"What if we are the real monsters in all of this?"
William "Will" Jackson is the Governor at Wentworth Correctional Centre. Will received the promotion to acting governor after Vera's decision to stand down and take maternity leave which left Will as the "second Jackson" to be governor of Wentworth, the first being his wife Meg Jackson.
Will before his time at Wentworth was a former social worker who visited prisons, a job which he liked until the day he was called into take away a prisoners baby and one officer who was watching him in the distance never forgave for what he did.
After Will left job behind he met Meg Jackson who was an officer of Wentworth when they met. The two had bonded and became quite close, marrying some time after they met. Will joined the prison service and was a senior officer at the time.
Will became close with fellow colleague Vera Bennett as time went on, he became her deputy governor after the fire almost burnt down the prison, and promised to bring down the drugs trade. Will also cared deeply for the women.
Will survived the prison explosion.
Season 1
He was married to former Governor Meg Jackson, who was stabbed and killed during a riot at Wentworth.
Before his wife's death, Will seemed to be a very easy going officer. He was quite relaxed around the prisoners. Like his colleague, Vera Bennett, he cared about the women, and got involved in prison life, but unlike Vera, he didn't get too concerned with the prisoners problems.
After Meg's death, Will was distraught. He turned to drugs, alcohol and sex to cope with her loss. He also became uncharacteristically harsh towards the women as well as the staff, and blackmailed Doreen Anderson into helping him find out who murdered Meg.
During this time he caught Bea Smith's daughter (Debbie Smith) with Brayden Holt doing drugs, he confronts Jacs Holt but is blackmailed by Jacs not to tell Bea what he saw.
In the episode Something Dies Will hits rock bottom when he finds out Meg had an abortion weeks before she died and nearly overdosed but is saved by fellow friend and colleague Matthew Fletcher, unaware of their short lived affair.
Shortly after Will returned to his normal self and supports Bea with Debbie's death and he even goes to the morgue for her and tells her that she can't stay awake again all night, Will tells Bea that he eventually got over Meg's death and Bea will eventually do the same.
Later Will finds Meg's bracelet that went missing in Jacs' cell (unaware that Liz Birdsworth had planted it there) Fletcher stops Will from harming Jacs.
Season 2
A much calmer Will returns to season 2 believing his wife killer had been charged and killed (by Jacs Holt) he begins to date prison nurse Rose Atkins.
His friendship with Fletcher becomes strained as Joan Ferguson begins to plot against both turning them against each other. In the episode Twist the Knife Will finds out about Meg's affair with Fletcher and Meg's abortion was due to the fact Meg was pregnant with Fletcher's baby this causes Will to lose and belt Fletch. Will later offers Ferguson a resignation letter to prevent future issues that she adamantly rejects.
As his friendship with Fletcher became strained his friendship with Bea grew strong raising eyebrows from Bea's ex-husband, Harry Smith, publicly accusing him of being the cause of their divorce by maintaining an inappropriate relationship, which concerns Rose that had witnessed it. Rose later apologizes to Will for questioning him about Bea.
In the episode The Fixer it is revealed Ferguson was hell bent on revenge against Will as she believed her lover (Blackmoore's prison inmate, Jianna Riley) had killed herself when Will removed her baby when he was a social worker. She orders a hit and run by Nils Jesper that injures Rose but Will walks out unharmed. Will believes Harry was behind the attack as he had threatened him earlier and also drove a van, a very angry Will smashes his van and is arrested but Ferguson makes charges drop continuing to act as his protector.
Season 2 ep 12
Brayden then says that Bea will have to shoot him, as Bea threatens to do so, Will Jackson (Wentworth) arrives through the door and sees Bea has the gun and tells her that if she goes through with shooting Brayden that she will be in prison for the rest of her life. Bea tells Will to shut up as she goes to think. Will tells Bea that Debbie would not want her to kill Brayden at least not with a gun and that this isn't her. Bea eventually lowers the gun and Will tells Brayden to leave. As Brayden goes to leave he smirks at Bea and Bea realises that Brayden never felt sorry for killing Debbie and she shoots him in the head killing him instantly. Will walks over to Bea as the police arrive and Will looks out the window he takes the gun off of Bea and says that they need to surrender, Will at the same time ignores a phone call. The police outside are interviewing several witnesses including Carly. Bea looks at Will and Will lifts her up and escorts her away leaving behind Brayden's body.
Will alongside Bea are arrested.
The police are outside Brayden's business and they are trying to move people out of the way with Detective Tanner asking an officer if they have enough people, the officer confirms and says that there is officers at another entrance as well. As the roller door opens, Tanner instructs Bea and Will to get down on the ground and the team is ready with their weapons as Tanner also spots the gun Bea used. Will tells Bea to do as the police say and she gets down on the ground and Will does as well but he attempts to explain that he is an officer from Wentworth Correctional Centre. Both Bea and Will are arrested and Will is under arrest for aiding and abetting and Bea is charged with escaping and murder. Bea and Will are lead to the police cars with the media watching on as well and breaking the news live that Bea Smith has been arrested.
