THE REVOLUTION CONTINUES... 'BLAKE'S 7': SEASON TWO

Dark times ahead for our Liberator heroes in Season Two of BLAKE'S 7. Images: BBC.

"Where are all the good guys?" -  Vila

"You could be looking at them" - Blake (to his team)

"What a depressing thought..." - Avon


The ideal that one man can make a difference is more than proved by the intergalactic freedom fighter Roj Blake as he and his trusty vagabond team of varied ex-prisoners continue to wage their bold war against the evil and corrupt tyranny of the galaxy-spanning Terran Federation from within the futuristic environs of their advanced alien fighting ship, the Liberator, in the popular sci-fi series of the late seventies: BLAKE'S 7, created with enthusiasm and adventure packed incident by Terry Nation. Their galaxy spanning exploits now becoming a building rallying call to other resistors to join their cause, of which an irritant and once all-powerful Federation wants our heroes swiftly destroyed and the Liberator a new addition to their technological and weaponry means...

Continuing the crusade: Roj Blake (Gareth Thomas).

The series format of BLAKE'S 7 remains as strong as ever in its second year, with delivered promises of more bold storytelling and action to come. But first for our heroes, there's a little matter of last seasons frightening cliff-hanger prediction of the future, as told by their newly acquired super intelligent plastoid computer Orac (voiced by Peter Tuddenham, who also provides the regular tones of that other super-computer, Zen) - showing the Liberator and her crew blown to smithereens!- that must be resolved at all costs...

Paul Darrow as the coldly logical Avon.

Sally Knyvette as space pilot Jenna.

Michael Keating as lovable thief Vila, with the computer Orac (voiced by Peter Tuddenham)

Jan Chappell returns as telepathic alien Cally.

Blake with the doomed Gan (David Jackson).

The impressive Liberator spacecraft, out on the edge of the universe.

And Nation rises to the challenge, returning to solve that mystery with his Season Two premiere opener Redemption, which also sees one of the shows other early mysteries finally solved: who or what built the Liberator? Sadly not available to write a full season's compliment of adventures, as he had done with the premiere year (with a lot of key input from series script editor Chris Boucher), and his plans to introduce his DOCTOR WHO creations, the Daleks, into the series now scrapped, an over committed and previously exhausted Nation would instead provide two further original stories for the eagerly anticipated new run, Pressure Point and Countdown, both of which would prove excellent and show one of TV's top adventure writers in his creative stride, initiating a new mini-story arc with Boucher that would make its presence felt in the the shows last quarter. Boucher, too, would finally be able to write four original scripts for the new season; a talent who ultimately knew the characters and actors probably better than their creator, and more than able to write to the series strengths and what its dedicated behind the scenes crew could do with their limited programme making budgets. With the shows creator no longer such a dominating force with the scripting, the vacuum of his absence would be further filled in with several new writing contributors: Allan Prior and Roger Parkes, who provide varying quality escapades and scenarios. But the standout of the new batch is easily Robert Holmes, former DR WHO script editor of the Tom Baker era and the man who gave Boucher his first major television writing break on that series in 1977. Holmes provides two quirky and clever tales that also have a lot of humour (most notably building on the pairing of sardonic and blaster packing Kerr Avon (Paul Darrow) with clever intellectual thief Vila Restel (Michael Keating). On the directing front, producer David Maloney would ultimately handle the reins of the eventual action packed series finale, with enthusiastic veteran Vere Lorrimer also returning for four adventures. DR WHO directors adding a further touch of class to the second season wold include George Spenton-Foster and Derek Martinus, alongside another fine new visualist, Jonathan Wright Miller.

The Federation's presence in the series remains as deadly as ever...

As the ambitious new seasons kicks in for its January 1979 debut, all of our main cast of heroes return. Gareth Thomas as Blake becomes an even more serious and determined leader/fighter against the Federation this year, harder edged and wanting to carve out new alliances to launch an attack on the Earth and its main computer complex controlling the Federation. But its with this daring ambition and gambit that his ego and stubbornness escalate to the point where terrible mistakes of judgement are made, of which he is also gently manoeuvred by his enemies at Federation Space Command, resulting in the death of one of the Liberator family: the gentle giant Gan, who ultimately sacrifices himself to save Blake in the excellent episode Pressure Point. The decision to kill off one of the seven being made by the production team because they thought things were getting a bit too cosy for our heroes, winning their many battles too easily-a wise and ultimately shocking decision that certainly got the audience and critics attention in 1979. Originally, the likable characters of telepath Cally (Jan Chappell) and Vila were also on the prime candidates list of extermination, but, in the end, accomplished stage and screen veteran David Jackson, who had become slightly frustrated with the lack of development for Gan, got the chop.

