September 12th, 2024
155 comments
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Blake’s 7 The Collection Series 1 Blu-ray UK/USA
Yes we know it’s not Doctor Who but we know some visitors will be interested in this and are already talking about it.
Available to order in the UK from www.amazon.co.uk
Available to order in the USA from www.amazon.com
Official Press Release With Thanks to BBC Studios
Maximum power! Blake’s 7 fans can rejoin the rebellion as the iconic BBC sci-fi series comes to Blu-ray with a six-disc box set of the first series on 11th November 2024.
Framed for crimes he did not commit, freedom fighter Blake (Gareth Thomas) escapes a prison ship and enlists a crew of rogue heroes to fight back against the tyrannical Federation. With Avon, Vila, Jenna, Cally and Gan, Blake boards fantastical spacecraft the Liberator and begins his quest to free the galaxy.
All 13 episodes have been newly remastered from the best available sources, including the original film where available. These stories have never looked or sounded so good on home media. Plus, fans can experience their favourite show like never before, with brand new optional updated effects on every episode, exclusive to this Blu-ray set.
Blake’s 7 The Collection: Series 1 is also jam-packed with hours of new and exclusive material including:
IN CONVERSATION
Matthew Sweet conducts two new interviews with Sally Knyvette who played Jenna Stannis, and director Michael Briant
LIBERATION
A brand-new feature-length documentary looking back at the making of the first series
ARCHIVAL DOCUMENTARY
The previously unreleased Making Of Blake’s 7, featuring extensive interviews with cast and crew.
STEPHEN GREIF TRIBUTE
A look at the life and career of the first incarnation of Travis
RARE CONVENTION FOOTAGE
Previously unreleased panels with the cast and crew
HD PHOTO GALLERIES
With previously unseen images
PDF WRITTEN ARCHIVE
Production paperwork, scripts, studio floorplans and much more, available for the first time
ARCHIVE TREATS
From the BBC archives.
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Martino
August 23rd, 2024 - 10:53amThe model effects were a part of the charm of these old shows, how dare they (sees the CGI effects for the Federation pursuit ships) FORGIVEN!
Andy R
August 23rd, 2024 - 10:35amI hope they get Colin Baker to do a commrntary on his season 3 episode 🙂 when we get to that set.
Gordon
August 24th, 2024 - 12:47amConsidering it’s probably Chris chapman that will do the making of for season 3 (he did season 1) and he’s good friends with Colin (he’s even written for Colin for big finish) I’d be surprised if he wasn’t involved with the season 3 release in some description.
Renegade86
August 23rd, 2024 - 10:13amThank you very much for sharing this. I love Blake’s 7and I’m usually the only person at the conventions I’ve been to who dresses like a character from the show so hopefully this release will generate fresh interest in the show. “Maximum power!”
Gordon
August 23rd, 2024 - 9:57amBeen thinking of bonus features for the remaining 3 sets.
New effects to match the optional new effects for season 1.
Obviously a must is getting Chris chapman to do feature length making ofs for season 2,3 and 4 in the same vain as his first season documentary liberation.
Kevin John Davies unreleased (yes I know it was on YouTube for a while but still unofficially released) making of Blake’s 7 for seasons 2 and 3. As he already shot season 4 but the plug was pulled before he got to edit it let him finish off 4.
In conversation: there is probably about 6 names you could probably have. Providing they are healthy enough (keating) and want to do it (Simon):
Season 2: Brian croucher, michael Keating
Season 3: Josette Simon, Jan chappell
Season 4: Glynis Barber, Steven Pacey
Tributes: There are so many cast members gone that deserve the treatment: Gareth thomas, Paul darrow, David Jackson, Peter Tuddenham, Jacqueline Pearce and that’s just people that are in front of the camera. Behind the camera there are: Terry nation, David malony, Vere Lorrimer, Chris Boucher, Dudley Simpson, pennant Roberts, Robert holmes and George Specton foster to name a few. Think the problem is there is only so many people they can cover with 3 remaining sets. If it’s only 1 per set I expect it to be Gareth Thomas, Paul Darrow and Jaqueline Pearce. However there are so many names deserve it. I also feel that the likes of Terry nation, Dudley Simpson, David malony and Robert holmes may have features about their lives in future doctor who sets
New commentaries
Locations documentary
Something on Dudley Simpson’s work on this show
Production subtitles (hopefully it’s on season 1 too)
Paperwork/pdfs
Pablo Barracuda
August 23rd, 2024 - 12:33pmThe story arc across series 2 was messed up during production,maybe with some digital trickery they could re order the episodes so it flows better.
