Here is a timeline of how all 692 episodes of Prisoner made it to DVD, from when it was a far-off dream and an idea, to reality.

• 2001: Shock releases The Best Of Prisoner — Box Set 1 which contains Episodes 166, 287, 327, 400, 536, 550–552, 600, 601, 691 and 692
• 2002: Shock releases The Best Of Prisoner — Box Set 2 which contains the first 4 episodes, and Episodes 20, 165, 247, 248, 471, 586, 598 and 667.
• 2004: As pressure mounts for the release of all episodes, or the release of other 'best of' episodes (which fans say covers just about all of them!), Shock releases another 3-disc volume, which contains Episodes 498–501, 664–667 and 687–690 which now means a continuous run of the last 6 episodes on top class DVD.
• October 13, 2005: After 3 best-of releases between 2001 and 2004, Val Lehman's website announces that a DVD company wants to release all 692 episodes of Prisoner on DVD, following years of hard work campaigning by the fans. The website calls on fans to register their support by putting their names down for the Top Dog Club. 1000 supporters are needed.
• January 2006: The required numbers, to give the company the incentive to embark on the project, are met. Now it is time for the DVD company to iron out rights and contract issues with actors, agents and FremantleMedia (Grundy).
• July 13, 2006: The DVD company is revealed as Shock DVD (who released the previous boxsets), and proudly announces the imminent release of all 692 episodes of Prisoner on DVD, with the first 2 volumes (32 episodes) to come out in October, and a boxset containing all 692 episodes to be released all at once in mid-2007.
• September 28, 2006: The order form link goes live. The next morning, Project Coordinator Tania Hulme invites 15 lucky fans to Sydney, and 20 lucky fans to Melbourne DVD launch events
• October 5: I am one of 15 fans who attend the DVD launch in Sydney, and meet Val Lehman and Shock representatives.
• October 20: The first 2 volumes of 16 episodes each are sent out to subscribers.
• October 23: The first 32 episodes of Prisoner hit the streets.

For the latest news on the DVDs, click here.

Last updated August 16, 2007