The Champions

For the Canadian mini-series, see The Champions (documentary miniseries). For other uses, see Champion (disambiguation).

The Champions
Alexandra Bastedo, Stuart Damon and William Gaunt in the opening credits of The Champions
Created by	Dennis Spooner
Starring	Stuart Damon Alexandra Bastedo William Gaunt Anthony Nicholls
Country of origin	United Kingdom
No. of episodes	30
Production
Running time	60 min
Original release
Network	ITV
Release	25 September 1968 – 30 April 1969

The Champions is a British espionage/science fiction adventure series consisting of 30 episodes broadcast on the UK network ITV during 1968–1969, produced by Lew Grade's ITC Entertainment production company. The series was broadcast in the US on NBC, starting in summer 1968.

Overview and premise

The series starred Stuart Damon as Craig Stirling, Alexandra Bastedo as Sharron Macready and William Gaunt as Richard Barrett. The characters are agents for a United Nations law enforcement organization called "Nemesis", based in Geneva. The three have different backgrounds: Barrett is a code breaker, Stirling a pilot, and Macready a recently widowed scientist and doctor.

During their first mission as a team, their plane crashes in the Himalayas. They are rescued by an advanced civilization living secretly in the mountains, who save their lives, granting them perfected, human abilities...including powers to communicate with one another over distances by ESP (telepathy), and to foresee events (precognition), enhanced five senses and intellect, and physical abilities to the fullest extent of human capabilities.

Many stories featured unusual villains, such as fascist regimes from unspecified South American countries, neo-Nazis or the Chinese. The villains' schemes often threaten world peace — Nemesis' brief is international, so the agents deal with threats transcending national interests. The main characters had to learn the use of their new powers as they went along — keeping what they discover secret from friends and foe alike. Each episode began with a pre-credits vignette in which one of The Champions demonstrated exceptional mental or physical abilities, often astonishing or humiliating others. In one example Stirling participates in a sharpshooting contest. In another, laughing hoodlums block in Macready's car, which she physically pulls out of the parking space one-handed.

The only other series regular, Anthony Nicholls, played the Champions' boss, Tremayne. Tremayne does not know that his agents have special abilities, though he does ask innocent questions about just how on their missions they managed to carry out certain tasks about which their reports were vague.

Production

The series was created by Dennis Spooner and its episodes were written by veterans of popular British spy series, including The Avengers and Danger Man. The series used an unfilmed script written for Danger Man.

The series was produced by Monty Berman who had co-produced, with Robert S. Baker, The Saint, The Baron and numerous B-movies of the 1950s. Berman went on to produce, working with many of the writers, directors and crew, other ITC series including Department S, Jason King, Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) and The Adventurer.

Because of budget constraints, many sets were reused: three episodes were set on a submarine and three set in the arctic. Stock footage was used. Like most such ITC series much of the exterior action took place in and around the studio lot - usually, as was the case with The Champions, Elstree Studios in Borehamwood, Herts. For at least one episode, Desert Journey, foreign filming did take place, but with a second unit, and extras standing in for the main cast.

The theme music to the series was written by Tony Hatch, with Albert Elms and Edwin Astley supplying incidental music.

Further broadcasts and releases

Although short-lived, the series is fondly remembered and had 3 repeats across the ITV regions, after its initial run, up to 1976, and once more on ITV in the mid 1980's. It has also seen several repeats in the UK, on ITV's digital channel ITV4.

The Champions was broadcast on BBC2 in 1995, at about the time Gaunt was appearing in the sitcom Next of Kin and it had at least 3 further repeat runs after that, this was the last time complete prints were seen on UK Tv..

Episodes were released on DVD in North America, and in the UK, where the full series has been released twice, with the most recent edition seeing Stuart Damon, Alexandra Bastedo and William Gaunt reunite to provide a commentary for several episodes (Damon's continuing role on US series General Hospital meant that Bastedo and Gaunt had to be flown to America for this to occur).

Adaptations

Films

In the 1980s, ITC edited episodes "The Beginning" and "The Interrogation" into Legend of the Champions, a feature length film intended for overseas markets.

In November 2007, it was reported that Guillermo del Toro would produce and write a film adaptation of The Champions for United Artists. In 2008, Christopher McQuarrie was signed to co-write and co-produce the film.

