Reprint
of an article by series producer Terence Dudley that first appeared in
The Radio Times March 1977.
The
article talked of what was in store for the show
in its third season.
In
the third series (the Survivors) explore further
afield in their search for other pockets of
survival in a slowly reviving Britain. Terence
Dudley outlines some of the hazards that lie
ahead for them.
Its
now two years since the 'survivors' recoiled
from the shock of the collapse of industrial
civilisation. During this time they have become
self sufficient - but now they realise this is
not enough.
Any attempt to return to towns and cities
remains out of the question. These are still
choked with dead and rotting shells of 20th
century demigod - the internal combustion engine
- making transportation impossible. Any
excursion into a town in search of supplies or
desperately needed drugs has proven disastrous.
Inspired by the Norwegian engineer in his
hot-air balloon, Charles Vaughan and company
adventure through Britain on horseback seeking
other communities and people with special skills
to make possible a revival of trade. But this
exploration is hazardous. Many people are still
frightened and suspicious of strangers and will
ask questions from behind a loaded gun.
Then there are the dogs. What was once man's
best friend has reverted to the wild and is now
a ravening wolf. Worse still - animals have
broken the bounds of unmanned safari parks.
But there is always hope; hope of a reunion
between Jenny and Greg, between young John and
his mother; hope that steam trains can be run
again; hope that hydro-electricity will again
flow from Scotland.
