Survivors

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Template:Infobox television

For the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode, see The Survivors (TNG episode).
For the reality television series, see Survivor.
For the Babylon 5 episode, see Survivors (Babylon 5)

Survivors was a British television series devised by Terry Nation and produced by Terence Dudley at the BBC from 1975 to 1977. It concerned the plight of a group of people who had survived an accidentally released plague that had killed nearly the entire population of the planet. The programme is usually described as falling into the science fiction genre, but a more appropriate description would be to call it apocalyptic fiction.

The programme ran for three series and 38 episodes, epitomising the pessimistic tendency of British science fiction as shown on British television beginning with Quatermass and the adaptation on Nineteen Eighty-Four and taken up in later series.

Terry Nation left after the first series to concentrate on other work and some critics feel that the direction of the programme suffered as a result.

Contents

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Plot summaries

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.
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Series 1

As the world's population is decimated by a mysterious pandemic, the crisis is first seen through the eyes of two characters - Jenny Richards, a young working woman in London and Abby Grant, a middle-class corporate wife living a privileged existence in a nearby commuter village. As Abby goes in search of her son Peter, Jenny wanders aimlessly through the countryside. Other major characters introduced in the first few episodes are the resourceful engineer Greg Preston, the shifty Welshman Tom Price and two children, John Millon and Lizzie Willoughby. Abby, Jenny and Greg eventually come together and realise they must start again from scratch now that civilisation as they once knew it has been destroyed. After several adventures on the road, they find a property called the Grange which they can use as a base and joined by other survivors, they form a potted community of disparate individuals all united by a shared purpose - to relearn the old skills of farming and tool-making, and to try to live in this strange new world.

Major Cast

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Series 2

Having received word that her son is still alive, Abby has left the Grange to resume her search while the community is devastated by a fire, killing several of their number. The survivors join another community, Whitecross, run by Charles Vaughan, whom they briefly encountered in the previous series. New major characters that make up the Whitecross band are Charles' partner Pet Simpson, medical student Ruth Anderson who works as a travelling doctor and farmyard labourer Hubert Goss. Jenny gives birth to Greg's child Paul, while the survivors are once more focused on the everyday practicalities of post-Death life. Frequent visitors to Whitecross, both friendly and hostile, act as catalysts for various dramatic situations. Finally, the arrival of Norwegian survivors brings the possibility of re-establishing worldwide contact and technology. To achieve this, Greg departs Whitecross in a hot air balloon bound for Norway.

Major Cast

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Series 3

Having heard nothing from Greg since he left Whitecross for Norway, Charles, Jenny and Hubert set out on horseback to find him. It is a journey that will take them right across what is left of the United Kingdom as their search leads them to various dead ends. However, they meet a broad spectrum of other survivors along the way, and the series continues to explore alternate reactions to the Death and what it takes to survive. The third series juxtaposes the more personal story arc of the search for Greg with a wider narrative of society appearing to establish itself again with federated communities, market bartering and rudimentary railway travel. This culminates in the tentative return of law and order and the quest to restore power through hydroelectricity.

Major Cast

  • Denis Lill as Charles Vaughan
  • Lucy Fleming as Jenny Richards
  • Ian McCulloch as Greg Preston
  • John Abineri as Hubert Goss
  • Gordon Salkilld as Jack Wood
  • Lorna Lewis as Pet Simpson
  • Anna Pitt as Agnes Carlsson
  • Edward Underdown as Frank Garner
  • William Dysart as Alec Campbell
  • Robert Gillespie as Sam Mead (Gillespie appeared as a minor character, John Milner, in episode 2 of the first series)
  • Stephen Dudley as John Millon
  • Angie Stevens as Lizzie Willoughby
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Books

Image:Survivors book.jpg Two novels based on Survivors were made:

  • Survivors by Terry Nation - an overview of season one, with a few changes
  • Genesis of a Hero by John Ayres - essentially an alternative version of events post-season one

There are also two factual books:

  • The Making of Terry Nation's Survivors by Kevin P Marshall
  • The End of the World? The Unofficial and Unauthorised Guide to Survivors by Rich Cross and Andy Priestner [1]
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Trivia

