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== External links ==
== External links ==
{{wikiquotepar}}
{{wikiquotepar}}
===Official sites===
*[http://www.primeval.tv ''Primeval'' official site by Impossible Pictures]
*[http://www.primeval.tv ''Primeval'' official site by Impossible Pictures]
*[http://primeval.itv.com/arc/ ''Primeval'' official site for series 2 by ITV ]
*[http://primeval.itv.com/arc/ ''Primeval'' official site for series 2 by ITV ]
*{{itv.com|id=primeval|title=''Primeval''}}
*{{itv.com|id=primeval|title=''Primeval''}}

===Reference sites===
*[http://www.douglashenshall.com/Primeval ''Primeval'' at Douglas Henshall website]

===General information===
*{{tv.com show|id=68346|title=Primeval}}
*{{tv.com show|id=68346|title=Primeval}}
*{{imdb title|0808096|Primeval}}
*{{imdb title|0808096|Primeval}}

Revision as of 14:27, 10 January 2008

Primeval
File:Primeval - intro.jpg
Primeval title sequence
Created byAdrian Hodges
Tim Haines
Starringsee below
Opening themePrimeval theme music
Ending theme"All Sparks"
Country of originUnited Kingdom
No. of series1
No. of episodes6 (list of episodes)
Production
ProducersCameron McAllister
Tim Haines
Running timeapprox. 45 minutes
Original release
NetworkITV
ReleaseFebruary 10, 2007 –
present

Primeval is a British science fiction drama television programme produced by Impossible Pictures for ITV. The first episode was broadcast on 10 February 2007, and has been renewed for a second series by ITV.

The series follows a team of scientists who investigate anomalies in time and deal with the creatures that travel through. The team of five is led by Professor Nick Cutter, a palaeontologist determined to find his wife who disappeared while investigating an anomaly in the Forest of Dean, England eight years previously.

The series was created by Adrian Hodges, who wrote the majority of the scripts, and Tim Haines of Impossible Pictures. It was produced by Haines and Cameron McAllister. Primeval features film-quality 2D & 3D special effects by London effects house Framestore CFC. It previously had the working title Primaeval.

ITV previously produced Prehistoric Park, a programme with the similar premise of the main characters travelling back to the time of the dinosaurs (or even earlier).

The opening theme song was made expressly for the show, whilst the closing theme song is All Sparks by Editors although on the DVD it is changed back to the show's opening theme.

The second series is set to start on January 12 2008.[1]

Development

Production

The first series was filmed partly at Pinewood Studios, the Forest of Dean, London Underground, New Den Stadium, home of Millwall FC (although apparently the Matchroom Stadium, home of Leyton Orient F.C., according to the official website[2], Whipsnade Zoo, London Zoo and the Canary Islands. Thorpe Park and Bournemouth beach will feature in the second series, the scenes filmed at the latter are "crucial" according to the show's spokesperson, Alex Wells.[3]

The show has been recommissioned for another series, which completed filming on 1 October 2007, and is due to be broadcast in early[4] 2008.[5] Two new members of the usual cast are added to the team.[5]

The penultimate episode of the second series will be written by Doctor Who scriptwriter Paul Cornell.[6]

The second series DVD may feature a documentary made by Andrew-Lee Potts about the making of Primeval Series 2, although in an interview with ITV publicity, nothing has yet been confirmed of this.

Episodes

Main article: List of Primeval episodes

Primeval’s first series comprised of six episodes, each installment contributed to a story arc which will continue into the next series. Series two will have a slightly longer run of seven episodes and is to be broadcast in "early 2008."[7][8] It has been suggested that there will also be further series of the show. [9]

Cast

Cast of Primeval: (left to right:) Hannah Spearritt, Andrew-Lee Potts, Douglas Henshall, Lucy Brown, James Murray and Mark Wakeling.

The series features a cast of five main characters who investigate time anomalies for the British government:

The series also uses several minor characters, some of whom appear in several episodes.

