News

Pamela Salem,who portrayedMiss MoneypennyinNever Say Never AgainoppositeSean Conneryin his final turn as James Bond, has died. She was 80.

Salemdied Wednesday in Surfside, Florida, according toBig Finish Productions,for whom she participated in several audio productions.

“Whenever there was a Big Finish recording for her, she’d fly in from Miami on her own steam, without fuss or fanfare, and appear at the studio armed with the warmest smiles, the biggest hugs and often presents,” producerDavid Richardsonsaid in a statement.

For theBBC’sDoctor Who,Salem played the sandminer pilot Lish Toos on 1977’s “The Robots of Death” and ProfessorRachel Jensenon 1988’s “Remembrance of the Daleks.” She reprised both roles forBig Finishin the audio drama series The Robots and radio spinoff series Counter Measures.

Salem also portrayed the evil sorceress Belor on the 1981-82ITV...

A history of the most underrated British science fiction of the 1970s is, largely, just a history of British science fiction of the 1970s. It gets a bad rap. Think “1970s British Sci-Fi” and your mind will be flooded with associations of dodgy special effects, less-than-perfect gender politics, and so much knitwear. That, and a certain time traveller with a predilection for scarves and jelly babies.

But the truth is the 70s was a golden age for British science fiction stories with ideas and ambition, completely unrestrained by any concept of production values. While even the most pedestrian attempt at modern science fiction telly feels it has to go toe to toe with the MCU’s latest CGI eyeball-blaster, a year after Star Wars was on our screens the Doctor was still routinely facing off against dressed like this, and it was better for it.

Blake’s 7(1978 – 1981)

Stream on:Itvx...

Richard Franklin,who is best known for his roles inDoctor WhoandEmmerdale,died on early Christmas morning at the age of 87.

The news was confirmed by longtime friendLíam Rudden,who shared the news via social media on Monday on behalf of the family.

“It is with great sadness, that the family of Richard Franklin have asked me to share news of his passing, early this morning. Richard passed away peacefully in his sleep. Details of funeral arrangements will be shared here when announced. Sleep well Richard,” Rudden’s post reads.

It is with great sadness, that the family of Richard Franklin have asked me to share news of his passing, early this morning. Richard passed away peacefully in his sleep. Details of funeral arrangements will be shared here when announced. Sleep well Richard. #Rip

– Líam Rudden pic.twitter /TgsSADbQYt

— Richard Franklin (@PlanetFranklin) December 25, 2023

Franklins’ breakout TV...

UK indie producer and publisherB7 Mediahas announced a new platform specifically for independently produced audio drama and related audio content and will be available as both an iOS and Android App and its own website Audioteria.

Audioteria is a dedicated digital platform whose aim is to promote, market and distribute via a global download and streaming (iOS or Android) app, the very best of independently produced audio drama, enhanced audiobooks and audio theatre. It will also provide a home for previously broadcast content, now out of license, that hasn’t yet found a home anywhere else.

Listeners will be able to register (with no monthly subscription) and purchase their chosen title via the Audioteria website. Their purchase will immediately appear on the Audioteria app in their personal library to be played anywhere, at any time.

“As an independent audio drama producer ourselves, we have long been...

Bob Penny— an Alabama college professor turned actor with a nearly 30-year career in Hollywood — died on Christmas Day in Huntsville, Alabama. He was 87.

Penny spent three decades as an English professor, teaching Poetry and Prose at theUniversity of Alabamaat Birmingham. During his career as a professor, Penny was an award-winning educator and acclaimed poet in his own right.

He retired from academia in 1990, after 32 years in the classroom, and turned toward his passion for performing. Penny began getting work in small bit parts in some beloved classics.

Throughout his Hollywood career, Penny appeared in over 30 films and TV shows. His movie credits include “Sweet Home Alabama”, “Forrest Gump”,“Mississippi Burning”,“My Cousin Vinny”and “The Legend of Bagger Vance”, among others.