MIKK89
August 23rd, 2024 - 5:05pmAs an added bonus, work with Big Finish to animate the outstanding Audio Drama ‘Warship’ for either Series 2 or 3 (as it details the Battle that we missed in between Series 2 finale ‘Star One’ and Series 3 Opener ‘Aftermath’) It would add something special that wouldn’t be available elsewhere (except on MP3 or download on Big Finish)
Gordon
August 24th, 2024 - 12:41amLike with the doctor who animations the budget would never be there to animate it for any of the collection sets. Maybe there can be some sort of agreement to include the audio for season 2.
Gerry
August 26th, 2024 - 12:30am….and another corgi liberator please 😉
SVH
November 6th, 2024 - 2:28pmI’m with Gerry. Another die-cast Corgi Liberator would be great. I remember being outside in the sun flying it around in the late 70s.
beef
August 23rd, 2024 - 7:22am“Blake’s 7” is a very irritating name to say out loud. It’s like “demon’s souls” having to pronounce two Sses in a row like that makes my mouth very uncomfortable
Savo
August 23rd, 2024 - 5:50amOrdered. So glad these shows are getting these lavish bluray releases. The updated fx let you see what the script was trying to do but didn’t have the budget for. Blakes 7 in particular had some really poor fx that let down some great story telling, hope it’s not just the spaceships they’ve done, I’m remembering Molloch. Just don’t go Han Solo and greedo and start changing who shot first, it’s always Avon.
Pete X
August 23rd, 2024 - 9:56amYes, though there were some good fx and The Libertator is one of the best spaceship designs, many of the effects were poor, especially when photographs of the spaceships (particularrly Scorpio) were used instead of model shots.
I never ceases to amaze me how both Blake’s 7 and 70’s Doctor Who got to run around operational industrial and nuclear sites and set off explosions.
“Just don’t go Han Solo and greedo and start changing who shot first, it’s always Avon.” Could be a whole new ending for the series.
ChrisP
August 22nd, 2024 - 10:59pmLove the look of the updated effects.
Have preordered.
Great to see this getting the Who-Ray treatment.
Servalan kissed me on the lips
August 22nd, 2024 - 8:26pmI’m really pleased this is being released with the new extras. Loads of cast and production who’d been in Dr Who are here. Thank you for promoting this set.
Nick D
August 22nd, 2024 - 8:19pmOh WOW! This is great news. It looks truly amazing. I can’t wait to get it. And we even get the original effects included – beat that Hollywood!!!
Pablo Barracuda
August 22nd, 2024 - 7:25pmThis is great news,have there been any new commentaries recorded?
Auton
August 22nd, 2024 - 8:31pmYes, it’s mentioned in the trailer and I believe one of them has Isla Blair in it but correct me if I’m wrong
Prof Horner
August 22nd, 2024 - 9:19pmYes you are right Anon , directed by Douglas Camfield no less! And her hubby appears in a later episode.
Gordon
August 22nd, 2024 - 9:43pmThere is commentaries but no word if it’s the same couple from the original dvd release or not.
Pablo Barracuda
August 22nd, 2024 - 10:26pmSome of the commentaries on the old dvd sets were alright but some were boring with long quiet passages,I hope if there are new commentaries they have a moderator to keep the conversation going.
Tim
August 22nd, 2024 - 7:23pmAny plans for a release in the United States?
