The Champions

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For the Canadian mini-series, see The Champions (documentary miniseries). For other uses, see Champion (disambiguation).
The Champions
Alt=Series titles superimposed on cast in front of Lake Geneva.
Created by Dennis Spooner
Monty Berman
Starring Stuart Damon
Alexandra Bastedo
William Gaunt
Anthony Nicholls
Theme music composer Tony Hatch
Composer(s) Edwin Astley
Albert Elms
Robert Farnon
Country of origin United Kingdom
Original language(s) English
No. of series 1
No. of episodes 30 (List of episodes)
Producer(s) Monty Berman
Production company(s) ITC Entertainment
Original channel ITV
Picture format 35 mm film 4:3 Colour
Audio format Mono
Original run 25 September 1968 – 30 April 1969


Overview and premise[edit]



Many stories feature unusual villains, such as fascist regimes from unspecified South American countries, Nazis (a common theme of ITC 1960s and '70s TV, in part due to both the domestic audience and writers having been the "War generation") 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 have to learn the use of their new powers as they go along, keeping what they discover secret from friends and foe alike. Each episode begins with a post-title sequence vignette in which one of The Champions demonstrates 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. Ironically, the narration during these often public demonstrations usually mentions the need to keep the powers a secret.

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

Cast and characters[edit]

William Gaunt, Stuart Damon, and Alexandra Bastedo.






Further broadcasts and releases[edit]

Although short-lived, the series had three repeat runs across the ITV regions up to 1976 and once more on ITV in September-October 1984. It was also regularly repeated in the UK, on ITV's digital channel ITV4 until January 2011 (making The Saint, the remaining ITC property to premiere on ITV4).[4] The Champions was broadcast on BBC2 in 1995, at about the time when Gaunt was appearing in the sitcom Next of Kin and it had at least three further repeat runs after that.


The series was shown in Italy in the early 80's in syndication under the title Tris d'Assi (that means in English Three Aces) and more recently (90's) on Canal Jimmy (Sky), but an Italian DVD collection has never been released because in that country The Champions is an almost completely forgotten show, remembered only by few loyal fans.

In 2010 company Network DVD re-released The Champions: The Complete Series'' as a complete DVD Region 2 box set of all episodes on 9 discs (including the rare 'bookends' version of the first episode). (Also they released the music from the series on 3 CDs.) [8]


Legend of the Champions[edit]

In 1983, ITC edited episodes "The Beginning" and "The Interrogation" into Legend of the Champions, a feature-length film intended for overseas markets.[7]







In November 2007, it was reported that Guillermo del Toro would produce and write a film adaptation of The Champions for United Artists.[9] In 2008, Christopher McQuarrie was signed to co-write and co-produce the film.[10] Since then there have been no further developments about it.


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")[11]
  • Lavage de Cerveau. By Pierre Salva. Paris: Presses de la Cité, 1977[12]

List of episodes[edit]


# 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, Imogen Hassall 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, Madalena Nicol, Philip Bond, Russell Waters 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 II is still going on.
08 "To Trap a Rat" Ralph Smart Sam Wanamaker Kate O'Mara, Guy Rolfe, Edina Ronay, Michael Standing, John Lee, Michael Guest 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, Charles Houston 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, Tony Wall 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 Anthony Bate, Patricia Haines, Paul Hansard, Dermot Kelly, Robert Russell, Harry Towb 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, Warren Stanhope, Marne Maitland, Esmond Knight, James Maxwell, 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, Ann Lynn, J. G. Devlin 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 Frances Cuka, Philip Madoc, Eric Pohlmann, Anthony Newlands, Godfrey Quigley, Ronald Radd 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, David Lodge, Frank Thornton 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, Nick Zaran, Henry Lincoln 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 "Nutcracker" Philip Broadley Roy Ward Baker Michael Barrington, John Franklyn-Robbins, William Squire, David Langton 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, Nicolas Chagrin 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, Conrad Monk 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".


  1. ^ "ITC". screenonline. British Film Institute. Retrieved 2007-11-10. 
  2. ^ a b Rovin, Jeff (1985). The Encyclopedia of Superheroes. Facts On File. p. 351. ISBN 0-8160-1679-8. 
  3. ^ (Press release). 1968 Archived from the original on 2006-03-03. Retrieved 2007-11-10.  Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. ^ "The final airing of The Champions on ITV4". 2011-01-29. 
  5. ^ "The Champions: Set One". Retrieved 2007-11-09. 
  6. ^ Willmetts, Geoff (2006-08-14). "The Champions: The Complete Series". Science Fiction Crowsnest. Retrieved 2007-11-09. 
  7. ^ a b "ITC's super heroes Sterling, Macready and Barrett have never looked better on DVD". Reviews. Cult TV. Retrieved 2007-11-10. 
  8. ^ "The Champions: The Complete Series" (Region 2). Network DVD. 2010. Retrieved 2010-01-01. 
  9. ^ Siegel, Tatiana (2007-11-07). "United Artists revives Champions". Variety (Reed Business Information). Retrieved 2007-11-08. 
  10. ^ Siegel, Tatiana (16 November 2008). "McQuarrie to write, produce UA duo". Variety (Reed Business Information). Retrieved 2008-11-17. 
  11. ^ "The Champions: The Sixth Sense is Death". The UK Sci-Fi Book Guide. Kieran Seymour. Retrieved 2007-11-10. 
  12. ^ "Les Champions: Lavage de Cerveau". The UK Sci-Fi Book Guide. Kieran Seymour. Retrieved 2007-11-10. 

External links[edit]