The Avengers (South African Recordings)

South African Radio Serial adaptations from the TV Series of the same name

The Avengers burst in the door of spy and super-hero adventure drama on South African radio in 1971, starring Donald Monat as John Steed, and Diane Appleby as the wonderful Emma Peel. It was based on the fine TV series, which was very popular from the start in the UK, and is an excellent example of radio's adaptation of the television medium...as it had done with movies all along.Part pop art, part super hero, and part adventure serial... This radio show has all of the excitement and intelligence of the original television hit. Donald Monat has said, "I guess I was aiming to interpret the script in the spirit of the TV series, but in my own way - as my voice is quite different to Patrick's." Patrick McNee played Steed on the original television show, and the radio format, as national TV wasn't available in South Africa until '76, was the way it was popularized there. It was produced as usually six fifteen-minute serial episodes (with space for commercials), very unlike the hour TV show with the entire adventure. The "cliff hanging" segments keep the action moving and always leading up to a thrill to be continued. The quality of production sounds great. The radio stars even caught the fever and appeared to sign autographs as Steed and Peel to promote the show!

Exactly as the television show did, it features outlandish, quirky villains, mad scientists, secret organizations and off-the-wall situations. Each adventure presents the Avengers with a Gordian knot of plot twists that they almost always manage to fray with aplomb. (Part James Bond, part Wonder Woman...why not?) A quick scan of the stories give the flavor: "From Venus with Love" is a fine example, featuring a very odd organization with a hidden agenda. Another excellent adventure is "Super Secret Cypher Snatch" the title alone titillates! "Not to be Sneezed At..." are the Avengers.

Such madcap multi-parted adventures with two perfectly adept and adroit Avengers is a great radio example of why the pictures in the mind are the most exciting. As for the lovely Emma Peel, you may substitute the television vision of Diana Rigg if you desire.