The chemical is then accidentally released from a vial and the effect spreads almost instantly, annihilating virtually all human life on Earth, turning people into little piles of an ash-like compound, before dissipating harmlessly.
The show relies heavily on a small cast of esoteric characters, including: rugby league fanatic Colin; everyman Brian, who comes closest to being the group's leader; and Graham and Janet, a bland couple who struggle over the issue of having children.
Although an interior quiz advert references the Red Lion in Episode 1, there is also a V for Versus above, as well as a faint H, suggesting they did not attempt to rename the pub, as in an earlier shot of the outside, the White Hart sign is visible.
We're supposed to find it droll that the continuance of the human race rests with Janet, a prissy housewife and pot-holer (Josie Lawrence) and either her gormless loft-converter husband (Mike Grady) or one of the two other fluke survivors getting on each others' nerves.
"[6] The Evening Standard's Geoffrey Phillips wrote, "It's a doomsday comedy, faintly reminiscent of a funny version of the Seventies series Survivors, benefiting very considerably from the casting of Ronald Pickup and Stephen Rea.