# Turns out, Avon was expendable (RIP Paul Darrow 1941-2019)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turns-out-avon-was-expendable-rip-paul-darrow-1941-2019/834970>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Tags:** celebrity-death\
**Created:** [June 3, 2019, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turns-out-avon-was-expendable-rip-paul-darrow-1941-2019/834970 "2019-06-03T18:06:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\
**Post date:** [June 3, 2019, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turns-out-avon-was-expendable-rip-paul-darrow-1941-2019/834970/1 "2019-06-03T18:06:20Z")

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British actor Paul Darrow is dead. He’s best known for his role as Kerr Avon from _Blake’s 7_, where his sardonic humor was a big part of the show.

He also had a couple of appearances on _Doctor Who_ and did a lot of British TV.

I always loved the character of Avon, whose dark sense of humor was terrific.

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**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\
**Post date:** [June 3, 2019, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turns-out-avon-was-expendable-rip-paul-darrow-1941-2019/834970/2 "2019-06-03T18:22:37Z")

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I have fond memories of Blake’s Seven.  
Duh-da Duh-da Duh-da-duh-da-da-da!

I didn’t know Avon had a first name.

ETA: some episodes are on youtube

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**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\
**Post date:** [June 3, 2019, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turns-out-avon-was-expendable-rip-paul-darrow-1941-2019/834970/3 "2019-06-03T19:44:29Z")

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> [@Riemann](#):
>
> I have fond memories of Blake’s Seven.  
> Duh-da Duh-da Duh-da-duh-da-da-da!
> 
> I didn’t know Avon had a first name.

I think it was mentioned in his first episode and never again.

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**Author:** ![dzeiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@dzeiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzeiger)\
**Post date:** [June 4, 2019, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turns-out-avon-was-expendable-rip-paul-darrow-1941-2019/834970/4 "2019-06-04T00:25:53Z")

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I think I still have VHS tapes I recorded from when it ran on my local PBS station, and I know I downloaded and burned off episodes off of Usenet, but I’m still annoyed there was never a properly-released US DVD series.

There was some talk a few years ago of a new Blake’s 7 series, but I guess it never got past initial planning stages, such a pity.

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**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\
**Post date:** [June 4, 2019, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turns-out-avon-was-expendable-rip-paul-darrow-1941-2019/834970/5 "2019-06-04T01:22:22Z")

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> [@RealityChuck](#):
>
> I think it was mentioned in his first episode and never again.

I think Avon’s first name was mentioned a number of times - more than Gan’s first name or Vila’s last name (both just twice, IIRC - and both times that I recall, Gan’s first name was mentioned only by Zen).