Gordon
August 22nd, 2024 - 9:15pmAccording to Richard bignell it will be.
demdike@Cult Labs
August 22nd, 2024 - 3:20pmDelighted this has been announced in time for Christmas. A wonderful present.
Bill Silver
August 22nd, 2024 - 1:33pmCan you imagine the disruption to the “Dr Who” canon, had the BBC told Terry Nation, “Yes, you CAN have Daleks vs the Federation in “Blakes7”?
wideload
August 22nd, 2024 - 4:59pmNation could have done that if he wanted as he owns the rights to the Daleks, not the BBC. The BBC would have no say in it. That’s how the two Peter Cushing ‘Dr. Who’ movies came about.
Daniel Seymour
August 22nd, 2024 - 5:11pmIve always believed that Blake’s 7 takes place in the Whoniverse. Thats my preference anyway.
“Yes, you CAN have Daleks vs the Federation in “Blakes7″…..only a matter of time for Big Finish…..
Whofan44
August 22nd, 2024 - 6:24pmThe fact Big Finish have never done crossover between Doctor Who and Blake’s 7 is actually really surprising.
Valeyard
August 22nd, 2024 - 9:24pmIt was kinda done by Magic Bullet with their Kaldor City series, although that was more of a mashup of Chris Boucher concepts from both DW & B7.
Clay
August 23rd, 2024 - 1:46am@wideload Nation did want to, and the BBC vetoed it. Nation and the BBC co-owned the rights to the Daleks, and neither could use them without the permission of the other. The Cushing movies were produced with the support of the BBC.
Anon
August 22nd, 2024 - 1:22pmI watched all of Blake’s 7 a few years ago and was honestly very disappointed by it. It hasn’t aged well. And the acting is below par at times.
Robert Watkins
August 22nd, 2024 - 6:55pmI wasn’t an original view, so tried it a few years ago and found the first few episodes were okay, but like you say it’s dated. Might try it again with this set
Snowman
August 22nd, 2024 - 9:12pmI think a far Superior TV Sci-Fi Show of around the same time (and doesn’t seem to get mentioned much) is “Space 1999”.
Gordon
August 22nd, 2024 - 9:34pmSpace 1999 Season 1 was great. Season 2 not so much. Great blu ray releases though.
Snowman
August 22nd, 2024 - 10:21pmYeah Gordon, It was all politics back then in TV, but I vaguely remember something about Lou Grade amongst other Top TV Executives interfering in a lot of Gerry Anderson’s projects, even Space 1999.
Basically they Wanted him to change Certain aspects of his Shows to appeal more to an American Audience and in many cases if he didn’t make those changes further Series wouldn’t get approved, So begrudgingly he made those Changes
I think that was one reason why Season One of Space 1999 Varied so much to Season two.
Gordon
August 23rd, 2024 - 12:04amHis marriage to Sylvia crumbled by the end of season 1 which probably didn’t help things and getting Fred Freiberger who pretty much had the nick name of serial killer didn’t either
Pete X
August 23rd, 2024 - 9:29amIn some ways comparing Blake’s 7 to Space 1999 is not the best comparison to make. They are two different beasts – though they do have similarities in the attitudes of the time.
Space 1999 had the benefit of ITC (plus German/Italian (iirc) and later American) money and experience of making filmed TV with an eye to sales to other markets – especially the lucrative American market.
Blake’s 7 was made by the BBC in their standard method (multi-camera studio) under the same conditions as Doctor Who, with the same BBC attitude to Sci-Fi and for similar budgets (per hour of TV), undergoing the same inflationary pressures (something that didn’t affect the earlier made Space 1999 to the same extent or at all).utwith
Neither programmes have especially good female parts. Outwith the doctor (can’t remember the actor or characters name off-hand), women where largely background characters in Space 1999 and Blake’s 7 suffered Terry Nation’s usual lack of interest/ability with female roles.
All the above shows in the two programmes.
Snowman
August 23rd, 2024 - 7:32pmLOL, Yes didn’t Fred the Serial Killer famously take over the Reigns of the Original Star Trek for Season 3 and say no more, that was the end of Star Trek.
