View source for Blake's 7

{{short description|British science fiction television series (1978–1981)}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox television
| image                = B7-Logo1.jpg
| caption              = The logo used for the first three series
| camera               = [[Multi-camera]] (studio)
| runtime              = 50 minutes
| creator              = [[Terry Nation]]
| producer             = {{plainlist|
* [[David Maloney]] (series 1–3)
* [[Vere Lorrimer]] (series 4)
}}
| starring             = {{plainlist|
* [[Gareth Thomas (actor)|Gareth Thomas]]
* [[Michael Keating (actor)|Michael Keating]]
* [[Sally Knyvette]]
* [[Paul Darrow]]
* [[David Jackson (British actor)|David Jackson]]
* [[Peter Tuddenham]]
* [[Jan Chappell]]
* [[Jacqueline Pearce]]
* [[Stephen Greif]]
* [[Brian Croucher]]
* [[Josette Simon]]
* [[Steven Pacey]]
* [[Glynis Barber]]
}}
| theme_music_composer = [[Dudley Simpson]]
| country              = United Kingdom
| language             = English
| network              = [[BBC1]]
| first_aired          = {{start date|1978|1|2|df=y}}
| last_aired           = {{end date|1981|12|21|df=y}}
| num_series           = 4
| num_episodes         = 52
| list_episodes        = List of Blake's 7 episodes
}}

<!-- EDITOR'S NOTE - Before removing so-called 'spoilers' from this article, please read Wikipedia's guideline at [[WP:SPOILER]]! -->
'''''Blake's 7''''' is a British [[science fiction television]] programme produced by the [[BBC]]. Four series of thirteen 50-minute episodes were broadcast on [[BBC1]] between 1978 and 1981. It was created by [[Terry Nation]], who also wrote the first series, produced by [[David Maloney]] (series 1–3) and [[Vere Lorrimer]] (series 4), and the script editor throughout its run was [[Chris Boucher (writer)|Chris Boucher]], who wrote nine of its episodes. The main character for the first two series was [[Roj Blake]], played by [[Gareth Thomas (actor)|Gareth Thomas]].

''Blake's 7'' was broadcast in 25 other countries. It had a low budget but featured many [[Trope (literature)#literature|tropes]] of [[space opera]], such as [[Spacecraft|spaceships]], [[robot]]s, [[galactic empire]]s and [[Extraterrestrials in fiction|aliens]]. Critical responses have been varied; some reviewers praised the programme for its [[dystopia]]n themes, strong characterisation, ambiguous morality and pessimistic tone, as well as displaying an "enormous sense of fun", but others have criticised its production values and dialogue, and accused it of lacking originality. It retains a sizeable and enthusiastic fan base, and was described in ''[[The Guardian]]''{{'}}s 40-year retrospective as "a bold show that wasn't afraid to break formulas".<ref>{{cite news |last=Belam |first=Martin |title=Blake's 7: 40 years on, the dystopian sci-fi drama still packs a punch |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2018/jan/03/blakes-7-40-years-on-the-dystopian-sci-fi-drama-still-packs-a-punch |work=The Guardian |date=3 January 2018 |access-date=8 May 2024 |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

A limited range of ''Blake's 7'' merchandise was issued, and books, magazines and annuals published. The BBC released music and sound effects from the series, and several companies made ''Blake's 7'' toys and models. Four video compilations were released between 1985 and 1990, and the entire programme was released in [[videocassette]] format beginning in 1991 and re-released during 1997, and as four DVD boxed sets between 2003 and 2006. The BBC produced two audio dramas during 1998 and 1999, featuring original cast members, that were broadcast by [[BBC Radio 4]]. Although proposals for live-action and animated remakes have not been realised, ''Blake's 7'' has been revived with two series of audio dramas, a comedic short film, and a series of fan-made audio plays involving the original cast.

== Overview ==
Four series of thirteen 50-minute episodes were made, and first broadcast in the United Kingdom between January 1978 and December 1981 by BBC1.<ref name="B7 Programme Guide/Prologue">{{cite book |last1=Attwood |first1=Tony |last2=Davies |first2=Kevin |last3=Emery |first3=Rob |last4=Ophir |first4=Jackie |title=Blake's 7: The Programme Guide |chapter=Prologue |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/terrynationsblak00attw/page/9 |publisher=[[Virgin Books]] |location=London |year=1994 |page=[https://archive.org/details/terrynationsblak00attw/page/9 9] |isbn=0-426-19449-7}}</ref> They are set in the third century of the second calendar (this is mentioned in associated publicity material, not in the series)<ref>The Federation introducing a 'new calendar' is mentioned in the episode "Pressure Point"). ({{cite magazine |last=Pixley |first=Andrew |title=Blake's 7. 'The Dirty Dozen in Space' |journal=TV Zone |issue=156 |pages=48–56 |date=October 2002 |issn=0957-3844}})</ref> and at least 700 years in the future.<ref>In the episode "Killer", a 700-year-old space ship is encountered, one of the first deep-space missions from Earth.</ref> ''Blake's 7''{{'}}s narrative concerns the exploits of political dissident Roj Blake, who leads a small group of rebels against the forces of the [[totalitarian]] Terran Federation that rules the Earth and many colonised planets. The Federation uses [[mass surveillance]], [[brainwashing]], and drug pacification to control its citizens. Blake is arrested, tried on false charges, and deported to a remote [[penal colony]]. ''[[wikt:en route|En route]]'', he and fellow prisoners Jenna Stannis, Vila Restal, and Kerr Avon break free and escape on a technologically advanced alien spacecraft, which its central computer 'Zen' informs them is named ''Liberator''. ''Liberator''{{'}}s speed and weaponry are superior to Federation craft, and it also has a [[teleportation]] system that enables transport to the surface of planets. Blake and his crew begin a campaign to damage the Federation, but are pursued by Space Commander Travis—a Federation soldier—and Servalan, the Supreme Commander and later Federation President.<ref name="B7 Programme Guide/Stories">{{cite book |last1=Attwood |first1=Tony |last2=Davies |first2=Kevin |last3=Emery |first3=Rob |last4=Ophir |first4=Jackie |title=Blake's 7: The Programme Guide |chapter=The Stories |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/terrynationsblak00attw/page/29 |publisher=Virgin Books |location=London |year=1994 |page=[https://archive.org/details/terrynationsblak00attw/page/29 29–117] |isbn=0-426-19449-7}}</ref>

The composition of the titular "seven" changes throughout the series. The initial group—Blake, Vila, Gan, Jenna, Avon, and Cally—included Zen as the seventh member. At the end of the first series, they capture a supercomputer named Orac. Gan is killed during the second series, after which Blake and Jenna disappear and are replaced by new characters Dayna and Tarrant. At the start of the fourth series, Cally dies and is replaced by Soolin. After the destruction of ''Liberator'', the computer Zen is replaced by a new computer, Slave, on board their new commandeered ship ''Scorpio''.

While Blake is an idealistic freedom fighter, his associates are petty crooks, smugglers and killers. Avon is a technological genius who, while apparently motivated by self-preservation and wealth, consistently acts to help others. When Blake is separated from his crew, Avon becomes commander. At first, Avon believes the Federation has been destroyed; he becomes tired of killing, and seeks rest. However, by the middle of the third series, Avon realises that the Federation is expanding again, faster than originally realised, and he resumes the fight. 

The BBC had originally planned to conclude ''Blake's 7'' at the end of its third series, but a further series was commissioned unexpectedly following the broadcast of its final episode.<ref name="Liberation-Cotton">{{Cite book
| last = Stevens
| first = Alan
| author2=Moore, Fiona
| title = Liberation. The Unofficial and Unauthorised Guide to Blake's 7
| location = England
| isbn = 1-903889-54-5
| chapter = Season D
| publisher = [[Telos Publishing Ltd.|Telos]]
| year = 2003
| page = 154}}</ref>
As a result, some changes to the programme's format were inevitable, both in front of and behind the camera. These included the appointment of a new producer and the introduction of a new spacecraft, ''Scorpio'', and new characters, Soolin and Slave.<ref name="Fulton">
{{Cite book
| last = Fulton
| first = Roger
| title = The Encyclopedia of TV Science Fiction
| edition = 3rd
| year = 1997
| publisher = [[Boxtree]]
| location = London
| isbn = 0-7522-1150-1
| pages = [https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaoftv0000fult/page/66 66–74]
| url = https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaoftv0000fult/page/66
}}
</ref>

''Blake's 7'' was watched by approximately 10 million people in the UK and was broadcast in 25 other countries.<ref name="B7 Programme Guide/Back">{{cite book |last1=Attwood |first1=Tony |last2=Davies |first2=Kevin |last3=Emery |first3=Rob |last4=Ophir |first4=Jackie |title=Blake's 7: The Programme Guide |url=https://archive.org/details/terrynationsblak00attw |publisher=Virgin Books |location=London |year=1994 |page=back cover |isbn=0-426-19449-7}}</ref>

== Characters ==
{{Multiple image
| direction = vertical
| width = 200
| footer = ''Blake's 7'' cast at the presentation of the first series DVD, 2004.
| image1 = Blake's 7 cast 2004-1.jpg
| image2 = Blake's 7 cast 2004-2.jpg
}}

