The Avengers

 

 

John Steed and Emma Peel became "cult" heroes in the BBC TV series The Avengers in the mid 60's (available from the TV Series section of this website). Within a few years their exploits were dramatized for radio in excellent series of programs.

An exclusively South African production, The Avengers aired in a prime-time slot on one of South Africa's most popular commercial stations: Springbok Radio in 1972. Each Monday to Friday evening, listeners were able to tune in to The Avengers between 7.15 and 7.30pm on the station's evening frequencies. These adventure / mystery stories ran for either 6 or 7 continuing serial episodes, with cliffhangers enticing listeners back for the next instalment.

The distinctive tones of Donald Monat brought a fresh interpretation to that most refined of agents, John Steed and Diane Appleby's Mrs Peel was not too dissimilar to TV's Diana Rigg.

The Avengers very quickly became a hit radio show and its stars soon found themselves very much the centre of attention, proving to be very popular in their roles. The pair made many promotional appearances to raise public awareness of the series, signing postcards of themselves as Steed and Emma. These items were enthusiastically snapped up by the crowds, eager for mementoes of their heroes.

Supporting this dynamic pairing was Colin Fish who played Mother with great aplomb. All the while, Hugh Rouse's Narrator acted as linchpin and all-round commentator on proceedings.

Like the TV series the radio series stories were intriguing and suspenseful but nonetheless "playful" - the production values were excellent, being held by a veteran Springbok radio in David Gooden. Denis Folbigge wrote and directed the series.

The Avengers fans are fortunate to have nineteen complete serials in existence.

 

Want to check out a complete mystery/adventure story from this wonderful radio?

Below are the six 13 minute episodes which comprise the Dial a Deadly Number story É

 

"In which John Steed and Emma Peel find they have business in the city

 É when someone attempts to: Dial a Deadly Number"

 

These episodes can be freely downloaded to your computer - just right button click on any link below and chose "Download Linked File" (or words to that effect). The file is on an average about 10Mb - download time will depend on your (broadband) speed

 

TADDN_1972-05-12 Episode No. 1.mp3

TADDN_1972-05-15 Episode No. 2.mp3

TADDN_1972-05-16 Episode No. 3.mp3

TADDN_1972-05-17 Episode No. 4.mp3

TADDN_1972-05-18 Episode No. 5.mp3

TADDN_1972-05-19 Episode No. 6.mp3

 

These 2 MP3 CDs contain all of the 19 surviving adventures of The Avengers Radio Series. Each adventure comprises either 6 or 7 twelve minute episodes in a continuing serial format

 

A.      The Fantasy Game - 7 episodes

B.      A Case of Interrogation - 7 episodes

C.      A Deadly Gift - 6 episodes

D.      A Grave Charge - 6 episodes

E.      All Done By Mirrors - 7 episodes

F.      Dial a Deadly Number - 6 episodes

G.      From Venus With Love - 6 episodes

H.      Get-A-Way! - 6 episodes

I.       Love All - 6 episodes

J.       Not To Be Sneezed At - 7 episodes

K.      Stop Me If You've Heard This - 6 episodes

L.      Straight from the Shoulder - 6 episodes

M.     The Super Secret Cypher Snatch - 6 episodes

N.      The Joker - 6 episodes

O.      The Morning After - 6 episodes

P.      The Quick-Quick-Slow Death - 6 episodes

Q.      Too Many Oles - 6 episodes

R.      Train of Events - 6 episodes

S.      Who Shot Poor George / XR40? - 7 episodes

 

 

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