Gareth Thomas (The Actor) Dies aged 71

[Billyfish]

Another to join the extraordinary 2016 cull of just about everyone;

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-36041534

[Galfon]

It would be a pity if he got remembered most for Blake's 7, the show had great potential but seemed pure am-dram compared to Star Trek.
There's just too many famous & other well-known bods now reaching the red-zone thanks to the radio, pop & telly explosions a while back...these farewells are picking up pace for sure..

[BigAl]

Roj Blake, convicted peadophile, leads a team of hardened criminals causing terror in the hearts and minds of thenlaw abiding federation.

Or

Roj Blake, convicted by planted evidence, frees himself from brain washing and leads a rebellion against the federation that (spoiler alert) ultimately fails as he chooses to save humanity against invaders from another galaxy.

More than great potential I'd say. Although it was ultimately the show that convinced the BBC to drop all pretense at doing space sci-fi. They simply couldn't compete budget wise with U.S. productions so the sets did look very ropey.

Given recent revelations of cover ups I do often wonder if Terry Nation was having a sideways dig at his BBC employers with the pilot episode and Blake's conviction.

[Galfon]

To be fair, the newer characters in the last few series made the show quite watchable, with a Butch Cassidy type ending for Avon.
Mr Dalek (Nation) can't complain at the number of programmes or viewing figures.

' The Federation uses mass surveillance
, brainwashing and drug pacification to control its citizens.'... shewerly not possible