Max Beesley signs up to play a Survivor

Hotel Babylon's Max Beesley will be heading up the cast of a new action adventure series about a virus which wipes out most of the world's population.

Survivors is a re-imagining of the classic 1970s BBC drama series and is based on the novel by Terry Nation.

Set in the present day, it focuses on the aftermath of the deadly disease.

Max plays Tom Price, who's in prison when the story starts. A man who'll stop at nothing to get what he wants, Price finds himself locked in his cell while all around him are dying.

The cast also includes William and Mary's Julie Graham and Doctor Who's Freema Agyeman.

With no society, no police and no law and order, the survivors are faced with many dangers - not just the struggle for food and water but also the deadly threat from other survivors.

Launched in April 1975 on BBC One, Survivors ran for 38 episodes over three series.

BBC Drama Production acquired the rights to develop the series from the Terry Nation Estate in 2007.

Kate Harwood, BBC Head of Drama Series & Serials, said: "We have managed to assemble a magnificent cast in a series set to take audiences on an emotional rollercoaster ride."

Filming in Manchester until September for transmission in autumn 2008, Survivors is a BBC Drama Production for BBC One.