"I got her! I got the bitch!"
Derek Channing was the former Acting Governor, General Manager And Regional Director of Corrections.
Channing was Wentworth's General Manager who visited on multiple occasions, but he had a dark side, running a prostitution racket with inmates who had just been released from Wentworth. This discovered by Joan Ferguson, she uses this information to blackmail Channing into letting her stay as Wentworth's governor.
After the escape of both Franky Doyle and Joan Ferguson led to his dismissal from the service, Channing became recluse turning to drugs to cope with his job loss.
Channing was eventually arrested and charged with the murder of Brenda Murphy and attempted murder of Joan Ferguson even though he never went near Ferguson but was framed for Ferguson.
After Channing's dismissal and arrest from the role of General Manager of Corrections, he was replaced by Ann Reynolds.
Time At Wentworth[]
When Channing wants something done or wants to make a point, he’ll soften the blow with humour. When that doesn’t work he gets tough. He is aware of the constant pressure of his position, both politically and publicly. Given his own misspent youth he is a genuine believer in prison reform and is constantly on the look out for a different approach. However, he is no bleeding heart and shrewd, politically astute and knows how to work the system.
He is now onto his second marriage but with an eye for beautiful women and an easy charm, he is still a flirt.
In the early seasons visits the prison and is seen on good terms with Governor Erica Davidson, calls several prisoners a "waste of resources" and is less then impressed with Erica's views, but makes her governor anyway. Is seen on shaky ground with Ferguson and he himself investigates Ferguson's run as governor but is manipulated by her as she warns him she will go public about the brothel he helps run.
Season 5[]
Has been involved in corruption involving drugs and brothel keeping which Ferguson uses this information to manipulate him, but Channing finds a way to make sure Joan can't trace anything back to him. Acting Governor
During season 5, Channing takes over as governor from Vera, and allows Jake to continue his drug running in the prison and it isn't until Ferguson gets lynched does he stop caring about her.
Season 6[]
Channing is sacked after the escapes of Franky Doyle and Ferguson and becomes a recluse and a drug addict and living in a shack.
Ep 11[]
A reclusive Channing in his shack months after being sacked from Wentworth
Vera and Will show up to the place where Channing has been holed up as Vera asks if it is the right place, Will says that it is because he had spoken with Channing's wife who told Will that he had gone off the rails after losing his job and went into a depression and deeper into drug addiction. Will and Vera have a look around the place and Vera find Channing's container and she looks around in it and sees that there is all sorts of stuff regarding the Ferguson and Doyle escape but it is mostly the Ferguson escape. Channing comes from no where and grabs Vera as Will comes in he tries to attack him with a hook but Will manages to tackle him and Channing freaks out asking what do they want. Channing seats himself and says to both Will and Vera to just say 'how the mighty have fallen' and Vera asks him if this is where he now lives, he says that he loves fishing and his work keeps him busy and Will says that they know what he is doing that it isn't going to work, confused Channing doesn't know what Will is on about but asks for further details and even says he will hunt down Ferguson and kill her. As Will and Vera leave, Vera says that Channing has become unhinged and Will says that he is coked up to the eyeballs, as they leave Channing stands at the end of the docks.
Vera fidgets around in her office as she waits, a knock on the door and it opens as Linda says that Channing is here to see her and Channing says that it has been long time no see as Vera asks him what is he doing here and Channing says that he wants his life back and says that Vera is in a position to do so. Channing says that after he was paid a visit by both Will and her the other day he had some time to think and says that whatever happened was all Ferguson and now they are being blackmailed for it and says that Ferguson planned the whole thing in a Ferguson type of way and now he wants Vera to go to the police and tell them and he will keep Will out of it as Channing knows that Vera has a soft spot for Will and says that he will give Vera a day to think about it because that is the type of person she is, Channing leaves as Vera looks on.
In the airlock, Linda says that she is surprised to see him back in the prison, Channing tells her to 'get used to it honey bun' as she sighs in disgust as Hutch notices and says what is he doing back, as Channing turns to face the women they heckle him as Linda watches on from the airlock.
Channing is blackmailed out of Wentworth for a second time
The following morning Linda walks with Channing to the governor's office as Will and Vera watch him come in Linda is told that she can go. Derek tells Will that once it all blows over he will be keeping him on as deputy and then Will says that it is going to blow over a lot quicker then he thinks as Channing asks Vera if she is calling the police or he will. Vera says that she won't be and then the file is placed on the table and then says neither will Channing. Channing looks at it and says what 'fucked up' game is she playing and Vera says that it is a lot of 'technical paperwork' that she doesn't understand but it contains statements from Channing's illegal brothels and shows photos of Derek's activities. Channing asks if Ferguson gave her all of the information and Vera says that she can't reveal her sources. Channing loses it and says that Ferguson is still messing with him as Vera uses the intercom to tell Linda to escort Derek out of the building and when she opens the door Vera tells Linda that Channing must also return the visitors pass. As Channing leaves, Linda asks if he is coming back again and Channing tells her to 'fuck off'. Vera asks Will if she should ask where he got the information and Will says no, as Will then asks what are they planning to do, Vera says that they are going to have to pay the ransom to flush the blackmailer out.
