Survivors poster

TV series

Survivors

19753 seasons7.9 / 10

From global pandemic... to rebirth.

Survivors is a British post-apocalyptic fiction television series devised by Terry Nation and produced by Terence Dudley at the BBC from 1975 to 1977. It concerns the plight of a group of people who have survived an accidentally released plague – referred to as "The Death" – that kills nearly the entire human population of the planet.

Availability

Not streaming in United States

Checked Sep 2, 2026

Survivors premiered April 16, 1975. We don't have a confirmed streaming, rental or purchase option yet.

Synopsis

Survivors is a British post-apocalyptic fiction television series devised by Terry Nation and produced by Terence Dudley at the BBC from 1975 to 1977. It concerns the plight of a group of people who have survived an accidentally released plague – referred to as "The Death" – that kills nearly the entire human population of the planet.

Season 1 episodes

Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.

Episode 1

The Fourth Horseman

51m8.3 / 10

A virulent flu bug is spreading through the country like wildfire. Abby Grant (Carolyn Seymour) and her husband David (Peter Bowles) 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 (Lucy Fleming) 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 credits

Directed by Pennant RobertsWritten by Terry NationGuest stars Talfryn Thomas, Peter Copley, Blake Butler, Len Jones, Peter Bowles, Calum Mill, Margaret Anderson, Elizabeth Sinclair

Where to watch Survivors

Episode 2

Genesis

50m8.7 / 10

Abby meets Arthur Wormley who has some strong ideas about how the survivors of 'the death' should organise themselves. Meanwhile Greg Preston (Ian McCulloch) meets a strong willed woman called Anne (Myra Frances) 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 credits

Directed by Gerald BlakeWritten by Terry NationGuest stars Ian McCulloch, Terry Scully, Talfryn Thomas, Myra Frances, George Baker, Brian Pec, Edward Brooks

Where to watch Survivors

Episode 3

Gone Away

50m8.7 / 10

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 credits

Directed by Terence WilliamsWritten by Terry NationGuest stars Ian McCulloch, Talfryn Thomas, Robert Gillespie, Robert Fyfe, Brian Peck, Barry Stanton

Where to watch Survivors

Episode 4

Corn Dolly

51m7.0 / 10

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 credits

Directed by Pennant RobertsWritten by Jack RonderGuest stars Ian McCulloch, Denis Lill, Emily Bolton, Annie Hayes, Yvonne Bonnamy, Keith Jayne

Where to watch Survivors

Episode 5

Gone to the Angels

51m7.5 / 10

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 credits

Directed by Gerald BlakeWritten by Jack RonderGuest stars Ian McCulloch, Nickolas Grace, Frederick Hall, Stephen Dudley, Tanya Ronder

Where to watch Survivors

Episode 6

Garland's War

51m7.5 / 10

Abby becomes separated from Jenny and Greg and rescues a man called Jimmy Garland (Richard Heffer) who is waging his own personal war against a man called Knox (Peter Jeffrey). 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 credits

Directed by Terence WilliamsWritten by Terry NationGuest stars Ian McCulloch, Peter Jeffrey, Richard Heffer, Steve Fletcher, Stephen Dudley, Tanya Ronder

Where to watch Survivors

Episode 7

Starvation

50m7.5 / 10

A young woman called Wendy (Julie Neubert) and an old woman called Emma (Hana Maria Pravda) have foraged since 'the death' but are now going hungry. Wendy meets Tom Price (Talfryn Thomas) 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 credits

Directed by Pennant RobertsWritten by Jack RonderGuest stars Ian McCulloch, Julie Neubert, Talfryn Thomas, Hana Maria Pravda, Stephen Dudley, Tanya Ronder

Where to watch Survivors

Episode 8

Spoil of War

50m9.0 / 10

When agricultural expert Paul Pitman (Christopher Tranchell) arrives at the grange, Greg feels threatened but the others welcome his expertise. When Greg remembers the supplies in the quarry (Genesis), Tom and Barney are sent to fetch them. Two more survivors arrive, former company director Arthur Russell (Michael Gover) and his secretary Charmian Wentworth (Eileen Helsby) 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 credits

Directed by Gerald BlakeWritten by Clive ExtonGuest stars Eileen Helsby, Ian McCulloch, Julie Neubert, Terry Scully, Talfryn Thomas, Hana Maria Pravda, Stephen Dudley, Tanya Ronder

Where to watch Survivors

Episode 9

Law and Order

51m9.0 / 10

Petty arguments are dividing the ever growing community at the grange. Abby decides on a party on May Day as a remedy. The pary 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 credits

Directed by Pennant RobertsWritten by Clive ExtonGuest stars Eileen Helsby, Ian McCulloch, Terry Scully, Talfryn Thomas, Julie Neubert, Hana Maria Pravda, Stephen Dudley, Tanya Ronder

Where to watch Survivors

Episode 10

The Future Hour

50m8.0 / 10

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 credits

Directed by Terence WilliamsWritten by Terry NationGuest stars Eileen Helsby, Ian McCulloch, Terry Scully, Talfryn Thomas, Glyn Owen, Denis Lawson, Hana Maria Pravda, Stephen Dudley

Where to watch Survivors

Episode 11

Revenge

50m9.0 / 10

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 credits

Directed by Gerald BlakeWritten by Jack RonderGuest stars Eileen Helsby, Ian McCulloch, Terry Scully, Myra Frances, Hugh Walters, Hana Maria Pravda, Stephen Dudley, Tanya Ronder

Where to watch Survivors

Episode 12

Something of Value

51m9.0 / 10

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 credits

Directed by Terence WilliamsWritten by Terry NationGuest stars Eileen Helsby, Ian McCulloch, Paul Chapman, Hana Maria Pravda, Stephen Dudley, Tanya Ronder

Where to watch Survivors

Episode 13

A Beginning

51m9.0 / 10finale

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...

Episode credits

Directed by Pennant RobertsWritten by Terry NationGuest stars Eileen Helsby, Ian McCulloch, Hugh Walters, Richard Heffer, Hana Maria Pravda, Stephen Dudley, Tanya Ronder

Where to watch Survivors

Episode information updated Sep 15, 2026

More about Survivors

Cast

Lucy FlemingJenny Richards
Eileen HelsbyCharmian Wentworth
Ian McCullochGreg Preston
Denis LillCharles Vaughan
Heather WrightMelanie
Michael GoverArthur Russell
Celia GregoryRuth
Lorna LewisPet

Credits

Created by
Terry Nation
Written by
Jack Ronder, Terry Nation, Martin Worth, Roger Parkes, Don Shaw, Ian McCulloch, Clive Exton, Roger Marshall, Terence Dudley

Production details

Status
Ended
Series type
Scripted
Episodes
38
Original language
English

Networks & production

  • BBC OneUnited Kingdom
  • BBCUnited Kingdom

Themes

epidemicplaguepost-apocalyptic future