Blake’s 7, produced by the BBC, is a popular science fiction series that has achieved cult status and draws inspiration from the legend of Robin Hood with loyalty and trust being popular themes. The series ran from 1978 to 1981 and was influenced by such as The Dirty Dozen, The Magnificent Seven, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Nineteen Eighty Four amongst others. The series was created by Terry Nation who created the Dalek’s in another popular BBC series, Dr Who which also shot on location in the East of England using the exact same location. The series follows the exploits of a band of rebel freedom fighters lead by Roj Blake (Gareth Thomas), a political dissident, who travel the galaxy in an attempt to undermine the evil Terran Federation which rules the Earth and many other planets. In the series, Zen the main computer became a character in its own right and was portrayed by Peter Tuddenham, a notable Suffolk actor.
Release / Airing: 02/01/1978
Locations used for this production:
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Bovingdon airfield >
This location was used in the episode of 'Harvest of Kairos' as Kairos surface.
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Rickmansworth Lakes & Aquadrome(Springwell & Stockers Lakes; Springwell Lock) >
The location was used for scenes in two episodes: 'Cygnus Alpha' (1978) (episode 3, series A ) and 'Orac' (1978) (episode 13, series A). In Cygnus Alpha Blake, Avon (Paul Darrow) and Jenna (Sally Knyvette) escape and commandeer an alien vessel which is to become their space ship, The Liberator. Inside is the mind-reading computer Zen. Blake then mounts a rescue plan to save Vila (Michael Keating) and Gan (David Jackson) from prison. In Orac Avon, Gan and Jenna are exposed to radiation on Celphon. Blake comes to the rescue with the life-saving serum only to find Servalan (Jacquelin Pearce), the glamorous uterly ruthless Supreme Commander of the Terran Federation and Travis (Stephen Grief), and equally ruthless Federation Officer waiting for him. It is in this episode that Blake gains possession of Orac (also portrayed by Peter Tuddenham), an advanced computer which can predict the future.
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These productions were filmed nearby:
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