Survivors: The Complete Original Series (1975-77)

The original 1970's drama based on the thrilling novel by Terry Nation is now on DVD!

When a genetically engineered virus kills 95 percent of the world's population, a group of survivors in England must rebuild humanity in the face of overwhelming odds. Written by Terry Nation, creator of the Daleks for Doctor Who as well as Blake's 7, Survivors pits humans against nature-and against themselves-in an attempt to reclaim a desolate, unrelenting world. Starring Carolyn Seymour (The Ruling Class) and Lucy Fleming (Wycliffe), this set includes all 38 episodes from the beloved original series that inspired the popular 2008 remake. As seen on BBC America.

Terry Nation's drama Survivors, broadcast by the BBC between 1975 and 1977, was one of the most popular series of the decade. Set in a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by a devastating plague, Survivors explored how humanity would cope in a world stripped of modern technology and comforts.
The disease struck quickly and with devastating effect - a global plague that, in Britain, spared just a few thousand people. This is the chilling story of a small group who survive - Jenny, Greg, Abby and others - who are determined to construct a new community from the surrounding wasteland. Featuring all three seasons of the classic drama, this collection tells the full story, from the outbreak of the pandemic to the foundation of the settlements to the rebirth of society.

Season 1
Episode 01: The Forth Horseman - A virulent flu bug is spreading through the country like wildfire. Abby Grant and her husband David are aware that the flu has reportedly claimed millions of people's lives in China, but they don't think that could happen in England. Abby becomes ill and takes to her bed. Meanwhile Jenny Richards learns from a doctor that this is no flu bug and that hundreds are now dying. Acting on his advice she flees London for the countryside. Abby wakes days later and fears that she may be the only one left alive...

Episode 02: Genesis - Abby meets Arthur Wormley who has some strong ideas about how the survivors of 'the death' should organise themselves. Meanwhile Greg Preston meets a strong-willed woman called Anne who needs his help to rescue a man who is trapped under a tractor in a nearby quarry. Elsewhere Jenny is still wandering the countryside alone...

Episode 03: Gone Away - Abby, Jenny and Greg have made an abandoned church their base. Abby hopes to find her son Peter. They make a trip to a nearby supermarket to gather some food supplies and encounter some of Wormley's men who insist they leave their loot. Jenny and Greg overpower them and they escape. The men are intent on revenge and begin to search the countryside for the trio...

Episode 04: Corn Dolly - Abby, Greg and Jenny are still searching for Peter. Greg and Jenny are becoming closer. They meet a man called Charles Vaughan (Denis Lill), a self-sufficiency expert, who has sobering theories about the number of survivors of 'the death' and their prospects for the future. He invites them to join his community, but it soon becomes clear that he has a hidden agenda which could involve Abby...

Episode 05: Gone to the Angels - Abby is still searching for Peter and returns to his school. Meanwhile Jenny and Greg meet two children, John and Lizzie who are keen to join them. They have a lead which may help in the search for Peter. Before 'the death' some individuals, who were nicknamed 'the angels' by the press, foresaw the impending catastrophe and isolated themselves. It is thought that some of the boys from the school went to find them. Jenny, Greg and the children make an abandoned house their base, whilst Abby sets off to find 'the angels'...

Episode 06: Garland's War - Abby becomes separated from Jenny and Greg and rescues a man called Jimmy Garland who is waging his own personal war against a man called Knox. Garland is heir to the Waterhouse estate that Knox has taken over and he wants it back so he can lead the community that has started there. Abby is captured by Knox and he tries to convince her that Garland has aggravated the situation and that he is willing to co-operate...

Episode 07: Starvation - A young woman called Wendy and an old woman called Emma have foraged since 'the death' but are now going hungry. Wendy meets Tom Price and steals his food. Abby meanwhile rescues Emma from a pack of wild dogs, whilst Greg, Jenny and the children draw them off in their minibus. Tom wants his revenge on Wendy but doesn't reckon on Abby's presence. Meanwhile Greg and the others arrive at a deserted country grange, which may be just the place they need...

Episode 08: Spoil of War - When agricultural expert Paul Pitman arrives at the grange, Greg feels threatened but the others welcome his expertise. When Greg remembers the supplies in the quarry, Tom and Barney are sent to fetch them. Two more survivors arrive, former company director Arthur Russell and his secretary Charmian Wentworth who has stuck with him since 'the death'. Arthur's attitude infuriates Abby. When Tom and Barney fail to return, Greg and Paul set off after them in Arthur's landrover...

