Best of The Avengers - Emma Peel era

 the 10 best episodes to feature one of the most iconic TV characters, Diana Rigg's Emma Peel. Who every week wit Patrick MacNee's John Steed would foil plans of a devious nature.

1. The Living Dead

When the supposed dead victims of a mine accident are seen alive Steed and Emma investigate. What they find is a threat to the nation.

2. Silent Dust

When large numbers of birds are dying Steed and Emma go to the countryside. And they discover a plan of a dangerous ransom.

3. The Master Minds

Steed and Emma look into the breaking in of an number of high security locations. The trail leads to a club for those with a high IQ. Has a highly inventive fight that plays out in silhouette.

4. The Correct Way To Kill

Enemy agents are being killed and Steed and Emma end up working with the other side. Colour remake of the earlier Cathy (Honor Blackman) Gale episode The Charmers.

5. Town of No Return

Steed and Emma look into strange goings on at a seaside village. Featuring Patrick Newell who would go on to play Mother in the series and Robert Brown who would be M in 4 James Bond films.

6. The Superlative Seven

Another colour remake of a Cathy Gale (Dressed to Kill) sees Steed standard with a group of strangers. Guest starring Charlotte Rampling, Donald Sutherland and Brian Blessed.

7.The Girl From Auntie

Emma has vanished, so Steed teams up with the actress impersonating her. They end up at a knitting school.

8. The £50,00 Breakfast

Steed and Emma try to find the connection between a reclusive tycoon and a case of diamond smuggling. One of the baddies has a unique motive.

9. The Gravediggers

Vital radar stations are being jammed. Steed and Emma's inquiries take them to a hospital for railway men. With a early role regular movie bad guy Steven Berkoff.

10. The Murder Market

A series of unconnected murders are connected to an agency that sets up couples for marriage. Steed finds he has to kill Emma to get any further on the case.

The vicar returns

 The BBC has announced it's Xmas line up. In what has become a tradition an old sit com is making a return . Last year it was Gavin and Stacey this year it is The Vicar of Dibley. Starring Dawn French and written by Richard Curtis. In 2004 it was voted the third greatest British sit com ever beaten by Only Fools and Horses and another Curtis creation  Blackadder. The return will take the form of 3 ten minute episodes.

Captain Jack is back

 A promo has been released for the New Year Doctor Who special. It gives a glimpse of the return of John Barrowman as Captain Jack Harkness. Apart from a cameo in the last series of Who this year the character was last seen in the series of Torchwood in 2011. Some tittle-tattle suggests that a spat between Barrowman and one time show Steven Moffat lead to the character being off our screens for so long. This is ironic given that Moafft wrote the character's debut adventure.

No screens

 The news that the new Wonder Woman is going to make it's debut on stressing has raised a lot of eyebrows. And there is talk of Disney putting an number of their films into streaming. Is there a future for the big screen?

TV ratings 15-11-2020

 The start of this year's I'm a celebrity get me out of here was seen by over 12 million viewers. Meanwhile on BBC1 the first episode of Small Axe was seen by just.1 million viewers and it has 4 weeks to run.

Des being the butt

 The death of Des O'Connor brings how many times he was the butt of jokes on many TV shows. Here are 2 examples.

The Good Life

Tom and Barbra are trying to get some sleep so that they do some work. But they are awoken by the music from a party their neighbours Gerry and Margo. The music is of course by Des.

Morcombe and Wise

Ernie gives Eric a present of a record by Des. The pair then start making jokes at his expense unaware he is walking up behind them. When they do find out they play nice with Des.

Steve's uphill task

 Starting tonight on BBC 1 is Small Axe, a tale of a London community. It is directed and co-written by Steve McQueen the Oscar winning director of 12 Years a Slave. It however faces a ca task to gain viewers. The first episode is going out against the opening night of this years I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here!. Due to Covid this year's version is taking place in Wales. Among those taking part are multi Olympic gold medal winner Mo Farah and TV Vernon Kaye. Small Axe is facing hefty odds to make an impact.

Mr B is back

 The last few years on BBC 1 Saturday nights have been host to countless repeats of Mrs Brown's Boys. However tonight that will change with the start of repeat of Blackadder II. After the first series got a lukewarm reception it looked like that the show would not carry on. But BBC 1 chief Michael Grade was talked into making a second series with changes being made. The first being Ben Elton joining Richard Curtis as co-writer and the second being the expensive location filming of the first series cut down to a lower level.  Joining Rowan Atkinson in the title role  and Tony Robinson was Miranda Richardson as Queen Elizabeth (also known as Queenie) I who was forever threating to have people beheaded. Featuring such guest stars as Rik Mayall, Tom Baker and playing 2 different characters Hugh Laurie. The second series was a big hit and made Blackadder a British sit com legend. And tonight for those haven't discovered the reason why they can find out.

Shorted need

 Tonight sees the annual Children in Need charity tele cast o BBC 1. However this year owing to the pandemic it has undergone a change, Normally running 7 and a half hours this year's event will run 3 hours. How this will affect the event's usual donations remains to be seen.

Are you tenable?

 On the most recent edition of Tenable a contestant was asked to name the ten most popular quiz shows on British TV. The contest offered Tenable as answer itself. Happy for them Tenable is ranked at Ten.

Depp wizard no more

 The fall out of Johnny Depp's failed libel suit continues. Warner Brothers have said that Depp will not  reprise his role in the next Fantistic Beasts film. The role will instead be recast.

Gefforey Palmer (1927-2020)

 The death has been announced of Geoffrey Palmer. With his distinctive voice Palmer was a long standing of British TV with roles in the likes of The Avengers, Doctor Who  and Fawlty Towers. He shot to greater game with Butterflies and enjoyed another sit com not with As  Time Goes By with Judi Dench. His film work included A Fish Called Wanda and Tomorrow Never Dies.

R I P.Geoffrey Palmer

Missing bird

 ITV have announced that there will be a Xmas special of Birds of a Feather however it will be without one of it's stars. Pauline Quirke who has played Sharon since the show started in 1989 is busy pursing outside interests. Will viewers accept this?

John Sessions (1953-2020)

 The death has been announced of John Sessions. John's talents could be seen in a wide range of productions. From comedy shows.like Stella Street to Whose Line Is It Anyway? to dramas like Sherlock and The Inspector Lynley Mysteries. His film work included 1989's Henry V and The Bounty from 1984.

R I P John Sessions

Johnny not so good?

 Johnny Depp has lost his libel suit against The Sun newspaper over claims he hit his ex wife Amber Herd. However Depp is appealing the judgement.