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Order Now – The Blake’s 7 Annual 1982
We are happy to feature this worthwhile project here for fellow sci-fi / Blake’s 7 fans.
Available to order from www.lulu.com (Try using code WELCOME15)
LONG AWAITED ‘BLAKE’S 7 ANNUAL 1982’ TO BE PUBLISHED ON 28th SEPTEMBER 2021
The fan-created, non-profit Blake’s 7 Annual 1982 will be available to buy from 28th September 2021 at 7.20pm – 40 years to the minute that the final series of Blake’s 7 aired on BBC 1 in 1981.
The annual, which will finally fill a gap on fans shelves (the original 1982 annual was cancelled) runs to 252 pages and features interviews, short stories, fan art and comic strips based on the final series of Blake’s 7, which ran from September to December 1981. The annual also contains many behind-the-scenes features and reports, including dozens of previously unseen photographs and insight from the making of the final series.
The project has been produced by just two people – Grahame Robertson, a graphic designer based in Manchester, and lifelong Blake’s 7 fan Carol Ramsay from Dunfermline.
Grahame: “It began when I sent a joke tweet out last December with a mock-up cover of how the missing Blake’s 7 1982 Annual might have looked. A day later I was inundated with messages asking if it was available to buy, so in a fit of lockdown pique I thought ‘Why not do it? I’m stuck at home and I’ve nothing better to do!’ My background is in graphic design and magazine design, and to be honest as a fan of Blake’s 7 it was a dream project!”
Carol: “When Grahame mentioned to me that he had tweeted a mock ‘missing’ Blake’s 7 Annual 1982 back in December I thought ‘great idea!’, but not realising how that could develop very quickly into an amazing celebration, as well as an opportunity to fill that Series D sized gap in every fan’s collection of Annuals.”
The original plan was to produce a 64 page Annual in the style and tone of the original World Distribution annuals from the 1970’s. When it was discovered that there had been tentative plans to produce a Blake’s 7 Annual in 1982, eager fans pointed the organisers towards Mike Wild, a prolific writer for the old World annuals in the 70’s and 80’s.
Grahame: “Mike had written stories for the Doctor Who annuals, and previous Blake annuals. It turned out he had two Blake’s 7 stories that were written for that shelved 1982 annual and he kindly agreed to let us publish them. What a coup, and what an incentive to make the Annual happen!”
After a call for submissions was put out on social media, the response was overwhelming. World class author Dr. Una McCormack (Doctor Who, Star Trek, Firefly) and novelist Trevor Baxendale (Big Finish, Doctor Who, Blake’s 7, Torchwood) both offered to submit new short fiction, along with dozens of other fans of the show.
The annual also features a number of contributions from Jonathan Helm (better known as @MakingBlakes7 on Twitter)…
Grahame: “Jonathan has been incredible, and so helpful in making the annual more than I ever hoped. Fans will learn brand new things about Series D, and see pictures that had long been confined to the archives. Longtime fan Andy Spencer has also given us access to incredible amounts of information and archive material about the location filming of Series D. We’ve been so lucky to have all these amazing contributors and fans on board.”
The annual also features brand new interviews with Dicken Ashworth (Gunn Sar in the episode Power), Sasha Mitchell (Arlen from the episode Blake) and Vila himself, Michael Keating. Both Sasha and Michael have nominated charities who will benefit from sale of the Annual.
Grahame: “It’s hugely important that nobody makes any financial gain from this project. From the start, it’s been a passion project to celebrate the cast, crew, and writers of Blake’s 7 and to give fans something – hopefully – that they will genuinely enjoy. With that said, we felt it was important that this project benefit charity. Michael Keating has chosen Save The Children, and Sasha Mitchell has chosen Axminster & Lyme Cancer Support. £1 from each sale will go to each of these nominated charities.”
The Blake’s 7 Annual 1982 (hardback, 252pp) will be available from 28th September, print-to-order from Lulu at a cost of £43.72 (including £2 charity donation). For details of how to order, follow @cult_edge on Twitter, or visit the Facebook page, search: Blake’s 7 Annual 1982.
Ian
October 8th, 2021 - 5:50pmJust arrived today, had a quick skim through. It really looks a beautiful book and I can’t wait to read it.
Coleman
October 6th, 2021 - 11:24amStill want to get Blake, Avon and Villa’s autograph trading cards for my collection, Im always on the lookout for a bargain.
Doctor Mysterio
September 28th, 2021 - 10:51pmThanks Booboo for including this – it’s great we can hear about these things too.
Dalekz
September 28th, 2021 - 10:36pmBeen watching Blakes 7 for the first time on Forces TV, apart from a few nice ideas I really find it dull and rather depressing. I’m watching just so I can see what all the fuss is about but I can’t wait to get to part where the lead character vanishes and then they all die.
Ken
September 29th, 2021 - 12:36pmI’d start with the second season when watching B7
Can’t they sell a light version with half the content
If only this was on the shelf at Asda
Coleman
September 28th, 2021 - 7:46pmStill can’t believe for two full seasons out of four their was no Blake in Blake’s 7.
Its like having Dr Who with no Doctor in it.
