Super Powers, Spies and International Action - 'We Were The Champions' Behind the Scenes Documentary
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- čas přidán 9. 09. 2024
- Transformed by strange experiences following a Himalayan plane crash, The Champions were a team of superhuman law enforcers who tackled dastardly international villains in 30 cult television episodes made by ITC and broadcast in 1968 and 1969. In this making of documentary, stars Stuart Damon, Alexandra Bastedo, and William Gaunt are reunited to remember stories from their time on the series.
‘The Champions’ created by Dennis Spooner (Doctor Who, The Avengers, Thunderbirds, The New Avengers, Man in a Suitcase) and produced by Monty Berman (The Saint, Gideon's Way, Department S, Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased), The Baron) and was aired across the ITV network.
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Century 21 Films Ltd is a multi-faceted production company whose work spans drama to documentary, miniature effects to puppet shows. It was founded by a group of filmmakers who first collaborated on Filmed in Supermarionation, the story of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's hit puppet shows including Thunderbirds, Stingray and Captain Scarlet.
Since then, we have worked for a multitude of high-profile clients including ITV, BBC, Mammoth Productions, British Film Institute and the Halifax working on projects such Thunderbirds, Endeavour, Doctor Who and The Twilight Zone.
In addition to our regular filmmaking services, we specialise in ‘Supermarionation’ - the puppetry filming technique used to make shows like Thunderbirds and have collaborated with ITV repeatedly to provide specialised services. Our work has been featured on The One Show, This Morning, Good Morning Britain, BBC News, ITV News and Mastermind.
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I watched the Champions when I was young and living in London, England and I am 64 years old now. Loved that show.
I watched it to, as I remember it was usually shown on Sunday mornings before Star Soccer 😊 great days for tv 📺
I remember it being on late for some reason. The reason was explained in the chat between the three actors.
I'm 61 and I loved the Champions watching them with my Dad and brothers. Good memories of a different world.
We're did you move to?
I watched the champions wen I was young and living in Canada, and I am 64 years old now, fantastic show ! ( we use to watch it in french )
Alexandra was simply stunningly beautiful in The Champions. I was very young when I first saw her but was completely mesmerised by her looks even then...
I think she was 19 and wore her hair up to look older.
@@georgeblackley6028 She was born in 1946, so probably around 21 at the time of shooting.
She isn't exactly shabby in this reunion.
She kept her looks all her life, always beautiful.
An incredibly beautiful and elegant lady even in wellies and looking after animals. Her face and eyes.
Very happy to say that William Gaunt is still with us at 87, wishing him and his family health and happiness now and in the future🙂🌹
Sometimes the CZcams algorithm serves up pure gold…..great memories of this show.
I really loved this show. So sad that Alexandra and Stuart are no longer with us.
Alexandra was a lovely lady, she turned her home into a cat sanctuary. I met her on several occasions, she was beautiful, gracious and compassionate. ❤
Thanks, I used to love watching this growing up in the UK, 60 now, I miss those innocent days
me too
@@jarrahdrum Yep, absolutely.
@@jarrahdrum me three
I was lucky enough to enjoy this fantastic series once again as it was recently rebroadcast in UK. Excellent TV and very happy memories of the 1970's Cheers 🍺
Me four
How rare it is to see actors remain friends for so many years. A teachable moment for today's young talent.
They haven't seen each other for forty years
Friends from after show ended in 68 a few times till 70. Uh. That's Showbiz. We get busy. Sometimes reupholstering the paddocks.
I was only a little boy when The Champions aired, ie born in '62, but my God, was I in love with Alexandre Bastedo. She was a goddess in every sense. When I heard of her passing I would have been in my 50's, and boy did it upset me. She was an angel that mere mortals like me could only dream of. A truly wonderful human being and a truly beautiful woman right to the end. Watching this now, I'm still fighting back a tear.
I'm the same age and was lucky enough to meet her a few years before she passed.Really nice lady.