As for TV projects, Penny appeared on shows such as “Higher Education”, “Drop Dead Diva”,“Devious Maids”and the TV adaptation of “In the Heat of the Night...

Stephen Greif,who is known for playing Speaker of the House SirBernard Weatherillon Season 4 of “The Crown,”has died at 78.

“With great sadness we announce the death of our wonderful client Stephen Greif,” the English actor’s repMichelle BraidmanAssociates tweeted Monday. “We will miss him dearly and our thoughts are with his family and friends.”

With great sadness we announce the death of our wonderful client Stephen Greif.

His extensive career included numerous roles on screen and stage, including at the National Theatre, RSC and in the West End.

We will miss him dearly and our thoughts are with his family and friends x pic.twitter /sYcwILCvNr

— Michelle Braidman Associates (@TeamBraidman) December 26, 2022

Greifwas born on Aug. 26, 1944, in Highgate, London. He is survived by two sons.

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Dax Tejera,Executive Producer of ABC’s ‘This Week,’ Dies at 37

Greif’s extensive career included numerous roles on screen and stage,...

Veteran actorStephen Greif,known for his role in the hit British sci-fi seriesBlake’s 7and more recentlyNetflix’sThe Crown,has died. He was 78. His talent agency representatives confirmed the passing in aTwitterpost, writing, “With great sadness we announce the death of our wonderful client Stephen Greif. His extensive career included numerous roles on screen and stage, including at the National Theatre, RSC and in the West End. We will miss him dearly and our thoughts are with his family and friends x.” A cause of death has not been revealed at the time of writing. With great sadness we announce the death of our wonderful client Stephen Greif. His extensive career included numerous roles on screen and stage, including at the National Theatre, RSC and in the West End. We will miss him dearly and our thoughts are with his family and friends x pic.

Stephen Greif— the British actor known for his work on some iconic British TV shows including “Blake’s 7”,“Citizen Smith” and, most recently,Netflix’s “The Crown”— has died. He was 78.

News ofGreif’s death was first shared by his agency, Michelle Braidman Associates, who took to social media to share a tribute to the veteran actor.

“With great sadness we announce the death of our wonderful client Stephen Greif,” the agency shared. “His extensive career included numerous roles on screen and stage, including at the National Theatre, RSC and in the West End.”

“We will miss him dearly and our thoughts are with his family and friends,” the statement added.

With great sadness we announce the death of our wonderful client Stephen Greif.

His extensive career included numerous roles on screen and stage, including at the National Theatre, RSC and in the West End.

We will miss him...

British actorStephen Greif,who appeared in such series as theBBC’sBlake’s 7,Citizen Smith andEastEndersas well asNetflix’sThe Crown,has died. His representatives announced the news in aTwitterpost. No cause of death was revealed. He was 78.

Greif’s long career spanned theater, television and film. Born in Hertfordshire, he attended theRoyal Academy of Dramatic Artand went on to become a member of theNational Theatre Companyat the Old Vic and Southbank, the UK Press Association reported.

Starring on stage throughout the 1960s and early 1970s, Greif segued to television and landed the role of space commander Travis in sci-fi adventure seriesBlake’s 7.The show ran from 1978-1981 and also starredGareth Thomas,Paul Darrow,Michael KeatingandSally Knyvette.

Greif’s credits also included such other series as Citizen Smith,Tales of the Unexpected,Doctors,Coronation Street,...

A close-knit crew of wildly different people ride around on a spaceship having adventures. If you’re a sci-fi fan, there are very good odds that this synopsis describes one of your hooks into the genre. That crew might be a dysfunctional band of space criminals and revolutionaries, or a clean cut team of scientists, diplomats and soldiers serving a galactic Space Un, but there is a core appeal to this set up across the genre.

“Ensemble crews are one of the quickest and most powerful ways to forge a found family. A foundational example for me was Blake’s 7,” saysPaul Cornell,who has written stories for the Star Trek: Year Five comic series among his many speculative fiction credits. “They haven’t been recruited, they have relative degrees of distance from the cause, they’ve been flung together. The most important thing is that they’re all very different people.

