The New Avengers: The TV Series
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The Avengers Return as The New Avengers
Actress Linda Thorson (Tara King) was the final partner for John Steed in the original, classic Avengers series which ended in 1969. While American (and to some extent British viewers) had not taken to the character, the French loved her.
The story goes that French TV producer Rudolf Roffi employed both Thorson and Patrick Macnee (John Steed) to make a TV commercial for champagne (see below).
Roffi had been a fan of the show and now realizing that it was no longer in production, asked Macnee why. He explained that there was no financial backing and even if some was forthcoming, he felt a remake would never recapture the special qualities of the original.
Undaunted, Roffi approached Brian Clemens (one of the producers of the original series) who confirmed the financial predicament, but expressed his desire to do another series if the money could be found.
Roffi acted quickly and contacted Clemens again - this time with backing worth £2 million. Within three months Clemens and Albert Fennell (his co-producer) had teamed up with Avengers theme composer Laurie Johnson to form Avengers (Film & TV) Enterprises Ltd. In association with French company IDTV, plans to bring John Steed back to television in 26 new episodes were almost complete.
Of course, this all hinged on Patrick Macnee's agreement. He, thankfully, changed his mind and ultimately declared his enthusiasm for the project. The updated show, broadcast in the UK in 1976-77, would be called The New Avengers, but there would be notable differences to its classic predecessor...
Contents at a Glance
1975: Reprising The Avengers
Laurent Perrier Advertisement
The New Avengers: The Opening Credits
Cool New Avengers Intros
The New Avengers...And Then There Were Three...
The Avengers Become A Trio
However, the most difficult part of any Avengers series had always been trying to find the right female partner. Many actresses applied for the part, before Clemens and Fennell chose Joanna Lumley. Originally, her character was to be known as Charley, but as there was a perfume on the market of the same name at the time, another name had to be found. Joanna herself came up with Purdey: the name of the world renowned shotgun.
Joanna was an ex-model who had appeared in the James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service and who had a fleeting part in the soap opera Coronation Street, as well as Are You Being Served?.Gareth Hunt had previously been seen in Dr. Who in 1974 and as Frederick the footman in the final series of Upstairs Downstairs.
Both Joanna and Gareth were put through physical training exercises prior to filming to get them fit. Joanna's fighting style was to take on the form of balletic high-kicking actions. Gambit was a martial arts expert. Both actors were to do much of their own stunt work, with only the more difficult scenes left to stunt doubles Cyd Child and Joe Dunne.
Joanna Lumley's Purdey was a combination of the characteristics and personalities of her predecessors. She had the sophistication of Cathy Gale; allure, athleticism and humor of Emma Peel, but also the softness and femininity of Tara King.
Gambit, on the other hand, remained much of a mystery. Before joining Steed and Purdey he had been a Major in the Paras and had pursued a career as a racing driver. He now resided in an apartment in London decorated in ultra-modern furnishings. A very tough, but usually quiet man, he enjoyed a good rapport with his partners, particularly Purdey.
![The New Avengers (8 Disc Collector's Edition Box Set) [DVD]](http://squidutils.com/uk/bB000HEVTKE.jpg)
Joanna Lumley as Purdey
Joanna Lumley
8x10 Wall Photo
Available From Art.com
Great New Avengers Deals
Find Your New Avengers Bargains
The New Avengers: Full Theme Music
The New Avengers Episode Guide
The New Avengers: Season 1
The Eagle's Nest: When a spy is found dead on the Scottish Isles, all the clues seem to lead to a very unusual group of monks, and somehow appear to be tied to the kidnapping of a prominent scientist.
The Midas Touch: A group of terrorists have gained control of a technique that allows them to turn a man into a deadly and undetectable killing machine who can kill just by touching his victim.
House of Cards: A number of normal people suddenly become assassins killing off various members of a spy team. Who is behind the attacks and will the assassins be able to kill Steed before he finds the controller?
The Last of the Cybernauts...?: A crook is nearly killed when he crashes into a fuel tanker which explodes. Later, he reactivates the Cybernauts and sends them after Steed to enact his revenge for making him a cripple.
To Catch a Rat: 17 years after losing his memory, an agent recalls the identity of a double agent, The White Rat, now a ministry official. The Avengers become involved.
Cat Amongst the Pigeons: Prominent government officals are killed in mysterious circumstances, although they appear to be accidents. It is discovered that birds have been responsible for the accidents, but who is controlling them?
Target: Agents die following a visit to a training centre, just before going on leave. Steed and Gambit realise that Purdey is visiting the training centre and try to save her from the same fate as the others.
Faces: Gambit and Purdey are trained to impersonate themselves, and are instructed to kill their "real" counterparts.
Tale of the Big Why: Purdey and Gambit engage in multiple cross-country chases while Steed plays cards with a traitor.
The Three-Handed Game: A mind-transfer device, a mission-critical document and three operatives involve The Avengers in a race against time.
Sleeper: Sleeping gas is stolen leading to part of London being looted.
Gnaws: Is there really a huge beast in the sewers and how did it get there?
Dirtier by the Dozen: Suspicion falls on a Commando unit based at an army base when a general disappears.
Joanna Lumley as Action Girl Purdey from The New Avengers
Joanna Lumley
8x10 Wall Photo
Available From Art.com
The New Avengers Episode Guide
The New Avengers: Season 2
Hostage: Purdey is kidnapped while on her way to a weekend with her mother and Mike Gambit is ordered to capture Steed.
Trap: The Avengers intercept a drug drop and are kidnapped as revenge.
Dead Men Are Dangerous: Parts of Steed's property are destroyed and it is clear that someone has a personal vendetta against him. Clues point to a double agent that Steed shot more than ten years ago. Could it be that he is still alive?
