‘GEN Z ARE LIKE ALIENS'

Sue Johnston, Anita Dobson and Robert Lindsay chat about being zombified for their new Channel 4 satirical drama 1977

In this stomach-churning satirical drama, a group of OAPs who live in a care home become flesh-eating zombies after chemical exposure. And to make matters worse for some residents of Dambury, they develop a taste for teenagers.

The six-part series stars Sue Johnston, 80, Anita Dobson, 75, and Robert Lindsay, 74, as the pensioners, none of whom have ever appeared in a zombie production – until now.

“I’ve never done anything like this before,” admits Anita. “I thought, at my age, I should give everything a go. I sent my husband [Queen guitarist Sir Brian May] a photo of me from the set when I was a bit bloodied up and he couldn’t speak. He just asked, ‘Is this my wife?’”

Anita, who plays Janine in the series, adds, “I also had a baptism of blood on my first day when they over-packed a blood bag and it went everywhere. It was in my eyes, up my nose, in my ears – everyone got soaked. The walls were soaked and everyone was hysterically laughing.”

“The show caused a stir among my family and friends,” agrees Sue. “Certainly more than any other part I’ve done. I don’t know quite what they’re expecting, but there’s a lot of interest.”