IFC Premieres 'Dead Set' 5-Part Apocalyptic Gore Fest 10/25

Flesh eating zombies have taken over Britain and are multiplying as quickly as they kill. Survivors must rapidly find ways to endure in a world that offers little refuge. Cocooned in the safety of their "Big Brother" house, fame-seeking contestants of this hit reality TV game show are safe and blissfully unaware-until "eviction night," when all hell breaks loose.

Written and executive produced by acclaimed writer and media critic Charlie Brooker (The Guardian), DEAD SET is a pitch-black 5-part zombie-horror-comedy set in Britain's "Big Brother" house. DEAD SET is partially filmed at the real UK "Big Brother" set and features the show's host, Divina McCall, in front of an actual eviction night audience - with cameos by former contestants.

A must-see for horror fans, reality TV junkies, or anyone horrified by reality TV, DEAD SET stars Jaime Winstone (Boogie Woogie), Andy Nyman (Death at a Funeral) and Riz Ahmed (Rage) and makes it's U.S. television premiere on IFC on Monday, October 25 through Friday, October 29, 2010, airing at 12:00 midnight ET/PTover five consecutive nights. Special marathon event featuring all 5 parts back-to-back on Halloween day beginning at 8pm ET/PT.

"The 'Big Brother' house seemed fitting for a TV zombie epic set in the 21st century," says Brooker. "DEAD SET is an unashamedly populist horror-thriller with darkly comic undertones. Think '24' with zombies. And housemates. And gore."

They're Coming to Get You, Barbara.

From its well-received overseas premiere last year, the master of horror, Stephen King, called DEAD SET, "One of the ten best things I saw on TV." Produced by Zeppotron, an Endemol company (producers of "Big Brother"), the series received a 2009 BAFTA Award nomination for Best Drama Serial. Aficionados of the undead will have fun spotting inside jokes and classic horror movie quotes in DEAD SET.

About IFC

IFC creates and champions authentic, original content that is "Always On. Slightly Off." Since 1994, IFC has cultivated television programming that challenges the conventions of storytelling. Today, IFC continues to embrace content with an indie perspective. Original series - headlined by brand-defining scripted and sketch comedy - air alongside an extraordinary collection of films and cult TV shows. Long and short-form original content inspired by music, web, gaming, animation, news, and culture is available on multiple platforms. IFC provides viewers access to must-see festivals and events around the country, like the Film Independent's Spirit Awards and SXSW. IFC.com features exclusive video, podcasts, blogs, news and reviews cultivated and written by industry experts. The network's On Demand offering, IFC Free, gives fans the opportunity to watch select content from IFC whenever they want. IFC is a subsidiary of Rainbow Media Holdings LLC.

SYNOPSIS:

Who will survive.and what will be left of them?

Britain has been hit by an epic problem. The dead are returning to life and attacking the living. The people they kill get up and kill. And it's spreading like wildfire. Within two days, 80% of the population is dead. No one knows how this problem started or how widespread it's become, because there are no news channels anymore.

The entire social structure has collapsed in the space of 48 hours. Tiny groups of survivors are holed up across the country, unaware of each other, besieged inside abandoned houses, abandoned hospitals - abandoned anything. Surrounded by growing hordes of the living dead - mindless eating machines powered by raw instinct - they fight to survive, around the clock.

Few people remain who aren't worried about this living nightmare: the remaining contestants in the reality TV game show, "Big Brother". Cocooned in the safety of the Big Brother house, they're blissfully unaware of the horrific events unfolding in the outside world. until eviction night when the walking dead descend on the studio.

In a cruel reflection of the game show they were cast in, one by one they fall victim - devoured by the hungry, unthinking masses outside. Staying alive requires teamwork - a tricky job when you're a group specifically selected by TV producers to not get along and drive each other crazy!

CHARACTERS:

KELLY (Jaime Winstone): A 23-year-old show runner for "Big Brother", Kelly's got a lot on her mind. There's her job for one thing: it doesn't pay well and consists of non-stop stress - but she loves it. It's showbiz. Then there's her colleague, Danny. They've been spending long hours together during the production and last night things got a little intimatE. Kelly's had a boyfriend for the last four years - and he wants to know where she was last night.

