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.

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.

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.

Scotland on Sunday suggests Survivors could be rescheduled

The Scotland on Sunday newspaper (10 May 2009) reports that series two of Survivors could be delayed or rescheduled by the BBC – becoming the “latest victim of swine flu”.

It suggests that the BBC could rethink the timing of the transmission of series two if the real-world context of a swine flu pandemic rendered the drama “a little too close to reality”.

A BBC spokesperson told the paper: “We can confirm a second series of Survivors was commissioned last year. We are monitoring developments with regard to swine flu and no transmission date has been set.”

Former BBC controller discusses Survivors’ H1N1 topicality

On Radio Four’s Front Row arts and culture review programme (4 May 2009), former BBC controller (and current ITV Director of Television) Peter Fincham discusses the challenge of commissioning and scheduling popular television drama that has strong contemporary relevance – including Survivors.

Asked by presenter Mark Lawson if he would have commissioned Survivors given the current unsettling context of the spectre of Swine Flu, he replies: “One side of you would say, ‘I’m rather nervous about this’; another side would say ‘Goodness me, isn’t this prescient of us? Haven’t we managed to get the zeitgeist exactly right?’. So it would be a difficult decision…”.

The interview, which features in the closing five minutes of the programme, is available on the BBC iPlayer.

Series two could see a return to the Doncaster Earth Centre

As well as making use of new locations in Birmingham city centre, the second series of the new Survivors could include new scenes filmed at the mothballed Doncaster Earth Centre – the home of Samantha Willis’s settlement.

Survivors producer Hugh Warren told the Doncaster Free Press that it was possible that the location could feature in the second series, although he was not in a position to confirm this either way.

More details on Survivors series two Birmingham locations

A few more details about the planned inner-city Birmingham Survivors series two filming locations have been published today in The Sunday Mercury.

The article reports that the programme will incorporate scenes involving the famous Birmingham landmarks The Rotunda and The Bull Ring. The report also suggests that all six episodes will be recorded in and around the city, and that much of the recording “will have to take place very early in the morning when the city centre is quiet enough to look deserted.”

The Sunday Mercury reports that production on the programme in the city, which is scheduled to begin in May, will last for four months.

It also indicates that there will be opportunities for local people to become involved in the production – either as members of the behind-the-camera crew, or on-screen as extras.

Survivors series two begins filming in Birmingham in May

A blog on the Conventry Telegraph (13 March 2009) reports that filming on the second series of the new Survivors will begin in May, at urban and rural locations in around Birmingham. Series one of Survivors, in contrast, was recorded at locations in and around Manchester and London.

The Geek Files blog text in full is as follows:

Survivors sci-fi series to film in Birmingham

SURVIVORS, BBC One’s post-apocalyptic sci-fi adventure series, will begin filming a second series on location in Birmingham from May, it was announced today.

The new six-part series created by Adrian Hodges (Ruby In The Smoke, Shadow In The North, Charles II and Primeval) will broadcast on BBC One. It’s a remake of the original 70s TV series by Daleks creator Terry Nation and depicts the adventures of a group of people in the aftermath of a virus that has wiped out most of the human race.

Cast include: Robyn Addison (The Street; Casualty); Nikki Amuka-Bird (No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency; Five Days); Max Beesley (Hotel Babylon); Julie Graham (William And Mary; Bonekickers); Paterson Joseph (Jekyll; The Beach; Peep Show); Phillip Rhys (24; Nip Tuck; Flatland); Zoe Tapper (Twenty Thousand Streets Under The Sky; The Last Van Helsing); and young newcomer Chahak Patel.

All six episodes will be filmed in Birmingham. The first two episodes will be filmed in city locations, much of the latter episodes will be more suburban/rural. The BBC hopes to recruit local people as extras.

Nicolas Brown, director of BBC Drama Production, said: “We are very pleased to be shooting this series out of Birmingham. We are looking forward to working with everyone there to get the maximum impact on screen for this all-important second outing.”

BBC Press Office confirms Survivors recommissioned

In a press release issued on 22 December, the BBC Press Office confirms that a second series of Survivors has been commissioned.

In the release, Ben Stephenson, Controller, BBC Drama Commissioning is quoted as saying:

“I am delighted Survivors will be returning in 2009 with Adrian Hodges at the helm – it’s been a thrilling and emotional journey, and I look forward to more twists and turns in series two.”

The press release is accompanied by a revised version of the original group-shot of the series characters, which adds in Sarah and removes Samantha Willis (Nikki Amuka-Bird) and the now-deceased Jenny Collins (Freema Ageyman) and David Grant (Shaun Dingwall) – effectively showing the full ensemble of Abby’s community.

Survivors – BBC commissions series two

The Guardian media section (of 19 December 2008) has confirmed that the BBC has commissioned a second series of Survivors, and that a further set of six episodes will go into production early next year for transmission later in 2009.

The story in full:

Survivors gets second series on BBC

The BBC has commissioned a second six-part series of Adrian Hodges’ post-apocalyptic drama Survivors before the first run has finished.

The first series has been a ratings success for the corporation, averaging 5.9 million viewers and a 23% audience share in its Tuesday 9pm timeslot.

Like the original 1970s version, scripted by Daleks creator Terry Nation, the Hodges series was set in the UK after a virus had wiped out at least 90% of the world’s population. The original Survivors series first aired in 1975 and ran for 38 episodes over three series.

The final episode in the current series, which follows the disparate group of survivors trying to build a new life, screens on BBC1 on December 23rd at 9pm.

Hodges, who was also behind Primeval and Charles II, will return to executive produce the second series of six episodes next year.

The cast including Julie Graham, Max Beesley and Phillip Rhys will return, with “further casting to be announced next year” according to a BBC spokeswoman.

Sam Nichols, Guardian Media
19 December 2008
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/dec/19/survivors-bbc