survivors series survivors british science fiction television series produced bbc depicts lives group people survived unknown strain wiped human species according producers series remake 1970s bbc television series survivors created loosely based novel nation wrote following series 1970s programme series produced new series ran bbc bbc november december series ran january february ending cliffhanger bbc announced april poor viewing figures considerations survivors cancelled series premiered south_africa september france channel january united_states february australia channel march synopsis set present day series focuses group ordinary people survive aftermath devastating viral referred european flu kills world population causing storms body immune system series sees characters struggling terrible dangers world society police law led facto group production executive producer bbc inspired remake survivors following recent increase concerns future diseases decided imagining 1970s material external production company bbc pursued rights survivors estate series revived agreement signed took months negotiations legal reasons new series billed based nation material episodes 1970s series series worked avoid criticisms 1970s series felt important new version cultural class mix represented country meet needs created new characters writers claimed new series retained spirit 1970s concentrated hope humanity said attempt depressing watch city scenes series filmed manchester city scenes second series filmed birmingham help create world people scenes shot early sunday morning including sequence drives car speed city centre producer said approach reduced computer generated imagery required allowed budget spent effects city starts flood fires burn locations included house near lancashire doubled survivors main base disused village near jaguar cars test track stood deserted series shot film warren said chosen high definition cameras low light levels experienced filming world electricity autumn filming period super high definition transmission requirements series received mixed critical reception reviewers concerned derivative predictable positive producers happy started survived ratings middle ended upward curve weeks audience indicate higher proportion younger viewers tuning survivors shows second season survivors delayed real life flu epidemic broadcast cast characters main cast protagonist moral compass group determined find missing son peter insists series survived maintain peace welcome new arrivals peter found characters survived virus pre existing immunity makes paramount importance consortium companies released virus seeking cure serving long prison sentence prison virus struck escapes killing sole remaining guard makes way home discover mother died price violent streak provide element friction group proven right darker human nature largely relationship tom loyal group close second series programme tom aboard consortium bound parts unknown encounters motorway original wish self sufficient convinces survivors come decides remain group shown better prepared survive post virus world having immediately assembled range kill wife left civil servant told visiting boston point children vanished later discovered wife possibly knew virus outbreak escaped doctor busy city hospital virus struck watched hundreds patients die virus including friend lover treating badly wounded tom road joins group privately face faith practicing medicine deeply shaken initially sought kill later regain confidence successfully deliver breech birth infant son immensely wealthy man lived life leisure difficulty adapting life modern finds city soon develops paternal relationship boy close relationship sarah grows dies strain virus near end second series volunteers experimental survives year old muslim boy awakens mosque find entire congregation including parents dead meets pair joins group relatives doesn know survived shown friendly child adopted group ease forms especially close bonds virus sarah manipulating men supporting joined group meeting eventually began relationship elderly couple new strain virus infected died supporting cast characters emphasised bbc promotional material appeared episode viral samantha main antagonists series samantha junior minister responsible government media response virus sole governmental official remaining moves small seeks establish provisional government restore order notes samantha methods harsh ultimately corrupt example samantha killing woman found guilty invading steal food jury finding innocence giving prisoner slave labour eventually forms doomed alliance violent gang leader threatening community vicious group initially encounters foraging supplies claims grocery stores later warehouses turf later joins samantha provisional government seeking eventually assume leadership cold ruthless killed tom samantha promised opportunity escape return eliminating threat power served main antagonist second series leading research cure virus safety secure research development facility research begins require increasingly practices lies struggle maintain loyalty colleagues unbeknownst workers lost loved ones wife portrayed young son facility violating protocol true motives suspect answers called satellite video link death stolen anti virus produced blood keeping died virus got lab infected wife end second series accidentally shot killed sniper employ oxford professor found new career managing forced slave labour old coal near country manor taken residence seen begging mercy beaten death workers released escaped slave tom driver kidnaps people befriends road work slaves coal exchange food fuel tied left woods tom subsequently freed children transporting truck pack actor appeared version appeared 1970s series played series episode 1970s programme titled lights london company research pair meet occasionally satellite video link discuss group following details mysterious finds admits virus genetically engineered attempt discover universal cure known forms failed escaped populace creating plans place established months offered newly created alternative end series heading place young son unseen series set free billy group children age billy finds takes uses find cure virus inherited mother ability fight infection reunited mother cliffhanger ending close second series young primary school teacher lived good friends virus dies shortly discovering true power disease appears episode series husband peter father contracts virus collapses david cares believes succumbed virus awakens days later discovers david died flu claimed life kate tom helicopter flying encounter family isolated onset virus family daughter kate reaches risks appears episode series episodes series series second series episodes commissioned began airing january returned oversee project returned roles series cliffhanger quickly resolved story lab plays series allowing backstory virus lab direct connection production team intention spend time exploring gritty survival post virus world characters filming took place locations birmingham including exterior studios interior standing fictional hospital series dvd extras easter egg making character profiles effects reel easter egg disc easter egg revealed going main menu highlighting episode selection grey appears press reveals minutes scenes footage media tie broadcast series terry nation released new edition series credited based novel web site launched tie series entitled survivors interactive included interviews actors clips programme original character pieces camera interactive component based visitors selecting characters answering dilemma based questions type survivor travel post plague environment series released dvd january includes special features easter egg new world making survivors documentary character profiles survivors special effects added platform highest watched program consequently contact bbc discussions continuing program heard published book worlds apart unofficial guide bbc remake survivors march written shortly transmission second series completes book incorporates depth reviews episodes series insights making series examination similarities differences new series 1970s series photographic guide filming locations exclusive production shots differences source material credits imagined series said based novel number differences series source material novel survives counterpart series means child years falls love book eventually dies tom price 1970s series welsh witnessed climactic accidental killing son peter television series escaped convict joined community television characters direct counterparts book appear book television characterisation incorporates parallels personality leadership ambitions book character ruthless trade union leader establishes paramilitary organisation called responsible community eventual decision leave britain mediterranean chapters end book joined nomadic gang feral accidentally shoots kills seen years end current incarnation survivors series peter shoots doesn kill tom finally reunited peter accidental death television portrayal probably closest character portrayal book companion named bob 1970s series named fate revealed novelization death television series bob survives initial abandonment 1970s series anne sarah version leaves episode version dies version virus
Survivors (2008 TV series)