The news report that later plays in the prison is that while Bea was arrested, Will was also arrested as well. Will off screen is suspended from duty.
Season 3
In season 3 Will returns to Wentworth after being suspended for 4 months, he continues to date Rose and Ferguson continues to try to get revenge against him.
In the first episode a recovering Fletcher requests Vera to see Will. Later Rose and Vera advise Will to visit Fletcher, Will initially refuses but later visits him and Fletcher apologizes about his past with Meg.
Will's happiness with Rose doesn't last as Ferguson frames him of Harry Smith's murder, straining their relationship, they still continue dating and trying to work things out.
Will finds out about The Red Right Hand, Bea believes Kaz Proctor, her admirer possibly had killed Harry, Kaz immediately tries to attack Will with a bat when he visits her, leading him to believe she and her crew were likely responsible of Harry's murder.
In the episode Evidence an overwhelmed and confused Rose finally decides to end her relationship with Will keeping their relationship strictly professional. Bea briefly questions Will when he reveals he got rid of the evidence planted on his place.
In the episode A Higher Court Will finds out (through Ferguson after she makes him listen to an illegal recording) that Meg's killer wasn't Jacs Holt but Franky Doyle, he confronts Franky and she confesses saying it was an accident, Franky believes she deserves to be punished but Will refuses to hurt her, much to Ferguson's disappointment. Will forgives Franky.
Will later teams up with Bea and Fletcher to bring down Ferguson after he finds out it was her all along against them and especially him. He is arrested but Bea still manages to give him a phone call pretending to be his lawyer giving him the name of Nils Jesper, Ferguson's hitman behind all the attacks.
In the Episode Blood and Fire, Will is cleared and returns to Wentworth to find a big fire. Bea gives Doreen her baby and then runs back inside to save Franky and Will runs in after her. Will and Bea manage to push the door open and Bea grabs Franky and tells Will to leave Joan there but Will grabs her and brings her out, and also informed her Jianna didn't kill herself as she thought, she was murdered due to their inappropriate relationship.
Season 4
In season 4 Will is promoted to Deputy Governor (and Vera is the new Governor) Will becomes the target of Kaz Proctor and her crew and the one sided rivalry with now prisoner Ferguson continues.
Will proclaiming innocence during Harry Smith's murder investigation
Kaz' hatred for Will grows when she believes Will raped Ferguson and is also sleeping with Bea. In the episode Screw Lover Kaz accuses Bea of having an affair with Will, Bea adamantly defends Will thus making it worse. Bea prevents the attack on him alerted by new inmate (and Red Right Hand member) Allie Novak. Bea quickly begins to lose respect from the women, Will is very grateful with Bea and thanks her but she is left with no choice but to attack him to put down the rumours. Later Will is upset but understands why Bea staged an attack on him.
Meanwhile new prison guard, Jake Stewart, tries to befriend Will but initially not with much success.
In the episode Afterlife Will saves Bea's life by performing CPR after Ferguson poisoned her and drown her. Will tries to negotiate with Kaz to help him bring Ferguson down in exchange for the recording he tries to make her listen to (revealing it wasn't Bea that killed her but Ferguson) Kaz refuses and Will is knocked out by Mel (another Red Right Hand member) and is blackmailed by Kaz to leak the video she filmed to ruin his career. Jake comes to his aid helping out Will and not telling Vera about what happened.
Later Jake obtains the contraband mobile phone with the video from Allie (in exchange for drugs) finally managing to become Will's friend and earn his trust. They go out to party together and Jake gives Will drugs thus making him relapse.
Linda, Will, Vera and Jake
Still with her revenge agenda against Will, Ferguson manages to turn Shane Butler (Jianna's son) against Will. Shayne tracks down Will and catches him doing cocaine and calls him out by saying that is just what his mother did, Will abandons Jake afterwards leaving him confused as to why he left so suddenly.
In the season finale, Seeing Red, Will is suspended as he returned positive from a drug test and realizes Jake is not as friendly as he seemed to be. Before he finishes his shift he helps Bea giving her a contraband mobile phone to make a call, and also arranges a phone call with fellow officer, Linda Miles at the hospital, for Bea to talk to Maxine Conway about Allie's condition. Bea learns there is not much hope for Allie making her mental state fragile thus deciding to frame Ferguson (now a free woman) of her own murder. Will tries to keep Bea alive while paramedics arrive but shortly after Bea dies in his arms, he is last seen with Vera standing next to Bea's body with her blood on his hands.
Season 5
Season 5 begins with the aftermath of the death of Bea Smith. Still shocked and saddened Will informs the women Bea is dead. Vera thanks Will at Bea's funeral for organizing it and offers him to return to work despite his recent suspension, Will accepts with Franky keeping his faith in justice. Later Franky is framed for murder but Will believes she's innocent.
Will is determined to end the drug issue at Wentworth reinforcing security and is supported by Vera, he is successful. But soon former Governor Ferguson makes sure the drugs return to Wentworth with help of new Deputy Governor, Jake Stewart.