It’s 1964, a couple of years since President John F. Kennedy announced that theUSAwas going to land on the moon. It was also the year that saw ground-breaking science fiction anthology seriesThe Twilight Zonecome to an end. The series had become a household name by telling self-contained, high concept stories written by leaders in the genre. Not just the endlessly talentedRod Serling,but names likeCharles Beaumont,Richard Matheson,andRay Bradbury.It also starred up-and-coming acting talent such asWilliam Shatner,Leonard Nimoy,andGeorge Takei.

As well as bringing talent to the field,The Twilight Zonewas also notable for using science fiction allegory as a way to talk about political and social issues that advertisers and censors would otherwise not touch with a ten-foot pole.

In stepsGene Roddenberry,with a concept he describes as “a wagon train to the stars.” His...

ByLee Pfeiffer

British actressBarbara Shelleyhas passed away from Covid-19 related ailments. She was 88 years-old. Shelley became popular with horror movie fans in the 1960s when she became one of the resident leading ladies at the legendaryHammer Filmswhere she made several movies with another studio legend,Christopher Lee.Among Shelley's Hammer films were "The Camp on Blood Island"(a rare non-horror entry),"The Gorgon","Dracula: Prince of Darkness","Rasputin: The Mad Monk"and"Quatermass and the Pit".Shelley played the lead female role in the 1960MGMcult classic "Village of the Damned"oppositeGeorge Sanders.She also played a recurring character in the 1984 "Doctor Who"television series. She appeared in other iconic British television shows including"Blake's 7","The Avengers","EastEnders","Danger Man","The Saint""Man in a Suitcase"and"The Two Ronnies"as well as international favorites including"The Man from U.N.C.L.E."and"Route 66".For more,...

Barbara Shelley,a renowned British horror movie actress andDoctor Whostar, has died at the age of 88 after contracting coronavirus.

Shelley was best known for her work in horror films made by British production outfit Hammer. She starred alongsideChristopher Leein 1966’sDracula: Prince of Darkness,while other notable films includedRasputin: The Mad MonkandQuatermass And The Pit.

Shelley also did plenty of TV work, most notably appearing in a string of 1984Doctor Whoepisodes, in which she played Sorasta in the Planet of Fire story.Peter Davisonwas playing the Doctor during her time on the show. Co-starNicola Bryanttweeted:

So very sad to hear of the passing of #BarbaraShelley. A darling person and a talented actress. When we worked together on Planet of Fire she was so kind to me. She gave me a little owl, still in my possession and some good advice.

Last month saw a clutch of cult British sci-fi TV added to the UK’sBritboxstreaming service under the ‘Out of this World’ banner. From Thursday the 10th of September, a choice crop of new additions will be joining the likes ofThe Prisoner,Space1999, Sapphire andSteel,UFOand the selection ofGerry Andersontreats already available.

Coming to Britbox in the UK will be all four seasons ofTerry Nation’sBlake’s 7plus all three seasons of Nation’s post-apocalyptic Survivors joining at the later date of Thursday the 17th of September. There’ll also be 1967’sQuatermass and the Pit,plus a good portion of 1961’sThe Avengers,Hammer’s 1966 One Million Years BC, with the terrific, weird Nic Roeg/David BowiefilmThe Man Who Fell to Earththrown in for good measure.

Doctor Who-wise, UK subscribers will be able to stream 1965Peter Cushing...

In the annals ofDoctor Who,there are no enemies more recognizable than the almost indestructible Daleks. Their battle cry of “Exterminate!” as they doggedly continue their mission to conquer the universe and obliterate races they perceive as inferior, has echoed throughout the decades of the British institution. Despite their fundamental presence though, prior to the show being revived from its indefinite hiatus in 2005, they very nearly were not featured at all.

The Daleks were dreamed up by Welsh writerTerry Nation,who went on to create the iconic ‘70s seriesBlake’s 7andSurvivorsand died from emphysema in 1997 at the age of 66. They debuted inDoctor Who’s second serial in 1963, less than 20 years after the end of the Second World War whose horrors had yet to fade, with the intent being for them to be analogous to Nazis. They grew to become the show’s most popular...

