Gareth Thomas

Name:	Gareth Thomas
Also Known As:	Gareth Daniel Noake Thomas
Occupation:	Actor, Author
Medium:	Live-action Television, zines
Works:	Blake's 7, Blythe Spirits, Morgan's Boy
Official Website(s):	Wikipedia page, [1]
Fan Website(s):	Hermit.org page
On Fanlore:	Related pages

Gareth Thomas (born Gareth Daniel Noake Thomas in 12 February 1945 and died 13 April 2016) was a Welsh actor who starred predominantly in British sci-fi and fantasy children's television series, historical and crime dramas, and live stage productions. He was especially known for his role of Roj Blake in Blake's 7, but he also held the main role in Sutherland's Law (1973-1976) and recurring roles in Harriet's Back in Town (1972); Jackanory (1976); Star Maidens (1976); Children of the Stones (1977); The Bell (1982); Morgan's Boy (1984) [for which he was nominated for a BAFTA]; By the Sword Divided (1985); Knights of God (1987); Emlyn's Moon (1990); The Chestnut Soldier (1991); Heartbeat (1998-2004) and Distant Shores (2005-2008). He also had roles in popular British series Torchwood (2006), Midsomer Murders (2007), Casualty (1995 and 2002) and The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1984). He also participated in Big Finish audio drama productions for Doctor Who and Blake's 7.

Conventions

Like Blake's co-star (and friend) Paul Darrow, Thomas was a frequent guest of honour and enthusiastic participant at various fan conventions, both in the UK and internationally. He made appearances at the following conventions over the years:

The Blake's 7 Wars

When rumours started of a planned series of for-profit conventions, Thomas stated himself that he would not accept payment for these attendances:

As I say, everyone out there is paying my wages, and my reason for coming to an amateur con, not a professional one, its my way of saying thank you. Professional cons I've been asked to do, and I've turned them down. I said, no way, I will not do a professional con. Why? people say, because I know that some of the others do; Michael does, Jan does, I won't because those people out there have already paid to see me once already. Now they're paying to see me again. Why the hell should some bastard at the top cream that off? I don't want money for doing this. I want to say thank you. I don't want money, not for this. Why should some bastard up there be creaming it off? That's unfair of them.

 

He also distanced himself from Darrow's war on B7 slash, continuing to attend conventions and interact with fans when the Darrows were asking for boycotts of fan conventions which would not ban slash. However, he still felt he and Darrow were friends: he made a statement at the same convention (Gambit) that:

"There are rumours of a rift between myself and Paul. I can assure you that this isn't true - and that there's nothing I would like better than to have Paul here beside me now!"

 

For more on Thomas' role in the controversy, he is mentioned in the following articles:

[added links from "what links here"]