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The Gravediggers (The Avengers)
"The Gravediggers" is the second episode of the fourth series of the 1960s cult British spy-fi (neologism), spy-fi television series ''The Avengers (TV series), The Avengers'', starring Patrick Macnee and Diana Rigg. It was first broadcast by Scottish Television on Tuesday 5 October 1965. ABC Weekend Television, who commissioned the show, broadcast it in its own regions four days later on Saturday 9 October. The episode was directed by Quentin Lawrence, and written by Malcolm Hulke. Plot Steed and Emma visit a railway buff to investigate a deathly plot to sabotage the country's early warning radar defence systems. Cast *Patrick Macnee as John Steed *Diana Rigg as Emma Peel *Ronald Fraser (actor), Ronald Fraser as Sir Horace Winslip *Paul Massie as Johnson *Caroline Blakiston as Miss Thirlwell *Victor Platt as Sexton *Charles Lamb (actor), Charles Lamb as Fred *Wanda Ventham as Nurse Spray *Ray Austin (director), Ray Austin as Baron *Steven Berkoff as Sager *Bryan Mosley as ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Avengers (TV Series)
''The Avengers'' is a British Spy fiction, espionage television series, created in 1961, that ran for 161 episodes until 1969. It initially focused on David Keel (Ian Hendry), aided by John Steed (Patrick Macnee). Hendry left after the first series; Steed then became the main character, partnered with a succession of assistants. His most famous assistants were intelligent, stylish and assertive women: Cathy Gale (Honor Blackman), Emma Peel (Diana Rigg), and Tara King (Linda Thorson). Dresses and suits for the series were made by Pierre Cardin. The series ran from 1961 until 1969, screening as one-hour episodes for its entire run. The pilot episode, "Hot Snow (The Avengers), Hot Snow", aired on 7 January 1961. The final episode, "Bizarre", aired on 21 April 1969 in the United States, and on 17 May 1969 in the United Kingdom. ''The Avengers'' was produced by ABC Weekend TV, a contractor within the ITV (TV network), ITV network. After a merger with Rediffusion London in July 1968 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Patrick Macnee
Daniel Patrick Macnee (6 February 1922 – 25 June 2015) was a British film and television actor. After serving in the Royal Navy during World War II, he began his acting career in Canada. Despite having some small film roles, Macnee spent much of his early career in playing small roles in American and Canadian television shows. In 1961, he landed the role of secret agent John Steed in the British television series '' The Avengers''. The show was a success running for eight seasons from 1961 to 1969 and was revived in 1976 as ''The New Avengers''. The show was a major breakthrough for Macnee and led to his roles in many films including '' This Is Spinal Tap'' and ''A View to a Kill'' as well as continuing to appear in both British and US television shows up until 2001. Early life and career The elder of two sons, Macnee was born in Paddington, London, England, on 6 February 1922; [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Leicestershire
Leicestershire ( ; postal abbreviation Leics.) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East Midlands, England. The county borders Nottinghamshire to the north, Lincolnshire to the north-east, Rutland to the east, Northamptonshire to the south-east, Warwickshire to the south-west, Staffordshire to the west, and Derbyshire to the north-west. The border with most of Warwickshire is Watling Street, the modern A5 road (Great Britain), A5 road. Leicestershire takes its name from the city of Leicester located at its centre and unitary authority, administered separately from the rest of the county. The ceremonial county – the non-metropolitan county plus the city of Leicester – has a total population of just over 1 million (2016 estimate), more than half of which lives in the Leicester Urban Area. History Leicestershire was recorded in the Domesday Book in four wapentakes: Guthlaxton, Framland, Goscote, and Gartree (hundred), Gartree. These later became hundred ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Melton Mowbray
Melton Mowbray () is a town in Leicestershire, England, north-east of Leicester, and south-east of Nottingham. It lies on the River Eye, known below Melton as the Wreake. The town had a population 27,670 in 2019. The town is sometimes promoted as Britain's "Rural Capital of Food", it is the home of the Melton Mowbray pork pie and is the location of one of six licensed makers of Stilton cheese. History Toponymy The name comes from the early English word Medeltone – meaning "Middletown surrounded by small hamlets" (as do Milton and Middleton). Mowbray is the Norman family name of early Lords of the Manor – namely Robert de Mowbray. Early history In and around Melton, there are 28 scheduled ancient monuments, some 705 buildings of special architectural or historical interest, 16 sites of special scientific interest, and several deserted village sites. Its industrial archaeology includes the Grantham Canal and remains of the Melton Mowbray Navigation. Windmill sites and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Stapleford Miniature Railway
Stapleford Miniature Railway is an historic steam locomotive-hauled gauge railway at Stapleford Park, Stapleford near Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire, England. Considered one of the finest examples of its type, the railway is now private but still attracts thousands of visitors from the UK and abroad during its two public charity events each year. History The ridable miniature railway began life in 1958 as a short line to carry visitors from the car park, to Lord Gretton's stately home. Due to its popularity, the railway was quickly expanded, running down to and then eventually around the lake in the landscaped parkland and the park which also featured a drive through lion reserve. The SMR featured in a 1965 episode of the television show '' The Avengers'' called "The Gravediggers", where Emma Peel (played by Diana Rigg), was tied to the railway track, before Steed rescued her just in time. After the estate closed its doors to the public in 1982, the railway was mothballed ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Aubrey Richards