PATRICK (Andy Nyman): Patrick is the producer of "Big Brother". He lives and breathes it. He's all about the work - you're only ever as good as last night's show. In his late thirties, Patrick has been in television since he left college and has had a hand in nearly all reality shows. (His next show is due to be Celebrity Kennels featuring Grace Jones). Patrick is very ambitious and envisions himself as a controller of one of the major networks in the next few years.

RIQ (Riz Ahmed): Riq is a 23-year-old London boy with a cynical outlook and a dry wit. Since college he's had a succession of unchallenging jobs that he's managed to get sacked from. Currently working as a delivery van driver for a supermarket, Riq spends his days dreaming of working as a DJ. Even though he's been with Kelly for four years he's aware that his and Kelly's lives are becoming increasingly different.

ALEX (Liz May Brice): Alex is a 34-year-old single woman from south London. She runs a baby clothes boutique in Clapham Junction, an area of London smugly referred to as Nappy Valley. Over-qualified for the job and with a string of failed relationships behind her, Alex is dissatisfied. Naturally aloof and generally distrusting, Alex is probably the best equipped person to deal with the current zombie outbreak.

CLAIRE (Shelley Conn): Claire is an experienced TV producer who has worked with Patrick on "Big Brother" for many years. Unlike Patrick, she is popular amongst her team and sees herself as a friendly buffer between Patrick and the rest of the production. Claire is a mentor to Kelly.

MARKY (Warren Brown): An unapologetic guy, prone to picking his nose, swilling beer, and farting for comic effect, Marky is the kind of housemate you either love or hate. He considers himself a born comedian, although most of his humor consists of verbal bullying and mindless pranks. A hothead and a loudmouth, he's already divided the housemates - and, much to his delight, managed to sleep with wannabe glamour girl Veronica.

VERONICA (Beth Cordingly): 28-year-old suburban girl Veronica thought "Big Brother" would help her realize her dream of becoming a presenter. Or a model. Anything - so long as she's famous. Not averse to using sex to get what she wants (even if it means sleeping with Marky), Veronica has extreme difficulty coming to terms with the reality of the new zombie situation. Having to wave goodbye to a chance of fame almost scares her more than the living dead.

SPACE (Adam Deacon): 24-year-old Space is from south London. Smart, but with a fiery temper, Space (the name was given to him in school because he was "always off in his own universe") is a loner at heart, who mistrusts everyone but himself. He's observant but the other housemates consider him very insular. He has sympathy for Pippa, who he feels is being bullied by some of the other housemates. Now he'll have to learn to integrate if he's going to survive.

PIPPA (Kathleen McDermott): Space's bosom buddy in the house, 26-year-old Pippa has divided the house and the nation - she's been up for eviction every week for the past three weeks. Her naivety and ignorance are considered "an act for the cameras" by most of the housemates and her accent is beginning to grate on them all. She's prone to bursting into tears at the drop of a hat, and only Space seems able to tolerate her human frailties.

JOPLIN (Kevin Eldon): 43-year-old Joplin (nickname "Gollum") was the audience's most hated housemate - back when they were still alive. The reason? He's a pompous bore. Every incident in the house is subjected to some earnest diatribe. All this against a background of hypocrisy - the housemates are aware of him salaciously eyeing all the women up at every opportunity. Particularly Veronica. Probably the most intelligent housemate, he becomes more ostracized as he tries to discuss with the other housemates the implications of the new world.

GRAYSON (Raj Ghatak): Camp, bitchy, and the "Big Brother" audience's favorite housemate, 27-year-old Grayson is a performer at heart. Notorious in north London for his nightclub drag act blending torch songs and outrageous comedy, Grayson has a sharp tongue and an even sharper sense of style. Faced with a genuine life-threatening crisis, how will this self-styled Queen of Melodrama react? Inside the house, Marky enjoys making Grayson's life hell on a daily basis.