=== Regular characters ===
* [[Roj Blake]], played by [[Gareth Thomas (actor)|Gareth Thomas]] (leader of the crew in series 1–2, guest appearances in series 3–4). Blake is a long-term political dissident who uses the ''Liberator'' to wage war on the Federation. He is passionately opposed to the Federation's injustice and corruption, and he is prepared to accept loss of life in pursuit of its destruction. He thinks nothing of placing himself in danger to protect his crew or advance his cause. Although Blake is respected by many of his crew members, Avon accuses him of fanaticism and recklessness.<ref name="B7 Programme Guide/OwnWords">{{Cite book| last = Attwood| first = Tony| title = Blake's 7: The Programme Guide.| location = England| isbn = 0-426-19449-7| chapter = In Their Own Words| publisher = [[Virgin Books]]| year = 1994| pages = [https://archive.org/details/terrynationsblak00attw/page/118 118–125]| author2 = Davies, Kevin| author3 = Emery, Rob| author4 = Ophir, Jackie| chapter-url = https://archive.org/details/terrynationsblak00attw/page/118}}</ref>
* [[Kerr Avon]], played by [[Paul Darrow]] (series 1–4, leader of the crew in series 3–4). Avon is an electronics and computer expert who once attempted to steal 5 million [[Fictional currency|credits]] from the Federation banking system. He distrusts emotion, and he attempts to pursue a code based on logic and reason. This frequently causes conflict with Blake. He becomes a reluctant rebel and, at times, he seems motivated by financial gain and shows his readiness to put companions in danger in order to protect himself. He has an ambiguous and sometimes playful relationship with Servalan.<ref name="B7 Programme Guide/OwnWords"/> Avon appears in 51 of the series' 52 episodes, being absent only in the first episode, "The Way Back".
* [[Vila Restal]], played by [[Michael Keating (actor)|Michael Keating]] (series 1–4). Vila is a skilled thief, lock-picker and conjurer and is usually reluctant to risk his life. His behaviour is often cowardly and, although other crew members regard him as tiresome, he has a high IQ. He has weaknesses for alcohol and women, and apparently talks to himself at times.<ref name="B7 Programme Guide/OwnWords"/> Vila is the only character to appear in every episode of the series.
* [[Jenna Stannis]], played by [[Sally Knyvette]] (series 1–2). Jenna is a former space smuggler and skilled pilot who becomes adept at piloting ''Liberator''. She has a great deal of affection for Blake, and she is loyal to him once he gains her trust.<ref name="B7 Programme Guide"/> In earlier episodes, Jenna often maintains her opinions stubbornly.
* [[Cally (Blake's 7)|Cally]], played by [[Jan Chappell]] (series 1–3). Cally is an alien [[guerrilla fighter]] from the planet Auron. She is a [[telepath]], like all of her people, who can transmit thoughts silently to others. She later develops mind-reading, telekinesis and precognition abilities, but she is also uniquely vulnerable to telepathic control by alien forces.<ref name="B7 Programme Guide"/> Cally develops as the moral conscience of the group, especially for later episodes of series 2 and throughout series 3.
* [[Dayna Mellanby]], played by [[Josette Simon]] (series 3–4). The daughter of former dissident Hal Mellanby, Dayna is an expert in weapons technology. She is adept at designing mechanized weapons but also appreciates the nobility of what she describes as more 'primitive' combat. Brave and loyal, but at times reckless and naïve, she often successfully challenges men who are supposedly accomplished fighters.<ref name="B7 Programme Guide"/> Her vendetta against Servalan (who murdered her father) motivates her to endorse Avon's fighting of the Federation.
* [[Del Tarrant]], played by [[Steven Pacey]] (series 3–4). Tarrant is an expert pilot who trained with the Federation before beginning illegal activities. He is ruthless and charming, and he often challenges Avon's leadership. He also takes advantage of the cowardice of Vila, whom he bullies into performing his instructions.<ref name="B7 Programme Guide"/>
* [[Olag Gan]], played by [[David Jackson (British actor)|David Jackson]] (series 1–2). Having killed the Federation guard who murdered his girlfriend, Gan has been implanted with an electronic "limiter" device which prevents him from ever killing again. However, he is courageous, strong, and dedicated to Blake's cause.
* [[Soolin]], played by [[Glynis Barber]] (series 4). Soolin is an expert [[gunfighter]] whose parents were murdered when she was a child on her home planet of Gauda Prime. She joins the group after she is betrayed by her partner Dorian. No-one can match her speed at drawing a gun. Soolin's logical and cynical attitude proves an asset to her colleagues. On several occasions, her quick thinking and prescient actions save the crew from perishing, overpowering the assassin Cancer and surviving the Betafarl Conspiracy. Barber had also previously played the role of a Mutoid in series 1 (episode 9: "Project Avalon").
* [[Characters of Blake's 7#Orac|Orac]], voiced by [[Derek Farr]] (first appearance) and [[Peter Tuddenham]] (series 2–4). Orac is a super-computer capable of reading any other computer's data and built by an inventor named Ensor. It uses a component called a Tariel cell—a universal computer component—and can access information stored on any computer that uses one. It can also control other computers. Orac dislikes work that it considers unnecessary, enjoys gathering information and has delusions of grandeur.<ref name="B7 Programme Guide"/>
* [[Characters of Blake's 7#Zen|Zen]], voiced by [[Peter Tuddenham]] (series 1–3). The main computer aboard ''Liberator'', Zen controls the craft's secondary systems, including the battle and guidance computers. It is susceptible to interference from outside influences, such as Orac. It is considered a character in its own right. It is rendered nonfunctional after ''Liberator'' is damaged by corrosive fluid particles, and is destroyed with the ship.<ref name="B7 Programme Guide"/>
* [[Slave (Blake's 7)|Slave]], voiced by [[Peter Tuddenham]] (series 4). Introduced during the fourth series, Slave was built and programmed by Dorian and is the master computer of Dorian's ship, ''Scorpio''. It has a cringing personality, frequently apologetic and obsequious, and addresses Avon as 'master' and others as 'sir' or 'madam'.<ref name="B7 Programme Guide">{{Cite book
| last = Attwood
| first = Tony
| title = Blake's 7: The Programme Guide.
| location = England
| isbn = 0-426-19449-7
| chapter = The Index
| publisher = [[Virgin Books]]
| year = 1994
| pages = [https://archive.org/details/terrynationsblak00attw/page/128 128–197]
| author2 = Davies, Kevin
| author3 = Emery, Rob
| author4 = Ophir, Jackie
| chapter-url = https://archive.org/details/terrynationsblak00attw/page/128
}}</ref>

=== Other recurring characters ===
* Supreme Commander [[Servalan]]/Commissioner Sleer, played by [[Jacqueline Pearce]]. Servalan began her service career as a cadet, and eventually becomes Supreme Commander of the Terran Federation. Her desire for power began at the age of eighteen when her lover abandoned her. Shortly before the Intergalactic War, Servalan conducted a [[military coup]] and installed herself as president. She is later overthrown herself and presumed killed, but survives and adopts the pseudonym of Commissioner Sleer. She conducts a campaign of drug-induced pacification in order to regain territory for the Federation and her own position of power. Servalan is determined to pursue the crew of the ''Liberator'' and win control of the ship and Orac for herself.<ref name="B7 Programme Guide"/>
* Space Commander [[Characters of Blake's 7#Travis|Travis]], played by [[Stephen Greif]] (first series) and [[Brian Croucher]] (second series). Travis is a dedicated and ruthless Federation officer, with the rank of Space Commander. His left eye and arm were destroyed by Blake, and replaced with an eye patch and a prosthetic arm fitted with a concealed weapon. Travis is known for treating his troops well and leading them personally, but also for his ruthlessness and contempt for human life. After his trial and conviction for killing civilians, Travis becomes increasingly obsessed with killing Blake.<ref name="B7 Programme Guide"/>

== Sources and themes ==
Series creator Terry Nation pitched ''Blake's 7'' to the BBC as "''[[The Dirty Dozen]]'' in space", a reference to the 1967 [[Robert Aldrich]] movie in which a disparate group of convicts are sent on a suicide mission during World War II.<ref name="Pixley-2002">
{{Cite journal
| last = Pixley
| first = Andrew
| date=October 2002
| title = Blake's 7. 'The Dirty Dozen in Space'
| journal = TV Zone
| issue = 156
| pages = 48–56
| issn = 0957-3844
}}
</ref>
This influence shows in that some of Blake's devotees are escaped convicts (Avon, Vila, Gan and Jenna). ''Blake's 7'' also draws much of its inspiration from the legend of [[Robin Hood]].<ref name="Muir-2000">
{{Cite book
| last = Muir
| first = John Kenneth
| title = A History and Critical Analysis of Blake's 7, the 1978–1981 British Television Space Adventure
| year = 2000
| publisher = McFarland
| location = Jefferson, North Carolina
| isbn = 0-7864-2660-8
| pages = 178–181
| chapter = A Futuristic Robin Hood Myth}}
</ref>
Blake's devotees are not a band of "[[Merry Men]]". His diverse crew includes a corrupt computer genius (Avon), a smuggler (Jenna), a thief (Vila), a murderer (Gan), a telepathic guerrilla soldier (Cally), the Liberator's computer (Zen) and another computer (Orac). Later additions were: a naïve weapons expert (Dayna), a mercenary (Tarrant), a gunslinger (Soolin) and the Scorpio's computer (Slave). While Blake intends to use ''Liberator'' to strike against the Federation, the others are often reluctant soldiers—especially Avon. Blake and Avon's clashes over the command represent a conflict between idealism and cynicism, emotion and rationality, and dreams and practicality.<ref name="Bignell-ODay-2004d">
{{Cite book
| last = Bignell
| first = Jonathan
| author2=O'Day, Andrew
| title = Terry Nation
| year = 2004
| publisher = Manchester University Press
| location = Manchester, England
| isbn = 978-0-7190-6547-7
| pages = 113–178
| chapter = Nation, Space and Politics}}
</ref>
Similar conflicts occur between other characters; the courage of Blake and Avon compared with Vila's cowardice, or Avon and Jenna's scepticism of Blake's ideals compared with Gan's unswerving loyalty, Blake's mass murdering methods compared with Avon's targeted and less destructive methods.<ref name="Bignell-ODay-2004d"/>

Script editor [[Chris Boucher (writer)|Chris Boucher]], whose influence on the series increased as it progressed, was inspired by Latin American revolutionaries, especially [[Emiliano Zapata]], in exploring Blake and his devotees' motives and the consequences of their actions.<ref name="McCormack-2005"/><ref>
{{Cite book
| last = Attwood
| first = Tony
| title = Blake's 7. The Programme Guide
| year = 1982
| publisher = W.H. Allen
| location = London
| isbn = 0-426-19449-7
| pages = [https://archive.org/details/terrynationsblak00attw/page/178 178–181]
| chapter = Interviews: Chris Boucher – Script Editor and Writer
| chapter-url = https://archive.org/details/terrynationsblak00attw/page/178
}}
</ref>
This is most evident in the episode "Star One", in which Blake must confront the reality that in achieving his goal of overthrowing the Federation, he will cause chaos and death for many innocent citizens.<ref name="McCormack-2005"/> When Avon gains control of ''Liberator'', after Blake's disappearance after the events of "Star One", he uses it to pursue his own agenda, such as avenging his lost love Anna Grant. Later, Avon realises that he cannot escape the Federation's reach and that he must, like Blake, resist them. In this respect, by the end of the fourth series Avon has replaced Blake.<ref name="Jurassic Arc"/>

