The Avengers (radio series)

The Avengers
John Steed and Emma Peel in the episode "The Hour That Never Was"
Genre	Espionage Fantasy Sci fi
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 a spy-fi 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). Later episodes increasingly incorporated elements of science fiction and fantasy, parody and British eccentricity. 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.