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 Hunt 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.

Oh dear. :rolleyes:

Although I love BSG . :ponder:

Yeah, but the Yanks do these things so much better than we do. (Excepting Bionic Woman, apparently!!).

I thought B7 had a great storyline and characters. I`d watch a remake, just to see what it was like.... :unsure:

I love the Dr Who `remake`, but I don`t know that SKY has the same track record for this sort of thing - I liked the Pratchett adaptations, though.

Didn`t SKY go on about a Prisoner remake a couple of years ago which didn`t come too much ? :ponder:

Yup. Fell out with the co-producers or summat.

Ooh, I did not know that. :blink:

Telegraph clicky :ponder:

Six of One talks about a Daily Mail article , saying that Jim Caviziel is filming it as we speak- but there`s nowt on IMDB about it. :unsure:

Thought there was something a bit strange as surely you mean Gareth Thomas not Gareth Hunt! sk

It's worth a gamble IMO.

Sky's track record is a pretty unknown quantity at this point, but they should be at least applauded for trying to bring new homegrown drama to the screen. Alongside their Pratchet adaptations, this is encouraging at the very least.

As to whether or not they'll be able to do it justice, I don't know, but if they did manage to pull it off we'd have a pretty good show on our hands.

Have only seen a few eps of the original Blake's 7, as my dad only has a few on tape. They were quite good. Lets hope a remake will be of BSG quality rather than Bionic Woman quality.

Anyone notice they're remaking a lot of old shows at the moment, seems like they're struggling for new ideas - at least there's Dollhouse to look forward to.

True, but will it make it to the UK terrestrial shores, or be stuck away on Sky?

Sky's ultracynical policy of letting an audience build on terrestrial and then pulling it onto Sky One fills me with irritation. I wonder if they will let Dollhouse go to BBC2 and then buy S2 if it is a cult hit.

The problem I foresee with Dollhouse is that it is a bit esoteric sounding which perhaps will be a turn off for the public at large.

One very strong plus point for Dollhouse is that Joss appears to want to avoid the Tru Calling overdetermined concept problem. The blank slate John Locke-esque function of the dolls allows them to be action heroes one week and lotharios the next. This freedom will go a long way as long as the scripts are there.

I am not an expert on the American media but I wonder if Joss would be better off selling his wares on Sci-Fi and so build a dedicated audience who are willing to go with the flow. sk