Frisky but Appalling Power Series D, Episode 2. First broadcast on Monday 5 October 1981. This week on Maximum Power, we discuss episode 2 of Series D — Ben Steed’s normal amount of Power. There’s also a war between the sexes this week, and while Una and Zoë are deploying their wit, tactical skill and powers of telekinesis, Nathan is embroidering a…

We’ve Gone Neon Rescue Series D, Episode 1. First broadcast on Monday 28 September 1981. And we’re back with the first episode of Maximum Power for a whole new decade (of the third century of the second calendar). It’s Rescue. When a handsome stranger arrives on the planet Terminal and rescues the stranded Nathan, Pete, Peter, Si and Simon, it soon…

Interrogation Division investigates… The Collection Series 1 This week, Maximum Power’s Interrogation Division (otherwise known as Si and Pete) interview documentarian extraordinaire Chris Chapman and special effects wizard Chris Thompson about their work on the lavish new Blake’s 7: The Collection Series 1 (yes, we know) box set.…

Special Hyperspace Sub-Beam from the BFI This week, in a special report from the British Film Institute’s Blake’s 7 Series 1 (don’t you mean Series A?) screening, Si and Pete are joined by Zoe Baker, Dan Hollingsworth, Mark Dodyk, Tom Newsom, Ben Jolley, and David Gillespie-Pratt to discuss remastered episodes, new special effects, and Blake’s RADA…

The Series C Retrospective And now on Maximum Power, it’s time to look back at Series C of Blake’s 7. It’s been a wild ride, from the fatal shores of Sarran, to an almost fatal sickbay on the planet Chenga. From a radioactive volcano on Obsidian to an impossible realm on the other side of a black hole. From an alien-harvest on the planet Kairos to …

Maximum Discharge Terminal Series C, Episode 13. First broadcast on Monday 31 March 1980. This week, Si’s acting secretive and is taking the Liberator who knows where, Col told him not to fly through that ominous looking fluid cloud, but would he listen? No! He has to get to Terminal. Pete’s getting worried, the ship’s systems have started playing …

Space Canapés Death-Watch Series C, Episode 12. First broadcast on Monday 24 March 1980. This week on Maximum Power, the crew enjoy 2-for-1 cocktails hour on the Liberator flight deck, sampling the finest space canapés and enjoying the latest galactic board game, all while watching one of their relatives (convincingly portrayed by the same actor) f…

Horrified. Disgusted. Is This What It’s Come To? Moloch Series C, Episode 11. First broadcast on Monday 17 March 1980. And now on Maximum Power our intrepid team find themselves on Sardos, an invisible planet in the outer darkness of the galaxy, for a confrontation with Moloch. In this week’s episode, Zoe is disgusted by the casual misogyny, Pete i…

Chris Smith is joined by regular host Paul Monaghan and special guest Rob Leane, gaming editor for the Radio Times. We discuss Rob's career so far, the beloved status of Radio Times and how it came to have a gaming editor, as well as an extended discussion about Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and its implications for modern games jouralism. It's …

A Terrible Sad-Sack Universe Ultraworld Series C, Episode 10. First broadcast on Monday 10 March 1980. This week on Maximum Power, Simon, Brendan and Rob Valentine teleport down to a mysterious planet only to discover that it’s just one giant computer. Simon wonders at the elegance of the operating system, Brendan has a hankering for a fancy cockta…

Pulling at the Tinsel Sarcophagus Series C, Episode 9. First broadcast on Monday 3 March 1980. This week Hannah’s been possessed by the spirit of a gold-skinned alien intent on resurrecting itself, and for some reason Si is The Warrior, James is The Jester, Pete is The Harpist, and Nathan is a foreboding figure dressed in black. That can only mean …

Chris and Paul once again realise almost another year has gone by since they last recorded. Join us as we catch up on the year just gone, and manage to almost entirely avoid talking about Christmas.