Episode 09: Law and Order - Petty arguments are dividing the ever growing community at the grange. Abby decides on a party on May Day as a remedy. The party goes well and spirits are raised. However, the next morning they awake to discover that one of their number has been brutally murdered. The community meet to decide how to deal with the person they believe to be the murderer...

Episode 10: The Future Hour - A pregnant young woman called Laura arrives at the grange, seeking shelter from her partner, a man called Huxley, who wants her back but doesn't want her unborn child. Abby and Greg argue as to whether she should be allowed to stay. When John and Lizzie unknowingly give away the fact that Laura is staying at the grange, Huxley embarks on a series of reprisals until the community agrees to give up Laura to him...

Episode 11: Revenge - Crippled Vic attempts to commit suicide because he is feeling increasingly useless. Greg tries to convince him that his teaching of the children is an important job. When Anne Tranter arrives at the grange she is shocked to discover that Vic is alive and that Greg therefore knows of her heartless actions when they first met (in Genesis). When Vic learns that Anne is actually staying at the grange he becomes intent on ultimate revenge...

Episode 12: Something of Value - When a flood destroys both their crops and stores, the survivors decide to trade the petrol in the tanker driven there by Donnie and Anne, as its the only thing of value they have left. Greg and Jenny set off in the tanker to trade with a nearby settlement. However they are followed by a man called Lawson and his two cronies, who want the petrol for themselves at any cost...

Episode 13: A Beginning - Abby is tiring of life at the grange and her thoughts turn to resuming her search for her son. After a row with Greg over the taking in of a sick girl, Ruth. Abby sets off for Waterhouse to find Jimmy Garland. Meanwhile Greg and Arthur make their first attempts towards federating the communities that have sprung up since 'the death'. When Ruth recovers, Greg and Jenny discover she is a former medical student and that she has some startling news for them...

Season 2:
Episode 01: Birth of a Hope - Greg travels to a community at Whitecross to trade with its leader Charles Vaughan whom he last met at Mardell. Jenny is now pregnant so Greg also seeks news of Ruth's whereabouts, as she promised to return to help with the birth. Whilst Greg is away, a fire destroys the grange. The survivors of the blaze are soon reunited with Greg, who leads the way back to Whitecross where they hope to stay, at least until Jenny has had her baby...

Episode 02: Great Love - When there are complications after the birth of Jenny's baby, Ruth knows that the only course of action is to locate some medicine to treate her. Paul, who is now in love with Ruth, elects to go on the dangerous journey into Birmingham to find what Ruth needs. Eventually Paul returns, but he reveals that he doesn't fell too well. Ruth isolates Paul in a barn to prevent the possible spread of infection and begins to treat Jenny whose condition has worsened...

Episode 03: Lights of London pt 1 - A couple called Penny and Amul arrive at Whitecross claiming to have news of Abby. Ruth goes with them thinking her medical skills are needed at the place where Abby is staying. She soon learns that she is being taken to London instead to help nurse the sick there and that Abby has already moved on. The large settlement in London is run by a man called Manny who does not want Ruth to leave. When Greg and Charles fear for Ruth's safety they journey to London to rescue her...

Episode 04: Lights of London pt 2 - Greg and Charles arrive at the London settlement and are reunited with Ruth. She tells them she can't leave the sick there and come back to Whitecross, especially as her assistance will be needed if the community is to be re-located to the Isle of Wight as planned. When Ruth learns from Nessie that Manny has no intention of taking the community out of London, she agrees to an escape attempt with Greg and Charles...

Episode 05: Face of the Tiger - A man called Alistair arrives at Whitecross and considers the possibility of staying there permanently. He hides the fact that he is a convicted child killer because he feels that he is a different person now and has paid the price for his crime. Unfortunately Hubert finds a newspaper clipping belonging to Alistair which details his past. He passes the information on to others. When John goes missing, Alistair is immediately suspected...

Episode 06: The Witch - When Mina, an eccentric member of the community at Whitecross, spurns Hubert's unwelcome attentions, he begins to spread vicious rumours that she is a witch. When John and Lizzie see Mina bake a clay figure representing Hubert and Pet and Peggy add up other recent events, they begin to believe that Hubert may be right...