Same age here too. I remember always looking forward to the show, ran on a Sunday, around midday in Yorkshire. Think it preceded Weekend World, a topical politics program which was obviously boring as hell ! But yeah, Alexandra, mesmerised by her, even as an infant !!
I also watched this as a youngster, now 67, & it really takes me back. Maybe you would like to see her in The Aphrodite Inheritance, it aired in 1979 & had 8 episodes, I think it's on youtube, she looks incredible in that too, I always thought she was impeccably beautiful. Sadly she died in 2014 I heard.
@@deanmartin6052 if I recall correct she played a goddess in the series The Aphrodite Inheritance, a BBC series that was a sequel to Who Pays The Ferryman.
As a child of the sixties this show and the others were all staple viewing, it's really great to see these 3 get together and reminisce about those days and what it meant for them as well as what it meant for us. Sadly only William is now still with us, but their legacy will continue on for many generations to come. RIP Legends. 😢😢😢 Film is a type of immortality.
5 years old at the time and I was in love with Alexandra Bastedo haha!
You and the rest of the world, man she was so beautiful.
Who wasn't?
@deanmartin
6052
She was beyond beautiful.
Alexandra, still beautiful and oozing class.
They come across as good friends, no ego's etc...R.I.P Alexandra and Stuart
A joy to see all three together again.
R.I.P Stuart Damon & Alexandra Bastedo
Very poignant to watch and see them say "well at least were still here" and "at least we are still looking down on the grass", I found that quite sad to watch. Comes to us all eventually, but as I said in my earlier comment film is a type of immortality which made it seem a bit weird to watch.
😢 2024, I thought they were still alive. They look so vibrant in this.
@@tracywilliams7929 Didn't know that Alexandra Bastedo had passed. Such a beautiful lady.
Alexandra died in 2014.
So sad, all dead now. Alexandra was my first crush when I was 10. I got her autograph and met her at that age after a play in bournemouth.
Absolutely fabulous series!!!One of many brilliant shows of that era.( Randell and Hopkirk deceased/Saint/Baron/ Persuaders/Mission Impossible/ Man from Uncle/The Avengers and many many more .Those were the halcyon days of tv.
The days when TV was worth watching, compared to the crap that's on now - baking a cake on ice while dancing naked in the jungle. There isn't a single thing on TV these days that makes me look forward to watching the next episode like those shows used to. Department S, Tarzan (Ron Ely), Danger Man, The Untouchables, Callan, Starsky and Hutch, Knight Rider, The Man From Uncle, Six million Dollar Man, Airwolf, The Professionals, The Sweeny, the Rifle Man - and many, many more, compared to the crap that's served up as "entertainment" today.
Mostly down to Lew Grades golden touch and financial support.
@@kalvheps5973 add to that, The Adventurer, Department S, Strange Report, The Return of the Saint, Jason King and, a bit from left field, The Freewheelers.
Thank god for a mix of Dvd, BluRay and CZcams keeping the memory of these shows alive.
@@stephenparry3754Completely agree! And I'm glad you mentioned Callan, there's been no one tougher to this day.👍
@@stephenparry3754 i can remember getting home from school and watching danger man and lost in space. And the prisoner, even though I didn't have a clue what the hell was going on, it was like a bad trip on drugs
A mission to China to find cultures that could cause death around the world... I absolutely loved The Champions when I was a child, but I'd forgotten how it all began and how the scenario might resonate with events 50 years later! It's lovely to see this reunion - so much genuine affection still evident - but bittersweet after the passing of Stuart Damon & Alexandra Bastedo in the years following. There was a magic and innocence to TV back then that's been lost - and that's not just said from the point of view of an old man shouting at clouds.
It was a great series. What lovely actors. The China episode was spot on, just 50 years too early. As a child in the 60s we were so lucky with one great series after another and a big thank you to all those behind the scenes. Great job.
China episode was not 50 years too early what time is for doing nasty things the second they grabbed power
Fantastic show beautiful Alexandra Bastedo, and handsome Stuart Damon sadly no longer with us. The memories William Gaunt must have, it is often shown on ITV4 it was a great series!