The British director responsible for a number of well-known early stories in sci-fi seriesDoctor Whodied Thursday. He was 82.Derek Martinushad suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, his family told the BBC. Active at theDoctor Whohelm between 1965 and 1970 during the tenures of three different Doctors, his credits on the long-running BBC show include the Mission to the Unknown, The Tenth Planet, The Evil of the Daleks, and The Ice Warriors episodes, as well as the show’s first serial to be filmed in color, The Spearhead From Space. During his career the Yale-educated Martinus helmed episodes ofA Little Princess,Z Cars,Blakes 7,Penmarric,andSpearheadand also directed the 1968 version ofHenry James’What Maisie Knewand the miniseriesThe Black Tulip.

Derek Martinushas died, aged 82.

Martinus was best known for his directing work onDoctor Who- helming 26 episodes of the BBC sci-fi drama in all.

His efforts includedWilliam Hartnell's final story 'The Tenth Planet' (1966) andJon Pertwee's first outing 'Spearhead From Space' (1970).

1965's 'Galaxy 4', 1967's 'The Evil of the Daleks' and the same year's 'The Ice Warriors' were his other three contributions.

Born on April 4, 1931, Martinus studied at Yale Drama School and worked as an actor, before turning his attentions to a career as a director.

His credits include episodes ofBlakes 7andZ Carsand award-winning children's dramaThe Paper Lads.

Doctor WhodirectorChristopher Barrydies, aged 88

Watch a clip from 'Spearhead From Space' below:...

Hammer and Horror Film Day!

Saturday November the 9th ( 10am – 5pm )

Central Hall Westminster.

Storey’s Gate, Westminster, London SW1H 9Nh

UK’s longest running film fair and convention.

Now in it’s 40th year!

The Convention presents dealers from all over the UK, Europe, Us,

Canada and South America.

Specialising in rare original film memorabilia and collectables.

Taking place six times a year these are truly unique events for anyone with an interest in films!

With actors and director’s signings, illustrated talks, retrospectives and film screenings taking place through out the day.

Items covering the history of cinema can be found. From the silents to the present.

From rare items of the 1920’s to new releases and the latest heart throb.

Among the many different field of cinema covered at the show is – Classic Hollywood, horror films, sci-fi, the best of British and European cinema as we as cult tv!

Some things we now know about the Doctor thanks toEoin Colfer,writer of the Artemis Fowl books:

The Doctor hatesBlakes 7.

The Doctor has lost a hand before.

The Doctor’s first stop on Earth was not 1963.

Colfer’s e-book, A Big Hand for the Doctor, is the first of eleven monthly releases, each featuring a different Doctor. Eoin ( “Owen” ) chose the first Doctor, as played byWilliam Hartnell,and takes advantage of that by doing an end-run around continuity and setting his adventure before the first adventure of the series. In it, he is in Victorian London, recuperating from a battle with a band of organleggers who kidnap children from their bedrooms, wasting “not a molecule” of their biomass, resulting in their fearful moniker, the Soul Pirates. The Doctor lost a hand in a sword fight with their leader, and while a new one is grown for him,...

As I noted over a week ago, NBC had decided to not move forward withMockingbird Lane,a rebooted series based on the classic 1960s TV sitcom The Munsters fromWonderfallsand Pushing Daises creatorBryan Fuller.The idea had been around for almost two years at NBC, and the network spent over $10 million getting it developed, but according to the media site Collider, part of the problem stemmed from the visual direction Fuller wanted it to go and what pilot director Brian Singer wanted. Also, NBC wanted the series have a fish-out-of-water aspect to it, where Fuller wanted it to exist in some self-contained universe. And because Fuller was working on hisHannibalprequel series (which NBC already gave a 13 episode order for midseason), he had no time to work on the show. NBC, looking to get some of its cost back (instead just burying it) will at least air the pilot,...