Ricky
August 22nd, 2024 - 1:21pmThank you for posting this ,it’s made my day!
Prof Horner
August 22nd, 2024 - 1:19pmWell I was 14 when this was first shown . At the time Doctor Who seemed to getting a bit silly, it was alternative that was a bit more serious . The fact that a lot of best talent from Who including the Great Douglas Camfield was a bonus. This season and season 3 are the best two seasons in my opinion. Definitely be getting this.
Grumpy
August 22nd, 2024 - 1:11pmThis is the problem with being a part of Doctor Who fandom. Blake’s 7. I think you’ll find that the majority of who fans don’t like Blake’s 7. It’s almost offensive with the assumption. Gahhh.
Lewis
August 22nd, 2024 - 6:16pmI don’t know, I’ve never watched it before but that trailer has me interested for the first time since ive heard about it when I started watching classic who. Might have to give this a go
Glyn Jones
August 22nd, 2024 - 7:46pmWhat rubbish most Doctor Who fans would definitely be fans of Blakes 7
Philip Shaw
August 22nd, 2024 - 10:13pmWell I’m a massive Who fan who also loves Blakes 7…
SVH
November 6th, 2024 - 1:58pmDitto. I’m a massive fan of both Doctor Who and Blake’s 7.
Erato
August 22nd, 2024 - 12:36pmInstant preorder! Set looks sensational. I have the first three seasons on DVD and the picture / sound quality is awful. Plus, they are extremely rare – I haven’t been able to get hold of an individual copy of season 4.
I only started watching this about 3 years ago when I was 35 and yet I’ve watched and collected Doctor Who merch since I was 8 so to Who fans who are on the fence about this set, buy it! There’s actors, props, costumes, set design, production staff throughout who have all been in Doctor Who so you won’t be disappointed.
You can even play a drinking game where you take a shot/swig every time you see anything from Who in there.
Snowman
August 22nd, 2024 - 12:20pmI always much preferred Dr Who over Blake’s 7 when I was a Kid. Having said that I did watch Every Episode of the Show and I remember watching any Repeats when they came on “Gold”? I always found it abit “boring” at times though. Probably because Dr Who was always Different Locations, Different Planets loads of Different Aliens to Battle. (Every Story really).
Then I watched Blake’s 7 around the same Time and I remember thinking why are all the Stories based on there Ship with the Crew basically Sat around talking to each other all the Episode and that was the Entire Plot. ( I didn’t dislike it, just for me Dr Who was the Much Stronger Franchise of the Two) As a Sci-Fi nut in the Seventies and Early Eighties we would basically take anything. There wasn’t much about on TV or Film (Especially really Good
well made Productions).
Snowman
August 22nd, 2024 - 1:12pmWhat I found really odd was having a show about Blake’s 7 but having No Blake. As people who watched the show will know Blake Dissapeared halfway through the series. I think once you lose the main Character from a show the show should end but bizarrely the Production Crew decided to carry on with the show. Don’t know how true it was but at the time I heard Gareth Thomas was growing increasingly Frustrated with the Show and especially the Direction it was taking and had announced he wouldn’t be back for Series 3.
Whofan44
August 22nd, 2024 - 12:17pmI have only ever seen one episode of Blake’s 7 years ago and it did not really grip. Yes I did pre order this instantly.
Gordon
August 22nd, 2024 - 11:59amMichael E Bryant is also getting an in conversation for this release.
Chris chapman has produced 2 features for this set:
‘LIBERATION: Blake’s 7 Year 1’ is an 85min epic exploring every episode of that first season – featuring contributions from 29 interviewees – 17 of which have been newly shot.
‘A GLINT IN THE EYE: The Life of Stephen Greif’ is a 35min celebration of the actor who originated Travis – featuring interviews with his family and friends including Sian Phillips, Frank Barrie and Jed Mercurio.
mb
August 22nd, 2024 - 11:58amYes please!
Rory
August 22nd, 2024 - 11:44amInstant order. I need this in my life.