Whovians used to complain about just one episode with no Doctor in it like the Celestial Toymaker. (Can you imagine two full seasons with no Doctor)?
Daleksz
September 28th, 2021 - 10:38pmI’m watching for the first time but I already know that’s coming which is really weird because thn I’m I watching Avon 7? or just 7?
Demdike@CultLabs
September 28th, 2021 - 11:08pmDoctor Who without the Doctor?. That would definitely work in the current era. Haha!
the ergon
September 29th, 2021 - 12:11amStarted watching this from the beginning last night. The first time i,ve seen this in 43 years. Doesn,t seem like yesterday.
the ergon
September 29th, 2021 - 10:23amI,m enjoying spotting all the guest actors from Doctor Who in this. I,m two episodes in and seen General Cutler (Robert Beatty-The Tenth Planet), Kellman (Jeremy Wilkin- Revenge of the Cybermen), calib(leslie Schofield-The Face Of Evil) Idas(Norman Tipton-Underworld) and Rohm Dutt(Glyn owen-The power of Kroll) not counting Michael keating and Paul Darrow and all the production and director credits. And to top it off Dudley Simpsons memorable score. Cant wait to see who else turns up.
Coleman
September 29th, 2021 - 12:08pmHi Guys, Being around ten at the time and not understanding the behind the scenes politics. I remember being totally confused when this new guy took over the crew. Although he was similar to Blake and was tall and had dark Curly hair he was no longer called Blake anymore.
Recently since reading up on the situation, I discovered Gareth Thomas was becoming increasingly frustrated with his role and the direction the show was going (turning from Science Fiction to Science Fantasy) and announced he was leaving at the end of season 2.
I don’t think it was a great idea trying to carry on with the show without its main character.
I.E, like having Doctor Who with no Doctor.
Having said that I really enjoyed the show and a very nice part of my collection contains on trading card binder with a full set of Blake seven trading cards with some very nice autographed ones included.
Coleman
September 29th, 2021 - 12:10pmHow are you watching it ergon, is it streaming at the moment or have you treated yourself to the boxset?
Daleksz
September 29th, 2021 - 12:32pmThe ergon, Yes I spotted John Leeson in it and I was suprised I recognised him as he didn’t look like a robot dog in Blakes 7 like he does in Doctor Who!
the ergon
September 29th, 2021 - 1:03pmStreamed Coleman and yes Dalekz but don,t forget John leeson was one of the chemical refinery workers in the power of Kroll.
Dalekz
September 29th, 2021 - 2:59pmI knew he was in it as himself somewhere but I’d forgotten where lol.
I haven’t seen Power of Kroll for ages, might have to watch that one again soon.
Kera Freen
August 15th, 2021 - 12:38amI am SO excited..
Coleman
December 23rd, 2020 - 5:30pmI remember watching these 1st time around and thinking it was strange having no Blake in
Blake 7.
the ergon
December 23rd, 2020 - 5:50pmDid Blake Just Disappear during the 2nd or Third season? Its that long ago since i,ve seen the series but i did watch them all from 1978-1981. I just remember that punch in the gut final episode which left me reeling and i remember being so in love with Sally Knyvette and subsequantly Glynis Barber as jenna and soolin.
Coleman
December 23rd, 2020 - 6:15pmHe disappeared at the end of the third season.
Then just came back for final episode of season 4 to be killed off.
Just double checked on Google.
Mrs Croot
December 23rd, 2020 - 7:17pmHis last on screen appearance was in the final episode of series 2, “Star One”, then he is said to stay with Jemma on the liberator in 3×1 “Aftermath”. He appears as a vision to Avon in the series 3 finale “Terminus” and has one last actual appearance in 4×13 “Blake”.
Anonymous
December 23rd, 2020 - 7:35pmIt was strange that the title character only appeared in 2 of the four seasons (along with minor guest appearances)
the ergon
December 23rd, 2020 - 9:26pmGareth Thomas. He was really good as Adam brake in Children of the stones and there were a few WHO guest luminaries in that as well, John Woodnutt and Ian Cuthbertson. The last thing i remember seeing him in was Torchwood and he looked really old in that and he did do one final Big Finish with Tom Baker a few years ago as well before he died.
Gareth Pugh
December 23rd, 2020 - 10:59pmGareth Thomas was also very good in Paul McGann’s first ever Big Finish ‘Storm Warning’
the ergon
December 24th, 2020 - 7:40amI have storm Warning as well. Was he one of the dignitaries aboard The R101? Charlys first story. I,d forgotten he was in that one.
Mrs Croot
December 24th, 2020 - 10:44amChildren of the Stones is where I first saw him
Rob W
December 24th, 2020 - 3:55pmNo mention of Gareth’s appearance in Star Maidens then?
Mrs Croot
December 23rd, 2020 - 5:21pmGot the first 3 last Christmas and loved them, although, if there isn’t a generic board game in it, then I will be very disappointed.
mark687
December 24th, 2020 - 5:17amAnd lots of features on Jodrell Bank and Greek mythology.
regards
mark687
MJS
September 28th, 2021 - 8:00pmThere IS a board game