Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss

Travis?

9 views
Skip to first unread message

david

unread,
Jul 23, 2001, 4:29:16 AM7/23/01
to
Something I've always wondered about is how come the original Travis was
replaced for the second series?

David.

Rob Woods

unread,
Jul 23, 2001, 10:01:06 AM7/23/01
to
"david" <david@home> wrote in message
news:3b5bcb8d$0$16308$603e...@news.adl.ihug.com.au...

> Something I've always wondered about is how come the original Travis was
> replaced for the second series?

Yes, I`d like to know the reason as well!

Also, why did Sally Knyvette leave? The reason may have been explained at
the time she left, but I was only
about 8 or 9 at the time!


--
Regards,

RGW

david

unread,
Jul 23, 2001, 12:16:35 PM7/23/01
to

"Rob Woods" <rob....@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message
news:C6W67.24451$_i3.1...@news1.cableinet.net...
In the third series it was said that Jenna wound up on a hospital ship, then
nothing was said about her until the final episode when blake mentioned that
she died trying to run a federation blockade.

I read on a web site, it might have been Judith Procter's that she left due
to personal problems with Gareth Thomas, that is they were having an affair
and it went wrong.

I read on the same site that Gareth apparently left because he was tired of
playing blake.

Others in this group may have more reliable info.

David.


kevs

unread,
Jul 23, 2001, 4:16:01 PM7/23/01
to
On Mon, 23 Jul 2001 17:59:16 +0930, "david" <david@home> wrote:

*Something I've always wondered about is how come the original Travis
*was replaced for the second series?
*David.

I believe it was because Stephen Greif was unavailable to play
Travis in S2, due to other work commitments.
The book, "B7:The Inside Story" says, on Page 89, "Stephen Greif had
left to persue other roles, and Brian Croucher stepped in to play the
part." Didn't have time to look though for any more.

Rob Woods (rob....@blueyonder.co.uk)wrote:
*Also, why did Sally Knyvette leave? The reason may have been
*explained at the time she left, but I was only
*about 8 or 9 at the time!

IIRC, Sally Knyvette left because she was frustrated with the role.
Again, from "B7: The Inside Story", page 91, "She had found the role
frustrating to play, and was increasingly dissatisfied with the
scripts she was given."

Sorry about replying ot 2 posts in one, my ISP's Usenet service is
dire, and i uesd Google groups!

Cheers,
kevs

Spencer Bullen

unread,
Jul 23, 2001, 7:46:17 PM7/23/01
to

david wrote:

>
>
> I read on the same site that Gareth apparently left because he was tired of
> playing blake.
>
> Others in this group may have more reliable info.
>
> David.

Greetings,

I read an interview in which he said he didn't want to get stereotyped. That
said, I remember him in another sci-fi series, one aimed at kids, in which he
was the leader of the rebellion against the state! Can anyone help me as to
what the series was?

T.T.F.N.

SPENNY


david

unread,
Jul 24, 2001, 3:12:50 AM7/24/01
to

"kevs " <kevs...@yahoo.SPAM_FILTER.com.au> wrote in message
news:3b5c85e4...@news.btinternet.com...

> On Mon, 23 Jul 2001 17:59:16 +0930, "david" <david@home> wrote:
>
> *Something I've always wondered about is how come the original Travis
> *was replaced for the second series?
> *David.
>
> I believe it was because Stephen Greif was unavailable to play
> Travis in S2, due to other work commitments.
> The book, "B7:The Inside Story" says, on Page 89, "Stephen Greif had
> left to persue other roles, and Brian Croucher stepped in to play the
> part." Didn't have time to look though for any more.
>
Thanks Kev, I thought that might have been the reason but hadn't seen it
mentioned anywhere, it's also surprising since I think he played the part so
well and B7 was very popular at the time, So I would have thought continuing
to play that role would have helped his career alot.

> Rob Woods (rob....@blueyonder.co.uk)wrote:
> *Also, why did Sally Knyvette leave? The reason may have been
> *explained at the time she left, but I was only
> *about 8 or 9 at the time!
>
> IIRC, Sally Knyvette left because she was frustrated with the role.
> Again, from "B7: The Inside Story", page 91, "She had found the role
> frustrating to play, and was increasingly dissatisfied with the
> scripts she was given."
>

She should have been greatful she wasn't starring in an American sci-fi.....

David.

David Hills

unread,
Jul 24, 2001, 7:22:07 AM7/24/01
to
On Mon, 23 Jul 2001 23:46:17 GMT, Spencer Bullen
<sblg...@cableinet.co.uk> wrote:


| I read an interview in which he said he didn't want to get stereotyped. That
| said, I remember him in another sci-fi series, one aimed at kids, in which he
| was the leader of the rebellion against the state! Can anyone help me as to
| what the series was?
|

Knights of God.


David H.

Cardinal Zorak

unread,
Jul 23, 2001, 4:56:01 PM7/23/01
to

"kevs " <kevs...@yahoo.SPAM_FILTER.com.au> wrote in message
news:3b5c85e4...@news.btinternet.com...