No other words to say ! Great show and lovely people RIP Alexandra and Stuart. PS. they were the best years for TV shows.
I must admit that as I just watch this NOW, 28/ 7/ 24, I’m crying but also laughing, at one of the most iconic series of my early years! I’m crying, as it makes me realise that I’m in my Autumn years and today’s so called entertainment has absolutely NO imagination…or ‘it’s been done before’. I’m laughing because The Champions brought back such happy memories of the tv series, not least because millions of males had a crush on Alexandra Bastedo! It also ‘stimulated’ the possibilities that we all could have various ‘superpowers’! I’m also very happy that the cast eventually met up again and shared their memories with all of us who were fans of the series! A wonderful trip down memory lane! Thank you for the chance to visit it again!
I have to say, miss Bastedo is looking extremely good!
You're not kidding! I fancy her just as much as I used to back in the 60's!
Really enjoyed this, they seem so happy together, sadly only William left now, but enjoying the reruns on T.V
I’m still watching and rewatching these when I can. In one of my favourite scenes Sharon was trapped in a freezer and was cold but Craig rescued her and gave her a fur coat to keep warm. When, later, Richard arrived he saw Sharon was OK and gave her a hug. Sharon said, “Thanks, all I got from Craig was a coat”. They always came across on screen as good friends.
What a rare treat this was to watch. Pure nostalgic indulgence. As a pre-teen kid of the 60's, this, The Saint & Randall & Hopkirk (deceased), were all unmissable to me & my siblings. Such innocent times. I thank you for finding/posting this. : )
I was born in 1959. And I remember the program very well. They don't make program like that anymore. True Champions.
Ditto, I was also born in 1959 and I loved The Champions
October 1959.
Just made it into the 50’s and a big rockabilly fan.
And The Champions of course.
I loved this programme when I was a child in the sixties, the chemistry between the three leads really held the programme together. It was slightly spoiled by the episodes being shown out of order. I've always thought that this show was ripe for a reboot but not sure I would trust anyone to do it right.
The ITC live action series I remember watching in the early 70s are this, The Persuaders and Randall and Hopkirk, Deceased.
Lovely reunion all great actors genuine and no egos.very sad stuart and alexandra no longer with us.😢😢
Loved The Champions, I always had a crush on Alexandra Bastido. So sad that Alexandra & Stuart are no longer with us
Excellent documentary on The Champions. Fantastic TV series from ITC. Alexandra Bastedo was absolutely gorgeous in the show.
Love watching this series when it first was shown,and at 63 l am still enjoying it now(2024).
Wonderful happier memories. 😊
Alexandra is buried a mile away from me in a beautiful cemetery at the foot of the South Downs & her animal rescue centre is five miles away.
Thank you to whoever uploaded this
The Champions aired in sindication in Brazil simultaneously with its first run in the UK. I loved the show as a child then, and I still love it today. Thank you for posting this video! 👏👏👏❤
When smart, respectful, sensible and good TV was entertaining … so many great people worked very hard to create magic that stirred the mind and stimulated the imagination. This was one of many fantastically well done shows. Too bad it aired fir only a short while. Glad to see these three actors reminiscing in an equally beautiful and mutually respectful way. Bravo! They, and all involved in the series, managed to touch the world with a positive and lasting memory. Thank you!
I got The Champions annual for Christmas in 1968. I used to love this show and couldn't believe Lew Grade cancelled the show after just 1 season. Apparently, no matter how successful the series was there was never going to be a second season due to financial issues.
Which just goes to show that there’s many people, rich, famous or other, who really haven’t got a clue when it comes to entertaining the people in the long run! For them, it’s JUST money!
Hi, what is the Champions Annual? A book?
@@tomflynn2912 yes it would come out every year,usually Christmas 😊
Sad knowing that whilst watching this upload, Alexandra Bastedo and Stuart Damon had already passed in 2014 and 2021 respectively.