Books

Paperbacks based on the TV series include:

• The Sixth Sense is Death. By John Garforth. London: Hodder Paperbacks, 1969 (a novelisation of the episodes "The Beginning" and "The Experiment")
• Lavage de Cerveau. By Pierre Salva. Paris: Presses de la Cité, 1977

Episode guide

#	Title	Writer	Director	Guest actors	UK airdate
01	"The Beginning"	Dennis Spooner	Cyril Frankel	Felix Aylmer, Burt Kwouk, Joseph Furst	25 September 1968 (1968-09-25)
The three Nemesis agents recover from a plane crash in the Tibetan mountains to find their injuries healed. In the course of the episode, they learn they have new abilities bestowed on them by their rescuers, people from an ancient civilisation, and have to evade capture from the Chinese military.
02	"The Invisible Man"	Donald James	Cyril Frankel	Peter Wyngarde, Aubrey Morris, Basil Dignam, James Culliford, Steve Plytas, David Prowse	2 October 1968 (1968-10-02)
The agents investigate a plot to steal the gold reserves of a bank in the City of London.
03	"Reply Box No. 666"	Philip Broadley	Cyril Frankel	Anton Rodgers, George Murcell, George Roubicek	9 October 1968 (1968-10-09)
The agents are sent to the Caribbean to investigate a newspaper advert asking for "a parrot that speaks Greek", which Tremayne has worked out is a signal for participants in an undercover operation.
04	"The Experiment"	Philip Broadley	Cyril Frankel	David Bauer, Nicholas Courtney, Philip Bond	16 October 1968 (1968-10-16)
Sharron is sent undercover to a training establishment in which a scientist is using new techniques to produce agents who have the same level of abilities as the Champions. Nemesis is interested in the organisation because one of its graduates has tried to break into a military establishment and steal secrets.
05	"Happening"	Brian Clemens	Cyril Frankel	Jack MacGowran, Michael Gough	23 October 1968 (1968-10-23)
Sharron, Craig and Tremayne are in Australia observing a nuclear test. Meanwhile Richard is trapped at ground zero with amnesia, trying to stop the men who are attempting to sabotage the test.
06	"Operation Deep Freeze"	Gerald Kelsey	Paul Dickson	Patrick Wymark, Robert Urquhart, Peter Arne, Walter Gotell, George Pastell, Michael Godfrey, Derek Sydney, Martin Boddey, Alan White, Dallas Cavell	30 October 1968 (1968-10-30)
Craig and Richard are sent to Antarctica to investigate an unexplained nuclear explosion and discover that an unnamed South America country is using the territory to develop its own nuclear weapon.
07	"The Survivors"	Donald James	Cyril Frankel	Clifford Evans, Donald Houston, Bernard Kay, Stephen Yardley, John Tate	6 November 1968 (1968-11-06)
The trio are sent to investigate the possibility that caches of guns have been left in Austria by the SS and end up discovering a secret Nazi hide out in the local iron mines, complete with surviving Nazis who think World War 2 is still going on.
08	"To Trap a Rat"	Ralph Smart	Sam Wanamaker	Kate O'Mara, Michael Guest, John Lee	13 November 1968 (1968-11-13)
Using Sharron as a decoy, the agents investigate a drug running racket in London.
09	"The Iron Man"	Philip Broadley	John Moxey	George Murcell, Patrick Magee, Steven Berkoff	20 November 1968 (1968-11-20)
This was one of the more comedic episodes. The trio are detailed to guard the former dictator of a small South American country, La Revada, who is living in exile in the South of France. This is because some of his political opponents are planning to assassinate him, which would destabilise the political situation in the region. El Caudillo (as the former dictator insists on being called) turns out to be a vainglorious, not very intelligent womaniser who likes to prove that he is superior to everyone around him. However, the trio, who are posing as members of his household staff (Barrett as a chef, Macready as a secretary and Stirling as his head of security) manage to save him from the assassins, though their cover is blown in the process and they are revealed as agents of Nemesis.
10	"The Ghost Plane"	Donald James	John Gilling	Andrew Keir, Dennis Chinnery, Tony Steedman, John Bryans, Paul Grist, Derek Murcott, Hilary Tindall	27 November 1968 (1968-11-27)
The champions investigate a mysterious 'ghost plane' which is both faster than anything else in the air and of unknown origin.
11	"The Dark Island"	Tony Williamson	Cyril Frankel	Brandon Brady, Vladek Sheybal, Alan Gifford, Andy Ho, Bill Nagy, Ben Carruthers, Richard Bond	4 December 1968 (1968-12-04)
The champions are sent to investigate a tropical island where visitors have a history of disappearing. Coming on shore in two parties, they discover and thwart an international conspiracy to threaten world peace.
12	"The Fanatics"	Terry Nation	John Gilling	Donald Pickering, Julian Glover, Gerald Harper, Barry Stanton	11 December 1968 (1968-12-11)
An unknown organisation is assassinating international leaders. Richard, posing as a convicted traitor, is sent to infiltrate the organisation and try and bring it down from within.
13	"Twelve Hours"	Donald James	Paul Dickson	Mike Pratt, Peter Howell, Henry Gilbert, Rio Fanning	18 December 1968 (1968-12-18)
