Audio-drama specialists Big Finish have announced a commitment to produce a further two series of original Survivors audio adventures, based in the time and place of Terry Nation’s original 1970s TV show.
Big Finish have today (9 June 2016) released the fourth series of original Survivors audio dramas. Series four serves up four new stories from writers Ken Bentley, Louise Jameson, Christopher Hatherall and Matt Fitton, and features, amongst a full cast, Ian McCulloch (Greg Preston), Lucy Fleming (Jenny Richards), Louise Jameson (Jackie Burchall), Zoë Tapper (Evelyn Piper) and Ramon Tikaram (Theo).
The imminent release of the fourth series of original Big Finish Survivors audio adventures is covered in a four-page, full-colour feature in the latest issue of the free-to-download Vortex magazine (No 88). In the article, script editor and script writer Matt Fitton reflects:
Survivors is one of the hardest things to do, because it is rooted in the real world and deals with tough issues. You get to ask very moral questions. At the same time, it’s also one of the most rewarding series to work on. It’s always a thrill to go back to the world of Survivors
Big Finish have published the slipcase cover artwork for the fifth series of Survivors audio adventures, which will be released (in CD and digital download formats) in November 2016.
As well as images of Jenny Richards (Lucy Fleming), Greg Preston (Ian McCulloch) and new character Carol Baker (Neve McIntosh), the series five cover will be the first to feature Abby Grant (Carolyn Seymour).
The fifth series of Big Finish’s Survivors audio adventures (scheduled for release in November 2016) will focus on the outbreak and spread of a second deadly virus – which threatens the survival of communities only now emerging from the aftermath of The Death.
Recording of series five is now well underway, and features scripts by three returning Survivors script writers: Simon Clark (Contact, series three); Andrew Smith (Judges, series one; Rescue, series three); and Christopher Hatherall (Collision, series four).
It has also been revealed that series five will also feature Doctor Who actors Neve McIntosh and Richard Hope. Also joining original cast members Carolyn Seymour, Ian McCulloch, Lucy Fleming will be the returning Fiona Sheehan, and Barnaby Edwards, Sean Biggerstaff, Andy Secombe, Fintan McKeown, Alex Clatworthy, Roger May and Elizabeth Payne. Further casting announcements are to follow. Read the full update from Big Finish below:
Survivors: Doctor Who stars join Series 5!
Big Finish’s post-apocalyptic series continues in November – with Neve McIntosh and Richard Hope joining the fight for survival!
It begins with just a few people falling ill. Another flu virus that spreads around the globe. And then the reports begin that people are dying…
When most of the world’s population is wiped out, a handful of survivors are left to pick up the pieces.
Cities become graveyards. Technology becomes largely obsolete. Mankind must start again. But viruses are survivors too…
Based on Terry Nation‘s classic television series, Survivors continues the story of a virus-ravaged Britain, featuring the cast and characters of the original program.
Ahead of the June launch of Survivors: Series 4, Big Finish is delighted to announce that recording is underway on November’s Series 5, guest starring a pair of actors well known to Doctor Who fans!
Neve McIntosh and Richard Hope appeared together in the 2010 Doctor Who story The Hungry Earth/Cold Blood, portraying classic foes the Silurians. Since then they have become the recurring faces of the creatures for the series, with Neve memorably starring as Madame Vastra, the leader of the Paternoster Gang.
‘We spent a lot of time thinking of potential names to play the pivotal character of Carol Baker in this set,’ says producer David Richardson. ‘And director Ken Bentley presented me with Neve – which I think is inspired casting. This will actually be Neve’s second role for Big Finish. But what was the first? Ah, you’ll have to wait for that announcement!’
Neve and Richard will join the fifth series of Survivors alongside regulars Carolyn Seymour, Ian McCulloch, Lucy Fleming and Fiona Sheehan. Also appearing will be Barnaby Edwards, Sean Biggerstaff, Andy Secombe, Fintan McKeown, Alex Clatworthy, Roger May and Elizabeth Payne with further cast members to be announced.
‘Series 5 could be subtitled The Second Coming,’; says David. ‘It explores a really powerful storyline – what would happen if the plague broke out all over again?’
Survivors: Series 5 will contain four new stories, written by Andrew Smith, Christopher Hatherall and Simon Clark. It can be pre-ordered today for just £25 on CD or £20 to download.
