The original The Day of the Triffids is a post-apocalyptic novel written in 1951 by the English science fiction author John Wyndham. Although Wyndham had already published other novels, this was the first published under the John Wyndham pen-name. It established him as an important writer, and remains his best known novel.
CHARACTER PROFILE: DR BILL MASEN (DOUGRAY SCOTT)
An introspective scientist, Bill is a thoughtful Triffid expert who is more at home with his Triffid research than social interaction. Bill grew up with the plants that are now roaming the country, and it was his parents made the incredible discovery that they could provide oil. But their pioneering work came at a cost: his mother was killed by a Triffid, leaving Bill all too aware how dangerous the plants really are.
CHARACTER PROFILE: JO PLAYTON (JOELY RICHARDSON)
A radio journalist, Jo is a bright, sociable and irreverent woman who escapes the mass blinding because she is reporting on the event from the London Underground. Terrified by the chaos, Jo clings to Bill after their chance meeting and becomes embroiled in his desperate fight to prevent the plants reproducing, falling in love with him in the process.
CHARACTER PROFILE: TORRENCE (EDDIE IZZARD)
Torrence is a sinister and obsessive man who retains his sight after the solar flare, and sees this as an opportunity to step into the power vacuum that has resulted in Downing Street. A stickler for rules and authority, when Bill and Jo are held captive by his new 'army', Torrence becomes obsessed with Jo and plans to use her celebrity to draw more people to the cities, who can then fight for his cause. Determined to rule over the remaining sighted population, and keep the blind away from the centre of London, Torrence cannot foresee the approach of the Triffids towards the capital and soon comes to realise that he will need Bill's help to fight them off once and for all.
CHARACTER PROFILE: COKER (JASON PRIESTLEY)
A former military man with liberal principles, Coker strongly believes that the remaining sighted in the UK have a duty to support and care for those who have been blinded.
CHARACTER PROFILE: DENNIS MASEN (BRIAN COX)
The estranged father of Bill, Dennis is the scientist who discovered the Triffids in Africa and exploited their commercial use. Bill seeks Dennis's help in stopping the plants from overrunning the country.
Thanks to the BBC for the information.
Starring: Dougray Scott (Bill Mason), Ewen Bremner (Walter), William Ilkley (Jeff), Genevieve O'Reilly (Michelle), Jason Priestley (Coker), Joely Richardson (Jo Playton) and Shane Taylor (Osman).
LEEE-777 Its a two-part sci-fi that starts in the UK on BBC One today 28 Dec & 29 Dec. No news when its aired on BBC Worldwide.