Plot

Universe

Main article: Primeverse

The series takes place in, and is just a small section of an extensive alternate universe, nicknamed the Primeverse by fans. The in-universe concepts and the majority of worlds featured are taken from pre-existing works and are difficult to appreciate without some prior knowledge of real life palaeontology and other Impossible Pictures shows such as Prehistoric Park and the Walking with... series and its spin-offs, though Tim Haines and Adrian Hodges have added places and characters not covered there.

There is also the possibility that the Primeverse will be featured in future Impossible Pictures productions as writer Adrian Hodges has stated that he'd like to take the Primeverse "in another direction one day".[12]

Timeline

Main article: Primeval Timeline

This is a list of the events and episodes of the show the chronological order they occur in, although due to time travel element of the show, many events take place on dates spanning across a wide-spanning timeline. Not all of these events have a definite date however and as such there is some noted controversy over their placement, testament to the significance within the series' continuity and the chronology within its fandom. Similarly, Helen Cutters stories set during her eight year long adventures through time, have no distinctly recognisable chronological place within the series' timeline.

Creatures

Main article: List of creatures in Primeval

This is a list of species featured in Primeval. The list includes some (imagined) species which are not prehistoric, but are nonetheless not native to the present era. For the first series, various creatures were re-imagined by the producers for dramatic effect.[13]

ARC or Anomaly Research Centre

The overview of the ARC has been revealed in a TVZone issue. They can be seen at [14]. The centrepiece of the Centre is the Anomaly Detection Board, and these are flanked by two workstations manned by members of the team. There is a walkway up onto another level, which contains Lester's office. Further back are more offices containing his assistants and support staff. The main entrance is large enough for the teams transport to enter, and can be completely sealed. There is a store containing all the equipment including weapons, scuba equipment and other mobility equipment. This is computerized, and takes note on whatever leaves the store. Facing onto the main area are laboratories equipped with databases on past specimens to pass through the anomalies. There is a gym facility with individual lockers for all six team members (Cutter, Connor, Stephen, Abby and two unidentified team members) and a rest area equipped with sofas, playstations, DVD players and a kitchen.

Merchandise

Toys

The master toy licence for Primeval was recently given to Character Options, the same company that created the Doctor Who toy line. The toy line is a coproduction between ITV, ProSieben and M6. Jon Diver, joint MD at Character Group, has stated that the series one toy line will be "extensive" and is scheduled for release in October 2007, followed by a series two toy line released in January 2008 to corespond with Primeval series two. In October it has been stated that a 'Dragonfly' Rex and Anurognathus will be released before the rest.[15] Photos of the first Dragonfly Rex toy can be seen here

Books

Main article: List of Primeval books and novelisations

Ladybird Books will be publishing a Primeval Sticker Book and a Primeval Poster Book for children from 5-8 years old. They will also be publishing a Primeval activity book, Primeval funfax and a glow in the dark sticker book in March 2008.[16]

Puffin Books are also publishing four Primeval paperback books named A Rip in Time, Dangerous Dimension, The Lost Predator and Fight for Survival.[17]

Reception

The first episode gained a final viewing figure of 7.09 million people. The series averaged 6.39 million viewers.[18] When shown in Germany it gained a total audience of 2.78 million viewers.[citation needed]

TV critic Charlie Brooker reviewed Primeval in the final episode of his BBC4 show Screenwipe, and gave it a rave review saying that it was "far better than Torchwood for instance." "Unashamedly Saturday night populist viewing for the masses" with "some of the best special effects I've ever seen... in a British TV Show".[19] Primeval was also spoofed by Harry Hill on his show, TV Burp.[20]

The show's creators deny that Primeval is a clone of Doctor Who, which is famous for its use of time travel. In an interview, Douglas Henshall stated it was different as Primeval is an ensemble piece which deals with what problems come to them. In another interview, Andrew-Lee Potts stated similarly.[21] However, in several interviews, Douglas Henshall did state its similarity to The A Team.