Classic films, such as the Western ''[[The Magnificent Seven]]'', were an important influence upon ''Blake's 7''. Chris Boucher incorporated lines from Westerns into the scripts, much to the delight of Paul Darrow, an enthusiast of the genre.<ref name="IS#Ch1">
{{Cite book
| last = Nazzaro| first = Joe|author2=Wells, Sheelagh| title = Blake's 7: The Inside Story | year = 1997| publisher = Virgin| location = London | isbn = 0-7535-0044-2| pages = 9–20| chapter = Starting Out}}</ref> The final episode, "Blake", was inspired by ''[[The Wild Bunch]]'' and ''[[Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid]]''.<ref>{{Cite journal | last = Nazzaro | first = Joe |date=August 1992 | title = Terry Nation's Blake's 7. Part One | journal = TV Zone | issue = 33 | pages = 28–30 | issn = 0957-3844}}</ref> ''Blake's 7'' also drew inspiration from the classic British [[dystopia]]n novels ''[[Nineteen Eighty-Four]]'' by [[George Orwell]], ''[[Brave New World]]'' by [[Aldous Huxley]] and ''[[When the Sleeper Wakes]]'' by [[H. G. Wells]].<ref name="McCormack-2005"/> This is most evident in the nature of the Federation, whose methods of dealing with Blake in the first episode, "The Way Back", including brainwashing and [[show trial]]s. These are reminiscent of the way in which the [[USSR]] dealt with its dissidents.<ref name="Liberation-A">
{{Cite book
| last = Stevens
| first = Alan
| author2=Moore, Fiona
| title = Liberation. The Unofficial and Unauthorised Guide to Blake's 7
| year = 2003
| publisher = Telos
| location = England
| isbn = 1-903889-54-5
| pages = 13–58
| chapter = Season A}}
</ref>
Explorations of totalitarianism in the series are not confined to the Federation—totalitarian control through religion ("Cygnus Alpha"), [[genetics]] ("The Web") and technology ("Redemption") are also portrayed.<ref name="Liberation-A"/><ref>
{{Cite book
| last = Stevens
| first = Alan
| author2=Moore, Fiona
| title = Liberation. The Unofficial and Unauthorised Guide to Blake's 7
| year = 2003
| publisher = Telos
| location = England
| isbn = 1-903889-54-5
| pages = 59–102
| chapter = Season B}}
</ref>
Such authoritarian dystopias are common in Terry Nation's work, including his ''Doctor Who'' story ''[[Genesis of the Daleks]]'' (1975).<ref name="Bignell-ODay-2004d"/>

Loyalty and trust are important themes of the series.<ref name="McCormack-2005">
{{Cite book
| last = McCormack
| first = Una
| editor = Cook, John R. |editor2=Wright, Peter
| title = British Science Fiction Television: A Hitchhiker's Guide
| year = 2006
| publisher = IB Tauris
| location = London
| isbn = 1-84511-048-X
| pages = 174–192
| chapter = Resist the host: Blake's 7 – a very British future}}
</ref>
Avon is presented with several opportunities to abandon Blake. Many of Blake's schemes require co-operation and expertise from others. Characters are often betrayed by family and friends, especially Avon, whose former lover Anna Grant is eventually revealed to be a Federation agent. The theme of loyalty and trust reaches its maximum during Blake and Avon's final encounter in the last episode ("Blake"); Blake, by now very paranoid, has been masquerading as a bounty hunter collaborating with the Federation as a front for his activities in recruiting and testing potential allies in the struggle and this causes Avon and the others to suspect him when Tarrant accuses Blake of betraying them; an ironic miscommunication between Avon and Blake precipitates the disastrous events that conclude the episode.<ref name="Jurassic Arc">
{{Cite book
| last = Muir
| first = John Kenneth
| title = A History and Critical Analysis of Blake's 7, the 1978–1981 British Television Space Adventure
| year = 2000
| publisher = McFarland
| location = Jefferson, North Carolina
| isbn = 0-7864-2660-8
| pages = 171–178
| chapter = The Jurassic Arc: Science Fiction Television's First Video Novel}}
</ref>
If Blake and his crew represent Robin Hood and his Merry Men, then the Federation forces, personified by the obsessive, psychopathic Space Commander Travis and his superior, the beautiful but ruthless Supreme Commander Servalan, represent [[Guy of Gisbourne]] and the [[Sheriff of Nottingham]].<ref name="Muir-2000"/>

A common theme of Nation's science fiction is the depiction of [[post-apocalyptic]] societies, as in several of his ''Doctor Who'' serials, for example ''[[The Daleks]]'' (1963–64), ''[[Death to the Daleks]]'' (1974), ''[[Genesis of the Daleks]]'' (1975) and ''[[The Android Invasion]]'' (1975) and in his series ''[[Survivors (1975 TV series)|Survivors]]'' (1975–77).<ref name="Bignell-ODay-2004d"/> Post-apocalyptic societies feature in several ''Blake's 7'' episodes including "Duel", "Deliverance", "City at the Edge of the World" and "Terminal". Although not explicitly stated, some publicity material for the series refers to the Federation as having developed after a [[nuclear holocaust]] on Earth.<ref name="Liberation-A"/> Noting the series's distinctive aesthetic, an academic concluded: "At its best, Blake's 7 had a peculiar intensity all its own".<ref>{{cite book |last=Duckworth |first=Stephen |chapter=Blake's 7 |editor=[[David Lavery]] |title=The Essential Cult TV Reader |publisher=[[University Press of Kentucky]] |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-8131-2568-8 |pages=51–59}}</ref>

== Plot summary ==
{{Further|List of Blake's 7 episodes}}
The series is set in a future age of interstellar travel and concerns the exploits of a group of outlaws. [[Gareth Thomas (actor)|Gareth Thomas]] played the eponymous character Roj Blake, a political dissident who is arrested, tried and convicted on false charges, and then deported from [[Earth]] to a prison planet. En route, he and two fellow prisoners, treated as expendable, are sent to board and investigate an abandoned alien spacecraft found drifting in space. They get the ship working, commandeer it, rescue two more prisoners, and are later joined by an alien guerrilla with telepathic abilities. In their attempts to stay ahead of their enemies and inspire others to rebel, they encounter a great variety of cultures on different planets, and are forced to confront human and alien threats. Blake's group suffer losses and casualties, and recruit newer members to join them. They perform a campaign against the totalitarian Terran Federation until an intergalactic war occurs with aliens from the Andromeda galaxy. Blake disappears and [[Kerr Avon]] then leads the group. When their spacecraft is destroyed and another group member is killed, the survivors commandeer another craft (which they enhance with superior technology), and a secret base on a distant planet from which they continue their campaign. In the final episode, Avon finds Blake and, suspecting him of betraying the group, kills him. The group is then shot by Federation guards, who surround Avon in the final scene as shots are heard over the end credits.

=== Series One ===
{{See also|List of Blake's 7 episodes#Series_1_(1978)|l1=Series 1}}

Roj Blake, a worker of high social status classified as "alpha-grade", lives in a domed city. Similar domes house most of the Earth's population. Blake is approached by a group of political dissidents who take him outside the city to meet their leader, Bran Foster. According to Foster, Blake was once the leader of an influential group of political activists opposed to the Federation's Earth Administration. Blake was arrested, brainwashed and coerced into making a confession denouncing the rebellion. His memory of those years was then blocked. Foster wants Blake to rejoin the dissidents. Suddenly, the meeting is interrupted by the arrival of Federation security forces, who shoot and kill the crowd of rebels. Blake, the only survivor, returns to the city, where he begins to remember his past. He is arrested, tried on false charges of child molestation and sentenced to deportation to the prison planet Cygnus Alpha.<ref>Nation, Terry (writer) & Briant, Michael E. (director). (1978) "The Way Back" (Television series episode). In Maloney, David (producer), ''Blake's 7'', London: BBC, 2 January 1978</ref>

Whilst awaiting deportation from Planet Earth, Blake meets thief Vila Restal and smuggler Jenna Stannis. On board the prison ship ''London'', Blake meets convicted murderer Olag Gan and computer engineer and embezzler Kerr Avon. The ''London'' encounters a battle between two alien space fleets and the ''London''{{'}}s crew plot a course to avoid the combat zone and continue their voyage. They encounter a strange alien craft, board it and attempt to salvage it but are thwarted by the alien ship's defence mechanism. The commander of the ''London'' sends the expendable Blake, Avon, and Jenna across to the ship. Blake defeats the defence system when it tries to use memories he recently discovered were false. With Jenna as pilot, the three convicts escape in the alien craft.<ref>Nation, Terry (writer) & Roberts, Pennant (director). (1978) "Space Fall" (Television series episode). In Maloney, David (producer), ''Blake's 7'', London: BBC, 9 January 1978</ref>

Blake and his crew follow the ''London'' to Cygnus Alpha in their captured ship, which they have named ''Liberator''. They retrieve Vila and Gan, while Blake leaves the other prisoners. Blake wants to use ''Liberator'' and its new crew to attack the Federation with the others, especially Avon, as reluctant followers.<ref>Nation, Terry (writer) & Lorrimer, Vere (director). (1978) "Cygnus Alpha" (Television series episode). In Maloney, David (producer), ''Blake's 7'', London: BBC, 16 January 1978</ref> Blake's first target is a communications station on the planet Saurian Major. Blake infiltrates the station and is assisted by Cally, a telepathic guerrilla soldier from the planet Auron. Blake invites Cally to join the crew. With this new arrival, and including ''Liberator''{{'}}s computer, Zen, ''Liberator'' has a crew of seven.<ref>Nation, Terry (writer) & Roberts, Pennant (director). (1978) "Time Squad" (Television series episode). In Maloney, David (producer), ''Blake's 7'', London: BBC, 23 January 1978</ref>

As Blake's attacks against the Federation become bolder, he has less success. Political pressure grows on the Administration with planetary commanders threatening to leave the Federation because of its inability to protect them from Blake's attacks. Rumours abound about Blake's heroism and other rebel groups use his name for their actions. Supreme Commander Servalan appoints Space Commander Travis, who has a vendetta against Blake, to eliminate Blake and capture ''Liberator''. Servalan often co-opts Travis for her personal projects and uses Blake as a cover for her own activities. When Travis repeatedly fails to eliminate Blake, Servalan does not assign the task to another officer and does not use more resources to eliminate him.<ref>Nation, Terry (writer) & Lorrimer, Vere (director). (1978) "Seek-Locate-Destroy" (television series episode). In Maloney, David (producer), ''Blake's 7'', London: BBC, 6 February 1978</ref>

Blake meets a man named Ensor and discovers a plot by Servalan and Travis to seize a powerful computer named Orac, which is capable of communicating with any computer that uses a component called a Tariel Cell. Blake's crew suffers from radiation sickness but capture the device before Servalan arrives. Blake offers to perform the operation to save Ensor's life aboard the ''Liberator'' but Ensor dies when the power cells for his artificial heart are depleted before they are able to reach ''Liberator''. Aboard the ship, Orac predicts the craft's destruction in the near future.<ref>Nation, Terry (writer) & Lorrimer, Vere (director). (1978) "Orac" (television series episode). In Maloney, David (producer), ''Blake's 7'', London: BBC, 27 March 1978</ref>

