Art & Hue65 Years of The Avengers & 50 Years of The New Avengers
2026 marks 65 years of the cult TV show “The Avengers” & 50 years of “The New Avengers“
2026 marks 65 years since “The Avengers” first debuted on British television in January 1961, and 50 years since the rebooted series “The New Avengers” premiered, first in Ireland on the 28th of September then on British TV on the 17th of October 1976.
On the 7th of January 1961, audiences were introduced to Ian Hendry as Dr David Keel and Patrick Macnee as John Steed in the first ever episode of the new series of “The Avengers” called “Hot Snow”, the start of the long-running British spy show which produced 161 episodes in total, then 26 episodes of The New Avengers.
Broadcast on the ABC Midland & Northern channel at 10pm, “The Avengers” came about because of Ian Hendry’s role as a doctor in the short-lived crime drama “Police Surgeon”. Hendry proved popular with audiences so the show creators Sydney Newman & Leonard White devised a new drama to showcase the actor.
Most of the original episodes from the first ever series are missing, the nature of live TV from an era when no-one thought they’d have a life beyond their time, but of the episodes that remain, it’s clear that the show was a very different proposition to “The Avengers” many have come to know.
With a tougher, gritty tone, Steed & Keel are far more archetypal private detectives in the first series with the spy-fi whimsy of later episodes yet to develop.
With a sporadic schedule delayed by industrial action, and a desire to move from television to film, Hendry left the show at the end of the first series.
Apparently, the story goes, there wasn’t time to edit “The Avengers” scripts, which were originally written for a man, before they was handed to Honor.
An accomplished equal to Steed, Honor Blackman was regarded by many to be the first independent female character on British television. Honor took the role of Cathy Gale and made it impactful, even releasing a self-defence book with Doug & Joe Robinson.
Honor Blackman’s tough leather outfits made a lasting impression on audiences and her “kinky boots” led to a song, recorded by Honor & Patrick Macnee.
A classical actress from the Royal Shakespeare Company, Diana Rigg captivated audiences globally when the show was exported all around the world. The international influence of Emma Peel should not be underestimated as Diana Rigg’s portrayal of an independent woman was globally ground-breaking.
A strong and powerful woman on TV, she took on evil henchmen with high-kicks and kung fu, and matched, or frequently out-matched, Steed’s wit. Emma Peel was a positive role model for young girls and adult women the world over, then and now.
When Diana Rigg drove into the sunset with Mr. Peel, the baton to be Steed’s partner was passed to the first non-amateur spy, played by Linda Thorson.
Whilst Mrs Peel’s departure upset devotees of the character, Tara King secured her own fans who fell for her ever-changing hair and outfits, as well as her resourcefulness.
Throughout “The Avengers“, from the first episode to the last, Patrick Macnee was the linchpin of the show as John Steed. The ultimate gentleman, the show was called “Chapeau Melon et Bottes de Cuir” in France and “Mit Schirm, Charme und Melone” in Germany, which translate as “Bowler hat & leather boots” and “With Umbrella, Charm & Bowler Hat” respectively.
Despite the subject matter, not a single drop of blood was shown in The Avengers’ encounters with their enemies and Patrick Macnee insisted that his character Steed did not use a gun after the first two seasons, hence the use of an umbrella and a steel bowler hat as his weapons of choice.
There aren’t many men who can carry off the impeccable uniform of a quintessential English gent yet Patrick Macnee looked like he was born in a bowler hat. Always immaculate, John Steed was sartorial perfection in his Savile Row tailoring.
Broadcast on ITV in the UK and ABC in the USA, the show defined the 1960s, running from 1961 to 1969, during which time The Avengers fought off foreign double-agents, dodgy politicians, and power-crazed businessmen – how times have changed!
To mark this year’s 50th anniversary of The New Avengers, Art & Hue has created a new pop art collection featuring the stylish Seventies spies, available in three sizes & many colour options. An official collaboration with STUDIOCANAL, these prints are in addition to the existing collection of stylish pop art prints by Art & Hue inspired by the cult 1960s British TV show “The Avengers“.
Stay tuned for Art & Hue’s celebration of The New Avengers later this year to mark the 50th anniversary of the stylish Seventies spy show.
Happy 65th anniversary to The Avengers & 50th to The New Avengers!
