I worked out that the lady who decorated her own room and painted the picture (with the unfinished legs!) who said she had 3 years and 2 months to go until she would be released in July 1972 means that this was - at least, partly - filmed during the summer of 1969.

Also, the lovely, articulate lady who was in for burning down her husband’s art gallery was Jean St. Clair. She was an actress and the cheating and abusive husband was the art dealer, Jack Baer. Jean sadly died not long after this film at the terribly young age of only 53.

when television had meaning.

Most of these women are surprisingly articulate and thoughtful

New sub. Thank you so much for this. I’m 71 and today’s tv is just utter rubbish. I love these older documentaries

I was in Holloway in 1983... Id never been in trouble in my life not ever, I got six months for being with a friend who wrote a cheque from a cheque book that wasn't hers, I'm not stupid I knew it wasn't hers but I didn't think about the consequences until I had to, I didn't think of the impact it would have on my son or my family, or the person who's cheque  book it was I wasn't bad, I made the choice to do it, I just didn't  think, I had a job a home, I was a mum...
I didn't learn anything in prison...only that I'd never return ... I went on to work with young adults male and female, as a life coach and mentor untill 2022 when I retired... I'm not ashamed about my past because I'm not my past...

I miss the old programmes. This was a rare find

This sounds like one of Alan Partridge’s ideas for a television program.

When people were  more intelligent no matter who they were than they are no today.  They spoke better and they thought better!

29:10  the old Golden Wonder crisp bag design! God, that takes me back.

What great time capsules these videos are. I was born in 1970. I wish BFI or Network would release all of Man Alive, Arena etc

How sedate and polite they all were! And wearing their own clothes!

Man Alive really did put some good fly on the wall documentaries.

I love watching these old vids and seeing what England used to be like…what an amazing place

in today's world most of these ladies would never have been sent to prison just a suspended sentence

Just a shout out for the man interviewing the women. What a great job he done.

Poor girl was  trying to support her baby and herself and got three months ,

Wow. This was aired the year I was born. The lady sitting under the gallows 😱 How intelligent was Carol the girl doing the tapestry. You don't hear that level of honest, personal insight today. I hope she had a good life when she left.

I was remanded to holloway for 3 weeks back in the 90 's it was enough to scare me into changing my life around from the day i was released and never looked back

Locking up a young lassie with a 3 month old baby just for soliciting…..that’s so sad.

then, young and still an old woman in her manners.. says something about our perception and how the generations work.. fascinating at the least