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I'm going to set myself a challenge and limit my Top Ten Sci-Fi programmes to British Science fiction. They are in no particular order...hope you enjoy my little trip down memory lane. It's long and involves some plot details, so if you are prepared to risk it............

1 BLAKES 7.

One of my all time favourite Science Fiction shows. Blakes 7 began on the BBC in 1978 and ran until 1981 ~ it only ran for four years then, so why do I like it so much? Blakes 7 is the tale of a group of (initially reluctant) freedom fighters who acquire a hugely advanced space craft called the Liberator. It was famous for its dodgy sets, frightening clothes and for putting strong female characters alongside the men in leading roles. Servalan (played by the wonderful Jacqueline Pearce ~ who I will be meeting in April) was in charge of the Federation (the evil ruling force of Earth and most of the galaxy) was powerful, beautiful (in a very Eighties way) and totally in charge.

Her enemies (on The Liberator) are Blake (Gareth Thomas) the leader at the beginning who left the series later on, Avon (Paul Darrow) my favourite character who was always unpredictable, Jenna (Sally Knyvette) the reason many kids were allowed to watch the show....the dads loved her long blonde hair and tight leather gear but Jenna also had brains, Cally (Jan Chappell) a telepath who always seemed to get the group in trouble because alien races took her over, Villa (Michael Keating), Gan (David Jackson) a gentle giant fitted with a device to stop him killing anyone who didn't last too long in the series (apparently his character had nowhere to go and became a bit boring), Zen (voiced by Peter Tuddenham) the onboard computer (when the Liberator was destroyed Zen was replaced by Slave) and Orac (voiced by Peter Tuddenham) a rather petulant computer housed in a see through plastic box.

Blake and Jenna left after two years and were replaced by Tarrant (Stephe
n Pacey) who was a rather annoying and self assured character and Dayna (Josette Simon) who was a expert fighter and thankfully strong female role. The final person to join (probably to replace Cally) was Soolin (Glynis Barber) another blonde one for the dads!

Blakes 7 was gritty, often funny and often pretty violent. It had a bit of realism about it and despite the wobbly sets it was a classic piece of TV ~ it's still repeated every now and again on UK Gold.

2 THE TRIPODS.

The Tripods hit our screens in 1984 and 1985. It was based on the books by John Christopher

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