Episode 07: A Friend in Need - Charles and Greg hold a meeting at Whitecross with leaders of nearby settlements to try to come to some co-operative agreements. The event is interrupted by the news that the wife of one of the leaders has been killed by a sniper. It is soon learned that the sniper targets young women and seems to be travelling towards Whitecross. Jenny, bravely volunteers to act as bait to bring the sniper out into the open...

Episode 08: By Bread Alone - When a former vicar, Lewis Fearns, arrives at Whitecross and reveals his occupation, community life is disrupted. Charles becomes worried that the distractions caused by Lewis may be very damaging given the hard work that is required to sustain the settlement. Is there a place for God and a return to religion in the new order of things...?

Episode 09: The Chosen - Charles and Pet are returning from a salt collecting expedition when they meet two other travellers who become very ill. They take them to a nearby settlement in an old army camp. The community there is run like a police state where eugenics, euthansia and religious fervour all hold sway. The people there are led by a charismatic man called Max Kershaw and his second in command Joy Dunn. Pet is fearful that they may not be allowed to leave, whilst Charles is summoned to speak to the community's council...

Episode 10: Parasites - Mina befriends a man called John Millen and arranges to meet him at Whitecross at a later date. When John fails to arrive and two other men come to the settlement on his barge (one of them wearing John's hat) Mina fears the worst. Charles and Greg welcome the men, Kane and Grice, but also have misgivings about their intentions. Pet is suspicious too, as she recognises Kane from before 'the death'...

Episode 11: New Arrivals - Ruth invites members of a failed community to join the Whitecross settlement, despite the fact that they have been exposed to a disease. When Arthur and Jack contract the illness she fears she may have made an error in judgement. Meanwhile, the self appointed leader of the young new arrivals, Mark Carter, advises Charles on where he is going wrong agriculturally and draws up a new plan for him to examine...

Episode 12: Over the Hills - When Sally becomes pregnant by Alan, Charles is overjoyed, thinking this will encourage a baby boom at Whitecross. Sally wants to live with Alan as his wife but he has other ideas. As the situation becomes more tense, Charles crosses swords with Melanie, Ruth and even Pet...

Episode 13: New World - There is a much excitement when a balloon passes over Whitecross. However, when the balloon comes down and its occupant is found dead a mystery is left behind. The man is discovered to be a Norwegian and he has in his possession various items that suggests he has been mapping the nation's settlements. When Melanie and Alan meet one of the balloonist's acquaintances, Seth, they learn that the man had been travelling with his daughter Agnes. When Agnes eventually arrives at Whitecross things will never be the same again for our survivors...

Season 3:
Episode 01: Manhunt - It is six months since Greg, Agnes and Jack left Whitecross. Seth finds Jack wandering in a fever in some woods and takes him back to his home to look after him. There finds that Jack has letters for Charles and Jenny which are from Greg. Charles, Pet, Jenny, Hubert and the children have moved from Whitecross to Challoner. When they learn the news about the letters, Jenny and Charles go to Seth's home. Jack is delirious and says some unintelligible things about a place called Wellingham, where he and Greg had been. A distraught Jenny is desperate to see Greg again, so she and Charles head off to Wellingham. Pet also sends Hubert on after them. After rescuing a man staked out in the woods and meeting the authoritarian Clifford and the sinister Miedel, Jenny and Charles become worried about the situation in which they have become embroiled...

Episode 02: A Little Learning - Jenny is searching for Greg alone. Not far away Greg is travelling with Agnes when they come across an old woman in distress. She introduces herself as Mrs Butterworth and explains that she is being plagued by what she terms 'red indians'. Greg investigates and discovers a community of children are behind the raids on her house. They are led by a tough boy called Eagle who does not want Greg to interfere, despite the fact that many of their number are dying of a mysterious illness...

Episode 03: Law of the Jungle - Charles, Hubert and Jenny are reunited with Agnes, who has become separated from Greg. They visit the Walter's family farm, where Greg and Agnes met Tom Walter and his family some months ago. However, the farm is deserted as Tom' mother, Edith, and her sons Steve and Owen were driven from it, when Tom was away, by former butcher Brod, to a camp by a railway line. Charles, Jenny, Agnes and Hubert are captured and taken there as well. Brod has special plans for Jenny and sees Charles as a threat to his position...

