Blake's 7 Gareth Thomas Has Passed Away

Scifi fans especially those who are fans of the 1970's television show Blake's 7 will be saddened to know that Gareth Thomas who played Blake has passed away. He is best known for playing Blake and had returned to the role for Big Finish.  He has played in tons of shows and plays across the UK far to many to list here.  Besides Avon and Villa, Gareth as Blake really got the show going and made it truly memorable.  I really enjoyed his performance as Blake on TV and with Big Finish and will miss not hearing anything new from him.  He also was in a few of the Doctor Who audios for Big Finish with Paul McGann and Sylvester McCoy along with a role in the Dalek Empire Series.  To read a tribute that is far better than what I can do please follow the link below to the Big Finish tribute to Gareth Thomas.
https://www.bigfinish.com/news/v/gareth-thomas-1945-2016

Synopsis For Blake's 7 Audio Cold Fury

This month's Blakes 7 audio adventure takes place on the ice world Horst Minor.  This story should prove interesting as the original series did not do a story on an ice world at all.  Cold Fury is out now and available at the Big Finish website.
http://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/cold-fury-951

When Travis scores a victory over the Liberator crew, Blake is willing to risk everything in order to get back what is theirs.

The destination is the uninhabited ice world Horst Minor, where eugenics specialist Dr Tirus is working on experiments for the Federation President.

Horst Minor has many secrets. And Blake is not going to like what he finds there…

Written By: Mark Wright and Cavan Scott
Directed By: Ken Bentley 

Cast
Gareth Thomas (Roj Blake), Paul Darrow (Kerr Avon), Michael Keating (Vila Restal), Jan Chappell (Cally), Sally Knyvette (Jenna Stannis), Brian Croucher (Travis), Alistair Lock (Zen/Orac), Hugh Fraser (The President), Caroline Langrishe (Dr Tirus),

Synopsis For Blake's 7 "Mirror"

This month sees another Blake's 7 release Mirror.  This one disc adventure is out now and you can order it from the Big Finish website.
http://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/mirror-950

Orac has tracked Space Major Kade – the man who killed Jenna’s father – to the planet Vere.

Jenna wants her revenge, but that must wait. Blake needs her to pilot the Liberator to Stellidar Four, where he has a small window of opportunity to solve the mystery of a new Federation device.

It’s a daring plan. And it could be the beginning of the end for the Liberator crew.

Written By: Peter Anghelides
Directed By: Ken Bentley 

Cast
Gareth Thomas (Roj Blake), Paul Darrow (Kerr Avon), Michael Keating (Vila Restal), Jan Chappell (Cally), Sally Knyvette (Jenna Stannis), Brian Croucher (Travis), Alistair Lock (Zen/Orac), Bethan Walker (Locklan), Hugh Fraser (The President)

Synopsis For Blake's 7 1.3 Drones

The Blake's 7 first audio series rolls on with story three Drones and it looks like the story might take place underwater.  You can order this audio adventure from the Big Finish website.
http://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/drones-949

The assistance of the Liberator crew is urgently needed on Straxis - but Roj Blake has acute problems of his own…

After taking drastic emergency measures, Blake, Vila and Cally teleport back into a war zone in a bid to make new allies.

But the Federation is testing advanced new weaponry here. And Vila looks set to be an early target…

 

Written By: Marc Platt
Directed By: Ken Bentley 

Cast
Gareth Thomas (Roj Blake), Paul Darrow (Kerr Avon), Michael Keating (Vila Restal), Jan Chappell (Cally), Sally Knyvette (Jenna Stannis), Alistair Lock (Zen/Orac), Tim Treloar (Bru Renderson), Sara Powell (Dr Cara Petrus)

Synopsis For Blake's 7: The Liberator Chronicles: Volume 7

Another volume of Blake's 7 stories from Big Finish as they release their 7th volume of the Liberator Chronicles.  This time we have stories with Cally, Blake, Villa and of course Avon.  You can order this from the Big Finish website.
http://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/the-liberator-chronicles-volume-7-891

Spy by Simon Guerrier
Starring Jan Chappell as Cally, Michael Keating as Vila and Gemma Whelan as Arta
Cally and Vila are undercover on the Federation-controlled world Cortol Four. It's a mission with an irresistible prize. And it's a mission that goes horribly wrong…

Disorder by Eddie Robson
Starring Michael Keating as Vila and Paul Darrow as Avon
Division Three. A space station in the process of being decommissioned. Its archives contain key records of the Federation's enemies - and Vila and Avon intend to steal it.

The Hard Road by James Swallow
Starring Gareth Thomas as Blake and Andrew Whipp as Trel Dekkan
Blake decides it is time to fight back against the Federation - and to fight back with allies.

Written By: Simon Guerrier, Eddie Robson and James Swallow
Directed By: Ken Bentley and Lisa Bowerman

Cast
Gareth Thomas, Paul Darrow, Michael Keating, Jan Chappell, Gemma Whelan, Andrew Whipp

Synopsis For Blake's 7 1.2 Battleground

This months Blake's 7 audio adventure features a Doctor Who connection.  First it is written by Andrew Smith who wrote the Tom Baker season 18 story Full Circle.  Second it guests stars Dan Starkey who plays popular guest star Strax.  You can buy this audio adventure at the Big Finish website.
http://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/battleground-948

Blake and the crew of the Liberator have a new mission - and their target is on Straxis, a planet also known as Battleground 9.

Because Straxis is a training ground for thousands of Federation troops, and the Liberator has journeyed directly into their sights.

Has Blake finally picked a battle he cannot possibly win?

