"This business was the department"
Ted Douglas was formerly a member of the Department of Corrections.
Douglas often complained about the security of the prison and he sacks Erica Davidson for her failure to control the prison, so in his wisdom decides to hire Ann Reynolds a former welfare officer over years of experience from the officers at Wentworth. Much to his dismay, Ann is like Erica, but Ann makes it known she will not be walked over by the department. .
Ted later resigned from the board when he was found to be involved in corruption, but he was arrested trying to make a run for it at the airport..
Time at the department[]
Ted Douglas was first seen, arriving at Wentworth Detention Centre in a black limousine. Erica Davidson planned to resign, and Ted was visiting to persuade her to take leave to think about her decision. Erica was swayed when Ted Pointed out that Vera Bennett would most likely be governor, as Jim Fletcher was on leave at the time.
The following year when prisoner Kerry Vincent's agent blackmailed Vera, Ted warned Erica he would have to take action against Vera. Vera is of course cleared of the accusations. Ted next appears when Erica speaks to him on the phone about Stuart Gillespie.
Not long after this, he interviews Meg Jackson, who planned to quit being an officer, and take on the job of social worker. He later encourages Vera to apply for the job at Barnhurst and which he returns a call a few episodes later to Vera to say that she has become governor of Barnhurst.
A few other appearances after this, before becoming involved in the Great Fire of Wentworth storyline, in which Douglas doesn't want the press to find out about what really happened with Joan as she was injured in the fire after fighting with Bea and falling off a ladder and spending time in hospital as a result and tells Erica to move Prisoners to Woodridge for accommodation while the prison rebuilds.
Ted is eventually the one to announce Erica's resignation, due to a series of mishaps at the prison. We don't see what happens, but we are told that Erica has resigned and Meg Morris points the finger at Douglas and says that Erica wouldn't quit just because things "got hard" she then says that Douglas forced her hand and forced Erica to resign, which Ted of course denies. Although he wanted Joan Ferguson to become Governor, Ann Reynolds is sent to replace Erica.
Ted's downfall occurs when he becomes involved with underworld figure Lionel Fellowes. He is blackmailed by Bea Smith, but is arrested at the airport. Ted is sacked from The Department due to this but avoids prison.
Trivia[]
- Ian Smith was one of the principal writers for Prisoner and was asked to take on the role of Ted Douglas hours before the show was set to film an episode, as the actor who was going to portray Douglas did not make it to set, it was one of Smith's earliest acting roles..
- Ian Smith also played the role of Pixie Mason's father Mr Potter in episode 502.