Acting as Blake's twisted adviser, mostly to say snarlingly I told you so, and continue to act as a heated antagonist, Paul Darrow remains compulsively enjoyable as the often ruthless and edgy individualist Kerr Avon, who, at one point, almost abandons his colleagues to die at the edge of the universe in one episode (Horizon) but is stopped from doing so by fate: in the form of three advancing Federation pursuit ships! Michael Keating's aforementioned Vila also gains some new facets and comedy, both on his own and with the main cast, as the writers especially enjoying playing with his character relationship with Avon. Disappointingly, however, it's the lovely and resourceful female heroes that get a bit of a raw deal this season-the telepathic Cally (Jan Chappell) starts off well with a strong amount to do early on inside the creepy nightmare world she's trapped within during the shows second episode Shadow, but Sally Knyvette's ace pilot Jenna Stannis isn't quite so lucky in the season's final half, literally acting as a diversionary figure, using her feminine wiles or annoyingly staying on the Liberator flight deck or in it's teleport chamber wishing her friends "good luck" as they go off into danger!

Red for danger! Jacqueline Pearce has fun as super-bitch Servalan.

Brian Croucher as the re-cast baddie, Space Commander Travis.

Fortunately, the girl power side of the shows villainy department fares a lot better, as the evil temptress and power mad queen of Federation Space Command, eventually Madame President, the feminine spider in her web, Servalan, as wickedly portrayed by the lovely Jacqueline Pearce, goes from strength to strength as the writers, particularly Chris Boucher, latch on to what an interesting and ahead of her time character role she truly was. Not available to play the sadistic, Blake hunting supporting role to her of Travis, due to his role in another TV movie project, Stephen Greif would need be recast by the producers, who ultimately decided to keep the Travis character because Terry Nation liked him and he was popular with audiences. Deliberately wanting to show a more over the edge and dangerous Travis than before, whose hunt for the rebel resistance fighters has become ever more bloodthirsty, up and coming young actor Brian Croucher, getting a name for himself as a raw talent in popular gritty TV film dramas of the time, would soon don the new leather costume, wear the intimidating black eye patch and wield the arm weapon that would makes the role so memorable. Croucher, though not the greatest of actors by any means, handles himself reasonably well in his debut in the series and is perfectly watchable when he has a good script in hand to work with, in doing so proving a very real and dangerous threat to Blake and co. But in some of the middle and more humourous, format challenging episodes towards the end of the season he looks a little lost and uncomfortable. Fortunately, with the character now seemingly as fully explored as he could be by the writers, Travis's final appearance is well handled, almost slaying his mortal target before getting a great death scene himself from the hands of Avon.

Michael Keating, Paul Darrow and Gareth Thomas enjoy a break on the Liberator set, with Zen (voiced by Peter Tuddenham) in the background.

Roger Murray-Leach's ground breaking sets for the Liberator interior come out of storage for year two and receive some mild improvements and polishing (though bits and pieces of props can still be heard falling to the flight deck floor from time to time!), whilst the series overall budget, though still BBC standard small, was given a slight increase and visually looks much better than its premiere year. As ever, when episode scenes are made on film or on location, the show has a much better looking quality about it. The overall much criticised (before and since) special effects and model work are also of a good to very good standard in numerous episodes this year, from the likes of talents such as Matt Irvine. Aussie composer Dudley Simpson brings his musical skills to bear once more on the series, whilst June Hudson, a well-respected talent within the corporation, replaces some of the threadbare looking cast outfits of year one and exterminates the different coloured, deliberately Robin Hood inspired crew exploration costumes designed by Barbara Lane, so as to add some glamour of fabric and leather to the shows attractive heroes and villains for the first half of year two, replaced by Barbara Kidd, who quickly builds on her fine work.

Season Two trailer: Blakes 7 series 2 trailer - YouTube

Blake's in trouble in Redemption.

As the season finale nears and the galaxy changing events out on the far away planetoid Star One begin, the series ratings remained very strong, despite a mild dip against the rival CORONATION STREET soap opera on the opposite ITV channel. Plans were soon in the preparation stages for BLAKE's third year, of which producer Maloney and Boucher would be returning to creative guide the ship's helm. Sadly, with the end of her contract, Sally Knyvette would decide not to come back as Jenna, instead deciding to investigate her academic career and put acting on hold for a period. Sad to see her go, the series team would be hurt further with the news that lead star-and the heart of the show- Gareth Thomas had also decided to quit whilst he was ahead, so as to avoid typecasting and continue his successful career in the theatre-most notably with the approaching and tremendous lure of The Royal Shakespeare Company beckoning him. (Towards the middle to near end of the second season transmission run, Thomas, with Pearce, would make an appearance on the popular children's television show MULTI-COLOURED SWAP SHOP, informing viewers of the shows upcoming third season, which would start production that summer, though his non participation in it would be carefully avoided.)

Tense times ahead for Avon and Blake.