Remember when we told you last month that a “reimagining” of British 1978-81 sci-fi cult classicBlakes 7was being shopped around to various networks? Well it has found a home, and it’s a good one. Hmm, let’s see, which network can be assured of not having an issue with a “genre” show?

That’s right. According to Deadline, Syfy has givenBlakes 7a script-to-series commitment. This means that if Syfy likes the script, the project will go straight to series without having to go through the pilot stage. As we told you last month,Georgeville Televisionand producerMarc Rosenhave teamed with directorMartin Campbell(Casino Royal) and writerJoe Pokaski(Heroes,CSI) on the project.

IMDb summarizes the original series as “a group of convicts and outcasts fight a guerrilla war against the totalitarian Terran Federation from a highly advanced alien spaceship.”

Yes please.

What my followers on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ saw today: • Oooo. Very conflicted about this...Martin CampbellWants to Reboot Classic Brit Sci-Fi SeriesBlakes 7On U.S. TV • Brilliant smackdown of that idiot on CNN's faux geek blog I linked to yesterday. Geek Ladies: Papers, Please • Ah, so apparently Yakko and Wakko are to blame. A Studio With Violence in Its Bones: Warner Brothers and Its Decades of Violent Films...

Referred to as “the Dirty Dozen in space,” UK classic sci-fi seriesBlakes 7has a doggedly loyal international following who may or may not be pleased about the news that a “reimagining” of the 1978-81 series originally written byTerry Nation(he created the Daleks!) is being shopped to U.S. networks.

Deadline broke the news thatGeorgeville Television(Gvtv), an independent TV studio co-founded recently byLeon Claranceof Motion Picture Capital, the financing arm of Reliance Entertainment, and producerMarc Rosen,has teamed with feature directorMartin Campbell(Casino Royal) and writerJoe Pokaski(Heroes,CSI) on the project.

IMDb summarizes the original series as “a group of convicts and outcasts fight a guerrilla war against the totalitarian Terran Federation from a highly advanced alien spaceship.” Gvtv has secured the rights to theBlakes 7franchise from rightsholder Andrew Sewell and his company B7 Media with funding provided by Mpc.

WhileNicolas Winding Refnhasn't fall down the rabbit hole of working on premium cable like many of his Hollywood colleagues have, he's not exactly a stranger to television either. He penned the Danish series "The Chosen 7" and also wrote and directed the little seen (and pretty middling) "Miss Marple: Nemesis"for ITV. But it seems over at BBC, Refn's skills were less appreciated. In a recent interview with Shortlist (via What Culture!) Refn reveals," I would have loved to direct 'Doctor Who' but they didn’t want me — they turned me down last year. Maybe if they revive [1970s sci-fi series] 'Blakes 7' I could do that. I love it. It’s great. That could be fun to update. "Of course, this likely before he won Best Director at Cannes and"Drive"became a buzzworthy movie. For all the producers knew, he was just some random Danish director who didn't...

In my circle, my disdain for broccoli is pretty well known. I call them “tiny trees” and I don’t like their smell, their taste, or their texture – but I have eaten them. That’s how I know I don’t like them.

Recently, Dark Horse Comics finally announced the newStar Warsproject thatJan Duursemaand I are working on. Jan and I have worked on two other series together –Star WarsRepublic andStar WarsLegacy – to the praise of a lot ofStar Warsfans. This is in addition to my already announcedStar Warsspy series, Agent Of The Empire. (plug plug plug plug)

The new series is Dawn Of The Jedi and it goes back and tells the origins of the Jedi Order which, we hope, will have some interest even to the fans who have only watched the movies. We’re doing our...

And Soon The Darkness,is a title that may already be familiar with cult film fans. Originally made in 1970, the film centered around two English women on a French cycling holiday who run into a vicious killer and the tense, atmospheric thriller is one of the more memorable ‘women-in-peril’ horror’s of the seventies that didn’t have to rely on cheap shock tactics to gain notoriety.