Kaz is confident an officer is involved and blames Will, first to Vera and then informs the women why he had been suspended. Kaz is on her way to her sentencing appeal with Will and another prison guard, taking fellow officer Linda Miles' place so he could have a chance to confront Kaz. Moments later the van suddenly crashes into a river due to the tyre bolts being loosened by Franky, as she thought her trial hearing was that day so she would be in the van and therefore end up in hospital in an attempt to free herself from Wentworth and prove her innocence. Will risks his own life and almost drowns while saving Kaz from the back of the van. The two finally reach safety and go to hospital. On their arrival back at Wentworth, she thanks Will for saving her life and tells him things could possibly be different between the two of them from there on, Ferguson sees it, unknown to them.
In "Think Outside the Box" Will is told by Kaz "Jake is bringing the drugs". Jake, per Ferguson's orders, and without success, tries to set up Will to be arrested. Will realizes and attacks Jake, but can't prove his involvement.
Allie, Jake, and officer Will Jackson planned to finally get rid of Joan for good when Jake and Will allowed Joan to escape the prison with Franky and Joan's freedom with short lived when Will Jackson took Joan's box away and buried her alive.
Season 6
In season 6 Will regains his Deputyship whilst his personal life unravels after burying Ferguson alive. Without giving details Will tells Kaz Ferguson is not coming back, she sobs when she understands he meant that he has killed her. Will gradually becomes more tormented by his actions and gets hooked on pills to make Ferguson's ghost go away. Kaz assures Will he did what he had to do to protect the women and reminds him he is a good man but it doesn't ease his guilt. Later Kaz, after lagging to Will about Vicky Kosta's 'fight club' offers him to keep doing it if it helps protect the women, Will seems skeptical and warns her of the danger of lagging. During a breakdown at the workshop Will snaps at Jake telling him at least he didn't have to bury someone alive, much to Jake's shock. Afterwards he understands why Will is so disturbed and suffering from insomnia and asks where he buried her but he doesn't want to talk about it. Kaz caringly holds Will's injured hand after he trashed the workshop when 'he heard Ferguson' but he still doesn't want to talk.
6x10
In the morning, Will, Vera and Jake catch the elevator, where it is quiet as Jake eventually asks how everyone slept. Vera tells him that as far as she is concerned last night didn't happen. Jake says that someone put gloves in her house and if it wasn't Ferguson who was it. Vera tells Jake to do some work for once and tells him to figure out what happened to Cherry Li. Jake gets off on the secure unit level as the door closes, Vera says to Will that she can't shake that image out of her head and Will says that he is very sorry and he didn't want to get Vera caught up in everything.
In the morning in the stairwell Vera has shown Jake and Will the message and Will realises that someone had seen them at the graveyard and Jake tells Will to chill for a second and he asks Vera if she has contacted them and Vera says that is what they want to get attention, Will asks what do they do and Vera says that they just have to wait and asks if they are the only ones who know about Joan. Will and Jake ask Allie and Kaz if they told anyone else about what happened and they both deny any knowledge as Kaz tells Will whatever is going on he can trust her.
Vera is in her office as she receives a message on her phone that says 'I know what you did. $500k or I'll call cops'. Vera rubs her temples as she speaks with Will and Jake outside on the roof and tells them that there has been another message. Will wonders where they would get $500k from and Jake says that they should just pay the money and Vera says that blackmailers do not stop and that would not be the end of it. Jake tells Vera that she could mortgage her house and Vera tells him he can go fuck himself. Vera says that she needs more time to think about and she walks away. Jake says to Will that Vera has money and could pay for it as Will looks at Jake in disgust.
In the medical corridor, Jake says that Taylah is a possible OD as they tossed her cell and found a foil, Vera tells Jake to keep her posted and he agrees, as Vera walks away Jake asks her what she is going to do with the message, as Vera doesn't say anything, Will comes around the corner and says that Linda has heard something and thinks that they should toss Boomer's cell, Vera doesn't believe it and Jake says that he can get on that and Will says that he will, Will and Vera walk away as Jake looks on. Will and another officer slot Boomer after finding evidence of the bashing in her cell.
Will is walking down the hallway as Vera tells him that Taylah Bullock's tox report came back and says that she is very lucky as she had rat poison in her system as Vera asks him to call in the dog squad Will says of course as he asks if they can talk about 'the other thing' Vera says that she as a conference call. Jake asks Will if Vera has made up her mind yet and Will says that it is $500k and not a parking fine, Jake says what if they get thrown under the bus and Will says that Vera wouldn't do that, Jake says that something has to give and says to Will that Vera needs to hurry up.
During the night Will is leaving work as Jake chases after him and says that Vera won't talk to him, Will ignores him as he leaves the prison, Jake asks if she is paying up and Jake says that he needs to know what is going on, Will then says that Vera isn't talking to him either and Jake says to sweet talk her as she likes him and demand some answers. Will tells Jake to leave him alone as Jake tells him that if she doesn't do anything he will go down for conspiracy but Will will get life for murder, Will again tells Jake to get out of his face as Jake demands that Will speak with Vera and says "tell her to pay up you dumb f*ck.." Will then headbutts Jake in the face as Jake falls to the ground Will drives off on his bike as Jake watches him leave.
