PETER TUDDENHAMwho died on 9 July 2007, age 88, is best known for his role in television show Blake’s 7.As the voices of Zen, Orac and Slave, all talking computers in the cult science fiction programme Blake’s 7, Mr Tuddenham was heard but never seen. A brief appearance on fellow Sci-Fi programme Doctor Who also helped to secure a reputation as a popular actor and voice artist.First broadcast in January 1978, Blake’s 7 was seen as an alternative to Star Trek which had already gained success, both in Britain and America. Set in the future when the galaxy is ruled by a totalitarian federation, Blake’s 7 caught the imagination of audiences, who had become used to seeing humans enter space.As one of the shows original characters, Mr Tuddenham’s observations as the talking computer Zen helped broaden the programmes appeal and made him a cult TV star.Peter Tuddenham was born on 27 November 1918. He had taken an interest in acting as a young man and made his British television debut in 1966, in ‘Weaver’s Green’ a black and white TV drama set in a veterinary practice.It was here that his long association with British television drama began, but it was not until 12 years later that his career really took off.Shortly before landing his most ‘famous’ role in Blake’s 7 Mr Tuddenham was asked by the BBC to voice two separate characters in Doctor Who. In 1975 he was the voice of a computer in an episode entitled ‘The Ark in Space: Part 1’ swiftly followed by ‘The Masque of Madragora: Part 1 in which he voiced The Madragora Helix.Finding minor fame on Doctor Who soon transformed Mr Tuddenham’s career. The BBC was to offer him his most secure acting role to date in1977, albeit off-screen.Working beside six other actors, on Blake’s 7, Mr Tuddenham joined the adventures of a space crew as the voice of a computer which had been built by an alien society.Following the success of the first few episodes, the series was re-commissioned by the BBC and Mr Tuddenham remained in the role for another two series.The character of Zen was killed off at the end of the third series after an explosion, although it was not the end of Mr Tuddenham’s work on the show.In the latter series’ of Blake’s 7, Mr Tuddenham also lent his voice to both Slave, a computer on board the Scorpio space ship and Orac, a supercomputer which fans described as having a rather large ego with a superior knowledge to its crew.After the series ended in 1981, Mr Tuddenham returned to his old acting ways, appearing more on screen as person rather than just a voice. He landed guest roles in popular dramas including LoveJoy and Bergerac in the mid-80s although he could never quite resist from returning to Sci-Fi productions.Perhaps born to voice Sci-Fi characters, Mr Tuddenham never truly left his Blake’s 7 characters behind. In a 15 minute short entitled ‘Blake’s Junction 7’ released in 2004, Mr Tuddenham can be heard voicing the character of Orac.Outside of television work, Mr Tuddenham attended several Blake’s 7 conventions across the U.K to say thank you to fans that had helped make Blake’s 7 a cult success.The ‘voice’ of Blake’s 7, Peter Tuddenham, died following a short illness on 9 July 2007.
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