The Avengers | TV Series 1 (1961) - Ian Hendry reunites w/ Patrick Macnee (This Is Your Life 1978)

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Visit: IanHendry.com
New Book On The Avengers (Series 1) : ianhendry.com/avengers-strange...
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1961: With Dr David Keel (Ian Hendry)
The Avengers began in the episode Hot Snow, with medical doctor, Dr David Keel (Ian Hendry), investigating the murder by a drug ring of his fiancée and office receptionist Peggy. A stranger named John Steed, who was investigating the ring, appeared and together they set out to avenge her death in the first two episodes. Afterwards, Steed asked Keel to partner him as needed to solve crimes.
The Avengers followed Hendry's Police Surgeon, in which he played police surgeon Geoffrey Brent. While Police Surgeon did not last long, viewers praised Hendry. Hendry was considered the star of the new series, receiving top billing over Macnee, and Steed did not appear in two episodes.
As the series progressed, Steed's importance increased, and he carried the final episode solo. While Steed and Keel used wit while discussing crimes and dangers, the series also depicted the interplay-and often tension-between Keel's idealism and Steed's professionalism. As seen in one of the two surviving episodes from the first series, "The Frighteners", Steed also had helpers among the population who provided information, similar to the "Baker Street Irregulars" of Sherlock Holmes.
The other regular in the first series was Carol Wilson (Ingrid Hafner), the nurse and receptionist who replaced the slain Peggy. Carol assisted Keel and Steed in cases, without being part of Steed's inner circle. Hafner had played opposite Hendry as a nurse in Police Surgeon.
The series was shot on 405-line videotape using a multicamera setup. There was little provision for editing and virtually no location footage (although the very first shot of the first episode consisted of location footage). As was standard practice at the time, videotapes of early episodes of The Avengers were reused. Of the first series, two complete episodes still exist, as 16 mm film telerecordings. One of the episodes remaining does not feature Steed. The first 15 minutes of the first episode also exists as a telerecording; the extant footage ends at the conclusion of the first act, prior to the introduction of John Steed.
Background
The Avengers is a spy-fi British television series created in the 1960s. 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 later 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 ABC Television, 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.

[@edwardturner3604]

What an absolute delight it was to come across this piece of wonderful TV history! Thanks so much for posting it! It was also a delight to find your website, Mr. Hendry! So very wonderful to to see you and hear about you again. You've been sorely missed. You've been a joy to watch in anything you've appeared in. Thank you so much for the entertainment you've brought us!

[@TheTerryGene]

Mr. Hendry also made an appearance with that other British institution, John Thaw, in "The Sweeney". I particularly liked him in an underrated sci-fi film, "Children of the Damned".

[@clemstevenson]

Yes, Ian Hendry made an appearance in the New Avengers, as an agent who had lost his memory in 1960. According to that story line, the agent, known as the flyer, regained his memory after another accident, seventeen years later.

[@catr.2538]

We Americans do know what the show's title means:
Wikipedia;
"This Is Your Life was an American documentary series broadcast on NBC radio 1948 to 1952, and on NBC television 1952 to 1961. It was originally hosted by its producer Ralph Edwards.
First episode date: October 1, 1952
Final episode date: 1961
Program creator: Ralph Edwards
Writers: Richard Gottlieb
Awards: Primetime Emmy Award for Best Audience, Guest Participation or Panel Program, More
Nominations: Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Program Achievement in the Field of Panel, Quiz or Audience"

[@IanHendryActor]

Indeed, the show was big in the US long before arriving in the UK. Eamonn Andrews was the first British subject...surprised by the show's creator Ralph Edwards here: czcams.com/video/5FEE6c6LIdQ/video.html

[@will89687]

Ian Hendry Eamonn was also the host of the UK edition of another American TV institution, "What's My Line" and often appeared on the US edition as a guest panelist.

[@darganx]

I think Ian's just returned from a liquid lunch here haha they practically have to lift him into the car!
A truly iconic actor though, one of my favourites.. he had an incredible range and very prolific - comedy, drama, horror.. I remember him in a couple of kids shows when I was young!
Sadly he had the actor's disease - drink. That's what ultimately killed him.

[@IanHendryActor]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and memories of Ian. Yes, unfortunately drink was part of the 'package' for many actors at that time...

[@leighbennett1961]

He had the flu. Poor bloke had a job to breath.

[@stanisawagrotek8686]

Dlaczego polska telewizja nie wznowi tego sympatycznego serialu

[@sgdeluxedoc]

Indeed..I doubt there is a Briton that wouldn't immediately know what "This is Your Life" meant.. try it on any American , however.. it will only bring a blank stare... Shame, that.

[@talddren]

Seriously? The program originated in the US; is this an example of the typical British 'blank stare' about anything American?

[@russedav5]

Why is it that the creative great gems like Ian are lost often because we let them know that we prefer the relatively more superficial ones like Patrick. The relationship between them was far more significant & intelligent than the oceans of fluff with the other partners that went on after Ian left; if mythical aliens were to view tv they'd have to conclude there's no intelligent life on earth as little as we esteem the kind of deep significance Ian demonstrated and signified.

[@pauthomp]

Tad unkind to Patrick, no? Especially given his similar and self-effacing comments at the end of this clip!