Blake’s 7

Created by the prolific TV writer Terry Nation, this ‘space opera’ begins in an oppressive Earth society of the far future, where rebel leader Roj Blake is framed and transported to a prison planet. He escapes onto an abandoned alien ship and is joined by technical mastermind Avon (Paul Darrow), smuggler pilot Jenna (Sally Knyvette), artful lockpick Vila (Michael Keating), strongman Gan (David Jackson) and the alien telepath Cally (Jan Chappell). The Liberator’s computer Zen (voiced by Peter Tuddenham) completes the original line-up of seven freedom fighters.

The supercomputer Orac, also voiced by Tuddenham, was added at the end of series one. Blake’s 7 opposed Earth’s tyrannical Federation, whose forces are led by the indomitable Servalan (Jacqueline Pearce).

The programme filled a fifty-minute slot in the schedules once occupied by police drama Softly Softly. Allotted the same budget as that earthbound cop show, the team struggled valiantly to create believable sci-fi drama out of the bargain basement. Consequently, the success of episodes varies but there are strong characters, imaginative scripts and intriguing casting throughout.

In all there were four series, each comprising thirteen episodes. Three title sequences were made with this first one used on series one and two. The theme was composed by Dudley Simpson, as was the incidental music for almost every episode. The programme was produced by David Maloney and Vere Lorrimer.