Aubrey Richards (6 June 1920 – 29 May 2000) was a Welsh actor who appeared in numerous film and television productions over a 40-year period, often portraying professors. He began his acting career in repertory theatre. His films included ''The Ipcress File'' (1965), '' It!'' (1967), ''The Man Who Haunted Himself'' (1970), ''Under Milk Wood'', '' Endless Night'' and '' Savage Messiah'' (all 1972). On television he had a major role as Samuel Evans in ''Carrie's War'' (1974), and recurring roles in ''How Green Was My Valley'' (1975–76), as Mr. Elias, and in ''Emergency-Ward 10''. He also featured as Professor Parry in the ''Doctor Who'' adventure ''The Tomb of the Cybermen'' (1967). Richards was married to the distinguished stage manager Diana Boddington Diana Boddington, (30 July 1921 – 17 January 2002) was an English stage manager. Career Born in Blackpool in 1921, Boddington's first worked as an assistant electrician for Tyrone Guthrie at the Old Vic in 1941. Lat ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lloyd Lamble
Lloyd Nelson Lamble (8 February 1914 – 17 March 2008) was an Australian actor who worked in theatre, television, radio and film. He lived and worked for most of his life in the United Kingdom. Biography Personal life Lloyd Lamble was born in Melbourne, Victoria, to William Henry Sylvester Lamble and Francis Alma Spencer Lamble (née Potter). He was the youngest of four children, all boys.Lamble, Lloyd Nelson. ''Hi Diddle Dee Dee: An Actor’s Life For Me.'' Typescript autobiography of Lloyd Lamble. 1994. (Manuscript sighted in the National Library of Australia, 29 November 2008) His father William Lamble was a viola player in the Sisserman String QuartetPersonal communication: Lloyd Nelson Lamble to Tim LambleCaptioned photo from unidentified newspaper in possession of Tim Lamble and in symphony orchestras in Melbourne; secretary of the Musicians' Union of Australia; a music teacher, pianist, organist, choirmaster and composer. His grandfather was a music professor. Lloyd was ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bryan Mosley
Bryan Mosley (25 August 1931 – 9 February 1999) was a British actor, best known for his role as grocer Alf Roberts in the long-running ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street''. Early life Mosley was born in Leeds, an only child, to Agnes Basquill, a print worker, and Jimmy Mosley, a labourer at a dye factory. He attended Leeds Central High School and made his stage debut, aged 10, as the back end of a cow in the pantomime Cinderella. He modelled for clothes catalogues and held a childhood ambition to become a missionary. Instead, aged 13, Mosley won a scholarship to Leeds College of Art, where he studied from 1944 to 1946, and subsequently worked as a commercial artist. He also worked in a bookshop, as a drama teacher and sold encyclopaedias door-to-door. In 1950, Mosley's father, a smoker and heavy drinker, died from a heart attack. His mother subsequently remarried, a marriage which Mosley did not approve of, and he remained estranged from his mother until her death. In 1952, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Steven Berkoff
Steven Berkoff (born Leslie Steven Berks; 3 August 1937) is an English actor, author, playwright, theatre practitioner and theatre director. As a theatre maker he is recognised for staging work with a heightened performance style eponymously known as "Berkovian theatre", which combines elements of physical theatre, total theatre and expressionism. His work has sometimes been viewed as an example of in-yer-face theatre, due to the intense presentation and taboo-breaking material in a number of his plays. As a film actor, he is known for his performances in villainous roles, including the portrayals of General Orlov in the ''James Bond'' film ''Octopussy'' (1983), Victor Maitland in ''Beverly Hills Cop'' (1984), Lt. Col. Podovsky in '' Rambo: First Blood Part II'' (1985) and Adolf Hitler in the TV mini-series ''War and Remembrance'' (1988–89). Early life Berkoff was born Leslie Steven Berks on 3 August 1937, in Stepney in the East End of London, the son of Pauline ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ray Austin (director)
Raymond Austin is an English television and film director, television writer and producer, and former stunt performer and actor who has worked in both the United Kingdom and the United States. Career Austin started his career as a stunt performer on such films as ''North by Northwest'' (1959) and ''Spartacus'' (1960). From 1965 to 1967 he served as stunt coordinator on 50 episodes of '' The Avengers''. For ''The Champions'' he initially became involved as a second unit director, subsequently rising to the position of full director. His work as a TV director includes episodes of '' The Avengers'' (1968), ''Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)'' (1969–70), '' Space: 1999'' (1975–76), '' The New Avengers'' (1976–77), and '' V'' (1984). He directed 50 of the 88 episodes of the series ''Zorro'', which was filmed in Madrid between 1989 and 1992 for the American ABC Family Channel. He has also directed some made-for-TV films, including '' The Return of the Man from U.N.C.L.E.'' ( ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Emma Peel
Emma Peel is a fictional spy played by Diana Rigg in the British 1960s adventure television series '' The Avengers'', and by Uma Thurman in the 1998 film version. She was born Emma Knight, the daughter of an industrialist, Sir John Knight. She is the crime-fighting partner of John Steed. As a lady spy adventurer and expert in martial arts, she became a feminist role model around the world and is considered an icon of British popular culture. Regarded as a 1960s fashion icon and sex symbol, the character is often remembered for the leather catsuit sometimes worn by Rigg in the first series. Casting Mrs. Peel was introduced as a replacement for the popular character Cathy Gale, played by actress Honor Blackman. Blackman left the programme at the end of the third season to co-star in the James Bond film '' Goldfinger''. Elizabeth Shepherd was initially cast as Emma Peel and production on the fourth series began. After filming all of one episode and part of a second, the producer ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