Yes, Sally chose not to renew her contract. They had all been optioned for
a second year, on signing up to Season 1. However when season 2 was over,
Sally and Gareth did not want to do another and get typecast. I know
nothing about rumours of an affair, but it seems unlikely as they're both
very professional.

The BBC view was that if the show proved sucessful, a 2nd year was already
planned; and so the regulars were tied in contractually. However, Stephen
Grief, who only appeared in 5 episodes, did not have such a contract. He
was offered a film role abroad, and even though the production team tried to
see if they could schedule Season 2 recording around his dates, it proved
impossible. However David Maloney and Chris Boucher wanted to do a lot more
with the character (according to Starburst in 1979). (At the time, I didn't
even notice the actor had changed -- a 9 month gap is a long time for a
ten-year-old!) Trivia buffs may like to note that most of the studio scenes
in his final episode, set in Ensor's undersea base, in fact feature a "body
double" as Stephen was already off teh series due to a squash injury! That
is why we don't see his face in most of the Ensor base scenes, just his
back, chest, arms and feet :).

Cardinal Anorak


Ian Salsbury

unread,
Jul 23, 2001, 1:58:45 PM7/23/01
to

> > > Something I've always wondered about is how come the original Travis
was
> > > replaced for the second series?

> > Also, why did Sally Knyvette leave? The reason may have been explained


at
> > the time she left, but I was only
> > about 8 or 9 at the time!

Both actor and actress just decided it was time to move on IIRC. Sally
Knyvette in particular thought the character of Jenna was going nowhere
Jan Chappel also felt this way at the end of S3 ). I think Stephen Grief
left to do theatre work, but I`m not certain. In the "Inside B7" book, it
just says he left to "pursue other work". Certainly Gareth Thomas left for
the stage, feeling that there was little else he could do with the character
of Blake. Travis was written out as soon as it was realised that Gareth
would be leaving, as it was felt the two character`s should exit the show at
the same time. The only person not to leave the show voluntarily was David
Jackson ( Gan ). It was decided that killing a major character off would add
an edge to the show, so that things were not always going the seven`s way.
David also went on to theatre work.

Julia Jones

unread,
Jul 24, 2001, 4:33:36 PM7/24/01
to
Forwarded on behalf of Judith Proctor:

In article <3b5c3913$0$16309$603e...@news.adl.ihug.com.au>, david
<david@home.?> writes

>I read on a web site, it might have been Judith Procter's that she left due
>to personal problems with Gareth Thomas, that is they were having an affair
>and it went wrong.

I doubt very much that it was on my site as it's the first time I've
ever heard that story!

Besides, <grin> seeing that Gareth's wife was working as a make-up
artist on the series, it would have been a bit difficult to have an
affair without her knowing! All gossip goes through the make-up room.

The version I've heard as to why Sally left is far more prosaic. I seem
to recall that she wanted to complete her degree. Can anyone else
remember if I've got it right?


>
> I read on the same site that Gareth apparently left because he was tired of
> playing blake.

He was offered a job by the Royal Shakespeare Company. (and he rarely
stayed with any series more than one or two seasons at that time. He
didn't like being typecast. He has said that he felt Blake was limited,
though.)


--
Julia Jones
Redemption 03, 21-23 February 2003, Ashford, Kent
Celebrating 25 years of Blake's 7 and 10 years of Babylon 5
http://www.smof.com/redemption

kevs

unread,
Jul 24, 2001, 5:15:30 PM7/24/01
to
On Tue, 24 Jul 2001 16:42:50 +0930, "david" <david@home> wrote:

*> IIRC, Sally Knyvette left because she was frustrated with the
*>role. Again, from "B7: The Inside Story", page 91, "She had found
*>the role frustrating to play, and was increasingly dissatisfied with
*>the scripts she was given."

*She should have been grateful she wasn't starring in an American
sci-fi.....
*
*lol* Yes, if she'd been in Star Trek, she;d have been in
soft-focus all the time... :-)

Cheers,
kevs

Carol Hague

unread,
Jul 25, 2001, 3:11:49 AM7/25/01
to
Spencer Bullen <sblg...@cableinet.co.uk> wrote:

>
> I read an interview in which he said he didn't want to get stereotyped. That
> said, I remember him in another sci-fi series, one aimed at kids, in which he
> was the leader of the rebellion against the state! Can anyone help me as to
> what the series was?