Avon Suffering Beautifully Rumours of Death Series C, Episode 8. First broadcast on Monday 25 February 1980. This week on Maximum Power, Col’s been in a Federation interrogation cell for five days, he knew if he held out Si would show up eventually, meanwhile Nathan’s crawling across the grounds of Servalan’s Presidential Palace with a yellow box s…

The Ginka Show Children of Auron Series C, Episode 7. First broadcast on Tuesday 19 February 1980. And now on Maximum Power, the Liberator crew find themselves en route to the planet Auron on a mission to save the Children of Auron. This week, Peter receives a telepathic communication from his twin, Pete: “They’re all dying. Help us. Help Auron!” S…

100% Vila City at the Edge of the World Series C, Episode 6. First broadcast on Monday 11 February 1980. And now on Maximum Power our intrepid team head to the City at the Edge of the World. This week Mark hopes all his mistakes have nice legs, Simon realises every silver lining has a cloud, Pete is treating every hour like his last and Si is just …

50 Shads of Grey The Harvest of Kairos Series C, Episode 5. First broadcast on Monday 4 February 1980. And now on Maximum Power, we’re manly men coveting Kairopan, as we try and steal The Harvest of Kairos! This week Peter finds teleporting not an unpleasant way to travel because he is a man, Simon is a man who has nothing to say to Servalan, Colin…

Orac GPT Dawn of the Gods Series C, Episode 4. First broadcast on Monday 28 January 1980. This week on Maximum Power, the Liberator is being dragged off course by a strange force from the other side of a black hole. James, Nathan and Peter soon find themselves in a strange place where the normal laws of physics don’t apply. Here they are taken pris…

Milus and His Stupid Brother Volcano Series C, Episode 3. First broadcast on Monday 21 January 1980. And now on Maximum Power, Mark, Peter, Colin and Nathan have all decided to set up a colony devoted to pacifism not far away from an enormous active volcano containing a leaky nuclear bomb. Things are going just about as well as you might expect whe…

Space Age Sexy Powerplay Series C, Episode 2. First broadcast on Monday 14 January 1980. And now on Maximum Power, Mark and Colin finally arrive back on board the Liberator with their new friend James Cooray-Smith, only to find an uncharacteristically rough-looking Michael Sheard, and a dramatically handsome new leading man who seems to be trying t…

Alan Lake Was Also the Location Aftermath Series C, Episode 1. First broadcast on Monday 7 January 1980. And now on Maximum Power, our fearless space crew are reeling from the aftermath of the intergalactic war. While some of them take a break until next week, others go missing until later this year, and some of them are never seen again! This week…

Doing Coriolanus Warship Blakes 7: The Classic Adventures 1. Released January 2013 And now on Maximum Power, Si displays his famous optimism, Col almost gets the chance to demonstrate an old smuggler’s trick, Mark can be spared to go down to Megiddo, and finally Pete finds his telepathic powers are boosted by being in this region of space, or somew…

You wait weeks for a podcast, then two hours come along at once. Chris is joined by returning host Paul to look at their highlights from the games that have been announced for the year ahead. With a brief diversion to discuss the Amiga Mini, because there was no chance of them staying on topic.

The Series B Retrospective And now on Maximum Power, we take a look back at Series B of Blake’s 7. Our adventure has taken us from the clutches of The System on Spaceworld, to the machinations of the Terra Nostra on Space City. From the planet of the Clone Masters, to Space Command, and Horizon, Earth, Space Command, and to a planet with an ocean m…

The Fisher Price Invasion Force Star One Series B, Episode 13. First broadcast on Tuesday 3 April 1979. And now on Maximum Power, our intrepid crew join the precious few people who actually know where Star One is, as we reach the climactic end of Series B of Blake’s 7. This week, Col just wants it finished, he wants it over and done with, he wants …

High Decibel Villainy The Keeper Series B, Episode 12. First broadcast on Tuesday 27 March 1979. This week on Maximum Power, the Liberator has arrived at the planet Goth in search of a brain print which holds the location of Star One. But the crew’s mission won’t be as easy at it sounds, for starters the place is full of tents. While Si tries to co…