That opening sequence when Alexandra turns around is gorgeous
What a great conversation between the three. Happy memories. Really enjoyed that. Sad to hear about Stuart and Alexandra
Watched this Scotland as a seven year old. I thought it was the the most amazing show I’d even seen. Loved all those exotic ‘locations’, even although they rarely left the studio backlot
Scotland in early seventies wow the drink the violence
I loved it at the time and still watch the DVDs. They hold up so well. In the days when TV seemed more fun and was for a cross section of people and could be enjoyed by young and old. We just don't have such versatile tv anymore.
I remember Stuart Damon coming to open the new (in early 70s) Salford Shopping Centre in an open top car. It was the height of glamour 😊
Alexandra founded an animal charity and wrote books one of which was about dog health/diets which I read years ago. When I got my border collie puppy 14yrs back I wrote to her to ask some questions about diet and my concern about the constant yearly vaccinations and she kindly replied with her thoughts which echoed mine. I was sad to hear she had died about fours years after our correspondence.
The Champions was one of the shows my sisters and I would watch religiously when we were kids. And I still watch it on DVD from time to time. Great show. Thanks for sharing.
I used to work in Barnet and the council offices were used for the shots of the outside of the Nemises building 1255 High Road Whetstone
Omg! I absolutely loved the champions. I’m 63 now. My dads 93 and still watches reruns. I wanted to be Craig.
Alexandra is one of the most beautiful women the world has ever seen. An absolute stunner.
And even now I struggle to think of anyone as beautiful.
I must watch some of them again. Loved everything about that programme.
3 brilliant people who had real chemistry on the screen.
Three of the most gorgeous cool looking people ever in a tv program as a kid in the 70s I idolised them.
Watching this reunion just makes me smile, I haven't stopped smiling. Watching all three of them meeting for the first time in a long time. You can just tell they're so happy to be back together again. I watched 'The Champions' in the 70s (UK) and a re-run that showed on tv recently. My glee at watching the re-run in such a long time, I only imagine their glee meeting again. So cool to see them together again. 😅
What charming people in this interview, my older brother had a crush and Alexandra, the two gentlemen were so interesting with great humour. I live in Australia and we never missed and episode of this wonderful show. They all look amazing.❤❤❤
I watched The Champions back in the 60's and my 9 year old self was definitely smitten with the character of Sharon McReady! Now, at 63, I'm still smitten with Alexandra Bastedo! Glad to see that all three's superpowers have kept them all looking good and happy still!
Me and my best pal played as the champions all the time, I was obsessed with the program and obviously in love with Alexandra
Thank you for giving me memories that have lasted longer than i thought i would.
loved it!
Alexanra Bastedo: what an absolutely astounding beauty!
No woman that I dated ever managed to come within a million miles of the beauty, sophistication and sheer AURA of Alexandra! Her voice alone would make you weak at the knees!
@@johnnytungsong8719 Agreed: a stunning beauty well into her old age. AbFab.
Alexandra was so beautiful 🇬🇧🇹🇷 this, along with The Saint, was my favourite. After watching this wonderful programme, I went on CZcams and watched the champions all over again for several hours.
I loved watching this show as a kid. Loved that theme song. It still pops into my head from time to time.
Just. Watched The Champions on ITV4 this morning. ❤
It's unclear when they met in this last reunion. A bit after 2000. Bill and Alexandra had to be flown from England to United Stades because Stuart had an active contract with the series General Hospital.
I worked it out to around 2008/2009, Stuart said he hadn't seen Bill since around 1970 which was 38/39 years ago
@@macraghnaill3553 Yep, that makes sense.
@@Bob-1802
Discovered The Champions during the 80's by accident on saturday afternoons on ITV, such a cool concept, and Alexandra Bastedo, even at my young age I thought she was ridiculously beautiful.
Often think how lucky I was to have all those great shows on television. Even thought as a kid we were lucky considering they were still to me post war years parents and grandparents surviving two wars and the developement of televsion itself all seemed to have come together to a period of time that could never be repeated. Except for the repeats of course.