CAST:

Jaime Winstone's film credits include Boogie Woogie ( with Heather Graham and Gillian Anderson), Donkey Punch, Kidulthood, and Bullet Boy. Jaime played Lauren in the Channel 4 TV drama "Goldplated" and also appeared in BBC Three's pilot, "Phoo Action".

Andy Nyman's film credits include Severance , Death at a Funeral, The Brothers Bloom (with Adrien Brody and Mark Ruffalo), and The Tournament (with Ving Rhames and Robert Carlyle). He is also a world-renowned magician and the co-creator and co-writer of the hugely popular Derren Brown television and stage shows, for which he received a BAFTA Award nomination.

Riz Ahmed's TV credits include ITV's "Wired", the BAFTA-winning "Britz", and the award-winning, critically-acclaimed, "Road to Guantanamo". He is the new face in an all-star cast that includes Jude Law and Judi Dench in Sally Potter's recently released film, Rage, and plays the title role opposite Jason Flemyng and Daniel Mays in the new British film, Shifty.

Liz May Brice has played a host of high-profile characters in TV, including Johnson in the third series of the "Dr. Who" spin-off, "Torchwood", as Pat Kerrigan on ITV's cult series, "Bad Girls", and in some of the best-loved Brit TV series, including "Peep Show", "Hustle" and "The Bill". Liz's film credits include Resident Evil and AVP: Alien vs Predator.

Shelley Conn is well known for her character in the Brit TV drama, "Mistresses." Film credits include Tim Burton's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Nina's Heavenly Delights.

Warren Brown is a former two-time World Champion Thai boxer. He was first cast as one of the Maguire brothers in Channel 4 TV's "Shameless" and his performance as Andy Holt in "Hollyoaks" earned him three 2006 British Soap Awards nominations. Warren plays Alex in the popular comedy series "Grownups" for BBC Three. Other Brit TV credits include "Life on Mars", "Dead Clever" and "Mobile".

Beth Cordingly's television breakthrough was as Sara Warrington in "Family Affairs". She returned to television after a stage career to play PC Perry Young in "The Bill" and in the comedy series "Funland".

Adam Deacon stars in the 2006 film Kidulthood and the sequel, Adulthood. His TV credits include "Ali G Indahouse", "Sugar Rush" and "Love Soup", as well as "Casualty" and "The Bill".

Kathleen McDermott starred in the feature film Morvern Callar, for which she won four best actress awards, including a BAFTA and the Bowmore Scottish Screen award. On television, she is best known for her role as Shaz in Irvine Welsh's feature-length Channel 4 TV drama, "Wedding Belles".

Stand-up comic and actor Kevin Eldon has appeared in several of the most critically acclaimed Brit-com shows, including "Spaced", "Brass Eye", "Black Books", "Green Wing", "I'm Alan Partridge" and "Big Train". His film credits include Faintheart, Hot Fuzz and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Raj Ghatak received nominations for Best Actor (2004) and Best Supporting Performance in a Musical (2003) for his role in the British production of the musical Bombay Dreams. Film credits include Karma Magnet, Dangerous Parking and Starter for 10. His television credits include "Sinchronicity", "All about Me" and "Hard Cash".

Chizzy Akudolu has appeared in several Brit TV series including "Green Wing", "15 Storeys High", "EastEnders" and "Roman's Empire". Chizzy can be seen as a regular in the CBBC sketch show "Stupid!", as well as playing Miss Kanouti in "The Complete Guide to Parenting". She has toured the UK with The Vagina Monologues and has recently completed two feature films, In the Loop and Skellig.

PRODUCTION CREDITS:

Charlie Brooker (writer and executive producer) has worked as a writer, journalist, cartoonist and television and radio presenter. He is the creator of the hugely successful website TVGoHome. His TV writing credits include the "Brass Eye Special" and "Nathan Barley", which he co-wrote with Chris Morris. Charlie is also well known for his weekly columns in The Guardian and his BBC Four RTS award-nominated TV series, "Charlie Brooker's Screen Wipe", which he writes and presents.

Prod Co: Zeppotron; Writer: Charlie Brooker; Exec Prods: Charlie Brooker, Annabel Jones; Dir: Yann Demange.

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