The Avengers (TV series)

The Avengers
John Steed and Emma Peel in the episode "The Hour That Never Was"
Genre	Action Spy fiction
Starring	Patrick Macnee Ian Hendry Honor Blackman Julie Stevens Diana Rigg Linda Thorson Patrick Newell
Country of origin	United Kingdom
No. of series	6
No. of episodes	161 (list of episodes)
Production
Running time	50 minutes
Release
Original network	ITV/ABC/Thames
Original release	7 January 1961 – 21 May 1969
Chronology
Related shows	The New Avengers

The Avengers is an espionage British television series created in 1961. The Avengers initially focused on Dr. David Keel (Ian Hendry) and his assistant John Steed (Patrick Macnee). Hendry left after the first series and Steed became the main character, partnered with a succession of assistants. Steed's most famous assistants were intelligent, stylish and assertive women: Cathy Gale (Honor Blackman), Emma Peel (Diana Rigg), and Tara King (Linda Thorson). The Avengers ran from 1961 until 1969, screening as one-hour episodes its entire run. The pilot episode, "Hot Snow," aired on 7 January 1961. The final episode, "Bizarre," aired on 21 May 1969.

The Avengers was produced by Associated British Corporation, a contractor within the ITV network. After a merger in July 1968 ABC Television became Thames Television, which continued production of the series although it was still broadcast under the ABC name. By 1969 The Avengers was shown in more than 90 countries. ITV produced a sequel series The New Avengers (1976–1977) with Patrick Macnee returning as John Steed, and two new partners. In 2007 The Avengers was ranked #20 on TV Guide's Top Cult Shows Ever.

The Avengers was marked by different eras as co-stars came and went. The only constant was John Steed, played by Patrick Macnee.

The Associated British Corporation (ABC Television) produced a single series of Police Surgeon, in which Ian Hendry played police surgeon Geoffrey Brent, from September through December 1960. While Police Surgeon did not last long, viewers praised Hendry, and ABC Television cast him for their new series, The Avengers, which replaced Police Surgeon in January 1961.