Blake's 7 poised for Sky comeback

Blake's 7 was known for its shaky sets and basic special effects

A new remake of sci-fi series Blake's 7 could soon return to television screens, Sky One has revealed.

The satellite channel has given the green light for the development of two 60-minute scripts for a "potential event series".

Blake's 7, which originally ran on BBC One between 1978 and 1981, followed a gang of rebels fighting an evil federation that ruled the galaxy.

It is not yet known if and when production on the series will begin.

"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.

The planned new episodes would follow recent re-workings of other sci-fi shows Doctor Who, Battlestar Galactica and Bionic Woman.

The original Blake's 7 series featured Gareth Thomas as lead character Roj Blake and Paul Darrow as cynical-but-charming computer fraudster Kerr Avon.

In 2003 Darrow was involved in plans to make a new TV mini-series, but it fell through.

A series of Blake's 7 radio dramas featuring Colin Salmon and Daniela Nardini were broadcast last year on BBC7.