Avengers, the

Avengers, the
Episodes:	161
Year:	1961-1969
Country:	United Kingdom
Seasons:	7
Seasons Breakdown:	(1) 26, (2) 26, (3) 26, (4) 26, (5) 16, (6) 8, (7) 33
Category:	Crime
Colour:	Yes
Format:	Series
Company:	ABC Television Network Production
Creator:	Sydney Newman and Leonard White
Run Time (mins):	60
Language:	English
Type of Show:	Live Action
Status:	Ended
Broadcaster:

Summary

The Avengers originated in 1961 with John Steed partnered alongside Dr. David Keel, portrayed by Ian Hendry. Although Hendry had previously starred in Police Surgeon, and the two roles share similarities, The Avengers was not conceived as a sequel, despite occasional claims to the contrary. Within the narrative, Steed and Keel meet by chance while both are pursuing the drug dealers responsible for the murder of Keel’s fiancée—an act of vengeance that provided the inspiration for the series’ title. Steed subsequently recruits Keel to assist in his investigations, a role Keel accepts.

Most episodes of the first series were recorded on videotape with filmed inserts, though several early instalments (episodes 003–009) were transmitted live; only one of these broadcasts is known to survive. The tone of the first series was predominantly that of a conventional crime drama, displaying few of the science‑fiction or fantasy elements that would later become hallmarks of the programme.

The second series introduced several new partners for Steed: Cathy Gale, Venus Smith, and Dr. Martin King. Venus Smith, a nightclub singer, appeared in six episodes and performed at least one musical number in each. Dr. King appeared in three episodes, fulfilling a role similar to that of Dr. Keel; his scripts were originally written for the first series. Cathy Gale, played by Honor Blackman, became the programme’s first prominent female co‑star. A capable fighter and never a passive victim, Gale appeared in the remainder of the second series and throughout the third. Her distinctive black leather outfits became a notable fashion influence. The character, a widowed anthropologist, shared a subtly implied but never explicitly defined relationship with Steed. While many episodes of the second and third series retained the espionage and crime‑drama format of the early programme, elements of the fantastic began to appear with increasing frequency.

The fourth series marked the programme’s debut in the United States. By this stage, the science‑fiction motifs that had gradually emerged were firmly established. Production shifted from videotape to film, giving the series a more polished and less studio‑bound appearance. Steed also acquired a new partner, Emma Peel, portrayed by Diana Rigg. Like Cathy Gale, Emma Peel was a widowed, leather‑clad, highly capable heroine, and her relationship with Steed echoed the dynamic of the earlier partnership. Peel remained for three series, the final two filmed in colour to meet the requirements of ABC in the United States. During this period, Steed’s character became increasingly eccentric; he abandoned firearms entirely, favouring his trademark umbrella as a defensive tool. The Emma Peel era is widely regarded as the creative and popular peak of the series.

For the final series, The Avengers underwent a partial retooling toward more conventional spy‑adventure storytelling. Emma Peel departed after her long‑missing husband was discovered alive, ending her association with Steed. She was succeeded by Tara King, the first of Steed’s partners to be a formally trained professional agent rather than a talented amateur. The internal bureaucracy of the organisation became more prominent through the introduction of Steed and Tara’s superior, “Mother,” a wheelchair‑using male spymaster whose mobile office appeared in a variety of unusual locations, such as a swimming pool or the top deck of a bus. Many episodes of this period focused on internal security breaches or required Steed and Tara to complete missions initiated by other agents.

Cast

Dr.David Keel IAN HENDRY (1), Steed PATRICK MACNEE, Carol Wilson INGRID HAFNER (1), One-Ten DOUGLAS MUIR (1), Cathy Gale HONOR BLACKMAN (2,3), Mrs. Emma Peel DIANA RIGG (4-6), Tara King LINDA THORSON (7), Mother PATRICK NEWELL (7), Rhonda RHONDA PARKER (7).