The Champions are assigned to escort an Eastern European head of state, Dubrovnik, on his visit to Britain. During a dive in a Scottish loch, their submarine is sabotaged and Dubrovnik is injured. Richard and Sharron are forced to face down a mutiny within the crew, who want to surface and save their lives; the submarine cannot be allowed to surface if Dubrovnik is to survive the surgery, which Sharron has performed. Once Dubrovnik is out of danger, Craig conveys instructions to Richard and Sharron on how to work the submarine via the scrambled phone link, which with their abilities, they can decipher.
14	"The Search"	Dennis Spooner	Leslie Norman	Joseph Furst, John Woodvine, Reginald Marsh, Gábor Baraker	1 January 1969 (1969-01-01)
After a nuclear submarine is stolen by ex Nazis who are determined to use it to continue the war the champions are tasked with hunting it down.
15	"The Gilded Cage"	Philip Broadley	Cyril Frankel	John Carson, Jennie Linden, Tony Caunter, Clinton Greyn, Vernon Dobtcheff, Sebastian Breaks	8 January 1969 (1969-01-08)
After burglars break into Nemesis headquarters to access information on Richard, Craig is assigned to monitor him. Richard, however, allows himself to be abducted, leaving a message for his colleague. He finds himself imprisoned in a luxurious room (the "gilded cage" of the title), where his captor (John Carson) threatens him that, unless Richard can decipher a code, a young woman, Samantha (Jennie Linden), will be killed.
16	"Shadow of the Panther"	Tony Williamson	Freddie Francis	Zia Mohyeddin, Donald Sutherland	15 January 1969 (1969-01-15)
While on holiday in Haiti Sharron investigates a plot to brainwash important figures in the worlds of politics, science and business, apparently orchestrated by a local sorcerer, Damballa. Richard and Craig become involved later, only to discover that Sharron has apparently been discovered by the plotters and brainwashed herself.
17	"A Case of Lemmings"	Philip Broadley	Paul Dickson	Edward Brayshaw, John Bailey	22 January 1969 (1969-01-22)
The trio are sent to investigate when several Interpol agents commit motiveless suicide. They discover that an Italian American gangster forms the only connection between the agents and set up a sting in which Craig threatens him, so as to discover his methodology. This proves almost too successful when Craig is slipped the "suicide drug" responsible and the others have to race against time to find him before he kills himself.
18	"The Interrogation"	Dennis Spooner	Cyril Frankel	Colin Blakely	29 January 1969 (1969-01-29)
Craig is captured after a mission in Hong Kong, and held in a cell where he is subject to interrogation by various cruel means. The unnamed interrogator (Colin Blakely) wants information about Craig's last mission. Despite nearing breaking point, Craig escapes the room, only to find he is at Nemesis headquarters; the interrogator is a member of Nemesis internal security, charged with finding out how Craig completed his last mission (his report had been less than clear at certain points, which were where his powers had come into play). Tremayne halts the investigation over the interrogator's protests, but the episode ends with Craig expressing bitterness towards his colleagues for their failure to intervene. All of the three are unhappy with Tremayne due to his part in the interrogation as well. This episode was unusual for featuring only one extra set (though it included flashbacks to earlier episodes) and for focusing mostly on one character. The last episode in the syndication package, it was intended to be the season finale; the characters are left with little if any mutual trust, which is not reflected in any other episodes.
19	"The Mission"	Donald James	Robert Asher	Harry Towb, Robert Russell	5 February 1969 (1969-02-05)
The trio investigate an operation run by an ex-Nazi doctor who is providing plastic surgery, and hence future anonymity, for international criminals. Craig and Sharron go undercover as an Italian gangster and his moll but Richard is forced to move in and masquerade as a vagrant, in order to provide a matching blood group for them (because vagrants provide the raw biological material for the operation).
20	"The Silent Enemy"	Donald James	Robert Asher	Paul Maxwell, Marne Maitland, Esmond Knight, Rio Fanning, David Blake Kelly	12 February 1969 (1969-02-12)
The champions are sent on a mission to recreate the journey of a submarine, which came into port with all of its crew dead from unknown causes.
21	"The Body Snatchers"	Terry Nation	Paul Dickson	Bernard Lee, Philip Locke	19 February 1969 (1969-02-19)
Barrett, tipped off by a journalist contact, investigates a project in the Welsh countryside which is experimenting with freezing people at the point of death so that they can be revived once medical technology is advanced enough to help them. Luckily for him (since he is captured by the people running the project and placed in cryogenic storage himself before he manages to escape) Craig and Sharron have been placed on his trail by Tremayne and help him to close the project down.