Despite what would be the tremendous loss of Blake and Thomas, Maloney and Boucher, with series creator Nation, quickly realised that recasting the series original was not an option they wanted to pursue, and that, instead, an intriguing new dimension of storytelling and drama could be brought to the revised show with a new lead star, one who was already actually present in the series and had been rapidly gaining a major following with the regular audiences, especially female fans who admired his characters intelligence and steel eyed grasp of dangerous situations: Paul Darrow's Avon...

A new dawn was imminent for BLAKE'S 7...

Here's a look back at KOOL TV's favourite episodes from Season Two...

The Ultra take possession of their original ship, the Liberator, in Redemption.

Leggy alien lovelies of the Ultra, as played by Harriet Philpin and Sheila Ruskin, in this rehearsal image.

REDEMPTION. Whilst trying to work out the puzzle of newcomer Orac's prediction for the Liberator's destruction, and undergoing vital maintenance work, Blake and his crew are attacked by the ship's internal defence systems-themselves under reprogramming and influence from its original alien owners-the cyborg humanoid Ultra (personified by the leggy Lycra clad forms of Harriet Philpin and Sheila Ruskin)- who reclaim the ship and plan to interrogate and execute its inherited crew...

A solid opener to the new series, that crams in a quite a lot in fifty minutes: good ideas, action, overall location filming (inside a nuclear reactor plant- a choice of filming venue which caused some worries with the cast members at the time, with Jan Chappell later allegedly having it written into her contract that she would no longer partake in such potentially heath and safety risky places) and sterling model work. But it all would have worked a whole lot better as a two-parter, giving Nation, and watching viewers a more satisfying chance to further develop the story and the alien Ultra, plus the still not quite resolved mystery of what exactly happened to the Liberator's original crew (potential for an upcoming BIG FINISH book perhaps?).

Bek (Karl Howman) tries to save Hanna (Vivienne Burgess) from the drug controlling lure of the Terra Nostra in Shadow.

SHADOW. The enemy of my enemy is my friend? Realising he needs allies to continue his fight against the Federation, Blake initiates a first meeting with the intergalactic drug dealing mafia known as the Terra Nostra. He fails to win any kind of support-indeed, the crime cartel realise what a huge bounty the Federation will pay if the Liberator crew are captured- but soon discovers the truth-the real power- behind the organisation and their cultivation of the rare narcotic Shadow, which has enslaved so many innocent lives to its deadly grip. At the same time, a possessed by an alien force Orac takes control of Cally, and, seeing her as a potential threat to its invasion plans, sends her into a dark oblivion of the mind...

A terrific script from Chris Boucher mixing sci-fi concepts and action, full of strong performances (with guest artists including Karl Howman and Vivienne Burgess), and confident direction from Jonathan Wright Miller.

Carnell (Scott Fredericks) and Servalan make for an intriguing pair in Weapon.

WEAPON. One of the Federation's greatest and most personality imbalanced scientists, Coser (John Bennett), has escaped with a top secret weapon called IMIPAK, and the race is on for Blake and Servalan to find him first and acquire the technology. But Servalan, accompanied by a blood-thirsty Travis, seemingly has all the aces up her sleeve: most notably a clone of Blake, delivered to her from the mysterious and neutral Clone Masters, and a psycho-strategist, Carnell (Scott Fredericks), able to predict to the last decimal how people will react in certain situations. But other factors soon come into play that neither party factor anticipate...

Another terrific script and high concept sci-fi idea from Boucher, which gives Jacqueline Pearce some fine, almost THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR inspiring sexy interplay between her and Scott Fredericks as the charming and dangerous Carnell. 

Blake confers with alien leader Ro (Darien Angadi) and his partner Selma (Souad Faress) in Horizon.

HORIZON. Travelling to a world on the edge of the charted exploration path, codenamed by the Federation as Horizon, our heroes encounter a civilisation in the grip of its colonialism and are soon captured. It seems that Avon is now finally, truly, on his own and ready to run with the Liberator: the prize he's always desired....

Its not regarded as one of the series best episodes but I think Horizon is pretty enjoyable and well made, with strong performance from CALLAN's William Squire as a nasty Federation academic heavy and Darien Angadi as Ro, the manipulated alien leader who has seemingly abandoned his peoples ancestry and been manipulated and abused by his overseers. It's Paul Darrow, though, who especially shines brightly as Avon in this episode as his anti-hero almost with a heart...

Big game huntress Servalan and her Mutoids in Pressure Point.

PRESSURE POINT. Making good on his promise to return to the Federation seat of power on Earth, Blake vows to destroy its mythical computer complex, hidden at a top secret and apparently unbreachable location, once and for all. Going over the heads of his at-risk crew mates-almost forcing them into it through charisma and confidence, watched by a bristling with anger Avon, who at first thinks it could all be a foolhardy and life-threatening exercise, Blake has pre-arranged the assignment with another Earth resistance force led by the venerable Kasabi (Jane Sherwin), though he is unaware until too late that they are all walking into a carefully prepared trap by Servalan and Travis, as the full truth about central control is shockingly revealed...

