Spoiler: The secrets behind Wentworth’s gruesome new scene
If you’ve watched the new episode of Wentworth: Redemption, you will be in shock from one key scene. Here’s the story behind it. Warning: Spoilers.
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WARNING: WENTWORTH NEW SEASON SPOILERS
Prison drama Wentworth: Redemption premiered on Foxtel last night and gave fans yet another brutal scene to watch through their fingers.
Unfortunately for new character Lou Kelly (Kate Box), whose nickname is ironically Fingers (due to her special power of removing digits of enemies) she ended episode one minus one digit.
The gruesome DIY surgery came after Kelly beat up Wentworth favourite Boomer, who had mocked Kelly’s boyfriend Reb’s transgender journey.
Kelly’s attack on Boomer, in the dreaded shower block, saw the inmate lose control of her bladder.
However new top dog Allie (now with a full glam makeover) wasn’t going to lose control of the jail and took revenge on Kelly. When Kelly said Allie wasn’t “top dog material” (she should know, she was a top dog back in the pre Bea Smith era) a shiny pair of secateurs was used to prune one of Fingers’ fingers.
It instantly registered up there with unholy moments in Wentworth history, such as the Freak slicing out Juicy Lucy’s tongue, Bea Smith slicing her own arm open to instigate an escape via hospital and Rita Connors finding her hand being used to test out just how industrial strength a sewing machine was.
For Kate Box, the finger removal scene came very early in her Wentworth filming experience, which started last year.
“It was one of those moments, as I was face down on that table with shears to my hand and being looked at by all the big strong women of Wentworth I thought ‘Ooh here I am’,” Box told News Corp.
“I felt like I’d arrived, I was in Wentworth and there was no slowing down now. At one point it got so gruesome and intense you can’t help but get the giggles. The adrenaline takes over. It was a total thrill, it was trial by fire from the start.”
For those wondering, Lou Kelly’s finger was saved – it won’t end up in a gift box like poor Juicy Lucy’s severed tongue.
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“There’s too much shame in losing a finger, it gets reattached,” Box says. “She’s got 10 fully functioning digits from a few episodes in.”
The new series of Wentworth: Redemption sees the return of Joan Ferguson, also known as the Freak.
Box and Pamela Rabe, who plays Ferguson, worked together in ABC comedy F---kng Adelaide in 2017.
Why even Pamela Rabe was surprised to be back in Wentworth
“We played mother and daughter in F--kng Adelaide,” Box says. “Now I’m in Wentworth with the Freak, very different dynamic to mother daughter. Similar hostilities though!”
While Rabe said her return to Wentworth after her character was buried alive three years ago was meant to be a secret, Box reveals it wasn’t watertight.
“I had heard whispers in the halls that Pamela was coming back, it was ‘Hey, Pamela’s coming back you can’t tell anyone’ from a few people.
“Everyone thought they couldn’t tell anyone but everyone knew. It’s hard to keep a lid on a secret that good.”
Box says she’s already had a great reaction from the intensely passionate Wentworth fanbase.
“There’s so much kindness and an assumption you’re going to be great. It feels really welcoming, people are excited about the love story and seeing who this couple are, it feels like there’s a nice buzz around that.”
Wentworth: Redemption, Showcase, Tuesdays, 8.30pm