=== Series Two ===
{{See also|List of Blake's 7 episodes#Series_2_(1979)|l1=Series 2}}
[[File:BlakeLiberator.jpg|right|thumb|250px|''Liberator'', the alien starship used by Blake and his crew for series 1 to 3]]
The ''Liberator'' is recaptured by the people that built it and Orac's prophecy is fulfilled when it destroys an identical space vehicle.<ref>Nation, Terry (writer) & Lorrimer, Vere (director). (1979) "Redemption" (television series episode). In Maloney, David (producer), ''Blake's 7'', London: BBC, 1 September 1979</ref> Blake wants to attack the heart of the Federation and he targets the main computer control facility on Earth. Avon agrees to help on the condition that Blake gives him ''Liberator'' when the Federation has been destroyed. Blake, Avon, Vila and Gan reach the control facility and find an empty room. Travis reveals that the computer facility was secretly relocated years before and the old location was left as a decoy. Blake and his crew escape but Travis throws a grenade in the confined area and Gan is killed by falling rubble.<ref>Nation, Terry (writer) & Spenton-Foster, George (director). (1979) "Pressure Point" (television series episode). In Maloney, David (producer), ''Blake's 7'', London: BBC, 9 February 1979</ref>

After Gan's death, Blake considers the future of the rebellion, and Travis is convicted of war crimes by a Federation [[court martial]] at Space Command Headquarters aboard a space station. Blake decides to restore his group's reputation and attacks the space station but Travis escapes and continues his vendetta against Blake.<ref>Boucher, Chris (writer) & Martinus, Derek (director). (1979) "Trial" (television series episode). In Maloney, David (producer), ''Blake's 7'', London: BBC, 13 February 1979</ref> Blake seeks the new location of the computer control facility. He learns that it is named ''Star One''.<ref>Nation, Terry (writer) & Lorrimer, Vere (director). (1979) "Countdown" (television series episode). In Maloney, David (producer), ''Blake's 7'', London: BBC, 6 March 1979</ref> When ''Star One'' begins to malfunction, Servalan also becomes desperate to find its location. The facility's failure causes many problems in the Federation. ''Star One'' controls a large defensive barrier that has prevented extra-galactic incursions. Blake discovers ''Star One''{{'}}s location and finds that, with help from Travis, aliens from the [[Andromeda Galaxy]] have infiltrated it. Vila discovers a fleet of alien spacecraft beyond the barrier. Travis partially disables the barrier. Blake and his crew overcome the aliens at ''Star One'' and kill Travis but the gap in the barrier allows the aliens to invade. Jenna calls for help from the Federation, where Servalan has conducted a military coup, imposed [[martial law]] and declared herself President. Servalan dispatches the Federation's battle fleets to repel the invaders, who begin to breach the barrier. With Blake badly wounded, ''Liberator'' by Avon's direction, alone until Servalan's battle fleets arrive, fights against the aliens.<ref>Boucher, Chris (writer) & Maloney, David (director&nbsp;— uncredited). (1979) "Star One" (television series episode). In Maloney, David (producer), ''Blake's 7'', London: BBC, 3 April 1979</ref>

=== Series Three ===
{{See also|List of Blake's 7 episodes#Series_3_(1980)|l1=Series 3}}
''Liberator'' is severely damaged during the battle with the Andromedans, forcing the crew to abandon ship whilst Zen carries out repairs. The Federation defeats the alien invaders but the cost considerably reduces its influence in the galaxy.<ref>Nation, Terry (writer) & Lorrimer, Vere (director). (1980) "Aftermath" (television series episode). In Maloney, David (producer), ''Blake's 7'', London: BBC, 7 January 1980</ref> Blake and Jenna go missing and Avon becomes the new leader. Two new additions, weapons expert Dayna Mellanby and mercenary Del Tarrant, join the crew.<ref>Nation, Terry (writer) & Maloney, David (director&nbsp;— uncredited). (1980) "Powerplay" (television series episode). In Maloney, David (producer), ''Blake's 7'', London: BBC, 7 January 1980</ref> Avon is less inclined than Blake to attack the Federation but Servalan realises that if she captures ''Liberator'', the Federation will quickly restore its former power.<ref>Prior, Allan (writer) & McCarthy, Desmond (director). (1980) "Volcano" (television series episode). In Maloney, David (producer), ''Blake's 7'', London: BBC, 14 January 1980</ref>

Servalan attempts to create [[cloning|clones]] of herself, but is thwarted when the embryos are destroyed.<ref>Parkes, Roger (writer) & Morgan, Andrew (director). (1980) "Children of Auron" (television series episode). In Maloney, David (producer), ''Blake's 7'', London: BBC, 19 February 1980</ref> Avon decides to find the Federation agent who killed Anna Grant, his former lover. The group interrupts an attempt to eliminate Servalan and Avon discovers that Anna is alive and was previously a Federation agent named Bartolemew. Anna tries to shoot Avon in the back but Avon kills her and frees Servalan.<ref>Boucher, Chris (writer) & Cumming, Fiona (director). (1980) "Rumours of Death" (television series episode). In Maloney, David (producer), ''Blake's 7'', London: BBC, 25 February 1980</ref> Servalan lures Avon into a trap using a faked message from Blake. Servalan finally captures ''Liberator'' and maroons the crew on an artificial planet named Terminal but does not know that ''Liberator'' has been irreparably damaged after flying through a cloud of corrosive fluid particles. As Servalan leaves Terminal, the ship explodes and Servalan is apparently killed as she attempts to escape by teleporting away.<ref>Nation, Terry (writer) & Ridge, Mary (director). (1980) "Terminal" (television series episode). In Maloney, David (producer), ''Blake's 7'', London: BBC, 31 March 1980</ref>

=== Series Four ===
{{See also|List of Blake's 7 episodes#Series_4_(1981)|l1=Series 4}}
[[File:B7Scorpio.jpeg|right|thumb|250px|''Scorpio'', the Wanderer class cargo ship used for series 4.]]
Booby traps, set by Servalan in her underground complex on Terminal, explode and Cally is killed. Avon, Tarrant, Vila and Dayna escape with Orac and are rescued by Dorian, a salvage operator. Dorian takes the crew in his spacecraft, ''Scorpio'', to his base on the planet Xenon, where they meet his partner, Soolin. Dorian plans to drain the crew's [[energy (esotericism)|life-force]] and take Orac but is foiled by Vila.<ref>Boucher, Chris (writer) & Ridge, Mary (director). (1981) "Rescue" (television series episode). In Lorrimer, Vere (producer), ''Blake's 7'', London: BBC, 28 September 1981</ref> Avon completes a new teleport system for ''Scorpio'' using the technology left behind by Dorian. Soolin joins the crew and they commandeer ''Scorpio'' and occupy the Xenon base. Avon gains control of Slave, ''Scorpio''{{'}}s main computer.<ref>Steed, Ben (writer) & Ridge, Mary (director). (1981) "Power" (television series episode). In Lorrimer, Vere (producer), ''Blake's 7'', London: BBC, 5 October 1981</ref>

The crew acquires an experimental new [[Faster-than-light|stardrive]] that vastly increases ''Scorpio''{{'}}s speed, making it even faster than ''Liberator''.<ref>Follet, Jim (writer) & Proudfoot, David Sullivan (director). (1981) "Stardrive" (television series episode). In Lorrimer, Vere (producer), ''Blake's 7'', London: BBC, 19 October 1981</ref> The ''Scorpio'' crew become concerned about the speed at which the Federation is reclaiming its former territory and discover that Servalan survived the destruction of ''Liberator''. Deposed as President of the Federation, she is using the pseudonym Commissioner Sleer and is enacting a pacification programme using a drug named Pylene-50. The ''Scorpio'' crew gain the formula for an antidote to Pylene-50 but this cannot reverse the drug's effects. Avon finds a way to synthesise the antidote and the crew attempt to create an alliance between independent worlds to resist the Federation and get the resources and manpower to mass-produce the Pylene-50 antidote. One of the alliance members, Zukan, betrays the alliance to Servalan and detonates explosives on Xenon base, which is damaged and the ''Scorpio'' crew are forced to abandon it.<ref>Masters, Simon (writer) & Ritelis, Viktors (director). (1981) "Warlord" (television series episode). In Lorrimer, Vere (producer), ''Blake's 7'', London: BBC, 14 December 1981</ref>

Avon tells the rest of the group that Orac has traced Blake to Gauda Prime, an agricultural planet. Blake is masquerading as a [[bounty hunter]]; his latest quarry is Arlen, whom he hopes to recruit for his rebellion. ''Scorpio'' approaches Gauda Prime and is attacked. The crew, except Tarrant, use the teleport to abandon the damaged craft. Slave is damaged, Tarrant remains aboard to pilot ''Scorpio'' and is injured during a crash landing. Blake arrives, rescues and takes Tarrant to his base and purportedly captures Tarrant as bounty. Tarrant thinks that Blake has betrayed the group, and Blake lets Tarrant escape. Tarrant is nearly killed by Blake's colleagues when Avon and his crew save him, giving credence to Tarrant's accusation that Blake has betrayed them to the Federation. Becoming very suspicious of Blake, Avon kills him. Arlen reveals that she is a Federation officer and Federation guards arrive. Tarrant, Soolin, Vila, and Dayna are shot by Federation troops, who slowly surround Avon with their weapons pointed at him. Avon steps over Blake's body, raises his gun and smiles. Shots are heard over the end credits.<ref>Boucher, Chris (writer) & Ridge, Mary (director). (1981) "Blake" (television series episode). In Lorrimer, Vere (producer), ''Blake's 7'', London: BBC, 21 December 1981</ref>

== Production history ==
{{main|History of Blake's 7}}
Terry Nation had the idea for ''Blake's 7'' in a moment of inspiration during a pitch meeting with Ronnie Marsh, a BBC drama executive. Marsh was intrigued and immediately commissioned a pilot script. When he had seen the draft, Marsh approved ''Blake's 7'' for full development.<ref name="B7SS">Pixley, Andrew (1995). ''Blake's 7 Summer Special''. {{ISSN|1353-761X}}</ref> [[David Maloney]], an experienced BBC director, was assigned to produce the series and Chris Boucher was engaged as script editor. Nation was commissioned to write the thirteen episodes. Boucher's task was to expand and develop Nation's first drafts into workable scripts, but this became increasingly difficult as Nation started running out of ideas. Meanwhile, Maloney was struggling with the low budget available given the need for action and special effects. Despite these challenges ''Blake's 7'' was very popular, with some episodes exceeding ten million viewers. A second series was quickly commissioned.<ref name="B7SS"/>

The BBC engaged new writers for the subsequent series. It was decided that one of the regular characters should die, to demonstrate that Blake and his crew were not invincible. Gan, played by David Jackson, was chosen because Gan had been under-used and was the least popular character. Although ratings declined compared to the first series, the BBC commissioned a third.<ref name="B7SS"/> When Gareth Thomas and Sally Knyvette decided not to return, new characters were required so that the story could continue without its titular character. Suggestions for a replacement actor for Blake were rejected and Avon became more prominent in the story. New characters Del Tarrant, portrayed by Steven Pacey, and Dayna Mellanby, portrayed by Josette Simon, were introduced.<ref name="B7SS"/>

''Blake's 7'' was not expected to be recommissioned after the third series and there was surprise when during 1980 a further series was announced as the third series ended. [[Bill Cotton]], BBC Head of Television, had watched ''Terminal'' and enjoyed it greatly. He telephoned the presentation department and ordered them to make the announcement.<ref name="Liberation-Cotton"/> David Maloney was unavailable to work on a fourth series, and [[Vere Lorrimer]] became the producer. He introduced new characters, a new spacecraft – ''Scorpio'' – and its computer Slave. Jan Chappell (who played Cally) decided that she did not want to return, and was replaced by [[Glynis Barber]] as Soolin.