6x11
In her office Vera tells Will and Jake to stop acting like children and tells them they need to stick together and she sits down and says that she told Will about Jake being blackmailed by Channing and calls it another chapter in 'the life and times of Jake Stewart' Jake then retorts with 'what was that about cheap shots'. Vera then says that the more she thinks about it the more it now makes sense that he could be the one behind it, Will says that Channing in the prison when the escape happened and Vera says that maybe he wasn't as careful as he thought. Vera then says that they need to find out what to do and Jake says that they could always bury him on top of Ferguson and both Will and Vera are disgusted at that and Jake says what then and Vera says that they need to find Channing and speak with him.
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 arrives to work as she receives a message on her phone, when she looks at it, she tells her PA to get Will and Jake and get them to come to her office. Will and Jake are shown the photo that had been taken the night of Ferguson's escape. Jake can't believe it as he says that they have no choice now and they have to pay the money, Will looks at him and Jake yells at him asking him if he has any better ideas. Vera's radio then goes off and says that Derek Channing is at the gatehouse wanting to speak with her. Both Jake and Will cannot believe it and say that they thought it couldn't be him, Will says that he is gonna stay and Vera says that she will see him alone and tells the officer to issue him a pass and be let through.
Later during the night, Marie is lying in bed looking at her photo wall as an officer is doing night rounds, Marie realises that the light is getting closer and the door opens, it is Will. Marie gets up and says that it is a nice surprise, Will says he is not there for that but for Derek Channing, Marie says that is a blast from the past. Will says that he just needs some information to control Derek and if she would have anything on him. Marie asks what is in it for her as Will asks her. Marie agrees and says that she will need access to a computer and a printer to help him out, Will thanks her as she asks him to leave the cell. Marie gets her USB out of the book and gives it to Will as they leave, Rita is watching.
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 ou 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.
At night, Vera, Jake and Will are in Vera's office as they are sitting at the table with the phone in the middle of it they are drinking tea as Vera says that Proctor and Winter fighting is the last thing they need, as Vera's phone goes off it says to go to Bea's grave at 2am and to bring cash, Jake livid says 'what the fuck' as Will asks her if she wants to still go ahead with the plan, Vera says like they have a choice and Will puts a duffle bag on the table, as Jake looks on.
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.
6x12
Will, Vera and Jake talk as Jake says that they are fucked as Will says that they are if he doesn't calm down and Vera says that they both need to get their stories straight, as Will asks if they know where the tipoff came from. Vera says that it must be the same person who took the photo and says that it is punishment from last night. Jake then demands Vera get in contact with them before they get shopped to the police and Vera angrily says not to tell her what to do, as Vera walks out, Jake looks on and says "now what?" as Will looks at him.
Vera comes out of her office and starts talking to Will and Vera says that she wants him to release Kaz back into general first thing in the morning, Will asks what about Marie and Vera says that she is going to keep her in the slot, Will says that they don't know who started the fight and Vera says that she reviewed the footage and says that Kaz was defending herself and says that she does not want Marie in charge of the women and if Kaz is let out first she can get some support from the women and she knows where she stands with Kaz. Will and Vera walk past Detective Collins and Vera asks him if has everything he needs and he says yes, as he tells Vera that he has scheduled her interview for the following afternoon and the same goes for Will, as Vera says that they are happy to help, Collins walks back into the office as Will and Vera walk away.
Will tells Vera that he panicked after Channing came in and he just panicked, Vera asks him if he realises just exactly what he has done as Vera says that the police are now onto them as only senior officers have access to the footage. Jake says that it is circumstantial and the only person with any real evidence is the person who took that photo and says they must stick to their stories
While the women fight Vera tells Collins that she did not help Joan Ferguson escape, as Hydari tells Jake that they are narrowing down their suspect list, and tells Jake that his service record is clear and that speaks for itself but the other senior officers not so much, as Jake is asked what he knows about the escape and he says that he wish he knew, Hydari then asks him what his opinion on Will is as Rita is continually landing punches, Jake says that Will is a good bloke and Hydari says that Ferguson and him have history as Jake responds saying why would he help her and she says whoever helped her probably killed her as Jake says that Will hasn't got the guts to do that and he was on duty with him for most of the day, as Hydari then asks about Vera as they know the two were involved. Rita and Drago continue fighting as Collins says to Vera that she knows the prison inside out and every single staff member and she must have a theory. The fight continues with Rita landing a very good hit on Drago where she then strikes Drago's head on a pipe and the women cheer it on.
Will tells Jake he is done running from his decision
Will watches on as Drago's body is taken away, as Jake walks to stand next to him as the body goes past them, Will asks Jake if there is any news on Vera, and Jakes says yes, and that she is going to be ok. Will looking defeated says to Jake that he has his interview and Jake tells him to stick with his story but Will says that he thinks he is done and says that the whole mess is because of him and he just wants to own it, tell what he did and that he acted alone, much to Jake's surprise he wonders if it is to protect Jake and Vera and Will says that he is doing it to protect Vera, as Detective Hydari comes out of the airlock and says that they are ready for Will's interview, as Will goes, Jake looks on realising the trouble he could be in.
