!!insidediv!!Terry Nation's survivors 1975 - 2023

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08/8/2017 12:57 pm  #1


Parasites location visit

I was back in Monmouthshire this weekend, and decided to go on the trail of the Survivors. The canal scenes from Series 2 Episode 10 - entitled 'Parasites' - were filmed here. 
 
Now I can't claim total credit for these. Bridge 76 is mentioned on the Survivors website http://www.survivorstvseries.com/index2.htm although some of the links on this website appear not to be working fully. There are also few - if any - photos from this particular episode.
 
The shots were taken at Bridge 76 (The Preacher's Bridge) and Bridge 77 (The Old Abergavenny Road Bridge) on the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal, just outside the little village of Llanover.
 
Opening sequence where John Millen (Patrick Troughton) is being pulled up the canal by his horse. This is Bridge 77 then (in 1976):
 

 
and now:
 

 
Where Mina comes to meet him then:
 

 

 
and now:
 

 
It all looks a lot more overgrown now of course.
 
Later in the episode, the filming moves down to Bridge 76. Here are some original shots:
 

 

 

 
and now:
 

 
If you ever want to find the two bridges, take the A4042 north from Pontypool (McDonald's roundabout) to Abergavenny. There is a small lay-by, take the next right. If you get to Llanover, you've missed the turning.
 
Both bridges and Survivors also get a mention on a specialist canals website:
 
http://canalplan.org.uk/place/uktc
 
There are clearly a few changes after 41 years, but the locations are still recognisable. You can park your car right next to Bridge 76.

09/8/2017 6:04 am  #2


Re: Parasites location visit

Well done, they did film Survivors in some wonderfully peaceful places.
One of my Favs, is the Ford in the stream, from Genesis - which is down a lane, past Eastnor castle.

10/8/2017 4:47 am  #3


Re: Parasites location visit

Thanks Bob.

I'm very tempted to seek out some of the filming locations in Skenfrith if I'm ever back in Wales again.

I know the episodes were Over The Hills and New Arrivals. I'll have to do a rewatch and get some screenshots.

All the best.

     Thread Starter

04/10/2017 7:31 am  #4


Re: Parasites location visit

These are great photos. Thank you very much for showing the before and after shots.
It looks like a lovely place. Survivors had great scenic places for filming .
I wish I could have learned from the location director how these were chosen.
Thank you. Looking forward to more of these.

07/10/2017 10:50 am  #5


Re: Parasites location visit

It was amazing how well the Locations were chosen, I think it was partly a case of avoiding flight paths of aircraft & getting well away from main roads - though the Canal location, is close to a fairly busy A road, perhaps not as busy in 1976? I think a lot of local knowledge was tapped as well, probably a by-product of eating out in local pubs & hotels......

09/10/2017 6:26 pm  #6


Re: Parasites location visit

bobmeades wrote:

It was amazing how well the Locations were chosen, I think it was partly a case of avoiding flight paths of aircraft & getting well away from main roads - though the Canal location, is close to a fairly busy A road, perhaps not as busy in 1976? I think a lot of local knowledge was tapped as well, probably a by-product of eating out in local pubs & hotels......

 Right Bob.
Like trying to find isolated highways to film Abby driving to Peters school. Plus having the school building empty to film --weekend or holiday time?  Or the town where John and Lizzie are discovered.

I believein an interview , Jenny goes to the hospital about Pat  the traffic jam was real not staged.
That castle was awesome(series 1)

No fancy computer work.
In 2008 Survivors, some of the highways were expanded by CGI.

10/10/2017 5:44 am  #7


Re: Parasites location visit

bobmeades wrote:

It was amazing how well the Locations were chosen, I think it was partly a case of avoiding flight paths of aircraft & getting well away from main roads - though the Canal location, is close to a fairly busy A road, perhaps not as busy in 1976? I think a lot of local knowledge was tapped as well, probably a by-product of eating out in local pubs & hotels......

 Right Bob.
Like trying to find isolated highways to film Abby driving to Peters school. Plus having the school building empty to film --weekend or holiday time?  Or the town where John and Lizzie are discovered.

I believein an interview , Jenny goes to the hospital about Pat  the traffic jam was real not staged.
That castle was awesome(series 1)

No fancy computer work.
In 2008 Survivors, some of the highways were expanded by CGI.

10/10/2017 3:29 pm  #8


Re: Parasites location visit

Lorraine Treadwell wrote:

bobmeades wrote:

It was amazing how well the Locations were chosen, I think it was partly a case of avoiding flight paths of aircraft & getting well away from main roads - though the Canal location, is close to a fairly busy A road, perhaps not as busy in 1976? I think a lot of local knowledge was tapped as well, probably a by-product of eating out in local pubs & hotels......

 Right Bob.
Like trying to find isolated highways to film Abby driving to Peters school. Plus having the school building empty to film --weekend or holiday time? Or the town where John and Lizzie are discovered.

I believein an interview , Jenny goes to the hospital about Pat the traffic jam was real not staged.
That castle was awesome(series 1)

No fancy computer work.
In 2008 Survivors, some of the highways were expanded by CGI.

In some shots, the traffic was stopped temporarily, usually those were filmed early on a Sunday morning when traffic was very light. Jenny tumbling down a hill to the side of the road & just missing Abby (Again) was filmed near "Roman camp" part of the Malvern hills & in fact not far from Gt Malvern. The Castle is of course Hampton Court, Herefordshire - now open to the public & much tarted up! & true, the part with Jenny in the traffic was shot during a rush hour & was in fact the very first scene of Survivors that was filmed. Along the A4, Westway in London, the only exterior scene actually IN London! the rest where you are kidded that you are in the "Smoke" is on Cheltenham Promenade & a back rd, also in Cheltenham. 
As you are, I believe in the USA Lorraine, you can visit some of these places via Google street level.
 

Last edited by bobmeades (10/10/2017 3:32 pm)

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