Excellent stuff.

Whenever there is drama on (UK) telly these days - particulary with the soap operas and quiz shows, any particular story line is leaked weeks before the broadcast so there is no surprise when it finally goes to air.

In Terminal, there was no warning that Liberator would be destroyed and I remember watching with increasing credulity wondering how they would recover the ship. When Zen exploded I started to suspect the worst and when the right hand pontoon snapped off, even I had to accept that it was all over.

Again, with Blake, there was true drama since the final scene hadn't been leaked - or it wasn't covered in the papers. I think it's this element of surprise which worked so well on the audience (it had me out of my chair) and is one reason why the series is still remembered so vividly.

After Blake was broadcast, there was an unprecedented campaign through a programme called "Points of View" to have the show returned. I believe Barry Took (for it was he) received more letters on the subject of Blake's 7 than on any other. Unfortunately, they'd already killed the golden goose.

Incidentally, pedantic point I know - but the broadcast was from 19:20 to 20:10. This is significant because a noisy minority in our house (two sisters) wanted to watch Coronation Street which went out at 19:30 on ITV. Fat chance! One of my brothers was at Loughborough University and according to him, all three student tellies were tuned to BBC1.

At 20/12/01 13:41:00, you wrote:

Hi all, Twenty years ago, on the 21st of December 1981, at 8pm, the screen fade to black. Then appeared the familiar BBC 1 globe, and the speaker gave voice... "And now on BBC 1", said the female announcer, "The last ever episode of Blakes 7." I remember it well, and how my heart sank to hear those words. So i invite you all to join with me in moment's quiet reverence for our heroes...

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To the tune of "American Pie", By Don Maclain " Long, long time ago, I can still remember how that programme used to make me smile.

I used to turn off all the lights, And watch their interstellar fights, And then i would be happy for a while.

But late December made me shiver, When that female voice delivered Bad news from the speaker: It couldn't be much bleaker.

I don't recall just how i felt, As i watched their dreams of freedom melt. Their lives were done; the blow was dealt. The day Blakes 7 died.

So bye bye to the Scorpio crew. Fought for freedom for the masses 'gainst the wrath of the few. Flew to Gauda Prime for a final try, Singing This'll be the day we all die."

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If anyone cares to complete this, or rewrite, feel free.

Cheers, and Seasonal good wishes to you all,

kevs

===== "Under an Aussie sky..." http://www.southernsky.fsnet.co.uk "afterglow", http://www.afterglow.fsnet.co.uk

Kevin C McCully

"The world is what you make it".

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