Detective Collins is speaking with Will where he says that Wentworth is a volatile place and says that he is sure people take and make rash decisions all the time he is sure of it, Will looks on as Collins asks if there is anything more he would like to add on to his statement for Joan Ferguson's escape and murder and he is about to say something when Hydari comes in and says that a report of shots fired as Vera's house has been called in, Will asks if Vera is ok and Hydari says that Vera was the one who called it in, as the two detectives leave, Jake makes a phone call to Vera as Will asks what is going on. Jake asks Vera if she is ok and Vera reveals that it was Channing who shot someone outside her house, Jake asks who and Vera reveals that it was Brenda Murphy who was the blackmailer and he asks where Channing is now on the run with the police looking for him, Jakes says that they are coming over as Vera says that she has to go. Jake gets off the phone and says that it was Murphy and as Will goes to leave Jake says that there may be a way out of their situation, Will asks how. Taking the prime opportunity, Will and Jake plant all the evidence they used including maps, a tarp and shovels in Channing's van.
Jake and Will frame Channing for Ferguson's burial
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 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
Will is asked to be acting governor after Vera is taken hostage by a junkie inmate. Will has stated that he wants to resign for the third time and that he would not make a good acting governor, Will is persuaded to stay by Vera as she stepped down from governors duties. Will also talks with Marie and Jake tells him how suspect it looks, but during the night shift he walks around the prison and sees that Marie and Allie are having sex together and he just walks away.
He realises that Marie is using him and makes and alliance with Kaz again to protect the women. After Will becomes Acting Governor, the position of deputy Governor becomes available, both Linda and Jake apply. Will doesn't really think either are suitable but in the ends picks Linda because he cant trust Jake.
Will has no choice but to indefinitely confine Kaz to Solitary for blowing up Marie as she is now a threat, but after Kaz speaks with Dr Miller and he says that Kaz is no longer a threat and Will decides to release her.
Will learns in episode 4 that Kaz has known the entire time that he and Marie have been on, and he immediately tells Marie that they can't be seen together as Kaz knows. Will and Kaz depart after their last chat on bad terms and Kaz says he didn't did for him, she did it for Allie.
In episode 5, is called to the scene after Vera finds Kaz's body, Will rushes from the governors office and goes to Vera and asks why he isn't working on her, but Vera says that its too late, Will goes in for a closer look and becomes overcome with grief. Will puts the prison on lockdown as detectives come in an investigate. Will lets the women hold a memorial service and he lifts the lockdown and he tells Marie how Kaz was killed and that she should go into protection. Will becomes furious later when Kosta is found with drugs and then the hoodie used in the murder, he witnesses alongside Vera, Marie becoming top dog.
In episode 6 gets the results of the inquest back and has to release Kosta from the slot. Will orders another ramp of the prison and Vera tells him that he can't let her death become personal, Will reveals that he won't stop trying as he owes it to her, and that there are protesters outside the prison blaming him for Kaz's death. Will is later seen suspending Jake after Jake is falsely accused of sexual harassment, he later seen talking with Marie in the slot and being completely horrified that drugs were found in her cell and that he says he can't release her.
Will in episode 7 releases Marie from the slot and has words with Vera on multiple occasions telling Vera that he wont allow Rita to visit Ruby. But Will learns from Marie that she has broken up with Allie and is told by Linda that Allie has requested a move back to H1. Will allows the move back to H1 and orders another ramp, they find nothing during this ramp as Vera tells Will that they failed Kaz and the women, Will tells Vera at least it wasn't on her watch, but she still feels guilty for it. Will later sleeps with Marie and is furious when Vera returns to the isolation unit with Rita.
Will finally learns he has been manipulated by Marie the whole time, after both Rita and Vera figure out that he has
Will and Jake deal with the siege
something going on with her. Will is apart of the Siege and he refuses to open the airlock and let Sean, Marie and his cronies escape. 2 prisoners after shot and killed as a result and Will with the help of the SOG arrest the gunmen and the attorney general Michael Heston and Will tells Marie she will be going into protection "alone and for good.". Will later tells Rita that Boomer has been formally charged with manslaughter and then tells her he needs a word. Will is seen telling Rita goodbye as she has to go into protective custody.
Season 8
In episode one tells the guards that Lou Kelly and Reb are on their way to Wentworth with a bus load of other prisoners. Will tells the staff not to let down the new government and new GM. Will watches the bus come in and watches Kelly get taken off the bus after she attacks a prisoner. Will talks with Greg who says Marie cannot stay in isolation forever and Will says its the least she deserves. Will radios Jake and tells him to transfer Marie to the protection unit. Will then speaks with Allie who wants to speak with Lou, Will tells Allie not to make an enemy of Kelly. Will later meets up with Vera and Vera asks if Will has decided to leave Wentworth, Will says no and he says it was a decision made from Marie's siege exploits, and says he'll stay to pick up the pieces.