Gareth Thomas made a final appearance as Blake and insisted that his character be killed in a definitive manner. Although the fourth series performed satisfactorily in the ratings, ''Blake's 7'' was not renewed again and the final episode had an ambiguous finale. Except for Blake, whose death was contractual, the characters were shown being attacked in such a way that their survival would have been possible had a fifth series been commissioned. The final episode, titled "Blake", was broadcast on 21 December 1981.<ref name="B7SS"/>

Although Blake's 7 never crossed over with ''[[Doctor Who]]'' during its initial run, Gareth Thomas was open to the idea as he was close friends with ''Doctor Who'' star [[Tom Baker]], and the two wanted to be 'briefly crossing paths' with one another before going their separate ways. Ultimately, the idea was scrapped.<ref>{{Cite web| title=Gareth Thomas and Tom Baker wanted Blake's 7 to crossover with Doctor Who| url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a790626/gareth-thomas-and-tom-baker-wanted-blakes-7-to-crossover-with-doctor-who/| author=Morgan Jeffrey| website=[[Digital Spy]]| date=14 April 2016| access-date=11 February 2019}}</ref>

== Filming locations ==
Interior spaceship sets and other indoor scenes were recorded on videotape in London at [[BBC Television Centre]], [[Shepherd's Bush]]. Some interiors were filmed at Ealing Film Studios. For indoor complexes, such as bases or command centre bunkers, filming often took place in local [[power plant]]s and [[water turbine]] stations. Location shooting was also extensive with shooting occurring mostly in southern England. Notable location shots include episode eleven of the first series, "Bounty", where the production was filmed at [[Quex Park]] in [[Kent]]. The Waterloo Tower in Quex Park was ex-president Sarkoff's residence in exile.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Kent Film Office|url=http://kentfilmoffice.co.uk/1978/10/blakes-7-bounty-1978/|title=Kent Film Office Blake's 7 Article|date=20 October 1978}}</ref>

The series also used [[Betchworth#Betchworth lime quarries|Betchworth Quarry]] as the surface of an alien planet and [[Wookey Hole Caves]] as the site of an alien mine. Additional location shooting took place at [[Black Park]], the [[New Forest]], the [[South Bank]], [[Camden Town]] and [[Wembley Conference Centre]].

== Music and sound effects ==
''Blake's 7''{{'}}s [[theme music]] was written by Australian composer [[Dudley Simpson]], who had composed music for ''Doctor Who'' for more than ten years. The same recording of Simpson's theme was used for the beginning titles of all four series of the programme.<ref name="Simpson">{{Cite web |url = http://www.dudleysimpson.com/discography.htm| title = Dudley Simpson Discography |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080229154350/http://www.dudleysimpson.com/discography.htm |archive-date=29 February 2008 | author = Chris Brimelow}}</ref> For the fourth series, a new recording was made for the closing credits that used an easy listening-style arrangement.<ref>Details largely taken from documentary included Blake's 7 series 4 DVD</ref> Simpson also provided the incidental music for all of the episodes except for the Series One episode "Duel" and the Series Two episode "Gambit". "Duel" was directed by [[Douglas Camfield]], who had a grudge against Simpson and refused to work with him, and so the episode contained library music.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Doctor Who Magazine issue 259, 17 December 1997 in Dr. Who/Douglas Camfield |url=http://experts.about.com/q/Dr-1102/Douglas-Camfield.htm |work=All Experts |date=12 July 2005 |access-date=17 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330120515/http://en.allexperts.com/q/Dr-1102/Douglas-Camfield.htm |archive-date=30 March 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Elizabeth Parker (composer)|Elizabeth Parker]] provided the music and sound effects for "Gambit". ''Blake's 7'' made considerable use of audio effects that are described in the credits as "special sound". Many electronically generated sound effects were used, ranging from foley-style effects for props including handguns, teleport sounds, spacecraft engines, flight console buttons and background atmospheres. The special sounds for ''Blake's 7'' were provided by the [[BBC Radiophonic Workshop]] composers [[Richard Yeoman-Clark]] and Elizabeth Parker.

== Critical reception ==
''Blake's 7'' received both positive and negative reviews. The review by Stanley Reynolds in ''[[The Times]]'' of the fourth episode, "Time Squad", stated: "&nbsp;... nice to hear the youngsters holding their breath in anticipation of a little terror". Reynolds elaborated, "Television science fiction has got too self-consciously jokey lately. It is also nice to have each episode complete within itself, while still carrying on the saga of Blake's struggle against the 1984-ish Federation. But is that dark-haired telepathic alien girl, the latest addition to Blake's outer-space merry men, going to spell love trouble for blonde Jenna? Maid Marian never had that trouble in Sherwood Forest."<ref name="times-review">{{cite news|title=Blake's Seven – BBC1|newspaper=The Times|first=Stanley|last=Reynolds|date=24 January 1978|page=7}}</ref>

In January 1998 Robert Hanks of ''[[The Independent]]'' compared the series' ethos to that of ''[[Star Trek]]''. He wrote: "If you wanted to sum up the relative position of Britain and America in this century&nbsp;— the ebbing away of the pink areas of the map, the fading of national self-confidence as Uncle Sam proceeded to colonise the globe with fizzy drinks and Hollywood&nbsp;— you could do it like this: they had ''Star Trek'', we had ''Blake's 7''&nbsp;... No 'boldly going' here: instead, we got the boot stamping on a human face which George Orwell offered as a vision of humanity's future in ''Nineteen Eighty-Four''". Hanks concluded that "''Blake's 7'' has acquired a credibility and popularity Terry Nation can never have expected&nbsp;... I think it's to do with the sheer crappiness of the series and the crappiness it attributes to the universe: it is science-fiction for the disillusioned and ironic&nbsp;— and that is what makes it so very British".<ref name="independent20th">{{Cite news |title=A Very British Space Crew |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/a-very-british-space-crew-1138688.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904072655/http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/a-very-british-space-crew-1138688.html |archive-date=4 September 2015 |work=[[The Independent]] |location=London |first=Robert |last=Hanks |date=15 January 1998 |access-date=17 January 2007 |page=3 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Gavin Collinson of the [[British Film Institute]]'s website [[Screenonline]] wrote "The premise of ''Blake's 7'' held nothing remotely original. The outlaw group resisting a powerful and corrupt regime is an idea familiar from Robin Hood and beyond." He added "''Blake's 7''{{'}}s triumph lay in its vivid characters, its tight, pacey plots and its satisfying realism...For arguably the first time since the 1950s [[Quatermass]] serials, the BBC had created a popular sci-fi/fantasy show along adult lines". His review concludes "Ultimately, the one force the rebels could not overcome proved to be the BBC's long-standing apathy towards science fiction. However, the bloody finale, in which Avon murders Blake, exemplified the programme's strengths&nbsp;— fearless narratives, credible but surprising character development and an enormous sense of fun."<ref name="screenonline">{{Cite web|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/537301/ |title=BFI Screenonline: Blake's 7 (1978–81) |author = Gavin Collinson| publisher=British Film Institute |access-date=25 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629042906/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/537301/ |archive-date=29 June 2011}}</ref> In 2015, Tim Stanley of ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' described the series as "oft-derided" and "gloriously low budget" but "a genuine classic". He added: "this was superior drama performed by consummate professionals who made it believable by being 100 per cent committed to the material. ''Blake's 7''{{'}}s sets and dresses were bright and gaudy but it was dark, dark melodrama." Stanley concluded: "''Blake's 7'' can be read as a document of the [[James Callaghan|Callaghan]]/[[Jimmy Carter|Carter]] years with their piles of rubbish in the streets. Then along came [[Margaret Thatcher|Thatcher]]/[[Reagan]] and sci-fi turned hopeful again. Cue ''Star Wars'' and its childish universe of
[[Wookiee]]s and [[Ewok]]s. Moral clarity returned. The budgets ballooned. But, for my money, it was nowhere near as interesting."<ref>{{cite news | url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/11653529/Blakes-7-the-low-budget-late-70s-British-sci-fi-is-now-a-genuine-classic.html | title= Blake's 7: the low-budget late 70s British sci-fi is now a genuine classic | work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] | first=Tim | last=Stanley | date=5 June 2015 | access-date=31 August 2020}}</ref>

The Australian broadcaster and critic [[Clive James]] gave a negative appraisal, calling it "&nbsp;... classically awful British television SF&nbsp;... no apostrophe in the title, no sense in the plot". He continued "The depraved space queen Servalan&nbsp;... could never quite bring herself to volatilize the dimly heroic Blake even when she had him square in the sights of her plasmatic spasm guns. The secret of Blake's appeal, or Blakes appeal, for the otherwise infallibly fatale Servalan remained a mystery, like the actual wattage of light bulb on which the design of Blake's spaceship, or Blakes spaceship, was plainly based".<ref>{{Cite web |author = James, Clive |url = http://tls.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,25338-1930109,00.html |title = Clive James's literary education in sludge fiction |work = The Times |publisher = Times Newspapers L:td. |date = 14 December 2005 |access-date = 1 September 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080210151653/http://tls.timesonline.co.uk/article/0%2C%2C25338-1930109%2C00.html |archive-date = 10 February 2008 |url-status = dead |df = dmy-all}}</ref> Screenwriter [[Nigel Kneale]], whose work included ''[[The Quatermass Experiment]]'' and other science fiction, was also critical. He described "the very few bits I've seen" as "paralytically awful", saying that "the dialogue/characterisation seemed to consist of a kind of childish squabbling".<ref name="door">{{Cite web|url=http://www.geocities.com/TelevisionCity/8504/kneal.htm|title=Nigel Kneale—Behind the Dark Door|publisher=The Quatermass Home Page|first=Andrew|last=Pixley|author2=Nigel Kneale |year=1986|access-date=2 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050817034159/http://www.geocities.com/TelevisionCity/8504/kneal.htm|archive-date=17 August 2005}}</ref>

