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.
The abandoned village of Imber on Salisbury Plain (the principal filming location for series three Survivors episode Sparks) enjoyed its annual ‘open’ weekend over the Easter holiday break; an event covered this year by an illustrated feature in The Mirror (27 March 2016).
The village of Imber was forcibly evacuated in December 1943, as the military commandeered sites that could be used to prepare troops for the street fighting that would follow the Normandy landings of D-Day. The emptied village was repurposed as a Ministry of Defence training ground. Villagers were never able to return, and the site became sealed-off from public access all year round – except for a single annual open weekend, when visitors were welcomed to view the landmark church and other buildings.
St Giles Church, the main interior and exterior location in Sparks, benefited from a £300,000 restoration project in 2008, sponsored by the Churches Conservation Trust, which prevented the building from falling into a state of complete disrepair.
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.
The title is now listed on the Simply Media site, and remains available for pre-order on Amazon and other online retailer sites. The Doomwatch DVD boxset (containing all of the remaining episodes from all three series and the 2006 BBC documentary The Cult of… Doomwatch) is released on 4 April 2016.
A set of four episode reviews covering series three of Big Finish’s Survivors audio dramas has been posted on the Survivors: A World Away Big Finish mini-site. Of the closing story Leaving, the review concludes that the episode:
succeeds as a sure-footed departure point for series three, demonstrating once again the versatility of the Survivors audio format; showcasing the breadth of the dramatic terrain it opens up; and reasserting Big Finish’s conviction that, if the perils facing the survivors are to remain credible, the survival of even the most well-liked of new characters has to remain in doubt.
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.
Big Finish have just released the much-anticipated third series of Survivors audio adventures! The new four-part series is available to buy in both digital download and CD formats.
We’ll be posting interviews with cast and crew and reviews of all four episodes on the Survivors: Big Finish mini-site shortly!
The battle for survival continues. the third box set based on the cult television series is available now…
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…
Big Finish’s third box set based on Terry Nation‘s classic post-apocalyptic series, Survivors: Series 3 presents four new stories from the world of the original television programme.
Beginning in the early days of the plague, before focusing on the survivors of a decaying London, these new plays promise to be some of the most terrifying stories Big Finish has ever produced, as we again ask the question – how far would you go to survive?
1: Cabin Fever by Jonathan Morris
After weeks of searching for her son across a devastated Britain, Abby Grant and her allies head into London in pursuit of new leads. One of the party is quarantined, holed up with a fever. They remember the very first days of the Death, and the actions of a man called John Vincent…
2: Contact by Simon Clark
A lonely voice on the radio calls out across the ether. Maddie Price is a long way from home, but not yet ready to give up hope.
3: Rescue by Andrew Smith
When his friends' lives hang in the balance hundreds of feet above London, Jimmy Garland leads a daring rescue mission into the capital.
4: Leaving by Matt Fitton
Down on the coast, plans are being made to reach out across the world. It could mean a new beginning for some, and the long-awaited chance to return home for others.
Big Finish proudly present Carolyn Seymour, Richard Heffer, Chase Masterson, John Banks, Fiona Sheehan, Andrew French, Paul Thornley, Damian Lynch, Miranda Raison, Lisa Bowerman, Christopher Hatherall, James Joyce, Louisa Clein and John Voce in Survivors: Series 3 – available to buy and download today.
(Please note – Survivors contains adult material and is not suitable for younger listeners).
The first two series of Survivors are still available to order now – with the first episode of the award-nominated Survivors: Series 1 now online to download for free. An audiobook reading of Terry Nation's original novel is also available, performed by Carolyn Seymour. As with all Big Finish website CD purchases, where possible a download copy is instantly and exclusively available upon buying.
The battle for survival will continue in 2016 withSurvivors: Series 4and Series 5, available to pre-order now.
