Survivors by Adrian Hodges returns to Britain's BBC One for a second series in January 2010, picking up moments after the thrilling cliff-hanger to season one. In the first new episode, Abby (Julie Graham) and her mismatched family of Survivors are in disarray, now struggling not just with the difficulties of day-to-day life amidst the ruins of the post-virus apocalypse, but also with the threat of other emerging communities and the machinations of the sinister Lab.

Series two opens with Abby now being held by Whitaker (Nicholas Gleaves) and F§iona (Geraldine Somerville) at the Lab. There, she learns that the scientists have avoided infection and are looking desperately for a vaccine which they believe her unique immune system alone will generate. Meanwhile, the 'family' race to save Greg's (Paterson Joseph) life as he lies dying from a gunshot wound. Drawn into a burning hospital by their search for the necessary medical equipment, Al (Phillip Rhys) and Anya (Zoe Tapper) are caught in an avalanche of rubble as the building collapses around them.

Psychopathic Tom (Max Beesley) is faced with the stark challenge of rescuing his friends from a seemingly insurmountable disaster with only Sarah (Robyn Addison) and Naj (Chahak Patel) to help him. Returning for this second series are Abby (Julie Graham), a devoted mother with a missing son; Greg (Paterson Joseph), a loner, hiding the pain of his past; Anya (Zoe Tapper), a doctor who has seen too much; Al (Phillip Rhys), a playboy who becomes surrogate father to young and headstrong Najid (Chahak Patel); Sarah (Robyn Addison), a hedonist used to getting her own way; Tom Price (Max Beesley), handsome, dangerous and a high security prisoner before the virus hit; and Samantha Willis (Nikki Amuka–Bird), the last surviving member of the British Government. Nicholas Gleaves plays Whitaker; the scientist in charge of the Lab, who – together with fellow scientists Fiona (Geraldine Somerville) and Sami Masood (Ronny Jhutti) – continues to search for a vaccine. Patrick Malahide also features as Landrey, a mysterious figure linked to the Lab.

Written and executive produced by Adrian Hodges (Ruby In The Smoke, Shadow In The North, Charles II and Primeval), the series is produced by Hugh Warren (Frankenstein; The Chase), the directed by Jamie Payne (Primeval), David Evans (Unforgiven, Shameless) and Farren Blackburn (Holby, Doctors).

This new version of Survivors takes its name from the original series created by Terry Nation, which launched in April 1975 on BBC One and ran for 38 episodes over three series. BBC Drama Production acquired the rights to develop the drama series from the Terry Nation Estate in 2007, basing this version on on the novel written by Nation.

• For series two clips and featured interviews with the cast and crew go to bbc.co.uk/survivors.