Survivors Nick Gleaves: 'Survivors' ending is like Lost'

As Survivors reaches its climax, Lab scientist Whitaker has kidnapped Abby's son Peter. Nicholas Gleaves, who plays Whitaker, reveals more about the nail-biting finale...

Whitaker has used some rather unsavoury methods to try and create the vaccine - is he really a baddie?
"I don't think Whitaker is really a baddie – he’s a guy who's trying to right a wrong. His methods are unorthodox but, in a situation where there's so few people left in the world and there's a chance of actually starting it all again, he’s been doing the best he can in the world that's now created."

Whitaker's assistant is Fiona Douglas (Geraldine Somerville) - what's their relationship like?
"Whitaker manages the Lab and Fiona is like his star player, the brilliant scientist who can look to find the vaccine. But also she doesn't know the whole story, there's only a select few elite that know all this really so she can be a bit more thrusting and brutal in her quest for the vaccine. Even though he really admires her, she's alone, she's got no one, and Whitaker starts to question things."

We understand that there's a big surprise to come in the final episode...
"It's a bit like Lost. By the time you've got to this episode you think you've got it all, and then a door opens and you think, 'Oh God, I had no idea!'"

Are you pleased viewers have been given the chance to see more of your character and what are your hopes for a third series of Survivors?
"I was so fortunate because the character was quite slim in the first series but they really invested in him this time round. As for a third series, I honestly don't know but I hope there will be one - I'm a jobbing actor!"

Don't miss the final episode of Survivors on BBC1 at 9pm on Tuesday 23 February.