Digital Spy posts Adrian Hodges S2 preview interview

The Digital Spy site has posted a Survivors series two preview interview with showrunner and lead script writer Adrian Hodges.

The interview, which was recorded during the Survivors series two press day in October – quite naturally – includes revelations about series two characters and plot developments which could be treated as ***SPOILERS***.

Thanks to the eagle-eyed Adrian H for spotting that this had been posted.

Survivors series two – BBC Press Office pulls episode two date

The transmission date of episode one of the second series of Survivors is still not confirmed – with the BBC Press Office’s confirmation of an 12 January 2010 premier for episode two withdrawn from its web site.

Clearly, the scheduling of Survivors still remains in a state of flux. This blog will be updated with the latest news as information is released (and withdrawn!) by the BBC.

Survivors series two – January 2010

The BBC Press Office reports the second episode of series two of Survivors will broadcast at 9pm on BBC1 Tuesday 12 January 2010 (episode two is featured as a highlight of that week’s schedule). Although not confirmed, this makes it all-but certain that the first episode of series two would be shown on Tuesday 5 January 2010.

The Press Office’s guide to episode two contains plot ***SPOILERS***.

BBC confirms ‘high octane’ series two ‘coming soon’ – but gives no date

The BBC Press Office has published a short promotional feature on series two of Survivors in an end-of-year ‘Coming soon’ round-up.

The article confirms that the “high octane” second series “picks up moments after the thrilling cliff-hanger” of episode six, but provides no confirmation of a transmission date.

Please be aware that the article contain some significant episode one plot and character ***SPOILERS***.

BBFC rates Survivors series two episodes for DVD release

The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has published its ratings decisions for the first two episodes of the series two of Survivors ahead of its DVD release next year.

Episode one has a ‘15′ rating and the consumer advice that it “contains strong violence and medical gore”; episode two is rated ‘12′, with the advice that it “contains moderate violence”. Decisions on the remaining four episodes will be published in the coming weeks.

Thanks to Rob Stickler for alerting the blog to this.

Survivors series two – features press day

BBC Drama Publicity held the first major press promotion for series two of Survivors in central London today (22 October 2009). Feature writers for both print and online publications were invited to interview Survivors cast members and key creative and production staff. Material from the day will not be published until closer to the transmission date for episode one of series two – a date that has not yet been confirmed by the BBC.

Survivors series two DVD release date published

Both Play.com and HMV are listing the series two Survivors DVD for pre-order with a scheduled release date of Monday 8 February 2010.

Series one of Survivors was released on DVD on Monday 26 January 2009, less than a month after the transmission of series one concluded on BBC One and BBC HD. However, the 8 February 2010 release date for the series two DVD must surely remain provisional, pending the confimation of the transmission dates for the new series.

Thanks to Adrian H and David C for alerting the blog to this news

BBC yet to confirm transmission dates for Survivors series two

The BBC has yet to confirm the transmission dates for the second series of Survivors.

Series one of Survivors was shown in November and December of 2008, and it is likely that series two will appear on BBC One screens either late in 2009 or early in 2010 – although the BBC has still to go public with its decision.

As soon as the BBC has announced the transmission slot for Survivors series two, details will be posted on this blog.

Italian broadcaster suspends showing of Survivors series one

The Italian TV network RAI-TRE has suspended transmission of series one of Survivors after three episodes.

The network premiered episode one on 3 September, with episode two following on 10 September. After a fortnight gap, episode three was shown on 24 September, but RAI-TRE has yet to schedule transmission of the remaining three installments of series one.

Thanks to Luca for alerting the blog to this news.

Survivors’ creator Hodges’ cancelled Primeval show resurrected

The BBC News site reports that Survivors‘ creator Adrian Hodges ITV dino-drama Primeval has been resurrected by ITV three months after being unexpectedly cancelled.

Primeval has been recommissioned for a total of 13 new episodes which will be “split over the two series, with series four going out in early 2011″, as part of a complex co-production deal (involving ITV, UKTV, Watch, BBC Worldwide and German station Pro7).

Digital Spy adds that: “ITV1 will premiere series four in early 2011, while Watch will have the first run of series five later that year. ITV1 will then broadcast series five.”

Survivors series one on BBC South Africa

Series one of Survivors began transmission on BBC South Africa on Tuesday 15 September at 20:30. The show will transmit in the same slot across a six-week run. The BBC Entertainment site, describes the show as: “A thrilling new interpretation of the classic drama which follows the fortunes of a group of survivors in a world devastated by a mystery virus.”

The BBC Entertainment sites offers a brief episode guide, as well as a ‘key facts’ introduction to the series.

The site also contains an extended trailer for series one (see below):

Iain Cuthbertson (actor, original Survivors) dies aged 79

Small-screen stalwart Iain Cuthbertson, who memorably appeared in the role of Laird McAlister in the final episode of the original Survivors, has died aged 79.

Probably best known for his roles in Sutherland’s Law and Budgie, Cuthbertson’s numerous genre credits include ITV children’s supernatural drama Children of the Stones, the adapted M R James’ chiller Casting the Runes, and the Doctor Who story The Ribos Operation.

In the finale of series three of the original Survivors, Cuthbertson’s Laird was determined to assert the interests of Scottish survivors and challenge any plans that Agnes’ new ruling council might have to take the country’s resources for granted.