== Legacy ==
''Blake's 7'' deviates from the good-versus-evil [[Dualistic cosmology|dualism]] in ''[[Star Wars]]''; ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series|Star Trek]]''{{'}}s 'feel-good' future; and the episodic structure of ''[[Doctor Who]]''.<ref name="McCormack-2005"/> ''Blake's 7'' also influenced ''[[Hyperdrive (British TV series)|Hyperdrive]]'' and ''[[Aeon Flux]]''.<ref>"Forever Avon" special feature on the Blakes 7 series 4 UK DVD</ref> It has also been alleged to have influenced ''[[Farscape]]'' and ''[[Firefly (TV Series)|Firefly]]'', albeit [[Joss Whedon]] denied that it had been a conscious influence on the latter.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Horáková |first1=Erin |title="Boucher, Backbone and Blake – the legacy of Blakes 7" |journal=Strange Horizons |date=22 August 2016 |url=http://strangehorizons.com/non-fiction/articles/boucher-backbone-and-blake-the-legacy-of-blakes-7/#note1 |access-date=13 July 2023}}</ref> 
Television playwright [[Dennis Potter]]'s final work ''[[Cold Lazarus]]'' was inspired by the show.<ref>
{{Cite book
| last = Stevens
| first = Alan
| author2=Moore, Fiona
| title = Liberation. The Unofficial and Unauthorised Guide to Blake's 7
| year = 2003
| publisher = Telos
| location = England
| isbn = 1-903889-54-5
| pages = 199–200
| chapter = Afterword}}
</ref>

''Blake's 7'' remains fairly well regarded. A poll of United States science-fiction writers, fans and critics for John Javna's 1987 book ''The Best of Science Fiction'' placed the series 25th in popularity, despite then only having recently begun to be broadcast in the US.<ref>
{{Cite book
| last = Muir
| first = John Kenneth
| title = A History and Critical Analysis of Blake's 7, the 1978–1981 British Television Space Adventure
| year = 2000
| publisher = McFarland
| location = Jefferson, NC
| isbn = 0-7864-2660-8
| pages = 25–26
| chapter = Critical Reception}}
</ref>
A similar poll in Britain conducted for ''[[SFX magazine]]'' during 1999 put ''Blake's 7'' at 16th place, with the magazine commenting that "twenty years on, TV SF is still mapping the paths first explored by Terry Nation's baby".<ref>
{{Cite journal
| editor-last=Golder
| editor-first=Dave
| date=April 1999
| title=The Top 50 SF TV Shows of All Time
| journal=SFX
| issue=supplement to issue 50
| page=14}}
</ref>
During 2005 ''SFX'' surveyed readers' top 50 British telefantasy shows of all time, and ''Blake's 7'' was placed at number four behind ''[[The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (TV series)|The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy]]'', ''[[Red Dwarf]]'' and ''Doctor Who''.<ref>
{{Cite journal
| editor-last=Bradley
| editor-first=Dave
| year=2005
| title=The Top 50 Greatest UK Telefantasy Shows Ever
| journal=SFX Collection
| issue=22
| pages=50–51}}
</ref>
A similar poll conducted by ''[[TV Zone]]'' magazine during 2003 for the top 100 cult television programmes scored ''Blake's 7'' 11th.<ref>
{{Cite journal
| last=Spilsbury
| first=Tom
| date=June 2003
| title=The Top 100 Cult TV Shows Ever
| journal=TV Zone
| issue=163
| pages=21–27}}
</ref>

Dutch musician [[Arjen Anthony Lucassen]] was inspired by ''Blake's 7'' in naming his side-project [[Star One (band)|Star One]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.arjenlucassen.com/starone/so_index.html |title=Arjen Lucassen website |publisher=Arjenlucassen.com |date=1 November 2010 |access-date=15 December 2010 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110723133432/http://www.arjenlucassen.com/content/arjens-projects/star-one/ |archive-date = 23 July 2011}}</ref>

In 2004 a 15-minute comedy [[Short film|short]] entitled "Blake's Junction 7" debuted at several film festivals around the world. It was directed by Ben Gregor, written by [[Tim Plester]], and featured [[Mackenzie Crook]], [[Martin Freeman]], [[Johnny Vegas]], [[Mark Heap]] and Peter Tuddenham. This parody depicted the characters taking a break at the [[Newport Pagnell services|Newport Pagnell]] motorway service area.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/news/cult/2004/09/23/14386.shtml |title=Review: Blake's Junction 7 |access-date=9 December 2006 |date=23 September 2004 |work=BBC Cult |publisher=BBC |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061016000010/http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/news/cult/2004/09/23/14386.shtml |archive-date=16 October 2006}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title = Little things we like: Blake's Junction 7
| author = Leigh Singer
| url = http://arts.guardian.co.uk/fridayreview/story/0,12102,1286763,00.html |date = 20 August 2004
| access-date =26 January 2012 | work = Guardian Unlimited Arts}}</ref> During 2006 the BBC produced a 30-minute documentary ''The Cult of... Blake's 7'' that was first broadcast on 12 December on [[BBC Four]], as part of a ''Science Fiction Britannia'' series.<ref>{{Cite AV media
| people = Stevens, Toby; Tyler, Alan (Executive Producers) & Followell, Tony (Director)
| title = The Cult of... Blake's 7
| medium = Television programme
| work = BBC Scotland
| location = United Kingdom
| date = 12 December 2006
}}</ref>

== Planned revival ==
The revival of ''Blake's 7'' has been mooted for some years. Terry Nation raised the possibility on a number of occasions and proposed that a new series would be set some years after the existing one. Avon, living in exile like [[Napoleon]] on [[Elba]], would be persuaded by a new group of rebels to resume the fight against the Federation.<ref name="TVZ#34">{{Cite journal |author = Nazzaro, Joe |date = September 1992 |title = Terry Nation's Blake's 7 Part Two |journal = TV Zone |issue = 34 |pages = 28–30 |issn = 0957-3844}}</ref>

=== Radio and audio ===
{{main|Blake's 7 (audio drama)}}
During 1998 ''Blake's 7'' was broadcast again by the BBC by radio. ''The Sevenfold Crown'' was broadcast by [[BBC Radio 4]] on 17 January 1998 as part of its ''Playhouse'' strand. The play was produced by Brian Lighthill and written by [[Barry Letts]]. Paul Darrow, Michael Keating, Steven Pacey, Peter Tuddenham and Jacqueline Pearce reprised their television roles, but Josette Simon and Glynis Barber were replaced by [[Angela Bruce]] as Dayna and [[Paula Wilcox]] as Soolin. The story was set during the fourth series between the episodes ''Stardrive'' and ''Animals''. This was followed by ''The Syndeton Experiment'', which featured the same cast, producer and writer and was broadcast as ''The Saturday Play'' on 10 April 1999 by BBC Radio 4.<ref>Pixley, Andrew (2004). ''Blake's 7. The Radio Adventures'' [CD liner notes]. London: BBC Audiobooks</ref> [[BBC]] Audiobooks released a CD of readings of [[Trevor Hoyle]]'s novelisations of episodes ''The Way Back'' read by Gareth Thomas and ''Cygnus Alpha'' read by Paul Darrow.<ref>{{Cite web
| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2009/04_april/blakes_7.shtml
| title=Fan favourite Blake's 7 revived on audio CD
| author=Ben Griffiths
| work=BBC Worldwide Press Releases
| publisher=BBC
| date=17 April 2009
| access-date=17 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190707223136/http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2009/04_april/blakes_7.shtml
| archive-date=7 July 2019
| url-status=dead
| df=dmy
}}</ref>

On 11 December 2006, B7 Productions announced that it had recorded a series of 36 five-minute ''Blake's 7'' audio adventures, written by [[Ben Aaronovitch]], [[Marc Platt (writer)|Marc Platt]] and [[James Swallow]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.blakes7.com/index.php/2006/12/blakes-7-reborn-on-audio/ |title=Blake's 7 Reborn on Audio |work=Blakes7.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101222051358/http://www.blakes7.com/index.php/2006/12/blakes-7-reborn-on-audio/ |archive-date=22 December 2010}}
</ref> This featured [[Derek Riddell]] as Blake, [[Colin Salmon]] as Avon, [[Daniela Nardini]] as Servalan, [[Craig Kelly (actor)|Craig Kelly]] as Travis, [[Carrie Dobro]] as Jenna, [[Dean Harris]] as Vila, [[Owen Aaronovitch]] as Gan, [[Michael Praed]], [[Doug Bradley]] and [[India Fisher]].<ref name="Indie">{{Cite news
| title = Blake's 8: The Cult is Back
| author = Jonathan Thompson
| date = 24 December 2006
| url = https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/blakes-8-the-cult-is-back-429759.html| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121104121154/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/blakes-8-the-cult-is-back-429759.html| url-status = dead| archive-date = 4 November 2012}}</ref> The new series was broadcast by BBC Radio 7 and repeated during mid-2010 as three one-hour episodes: ''Rebel'' (written by Ben Aaronovitch), ''Traitor'' (Marc Platt) and ''Liberator'' (James Swallow). B7 Productions also produced series of 30-minute prequel audio episodes named ''Blake's 7: The Early Years'', which explored the earlier histories of the central characters.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00sm8xy#synopsis |title=Radio 7 Programmes – Blake's 7: The Early Years, When Vila Met Gan |publisher=BBC |access-date=15 December 2010}}</ref>

During 2011 [[Big Finish Productions]], under licence from B7 Productions, announced that it would be producing a series of audio dramas named ''Blake's 7: The Liberator Chronicles'', which would be "&nbsp;... a series of exciting, character-driven tales that remain true to the original TV series. We're aiming for authenticity—recreating the wonder of 1978 all over again!" The company also said it would publish a series of ''Blake's 7'' novels at a rate of two per year.<ref name="Starburst">{{Cite web |url = http://www.starburstmagazine.com/news/471-news-blakes-7-to-get-big-finish |title = News: BLAKE'S 7 To Get Big Finish |author = Kris Heys |publisher = Starburst Magazine Ltd |date = 5 July 2011 |access-date = 13 January 2012 }}{{Dead link|date=September 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> During January 2013 Big Finish released an initial full-cast audio production, Warship. This was followed during January 2014 with a series of six full-cast single-disc original stories, with a second series starting in November 2014.