"Knights of God" I think, but all i remember about it was that there was
a steam train involved, and I may have got that wrong :-)

Carol "vague" Hague
--
"He really has a noble heart and the best of intentions. He just happens
to be stark raving mad."
- Jon DeCles, _THe Particolored Unicorn_

Julia Jones

unread,
Jul 25, 2001, 2:30:59 PM7/25/01
to
In article <1ex1v22.10yxs74mt29s4N%carol...@bigwig.net>, Carol Hague
<carol...@bigwig.net> writes

>Spencer Bullen <sblg...@cableinet.co.uk> wrote:
>
>>
>> I read an interview in which he said he didn't want to get stereotyped. That
>> said, I remember him in another sci-fi series, one aimed at kids, in which he
>> was the leader of the rebellion against the state! Can anyone help me as to
>> what the series was?
>
>"Knights of God" I think, but all i remember about it was that there was
>a steam train involved, and I may have got that wrong :-)
>
from
http://hermit.org/blakes7/whoswho/other_role/Garethpl.cgi?D=1980-1989

Knights of God (TVS 6th Sep - 6th Dec 1987, thirteen 1/2 hr episodes).
Gareth plays Owen Edwards, a Welsh rebel leader. (Was this guy getting
typecast or what?) The series also starred Patrick Troughton (Doctor
Who), John Woodvine, Julian Fellowes, and George Winter. The series is a
sort of retelling of the Arthurian saga set in 2020 after a militant
order, the Knights of God, have taken over England and are trying to
stamp out the resistance led by Arthur (Troughton) and Edwards. Gareth
is not in episodes 6,7 or 10, but has big roles in episodes 1 and 11.
[[The series may have ended on 29th of Nov]]

Of course, he was also a rebel in that fine SF series _Star Maidens_...

Rodger Welham

unread,
Jul 25, 2001, 3:50:54 PM7/25/01
to
In article <3b5c3913$0$16309$603e...@news.adl.ihug.com.au>, david
<URL:mailto:david@home> wrote:
>
> "Rob Woods" <rob....@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:C6W67.24451$_i3.1...@news1.cableinet.net...
> > "david" <david@home> wrote in message
> > news:3b5bcb8d$0$16308$603e...@news.adl.ihug.com.au...
> > > Something I've always wondered about is how come the original Travis was
> > > replaced for the second series?
> >
> > Yes, I`d like to know the reason as well!
> >
> > Also, why did Sally Knyvette leave? The reason may have been explained at
> > the time she left, but I was only
> > about 8 or 9 at the time!
Snip

> I read on a web site, it might have been Judith Procter's that she left due
> to personal problems with Gareth Thomas, that is they were having an affair
> and it went wrong.
>
> I read on the same site that Gareth apparently left because he was tired of
> playing blake.

Well I'm glad Gareth Thomas left. I don't think he was ever right for the
part. He certainly didn't look it. He always reminded me of Friar Tuck's
smaller brother.

The one positive thing (for a B7 fan) about the final episode was that Blake
was the only one who we actually saw killed. Avon was always THE MAN.

--
__ _____________________________
|__) _ _| _ _ /
| \(_)(_|(_|(-`|¬ / rodger...@ukgateway.net
__________ _|______/

Ian Salsbury

unread,
Jul 25, 2001, 8:26:22 PM7/25/01
to

> Knights of God (TVS 6th Sep - 6th Dec 1987, thirteen 1/2 hr episodes).
> Gareth plays Owen Edwards, a Welsh rebel leader. (Was this guy getting
> typecast or what?) The series also starred Patrick Troughton (Doctor
> Who), John Woodvine, Julian Fellowes, and George Winter. The series is a
> sort of retelling of the Arthurian saga set in 2020 after a militant
> order, the Knights of God, have taken over England and are trying to
> stamp out the resistance led by Arthur (Troughton) and Edwards. Gareth
> is not in episodes 6,7 or 10, but has big roles in episodes 1 and 11.
> [[The series may have ended on 29th of Nov]]

I like the sound of this - Gareth Thomas and Pat Troughton in the same
series! Was it any good? Do you know where i can get hold of a copy?

-Ian-


david

unread,
Jul 26, 2001, 5:52:42 AM7/26/01
to

"Ian Salsbury" <I...@salsbury42.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
news:9jno3i$vdk$1...@newsg2.svr.pol.co.uk...
I'm pretty sure the ABC or anyone else didn't show it here in Australia, If
it only went for 13 episodes, which sounds like 1 series then it may have
flopped in the UK.

So either it was crapp, or too radical for its time.

David.


david

unread,
Jul 26, 2001, 5:55:33 AM7/26/01
to

"Rodger Welham" <rodger...@ukgateway.net> wrote in message
news:ant25195...@aecv95.dial.pipex.com...
I think Blake was too much of a goody-goody, whereas Avon seemed more like a
real person with many facets to his character.

David.

Simon Slavin

unread,
Jul 26, 2001, 6:15:52 PM7/26/01
to
In article <qpm6PKCg...@earthlink.net>,
Julia Jones <jajone...@nospam.demon.co.uk> wrote:

> The version I've heard as to why Sally left is far more prosaic. I seem
> to recall that she wanted to complete her degree. Can anyone else
> remember if I've got it right?

Sally was known for reading textbooks and serious books on set in
the breaks between filming. I don't know if she was doing a
degree.

The normally-quoted reason for her leaving is that she felt that
her character wasn't being allowed to do much -- 'housewife on the
Liberator'.

Simon.
--
http://www.hearsay.demon.co.uk | I have a hunch that [] the unknown sequences
No junk email please. | of DNA [will decode into] copyright notices
| and patent protections. -- Donald E. Knuth
The French Was There.

0 new messages