StudioCanal, out April 9

Steed and Keel do not enjoy all the fun of the fair…

Forget all you know about The Avengers – the British TV series, not the US comic book and films. This long-lost episode doesn’t come from the ultra-surreal Diana Rigg or Linda Thorson years; it predates Honor Blackman’s time as Cathy Gale. This is where The Avengers began, with Ian Hendry’s Dr David Keel assisting Patrick Macnee’s British agent John Steed in investigations after the pair formed an unlikely bond over the death of Keel’s fiancée. We’re stepping back nearly 60 years to a very different type of television production – very theatrical, and static in terms of camerawork. It’s also a very different time in terms of what would be acceptable in mainstream drama (although we’re not in the Sweeney class of coppers leering at schoolgirls, mind you).

As far as John Kruse’s screenplay goes, it provides a lot of opportunities for the actors to have fun, and it shows Steed’s ruthless side. There’s a realism to the story that was jettisoned as the series progressed – once you get over the fact that the framed convict on the run happens to arrive at the surgery of the one doctor in London who’s got contacts in the British Secret Service (or whoever it is that 1-10 and Steed work for).

The episode was adapted not that long ago for Big Finish’s run of Avengers Series 1 stories, and it’s intriguing to see where these differ – John Dorney, who penned the audio version based on pretty much just a few stills and a logline, is interviewed about the process – and among the other extras are interviews with Hendry and Macnee.

Verdict: A fascinating step back to the early days of a legendary show. 8/10

Paul Simpson

(Watch out for a competition to win a copy of Tunnel of Fear coming soon)