Survivors: Series 4 will be released in June, continuing the story of the Whitecross community and guest starring Zoë Tapper as Evelyn Piper. You can listen to a trailer for the new box-set below:
Three previous series are still available to order, alongside an audiobook of Terry Nation's original novel, performed by Carolyn Seymour.
Audio drama specialists have revealed the cover artwork for the fourth series of original Survivors audio dramas to be released (in CD and digital download formats) in June 2016.
For the first time in the Big Finish Survivors series, this series’ cover features characters from the original TV series – Jenny Richards (Lucy Fleming) and Greg Preston (Ian McCulloch) – who are featured alongside new characters government official Evelyn Piper (Zoë Tapper) and settlement leader Theo (Ramon Tikaram).
Audio drama specialists Big Finish have released the first teaser trailer for the upcoming fourth series of new and original Survivors audio adventures.
This weekend (23-24 January 2016) audio-drama specialists Big Finish are offering ‘Apocalypse Now’ special deals on the whole of the current Survivors range and the Night of the Triffids audio adaptation. If you’ve yet to experience the wonder of these post-apocalyptic audio adventures, this weekend is the ideal time to become fully immersed and bag a bargain in the process! But be aware that the ‘end is nigh’: the special offers end at 12noon on Monday 25 January 2016.
This weekend you can enjoy special savings on the end of the world, with offers on our favourite apocalypses…
Until noon Monday January 25th, you can pick up some dark tales after the fall of humanity with our Apocalypse Now offers. We start the weekend with the award-nominated Survivors: Series 1, our continuation of Terry Nation's cult BBC TV series.
Starring Lucy Fleming, Ian McCulloch, John Banks, Louise Jameson, Chase Masterson and Sinead Keenan, this terrifying box-set takes place in and around the original TV series, which chronicled a deadly plague wiping out most human life on Earth. With people forced to make terrible sacrifices in order to survive, can mankind start again?
Featuring stories written by Matt Fitton, Jonathan Morris, Andrew Smith and John Dorney, you can buy Survivors: Series 1 today for just £15 on CD, or £12 to download. And remember, when you choose to buy this release on CD directly from Big Finish, you will also unlock instant access to a digital copy for download.
Also available is our audiobook reading of Terry Nation's original novel, read by series star Carolyn Seymour. Adapting and expanding on the first series of TV episodes, you can own this today for just £10 on both CD or to download.
Finally we go from one cult apocalypse to another, with a full-cast adaptation of The Night of the Triffids by Simon Clark. A sequel to John Wyndham's classic horror The Day of the Triffids, this double-disc CD story stars Sam Troughton and Nicola Bryant, surviving on the Isle of Wight while the carnivorous and semi-intelligent Triffids continue to engulf the mainland. You can buy and download the story today for just £5 on both CD and to download.
All three titles can also be picked up as part of our Apocalypse Bundles – which also contain Survivors Series 2 and Series 3, together at a reduced price of just £85 on CD or £75 to download. But hurry, the special prices must end noon Monday 25th January.
(Or at the end of the world. Whichever comes first…)
Carolyn Seymour (Abby Grant) is appearing in the Big Finish Doctor Who story The War Doctor, starring John Hurt and Jacqueline Pearce, in the role of ‘The Slave’. Writer and director Nick Briggs recalls that Hurt and Seymour knew each other from earlier in their respective careers. ‘They hadn’t seen each other for about 40 years’, explains Briggs, ‘but they were delighted to be able to chat again.’ John Banks (Daniel Connor) also appears in The War Doctor in the role of Garv.
The War Doctor imprint has the same producer (David Richardson) and script editor (Matt Fitton) team as work on the Big Finish Survivors audios.
Cast from The War Doctor, including Carolyn Seymour and John Banks
Zoë Tapper, soon to appear in the fourth series of Big Finish’s Survivors audio adventures, as Evie, appears in The Martian Chronicles, which stars Derek Jacobi in the role of Captain Wilde. This adaptation of the celebrated sci-fi novel, which won a Silver at the 2015 New York Festivals’ World’s Best Radio Program Awards, was commissioned by BBC Radio 4 and is now available for purchase as a Big Finish release.