Blackpool Not Vegas Gambit Series B, Episode 11. First broadcast on Tuesday 20 March 1979. And now on Maximum Power we head to Freedom City on the trail of a former Federation cyber surgeon who can apparently tell us the location of Star One, and while we’re here maybe a bit of light cheating at high stakes gambling. Pete’s cracked the gaming table…

An Outrageous Failure Voice from the Past Series B, Episode 10. First broadcast on Tuesday 13 March 1979. And now on Maximum Power, we’re scheming with Shivan, venting with Ven Glynd and having Le Grand old time, as we head to a governors’ conference on the planet Atlay, intent on overthrowing the Federation. This week, Si is not so enfeebled he’s …

Another Centrist Insurrection Countdown Series B, Episode 9. First broadcast on Tuesday 6 March 1979. This week on Maximum Power, the crew arrive on the planet Albian in search of Space Major Provine, a Federation officer who may have information on how to find Control. But they’ve arrived in the aftermath of a rebellion which has overthrown Federa…

Escapade of the Week Hostage Series B, Episode 8. First broadcast on Tuesday 27 February 1979. And now on Maximum Power, new arrival Hannah and her gang of crimos has taken Si, Col and Pete Hostage and is forcing them to watch Episode 8 of Series B of Blake’s 7, they may not survive. Join our intrepid crew as they struggle with persistent pursuit s…

Chris Smith the Newer is joined by returning hosts Jake and Tommy to discuss the last 12 months, and what they've been up to in life and videogames since Maximum Power Up last released an episode.

Full Camp Exchanges Killer Series B, Episode 7. First broadcast on Tuesday 20 February 1979. This week on Maximum Power, Nathan and Brendan teleport down to Federation installation Q-Base on the planet Fosforon to steal a translator crystal, and what better way of doing that than by blackmailing an old ‘friend’. Meanwhile, an ancient spacecraft is …

You’ve Got to Have a Hobby Trial Series B, Episode 6. First broadcast on Tuesday 13 February 1979. And now on Maximum Power the Liberator crew and the Federation are dealing with the aftermath of the catastrophic events of last week’s episode. This week, reeling from the loss of his fellow crew member, Si teleports down to an ‘uninhabited’ planet t…

Project Managing His Adventures Pressure Point Series B, Episode 5. First broadcast on Tuesday 6 February 1979. And now on Maximum Power, Blake and his crew are brought right back down to Earth, as we discuss Episode 5 of Series B of Blake’s 7 - Pressure Point. This week, although Si has been waiting for 18 days, Col is sure Blake is coming. Mark w…

Another Tool in Her Toolbox Horizon Series B, Episode 4. First broadcast on Tuesday 30 January 1979. And now on Maximum Power, despite space fatigue and too many space crises, the crew are ready to discuss Episode 4 of Series B of Blake’s 7. This week, in an unlikely turn of events, Nathan becomes the Liberator’s nurse, Peter reveals he’s not an id…

Their Collection of Sleeves Weapon Series B, Episode 3. First broadcast on Tuesday 23 January 1979. This week on Maximum Power, brilliant and slightly unhinged Beta-grade technician Nathan has invented a rather curiously named weapon, and now he’s on the run from the Federation, taking downtrodden and rather fabulous bond-slave Brendan with him. To…

Planets Without Daisies or Daffodils Shadow Series B, Episode 2. First broadcast on Tuesday 16 January 1979. And now on Maximum Power, the Liberator crew head to Space City to enlist the support of shadowy drug-smuggling criminal syndicate the Terra Nostra in their fight against the Federation. This week as Si tries to negotiate with the Terra Nost…

Davros Called, He Wants His Leather Tunic Back Redemption Series B, Episode 1. First broadcast on Tuesday 9 January 1979. And now on Maximum Power, everyone’s had a haircut and found some new clothes, and we’re being dragged inexorably towards Spaceworld and the beginning of Series B of Blake’s 7. This week, Col is watching everything at half-speed…

The Michael E Briant Interview, Part 2 And now on Maximum Power, we’re excited to present the second part of our two-part interview with legendary director Michael E. Briant. In this week’s episode, Michael talks to Si and Pete about his original concept for the flight deck of The Liberator, robots at Wookey Hole, and why he didn’t return for Serie…

