1975-1977 – Survivors – BBC TV: Recent Episodes
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THE FIFTH EPISODE of the first series of the BBC’s remake of Survivors premiered on BBC One ten years ago, on 16 December 2018. The central storyline explored how Abby’s nascent community reacted to the arrival of a nomadic group of survivors, led by the charismatic and self-proclaimed spiritual visionary John. Through a series of … Continue reading "Survivors remake episode five series one was broadcast ten years ago"
THE FIFTH EPISODE of the first series of the BBC’s remake of Survivors premiered on BBC One ten years ago, on 16 December 2018.
The central storyline explored how Abby’s nascent community reacted to the arrival of a nomadic group of survivors, led by the charismatic and self-proclaimed spiritual visionary John. Through a series of encounters, the travellers upset Al’s sense of himself as a romantic “player”, and compel Anya to reveal the full extent of her medical expertise (talents she has deliberately hidden until now). John’s fragile mental state is brought into sharp relief during a manic episode in which he becomes an immediate threat to members of Abby’s group. The episode ends with the scientists in the hidden bunker discovering the identity of someone who might be their most valuable test subject yet: Abby Grant. It’s a revelation that will set in motion the explosive and bloody events of the series one finale.
Writing back in 2008, this site observed many parallels between the plot motifs of this story and those of the original 1970s’ show:
The return of Adrian Hodges to scriptwriting duties signals another incredibly strong character piece, replete with any number of reference points from the original series. In just fifty minutes, Hodges serves up: a religious zealot who claims to have access to the word of god (akin to the isolated disciples of Gone to the Angels); a group of survivors with a strong repopulationalist drive (see Corn Dolly); a pregnant woman who needs the help of Abby’s community to safely deliver her baby (see The Future Hour); a new mother who falls ills immediately after delivery, who is saved by expert medical intervention from Abby’s group (see Greater Love); a doctor who is abducted soon after her skills are made known (Lights of London); travellers who seek shelter in a church (Gone Away); a former mental patient who is forced to face up to an unmedicated life in the post-plague world (Face of the Tiger) and more besides…
Over on the original Survivors (1975-1977) series blog, I’ve just posted a review of the new audio-book version of the 1976 Survivors novel written by the show’s creator Terry Nation. This is the novel that provided the inspiration for the BBC’s remake of Survivors in 2008-2010, and acted as the sourcebook for showrunner Adrian Hodges … Continue reading "Original Survivors novelisation – review of the audio-book"
Audio-drama specialists Big Finish have confirmed their intention to release an audio-book version of Terry Nation’s 1976 Survivors novel – the book which was the inspiration and source material for the 2008-2010 BBC Survivors TV series. The audio version will be read by Carolyn Seymour (who played Abby Grant in the original 1975 TV version). … Continue reading "Big Finish to release audio-book version of original Survivors novel"
The Survivors: A World Away site (the companion site of this blog, which focuses on the original 1975-1977 series) has launched a new mini-site dedicated to the new Survivors audio adventures from Big Finish. The new site is still being actively developed, but already includes reviews of all four episodes in the first series, and … Continue reading "New mini-site for new Big Finish Survivors audio adventures"
Big Finish have released the first teaser audio trailer for the new series of Survivors audio adventures, to be released on CD and via digital download in June 2014, and available for pre-order from the Big Finish online store. The trailer is available to stream online and for free digital download. Based on the original … Continue reading "Trailer for new audio adventures (based on the 1975-1977 Survivors) released"
Roger Lloyd-Pack (the only actor to appear in both the original Survivors [1975-1977] and the Survivors remake [2008-2010]) has died. The well-respected character and comedy actor passed away from pancreatic cancer on 15 January 2014, at the age of 69. In the original series, Lloyd-Pack appeared in a memorable guest-starring role in the two-part story … Continue reading "Roger Lloyd-Pack dies (15 January 2014)"
A commemorative ‘blue plaque‘ has been added to the birthplace of Survivors‘ creator Terry Nation, to acknowledge his role as scriptwriter and ‘creator of the Daleks’ (the perennial arch-enemies of The Doctor in Doctor Who). The plaque, added to the former Nation family home in Fairwater Grove West, Llandaff, Cardiff, was unveiled at a ceremony … Continue reading "Blue Plaque marks birthplace of Survivors creator Terry Nation"
Several extracts from the original Survivors first series episode Genesis feature in Dominic Sandbrook’s new BBC 2 documentary TV series The ’70s. In the third of four episodes, which focuses on the mid-1970s [‘Goodbye Great Britain 75-77’], Sandbrook makes reference to the resonances between the widespread ‘pessimism and paranoia’ gripping Britain at the time and … Continue reading "Original series episode Genesis features in BBC ’70s documentary"
A rare opportunity to enjoy an episode from the original Survivors on the big screen is provided during the ID Fest film festival in Derby later in May. The series three episode Law of the Jungle, which features a memorable guest appearance by Brian Blessed is being screened on Saturday 26 May at 12:45pm. The … Continue reading "Original series episode Law of the Jungle (with Brian Blessed) on the big screen in Derby"
The original Survivors ranks at the paltry position of 54 in Total Sci-Fi‘s rundown of its ‘top 100 Greatest Sci-Fi & Fantasy TV Shows’ published on 15 November. 54) Survivors (1975-77) A pandemic wipes out modern society as we know it, leaving a small group of people facing life in a desolate Britain in Terry … Continue reading "Survivors in Total Sci-Fi’s ‘top 100 shows’"