Several individuals and companies have produced unofficial material based upon Blake's 7. [[Alan Stevens (writer)|Alan Stevens]], later of [[Magic Bullet Productions]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Magic Bullet Productions |url=http://www.kaldorcity.com/aboutus.html |access-date=22 April 2008}}</ref> produced three unofficial audio cassettes between 1991 and 1998: ''Travis: The Final Act'',<ref>{{Cite web |title=Travis: The Final Act |url=http://www.kaldorcity.com/audios//b7/travis/index.html |access-date=22 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525224950/http://www.kaldorcity.com/audios//b7/travis/index.html |archive-date=25 May 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> ''The Mark of Kane''<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Mark of Kane |url=http://www.kaldorcity.com/audios//b7/kane/index.html |publisher=Magic Bullet Productions |author=Alan Stevens |access-date=22 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525225031/http://www.kaldorcity.com/audios//b7/kane/index.html |archive-date=25 May 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and ''The Logic of Empire''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Logic of Empire |url=http://www.kaldorcity.com/audios//b7/logic/index.html |access-date=22 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525225018/http://www.kaldorcity.com/audios//b7/logic/index.html |archive-date=25 May 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Stevens also produced a series of audio dramas named ''[[Kaldor City]]'', created by Chris Boucher, which link the ''Blake's 7'' universe into Boucher's ''Doctor Who'' serial ''[[The Robots of Death]]'' through the character Carnell ([[Scott Fredericks]]), whom Boucher created for the ''Blake's 7'' episode "Weapon".

=== Television ===
During April 2000 producer Andrew Mark Sewell announced that he had bought the rights to ''Blake's 7'' from the estate of Terry Nation, and was planning to produce a [[TV movie]] set 20 years after the finale of the original series.<ref name="BBC News April 2000">
{{Cite news
| title=Blake's 7 relaunch on film
| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/705922.stm
| publisher=BBC News
| date=7 April 2000
| access-date=8 November 2006
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107171201/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/705922.stm
| archive-date=7 November 2012
| url-status=dead
| df=dmy
}}</ref> During July 2003, Sewell announced that he, Paul Darrow and Simon Moorhead had formed a consortium called 'B7 Enterprises' that had acquired the rights and was planning a television [[miniseries]] budgeted at between five and six million U.S. dollars. Darrow would play Avon and the series was to be televised during early 2005, depending on "&nbsp;... many factors, not least financing".<ref name="BBC News July 2003">
{{Cite news
| title=Blake's 7 set for hi-tech return
| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/3102295.stm
| publisher=BBC News
| date=28 July 2003
| access-date=8 November 2006
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415183755/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3102295.stm
| archive-date=15 April 2012
| url-status=dead
| df=dmy
}}</ref> Paul Darrow subsequently left the project during December 2003, citing "artistic differences".<ref>
{{Cite web
| url = http://www.hermit.org/Blakes7/news/PaulDar1.html
| title = Statement by Paul Darrow with regard to the proposed Movie
| access-date =8 November 2006
| date = 9 October 2003
| work = Hermit.org&nbsp;— Judith Proctor's Blake's 7 Pages
}}</ref>

B7 Enterprises announced on 31 October 2005 that it had appointed Drew Kaza as non-executive chairman, and that it was working on two ''Blake's 7'' projects. ''Blake's 7: Legacy'' was to be a two-part, three-hour mini-series, which would be written by [[Ben Aaronovitch]] and D. Dominic Devine. ''Blake's 7: The Animated Adventures'' was to be a 26-part children's animated adventure series written by Aaronovitch, [[Andrew Cartmel]], [[Marc Platt (writer)|Marc Platt]] and [[James Swallow]].<ref>{{Cite web
| url = http://www.blakes-7.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3256&view=next&sid=82f33910b55c3a229b42b3e35ed363fc
| title = B7 Productions Press Release&nbsp;— Appointment of Drew Kaza
| access-date = 8 November 2006
| date = 31 October 2005
| work = Louise and Simon's Blake's 7 Fan Site
| archive-date = 15 January 2008
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080115182218/http://www.blakes-7.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3256&view=next&sid=82f33910b55c3a229b42b3e35ed363fc
| url-status = dead
}}</ref>
In an interview with ''Doctor Who Magazine'', writer and producer [[Matthew Graham]] said that he had been involved in discussions to revive ''Blake's 7''. Graham's concept was that a group of young rebels would rescue Avon, who had been kept [[cryogenically frozen]] by Servalan, and then roam the galaxy in a new ship named ''Liberator''.<ref>
{{Cite journal
| last = Darlington
| first = David
| date = 21 June 2006
| title = Script Doctors: Matthew Graham
| journal = Doctor Who Magazine
| issue = 370
| page = 46
| issn = 0957-9818
}}
</ref>

On 24 April 2008, television station [[Sky1]] announced that it had commissioned two 60-minute scripts for a potential series, working alongside B7 Productions.<ref name="BBC News 24th April 2008">{{Cite news
| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7364663.stm
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120828232931/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7364663.stm
| archive-date=28 August 2012
| title=Blake's 7 poised for Sky comeback
| publisher=BBC News
| date=24 April 2008
| access-date=24 April 2008
| url-status=dead
| df=dmy
}}</ref> On 4 August 2010, the station said it had decided not to commission the series. B7 Productions said the decision was "&nbsp;... obviously disappointing", but that the development process has resulted in the "&nbsp;... dynamic reinvention of this branded series". It said it was confident it would find another partner to develop a new version of ''Blake's 7'' for television.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Matthew Hemley | url=http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/29175/sky-1-drops-blakes-7-revival | title=Sky 1 drops Blake's 7 revival |work=The Stage |publisher=The Stage Newspaper Limited |date=4 August 2010 | access-date=15 December 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611141902/http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/29175/sky-1-drops-blakes-7-revival |archive-date=11 June 2011 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

During July 2012, ''[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]]'' reported that a remake for US television networks was being developed by the independent studio Georgeville Television.<ref name="Deadline1">{{Cite web| title = Martin Campbell And Georgeville TV Shop Reboot Of Cult U.K. Sci-Fi Series 'Blake's 7′ | url = https://deadline.com/2012/07/martin-campbell-and-georgeville-tv-shop-reboot-of-cult-u-k-sci-fi-series-blakes-7-305552/ | date= 23 July 2012 | access-date =29 July 2012 | author = Nellie Andreeva | work = [[Deadline Hollywood]]| publisher = [[PMC (company)|PMC]] }}</ref> The [[Syfy]] network announced on 22 August that [[Joe Pokaski]] would develop the script and [[Martin Campbell]] would direct the new remake.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/08/22/syfy-to-develop-cult-adventure-classic-blakes-7-casino-royales-martin-campbell-to-direct-heroes-joe-polaski-to-write-pilot/145935/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120824011113/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/08/22/syfy-to-develop-cult-adventure-classic-blakes-7-casino-royales-martin-campbell-to-direct-heroes-joe-polaski-to-write-pilot/145935/|url-status=dead |archive-date=24 August 2012 |title=Syfy to Develop Cult Adventure Classic 'Blake's 7'; 'Casino Royale's' Martin Campbell to Direct, 'Heroes' Joe Pokaski to Write Pilot |last=Bibel |first=Sara |date=22 August 2012 |work=[[TV by the Numbers]] |access-date=22 August 2012}}</ref>

On 9 April 2013, the BBC reported that a new series of ''Blake's 7'' would be broadcast by [[SyFy]].<ref name="bbc.co.uk">{{Cite web |title=Blake's 7: Classic BBC sci-fi to return on Syfy channel |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-22079232 |date=9 April 2013 |access-date=9 April 2013 |publisher=BBC News}}</ref> Other media reported that a full-series order of thirteen episodes had been placed.<ref name="Den Of Geek">{{Cite web |title=Blake's 7 reboot goes to full series order |url=http://www.denofgeek.com/tv/blakes-7/25155/blakes-7-reboot-goes-to-full-series-order |date=9 April 2013 |access-date=9 April 2013 |author=Louisa Mellor |publisher=[[Dennis Publishing|denofgeek.com]]}}</ref> Again, however, no new series materialised.

== Merchandise ==
Terry Nation had done well financially from commercial exploitation of the ''Doctor Who'' Daleks, and recognised the potential for merchandise related to ''Blake's 7''.<ref name="Bignell-ODay-2004a">{{cite book |last1=Bignell |first1=Jonathan |last2=O'Day |first2=Andrew |title=Biographical sketch, Terry Nation |location=Manchester |publisher=Manchester University Press |year=2004 |pages=9–24 |isbn=978-0-7190-6547-7}}</ref> Nation and his agent Roger Hancock discussed this with Ray Williams of BBC Merchandising in December 1976. By May 1977, twenty-seven items of merchandise had been proposed for release by companies including [[Palitoy]], [[Letraset]] and [[Airfix]]. However, only a small quantity of these was ever made available.<ref name="Pixley-2002"/>

A small number of toys and models were produced. During 1978, [[Corgi Classics Limited|Corgi Toys]] produced a {{convert|2|in|cm|-long|adj=mid|spell=in}} die-cast model of ''Liberator'' with a transparent rear globe. This was re-released the following year in silver with a model space shuttle, and in blue on its own. Also during 1979, Blue Box Toys produced three space vehicle toys that featured the series logo; however, these had never appeared in the television programme.<ref name="B7 Programme Guide/Merchandise"/> Comet Miniatures produced a {{convert|9|in|cm|-long|adj=mid|spell=in}} injection-moulded model kit of ''Liberator'' in 1989, which contained many parts. They also produced a two-inch, white metallic ''Liberator'' model, and a three-inch Federation trooper figure.<ref name="B7 Programme Guide/Merchandise"/> A ''Scorpio'' clip gun, and ''Liberator'' and ''Scorpio'' teleport bracelets, were also produced.<ref name="B7SS"/>

The children's programme ''[[Blue Peter]]'' offered a cheaper home-made alternative to fans who wanted merchandise. In its 23 February 1978 show, presenter [[Lesley Judd]] demonstrated how to create a replica ''Liberator'' teleport bracelet from common household objects. This was followed on 6 June 1983, when presenter [[Janet Ellis]] demonstrated a similar method of making a replica ''Scorpio'' bracelet.<ref name="B7SS"/>