Remember watching and loving the show when I was young. Good to see them all together and getting along at the reunion. I remember when Alexander Bastedo was quite rightly cast in a tv film as the goddess Aphrodite. With her strength and fighting skills I never thought of her as a damsel in distress. In 1974 William Gaunt came to our school (in the Midlands) doing a one-man one act play. I missed a class to watch it and even got his autograph. The episode I remember the most is The Autograph as it was so unique for it's time.
I was 9 year old in 1968 when The Champions was shown on ITV and Alexandra Bastedo was my first crush. When I read she had died in 2014 I felt so sad she was no longer with us, and its only recently I learned Stuart Damon is no longer with us also. R.I.P. Alexandra and Stuart.
I'm 64 years old now. Oh.... Alexandra Bastedo, I was 12 when I first saw it when we finally got a TV in 1970, and I was hooked. if a bloke didn't have a crush on her then he was not a bloke. And she still looks bloody amazing I always hated the 'The Champions' title covered their faces instead of being along the bottom of the screen. I loved this show. In fact, after seeing this I just watched the entire series in a week.
ATV Birmingham in the midlands. I remember sending off to the ATV studios s.a.e. (self addressed envelope) with a short letter explaining I was a fan of such and such shows and they would send autographed photos of the stars of the show. If I remember rightly it was a P.O. box Whitehall street, Birmingham. Many of the shows that were shown at that time I would send for photos. They started off b/w then they started sending colour photos. Great times.Great shows.
Just rewatched some of these episodes on ITVX. Remembered it originally being on Granada on a Sunday afternoon in the 70s. Seeing them reunite on this film is now something special :)
As a very young lad around 10 , I remember watching this on a Sunday afternoon and also another re run on a early evening. As a kid this was one of my favourite shows. I never forget watching the very first episode when they were given their secret powers , and I watched every episode after that. It really was a great series. Also one of my favourites was man in a suitcase with McGill as the coolest man on t.v. and the persuaders with roger Moore and Tony curtis. I had the privilege of seeing roger Moore when he was on tour in England and sat in his company for around 3 hours. He was one of the funniest and most classy men I ever met . I watched him in the saint the persuades and finally James bond. I went straight out and bought everyone of these series on DVD and I never tire of watching them. Superb stuff.
Nice that bill gaunt is still with us lovely man.
I loved the show, the supernatural element of the first episode and its lasting effect on me, and of course the leads. I am 60 now and have recently gone back to these 60’s show’s, primarily because programming today is nowhere near the standard set by this show and shows like it. Brilliant stuff. Watching these shows over again and this documentary turning up is a gift. Thank you for the upload. Amazing!
Elstree studios was home to many famous series and I agree that my uncle Rocky is a fantastic person.
I’ve really grown to love this series over the years. The less is more on the superpower front (due to budget I guess) makes it quite unique, it was perfectly cast, all four (including Tremayne) were incredible!
I started watching The Champions when I was 5 or 6 yrs old.
Alexandra Bastedo was my first pin up on my bedroom wall. A woman of sheer class and beauty …!!!!
Alexandra Bastedo the most unassuming, and by far the most accomplished and intelligent of the three imho.
I loved The Champions, it was constantly repeated on British TV throughout the 70's and into the 80's. William Gaunt had a really successful sitcom in the 80's (No place like home) and I could never see the 2 characters together Richard from The Champions and Arthur the put upon Dad from the sitcom. Plus I had a huge teenager crush on Alexandra 😊
Alexandra was one lovely woman. She was lucky enough to remain beautiful her entire life . The show was a good mix of characters, with the brash American, the posh stiff upper lip Brit and the exotic charm of Alexandra. I really enjoyed watching the recent reruns on UK tv.
My favourite program when I was a kid......wow.
The old HQ is still there, its the old eveready building in north London (not Geneva).
What a wonderful insight into these actors. Was my favourite programme back in the day. R.I.P. Stuart & Alexandra
I lived in the Midlands and I remember this show it was my favourite, I was glues to the screen for every second. I am 60 now and seeing this made me smile and brought back great memories. I even have a photo of me in front of the fountain in lake Geneva from around 1971 just like in the opening sequence and I remember sitting there thinking will I meet the Champions lolol
Brian Clemens, now that makes me think of the series The Professionals. Some of the very best UK TV. Cheers.
