David Maloney, the producer of, among many other fine works,
Blake's 7 (1978), has died. Whilst there is nothing surer for
any of us in life than death, it is still very difficult to come to
terms with the final loss of someone for whom we felt great affection
and held in esteem. It is a cliché, but David will be sorely missed by
all those who knew him. His gentle humour, quiet diplomacy and
undoubted skill as a director/producer are qualities all too rare,
especially today. Two years ago, he looked me in the eye and asked who
I thought would be the first of
Blake's 7 (1978) "to go!" I
thought - am I looking unwell? Soon afterwards, we lost David "Gan
Jackson (
David Jackson). Now, another David is gone. I
cannot speak for anyone else. All I can say is that David always
treated me with courtesy and respect and, from time to time, enjoyed
'sending me up.' He knew, as did I, that my 'macho' image as Avon was
something of a facade.
Terry Nation's
Blake's 7 (1978) was,
and is, a family of sorts. A quarter of a century or more since its
conclusion, those of us associated with the programme are aware of
this. We have lost our founder, one of our leading actors, our
favourite eccentric director and now, our producer. In time, we will
all pass away, leaving nothing but flickering images of a splendid
enterprise that captured the imagination of so many. An achievement in
no small measure attributable to
David Maloney.
