Gerald Blake

Biography

Gerald Blake (3 December 1928 – 5 April 1991) was a British television director who worked in drama from the 1960s to the 1980s. Beginning his career as an actor, Blake appeared in repertory, appearing in productions at Burnham and Farnham before becoming stage director at the New Shakespeare Theatre, Liverpool. In October 1958, he became associate producer at the Theatre Royal, Lincoln. It was here during the presentation of a revue that BBC producer Norman Rutherford was visiting. Impressed by the production, he offered Blake a six-month drama producer's course with the corporation. Starting on 8 May 1962, his training consisted of directing episodes of Dr Finlay's Casebook, and afterwards he went on to become a television director. His numerous credits include The Gentle Touch, The Omega Factor (the episode "After-Image"), Blake's 7 (the episodes "The Harvest of Kairos" (1980) and "Death-Watch" (1980) from the third series), Survivors (three episodes from the first series), The Onedin Line, Out of the Unknown, Doctor Who (the stories The Abominable Snowmen (1967) and The Invasion of Time (1978)), Super Gran, Compact, Z-Cars, Mr. Palfrey of Westminster, and Coronation Street.

Directed

1. Doctor Who (1963) — Director
2. EastEnders (1985) — Director
3. Coronation Street (1960) — Director
4. Emmerdale (1972) — Director
5. Blake's 7 (1978) — Director
6. Survivors (1975) — Director
7. Super Gran (1985) — Director
8. Play for Today (1970) — Director
9. The Omega Factor (1979) — Director
10. Out of the Unknown (1965) — Director
11. Thirty-Minute Theatre (1965) — Director
12. The Gentle Touch (1980) — Director
13. Z-Cars (1962) — Director
14. The Onedin Line (1971) — Director
15. Doctor Who: The Invasion of Time (1978) — Director
16. Doctor Who: The Abominable Snowmen (1967) — Director
17. The Edwardians (1972) — Director
18. Big Deal (1984) — Director
19. Mr. Palfrey of Westminster (1984) — Director
20. Dr. Finlay's Casebook (1962) — Director
21. Compact (1962) — Director
22. Nanny (1981) — Director
23. Softly, Softly (1966) — Director
24. The Expert (1968) — Director
25. 199 Park Lane (1965) — Director
26. The Newcomers (1965) — Director
27. Softly Softly: Task Force (1969) — Director
28. The Factory (1981) — Director
29. Quiller (1975) — Director
30. The Mackinnons (1977) — Director
31. The Elusive Pimpernel (1969) — Director
32. The Venturers (1975) — Director
33. Thundercloud (1979) — Director
34. Harpers West One (1961) — Director
35. The Doctors (1969) — Director
36. Headmaster (1977) — Director
37. Whistling Wally (1982) — Director
38. Tishoo (1982) — Director
39. Liar! (1969) — Director
40. The Sons and Daughters of Tomorrow (1971) — Director

Also appeared in

1. On the Run (1958) — Tweezers
2. The Black Brigand (1956) — Jaco