Broadcast reports on remake confirmation

Media weekly Broadcast publicises news of the Survivors remake confirmation in a brief news report:

BBC to revive cult 1970s plague drama Survivors

The BBC is making a modern version of cult 1970s drama series Survivors, writes Liz Thomas.

The BBC1 show will be set in the present day but will follow the post-apocalyptic premise of the original programme. BBC drama production has acquired the rights to develop Survivors from creator Terry Nation’s estate and has lined up Bafta-winning Adrian Hodges to pen the series.

Kate Harwood, BBC head of series and serials, told Broadcast: “There is so much in the concept to bring up to date, and all of the issues that made is such a success in the 1970s are still relevant now. It’s great to be bringing Survivors to a new generation.”

Terry Nation is credited as one of the creators of Doctor Who and architect of the Daleks. He also masterminded Blake’s 7and Survivors.

The programme launched in April 1975 and ran for 38 episodes over three series. It followed a group of individuals trying to survive after a plague wiped out most of the world’s population.

Hodges added: “While we will be staying faithful to many aspects of the original, we will also bring the story into the 21st century and make it accessible to contemporary audiences.”

The executive producer for BBC drama production is Susan Hogg.

Forbidden Planet International reports on remake news

The Forbidden Planet International blog reports on the BBC’s announcement that it will be remaking Survivors.

Brand Republic reports remake news

The advertising and marketing database Brand Republic has picked up on the BBC’s Survivors remake announcement, basing a short news story of the BBC Press Release. The full text of the article is only available to Brand Republic subscribers.

BBC confirms new series of Survivors is green-lit

On 22 November 2007 the BBC News site confirmed that a new series of Survivors will soon enter production, following the successful conclusion of negotiations with the estate of Terry Nation for the rights.

The new series will be made in-house by the BBC Drama Department, and will be executive produced by Sue Hogg. The series will be written by Adrian Hodges whose screen credits include Ruby In The Smoke, Shadow In The North, Charles II and Primeval.

The BBC’s ‘remake’ of Survivors will reset the global catastrophe in the present day, and: “follow a group of individuals as they fight for day-to-day survival.”

Head of series and serials at BBC Drama Production Kate Harwood, said: “The opportunity to remake Survivors for a modern generation proved irresistible… I am delighted that one of British television’s great cult series will return with original stories packed with adventure and spirit set against the backdrop of our own recognisable world.”

Hodges says: “Survivors was one of the bravest and most exciting programmes of its time and I’m thrilled to be involved with re-imagining it for a new audience… Its themes remain as relevant as ever and while we will be staying faithful to many aspects of the original, we will also be bringing the story into the 21st Century and making it accessible to contemporary audiences.

Survivors will be broadcast on BBC1, although no transmission dates for the new series have yet been confirmed.