10 Doctor Who Actors Who Have Appeared In Blake's 7

By Paul Driscoll /

1. Gareth Thomas

Gareth Thomas has rarely been out of work since leaving Blake€™s 7. In reality his performance as Blake in the first two episodes was never bettered and the series failed to maintain the strongly psychological and moral focus of that dramatic opening. Saying that, his decision to leave at the end of Series 2 was the right one career wise. Thomas€™ eventual return in the slaughterhouse final episode, Blake, was an inglorious one. Thomas has never appeared on television in Doctor Who. He can, however, be seen in the early Torchwood episode, Ghost Machine. Thomas plays Edwin Morgan and this time, unlike Blake, his character is guilty of a heinous crime, one that he has got away with for most of his life, the rape and murder of a 17 year old girl. Thomas€™ senile amoral character couldn€™t be further from the moralistic Blake, yet he gives an equally commanding performance. Like Blake, Ed Morgan dies a bloody death when whether by accident or suicide he falls upon his own knife. Thomas is also a recurring character in the Big Finish spin off Dalek Empire series, playing the knight of Velyshaa, Kalendorf. It's a huge story arc that takes the faithful listener through several years and waypoints in his struggle against the Daleks. He often features alongside Sarah Mowat€™s Susan Mendes and they work brilliantly together, whether for or against their Dalek taskmasters. Kalendorf also encounters the Seventh Doctor in the Big Finish main range story Return Of The Daleks. Despite playing such a recognisable role within the Big Finish spin off universe, Thomas has made two other audio appearances. Most recently, he guest stars as Morax in The Last of Colophon, a Fourth Doctor adventure. Morax inadvertently wiped out his whole species in a failed attempt to gain power. They had refused the offer of an antidote he had created to treat the very virus he had infected them with. Yes, Thomas, the most black and white, moralistic of the original Liberator crew, the only one who was not really a criminal in any sense, ends up playing some pretty nasty pieces of work in Doctor Who and Torchwood. But oh, does he do it well! What did you think of this list? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section.