Sally Knyvette, known for her role in the classic sci-fi series Blake’s 7, has explained why she has no regrets about departing the show before it ended.
I recently learned some interesting history about a classic show getting a reboot by Peter Hoar. The original series aired from 1978 to 1982, and it seems the actress who played Jenna Stannis, Knyvette, decided to leave after just two seasons, back in 1979. It’ll be fascinating to see how this new version stacks up against the original, knowing that key player exited relatively early on.
She’s publicly expressed her disappointment with the direction her character took, noting it shifted from a strong, adventurous “intergalactic space pirate” to a much more passive and traditionally feminine “dolly bird.”
I recently read an interview with Knyvette where she talked about leaving the show, and it really struck me. She said she has no regrets at all. She explained that she was very young and still figuring things out when she was working at the BBC, and honestly, she felt it was a tough environment for young women who didn’t fit a certain mold. It was a really honest and insightful thing to hear.
University was instrumental in helping me become more self-assured and find my own voice. Before, I lacked confidence, but being away from home and focusing on personal growth – especially through studying literature, and Shakespeare in particular, which I’m passionate about – has really benefited me in the long run.
My career has really expanded – I’m now a teacher, a director, and I do voiceover work. Early in my university days, I was offered a role in a series with Patrick Stewart called Maybury, but my agent was really upset when I decided to decline it.
Honestly, I have no regrets about leaving the show. It was a really important experience for me, and I grew so much as a person because of it. Plus, I’ve stayed really close with the people I connected with on set. If anything, I appreciate my time there even more now than I did while I was actually on it. It just felt like the right moment to move on, and I stand by that decision.
Now that the show is being revived, Knyvette has expressed interest in coming back, even if just in a behind-the-scenes role.
“Absolutely,” she said. “I happily left it behind when I went to university in the 70s, thinking that would be the end of it. But surprisingly, it’s stayed with me ever since, and now I’ve actually grown to love it.”
There’s a question of whether Jenna might return to the show. Her final scene was open-ended, and Knyvette pointed out, “I’m still alive! Plus, even if I wasn’t, they could always clone me.”
She confirmed the character is still alive and well in the Big Finish audio dramas. She sees it as a satisfying return to the role, especially because she felt insecure and inexperienced as an actor when she first played it, and only portrayed the character’s glamorous side. She’s now excited to explore the role more fully.
“Now, I know I could bring so much more to it.”
Authors
Louise Griffin edits the Sci-Fi & Fantasy section at TopMob, writing about popular franchises like Doctor Who, Star Wars, Marvel, House of the Dragon, and Good Omens. Before TopMob, she was a Senior Entertainment Reporter at Metro and holds a degree in English Literature.
- Visit us on Twitter
Read More
- Best Controller Settings for ARC Raiders
- Gwen Stefani Details “Blessing” of Her Holidays With Blake Shelton
- Bitcoin’s Mysterious Millionaire Overtakes Bill Gates: A Tale of Digital Riches 🤑💰
- IT: Welcome to Derry Review – Pennywise’s Return Is Big on Lore, But Light on Scares
- Stephen Colbert Jokes This Could Be Next Job After Late Show Canceled
- 10 X-Men Batman Could Beat (Ranked By How Hard It’d Be)
- 5 Reasons Naoya Zenin Just Became Jujutsu Kaisen’s Most Hated Character
- How to Get to Heaven from Belfast soundtrack: All songs featured
- How to Froggy Grind in Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3+4 | Foundry Pro Goals Guide
- Embracer Group is Divesting Ownership of Arc Games, Cryptic Studios to Project Golden Arc
2026-02-15 16:04