In episode two Will tells Ann that he is keeping every person in the Protection Unit as they are the states worst offenders. Will later learns of Ruby's involvement in Danny's death and questions her about it, but Ruby denies knowledge of killing Danny, until he looks at her file and sees that she has lied to him. Will confronts Ruby about this and tells Ruby that Marie wont stop until she comes for Ruby. Will tampers with Ruby's file to get her off the hook for Danny's murder. Will later confronts Marie and tells her that she destroyed everything including her own son and he tells her that he thought everyone was capable of redemption but Marie is not. Will later performs CPR on Marie who tries to kill herself with gym weights.
In episode three Will sees Judy enter the prison and he says to Ann that Judy is a lot younger then he expected her to be. Ann tells Will that Judy must not receive outside world contact. Will later learns of the prisoners Hunger Strike after dealing with Marie who is the in the psych unit. Will tells Ann about the hunger strike and tells her he's not worried and when the prisoners are hungry they'll go and eat. Will later informs the prisoners that the original supplier will be reintroduced.
In episode four Will, Vera and Jake learn that Ferguson is alive and has been for awhile. The police tell them that they were waiting for Joan to mess up. Will oversees the protection prisoners being moved into general population and that they would have to keep a closer eye on Winter. Will later tells Vera he's glad he is now "no longer a murderer" and wonders if that sounds bad, Vera tells him no. They later go and see Joan at the hospital when she is awake.
In episode five Will reads Joan's medical report to Vera and Jake. Argues with Ann about Joan returning to Wentworth and Allie being top dog and needing to be in the laundry. Will writes Linda up for misconduct after she pepper sprays Judy and Vera reports it, Will tells Linda that any more of her behaviour and he'll dump her as deputy governor.
In episode six Will asks Allie if she knows where Ruby is but even Allie doesn't know, and later tells Allie Ferguson is coming back on the ministers orders. Will argues with Ann about Judy, and Ann reveals that she only kept him on because of Vera. Will threatens to resign again, but Vera tells him not to but he reveals Ann has lost his support.
In episode seven Will has another argument with Ann as she tells officers that Ferguson will be released back into general. Will tells Ann that he's done and he quits. Will ends up telling Allie that he has resigned and Allie snaps at him calling him a coward for walking away, as the prison can't be left to "Linda and her Baton", Will tells Allie that Linda has been given a warning and another officer has been dismissed. Will has another conversation with Ann where she admits she underestimated the women and the staffs respect for him, and asks Will to go out for a drink and discuss things with him. Will makes his list of demands which include being apart of the board meetings, later Ann tries to kiss him but he rejects her. Will returns to work the next day and Vera asks him how he's going, Will says he is hanging in there.
In episode eight Will is told from Vera that Ann is stable and in hospital, Will says that Ann didn't have it coming but saw it coming as all the cutbacks hurt everyone. Will talks with Allie with Vera standing with him and asking for a name. Will comes to a compromise and lets the women go to work unit and the dining room but thats it. Will later talks with Allie in the call centre and asks for a name, Allie doesn't provide one and Will asks if she has lost the women, Allie says no.. When the riot occurs, Will watches on from the office and a lockdown is called. Allie finally lags and tells Will it was Lou who bashed Ann. Will keeping to his word removes lockdown.
In episode nine Will talks with Ann and tells her that while she was away he restored some of the prisons "status quo" which meant moving Allie back to the laundry to restore the role of top dog at the steam press. Later Will tries to talk down Ferguson who is high on LSD and learns from Vera that the guards were removed. Will then suspends Linda for her handling of Ferguson's LSD trip as she hit Ferguson, Will tells Linda her 'three strikes are up' and to leave.
In episode ten Will speaks with Linda who has sought legal advice to be reinstated or she will sue the department for her PTSD, Will says its the first he's heard of it, Linda tells him that its siege related. Will has no choice but to reinstate Linda. Will later speaks with Marie who he threatens to slot for bashing Allie as he knows Lou is the one who did it. Later when Ferguson goes to court there is a major incident at the courthouse and when he tries to find out what happens, they learn Ferguson has been committed to stand trial. Will, Jake and Vera rush to the brawler bay to find Ferguson in the back of the brawler, thinking that she escaped from the courthouse.
Season 8 Part 2
In episode one Will is seen in Ferguson's daydream where he gets stabbed when Joan snaps out of it he turns around and looks at her, he is then seen when he talks to Boomer about not "retaliating" to Allie's attacks. He later brings Allie in to the yard marking her return from hospital. Will and Vera later talk with Allie about how they have made several modifications to the prison to allow for as much freedom as possible, Allie tells Will that she will step down from top down, Will tells her she could keep doing it, Allie doesn't seem to think so. Will is later seen when he is in the kitchen after the freezer is repaired and Ferguson has hallucinations about Mr Jackson in the freezer.
In episode two, Will first talks to Lou when she is brought into medical after the death of Reb. Will tells her she should submit for a blood test. Later Vera tells Will she thinks that Ferguson did it because "Kelly killed her goldfish" Will rejects the claim and later finds out that there were sedatives in both Lou and Reb's systems. Will offers to move Kelly into another unit, Kelly declines. Kelly learns from Will that they were both drugged. Will later tells Vera that it was Sheila who killed Reb as she was the only one not present at the time. Will arrives to the cleaning storeroom to find her body just moments after Lou and Marie finished Sheila. Lou admits she did it and declares herself top dog.
