Blake’s 7

Blake’s 7 was the hit BBC space opera launched in the wake of Star Wars, though with a grittier sensibility and produced on a fraction of the budget. Over 13 episodes the first series introduced freedom-fighter Blake (Gareth Thomas) as he escaped from the Orwellian Federation, gathered a crew of low-life rebels, salvaged an alien starship called the Liberator, and began striking back against the forces of Supreme Commander Servalan (Jacqueline Pearce). The effects were cheap, and alien planets were represented by a disused quarry or an industrial complex, but the strong characters and cynical storylines created by Doctor Who veteran Terry Nation remain involving.

The perfect foil for Blake was Paul Darrow’s Avon, a near psychopathic criminal mastermind who only fought to save his skin. The cowardly Vila (Michael Keating) was almost as memorable, while the female leads were Jenna (Sally Knyvette), a smuggler and pilot, and determined Auron telepath Cally (Jan Chappell). Also on board was Gan (David Jackson), inhibited from violence by a brain implant. With even the good guys being criminals, including murderers, this was a galaxy far, far away from previous screen space operas. Though undeniably dated, the show is still vintage TV SF, right from the opening three-parter “The Way Back / Spacefall / Cygnus Alpha” to the cliff-hanging shocker “Orac”, which introduces the final member of the un-magnificent seven.

Blake’s 7 Trailer

Blake’s 7 Overview

Blake’s 7 Cast List

	Michael Keating	Vila Restal	52 Episodes, 1978 – 1981
	Paul Darrow	Kerr Avon	51 Episodes, 1978 – 1981
	Peter Tuddenham	Zen	49 Episodes, 1978 – 1981
	Jan Chappell	Cally	37 Episodes, 1978 – 1981
	Jaqueline Pearce	Servalan	29 Episodes, 1978 – 1981
	Gareth Thomas	Roj Blake	28 Episodes, 1978 – 1981
	Sally Knyvette	Jenna Stannis	26 Episodes, 1978 – 1979
	Steven Pacey	Del Tarrant	26 Episodes, 1980 – 1981
	Josette Simon	Dayna Mellanby	26 Episodes, 1980 – 1981
	David Jackson	Olag Gan	17 Episodes, 1978 – 1979
	Glynis Barber	Soolin	14 Episodes, 1978 – 1981