22	"Get Me Out of Here!"	Ralph Smart	Cyril Frankel	Philip Madoc, Eric Pohlmann, Godfrey Quigley	26 February 1969 (1969-02-26)
The agents rescue an eminent female scientist who has returned to her home country and been detained against her will by the dictatorship, which runs it. The government want her to do her work there, in order to gain reflected prestige from her medical discoveries. This episode featured a performance from Philip Madoc, as the scientist's sleazy estranged husband, and a sequence where Stirling and Barrett rescue the scientist from a blacked out police station (not a problem for them, as they can see in the dark).
23	"The Night People"	Donald James	Robert Asher	Terence Alexander, Adrienne Corri, Walter Sparrow, Michael Bilton, Jerold Wells	5 March 1969 (1969-03-05)
Richard and Craig investigate Sharron's disappearance while on holiday in Cornwall and come across rumours of witchcraft. This turns out to be a cover for an entirely different undertaking.
24	"Project Zero"	Tony Williamson	Don Sharp	Rupert Davies, Peter Copley, Maurice Browning, Reginald Jessup, Donald Morley, Geoffrey Chater, Nicholas Smith, Jill Curzon	12 March 1969 (1969-03-12)
The agents are sent to investigate the disappearance of several eminent scientists - the only link is that all of them have theoretically been seconded to a non-existent "Project Zero". Richard goes undercover as an electronics expert and makes it to the underground base, but is discovered and has to pose as a journalist looking for a story. Craig and Sharron are forced to follow him in. Once they get to the base they free Richard, who has been fitted with an explosive collar, and lead the scientists in an attack on the control room. However, they do not succeed in catching the people running the base and they escape with the super weapon the scientists have been developing. However, Sharron, who escaped earlier to get help, has sabotaged the weapon and the villains are destroyed when it explodes and vaporises their plane as they attempt to destroy the base.
25	"Desert Journey"	Ian Stuart Black	Paul Dickson	Jeremy Brett, Roger Delgado, Reg Lye	19 March 1969 (1969-03-19)
In order to restore stability to a small Middle Eastern principality, the agents kidnap the son of the former Bey (played by Jeremy Brett), who is leading a dissolute life as an exile in Rome. Craig and Sharron fly him into the area but are forced to land due to a sand storm and have to cross the desert (the "journey" of the title) to get him to his destination. Meanwhile Richard deals with the politicians in the principality, though it is Craig who saves the new Bey's life when an assassination attempt is made. This episode features Roger Delgado in a role as the Prime Minister/Vizier of the principality.
26	"Full Circle"	Donald James	John Gilling	Patrick Allen, Jack Gwillim, Martin Benson, Gabrielle Drake, John Nettleton	26 March 1969 (1969-03-26)
A spy is captured at a foreign embassy but manages to dispose of the film, hiding what he was doing there. Craig is placed undercover as his cellmate so that he can arrange an escape, take the man with him, and find out who is employing him.
27	"The Nutcracker"	Philip Broadley	Roy Ward Baker	Michael Barrington, John Franklyn-Robbins, William Squire	2 April 1969 (1969-04-02)
After a senior figure in British Intelligence is brainwashed into breaking in to his own secure vault (located underneath a tailor's shop) the champions are sent to test its security and find out what happened.
28	"The Final Countdown"	Gerald Kelsey	John Gilling	Hannah Gordon, Norman Jones, Morris Perry, Derek Newark, Alan MacNaughtan, Basil Henson	16 April 1969 (1969-04-16)
Tracking an unrepentant Nazi who has been released after years in prison in East Germany, the champions become involved in an attempt to stop him from obtaining an ex Nazi atom bomb.
29	"The Gun Runners"	Gerald Kelsey	John Gilling	William Franklyn, Wolfe Morris	23 April 1969 (1969-04-23)
This was one of the few episodes that did not feature two stories running side by side. The three agents work on bringing a gunrunner to justice and recovering a consignment of World War 2 Japanese rifles.
30	"Autokill"	Brian Clemens	Roy Ward Baker	Paul Eddington, Eric Pohlmann, Harold Innocent, Bruce Boa	30 April 1969 (1969-04-30)
Barka (Eric Pohlmann) is using a lethal hallucinogenic drug to brainwash Nemesis agents and use them as assassins. Tremayne is his latest target, leading Craig, Richard and Sharron to work against time to find an antidote. During the course of their investigations, Richard is captured by Barka and subjected to the same treatment; the target he is given to eliminate is Craig. Although Richard's colleagues track down the villains and seize a sample of the drug from which an antidote can be created, the ensuing fight between them and Richard teaches Craig "a lesson in equality".

External links

• The Champions at IMDb
• Legend of the Champions at IMDb
• Series entry at BFI screenonline
• Series overview at CulTv
• Series review at Television Heaven