One of the genuine highlights of Season Two, George Spenton-Foster piles on the style and all the tense thrills he can get from Nation's great script (despite a couple of noticeable budget deficiencies in re-used set designs), with the no-punches pulled death of Gan at story's end both gloomily triumphant and excellent drama. Special mention once again to Jacqueline Pearce as Servalan who excels in her scenes with Travis and the captured Kasabi, her former mentor, who previously recognised her ambitious and sadistic streak at an early age...

Travis faces a death sentence in Trial.

TRIAL. Now an embarrassment to Servalan after the disastrous situation with Blake and Central Control on Earth, she arranges a show-trial that sees Travis under court martial for genocide crimes committed several years earlier in the Federation's name. Meanwhile, a guilt stricken Blake, wary of his next steps with the death of Gan, leaves the Liberator to seek solace and thinking time on an alien world, which soon comes under danger from another biological organism.

Two very distinct plots revolving around the element of individual survival come together for a fine action finale which sees Travis now a fugitive from the Federation but secretly working for Servalan when necessary. A brooding Croucher has some good material to play with as Travis, alongside some fine character acting support from the likes of Peter Miles, John Savident and THE BILL's late Kevin Lloyd.

Vila and Avon corner the duplicitous Tynus (Ronald Lacey) in Traitor.

KILLER. Vila discovers that Avon really does have a friend out there in the cosmos, in the form of the duplicitous Tynus (Ronld Lacey), as the pair travel to the communications complex on Fosferon in order to steal a new Federation code machine. Meanwhile, the Liberator discovers a previously missing believed lost Earth space ship from its distant past, containing a deadly discovery that could render humanity extinct if it isn't stopped...

A witty and enjoyable script from Robert Holmes with a couple of genuinely scary moments. Keating and Darrow share some good scenes with guest Lacey, whilst Gareth Thomas gets his investigative acting chomps into the B story with other guest star Paul Daneman as a research scientist. It's all a little bit more low budget looking than previously, though, and watch out for all the plastic used in this episode. Plus, there's an infamous appearance from the world-famous Michelin Men!

Endangered species! Blake tries to help the people of Albion in Countdown.

COUNTDOWN. The search for the location of the Federation computer control complex, now known as Star One, continues, propelling Blake into searching for a senior military officer, Commander Provine (Paul Shelley), on the conquered colony world of Albion, whose people have now launched a revolutionary battle, with the aid of hired mercenaries, in a risky life or death gamble to re-take their society. Its a gambit that is only partially successful, however, as Provine activates a doomsday weapon in retaliation, of which only Avon and the mercenary Del Grant (Tom Chadbon) can de-activate it. The situation is further complicated by the fact that Grant blames Avon for the previous death of his beloved sister, Anna, and has vowed to kill him!

Another Nation corker full of worn but always enjoyable tried and tested plot elements that, like a beloved pack of cards, he loves to shuffle and re-shuffle. The finished production gives things a further fresh new spin, helped along with enthusiastic direction from Vere Lorrimer and some good stunt work shot on film at Ealing Studios. Paul Shelly is a fine guest baddie, with an equally strong performance from Tom Chadborn as Grant, who works well with Paul Darrow. It's a shame his character never returned to the series as a semi-regular...

Danger for Vila and Avon in Freedom City in Gambit.

GAMBIT. It may seem a little off kilter in the overall BLAKE'S 7 universe, what with its quirky and wordy mixing of comedy and drama, alongside what could be considered some very camp and perhaps too extravagant set and costume designs (making the most of the BBC's enormous stock warehouse of items), but Robert Holmes script is clever and lively, as our heroes travel to the neutral space city of sin, Freedom City, to find the a fugitive cyber-surgeon named Docholli (Denis Carey) who, currently being protected by Travis, may have the key to the location of Star One. But Servalan, more flamboyant and crafty than ever, is also there, using the city's lecherous ruler, Krantor (Aubrey Woods), to aide her search. On the comedy front, Avon and Vila conjure up a bonkers but fun B plot where the pair, using a miniaturised Orac, swindle the house casino. But a drugged Villa unwittingly gets caught up in a deadly speed-chess game with a master player called the Klute. And if you lose, you die...

Cally and Blake enter a hidden complex in Star One.

