Ivan Kaye as Charlie Atkins
Geoffrey Hutchings as Bobby Hollamby
Wendi Peters as Pam Jolly
Helen Schlesinger as Tessa Spall
Jane Lowe as Monica Lindsay
Steven Webb as David Saunders
Anthonia Lanre-Ajose as Femi Bada
Helen Grace as Caroline Lewis
Victoria Pritchard as Trisha
Guest
Petia Pavlova - Prison Inmate
Sally Watts - Betty Wheeler
Sarah Crook - DC Johnstone
Ian Dunn - Trevor
Nick Burnell as Mr. Meadows
Marlene Sidaway as Mrs. Barker
Martin Crewes as Guy Cullen
Carl Brincat as Ian Ravenscroft
Tim Faraday as DS Hamilton
Clare Moody as Amanda Hunt
Dan Fredenburgh as Greg Hunt
John Rowe as Judge Shuttlewood
Dione Inman as Clerk of Court
Tom Cotcher as Mr. Jones
Bob Barrett as Mr. Levi
Adam Croft as TV reporter
Paula Bacon as Fiona
Andrew Grainger as Chris Bisset
Hugh Lee as Mike
Nick Clark as Newsreader
Sarah Neville as Mrs. Warner
Maxwell Hutcheon as Mr. Casey
Sam Halpenny as DS Culver
Rory MacGregor as PC Waterhouse
Joanne Mitchell as Jude Longley
Sara Lloyd as Jo
Jane How as Lady Myddleton
Mark Pegg as PO MacFarlane
Joy Elias-Rilwan as Interpreter
Juley McCann as Sheila
Rachel Bavidge as DST Officer
Shola Adewusi as Fatima Ibraham
Selva Rasalingam as DC Patel
Amanda Gordon as Dionne Clarke
Maureen Beattie as Marion McLoughlin
Danielle Lydon as Claire Walker
David Henry as Gordon Alexander
Bernard Gallagher as Judge Hardy
Beth Fitzgerald as Sally Ann Howe
Anna Maria Ashe as Newsreader
Alberto Banderas as Spanish policeman
Episodes
Reception
Ratings
Awards and nominations
EMMA Awards (2001) – TV Actress (Alicya Eyo ― Nominated) National Television Awards (2001) – Most Popular Actress (Debra Stephenson – Nominated) National Television Awards (2001) – Most Popular Drama (Won) TV Quick Awards (2001) – Best Actress (Debra Stephenson – Won) TV Quick Awards (2001) – Best Loved Drama (Won)