Blake’s 7 could be back on TV soon

Geekyfanboy · April 24, 2008, 03:43:50 PM

Britian's Sky One has given the green light to a potential come-back for Blake's 7 reports the BBC. The deal will develop two 60-minute scripts as a "potential event series."

"The time is ripe for a revival of a show that represents the best traditions of the genre, not to mention one of the best-loved and most successful dramas of all time," Elaine Pyke, commissioning editor for drama at Sky One, Two and Three, said.

Sky is working alongside Blake's 7 Productions, a subsidiary of Blake's 7 Media who owns the licence to the show.

No word yet on when production would start on the new series or when it would air. Also, no word on if this would be a re-imagining of the series like Battlestar Galactica or a continuation from the original series like Doctor Who.

Feathers · March 15, 2011, 06:55:21 AM

It never got reported here, but this idea was canned in the middle of last year:

Sky1 has cancelled plans to bring back cult science fiction series Blake's 7.

The BSkyB-owned pay-TV channel announced plans for a remake of the series, which was created by Terry Nation and ran on BBC1 between 1978 and 1981, in 2008 at a time when reinventions were all the rage. Battlestar Galactica, Russell T Davies's reimagining of Doctor Who and Bionic Woman had all made comebacks of varying success.

"Following the development process we have decided not to produce Blake's 7. However, Sky continues to invest heavily in original drama and it remains at the heart of our plans," said a spokeswoman for Sky1. "We have just announced an extended run for the second series of Chris Ryan's Strike Back and we'll soon be unveiling a new long-running series for prime time."

At the time of the Blake's 7 announcement in 2008, the Sky1 head of drama, Elaine Pyke, said: "The time is ripe for a revival of a show that represents the best traditions of the genre, not to mention one of the best-loved and most successful dramas of all time."

Blake's 7 was announced when former Sky1 controller Richard Woolfe was running the channel. Under his successor, Stuart Murphy, Sky1 is shifting its programming focus.

Last week Sky signed a £150m deal for exclusive UK rights to all new HBO shows and the US cable channel's entire back catalogue.

More here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/04/blakes-7-sky1

Dangelus · March 15, 2011, 07:31:07 AM

Hmmm this could have been good. Saying that Sky are not known for the quality if their original content. They've always been best at overcharging us for importing and monopolising good American shows!

Feathers · March 15, 2011, 08:00:55 AM

Yes and with the loss of so many US shows coming up, will it really be worth continuing my subscription? That is the question!

Rico · March 15, 2011, 08:54:43 AM

WOW - took them over two years to decide not to do it? They sound worse than the SyFy channel. ;)

Dangelus · March 15, 2011, 09:30:20 AM

Quote from: Feathers on March 15, 2011, 08:00:55 AM
Yes and with the loss of so many US shows coming up, will it really be worth continuing my subscription? That is the question!

We have Virgin Media mainly for the kids and because since we have phone and broadband as well it is a good deal.
Most shows are available to me but I always watch HULU and US network streams as I hate our ads!

Feathers · March 15, 2011, 09:44:45 AM

Quote from: Rico on March 15, 2011, 08:54:43 AM
WOW - took them over two years to decide not to do it? They sound worse than the SyFy channel. ;)

At least SyFy actually make some and puth them on the air before they decide to do away with them!

From what I remember, these were going to be done in association with the guys who created the recent audio dramas (which I've not heard). Hopefully they'll find an avenue to the screen somehow but I'm not holding my breath.

In the meantime, I'm re-watching all of the original series (hence tha avatar graphic). There are whole arcs of it I appear never to have seen which surprised me.

bevs_plaything · March 15, 2011, 12:56:48 PM

I would love to see B7 return to our screens!

I don't think the BBC currently hold the remake rights to the show, but I imagine that nothing will happen until long after the rights eventually revert to the BBC. The 'failure' of Outcasts to impress the public, together with the licence fee freeze may also affect the chances of the show returning soon. :(