David
August 22nd, 2024 - 11:31amI would rather they do more Doctor Who collection boxsets than Blakes 7, but that’s just me.
Gordon
August 22nd, 2024 - 11:54amTo quote Richard bignell: work on this has been done *alongside* the Doctor Who work – not instead of it!
Glyn Jones
August 22nd, 2024 - 7:49pmIt’s not season it’s series it says it on the cover Blakes 7 was never referred to as seasons especially at that time
rich
August 23rd, 2024 - 6:29amJeez we get two or three a year
Gordon
August 22nd, 2024 - 11:15amTrailer:
https://youtu.be/_MEREpHICIQ?si=BTO6sX6s7Va21ky9
Bicky
August 22nd, 2024 - 10:36amShame the Doctor Who collection covers weren’t like this- more defined images. The Doctor Who collection covers are ok but the monsters etc are a bit of a mish- mash and not prominent enough
daz
August 22nd, 2024 - 12:27pmThat’s the point though. The Doctor is the main focus on the cover of the sets.
Lee Binding did this Blakes 7 set too.
SVH
November 6th, 2024 - 2:05pmI think the Doctor Who collection covers are beautiful. I love the Blake’s 7 cover too, but I’m more than happy with the collection covers. Best covers since the VHS releases.
David E
August 22nd, 2024 - 10:17amThanks Gordon. I have heard so much about it over the years and I read your comments recently that it was coming to blu ray so thanks for the heads up-I thought I would probably purchase it as its the best way to see it-new FX too. Its a gorgeous package and very much in the style of our WHO collection sets, so its a no brainer at that price even if one hasnt seen it before, I feel. I like dark drama and it may fit the bill nicely.
GuyTheZygon
August 22nd, 2024 - 10:11amThough I have no idea of the source, there was a time during the series’ transmission when it was verY stronglY rumoured that TerrY Nation was bringing the Daleks into Blakes 7; it never happened and (not being a huge fan of crossovers) I for one was relieved: theY are exactlY where theY belong and it could potentiallY have sounded the final death knoll for Dr. Who!!
Gordon
August 22nd, 2024 - 10:48amI Believe that Terry also wanted Tom in it as the 4th doctor too. Would have been series 3. Terry couldn’t get past the pitching stage as the bbc turned it down. However I’m not sure how much of this is true.
MichaelMcC
August 22nd, 2024 - 11:24amI think he wanted the Daleks to be the enemy at the end of Season 2. As for the 4th Doctor appearing, that, believe it or not, was a Tom idea….He once told Gareth Thomas it would be fun for the Doctor and Blake walking past each other and saying hello!
Bellal
August 22nd, 2024 - 1:39pmOnly got into Blakes 7 last years. Bought the dvd collection on amazon a few months back. Regret that as it’s now coming to bluray. Series 1 the weakest for me of the four but still good. Nice artwork and trailer it has to be said.
Yes Doctor Who fans, I was one, tried this, like it. Basically more classic Doctor Who, some star performers really make it what it is ( Paul Darrow and Jacqueline Pearce)
SVH
November 6th, 2024 - 2:10pmBellal: it’s interesting how different people’s tastes are. Personally I think Series 1 is the strongest and best of the 4 series. I love that it has lots of overarching season-long stories.
It’s great that you’re a new Blake’s 7 fan. You’ll have to have a think if you intend to upgrade to blu-ray some day. 🙂
Gordon
August 22nd, 2024 - 10:06amThink it was back in January I had been told by someone on facebook that interviews had been recorded. Nice to see it actually being true. Feels a bit more real now I’ve seen box art and a release date. I’m most certainly picking this one up.
David E
August 22nd, 2024 - 10:02amNever ever seen this show. Price is good and the package looks great so I have taken a punt
Is it any good?
Gordon
August 22nd, 2024 - 10:12amIf you like mid/late 70s who you will probably love it. It’s got the same sort of production feel plus a lot of the writers and the producer have doctor who ties. It is however a lot darker though in its themes. Considering it’s produced by the same team as the doctor who collection the bonus features alone should