B2: SHADOW

RADIO TIMES: The Terra Nostra is an interplanetary crime syndicate. When Blake tries to buy their help, he discovers they are even more dangerous than he expected. But not as dangerous as the mysterious force which threatens Cally…

FACT FILE 

• Shadow was the first episode of the series not written by Terry Nation and thus the first written by Chris Boucher. 

• Boucher was keen to explore Cally’s telepathic skills which had been somewhat overlooked during Series A.

• The original outline saw Cally being forced to take Shadow which made her develop new powers including telekinesis.

• Script: Shadow stimulates the brain so that latent desires are isolated, amplified & fed back as vivid sensory dreams. 

• Script: Shadow guarantees pleasure, however the subject subconsciously defines it.

• The draft script was stronger than the BBC would allow with more punches, slaps, violence, & bad language.

• Location filming took place at Binegar Heath Sandpits in Dorset from Monday 7 to Wednesday 8 August, 1978.

• A red filter was used to give the planet Zonda an alien atmosphere. 

• Shadow was directed (alongside Horizon) by Jonathan Wright Miller.

• Model filming, including the Space City satellite model, was done between Monday 21 and Friday 25 August.

• Shadow was originally to have been recorded fifth but swapped studio sessions with Horizon.

• Studio recording commenced on Wednesday 1 November, 1978.

• Thurs 2 November 1978 was David Jackson’s final day on Blake’s 7, having already recorded Gan’s death weeks earlier.