Obituaries appeared in The Times, The Guardian, The Independent and The Scotsman.

Survivors series one to be shown in Italy

The first series of Survivors (2008) will be shown on the RAI-TRE station in Italy, beginning with a broadcast of the 90-minute opening episode at 21:10 on Thursday 3 September 2009.

The first and second series of the original Survivors were extremely popular when shown in Italy by RAI (1979-1982) and TMC (1983). Transmission of the new series is certain to encourage renewed interest in the original Survivors – all three series of which have been released on DVD in Italy (as both a series of box-sets and a multi-part serial) for the first time.

Many thanks to Luca and Riccardo for alerting the blog to this news.

Birmingham Post reports on series two filming in the city

The 2 August edition of the Birmingham Post provides an update on the filming of Survivors series two in the city.

An interview with producer Hugh Warren reveals that locations in and around Sutton Park have been used, including “Newhall Street, Edmund Street, Brindleyplace and the Old Fire Station at Lancaster Circus”.

Warren adds: “Ironically, we used the old Central Studios, a big derelict building, with a storyline that involved a collapsed building.”

Tapper suggests Survivors series two ‘much darker’

In an interview on the Digital Spy site, Survivors actress Zoë Tapper suggests that series two of the show is starker and bleaker than its predecessor.

Says Tapper: “I think – if this is possible – that this series is much darker than the last… There’s a lot of action and high emotion. I think people are going to be left on the edge of their seats because there’s some brilliant cliffhangers and some great writing.”

In the interview, Tapper refutes the rumour that the spectre of Swine Flu will have the effect of delaying the scheduling of Survivors series two.

Tapper is interviewed to promote her new series Desperate Romantics which begins on BBC2 on 21 July.

BBC HD begins repeat showing of Survivors series one

The opening episode of the first series of Survivors will be broadcast at 23:50 on Monday 20 July 2009 on the BBC HD Channel.

This will be the first installment of a six-part reshowing of the entire of the first series, which continues with episode two the following week.

Many thanks to Adrian H for alerting the blog to this news.

Beesley promotes Survivors series one in Italy

Survivors actor Max Beesley (Tom Price) appeared at the Italian film and TV festival RomaFictionFest being held in Rome between 6-11 July.

Beesley was in attendance to promote series one of Survivors, which is an Official Selection for the Series strand in the International competition. RomaFictionFest is also an opportunity to promote international TV sales, in the European market in particular.

Three promotional shots of Beesley’s appearance can be viewed (in thumbnail format) on the Bruno Press web site. (Deep-linking is not supported, so carry out a search for Max Beesley Fiction Festival to retrieve the relevant images).

The original 1975-1977 series of Survivors was a major TV hit in Italy, and all three series of the show have just been released on DVD in Italy for the first time – in a set of three box-sets and also as a series of ongoing ‘part-works’.

Survivors’ Birmingham filming begins

Filming on the second series of Survivors is now underway, with sequences set in central Birmingham locations amongst the first to go in front of the cameras earlier this month.

On Sunday 14 June, several streets in inner-city Birmingham were closed to the public and dressed by the production crew to record sequences featuring the core series two cast. The Birmingham Mail (15 June) reported that the crew “made the most of the area yesterday – by filling the streets with tons of rubbish”, and published a photo of the litter-strewn area. As well as local journalists, the filming process was observed by several passers-by, tourists and fans of the programme.

Adrian Hodges ITV fantasy Primeval cancelled

Primeval, the ITV dinosaur fantasy adventure series created by Survivors’ showrunner Adrian Hodges, has been cancelled in a decision that appears to have come as an unwelcome surprise to the show’s producers.

Three series of the Saturday tea-time family-friendly genre show had been broadcast, and pre-production work was already underway on series four when ITV made its announcement.

ITV made clear that the decision to drop Primeval was part of a general reallocation of the drama spend that would see the channel focus most of its funding on post-9pm (and therefore post-watershed) programming.

Clearly stung by the shock move, a spokesperson for the show indicated that the producers would not have gone ahead with the series three cliff-hanger ending had they been made aware that the third series would be the show’s last.

Survivors cast pictured at charity social event – June 2009

Survivors cast members Phillip Rhys, Robyn Addison, Julie Graham, Max Beesley and Zoë Tapper all attended a charity fund raising event for the 5 Stars Scanner Appeal on 1 June 2009 held at The Belfry, Sutton Coldfield, hosted by Ryan Giggs and fellow 5 Stars Ambassador Beesley.

The 5 Stars Scanner Appeal aims to raise £1m to buy a new MRI scanner for the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital which can greatly enhance early detection and diagnosis of cancer – the appeal currently stands at £750,000 and aims to raise the remaining £250,000 by this summer.

A photo of the group can be seen on the Getty Images site (the free-to-view preview is watermarked).

More information about the Appeal can be found in a promotional video for the charity presented by Max Beesley.

In the photo from the charity event, Beesley is sporting a signature ‘Tom Price haircut’, far shorter than that on seen during his recent appearance on the Paul O’Grady show – an indication that filming on series two of Survivors is either imminent or already underway.

Thanks to Adam and Adrian H for locating the Getty Images photo of the event.