The Michael E Briant Interview, Part 1 And now on Maximum Power, we’re absolutely delighted to be joined by a very special guest, respected director and lovely man Michael E. Briant. Michael very kindly spent an evening talking with Si and Pete about his experiences working on Blake’s 7. In the first part of a two-part interview Michael talks to us…

The Series A Retrospective We’ve reached the end of Series A, which has taken us from a carpark on a totalitarian Earth, via Cygnus Alpha, planet of the Decimas, Centero, the freighter Ortega, unnamed planet from Episode 8, unnamed planet from Episode 9, an inexpertly constructed Airfix model called XK-72, the Waterloo Tower in Quex Park in Kent, a…

A Stroll Against Time Orac Series A, Episode 13. First broadcast on Monday 27 March 1978. And now on Maximum Power, the Liberator crew discover what a perspex box full of flashing lights is really worth as they meet Orac. This week Nathan is explaining to Si what went on last week, despite Si actually being there for the Deliverance podcast. Pete’s…

A Very Servalan Plan Deliverance Series A, Episode 12. First broadcast on Monday 20 March 1978. And now on Maximum Power, we’re living in hope of Deliverance, and while we’re at it having a good chat about Episode 12 of Series A of Blakes 7! This week Si is being worshipped by the lovely Meegat, counting himself that makes two people who think he’s…

Yippee-Ki-Yay-Liberator Bounty Series A, Episode 11. First broadcast on Monday 13 March 1978. And now on Maximum Power, Blake and Cally go in search of the chocolate planet of Lindor, or at least its ex-President Sarkoff, their bounty (but he doesn’t want a bar of it). This week Nathan’s reflexes are getting dull, the guards nearly fell over him be…

Gan Isn’t Working Breakdown Series A, Episode 10. First broadcast on Monday 6 March 1978. And now on Maximum Power, Gan finally gets his featured storyline, and spends most of the episode snoozing as his Limiter develops a breakdown. This week Brendan suggests a trip to neutral Space Station XK72 to sort out Gan’s Limiter, while Simon would prefer …

The Roll-Back-and-Mix Virus Project Avalon Series A, Episode 9. First broadcast on Monday 27 February 1978. This week on Maximum Power, the crew teleport down to a bleak ice planet in search of freedom fighter Avalon. But Travis has got there first, and he’s got a little project in mind. While Si and Col don their extra-toasty heated Space Anoraks™…

Chris Smith mk 2 is joined by returning host Tom Charnock to share fond memories of Atari’s much maligned console. They cover their own introductions to the console, and discuss their favourite games on the platform. As always, if you enjoy this episode, please take the time to leave us a review on iTunes, or wherever else you choose to listen to y…

The Rest of the Time They’re Just People in Hats Duel Series A, Episode 8. First broadcast on Monday 20 February 1978. With the mighty Douglas Camfield at the helm, the Liberator crew face a dual duel in this week’s jewel of an episode. This week on Maximum Power, Colin is rocking out to avant guard soundscapes, Nathan’s got the Series A-B-C-D heeb…

Jeopardy Space Meteorites Mission to Destiny Series A, Episode 7. First broadcast on Monday 13 February 1978. And now on Maximum Power, Avon and Cally are Poirot and Marple on a Mission to Destiny. This week, Pete doesn’t care if your whole world turns into a mushroom, Peter’s people have a saying about trusting people or something. Don’t worry abo…

The Cat-and-Mouse Approach Seek-Locate-Destroy Series A, Episode 6. First broadcast on Monday 6 February 1978. And now on Maximum Power, we are down and safe on the planet Centero, which is definitely top secret and can in no way be infiltrated, for Episode 6 of Blake’s 7 - Seek-Locate-Destroy. As nothing really happens in this episode, Pete is kee…

This episode features two interviews discussing two new print productions. First up is Daryl Baxter who has written the Making Of Tomb Raider book. This book covers the stories behind the making of the first two games by Core Design. The book features over 20 interviews with people who worked on the game and Daryl also shares other things we can ex…