Charity Blake’s 7 first series Production Diary set for release this weekend

By John Freeman on November 30, 2023

Blake's 7 Series A Production Diary (Cult Edge, 2023)

A not-for-profit book offering an in-depth look at the production of the first series of Terry Nation‘s SF adventure series, Blake’s 7, the Blake’s 7 Series A Production Diary, will be available to order this weekend, from Sunday 3rd December 2023.

The 240-page book from Cult Edge, which features many unseen photographs from in front of and behind the camera from the popular BBC SF series first broadcast on BBC1 in 1978, along with production documents and illustrations, was researched and written by Jonathan Helm, who is also a feature writer for Doctor Who Magazine.

It’s been designed by Grahame Robertson, (“the design project of my dreams”, he says) who, through his Cult Edge imprint, has published two unofficial Blake’s 7 annuals, that have so far raised over £4000 for charity.

Actress, theatre director and drama teacher Sally Knyvette, who played Jenna Stannis in the first two seasons of the series, has selected the charities that will benefit from sales of the book, with 100 per cent of all proceeds going to the Alzheimer’s Society and UNICEF.

“A huge amount of love and hard work has gone into the creating this book,” says Grahame. “Jonathan has written and researched something truly incredible.”

Blake’s 7, produced by the BBC, created by Terry Nation, also creator of the Daleks and other alien races in seen in Doctor Who, and the SF drama Survivors, was first broadcast on BBC1 between 1978 and 1981. Terry Nation wrote the first series, which was produced by David Maloney. The series was the script edited throughout its run by Chris Boucher, who wrote nine of its episodes.

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John Freeman

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.