Saving the world in style
Suave agent John Steed made his first appearance on our screens 60 years ago in The Avengers
JAMES BOND may have ruled at the cinema box office, but John Steed was television’s favourite secret agent. His weapon of choice was an umbrella sword and he wore a stylish bowler hat as his fought off the villains that dared to crossed his path.
The Avengers launched on ITV on January 7, 1951, with Patrick Macnee as Steed. He went on to play the role in 161 episodes with glamorous crime-fighting partners like Honor Blackman as Catherine Gale, Diana Rigg as Emma Peel and Linda Thorson as Tara King, by his side.
“It’s all due to the girls,” Patrick once said of the success of the TV series. The part of Steed was specially created for him and he said of the character: “Steed
is a slightly exaggerated version of myself. Somebody once said to me ‘ You should have lived in the 18th century’. I agree. Like Steed, I’m a great pretender.” Patrick and Diana Rigg used to improve and write a lot of their lines and Diana once explained the on-screen chemistry between them saying: “Patrick was adorable to work with and I think it came through that we really did love each other. No sex, but we loved each other.”
To The Manor Born’s Peter Bowles and
Penelope Keith, Warren Mitchell, Geoffrey Palmer and Porridge actor Fulton Mackay were among those who appeared in the quirky action series over the years, before Steed hung up his bowler hat in 1969 – only to return in The New Avengers in 1976 with Joanna Lumley and Gareth Hunt.
Joanna played stylish agent Purdey and the TV series proved a breakthrough role for her.
It even led to the Purdey haircut becoming fashionable in the 1970s.