photo: by Dianne and Susanne Martin
Cuttter investigates why species reappear, millions of years after becoming extinct. He goes in search of the most astonishing discovery in human history - a rip in time, or anomaly, which he finds in the Forest of Dean, creating a doorway to the earth's prehistoric past.He leads a team of scientists who travel into prehistoric times and other worlds through these anomalies.
Through flashbacks we learn that eight years before the story begins, Cutter's wife Helen disappeared when she was investigating these black holes and he is determined to find her.
Helen was also a scientist, the relationship between her and Cutter was passionate and stormy. As they were estranged at the time of her disappearance, this added to Cutter's sense of guilt when she vanished.
Claudia and Cutter like each other as soon as they meet and there is a certain romantic tension between them. Cutter is still in love with his wife and Claudia feels her overwhelming responsibility is to do right by the government.
Over the series we find out what has happened to Helen. The series writer Adrian Hodges has said " I don't think it's spoiling any surprises telling you she comes back in a big way..........It's not going to be resolved in th first six episodes." Although there are "some answers in the first series."
The black holes can open up anywhere. In the first episode the team find their way through to a world at the time of the dinosaurs. In another they will discover a hole in the flooded bathroom of a domestic house, which leads them to an underwater world full of prehistoric sea monsters. There is even an episode set in the depths of the tube, where the group face giant arachnids. There is a race against time to find out what they need to before the black hole closes and they are trapped.
There is a big surprise in the final episode, a possibility that if you can go back in time you might be able to go forwards in time. Perhaps something will have evolved beyond what we have seen before.
Hodges is responsible for writng episodes 1, 2, 3 and 6. Previously he has scripted television adaptations such as Charles II The Power and the Passion and Rome .
Richard Kurti and Bev Doyle are writing episode 4 and episode 5 is written by Chris Lang (Soldier,Soldier)
Filming on the series began on March 6th 2006. It is produced by Cameron McAllister and Block 1 (episodes 1,2 and 3) directed by Cilla Ware (with 1st Assistant Director Gareth Tandy). Cilla won an Emmy and a British Academy Childrens Award in 2004 for The Illustrated Mum and directed Douglas Henshall in The Strange Case of Sherlock Holmes and Arthur Conan Doyle in 2005. Block 2 (episodes 4, 5 and 6) is directed by Jamie Payne, with 1st Assistant Director Jon Older and began filming on May 15th 2006.
Filming was completed on July 2nd 2006 and in Post Production until October 2006.
Other crew members include Jake Polonsky (Director of Photography), Anthony Ainsworth (Production Designer), Adam Recht (who recently won a Bafta for The Ghost Squad is Editor for the first episodes), Nick Arthurs (Editor, episodes 4,5 and 6) and Jan Sewell (Make-up, Hair & Prosthetics Designer) .
It is hoped that this combination of fantasy and family drama will be a big hit for ITV.
This page copyright © Dianne Martin 2006 - 2007
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