Later during the night Vera, Will and Jake go to the cemetery, as Vera walks to Bea's grave, Will and Jake are watching from the bushes, Vera walks over and shines her torch on the grave and looks at it as she looks around to see if she can spot anything she doesn't but she looks at her phone to see if she has a message and when it comes through it tells her to leave the bag on the ground, Vera does so and gets another message telling her to walk away, Will and Jake watching on see someone and go over to the person as Vera is walking away and it turns out to be Derek Channing, Will and Jake wrestle him to the ground and Jake yells at him to drop the gun, as they ask him what is he doing there and Jake says that he thought Vera said it couldn't be him. Channing confirms that he isn't the blackmailer and all he wants to do is find Ferguson, realising they were distracted, Vera and the gang run off back to the grave and they realise that the bag is gone. The unidentified person gets back to the car and realises that they have been played when they empty the bag out and see that it is a whole heap of Wentworth pamphlets and gets their phone out to call the police.
Ep 12[]
Channing realises that he has shot the wrong person
As Vera says to Brenda that she will get the money when she wipes the phone back to factory settings in front of her, as a shot rings out in the air, Brenda is shot in the side of the head, as the shooter comes out of the dark and it is Derek Channing who is excited and says that he "got the bitch" but when he gets closer a shocked Vera realises what is happening and he realises that the person he shot is not Ferguson and he realises this and he goes on the run, as Vera reports gunshots at her house she reveals that Murphy was shot by Channing and is now on the run and Jake comes up with a plan to put the entire blame for Ferguson's escape and murder all on Channing by planting evidence in his van.
Channing is arrested for Murphy's murder
During the night Vera is at home watching a news report where the reporter is breaking live news on Derek Channing where she reveals that he has just been arrested for the shooting murder of former Wentworth officer Brenda Murphy and he may face further charges for the body found in a shallow grace with police also raiding the fishing shed he had been staying at and the report goes on saying that the police found loads of evidence including finding finding maps, a dirty shovel and newspaper clippings as Vera watches on Will and Jake look at each other realising that they have just gotten away with something huge.
Season 7[]
In the premiere is seen in an article with his trial date set. The investigation into the senior officers shut down, with Channing about to go down for Murphy's murder. Channing is mentioned again as his trial date comes closer, Will and Vera worried that the blackmail claim may come out, but reveal to each other no one would believe him due to his drug habit. Channing is mentioned again in episode 7 as his charges for murder may be dropped, Marie leaks all of his information to the press and it blows open his whole case with new charges to be laid, with the Corrective Services manager relinquishing support for Channing and leaving Channing on his own.
Season 8[]
It is revealed by Senior Detective Collins that Channing is still in prison for Brenda's murder. And when Ferguson is found alive by the police they press further charges on him and so the blame for Ferguson's escape and attempted murder is placed solely on him.
Appearances[]
| Wentworth: Season 1 | |||||||||
| "No Place Like Home" Absent |
"Fly Me Away" Appears |
"The Girl Who Waited" Absent |
"The Things We Do" Appears |
"The Velvet Curtain" Appears |
"Captive" Appears |
"Something Dies" Absent |
"Mind Games " Absent |
"To the Moon" Appears |
"Checkmate" Absent |
| Wentworth: Season 2 | |||||||||||
| "Born Again" Absent |
"Whatever It Takes" Absent |
"Boys In The Yard" Absent |
"The Danger Within" Absent |
"Twist The Knife" Absent |
"The Pink Dragon" Absent |
"Metamorphosis" Absent |
"Sins of the Mother" Absent |
"The Fixer" Absent |
"Jail Birds" Appears |
"Into The Night" Appears |
"Fear Her" Absent |
| Wentworth: Season 3 | |||||||||||
| "The Governor's Pleasure" Appears |
"3x02 Failing Upwards" Absent |
"Knives Out" Absent |
"Righteous Acts" Absent |
"3x05 Mercy" Appears |
"Evidence" Appears |
"The Long Game" Absent |
"Goldfish" Absent |
"Freak Show" Absent |
"A Higher Court" Absent |
"The Living and the Dead" Absent |
"Blood and Fire" Absent |
| Wentworth: Season 5 | |||||||||||
| "Scars" Absent |
"The Bitch is Back" Absent |
"Nothing but the Truth" Absent |
"Loose Ends" Absent |
"Belly of the Beast" Absent |
"Happy Birthday, Vera" Absent |
"The Pact" Absent |
"Think Inside the Box" Appears |
"Snake Head" Absent |
"Mere Anarchy" Appears |
"Coup de Grace" Appears |
"Hell Bent" Appears |
| Wentworth: Season 6 | |||||||||||
| Clean Slate Absent |
The Boxer Absent |
Bleed Out Absent |
Winter Is Here Absent |
Bitter Pill Absent |
The Angel of Wentworth Absent |
The Edge Absent |
Lovers and Fighters Absent |
Shallow Grave Absent |
Fractured Appears |
Indelible Ink Appears |
Showdown Appears |
| Wentworth: Season 7 | |||||||||
| Blood Wedding Pictured Only |
Payback Mentioned |
Atonement Mentioned |
Karen Absent |
Ascension Absent |
Mother Absent |
Bad Blood Mentioned |
Protection Absent |
Under Siege Part One Absent |
Under Siege Part Two Absent |