In episode three, Will and the staff are slammed for the two murders of Sheila and Reb, but Will cops the brunt of Ann's wrath. Will claims that the system is under too much stress but Ann says the problems are different at other prisons and the only problems she has is with Wentworth. Will awaits Rita's return and they have a conversation, Will offers help and says he believes her innocence Rita says that being on the run is over and she's done. Will later disagrees with the new restraint stations calling them torture, and it is revealed that Ann has informed him of the Marie allegation that he either has to resign or take it up with the board, Vera tells him to deny everything as Marie's word would mean nothing against his. Will learns off of Nurse Shen during drug testing that the "LSD Days" are over but one prisoner Ferguson has tested to a different drug. Will has another talk with Rita about her father's death, telling her he 'lost himself' too for awhile and it's hard to come back from that, maybe not possible. Rita tells him he's a good man. Will also fronts the committee and is surprised to find out Marie lied about their affair, Marie tells him he was always good to her and he saved her life, Will refuses to thank her as he still cannot forgive her, Marie says she understands and that she doesn't deserve his forgiveness.
In episode four, Will comes into work where he finds Judy cuffed to a Restraint Station, he immediately rushes to her aid and carries her into medical. He later confronts Ann in the elevator telling her that it was an abuse of her power and that he is taking it up with the board, he tells her to "take some of her own medicine". Will tries to report her but Vera tells him not to as it was the anniversary of Charlotte's death and that it was a severe misjudgement call. Will says he wont report her but Ann must apologise to Judy.
In episode five, Will is present when Ann is blasting the staff after an illegal camera is used to film inmates, he tells Ann to calm down but Ann orders a cell search. Will then yells at Ann for stirring up the women and says he can no longer defend her actions. Will walks into the staff room to see the staff drinking and says to Ann he and many others are still on shift. Will also talks with Allie after she is found with the canister of laughing gas.
In episode six, Will talks to the officers about the updated work rosters and tells everyone to be on the lookout after Judy's falling out with her unit crew. Will talks with Ann about the decision to give officers a months extra wages to find the camera. He later speaks with Vera about what she found in Dr. Miller notes lying about Ferguson's amnesia, however the illegally obtained notes are of no use to prevent him from lying in court. Will is later seen after Eve is taken to medical after being attacked where he tells Vera that she is missing her eye, Vera is confident Ferguson did it. Will and Vera later in the security room agree they both need to find dirt on Miller and get him out of Wentworth.
In episode seven, Will is informed by Rita Lou has been making serious threats of murder against him, Ann and all the staff blaming them for Reb's death and Judy is helping her, Rita reveals Marie told her that and she understands if he's sceptical with their history but she believes Marie is telling the truth this time and he should take it seriously. Will tells the staff about Lou's threat. Vera and Will set in motion a plan to get rid of Miller but Allie shocks them having a real mental breakdown and stabbing her legs, Vera calls it off as the plan was for Allie to seduce Miller so they could fire him, Will says they went too far and worries if they are becoming monsters, Vera says Ferguson is a monster. Allie continues the plan kissing Miller, caught on camera Will has the perfect chance to fire him. They search his office and Vera admits they know everything he's been up to with Ferguson, Miller realizes this was a set up and questions their morals for using Allie to do their dirty work. Miller tells Ferguson Will and Vera know everything, she jokes perhaps she will just kill both. At the end of the episode Ferguson faxes the photo of Will Vera and Jake at her burial place.
In episode eight, Will talks with Vera after the photo appears in Vera's office and Will says that he will talk with Joan. Will later talks with Joan to tell her that she has won. They will no longer pursue Miller. Will talks with Vera in the yard and says that everything will be ok. Will is later in the yard when Rita is attacked by the women.
In episode nine, Will is first seen after Vera reports Ann after assaulting Judy. Will then hears over the radio that Ferguson has been brought back from court. Later after learning that Ferguson has changed her plea and discredited Greg Miller (Wentworth), Will immediately fires him and gets him to sign a form. Later Will learns of the death of Marie Winter (Wentworth) and orders Linda to place a guard in H1. Will tells Ann that everything that happened after Ann closed the Protection Unit was on her and that she would be answering to the board.
Will tells Linda to head for the evacuation point
In episode ten, Will is first seen telling the guards that they have failed in their duty to protect the women after Marie Winter (Wentworth)'s death. He says that he will be placing a guard outside H1 and will be reopening the Protection Unit, Ann comes in just as Linda says "Ann won't have a bar of it.." after Ann leaves, Will and Jake talk and Jake asks what they are gonna do with Ferguson, Will says to leave it with him. Will and Joan then talk and he says that courtesy of Greg Miller he signed off on a transfer for Joan to be returned to Sinclair and that he knows that Joan was always going to fuck them over. Will later learns from Linda Miles that she is reporting a bomb threat as Rita and Lou got stuck into each other, Will and Linda go off to the slot. Moments later as the prison explodes Will hears the frantic screams of officers and inmates as he finds Linda and tells her to get every out and to the holding point. When Will gets out of the building he learns that Vera is missing and prisoners have made a run for it in 'No Mans Land'. Will later tells Vera when she is found that Ann Reynolds was found dead in the wreckage and that the roof has collapsed in H block. Linda does a final count and reveals to Will, Jake and Vera that 5 officers and 28 prisoners are unaccounted for including Joan. Will later rejoices when Allie is found and brought out of the prison wreckage.
