The BBC will release Blake’s 7 The Collection: Series 1 on Blu-ray featuring optional new effects on 11th November, the SF series created by Terry Nation, also creator of Doctor Who’s Daleks and the post-apocalypse series, Survivors.
Framed for crimes he did not commit, freedom fighter Blake (Gareth Thomas) escapes a prison ship and enlists a crew of rogue heroes to fight back against the tyrannical Federation. With Avon, Vila, Jenna, Cally and Gan, Blake boards fantastical alien spacecraft, the Liberator, and begins his quest to free the galaxy.
Blake’s 7, produced by the BBC, ran for four thirteen-episode seasons, first broadcast on BBC1 between 1978 and 1981. It was created by Terry Nation, who also wrote the first series, produced by David Maloney (seasons 1 – 3) and Vere Lorrimer (season 4), with Chris Boucher as script editor throughout its run was Chris Boucher, who wrote nine of its episodes.
Gareth Thomas played Roj Blake, the main character, for the first two seasons, returning for the series tantalising finale in season four, which, to this day, is one of the most downbeat last episodes of any SF series.
The series has spun off into books and other media, including a monthly Blake’s 7 magazine, published by Marvel UK, some comic strips, based on the fourth season crew lineup, drawn by Ian Kennedy, from October 1981 to August 1983. 23 regular issues, and some specials were published, Kennedy’s run on the strip curtailed by a car accident.
Marvel later produced two special magazines during 1994 and 1995, edited by Marcus Hearn, with much of the content written by television historian Andrew Pixley about how the series was made. Seven issues of Blake’s 7 Poster Magazine were also published, between December 1994 and May 1995.
In recent years, the series has been revived as audio adventures by both B7 Productions (who also tried to bring it back to television, in partnership with Sky) and, more recently, Big Finish. Other revivals have been attempted, without success so far.
Next February will see Big Finish release an audiobook adaptation of actor Paul Darrow’s Blake’s 7 prequel novel, Avon: A Terrible Aspect. Long out of print , the new audiobook is read by Alistair Lock, who’s voiced Orac, Zen and other characters across the Big Finish Blake’s 7 range.
All 13 episodes of the first season feature on this new Blu-ray release, newly remastered from the best available sources, including the original film, where available. Plus, fans can experience their favourite show like never before, with brand new optional updated effects on every episode, exclusive to this Blu-ray set.
Blake’s 7 The Collection: Series 1 is also jam-packed with hours of new and exclusive material including the previously unreleased Making Of Blake’s 7, featuring extensive interviews with cast and crew; a new feature-length documentary offering a look back at the making of the first season; an “In Conversation” interview with actor Sally Knyvette, conducted by Matthew Sweet; and a tribute to actor Stephen Greif, offering a look at the life and career of the first incarnation of Travis.
Also included is previously unreleased convention footage of convention panels with the cast and crew, many no longer with us; treats such as BBC continuity, TV coverage and music from the Blake’s 7 vinyl record; photo galleries with previously unseen images, and featurettes, audio commentaries and more from previous DVD releases. Plus, to round this incredible collection off, production paperwork, scripts, studio floorplans and much more, available for the first time.
• Preorder Blake’s 7 The Collection: Series 1 from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)
What made Kerr Avon the man we all know? Hear his story from a time long before Liberator, as the young Avon grows up into man with a driving purpose: to avenge the death of his father in a world of cross and double-cross.
It’s a thrilling tale of family, loyalty, action and revenge during the early days of the Terran Federation that takes Avon through his early life and across the galaxy towards his ultimate destiny.
Further Reading
• Blake’s 7 Online, the home of Horizon, the official B7 fanclub
Blake’s 7 ©️ BBC
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The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
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