Overseas Broadcasters

Country Network First broadcast
United Kingdom UK ITV 10 February 2007 [22]
Australia Australia Channel Nine 28 April 2007 [23]
Belgium Belgium één 7 September 2007
Canada Canada SPACE 4 April 2007 [24]
Germany Germany Pro 7 4 June 2007
Hong Kong Hong Kong TVB Pearl 14 February 2007 [25]
Mexico Mexico HBO Latin America 2008 [26]
New Zealand New Zealand TV2 11 July 2007 [27]
Netherlands Netherlands Tien 22 March 2007
Spain Spain Cuatro 2007 [28]
Sweden Sweden Kanal 9 3 September 2007 [29]
Hungary Hungary RTL Klub January 6, 2008 [30]
France France M6 29 December 2007 [31]
Italy Italy Jimmy 28 December 2007 [32]

References

  1. ^ http://www.whatsontv.co.uk/index.php?class=tvlistings&tvgRegion=South+West&tvgBroadcaster=WotvMain&x=11&y=17&tvgBegin=201&tvgScroll=Later
  2. ^ [1]
  3. ^ http://www.douglashenshall.com/2PrimevalDinosaursonthebeachBournemouth2007.html
  4. ^ http://www.itv.com/drama/cult/primeval/
  5. ^ a b "ITV goes for more 'Benidorm' and 'Primeval'". Digital Spy.
  6. ^ Cornell, Paul (2007-04-24). "Primeval". Paul Cornell's House of Awkwardness. Retrieved 2007-04-24. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/a58432/you-look-different.html?page=3
  8. ^ http://www.itv.com/drama/cult/primeval/
  9. ^ http://www.douglashenshall.com/2PrimevalSFXmagazineAugust2007.html]
  10. ^ http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/a58432/you-look-different.html?page=3
  11. ^ http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/a58432/you-look-different.html?page=3
  12. ^ http://www.douglashenshall.com/2PrimevalSFXmagazineAugust2007.html]
  13. ^ Milne, Mike. "Primeval sees Framestore CFC's Creatures Leap into the 21st Century".
  14. ^ http://www.douglashenshall.com/2PrimevalAnomaliesReasearchCentre.html}
  15. ^ http://douglashenshallwebsiteupdates.blogspot.com/search/label/action%20figures
  16. ^ http://www.douglashenshall.com/Primeval_News.html
  17. ^ http://www.douglashenshall.com/Primeval_News.html
  18. ^ Average calculated from BARB figures for week ending 11/02/07 and all subsequent weeks until 18/03/07 which can be found here
  19. ^ http://stargoss.co.uk/itvprimeval/modules/news/article.php?storyid=14
  20. ^ http://stargoss.co.uk/itvprimeval/modules/news/article.php?storyid=13
  21. ^ TV & Satellite | 6 February 2007
  22. ^ ITV (2007). "ITV - Cult - Primeval". itv.com.
  23. ^ Michael Idato (4 January 2007). "2007 from the couch". The Age. Retrieved 2007-01-09. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  24. ^ MISSLACE (March 16, 2007). "Primeval premieres on SPACE this April". SPACECAST / SpaceBlog. SPACE: The Imagination Station. Retrieved 2007-03-04. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  25. ^ "Pearl Schedule". TVB Pearl. Retrieved 2007-02-08.
  26. ^ "HBO Latin America Takes BBC Titles". World Screen. May 18, 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  27. ^ "BBC Drama and Factual Titles Head to TVNZ". Scoop.co.nz. 10 January 2007. Retrieved 2007-01-10. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  28. ^ De Pablos, Emiliano (January 16, 2007). "Cuatro stocks up on U.S. fare". Variety. Retrieved 2007-01-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  29. ^ http://kanalnio.se/index.php?id=195
  30. ^ "New premier dates of RTL Klub". Sorozatjunkie.hu. December 17, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-17. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  31. ^ M6 (2007). "Nick Cutter et les portes du temps". M6.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  32. ^ Jimmy (2007). "Jimmy - 1/Primeval". Jimmy.
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Official sites

Reference sites

General information

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