Great TV back then. Another one I remember was Man In A Suitcase with Richard Bradford, real tough guy!👍
I bought the series and watch it now and again , I kept thinking it would be good too see it remade today ,but after seeing what has been done to other remakes I hope they leave it alone , such a good show
A great show. Very original and great fun. Alexandra was a stunning woman. My first crush. Sadly missed today.
I remember watching the champions i was only 12 years old this and randall and hopkirk fantastic it certainly was a lot better tv back then absolute classics R. I. P. Alexandra bastedo stuart damon memorable tv series awsome
One of my favourite series when I was a child. I always thought it was on nationwide wide, I’m lucky I live in the Midlands then. Lovely to see them all again. Sad that Alex and Stuart have died.
So rarely got to see The Champions as the late 60s/ early 70s was a time when, though only 3 TV channels existed in Britain, kids didn't see too much telly. We were a lot more active than today, and you either saw TV when broadcast or you missed it, probably never to see it again. Cable TV, videos, DVDs, and streaming weren't imaginable.
It was a super program...i was a very young 8 year old living in the UK when this aired....i was mesmerized by alexandra...she was utterley stunning...its great to see them alive n well
Thanks for the acknowledgement...im so sorry to hear that two of the cast have passed away is the correct ..thats sooo sad...it was a wonderful programme...they were such wonderful times..
.sadly missed......😔😔🥺🥺
Created by Dennis Spooner (writer on Stingray, thunderbirds) Frank Watts went onto photograph space 1999 and some of the editors and (Ray Austin director of episodes space 1999)
good documentary
They definitely used the Thunderbirds team, particularly Derek Meddings for the plane crash sequence.
@@SpideyVids They didn’t.
Alexandra was one of my pin up she was and still is ( in this video) absolutely gorgeous xxx
having just watched the rebind the scene of the adventure & hearing how badly Stuart was treated by gene barry
I love his quip I’m taller than gene barry 😂😂 Loved the Champions & Stuart Damon my childhood heart throb
Thank you for sharing this gem ❤
I used to play 'The Champions' at infant school with my friends Geoff and Lorraine. We used to climb on the outside apparatus and pretend we were in the programme.
Loved this show back in the day..never missed a Sunday afternoon
i remember seeing Stuart Damon, alongside Sid James, in a farce at Blackpool, in 1969.
Loved Sharron very glam the hair❤❤
My very first gf was a Debbie Harry lookalike, but my very first crush was Alexandra. To this day, I don't think I've ever seen a more naturally beautiful woman. Great show, too. Thanks for posting.
This was as were many of the TV Series of the time the centre of our universe, how I miss those times, the best of times. 😊❤
A fave from my childhood-i would have been about 8/9 during it`s original run,still a fave to this day and what a pity it only lasted for one series.
I was named after Craig Stirling, My Mom used to fancy him so called me Craig. I'm 49 this year lol.
When I was a kid this was my favourite show the realsad part of this programme is when Stuart Damon says we are all still here thank God
I remember this TV series well! I was a young teenager when I first saw it and I loved it as it was so different not to mention the fact that Alexandra Bastedo was so beautiful! ( she was part of my reason for watching it).This interview must have been done at least 10 years ago ( probably closer to 13 years) as she passed away in early 2014. Great memories thank you!
At the time as a child I never really noticed but rewatching as an adult it was clear that Sharon only got a couple of episodes to really shine, she was always being pushed back to allow the guys heroics to save the day. A product of the times indeed, and interesting to see them comment on it during the video. A remake today could be interesting, especially if they all had personal lives and family type interactions to involve in their heroics. I wonder who they would cast today?
I just loved this series - My goto programme when I needed that super power lift as a 10yo ;-)
As a youngster, I remember many a time standing at the top of the stairs in my pajamas listening to the theme tunes for The Champions, Department S and Jason King, whilst my parents watched downstairs. Making up for those years now with DVD sets of all of them!
6:45 COVID foreshadowing...