STAR ONE. The seasons finale is a gripping and exciting affair from Chris Boucher. The elusive location of the Star One planetoid has been found and Blake makes explosive plans to destroy it utterly, no matter what the consequences for the peoples and planets that rely on its huge computer support to survive. Once down on the surface, however, the Liberator crew haven't reckoned on the fact that an alien infiltration of the planet by a mysterious race of shape adapting creatures called the Andromedans is already underway, at work on sabotaging the Federation's key defences- the first beachhead to a massive sneak attack, lead by an all-betraying Travis. Soon Blake and Jenna realise that Star One and the Federation must be saved if the human race is to have a fair chance against such an overwhelming attack, and an alert call is sent via Orac. With the Federation's huge minefield defence shield now partially down, and Blake critically wounded from a soon dispatched Travis, it's up to Avon, making a promise to Blake, to lead their ship and its crew in a time buying battle with the Andromedans, whilst en masse Federation forces, led by Servalan (determined not to let her new empire fall), race to their location. The battle is soon begun as the brave Liberator, staring death in the face, opens fire on the approaching aliens...

The Liberator takes on an approaching alien armada in the closing scenes of Season Two.

Forget the unable to do it justice model work of the Andromedan alien fleet and enjoy the gruesome practical effects, gooey monsters and quite bloody violence on display in this episode, which also successfully shakes up the series format big time for season three. Plus, a final, genuinely moving scene between Blake and Avon that's beautifully written and played. 

And then there's that all-time classic final moment of "Fire!"

This confident, overall well made and memorable Series Two of BLAKE'S 7 ends on a gripping, we can wait to see what happens next cliffhanger, where the fate of our heroes and humanity hangs in the balance...

Seasons One to Four of BLAKE'S 7 are available on DVD.

Check out the news of the new series of BLAKE'S 7 novel adventures from BIG FINISH productions, and their audio dramas, which bring back many of the original series cast: Book News: New BLAKE'S 7 Novel Announced - Sci-Fi Movie Reviews, Movie News, Comics, Books and Gaming

Fans of the Season Two cliffhanger episode Star One and Season Three's continuance Aftermath, will be pleased to hear that an original audio drama intriguingly charting the unseen battle between the Liberator crew and the Andromedans- Warship- will be released in 2013 (above sleeve pic): 7. Warship - CD and Download - Blake's 7 - Big Finish

CHILDREN OF THE REVOLUTION! 'BLAKE'S 7' RETURNS?

Freedom fighters assemble! Avon (Paul Darrow), Blake (Gareth Thomas) and Villa (Michael Keating) in the original version of Terry Nation's BLAKE'S 7. Image: BBC.

With a sudden resurgence of life-almost like being rescued from a state of cardiac arrest!-Terry Nation's classic space adventure series, and one of my all-time favourites: BLAKE'S 7, looks set to thrive once more in the realms of book publishing and audio adventures (and, in a fine creative choice, bringing back the original cast to voice their iconic roles) from those clever people at the UK's BIG FINISH company. There's even a TELOS PUBLISHING B7 merchandise guide book out charting everything ever produced for the four-year running series, and beyond, that looks very intriguing. The only thing missing now is an actual return of the series to the airwaves, either as a continuance of some kind or a re-imagining.

And it seems that there is now fresh hopes on the horizon for the latter, as news comes in States-side that top James Bond movie director Martin Campbell, no stranger to British TV action adventure with his pre-Bond stint on THE PROFESSIONALS series, as well as the acclaimed BBC drama EDGE OF DARKNESS, in association with B7 enterprises holder Andrew Sewell, HEROES writer Joe Pokaski and the US GEORGEVILLE TELEVISION company are now trying to launch an all-new vision of the series that could be bigger than anything attempted before. Additionally, if someone of the caliber of acclaimed rising star director Nicolas Winding Refn, who made the brilliant cult movie hit DRIVE, regards B7's format, a show which he loved watching as a kid, as being pretty cool, then, with verbal support like that, the show might well have a good shot at returning...

With the UK showing no interest in a new series, either continuance or re-imaging, with no one like writing power player Russell T. Davies over here to plead for the shows defence (as he successfully did in getting DOCTOR WHO back in the good books with the BBC-and look how well that all turned out), plus SKY choosing the new SINBAD series over the chance to do sci-fi, this new attempt is now the very best chance the series has to make a deserved comeback, and I say, To Hell with Blighty! 

I wish Campbell and the team the very best of luck in getting it all off the ground. If ever a show had such an exciting aforementioned format that would work in the States, this is it, with the opportunity to the kind of big budget space heroics, alongside the kind of deeper adult sci-fi drama, that made the modern re-imagining of BATTLESTAR GALACTICA such a success with audiences and critics a few years back. Oh, and if there's a chance for a few cameos from the original British stars, too, then so much the better...

The Liberator returns in the new BIG FINISH audio adventures.

