top of page

A3: CYGNUS ALPHA

 

RADIO TIMES: In the alien spaceship, which they have named Liberator, Blake, Jenna and Avon plan to free the prisoners held on Cygnus Alpha.

Broadcast: Monday 16th January, 1978: 7.15pm-8.10pm, BBC 1

Writer: Terry Nation

Director: Vere Lorrimer

"Wisdom must be gathered, not given." Zen

"Don't philosophise at me, you electronic moron!" Avon

GUEST CAST: Glyn Owen (Leylan), Norman Tipton (Artix), Pamela Salem (Kara), Brian Blessed (Vargas), Robert Russell (Laran), Peter Childs (Arco), David Ryall (Selman).

 FACT FILE

 

  • Cygnus Alpha was watched by 8.5m viewers.

 

  • The episode was commissioned from Terry Nation in November 1976. The early draft script still retained the character of Klein as another prisoner and potential crew member but he was dropped.

 

  • Night-filming took place at Springwell Lock Quarry, Rickmansworth from Tuesday 11th - Wednesday 12th October, 1977.

 

  • A back-projection unit was used for the scenes of Blake looking at the docking bay and for the scenes of Kara against the alien moon. 

 

  • Ian Scoones produced ten of the Liberator handguns which were powered by 6V batteries.

 

  • The climactic fight scene was filmed at Ealing on Monday 17th October, 1977.

 

  • Some of the shots of the London were taken from the first two episodes.

 

  • Studio recording took place in TC3 from Monday 21st November 1977.

 

  • The incidental music for Cygnus Alpha was recorded on Monday 5th December with Dudley Simpson's orchestra.

 

  • The episode was novelised as part of Trevor Hoyles Blake's 7: Their First Adventure.

 

 

 

EPISODE GALLERY

Please click on the image for larger view and details.

 

 

bottom of page