Survivors : new series will be filmed in Birmingham

The Slumdog Millionaire director says the Mailbox, Bullring and Gas Street Basin are iconic landmarks ideal for a movie.

"I just love the way Selfridges is next to the old church," he says. "That's very filmic!

"It surprises me just how romantic Birmingham now is. I never knew the square at St Philip's Cathedral was there.

"It looks incredible and all of the other squares are just so beautiful."

The first series of Survivors, which attracted almost six million viewers, was filmed around Manchester, with the characters seen venturing into the deserted, post-apocalyptic city.

The Survivors team are moving to Birmingham next month, with production starting in May and lasting four months.

All six episodes will be filmed in Birmingham. The first two episodes will be filmed in city locations, while much of the later episodes will be more suburban and rural.

Many of the shoots will have to take place very early in the morning when the city centre is quiet enough to look deserted.

Nicolas Brown, director of BBC Drama Production, says: "We are very pleased to be shooting this series out of Birmingham.

"We are looking forward to working with everyone there to get the maximum impact on screen for this all-important second outing."

The last major drama to heavily feature Birmingham was Kinsey, starring Leigh Lawson and Serena Gordon as lawyers, which ran for two series in 1990 and 1991.

Before that, the Michael Elphick and Neil Morrissey drama Boon was shot in Birmingham in 1986 and the soap Crossroads stopped filming in Birmingham in 1988. Gangsters was shot in the city in the 1970s.

Birmingham City Council Leader Mike Whitby says: "Bringing a hugely successful TV show like Survivors to the city is great news and a testament to the iconic backdrop that Birmingham offers film-makers.

"I am confident more shows will follow the Survivors lead."