Technical details and production credits for new Big Finish Survivors audio adventures

Big Finish have published some more technical and production credits for the forthcoming first series of new Survivors audio adventures – scheduled for release in June 2014.

Written By: Matt Fitton, Jonathan Morris, Andrew Smith, John Dorney
Director: Ken Bentley
Sound Design: Neil Gardner
Music: Nicholas Briggs
Cover Art: Anthony Lamb
Number of Discs: 4
Duration: 240ms approx
ISBN: 978-1-78178-276-7
Production Code: BFPSURV001
Recorded At: Moat Studios, Audio Sorcery Studios

Big Finish have also brought together in one place the full, current set of publicity and promotional shots of series one cast members

Big Finish 4 event – Survivors audio adventures

Several member of the production team working on the new Survivors audio adventures will be appearing at the Tenth Planet Big Finish Day 4 event on 18 January 2014.

  • David Richardson (Producer)
  • Nick Briggs (Executive producer; Music)
  • Jason Haigh-Ellery (Executive producer)
  • Ken Bentley (Director)
  • Matt Fitton (Scriptwriter)
  • John Dorney (Scriptwriter)
  • John Banks (‘Daniel Connor’)

Big Finish Day 4
Saturday 18 January 2014
10:00-18:00
Copthorne Hotel
Slough
Windsor, Berkshire
SL1 2YE

Tickets are available from the Tenth Planet site

Starburst anticipates new Survivors audio adventures

The Starburst web site has published short interview snippets with cast and crew members from the forthcoming new Survivors audio adventures being released by Big Finish in June.

In the brief article, Ian McCulloch suggests to Starburst‘s Tony Jones:

‘I think Terry Nation would have approved of the style of writing and presenting the drama that Big Finish has chosen. They are very much the type of story that Terry would have liked the show to have covered [in the 1970s].’

Lucy Fleming adds:

‘I think the scripts are very well done and the idea behind Survivors is a universal story that makes you think again about what’s really important. The show always made viewers think about the basic practicalities of life as well as enjoying the adventure stories we were making.’

Blue Plaque marks birthplace of Survivors creator Terry Nation

A commemorative ‘blue plaque‘ has been added to the birthplace of Survivors‘ creator Terry Nation, to acknowledge his role as scriptwriter and ‘creator of the Daleks’ (the perennial arch-enemies of The Doctor in Doctor Who).

The plaque, added to the former Nation family home in Fairwater Grove West, Llandaff, Cardiff, was unveiled at a ceremony on 20 November 2013, to coincide with celebrations marking the fiftieth anniversary of Doctor Who. Terry Nation was born at 113 Fairwater Grove West in 1930. The unveiling was undertaken by Tim Hancock (the nephew of late actor and comedian Tony Hancock, and now responsible for the management of the the Nation estate) and was attended by Nation’s widow Kate.

The successful campaign to have the plaque added to the property was initiated by The Llandaff Society. The unveiling event was covered by the BBC News site, Wales Online, the Doctor Who News site, Living Magazines and many other news services.

Photos (c) Walesonline.co.uk

The Terry Nation 'blue plaque' at 113 Fairwater Grove West, Llandaff, Cardiff
The Terry Nation ‘blue plaque’ at 113 Fairwater Grove West, Llandaff, Cardiff
Tim Hancock is joined by a Dalek at the unveiling ceremony
Tim Hancock is joined by a Dalek at the unveiling ceremony
The unveiling event for the new 'blue plaque'  outside 113 Fairwater Grove West, Cardiff
The unveiling event for the new ‘blue plaque’ outside 113 Fairwater Grove West, Cardiff

Ian McCulloch in 1979 Xmas TV ad for Harveys Bristol Cream Sherry

An archive off-air recording of Ian McCulloch (Greg Preston) appearing in a 1979 Xmas TV ad for Harveys Bristol Cream Sherry has been unearthed on YouTube by Adrian H.

Uploaded to YouTube from a 30-plus-year-old VHS recording, the advert (which also features Christopher Neame [Colditz, Secret Army]) does briefly break-up at 2m28s, but is otherwise in reasonable shape sound-and-vision wise.

Also featuring in the same advert break are Richard Briers and Felicity Kendal (The Good Life) promoting the then state-of-the-art Polaroid ‘instant’ camera (not something the low-tech embracing, consumerism-rejecting Goods might have had much time for…)

Big Finish confirm return of Carolyn Seymour, Ian McCulloch and Lucy Fleming in new Survivors audio adventures

Big Finish have confirmed (6 November 2013) that Carolyn Seymour (Abby Grant), Ian McCulloch (Greg Preston) and Lucy Fleming (Jenny Richards) are all joining the cast of the first series of the new Survivors audio adventures, scheduled for release in June 2014.

The Big Finish update also confirms the titles of the four hour-long installments of series one:

  • Revelation   written by Matt Fitton
  • Exodus   written by Jonathan Morris
  • Judges   written by Andrew Smith
  • Esther   written by John Dorney

The full announcement from Big Finish explains:

The lead cast members of Terry Nation’s Survivors are returning to play their roles on audio, for a run of new episodes from Big Finish Productions.

The series originally ran for three seasons on BBC1 between 1975-77 and told the story of a small group of people who survive a plague that wipes out most of the world’s population.

Lucy Fleming plays Jenny Richards, Ian McCulloch is Greg Preston, while Carolyn Seymour is Abby Grant, the leader of a community starting a new life in rural England.

“We’re thrilled to have Lucy, Ian and Carolyn on board,” says producer David Richardson. “Our initial episodes will introduce a new set of characters that will encounter Jenny and Greg as they search for supplies. Abby Grant will make cameo appearances, before taking on a major role in later stories.”

Survivors – Volume 1 will be released in June 2014; the box set will comprise four hour-long full cast audio dramas – Revelation by Matt Fitton, Exodus by Jonathan Morris, Judges by Andrew Smith and Esther by John Dorney.

The all-star cast also includes John Banks, Louise Jameson, Sinead Keenan, Caroline Langrishe, Adrian Lukis, Chase Masterson, Terry Molloy, Phil Mulryne and Camilla Power.

Lucy Fleming and Ian McCulloch
Lucy Fleming and Ian McCulloch

Big Finish reveal cover design for first series of new Survivors audio adventures

Big Finish have updated the listing for the first series of new Survivors audio adventures with the front cover design; which features the character of Daniel Connor (John Banks) alone amidst a scene of desolation, death and fire in front of the Houses of Parliament.

Big Finish - Survivors - series one - cover design

Lucy Fleming discusses Bond books on AudioGO blog

Lucy Fleming is interviewed on the AudioGO blog (26 September 2013) discussing the new James Bond audiobook series.

Asked what her uncle, 007 creator Ian Fleming, might have made of the resilient popularity and longevity of his creation, Fleming suggests: “I imagine he would be very amused with the continuing success of the books and the films – and very proud.”

Big Finish confirms audio adventures’ new cast and hints at returning cast announcement

Big Finish has Tweeted confirmation of the Survivors‘ audio adventures first series new cast; and revealed one additional name joining the production: that of Chase Masterston (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine).

These cast details have also been added to the series one entry on the Survivors pre-order page of the Big Finish site.

Big Finish have also announced that details of the ‘returning stars from the classic Survivors‘ will be announced in November 2013.


 

Louise Jameson enjoys Survivors audio recordings

Louise Jameson has reported on Twitter how much she enjoyed her first Survivors audio adventure recording session for Big Finish:

Louise Jameson - Tweets about Big Finish Survivors recording
Louise Jameson – Tweets about Big Finish Survivors recording