More news as and when, but here's some recent links to the original BLAKE'S 7 in its current book and audio life:

News in Time and Space: Blake’s 7 Cast Reunited

Servalan Returns To Blake’s 7 | SFX

Exclusive Preview: Blake's 7 - The Forgotten [Chapters 1 - 3] - Movie Reviews | Movie News | Sci Fi | Horror | Fantasy

Blake’s 7 Audio Reunion | SFX

FEDERATION FIGHTERS! REMEMBERING "BLAKE'S 7" SEASON ONE

A lovely piece of artwork (illustrator unknown) showing the heroic crew of the starship Liberator. BLAKE'S 7 returns. Images: BBC TV

In these dark and troubled economic days, £750,000 wont get you a lot in the world of modern television programme making. In the US, that figure would barely pay for twenty minutes of one episode of your average glossy TV series like CSI: MIAMI, and even in the UK you could just about get away with making two or three episodes, if your lucky, of a six part series from the proceeds. Heck, Kim Kardashian probably wouldn't get out of bed for a day for less. But, way back in 1977, things were far different-here was a time when an entire thirteen part UK BBC series could be made for £750,000: the result being the first season of the phenomenally popular space adventure drama BLAKE'S 7: conceived by the legendary creator of DOCTOR WHO's fearsome metal meanies- the Daleks, Terry Nation, and a series which has now endured as an iconic and beloved piece of British genre TV for nearly 35 years. So popular its even been a hit overseas, especially in the eighties and early nineties within the United States (of which, amongst its loyal fan base, is a certain Academy Award nominated film and TV writer named J. Michael Straczynski, probably best known for his own magnum opus space series BABYLON 5, created and brought to life in part due to his love of British sci-fi series).

The BLAKE'S 7 Season One cast L-R: Villa (Michael Keating), Cally (Jan Chappell), Blake (Gareth Thomas), Jenna (Sally Knyvette), Avon (Paul Darrow) and Gan (David Jackson). Behind them is the super-computer Zen (voiced by Peter Tuddenham).

And yet, BLAKE'S 7 was never a series that had long been gestating in Nation's mind-the idea for it literally came into being out of a moment of creative ingenuity, nay desperation, during a Summer 1975 meeting with the BBC's then head of drama serials, and only after two other series ideas he had previously concocted had fallen by the wayside. Describing it as "The Dirty Dozen in Space", Nation's new sci-fi series concept was soon found intriguing enough for a commission of a pilot episode, which then eventually became an order for a couple more episodes and then eventually into 1976/1977 as a full series commitment. Nation was always able to write gripping and ingenious boy's own style adventure yarns with interesting characters, and BLAKE'S 7 was no exception, concerning a captured former resistance fighter Roj Blake (played by the commanding and passionate Welsh actor Gareth Thomas) and a motley group of intergalactic convicts en route to a prison penal planet and discovering, then hi-jacking, an abandoned alien space ship- named The Liberator by episode three- and soon using it's sophisticated technologies (including its matriarch like main computer Zen (voiced by Peter Tuddenham)) and superior weapons to wage war against the mighty galaxy spanning dictatorship that is the Federation. Joining Blake on his quest to liberate the drug controlled masses and restore freedom are cowardly but ultra-talented thief Villa Restal (an always likable performance from Michael Keating), the gentle giant Olag Gan (David Jackson), lovely space pilot/smuggler Jenna Stannis (played by the equally lovely Sally Knyvette), a spirited resistance fighter/alien telepath exile from the planet Auron, Cally (Jan Chappell), and, the most popular character of the show: the free thinking, coolly logical, often leader defiant Kerr Avon- the man who almost emptied the coffers of the Federation Banking Cartel- as brilliantly played by Paul Darrow, in an acting role that couldn't be played by anybody else. Soon, after several brave attacks on strategic key points of the Federation's command and control network, the galaxy spanning baddies, scared by the fact that Blake has become a hero to the enslaved peoples under their thumb all over again, have no choice but to initiate a seek-locate-destroy initiative against the ship and its seven members, of which the formidable task is assigned to one of their top, and most ruthless, commanders: the beautiful but deadly commander Servalan (played with relish by Jacqueline Pearce, working from scripts that were originally written for a man) and her equally deadly and loyal space commander Travis (Stephen Greif) who, with his scary eye patch and hand injury turned into a living weapon, already has an old score to settle with Blake...

Blake awaits his trial in The Way Back.

The impressive alien ship: the Liberator.

Avon, Blake and Villa arrive on Saurian Major in Time Squad.

Super babe space pilot Jenna Stannis takes the Liberator bridge controls.

With full creative control over his baby, unlike his previous 1975 series SURVIVORS (which ended up being a personal disaster for its originator by its 1977 conclusion), Nation would find great support and enthusiasm in his new sci-fi vision/continuing drama series mythos from a series of talents who had previously worked with him on, or separately contributed to, some of the best work then seen in the seventies era of the DOCTOR WHO series, including director turned producer David Maloney and incoming young Script Editor Chris Boucher, who would shape the series scripts into something far better than they were when first conceived-adding characterization, detail and focus throughout the series when Nation, due to time pressures and other work commitments as the story process continued, was only able to provide rough drafts/synopsis, especially notable during the first years later episodes that had to be made (and one particular episode of his, titled The Invaders, involving a major role for David Jackson's Gan, fighting an alien doppleganger which had infiltrated the Liberator, would be scrapped (presumably due to time and effects reasons) and eventually re-worked as another episode, Breakdown). 