Will's last lines are: "Come on, we have a job to do."
Trivia
- Will Jackson is a reworking of Bill Jackson, the prison social worker from the original.
- Will shares "Bill's social work experience, having moved from that job into corrections.
- Will also shares re-imagined storylines of Meg Jackson from the original soap opera, Prisoner.
- In the original Prisoner, Bill Jackson dies and Meg lives. In Wentworth, it is the other way round with Will living and Meg dying. Both deaths were identical, being stabbed during a prison riot.
- In the original, Chrissie Latham is responsible for Bills murder, and Franky Doyle is responsible for Meg's in Wentworth. In both shows, the killer is forgiven.
- Will and Vera are the only prison officers to date that have appeared in every episode of the series, Linda Miles has been in all but the first episode of Season 1.
- Overall, Will, Vera, and Boomer have appeared in all episodes of the show.
- During one episode of season 3 Robbie is receives a Credit Only appearance as he was not in the episode The Long Game
- The character of Will Jackson was originally supposed to be cast as an Australian, but it was re-worked when Magasiva won the role
- Will Jackson's meme on the series was threatening to resign but not going through with it
Appearances
| Wentworth: Season 1 | |||||||||
| "No Place Like Home" Appears |
"Fly Me Away" Appears |
"The Girl Who Waited" Appears |
"The Things We Do" Appears |
"The Velvet Curtain" Appears |
"Captive" Appears |
"Something Dies" Appears |
"Mind Games " Appears |
"To the Moon" Appears |
"Checkmate" Appears |
| Wentworth: Season 2 | |||||||||||
| "Born Again" Appears |
"Whatever It Takes" Appears |
"Boys In The Yard" Appears |
"The Danger Within" Appears |
"Twist The Knife" Appears |
"The Pink Dragon" Appears |
"Metamorphosis" Appears |
"Sins of the Mother" Appears |
"The Fixer" Appears |
"Jail Birds" Appears |
"Into The Night" Appears |
"Fear Her" Appears |
| Wentworth: Season 3 | |||||||||||
| "The Governor's Pleasure" Appears |
"3x02 Failing Upwards" Appears |
"Knives Out" Appears |
"Righteous Acts" Appears |
"3x05 Mercy" Appears |
"Evidence" Appears |
"The Long Game" Absent |
"Goldfish" Appears |
"Freak Show" Appears |
"A Higher Court" Appears |
"The Living and the Dead" Appears |
"Blood and Fire" Appears |
| Wentworth: Season 4 | |||||||||||
| "First Blood" Appears |
"Poking Spiders" Appears |
"Prisoner" Appears |
"Screw Lover" Appears |
"Love and Hate" Appears |
"Divide and Conquer" Appears |
"Panic Button" Appears |
"Plan Bea" Appears |
"After Life" Appears |
"Smitten" Appears |
"The Eleventh Hour" Appears |
"Seeing Red" Appears |
| Wentworth: Season 5 | |||||||||||
| "Scars" Appears |
"The Bitch is Back" Appears |
"Nothing but the Truth" Appears |
"Loose Ends" Appears |
"Belly of the Beast" Appears |
"Happy Birthday, Vera" Appears |
"The Pact" Appears |
"Think Inside the Box" Appears |
"Snake Head" Appears |
"Mere Anarchy" Appears |
"Coup de Grace" Appears |
"Hell Bent" Appears |
| Wentworth: Season 6 | |||||||||||
| Clean Slate Appears |
The Boxer Appears |
Bleed Out Appears |
Winter Is Here Appears |
Bitter Pill Appears |
The Angel of Wentworth Appears |
The Edge Appears |
Lovers and Fighters Appears |
Shallow Grave Appears |
Fractured Appears |
Indelible Ink Appears |
Showdown Appears |
| Wentworth: Season 7 | |||||||||
| Blood Wedding Appears |
Payback Appears |
Atonement Appears |
Karen Appears |
Ascension Appears |
Mother Appears |
Bad Blood Appears |
Protection Appears |
Under Siege Part One Appears |
Under Siege Part Two Appears |
| Wentworth: Season 8 | |||||||||
| Resurrection Appears |
Ends And Means Appears |
Enemy of the State Appears |
Revenant Appears |
Fallout Appears |
Fugitive Appears |
Battle Lines Appears |
Goldfish Part 2 Appears |
Monster Appears |
The Enemy Within Appears |
| Wentworth: Season 8pt2 | |||||||||
| Rogue Appears |
Requiem Appears |
The Ties That Bind Appears |
Judas Kiss Appears |
The Unknown Terrorist Appears |
One Eye Open Appears |
Collateral Appears |
The Abyss Appears |
The Reckoning Appears |
Legacy Appears |