=== Music ===
The sheet music of the ''Blake's 7'' theme was published by [[Chappell & Co.]] Ltd during 1978 with a photograph of ''Liberator'' on the front cover.<ref name="B7 Programme Guide/Merchandise"/> A stereo re-recording of Dudley Simpson's theme music, in a markedly different arrangement to the original, was also released as a single, with ''The Federation March'' (a piece of incidental music from the episode ''Redemption'') on the B-side.<ref name="B7SS"/> The ''Blake's 7'' theme was also released on an album ''BBC Space Themes'', and ''Liberator'' was featured on the album sleeve. Another version of the theme, "Blake's 7 Disco", was recorded by Federation and released during 1979 on Beeb Records with a B-side unconnected with the series.<ref name="B7 Programme Guide/Merchandise"/> Many of the sound effects from the series were released during 1981 as an album, ''[[BBC Sound Effects No. 26: Sci-Fi Sound Effects]]'', and re-released later on CD as ''Essential Science Fiction Sound Effects Vol. 1''.<ref name="B7 Programme Guide/Merchandise"/>

=== Books and magazines ===
''Blake's 7'' books were produced by various authors and publishers. The first was entitled ''Blake's 7'', written by [[Trevor Hoyle]] and Terry Nation, and published during 1978 (novelising the first-series episodes ''The Way Back'', ''Space Fall'', ''Cygnus Alpha'' and ''Time Squad''). Its US title was ''Blake's 7&nbsp;– Their First Adventure''.<ref name="B7 Programme Guide/Merchandise"/> Hoyle wrote two more books of the series: ''Blake's 7: Project Avalon'' (1979, novelising the episodes ''Seek–Locate–Destroy'', ''Duel'', ''Project Avalon'', ''Deliverance'' and ''Orac'' from the first series) and ''Blake's 7: Scorpio Attack'' (1981, novelising the episodes ''Rescue'', ''Traitor'' and ''Stardrive'' from the fourth series).<ref name="Novel">{{Cite journal | last = Pixley | first = Andrew |date=Winter 1994 | title = A Novel Approach | journal = Blake's 7 Winter Special | page = 51 | issn = 1353-761X}}</ref> Publications continued to be issued after the series had ended. Tony Attwood's ''Blake's 7: The Programme Guide'', published by Target during 1982, is a factual overview of the series with a detailed episode guide, an encyclopedia, and interviews with the cast and writers. It was re-issued by Virgin Books during 1994.<ref name="B7 Programme Guide/Merchandise"/> Attwood also wrote an original novel named ''Afterlife'', which is set after the final episode and was published by Target during 1984.<ref name="B7 Programme Guide/Merchandise"/> Another original novel, ''[[Avon: A Terrible Aspect]]'' by Paul Darrow, told the story of Avon's early years before he met Blake, and was published during 1989.<ref name="Novel"/>

[[World Distributors]] produced ''Blake's 7 [[Annual publication|Annuals]]'' for 1979, 1980 and 1981. These featured stories, games, artwork and articles about space.<ref name="B7 Programme Guide/Merchandise"/> During October 1981 [[Marvel UK]] began publishing the monthly ''Blake's 7'' magazine, which included a comic strip by Ian Kennedy as well as text stories, features and photographs. Twenty-five issues including two 'specials' were published, until the magazine closed during August 1983.<ref name="B7 Programme Guide/Merchandise"/><ref name="Novel"/> Marvel produced two 'special' magazines during 1994 and 1995, with much of the content written by television historian Andrew Pixley and about how the series was made. Seven issues of ''Blake's 7 Poster Magazine'' were published between December 1994 and May 1995.<ref>
{{Cite web
| url=http://www.anorakzone.com/blake/Poster.html
| title=Spin Offs: Poster Magazine
| access-date=13 November 2006
| author=Richard the Anorak
| work=The Anorak's Guide to Blake's 7
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209091500/http://www.anorakzone.com/blake/Poster.html
| archive-date=9 February 2012
| url-status=dead
| df=dmy
}}</ref>

Several books offering insight and background information to ''Blake's 7'' were produced, including ''Blake's 7: The Complete Guide'' by [[Adrian Rigelsford]] (Boxtree, 1995), ''Blake's 7: The Inside Story'' by Joe Nazzaro and Sheelagh Wells (Virgin, 1997), ''A History and Critical Analysis of Blake's 7'' by John Kenneth Muir (McFarland and Company, 1999), and ''Liberation. The Unofficial and Unauthorised Guide to Blake's 7'' by Alan Stevens and Fiona Moore (Telos, 2003).<ref>
{{Cite web
| url=http://www.anorakzone.com/blake/spinframes.html
| title=Spin Offs
| access-date=13 November 2006
| author=Richard the Anorak
| work=The Anorak's Guide to Blake's 7
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209091538/http://www.anorakzone.com/blake/spinframes.html
| archive-date=9 February 2012
| url-status=dead
| df=dmy
}}</ref>

=== Home video releases ===
During 1985 BBC Video issued four compilation videocassettes containing highlights from the first three series edited into 2 hour features. The first released was ''The Beginning'', containing excerpts from ''The Way Back'', ''Spacefall'', ''Cygnus Alpha'' and ''Time Squad''. ''Duel'' was released in 1986 with highlights of ''Seek–Locate–Destroy'', ''Duel'' and ''Project Avalon''. During the same year ''Orac'' was released, containing excerpts from ''Deliverance'', ''Orac'' and ''Redemption''. The first three tapes were available in both [[VHS]] and [[Betamax]] format. The final tape, ''The Aftermath,'' was released in Australia during 1986, with extracts from ''Aftermath'', ''Powerplay'' and ''Sarcophagus''. During 1990 all four tapes were re-released in the UK on VHS.<ref name="B7 Programme Guide/Merchandise">{{Cite book
| last = Davies
| first = Kevin
| title = Blake's 7: The Programme Guide.
| location = London
| isbn = 0-426-19449-7
| chapter = The Merchandise
| publisher = [[Virgin Books]]
| year = 1994
| pages = [https://archive.org/details/terrynationsblak00attw/page/198 198–207]
| author2 = Attwood, Tony
| author3 = Emery, Rob
| author4 = Ophir, Jackie
| chapter-url = https://archive.org/details/terrynationsblak00attw/page/198
}}</ref>

From 1991, BBC Video released ''Blake's 7'' in episodic order on 26 VHS cassettes with two episodes per tape.<ref name="B7SS"/> Canadian company BFS also released these in North America. During 1997, Fabulous Films company re-released these tapes in different packaging. The BBC and Fabulous Films planned to issue the series as four [[DVD-Video|DVD]] box sets, but this was disrupted by conflicts with rights-holders B7 Enterprises. These issues were resolved and one series per year was released on [[DVD region code#2|region 2]] DVD between 2003 and 2006. During 2007 [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]] sold a four-series box set, but a casualty of the difficulties with Blake's 7 Enterprises was ''The Making of Blake's 7'', a four-part documentary directed by [[Kevin Davies (director)|Kevin Davies]], intended originally as an extra feature with each DVD release. B7 Enterprises said it "&nbsp;... did not feel [the documentary] provided a proper tribute or fresh retrospective of the show".<ref>{{cite web |last=Rogerson |first=Steve |title=What is the way forward for Blake's 7? |url=http://www.blakes-7.co.uk/b7e/b7eint.shtml |url-status=dead |work=Louise and Simon's Blake's 7 Fan Site |date=November 2003 |access-date=17 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929211301/http://www.blakes-7.co.uk/b7e/b7eint.shtml |archive-date=29 September 2011 |df=dmy}}</ref> The discs contained extra features including bloopers, out-takes, alternative scenes, voiceover commentaries, interviews and behind the scenes footage.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dvdbits.com/reviews.asp?id=3034 |title=DVD and Blu-ray Reviews and News |work=DVD Bits |publisher=John Zois |author=Bruce Flynn |date=23 October 2005 |access-date=17 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111204234215/http://www.dvdbits.com/reviews.asp?id=3034 |archive-date=4 December 2011 |url-status=usurped}}</ref>

On 22 August 2024, the BBC announced it would be releasing ''Blake's 7: The Collection – Series 1'', a Blu-ray box set containing the entire first series newly remastered for the release. The set contains bonus features previously seen on the DVD release of the show alongside brand new bonus material, such as optional updated special effects on all 13 episodes, a feature-length documentary detailing the making of the first series, rare convention footage and the previous unreleased ''The Making of Blake's 7 documentary'' originally meant for the DVD release. The box set was released on 11 November 2024.<ref>{{cite AV media |author=BBC Studios |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=_MEREpHICIQ |title=Coming Soon – Blake's 7 – The Collection! {{!}} BBC Studios |date=22 August 2024 |access-date=24 August 2024 |via=YouTube}}</ref>

=== Gaming ===
A retro [[point-and-click adventure game]] was developed in 2017 for the [[Oric platform]], paying homage to the ''Blake's 7'' TV series, and is available as a free download.<ref>{{cite web |title=Defence Force – Games |url=https://www.defence-force.org/index.php?page=games&game=blakes7 |website=defence-force.org |access-date=27 August 2020}}</ref>

== Streaming ==
On Thursday 10 September 2020, ''Blake's 7'' was released on the UK streaming service [[BritBox]].<ref>{{cite web |title=BritBox – S1 |url=https://www.britbox.co.uk/programme/Blakes_7_51629 |website=www.britbox.co.uk |access-date=14 September 2020}}</ref> BritBox UK was discontinued following [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]'s buy-out of the BBC's stake in the service during 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yossman |first=K. J. |date=3 March 2022|title=ITV Buys Out BBC’s Share of BritBox U.K. |url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/itv-bbc-britbox-1235195054/ |access-date=20 April 2025|website=Variety }}</ref> As of April 2025, all four series of ''Blake's 7'' are available on the [[ITVX]] Premium streaming platform.

== See also ==
* [[Characters of Blake's 7|Characters of ''Blake's 7'']]
* [[History of Blake's 7|History of ''Blake's 7'']]
* [[List of Blake's 7 episodes|List of ''Blake's 7'' episodes]]

== Notes and references ==
{{reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{BBC programme}}
* {{IMDb title|0076987|Blake's 7}}
* {{Discogs master|545546}}

{{Blake's 7}}

[[Category:Blake's 7| ]]
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[[Category:1978 British television series debuts]]
[[Category:1980s British science fiction television series]]
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[[Category:BBC television dramas]]
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[[Category:Space adventure television series]]
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[[Category:Television series about extraterrestrial life]]
[[Category:Television series created by Terry Nation]]
[[Category:Television series set on fictional planets]]