Carolyn Seymour interviewed in new edition of Vortex magazine

Ahead of the release of the new audiobook version of Terry Nation’s 1976 Survivors novel, Big Finish have published a new interview with Carolyn Seymour (Abby Grant), discussing her work voicing the book and anticipating the release of series two of Survivors audio adventures, in June 2015.

The interview, in the latest issue (No. 70) of the free-to-download Vortex magazine, comes ahead of the imminent release of the Survivors audiobook (which is still available for pre-order on both CD and through digital download).

In the interview Seymour reflects on the continuing relevance of the themes of Survivors:

Nowadays, it’s so relevant, and very apt when you think of the danger that we’re facing today with the threat of Ebola. Survivors has never lost its appeal, as it’s so possible, and it’s not too difficult to imagine that something like that could really happen.

Carolyn Seymour interview - Big Finish - Survivors - Vortex - first page

Carolyn Seymour interview - Big Finish - Survivors - Vortex - second page

Big Finish third series of Survivors audios now available for pre-order

The third series of Big Finish Survivors audio adventures can now be pre-ordered from the Big Finish site. Scheduled for release in November 2015, series three will be available in both CD and digital download formats.

The second series of Survivors adventures will be released five months earlier, in June 2015. Series two is still available for pre-order in both formats; as is the audiobook of the 1976 Survivors novel, voiced by Carolyn Seymour (Abby Grant) and scheduled for release next month (December 2014).

Still available for purchase is the critically acclaimed first series of Survivors audio adventures (released in June of this year).

Survivors - audio book of Terry Nation's novel

Big Finish podcast includes Survivors audiobook trailer… and musical musings

The November #04 Big Finish podcast includes the (previously promised but previously omitted) trailer for the forthcoming audiobook of the Survivors novel (voiced by Carolyn Seymour [Abby Grant], and due for release in just a few weeks).

“It is brilliant,” declares host Nick Briggs. “And read brilliantly by Carolyn Seymour.”



 

The podcast team briefly discuss (without, it should be stressed, a hint of seriousness) the idea of a musical version of Survivors! “We’re all dying of a horrible disease!”, sings Nick Briggs. “That’s the beginning, when everyone else dies,” he explains. This opener could be followed by the more inspiring survivors’ song “We’re alive! We’re alive!”. Amidst much laughter, the team conclude that the answer to this suggestion “is probably ‘no'”…

Survivors - Terry Nation - Big Finish - audiobook
Survivors – Terry Nation – Big Finish – audiobook

Big Finish talk Survivors at the London Film and Comic Con

Members of the Big Finish production team discussed the reception of the first series of Survivors audio dramas at the recent London Film and Comic Con.

Producer David Richardson reveals: “Survivors has been selling very well […] it’s had really great reviews; people have really started buying into it and it’s been a great success for us.”

Script editor Matt Fitton adds: “People are picking it up without having seen the TV series, and also fans of the TV series are picking it up and saying that it really is in keeping with it; that it’s part of that world. So it works both ways… Quite a few have come in, listened to it, and then gone and bought the DVDs of the 1975 series.”

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Big Finish Survivors series two front cover revealed

Big Finish have today published a sneak-preview of the front cover of the second series of new Survivors audio adventures, scheduled for release in June 2015.

The cover features returning characters Jackie Burchall (played by Louise Jameson) and Daniel Connor (played by John Banks), alongside two new characters Ridley (Bernard Holley) and Molly (Fiona Sheehan), in a striking dark woodland setting. The design is the work of Big Finish regular Tom Webster.

Series two is available for pre-order (in CD and digital download formats) from the Big Finish site.

Big Finish - Survivors series two - front cover
Big Finish – Survivors series two – front cover

Ian McCulloch joins Big Finish at Dimensions 2014

Ian McCulloch - Big Finish - Dimensions - 2014
Ian McCulloch (Greg Preston) appears fleetingly in the Big Finish video trailer of the company’s appearance at the Dimensions 2014 convention. More Big Finish content from the event will be added to the Big Finish YouTube channel soon.
 

Ian McCulloch to join Dimensions 2014 convention Big Finish roster

Ian McCulloch (Greg Preston) will join the panel of Big Finish guests at the upcoming Dimensions 2014 convention, being held at the Copthorne Hotel, Newcastle on 24-26 October 2014.