 

Written By: Andrew Smith
Directed By: Ken Bentley

Cast
Gareth Thomas (Roj Blake), Paul Darrow (Kerr Avon), Michael Keating (Vila Restal), Jan Chappell (Cally), Sally Knyvette (Jenna Stannis), Alistair Lock (Zen/Orac), Dan Starkey (Voss Ferrell), Tim Bentinck (Abel Garmon), Abigail Hollick (Alexa)

Blake's 7 Remake by Microsoft

I really don't know what to make of this but I09 is reporting that Microsoft is now doing the remake of Blake's 7 for the X-Box.  The series would be available to X-Box subscribers.

Earlier this year Microsoft announced that a Halo TV series a few months ago and Steven Spielberg will be an executive producer.

One suspects that if this were true then the Blake's 7 series would eventually make it to the main stream TV or internet and eventually home video.  While details for Blake's 7 are few, Martin Campbell (Casio Royale) is rumored to be directing the pilot.  Campbell was rumored to be directing the pilot when SyFy was handling this so it is possible that Microsoft will produce the show, give it to X-Box exclusively for a short time and then air it on SyFy.


http://io9.com/microsoft-is-remaking-blakes-7-for-the-xbox-1141509974

Top Sci-Fi and Fantasy TV Series That Need To Be Remade

by Ken Parker

I still think there is original ideas out there but there are series that are begging for an updated version to be made for new audiences today.  Here are a few.

The Twilight Zone – sure, it has been tried before but this is probably the easiest one to pick.  An anthology series with short stories seems like an easy idea but the drawback in this day and age is most people are into ongoing storylines.  It is rare, these days, to have stand alone stories in any series. People need something to follow week after week and so The Twilight Zone may not be the show to bring back right now.  Still, what better way to showcase new talent by bringing in fresh writers and directors or perhaps bring in a famous cast and crew to work on something.  Imagine William Shatner starring in an episode or Chris Carter writing an episode.  What a better platform to see something different and unusual.

Current Status – rumors are out there attaching J.J. Abrams to this franchise.  Well, why not!

Synopsis For Big Finish's Blake's 7 Book "Lucifer"

Big Finish is releasing another Blake's 7 book in their book range and this time it is written by Paul Darrow who played Avon in the original series.   You can order it here.

http://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/lucifer---book-and-ebook-741

Many legends surround the aftermath of the collapse of The Federation, including the fate of Kerr Avon...

What happened to Avon after the death of Blake and the crew of the Scorpio? Paul Darrow's vivid re-imagining picks up Avon’s story at the final moments of the final episode of Blake's 7 and follows him on his fight for survival, this time with no crew and no ship to help him.

The adventure continues years later as Avon, now an old man, finds himself a key player in the game of power politics being played out on a grand scale by The Quartet - four ruthless leaders in an uneasy alliance, who govern the world in place of the Federation. Old enemies resurface and dangerous new ones appear as the time comes for old scores to finally be settled...
Written By: Paul Darrow

Synopsis For Big Finish's Blake's 7 Liberator Chronicals Vol 4

The Fourth Volume of the really good and well done Blake's 7 series returns for another go with three more stories from the cast of the original show.  You can order it here from Big Finish.

http://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/the-liberator-chronicles-volume-4-738

Three enhanced audiobooks performed by the stars of the classic BBC television series. These stories are set during Series 1.

Promises by Nigel Fairs
Starring Jan Chappell as Cally and Stephen Greif as Travis
Cally is alone with Travis, Blake's mortal enemy. As they delve into the past, a long hidden secret that links them both is revealed.

Epitaph by Scott Harrison
Starring Sally Knyvette as Jenna and Michael Keating as Vila
When Jenna and Vila answer a distress call from a ship, a journey begins that will lead them to the surviving members of Jenna's family.

Kerr by Nick Wallace
Starring Jacqueline Pearce as Servalan and Paul Darrow as Kerr
Supreme Commander Servalan believes she has a vital insight into the Liberator crew - a clone of Avon. But can this clone be trusted?

Written By: Scott Harrison, Nick Wallace, Nigel Fairs
Directed By: LIsa Bowerman

Cast
Paul Darrow (Kerr), Jan Chappell (Cally), Michael Keating (Vila), Sally Knyvette (Jenna), Jacqueline Pearce (Servalan), Stephen Greif (Travis)

Synopsis For SyFy's New Blake's 7 Reboot

Here is something I had forgotten and I am a little excited to see happen.  SyFy released a synopsis for their Blake's 7 reboot and the good news is that director Martin Cambell is still attached to it.  Here is the synopsis.

The year is 2136, Blake wakes up on one side of the bed. He reaches for the other side. There’s nobody there. As reality sets in, this handsome ex-soldier sits up, and looks at a photo of his wife Rachel. Beautiful. Deceased.

A revolutionary reinvention of the long-running BBC series made in the late 1970s, Blake’s 7 tells the story of seven criminals - 6 guilty and 1 innocent - on their way to life on a prison colony in space, who together wrestle freedom from imprisonment. They acquire an alien ship which gives them a second chance at life and become the most unlikely heroes of their time.

David Ellender, CEO FremantleMedia International and Kids & Family Entertainment said, “Blake’s 7 was such a forward-thinking concept that the show continues to have resonance with audiences today. Its complex characters and gritty storylines, coupled with the highly talented team and modern production techniques are sure to appeal to both original fans of the show and new viewers.”

Leon Clarance, co-founder of Georgeville Television and CEO of Motion Picture Capital, the finance arm of Reliance Entertainment, said, “Joe Pokaski and Martin Campbell have worked tirelessly with the Georgeville TV team to create an amazeballs reboot of this classic space opera which I watched with my father when I was a child. This reimagined classic for a new generation of science fiction fans will enthrall original and new fans alike. I couldn’t be happier to have our beloved show handled internationally by the passionate team at FremantleMedia.”