Survivors [1975 - 1977]

Country of Origin: UK
Date(s) of Broadcast: 16 April 1975 - 8 June 1977
Number of Seasons: 3
Total Number of Episodes: 38
Average Episode Running Times: 50 mins
Format: colour
Sound: mono

CREDITS

see individual episodes for credits

SUMMARY

Following the accidental release of a virus in the Far East, the world's population is almost wiped out. Small pockets of survivors struggle to make their way. In Britain, several groups are trying to restore society but face all manner of obstacles - some natural, some manmade - along the way.

CAPSULE REVIEW

Getting past the fact that the virus seems to have almost exclusively wiped out those irksome working class types leaving middle class suburbanites to forge their Brave New World, there's much to enjoy in Terry Nation's apocalyptic nightmare. It's more than just the logical conclusion to Nation's preoccupation with mass destruction [see his work on Doctor Who [1963 - 1996]] - it's a potent critique of the way that Mankind has become so dependent on its technology, society and materialism that it has lost touch with even the most basic skills necessary for survival. Survivors is a powerful, distressing and often genuinely scary look into the face of the apocalypse and remains one of the most offbeat and bleakest dramas ever mounted by the BBC.

EPISODES

SERIES ONE
The Fourth Horseman [16 April 1975]
Genesis [23 April 1975]
Gone Away [30 April 1975]
Corn Dolly [7 May 1975]
Gone to the Angels [14 May 1975]
Garland's War [21 May 1975]
Starvation [4 June 1975]
Spoil of War [11 June 1975]
Law and Order [18 June 1975]
The Future Hour [25 June 1975]
Revenge [2 July 1975]
Something of Value [9 July 1975]
A Beginning [16 July 1975]

SERIES TWO
Birth of A Hope [31 March 1976]
Greater Love [7 April 1976]
Lights of London Part 1 [14 April 1976]
Lights of London Part 2 [21 April 1976]
Face of the Tiger [28 April 1976]
The Witch [5 May 1976]
A Friend In Need [12 May 1976]
By Bread Alone [19 May 1976]
The Chosen [26 May 1976]
Parasites [2 June 1976]
New Arrivals [9 June 1976]
Over The Hills [16 June 1976]
New World [23 June 1976]

SERIES THREE
Manhunt [16 March 1977]
A Little Learning [23 March 1977]
Law of the Jungle [30 March 1977]
Mad Dog [6 April 1977]
Bridgehead [13 April 1977]
Reunion [20 April 1977]
The Peacemaker [27 April 1977]
Sparks [4 May 1977]
The Enemy [11 May 1977]
The Last Laugh [18 May 1977]
Long Live The King [1 June 1977]
Power [8 June 1977]

AVAILABILITY

UK
Television Distributors: BBC; UK Gold
Video Distributors: BBC Home Video
DVD Distributors: DD Video

KEYWORDS

end of the world, post apocalypse, viruses

Last Updated: 21 April, 2008