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.

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):

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.

Survivors series one to broadcast in New Zealand

The first series of the new Survivors will be shown in New Zealand following a deal between BBC Worldwide Australia and broadcaster Prime Television.

Survivors to be shown on BBC America

All six episodes of the first series of the new Survivors will be shown in the US on BBC America later in 2009, in a deal agreed with BBC Worldwide.

BBC America’s press release describes the series as follows:

The chilling new apocalyptic drama, Survivors, focuses on the world in the aftermath of a virus that has wiped out 99% of the human race. The lonely few who remain struggle to start over in a devastated world where everything that was once safe and familiar is now strange and dangerous. At the center of the story is a bewildered but resilient group of survivors led by Abby Grant (Julie Graham), a woman whose strength comes from a burning need to find out if her young son is still alive. This brave new world brings an opportunity for new beginnings, but also terrible dangers – not just the daily struggle for food and water, but a deadly threat from other survivors.

Survivors repeat showing on BBC HD continues

The repeat of the first series of the new Survivors on BBC HD (High Definition), which began on 15 January, concludes later this month – with episode five showing on Thursday 12 February at 22:00 and episode six following a week later on Thursday 19 February.

Episode one: 6.5m tune in to Survivors

Broadcast magazine reports that 6.5m viewers tuned in to the first episode of Survivors on BBC One on Sunday 23 November – a good showing, but one that – predictably – could not hold its own against ITV’s I’m a Celebrity.

BBC1’s new apocalyptic drama Survivors got off to a fine start last night at 9pm with a strong 6.5m viewers (25.4%) but the show was no match for ITV1’s I’m a Celebrity. The opening 90-minute episode began with 7.1m (26.5%) but saw its audience steadily decline to 6.3m (27.5%) in the final quarter of an hour.

The drama, featuring Julie Graham and Max Beesley, was up by 35.4% on the channel’s slot average for the year so far of 4.8m (20.5%).

Despite the strong showing for the terrestrial channel it was still below its commercial rival ITV1 at the time by 1.1m.

The latest goings on in the Australian jungle appealed to a sizeable 7.6m (29.7%). The 90-minute edition of reality series I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! was up by 40.7% on the channel’s slot average of 5.4m (22.9%).

Broadcast, 24 November 2008

Early viewing figures are also reported on the Digital Spy web site and Media Guardian.

BBC adds video content to Survivors web site

New video content has been added to the BBC Survivors web site, including:

1. Episode one extract: ‘Abby searches for son Peter in the aftermath of the deadly viral attack’
2. Interview: ‘Actor Chanak Patel tells us why Najid’s faith is important to him
3. Context feature: ‘Ecologist Joaquin Hortal gives us expert advice on how to survive a disaster’

First episode review posted

A review of the first episode of Survivors has now been added to the blog.

New BBC trailer and teaser promos for Survivors

An alternative version of the main Survivors trailer is now being shown on BBC One, featuring a reworked selection of clips from the first episode.

The BBC is also showing different versions of a shorter ‘teaser’ trailer, which begin with the line ‘What if tonight wasn’t the end of the weekend, but the end of civilisation?’ and the image of a broken lightbulb (perhaps better suited to transmission this Sunday), or ‘What if there was no one left to entertain you?’, which features a TV screen reverting to a ‘white dot’, before resolving to the ‘Survivors – new drama’ tag line.

All of these different promotional slots are appearing regularly throughout BBC One prime time.

BBC 'teaser' trailers for Survivors - click on image for larger version

TV guides promote Sunday’s first episode of Survivors

All of the main (and most of the minor) highstreet TV listings magazines (which are published today) feature promotional materials on Survivors ahead of the transmission of the first two episodes of the new series next week.

The features on offer include:

• Radio Times: ‘Fight to Survive’, (pp.20-24)
• Total TV Guide: ‘Grave new world’, (pp.4-5)
• TV & Satellite Week: ‘Survival of the fittest’, (pp.12-13)
• TV Choice: ‘Survival of the Fittest’, (pp.6-7)
• TV Easy: ‘Deadly drama!’, (p.5)
• TV Quick: ‘It’s the end of the world’, (pp.16-17)
• TV Times: ‘Life after death’, (pp.16-17)
• What’s On TV: ‘Killer Virus’, (p.15)

Total TV Guide is the only magazine to feature Survivors as its main cover photo.

Total TV Guide, 22-28 November 2008

Radio Times – Survivors features, but not as the cover shot

The new Radio Times (for week beginning 22 November) includes an illustrated feature on the new Survivors – although the programme has lost out as the main cover feature to the David Tennant-starring Einstein and Eddington drama.

Radio Times, 22 November 2008

BBC confirms: episode 1, Sunday 23 November, 9pm

The BBC Survivors mini site confirms that the first ninety minute episode of Survivors will broadcast at 9pm, on Sunday 23 November 2008 on BBC1.

BBC Press Office reveals details of episode three

The BBC Press Office has published plot details of the third episode of Survivors.

***SPOILERS*** Please note that this link reveals significant plot spoilers.

Two first episodes to be shown 22-28 November

The BBC Press Office has confirmed that the first two episodes of the new series of Survivors will be broadcast on BBC1 between 22-28 November 2008.

A fairly detailed plot summary of the second episode is available from the BBC Press Office.

***SPOILERS*** Please note that this link reveals significant plot spoilers.

The BBC has also confirmed that Survivors will be available on the BBC’s HD (High Definition) Channel, and that the official web site accompanying the series will be named ‘Survivors Interactive’. As previously reported on this blog, the press release also indicates that the entire six episodes of the first series will be available through the BBC iPlayer ‘Series Stacker’ service.