The film was written byBrian Clemens,creator of ‘The Professionals’ and writer on ‘The Avengers’, along with co-writerTerry Nation,creator of ‘Blakes 7’ and the Daleks from ‘Dr Who’.

The 2010 remake directed by first time directorMarcos Efronand starring 21st century scream queenAmber Heardwho also co-produces, comes to Blu-ray and DVD this week. Here is our review;

With a few changes to the location and nationality of lead roles the remake stays pretty faithful to the original.Best friends...

Welcome back to Question of the Day!

I hope you all had a great Christmas and New Year and that your enjoying all the new episodes of your Favourite and new Shows. I know I am.

Today's "Question of the Day" comes from Smallville944

"Who are your Favourite TV Anti-Heros"

Smallville944 provides us with some good examples.

Spike (Buffy the Vampire Slayer,Angel)

Dexter Morgan (Dexter

Eric Northman (True Blood)

Damon Salvatore (The Vampire Diaries) "

I agree with all of their suggestions but I'd also like to add a few of my own.

Avon -Blakes 7

The whole strike team from The Shield

Sylar - Heroes

Dr. Cox - Scrubs

Sawyer - Lost

Ben Linus - Lost

Chuck Bass - Gossip Girl

I'm sure there are many others that I've forgotten due to the excesses of Christmas!

Let us know who your favourite Anti-Heroes are.

You can see previous Questions of the Day here.

The SFX Weekender is back! 2,500 sci-fi fans, four main events, exclusive screenings, tons of prizes, loads of live guests… one amazing weekend at Pontins Holiday Park Camber Sands 4th-5th February 2011.

Attend the SFX Awards 2011, hosted by top sci-fi authorRobert Rankin!Compete in the famous SFX Blastermind Quiz to become a champion of sci-fi knowledge! Dance the night away at the Maskerade Ball and experience the SFX imaginarium, the ultimate Sci-fi stage show!

There will be top celebrity guests attending includingSir Terry Pratchett,Keeley Hawes(Ashes To Ashes)Anthony Stewart Head(Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Merlin),Sylvia Anderson(The voice of Lady Penelope for Thunderbirds),George Takei(Star Trek),Sally Knyvette(Blakes 7),Robert Rankin(author) andCraig Charles(Red Dwarf/Coronation st) who will be playing the tunes with one of his highly acclaimed classic DJ sets. Plus author panels, film premieres, exclusive footage, live Q&A sessions and star guest talks,...

British West Indian actorCy Grantwas one of the first black performers to appear regularly on British television, starring in the BBC’s satirical current events program Tonight in 1957. He gave a calypso rendition of the news events of the day before leaving the popular program after three years. He was later featured as the voice of Lieutenant Green, the black defender of Earth, inGerry Anderson’s ITV marionette seriesCaptain Scarlet and the Mysteronsfrom 1967 to 1968.

Grant was born in Beterverwagting, Demerara, British Guiana (now Guyana), on November 8, 1919. He one of the first West Indian recruits to serve with the Royal Air Force during World War II. He was serving as a navigator on a bombing mission when his aircraft was shot down over Holland in June of 1943. He spent the remainder of the war as a German Pow until being liberated by Russian troops in 1945.

Grant...

Ian Scooneswas a leading British special effects designer who began his career working for Hammer horror films in the early 1960s. He was also frequently involved with the long-runningDoctor Whoseries, and supervised the effects for the first season of the sci-fi seriesBlakes 7in 1978.

Scoones was born in London on 1940, and studied painting, photography and set design at the Medway College of Art. He began working in films in the early 1960s, joiningLes Bowie’s effects team at Hammer. He was an assistant effects artist on such films asScream of Fear(1961), Shadow of the Cat (1961),Night Creatures(akaCaptain Clegg) (1962),These Are the Damned(akaThe Damned) (1963), Kiss of the Vampire (1963), She (1965),Frankenstein Created Woman(1967), The Mummy’s Shroud (1967), andFive Million Years to Earth(akaQuatermass and the Pit) (1967).

He began working in television with the BBC later in the decade, where he...