Survivors sci-fi series axed by BBC

Sci-fi remake Survivors has been axed by the BBC after just two series.

The 21st century version of the 1970s cult show, this time starring Julie Graham and Max Beesley, has suffered from falling ratings.

A BBC spokeswoman confirmed: "The BBC is committed to making a broad range of varied and ambitious drama, but in order to achieve this we do have to move on from some pieces in order to allow new work to come through. After two series, Survivors will not be returning."

The post-apocalyptic BBC1 drama, in which a handful of survivors struggle to stay alive when a deadly virus wipes out most of the world's population, ended with 4.43 million viewers at the finale of the second series.

Sci-fi writer Terry Nation, who also wrote Blake's 7 and created the Daleks, penned the original series.

The BBC secured the rights to The Survivors after months of negotiations with Nation's estate.

The original 1970s series centred on a post-apocalyptic world in the aftermath of a plague which killed more than 99% of the global population.

Survivors ran for 38 episodes over three series after being launched in April 1975 on BBC1.

The new series was written by Adrian Hodges, who also penned Ruby in the Smoke, Shadow in the North and Primeval.

The BBC confirmed that the remake was being axed following reports by Totalscifionline.com.