Classic TV:The Avengers-Classy, Bizarre and Very British in TV serie's Emma Peel fashion

The Avengers

Classy, bizarre and very British

For those who never saw this classic show , The Avengers was a British television series in the 1960's that is considered to be in the Spy genre. However,. as noted in Wikipedia, ”As the series progressed, the one hour story line combined elements of science fiction with British eccentricity.”

Like most Americans, I didn’t see the early episodes since they were not shown in the United States until later. The series had three major periods: the first was not shown in the United States at the time and starred Honor Blackman as partner to John Steed, played by Patrick Mcnee who was the common element in the series. The second starred Diana Rigg as Mrs. Peels is hands down the most popular protagonist. Third was Linda Thorson. Additionally there was a series called the “New Avengers” seven years later with Joanna Lumley starring as partner to Steed.

At one time I thought The Avengers was just another of the popular spy series of the 1960's inspired by the James Bond movies. However, it seems that the show preceded the first Bond film by a year. So the show was innovative and original. Interestingly Honor Blackman, Diana Rigg and Patrick Macnee later played in Bond films.

The show had some elements that kept it from the American audience at first. To some it was “too British.” Also, British sexual censorship was more relaxed at that time whereas British rules were fussier about combat scenes. For example striking with a closed fist was not allowed, American shows of the time had more realistic fight scenes.

In 1998 a movie was made of The Avengers starring Uma Thurman and Ralph Fiennes. It received poor reviews from critics.

Patrick Macnee was born February 6, 1922 and was the one consistent element in The Avengers
He started as a secondary character in an early live broadcast version of the show. After that he played opposite the various female stars of the show. His image was the Bowler hat and an umbrella. The persona was slightly mysterious, flirty and light. He wrote two original novels based on The Avengers. He hosted, in 1995, a documentary “The Avengers: The Journey Back,” directed by Clyde Lucas.

Mcnee became an American citizen in 1959.

1962-64 Honor Blackman as Cathy Gale

Dr. Cathy Gale is a self-assured anthropologist, skilled in Judo.  She often wore leather catsuits.  A costume that has become associated with the show, although with Diana Rigg, since the Cathy Gale episodes were not as well known in the U.S.. Maureen Dowd, the New York Times columnist wrote that she would imagine herself “as Emma Peel in a black leather catsuit, giving a kung fu kick to any diabolical mastermind . . . ”    Gale and Peel set the example for many fighting heroines since.    


Relationships between characters varied with the stars. For example, there was an element of conflict between Gale and Steed. At the same time there was some sexual tension evident between them. However with Peel these elements were not present but and element of wit and repartee developed between Peel and Steed.

Blackman  became a star in Britain with her black leather and high kicking fighting style. She left the show to play in a James Bond film.

Most Americans first saw the episodes with Diana Rigg as their first exposure to “The Avengers.” These are the episodes best remembered and associated with the show. More than 60 actresses were auditioned and actress Elizabeth Shepherd was the top choice but after initial filming it was found that she was less appealing than Blackman. Another 20 actresses were auditioned before they tried Rigg, who proved to work well with Mcnee.

In the new episodes there was a lighter comic element in both the main characters and the lead character’s reactions other characters and situations. Although espionage was evident in the earlier series, The Rigg period had tended to lean in the direction of Science Fiction including mad scientists, giant alien plants, and other improbable challenges. They also made fun of contemporary shows of the time, such as: The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Mission Impossible and Batman.

Amusing acronyms and names of organizations were used, such as FOG for” friends of ghosts,” SMOG for “Scientific Measurement of Ghosts,” PURR for “Rescue, Relief and Recuperation of Cats.” Characters often had related names, such as those at PURR being named Cheshire, Manx and Angora.

Fashion, especially tight fitting outfits for Gale and Peel, was one notable feature of the show. In the episode “Death at Bargain Prices” Mrs. Peel is undercover at a department store. Her uniform for promoting space age toys is an elaborate leather catsuit plus silver boots, sash, and welder’s gloves. This suit without the silver accessories became her signature outfit which she wore primarily for fight scenes in early episodes. Rigg found the leather outfits uncomfortable and turned to tight-fitting jumpsuits in bright colors using crimplene, a stretch fabric.

Peel also wore avant-garde fashions which emphasized youth and represented modern England in the sixties. By contrast Steed was the personification of Edwardian England. In 1967 TV Guide did a four page photospread on Rigg’s outfits.

Vehicles were a feature of the series. Steed had vintage 1926-1928 Bentley racing or town cars, Peel drove a sporty Lotus Elan convertible.

Another comedy element in the show is the end scenes of Peel and Steed leaving the scene in different and unusual vehicles.

Dianna Rigg left the show in 1967 to pursue major stardom, including a James Bond film.

1968-69 Linda Thorson as Tara King

While these episodes did well in Britain, the same cannot be said for the United States. This is partly due to fact that the show was slotted against the popular Rowan and Martins Laugh-in. The show lost out in Britain after that because of the loss of commercial backing.

The New Avengers 1976-1978

The show remained popular in France and in 1975 French television using Thorson and Mcnee. The success of the advertisements led to financing in France to create  new Avengers episodes. Mcnee still played Steed with two partners: Mike Gambit played by Gareth Hunt and Pudey played by Joanna Lumley.