  • After playing a central role in Survivors during series one, Carolyn Seymour (Abby Grant) was not invited to return to the production for the second series. Rumours suggest that this was the result of a personality clash behind the scenes between Seymour and series producer Terence Dudley. Abby's storyline, involving her search for her son Peter, was concluded in the Terry Nation novelisation of the series.
  • Denis Lill (Charles Vaughan) and Ian McCulloch (Greg Preston) fell out with each other during the filming of the second season, leading to the departure of McCulloch's character. McCulloch was apparently unhappy that a new male lead had been added to the show, when he had built up a strong character during the first season. He did return for two episodes during the third series, both of whom he wrote himself.
  • Stephen Dudley (John) was given his part by his father, the show's producer Terence Dudley, while Tanya Ronder (Lizzie) is the daughter of Jack Ronder, who wrote eight episodes of Survivors.
  • Ian McCulloch wrote a fourth season of Survivors during the 1990's to try and get the programme back on television. BBC Scotland were interested in the idea but did not approve of the idea of an uninfected African nation colonising Britain.
  • Of the cast, William Dysart (Alec Campbell), Gigi Gatti (Daniella), Edward Underdown (Frank Garner), John Abineri (Hubert), Roy Herrick (Lewis Fearn), Talfryn Thomas (Tom Price) and Terry Scully (Vic Thatcher) have all since passed away.
  • Notable guest stars in the series included Patrick Troughton, Peter Jeffrey, Brian Blessed, George Baker, Philip Madoc, Bryan Pringle, Iain Cuthbertson and Peter Bowles. Appearing in the series before becoming famous were Denis Lawson (Star Wars), David Neilson (Coronation Street), Peter Duncan (Blue Peter) and June Brown (EastEnders).
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Episode guide

Episode Title Writer Director Guest stars
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Series 1

(BBC1, April 16th to July 16th 1975)

1 The Fourth Horseman Terry Nation Pennant Roberts Peter Bowles (as David Grant), Peter Copley (as Dr. Bronson)
2 Genesis Terry Nation Gerald Blake George Baker (as Arthur Wormley), Brian Peck (as Dave Long)
3 Gone Away Terry Nation Terence Williams Brian Peck (as Dave Long), Robert Gillespie (as John Milner)
4 Corn Dolly Jack Ronder Pennant Roberts Keith Jayne (as Mick), Annie Hayes (as Lorraine), Yvonne Bonnamy (as Isla)
5 Gone To The Angels Jack Ronder Gerald Blake Peter Miles (as Lincoln), Frederick Hall (as Jack), Nickolas Grace (as Matthew), Kenneth Caswell (as Robert)
6 Garland’s War Terry Nation Terence Williams Peter Jeffrey (as Knox), Dennis Chinnery (as John Carroll)
7 Starvation Jack Ronder Pennant Roberts No guest cast
8 Spoil Of War M.K. Jeeves Gerald Blake No guest cast
9 Law And Order M.K. Jeeves Pennant Roberts No guest cast
10 The Future Hour Terry Nation Terence Williams Glyn Owen (as Bernard Huxley), Caroline Burt (as Laura Foster), Denis Lawson (as Norman)
11 Revenge Jack Ronder Gerald Blake Robert Tayman (as Donnie)
12 Something Of Value Terry Nation Terence Williams Matthew Long (as Robert Lawson), Murray Hayne (as Jim Buckmaster), Paul Chapman (as Thorpe)
13 A Beginning Terry Nation Pennant Roberts Annie Irving (as Ruth Anderson)
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Series 2

(BBC1, March 31st to June 23rd 1976)

1 Birth Of A Hope Jack Ronder Eric Hills No guest cast
2 Greater Love Don Shaw Pennant Roberts No guest cast
3 Lights Of London, Part 1 Jack Ronder Terence Williams Sydney Tafler (as Manny), Roger Lloyd-Pack (as Wally), Coral Atkins (as Penny), Nadim Sawalha (as Amul), Lennox Milne (as Nessie), David Troughton (as Stan), Wendy Williams (as Barbara)
4 Lights Of London, Part 2 Jack Ronder Pennant Roberts Sydney Tafler (as Manny), Roger Lloyd-Pack (as Wally), Coral Atkins (as Penny), Nadim Sawalha (as Amul), Lennox Milne (as Nessie), David Troughton (as Stan), Wendy Williams (as Barbara)
5 Face Of The Tiger Don Shaw Terence Williams John Line (as Alistair McFadden)
6 The Witch Jack Ronder Terence Williams Catherine Finn (as Peggy)
7 A Friend In Need Ian McCulloch Eric Hills William Wilde (as Boult)
8 By Bread Alone Martin Worth Pennant Roberts Julie Peasgood (as Judy), Martin Neil (as Philip)
9 The Chosen Roger Parkes Eric Hills Philip Madoc (as Max Kershaw), Clare Kelly (as Joy Dunn), James Cosmo (as Lenny Carter), David Neilson (as Mike), Elizabeth Cassidy (as Susan)
10 Parasites Roger Marshall Terence Williams Patrick Troughton (as John Millen), Kevin McNally (as Kane), Brian Grellis (as Grice)
11 New Arrivals Roger Parkes Pennant Roberts Ian Hastings (as Mark Carter)
12 Over The Hills Martin Worth Eric Hills Linda Robson (as Barbara), Nula Conwell (as Ann)
13 New World Martin Worth Terence Williams Sally Osborn (as Agnes), Dan Meaden (as Seth)
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Series 3