The series also greatly benefited in its early episodes from the superior design work of the talented Roger Murray Leach, a previous DOCTOR WHO designer with a big career in film ahead of him, who created the superb interior sets for the Liberator -namely the flight deck, corridors and teleport chamber, as well as the alien vessels ground breaking and highly iconic three pronged exterior. Model work for those early episodes (some of which was often re-used throughout the first three seasons) was also of a high quality from film and TV special effects artist Ian Scoones, whilst graphic designer/artist Bob Blagden provided important animation for selected adventures and did the shows intriguing and memorable series main titles. Music for the series came from the reliable Australian composer Dudley Simpson, who again had regularly worked on WHO, and provided it and BLAKE with some of its best and noteworthy themes.

The series super bitch villainess: Servalan, as played by Jacqueline Pearce.

BLAKE'S 7 TITLES SEASON ONE: BLAKES 7 CLEAN SEASON ONE TITLES - YouTube

As the complex, intensive and often exhaustive pre-production and filming began in late 1977 and continued into 1978 (including guest stars the likes of Pamela Salem, Brian Blessed, Julian Glover, Isla Blair and T.P. McKenna), with three talented regular directors setting the all-important look and tone for the shows crucial first year- Pennant Roberts, Vere Lorrimer and Michael Briant- the series would eventually premiere as part of the BBC's new year January 1978 season, literally transmitting on the Monday holiday night that the epic first STAR WARS movie finally arrived in selected cinemas across the UK, of which the TV corporation, already aware of the upcoming George Lucas special effects extravaganza from the previous summer's special press screenings, did its best to generate as much interest/buzz as possible for their series on the back of the coat-tails of the venerable new sci-fi movie hit. Thankfully, the series makers hard work would quickly pay off, as BLAKE'S 7 opened up to a strong Monday night audience of 7 million people tuning in to see its premiere episode: THE WAY BACK. Here was a series that people obviously saw a lot of potential in, as its ratings subsequently grew week after week, and resulting in the series, airing in the time and date slot of the now finished SOFTLY, SOFTLY police series, quickly being commissioned for a second season alongside some new ambitious script ideas from an ecstatic Terry Nation.

But more on that for another time...

KOOL TV's FAVOURITE BLAKE'S 7 SEASON ONE EPISODES...

THE WAY BACK (opening episode) 

Roj Blake re-discovers his past life from Bran Foster (Robert Beatty) in The Way Back.

Recovering from years of brainwashing and control techniques administered on him by the evil Federation, ex-resistance fighter/leader Roj Blake, after finally re-discovering his amnesiac past thanks to an eventually massacred group of Earth liberationists, is captured and falsely sentenced to exile on the remote prison planet Cygnus Alpha. But Blake, ever defiant, vows that he will one day return to Earth and destroy the heart of his and the universe's enslavers...

The opening story's overall tone may have very little to do with the spirit of the rest of the season to come, but this crucial, at times hard-hitting first episode of BLAKE is an intelligent, well made and sometimes uneasy and adult scene setter, with a great central performance from Gareth Thomas.

SPACE FALL (Episode Two) 

Avon and Jenna help Blake lead a prisoner revolt in Space Fall.

As their journey to Cygnus Alpha on the transport vessel London continues, Blake and his new prisoner comrades plan to hi-jack the ship. Their plan ultimately fails but hope is in sight when a mysterious and abandoned alien space ship, the likes of which has never been seen before, is discovered in a nearby sector of space. Unwilling to risk any more lives of the small command staff in probing the defenses of the protected alien vessel, the London's captain decides to use Blake, Jenna and Avon as the main boarding party...

Another great episode as the series early serial-based story nature memorably continues, with strong guest performances from Leslie Schofield as the cruel transport sub-commander Raiker, and the late Glyn Owen as the career way sided and world weary Commander Leylan.

CYGNUS ALPHA (Episode Three) 

Gan falls under the spell of the charm and beauty of  Kara (Pamela Salem) in Cygnus Alpha.

Now possessing one of the greatest spaceships ever seen, Blake, Jenna and Avon need additional crew to help them fly the ship and use its impressive technology. And who better to recruit than the now stranded prisoners of the London, now newly landed on the remote penal world of Cygnus Alpha, a colony of devils led by the insane religious fanatic Vargas (played with menace by an almost reserved Brian Blessed). Blake soon learns that his task in getting the men won't be as easy as first thought when he discovers they have been deliberately infected with a special kind of sickness...

TIME SQUAD (Episode Four) 

Cally makes her first appearance, ambushing Blake, in Time Squad.

