Survivors – BBC TV Series

Press Association confirm BBC have axed Survivors

Survivors has been axed by the BBC after just two series.

The 21st century version of the 1970s cult sci-fi show, this time starring Julie Graham and Max Beesley, has suffered from falling ratings.

A BBC spokeswoman confirmed: “The BBC is committed to making a broad range of varied and ambitious drama, but in order to achieve this we do have to move on from some pieces in order to allow new work to come through – after two series, Survivors will not be returning.”

The post-apocalyptic BBC One drama, in which a handful of survivors struggle to stay alive when a deadly virus wipes out most of the world’s population, ended with 4.43 million viewers at the finale of the second series.

Sci-fi writer Terry Nation, who also wrote Blake’s 7 and created the Daleks, penned the original series.

The BBC secured the rights to The Survivors after months of negotiations with Nation’s estate.

The original 1970s series centred on a post-apocalyptic world in the aftermath of a plague which killed more than 99 per cent of the global population.

Survivors ran for 38 episodes over three series after being launched in April 1975 on BBC One.

The new series was written by Adrian Hodges, who also penned Ruby in the Smoke, Shadow in the North and Primeval.

The BBC confirmed that the remake was being axed following reports by Totalscifionline.com.

Total Sci-Fi has learned that the BBC has decided not to commission a third series of Survivors, the reinvention of Terry Nation’s 1970s post-apocalyptic series.

“Sadly the BBC aren’t going to do any more Survivors,” a source close to the production told Total Sci-Fi. “They expressed genuine affection for the show and a real desire to go again but felt that with the ratings having slipped a little since the first series they couldn’t take the risk. The sad truth is that we’re somewhat the victims of having gone out on the main channel – in some ways the exposure is wonderful but in other ways it’s a mixed blessing.

“Shows like Torchwood and Being Human benefitted from growing their audiences on the digital channels where it’s easier for this kind of genre show to grow and develop without being judged. With ratings over 4 million, Survivors would be considered to have a very substantial audience almost anywhere else except BBC1 and perhaps ITV.”

The source added that the cast and production team felt they had “ truly begun to hit our creative stride in series 2” and were upset at not getting the chance to develop the series further.

http://totalscifionline.com/news/4873-exclusive-survivors-cancelled

This guidebook, though unofficial and unauthorised, serves as a comprehensive guide to the new Survivors and includes:

- A detailed behind-the-scenes section on the making of the new series

- In-depth synopses and reviews of all of the episodes from Series 1 and 2

- Cast and crew interview material

- An exploration of previous attempts to revive Survivors

- Similarities and differences between the new Survivors and the original series

- An examination of Terry Nation’s original novel on which the new series is partly based

- A photographic guide to the first series’s filming locations

- Exclusive behind-the-scenes production shots.

If you enjoyed the series and want to find out more, this book is a `must buy’!

While appearing on GMTV, Paterson Joseph was talking about the new series Blood and Oil. He indicated that a 3rd series or a short film may be next for Survivors..

Want BBC to commission series 3 — join the facebook group:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=320118788334&ref=ts

Go behind the scenes with Adrian Hodges as he describes the various stages involved in writing an episode of Survivors, as well as how the second series as a whole was developed with the other writers: Gabbie Chiappe, Simon Tyrrell and Jimmy Gardner. Find out how the actors influenced the storylines and which episodes changed the most between initial idea and final script.

Essential additions to your DVD collection…

Series One DVD
Series Two DVD

Box Set of Series One and Two

Go behind the scenes with Adrian Hodges as he looks at the journeys undertaken by each character over the course of this series, explains the details of conspiracy behind the virus outbreak, and answers the question: What makes Survivors such a unique show?

TV.com speak to Phillip Rhys about the final episode of series three.

http://www.tv.com/phillip-rhys-interview-expect-self-sacrifice-in-survivors-series-finale/story/21522.html

Series One hits American and Adrian Hodges speaks to ifmagazine..

http://www.ifmagazine.com/feature.asp?article=3730