(BBC1, March 16th to June 8th 1977)

1 Manhunt Terence Dudley Peter Jefferies Michael Hawkins (as Colonel Clifford), Anthony Jacobs (as Meidel), Dan Meaden (as Seth), June Brown (as Susan)
2 A Little Learning Ian McCulloch George Spenton-Foster Joseph McKenna (as Eagle), Sylvia Coleridge (as Mrs. Butterworth), Sean Caffrey (as Miller), Prentis Hancock (as Mackintosh)
3 Law Of The Jungle Martin Worth Peter Jefferies Brian Blessed (as Brod), Barbara Lott (as Edith Walter), Eric Deacon (as Steve Walter), Keith Varnier (as Owen Walter), Cheryl Hall (as Mavis)
4 Mad Dog Don Shaw Tristan de Vere Cole Morris Perry (as Fenton), Bernard Kay (as Sanders), Heather Canning (as Ellen)
5 Bridgehead Martin Worth George Spenton-Foster John Ronane (as Bill Sheridan), Hazel McBride (as Alice), Barbara Lott (as Edith Walter), Eric Deacon (as Steve Walter), Keith Varnier (as Owen Walter), Cheryl Hall (as Mavis)
6 Reunion Don Shaw Terence Dudley John Lee (as Philip Hurst), Jean Gilpin (as Janet Millon)
7 The Peacemaker Roger Parkes George Spenton-Foster Heather Emmanuel (as Rutna), Alan Halley (as Henry), Nicolette Roeg (as Blossom), Derek Martin (as Cyril)
8 Sparks Roger Parkes Tristan de Vere Cole John Bennett (as Queenie), Gabrielle Hamilton (as Letty), Linda Polan (as Bet), John White (as Vic)
9 The Enemy Roger Parkes Peter Jefferies Bryan Pringle (as Leonard Woollen), Frances Tomelty (as Mary-Jean)
10 The Last Laugh Ian McCulloch Peter Jefferies George Mallaby (as Mason), Clifton Jones (as Dr. Adams), Roy Boyd (as Tilley)
11 Long Live The King Martin Worth Tristan de Vere Cole Roy Marsden (as The Captain), Frank Vincent (as Mitch), Barry Stokes (as Tom Walter), Gabrielle Daye (as Mrs. Hicks)
12 Power Martin Worth George Spenton-Foster Iain Cuthbertson (as McAlister), William Armour (as Davey), Dorothy Dean (as Mrs. Crombie)
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DVD release

The complete series of Survivors is available on DVD (Region 2, U.K.) from DD Home Entertainment.

All releases include a colour booklet giving chronicling the making of each series, plus the following extra features:

# DVD release date DVD cover Breakdown of special features
Series One October 6, 2003 Image:Survivors 1.jpg Audio commentary on episode The Fourth Horseman with actor Carolyn Seymour (Abby Grant) and director Pennant Roberts

Audio commentary on episode Law And Order with actors Ian McCulloch (Greg Preston) and Lucy Fleming (Jenny Richards)
On-camera interviews with director Pennant Roberts and actors Carolyn Seymour, Ian McCulloch, Lucy Fleming and Tanya Ronder (Lizzie Willoughby)
Photo gallery

Series Two October 4, 2004 Image:Survivors 2.jpg Audio commentary on episode The Lights of London, Part 2 with actor Denis Lill (Charles Vaughan) and director Pennant Roberts
On-camera interviews with director Pennant Roberts and actors Denis Lill, Lorna Lewis (Pet Simpson) and Heather Wright (Melanie)
Photo gallery
Series Three November 14, 2005 Image:Survivors 3.jpg Audio commentary on episode Law of the Jungle with actor Lucy Fleming and director Peter Jefferies

Audio commentary on episode Mad Dog with guest actor Morris Perry and director Tristan de Vere Cole
“New World Rising” – documentary on the making of series three with contributions from directors Peter Jefferies and Tristan de Vere Cole and actors Lucy Fleming and Stephen Dudley (John Millon)
Photo gallery

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External links

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Interviews regarding Survivors

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