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The end of the world – coming soon

Posted By Graham Kibble-White On Wednesday, October 22, 2008 @ 9:12 am In upfront | Comments Disabled

Is this the end? Or a new beginning?

Is this the end? Or a new beginning?

Please God, don’t let me be the only one“. 

Surely not the sentiment of the BBC press office last night at the Apollo West End in Piccadilly as they launched Adrian Hodges’ remake of Terry Nation’s, er, novel based on the 1970s post apocalyptic TV series.

In fact there was a pretty good turnout – this is a show that from the announcement of its commission has really captured the imagination of the TV industry.

“It’s high concept, Survivors. It’s not about car crashes, it’s not about guns and it’s not about explosions,” said Ben Stephenson, the BBC’s Controller, Drama Commissioning addressing the press. “Although they are all in it in quite an exciting way. Most of them have something to do with that evil Max Beesley [playing Tom Price]. But much more than that it’s about who we are as people. It is, at heart, a character drama.”

Plus, there was an extra announcement: “Our audiences will be able to take advantage of the brilliant new iPlayer series stacker feature, which means they’ll be able to watch any of the six episodes of the series on BBC iPlayer right up until the end of the series”.

Adrian Hodges added: “One thing I did want to say is those of you who remember the original version of Survivors will find in this re-imagining some things that are very similar to it, some things that are inspired by the original but handled very differently and many things that are entirely new. I hope everything you see tonight is in the spirit of the work of a great television writer, and I’d really just like to use this opportunity to pay tribute to the energy and imagination of Terry Nation who did so much to make watching TV a great experience when I was growing up.”

And first reactions to this feature-length opener? Very good indeed. We’ll preview the show nearer the time, plus we’ll be interviewing Hodges. But, no, it doesn’t all start with an Oriental-looking man getting all butter fingers with a test tube.


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