En route to destroy a vital communications control centre on Saurian Major, the Liberator picks up a small derelict vessel containing humanoid beings in suspended animation. As their unthawing begins, and Blake, Villa and Avon join forces with an alien telepath, Cally, to fulfill their mission, the sleepers are soon revealed as dangerous warriors intent on guarding and enhancing their protected genetic brood capsules. With Olag Gan seriously injured, and the limiter device in his head preventing him from killing anyone, Jenna, with only her hand weapon to use, is soon on her own against an aggressive new foe within the darkened hallways and flight deck of the Liberator...

Though there's nothing new at about this episodes sci-fi premise, TIME SQUAD is still a fun episode, which now sees the full team of BLAKE'S 7 assembled and ready to fight the Federation...

THE WEB (Episode Five)

Blake and Avon encounter the alien Decimas in The Web.

Their ship caught in a mysterious energy web over an alien planet, the Liberator crew is caught in a power struggle between a dying alien and its two servants and the small but violent Decima creatures that have evolved from their cruel and horrific experimentation's. An intriguing sci-fi story that veers away from the main Blake versus the Federation storyline, backed up with some intriguing visuals, memorable alien creatures (developed by make-up genius John Friedlander) and atmospheric direction from Michael E. Briant.

SEEK-LOCATE-DESTROY (Episode Six)

Blake encounters his old enemy Travis (Stephen Greif) in Seek-Locate-Destroy.

Destroying the important communications area on Centero, and secretly stealing one of the Federation's top communication devices in the process, Cally is unfortunately caught by Servalan and Travis, who then concoct an ambitious trap to snare Blake and their ultimate desire: the Liberator!

MISSION TO DESTINY (Episode Seven)

Avon becomes a detective in Mission to Destiny.

Answering a distress call, Avon and Cally have to solve the mystery of a dead space pilot on a ship whose crew is on an important mission to save their planet from ecological disaster. A fun Agatha Christie-style story set within a sci-fi concept, of which Avon, after thumping one of the soon discovered villains, delivers one of the best lines ever for a TV series character (watch it and you'll see!)

DUEL (Episode Eight)

Jenna is captured by a blood thirsty Mutoid (Carol Royle) in Duel.

Herded into orbit over a supposedly dead world, Travis launches a surprise attack on the Liberator, but he and Blake soon find themselves ambushed by a powerful race, presumed dead from an eons ago war, which sentences them to a personal duel to the death, that will decide the outcomes of their respective sides.

Though its an obvious and blatant re-telling of yet another classic science fiction story/idea, DUEL works regardless due to the skillful and stylish direction of film and TV series veteran director Douglas Camfield (sadly his one and only directorial work for the series-literally filling in on the show when another episode and its assigned director fell through) and also thanks to the conviction of its main series actors and guest stars. Backed up with fine guest star performances from Isla Blair and Patsy Rowland as the main alien observers, Stephen Greif is also excellent as Travis, as is his supporting star Carol Royle as the almost vampire-like female Mutoid who serves him in his quest to kill Blake and Jenna.

Jan Chappell and Sally Knyvette pose for a BBC photo call with one of the Federation robots appearing in the episode PROJECT AVALON. 

PROJECT AVALON (Episode Nine)

Travelling to an ice world to meet with a fellow Resistance leader, the female known as Avalon, Blake soon discovers that she has been captured and mounts a daring rescue mission, unaware that Travis has an ingenious trap ready to spring that no one will see coming before its too late...

One of the series very best episodes, with a strong story, with a great twist, that well showcases the heroes and villains of the series. There's also some first rate studio based action for its time.

Travis and Servalan make new plans to capture Blake and his crew.

ORAC (Episode Thirteen-Season Finale)

Famed scientist in hiding Ensor (Derek Farr) is dying, but not before completing the mysterious new device, which he has named ORAC. ORAC's created purpose is a mystery, but one thing is for sure: it's a device of such great importance that whoever owns it can shift the balance of power for their own means-for good or for evil- and which now sees in a race against the clock to acquire it by Blake and Servalan. A mission of which neither side can afford to fail, and where winner takes all!

Despite a few weak episodes towards the end of the run-primarily down to script problems when a story had to be dropped and a new tale from Nation was quickly written to replace it- as well as a few more tales needing heavy expansion from Chris Boucher when the series creators original first drafts proved to be merely expanded storylines, the series ends on a creative strong note with ORAC, and with an intriguing cliff-hanger (a continuing aspect/tradition of the next three years to come) as the new device/addition to the Liberator crew predicts their eventual demise: the ship exploding in the depths of space!

All four seasons of BLAKE'S 7 are available on DVD from 2ENTERTAIN.

Check out the BIG FINISH website for news on the brand new upcoming series of audio BLAKE'S 7 adventures set during season one (pictured above), as well as a new original fiction book range, here: Big Finish - Blake's 7 CD Box Set 1