Episode 04: Mad Dog - Charles searches alone for Tom Walter and has a dangerous encounter with a dog pack. He is rescued by a man called Fenton, who Charles then travels with back to his halfway house. The next morning Charles discovers that Fenton has contracted rabies. Securing Fenton he goes to a nearby village for help. Charles returns with two men, Sanders and Jim. They are attacked by Fenton and Charles is forced to kill him. However, the men believe that Charles may have the infection too, so try to execute him. Charles flees into the countryside and a hunt begins...

Episode 05: Bridgehead - Charles returns to the Walter's farm where he is reunited with a relieved Jenny and Agnes. Hubert discovers that the cows have brucellosis and tends to them whilst Jenny and Charles head up river to locate a vet called Bill Sheridan. They meet Bill and his partner Alice and the following day Charles and Bill head back to the farm. Before they return to Jenny and Alice they see a car travelling along a road. Charles jumps to the conclusion that Greg could have been the driver. Jenny is excited when she hears the news and sets off with Bill to locate him. Before they leave they all agree to rendezvous at Highley train station for what Charles hopes will be market day...

Episode 06: Reunion - Jenny, Charles and Hubert meet vet Janet Millon when a shepherd friend of Hubert is injured. Whilst enjoying her hospitality they discover to their amazement that she is the mother of their John, who is back at Challoner with Pet and Jack. Jenny has grown tired of her search for Greg and elects to return with Janet, as she wants to see her son too. When Pet tells John the news his reaction is puzzling...

Episode 07: The Peacemaker - Charles, Jenny and Hubert arrive at a settlement based around a working mill. The community there has been inlfuenced and led by former personnel headhunter Frank Garner and Rutna, a young Indian woman. Their guiding principle is the belief that man died (during 'the death') and now needs to be re-born to a new way of life. Frank makes several failed attempts to speak to Charles alone and is clearly uneasy about something. When Charles, Jenny and Hubert's horses are poisoned with yew branches they have no choice but to stay another day...

Episode 08: Sparks - Charles, Frank, Jenny and Hubert are now searching for former electrical engineer Alec Campbell with a view to using his skills to restore electrical power to the nation. However, they discover Alec to be withdrawn and unco-operative and still mourning his long dead wife. When he continues to refuse to help, Frank resolves to take stronger measures which involve some pethadine and Jenny...

Episode 09: The Enemy - Charles, Jenny, Hubert, Frank and Alec arrive at a settlement based at an old coal mine. The settlement's leader, Leonard Woollen, is anxious to get the mining equipment working again and enlists Alec and Charles's help. Another man, Sam Mead, is opposed to the idea fearing a return to the age before 'the death'. Jenny is becoming increasingly emotional about the absent Greg. Charles pushes her too far in relation to Alec...

Episode 10: The Last Laugh - Greg is looking for a Dr. Adams who he thinks is being held captive. He is attacked by four men who steal all his notes on the settlements he has visited. He survives the encounter but runs into further danger when he finds Dr. Adams, who has contracted smallpox. Greg must now wait until the incubation period is over to see if he has contracted the disease...

Episode 11: Long Live the King - Charles, Jenny and their ever growing party are heading North to Scotland, when they receive a message to meet Greg at a place called Felbridge. Jenny thinks it will be another wild goose chase. They later discover that Agnes has devised their reunion and that she plans to set up a new government for the nation at Felbridge under Greg's name. However, Greg is curiously absent from the proceedings...

Episode 12: Power - Charles, Jenny, Hubert and Alec finally arrive in Scotland and make for a hydro-electric power station to switch on the power. However they do not count on the intervention of a nationalistic Scotsman who sees their efforts as stealing Scottish electricity for England. Nor do they realise how far Sam will go to prevent the return of power to the nation...

Directed by Pennant Roberts, Terence Williams, Gerald Blake, Eric Hills, Peter Jefferies, George Spenton-Foster, Tristan DeVere Cole
Written by Terry Nation, Jack Ronder, Martin Worth, Roger Parkes, Don Shaw, Ian McCulloch, Clive Exton
Produced by Terence Dudley
Original Music by Anthony Isaac
Film Editing by Bernard Ashby, Chris Wimble
Costume Design by Janet Tharby, June Wilson, Al Barnett