Other Big Finish guests involved with the Survivors audio dramas include: Ken Bentley (director, writer), David Richardson (producer), Jason Haigh-Ellery (executive producer) and Matt Fitton (writer, script editor). Also appearing at the convention over the course of the weekend, as part of the Doctor Who guest line-up, are Louise Jameson (‘Jackie Burchall’, writer) and Terry Molloy (‘John Redgrave’).

Ian McCulloch - Greg Preston - Survivors - S1 studio day - 2003

Big Finish release trailer for Survivors audio book

Big Finish have released a first trailer for the unabridged audio-book of Terry Nation’s 1976 Survivors novel, voiced by Carolyn Seymour (Abby Grant).
 

 
The CD and download versions of the Survivors audio-book, which will be released in December 2014, can be pre-ordered from the Big Finish web shop.

Survivors - Terry Nation - Big Finish - audiobook
Survivors – Terry Nation – Big Finish – audiobook

Big Finish publish episode and cast details for series two Survivors audios

Big Finish have published the episode titles, script writers and cast details for the second series of Survivors audios, scheduled for release in June 2015.

Script editor Matt Fitton has contributed one script, cast member Louise Jameson has penned another, with director Ken Bentley providing the remaining two.

As well as renewed focus on the original trio of core Survivors characters – Abby Grant (Carolyn Seymour), Greg Preston (Ian McCulloch) and Jenny Richards (Lucy Fleming) – series two sees the return of original characters Jackie Burchall (Louise Jameson) and Daniel Connor (John Banks). Amongst the new characters being introduced in the second series are Russell (Tim Treloar), Ridley (Bernard Holley), Molly (Fiona Sheehan) and Irvin Warner (Tim Bentinck).

1: Dark Rain by Ken Bentley
Introducing: Tim Treloar as Russell, Bernard Holley as Ridley
Months after the plague, storms batter the country. As Abby resumes the search for her son, Jackie and Daniel fight for their lives.

2: Mother’s Courage by Louise Jameson
Introducing: Fiona Sheehan as Molly
The search for Peter leads to Aberystwyth, and a community of women who have cut themselves off from the outside world. But what appears to be a safe haven could be nothing of the sort…

3: The Hunted by Ken Bentley
Introducing: Tim Bentinck as Irvin Warner
Greg, Daniel and Russell need the help of survivalist Irvin Warner, who is hiding out in the Brecon Beacons. But predators are roaming in the barren countryside too…

4: Savages by Matt Fitton
Wounded, split apart and fighting for their lives, the survivors discover that survival isn’t everything…

Lucy Fleming (Jenny Richards), Ian McCulloch (Greg Preston), Carolyn Seymour (Abby Grant), Louise Jameson (Jackie Burchall), John Banks (Daniel Connor), Bernard Holley (Ridley), Tim Treloar (Russell), Fiona Sheehan (Molly), Tim Bentinck (Irvin Warner)

Producer David Richardson
Script Editor Matt Fitton
Executive Producers Jason Haigh-Ellery and Nicholas Briggs

The second series of Survivors is available for pre-order (in CD and digital download formats) from the Big Finish site.

Survivors - audio book of Terry Nation's novel

Big Finish complete recording on second series of Survivors audio adventures

Carolyn Seymour (Abby Grant), Ian McCulloch (Greg Preston) and Lucy Fleming (Jenny Richards)
Carolyn Seymour (Abby Grant), Ian McCulloch (Greg Preston) and Lucy Fleming (Jenny Richards) in the Big Finish studios, October 2014

Recording of the second series of Big Finish’s Survivors audio adventures has completed this week, and all four episodes are now being scheduled for editing, mixing, music and all post-production tasks ahead of the June 2015 release.

I had the great privilege of attending one of the week’s recording sessions, and was able to interview the cast in between the recording of different scenes and listen in (from the engineer and director’s booth), as sequences from the first episode of the new series were rehearsed and different takes recorded.

Material from these new interviews will be published next year on our dedicated Big Finish Survivors site and in the new edition of The End of the World? book that we’re currently beavering away on.