Medium Rare: Steed begins to believe a medium, but can she help him unravel a web of deception before he is arrested for murder.
Angels of Death: When a colleague is recommended to visit a health farm, Steed decides to take his place and investigate it, but is he walking into a trap?
Obsession: Dark goings on in the Buckinghamshire countryside bring Purdey and an old flame back together.
The Lion and the Unicorn: Heading to Paris the Avengers capture an assassin and hold him hostage, but when he gets shot by accident by one of his own men, they have to keep his death secret to stop dangerous recriminations.
K is for Kill, Part 1: The Avengers try to prevent the assassination of France's President -and the start of World War III!
K is for Kill, Part 2: The story continues..
Complex: The Avengers travel to Canada in pursuit of a superspy.
The Gladiators: A KGB agent is planning to break into Canadian Security and smash the computers, thereby setting Canadian intelligence back twenty years!
Emily: A double agent's palm print lead the Avengers on a cross country chase.
Forward Base: A tip-off that an agent is delivering stolen technology to an enemy base leads the Avengers to Canada.
The New Avengers: Target
This is Patrick Macnee & Joanna Lumley
The New Avengers: Joanna Lumley on Video
Purdey: Fighting The Good Fight
Gareth Hunt: Obituary
Mike Gambit From The New Avengers
Alan Leonard Hunt was born on February 7 1943 at Battersea, south London. His father, a coalman, was killed during the war when Alan was two and he was brought up by his mother, Doris, and his stepfather. The Argentine-born actress Martita Hunt, who played Miss Havisham in David Lean's film of Great Expectations, was his aunt, and he was keen on acting from his earliest years.
He arrived at The New Avengers in 1976. Playing Mike Gambit, the action-man sidekick to Macnee's Steed and Joanna Lumley's Purdey (with whom, despite persistent efforts, Gambit never got anywhere), was the high point of his career. But after two seasons the series ended, and decent film or television roles eluded him thereafter.
Hunt did not disappear from the screen, though. For several years he appeared with Liza Goddard and Una Stubbs in a series of Nescafe coffee commercials, in which he would shake his fist and then open it to reveal "three types of the finest coffee beans". He remained a popular sex symbol, a fact of which he took advantage.
More recently he appeared in a cameo role as the crime boss Ritchie Stringer in EastEnders.
Hunt suffered mixed health in recent years; in 1992 he collapsed shortly before appearing in a thriller at the Theatre Royal, Windsor, and he had a serious heart attack in December 1999 and had to pull out of panto at Malvern.
Gareth Hunt married three times. He is survived by his third wife, Amanda, and by a son from each of his marriages.
Purdey From The New Avengers
Joanna Lumley
8x10 Wall Photo
Available From Art.com
A New Avengers Spoof
French & Saunders (1988)
The Avengers Poll
What's Your Opinion?
Which Avengers version do you prefer?
The Avengers (1960s)
Lemming13 says:
I do enjoy the New Avengers (proud owner of a box set of dvds) but for me the classic era was Emma Peel's.
TheWhistler says:
ABSOLUTELY!
Rob says:
Actually not an easy choice, especially after reading your marvellous overview of The New Avengers. Such a pity more weren't made. There are iconic and magical moments from each year the series was in production.
Gregory Vleisides says:
While I enjoyed all of them, my favourite was the 60s series
sabrebIade says:
The original of course, but I do have a soft spot for the remake.
Grumpy-Fett says:
Have to go with the original.
The New Avengers (1970s)
The Avengers: A Sixties TV Cult Classic
Join Steed, Emma Peel, Cathy Gale and Tara King - the original Avengers - by clicking the links below.
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Your Thoughts on The New Avengers
Are You A New Avengers Fan?
Thank you for visiting this site dedicated to The New Avengers. Your comments are appreciated!
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Lemming13 Jan 26, 2012 @ 8:17 am | delete
- Super lens. I always thought the revamp got less credit than it deserved (though I did think the second series showed less imagination and flair). There were some outstanding stories - Three Handed Game, Last of the Cybernauts, House of Cards... Blessing this lens.
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jadehorseshoe
Dec 26, 2011 @ 12:32 am | delete
- Fun Lens!
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christopherwell
Sep 12, 2011 @ 7:45 pm | delete
- I loved The New Avengers! Some fans of the old series snub their noses at it, but you've gotta look at it for what it is -- "The Avengers as a 1970s cop show."
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TheWhistler
Aug 1, 2011 @ 10:24 am | delete
- They should never have attempted a revival, it was just pitiful. Just like the movie they did a few years ago.
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Grumpy-Fett
Sep 14, 2010 @ 9:22 pm | delete
- Interesting lens celebrating the New Avengers yet fairly comparing the two. Well done.
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Brian R
Mar 2, 2009 @ 1:42 am | delete
- All of them!!!!.....The New Avengers though was what i grew up on, and yes Purdey was my big crush...OXXOXO lov'ya Jo....Brian R.
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marsha32
Oct 6, 2008 @ 10:05 pm | delete
- intriguing lens
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Kotz
Aug 14, 2008 @ 7:26 am | delete
- AH, the memories. Wish a network would rerun this series - I'd watch!
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Jezzzz
Jun 4, 2008 @ 8:00 am | delete
- Once again great lense. Also visit: Auction car salvage.
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Jezzzz
Jun 4, 2008 @ 7:58 am | delete
- The avengers was a great series. Great lense. Also visit: Watch movies online.
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by JustBon-Crochet-Designs
One of my husband's favorite TV shows is the 1970s action adventure series The New Avengers, starring Patrick Macnee, Joanna Lumley and Gareth Hunt.
