The first season of Australian drama television series Prisoner (commonly known as Prisoner: Cell Block H) premiered on the then-known 0-10 Network on 26 February 1979 in Sydney and 27 February 1979 in Melbourne. The season contains 79 episodes and concluded on 28 November 1979.

The second season of Australian drama television series Prisoner (commonly known as Prisoner: Cell Block H) premiered on Network Ten on 22 January 1980. It consists of 86 episodes and concluded on 12 November 1980. This season's storylines include the escape of Roslyn Coulson, aided by terrorist Janet Dominguez and the subsequent shooting of Erica Davidson; Lizzie's exoneration; the bomb explosion which causes the deaths of Jim Fletcher's family; Bea Smith's feud with new prisoner Kay White; Judy Bryant's planned revenge on corrupt officer Jock Stewart for the murder of her girlfriend Sharon Gilmour; the season finale tunnel escape collapse.

The third season of Australian drama television series Prisoner (commonly known as Prisoner: Cell Block H) premiered on Network Ten on 4 February 1981. It consists of 81 episodes and concluded on 11 November 1981. The season is notable for the conclusion to the tunnel escape storyline which ended the previous season; the departure of Vera Bennett ("Vinegar Tits") when she accepts the position of governor of Barnhurst; the kidnapping of Erica Davidson; the arrival of new prisoners Sandy Edwards, Kate Peterson and former inmate and top dog of H Block – Marie Winter; Bea Smith's amnesia, and later, her mysterious illness which sees her step down as top dog, only to be replaced by Sandy Edwards.