PATRICK MACNEE as John Steed (Seasons 1-6)
John Steed, the Eton-bred British Intelligence agent with the ubiquitous bowler and bumbershoot, is the single character to have figured in every season of THE AVENGERS, including THE NEW AVENGERS. He made his debut in 1961 opposite Ian Hendry as Dr. David Keel, the Avenger for whom the series was named.

Macnee pursued a successful acting career in the Canadian television industry in the early ’50s. Upon returning to England, his career took a turn toward producing, starting with the acclaimed 26-week series The Valiant Years. When offered the part of Steed in the new British adventure series, Macnee was reluctant. His solution was to request an inordinately high salary with the expectation that it would be rejected. His salary demand was met, and one of television’s most enduring characters was born.

Producer, actor and author, Patrick Macnee recently published a book about his years as an Avenger: THE AVENGERS AND ME by Patrick Macnee with Dave Rogers.

DIANA RIGG as Mrs. Emma Peel (Seasons 4-5)
Emma Peel, wealthy widow of ace test pilot Peter Peel, martial arts expert, brilliant amateur scientist and spy, succeeded Cathy Gale (Honor Blackman) as Steed’s partner in 1965.

Already a 5-year veteran of the Royal Shakespeare Company, Diana Rigg was recommended for an AVENGERS screen test after producers had tested dozens of actresses and had, in fact, already hired and fired Elizabeth Shepherd as Steed’s partner. Considered by the majority of AVENGERS buffs to be the quintessential AVENGER, Diana Rigg -- now Dame Diana Rigg -- brought a captivating mix of hipness and elegance to the role.

Emma Peel (nee Knight) is thought to be the first person ever to perform kung fu on television. Rigg was taught the technique in 1965 by stunt choreographer par excellence Ray Austin.

Perhaps the most appropriately named character on television, Emma Peel was named for the British film industry expression “Man-Appeal” or “M-Appeal” which was one of the criteria for the role.

IAN HENDRY as Dr. David Keel (Season 1)
Ian Hendry was the star of a short-lived police drama called Police Surgeon. While Police Surgeon wasn’t very popular, Ian Hendry was. So producers decided to create a new showcase for him. They teamed Hendry, as Dr. David Keel, with a British Intelligence agent, John Steed, played by Patrick Macnee. The new program, called THE AVENGERS, initially dealt with Dr. Keel’s obsessive need to avenge the shooting death of his fianceé.

Ian Hendry walked out to pursue a film career during the first season, and was replaced six months later by the first “macho” female on TV, Honor Blackman as Cathy Gale.

HONOR BLACKMAN as Cathy Gale (Seasons 2-3)
Anthropologist and judo expert Cathy Gale stepped in as Steed’s first “sidekick.” Based on two real-life women, Life magazine photographer Margaret Bourke-White and Margaret Mead, Cathy rode a motorcycle, dressed in leather, and began the fashion-setting tradition that Emma Peel so successfully carried on. Her trademark leather outfits were actually suggested by Patrick Macnee when she split her pants doing karate.

Honor Blackman played Cathy Gale from 1962 to 1965, before leaving the show to play Pussy Galore in Goldfinger. The Diana Rigg episode “Too Many Christmas Trees” makes playful reference to Blackman’s Bond-voyage when Steed receives holiday greeting from Mrs. Gale and comments “What can she be doing in Fort Knox?”

LINDA THORSON as Tara King (Season 6)
As Steed’s third female compatriot, Tara King bent the “established” rules of the partnership. That is, Tara was clearly in love with Steed. Called Tara-Ra-Boom-Di-Ay by Steed, Tara was much more traditionally “feminine” than either Emma Peel or Cathy Gale. In fact, while Emma and Cathy were martial arts experts, Tara carried a brick in her purse.

Linda Thorson assumed the role of Tara King right out of drama school. “The Forget-Me-Knot” -- the transition episode wherein Tara King takes up Emma Peel’s responsibilities -- is widely considered a must-see among Avengers fans. Little-Known Fact: The Tara King episodes were the highest rated Avengers episodes in Britain.

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WHAT AVENGERS FANS SHOULD KNOW:

• Fight scenes were choreographed by stuntman extraordinaire Ray Austin.
  
• Patrick Macnee did very little of his own fighting; a stunt double filled in for him.
  
• Diana Rigg did do much of her own fighting, to the point of studying kung fu with Ray Austin.
  
• “THE AVENGERS Collection” of new fashions was designed by Pierre Cardin and Alan Hughes.
  
• Steed’s address: 3 Stable Mews.
  
• Steed likes his tea stirred anti-clockwise.
  
• Mrs. Peel’s maiden name: Knight.
  
• EEE-URP, the sound of the Winged Avenger, has become a greeting among Avengers fans.
  
• Series total: 30 bowler hats and 19 gallons of champagne.
  
• Genius Laurie Johnson composed the jazzy, unforgettable music of Seasons 4-6 of THE AVENGERS, as well as the lone season of The New Avengers. (Johnson's predecessor, Johnny Dankworth, composed the music for Seasons 1-3.)
  
• THE AVENGERS was the first British show to air in a U.S. network's fall schedule.

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SEASON BY SEASON HIGHLIGHTS:

SEASON 1
26 b/w episodes, premiered in the UK January 7, 1961

• A replacement for the short-lived Police Surgeon, THE AVENGERS initially stars Ian Hendry as Dr. David Keel and Patrick Macnee as John Steed.

• The first two episodes feature Steed and Keel avenging the shooting death of Keel’s fianceé.

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SEASON 4
26 b/w episodes, 1965/66

• The series moves to film format.

• Elizabeth Shepherd is cast as Emma Peel.

• Shepherd is soon replaced with young Shakespearean actress Diana Rigg.

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