2026 marks 65 years of The Avengers & 50 years of The New Avengers
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David Keel
£15.00 – £39.00 Select options -
Steed & Keel
£15.00 – £39.00 Select options -
Steed Titles
£15.00 – £39.00 Select options -
Mrs Peel Titles
£15.00 – £39.00 Select options -
What Would Steed Do?
£15.00 – £39.00 Select options -
What Would Emma Peel Do?
£15.00 – £39.00 Select options -
The Avengers
£15.00 – £39.00 Select options -
The Avengers Cathy Gale
£15.00 – £39.00 Select options -
The Avengers Mrs Peel
£15.00 – £39.00 Select options -
The Avengers Tara King
£15.00 – £39.00 Select options -
John Steed & Cathy Gale
£15.00 – £39.00 Select options -
John Steed & Emma Peel
£15.00 – £39.00 Select options -
John Steed & Tara King
£15.00 – £39.00 Select options -
Cathy Gale, We’re Needed
£15.00 – £39.00 Select options -
Mrs Peel, We’re Needed
£15.00 – £39.00 Select options -
Tara King, We’re Needed
£15.00 – £39.00 Select options -
John Steed
£15.00 – £39.00 Select options -
Cathy Gale
£15.00 – £39.00 Select options -
Emma Peel
£15.00 – £39.00 Select options -
Tara King
£15.00 – £39.00 Select options -
Triple Steed
£15.00 – £39.00 Select options -
Triple Cathy
£15.00 – £39.00 Select options -
Triple Emma
£15.00 – £39.00 Select options -
Triple Tara
£15.00 – £39.00 Select options -
Fashion Icon John Steed
£15.00 – £39.00 Select options -
Fashion Icon Dr Cathy Gale
£15.00 – £39.00 Select options -
Fashion Icon Mrs Peel
£15.00 – £39.00 Select options -
Fashion Icon Tara King
£15.00 – £39.00 Select options -
Gun & Rose
£15.00 – £39.00 Select options -
Cheers Greeting Card
£2.75 Add to cart -
British Tea Greeting Card
£2.75 Add to cart -
Cake Greeting Card
£2.75 Add to cart -
Mrs Emma Peel Fashion Icon Greeting Card
£2.75 Add to cart -
Chess Board Greeting Card
£2.75 Add to cart -
Desk Phone Greeting Card
£2.75 Add to cart -
Poolside Greeting Card
£2.75 Add to cart -
The Avengers Greeting Cards Group
£13.75 Add to cart -
Steed & Keel Pair
£28.00 – £76.00 Select options -
Avengers Titles Pair
£28.00 – £76.00 Select options -
What Would Pair
£28.00 – £76.00 Select options -
The Avengers Trio
£42.00 – £114.00 Select options -
We’re Needed Trio
£42.00 – £114.00 Select options -
Avengers Spies Trio
£42.00 – £114.00 Select options -
Avengers Portraits Group
£55.00 – £151.00 Select options -
Pop Art Group
£55.00 – £151.00 Select options -
Fashion Icons Group
£55.00 – £151.00 Select options -
Cathy Gale Group
£82.00 – £226.00 Select options -
Emma Peel Group
£82.00 – £226.00 Select options -
Tara King Group
£82.00 – £226.00 Select options -
The Avengers Superfan Dozen One
£160.00 – £448.00 Select options -
The Avengers Superfan Dozen Two
£160.00 – £448.00 Select options
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The New Avengers
£15.00 – £39.00 Select options -
Purdey Biker
£15.00 – £39.00 Select options -
New Avengers Trio
£15.00 – £39.00 Select options -
What Would Purdey Do?
£15.00 – £39.00 Select options -
Triple Purdey
£15.00 – £39.00 Select options -
Triple Gambit
£15.00 – £39.00 Select options -
Purdey Portrait
£15.00 – £39.00 Select options -
Mike Gambit
£15.00 – £39.00 Select options -
Steed Pair
£28.00 – £76.00 Select options -
Purdey Group
£55.00 – £155.00 Select options -
Gambit Group
£55.00 – £155.00 Select options -
New Avengers Group
£108.00 – £300.00 Select options
“The Avengers” Copyright © STUDIOCANAL Films Ltd, (1961-1969). All rights reserved.
“The New Avengers” Copyright © STUDIOCANAL Films Ltd, (1976-77). All rights reserved.
Copyright © Art & Hue® 2015-2026. All rights reserved.
