Mrs Chuff and I are ploughing our way through the beautiful Avengers complete DVD boxset at the mo. We're waist deep in series three ("Build a Better Mousetrap" last night). Other than the Diana Rigg stuff, I have barely seen any Avengers before, and am enjoying it immensely. I knew Tezza would crop up sooner or later, but no evidence of his thus far.

How I envy you - to work through this glorious show more or less as virgins (ooer, missus). *

Although the Diana Rigg era is lauded - justifiably - for me, it's really the black and white Rigg eps that really shine. Some of the colour Rigg eps go a wee bit too far. I agree with Michael in the earlier post, the Tara King episodes get a load of stick from some fans. but Linda Thorson was quite inexperienced when she was first cast and Tara's relationship with Steed was different from Cathy Gale and Emma Peel. In my opinion, Thorson's performance improved very quickly as she gained confidence, and the quality of the eps similarly improved. They were, however, shown wildly out of order of production, which gave that era a very uneven feel.

Do also give The New Avengers a try afterwards, if you can. It's nowhere near the quality of the original show - and nowhere as bad as some will have you believe. Joanna Lumley is outstanding.

* It's not a spoiler, but keep your ears peeled in Too Many Christmas Trees and the reference to Honor Blackman being at Fort Knox - a glorious nod to Goldfinger, which she had just made.

I quite agree. Warren Clarke was in Invasion Of The Earthmen, wasn't he?

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He was indeed. Bless him. Fine actor. As indeed is William Lucas ("Mr RANGE!") who I always liked too. Couldn't save that episode though. Even a young Lucy Fleming in kinky boots couldn't save *that* episode!

We differ on 'Legacy of Death' but not on that turkey.

Back OT(ish) I do like 'Take-Over' by Tel-boy. It's quite New Avengers-esque but well acted and directed and one of the strongest Macnee performances from the Tara era, IMO.

I've seen the New Avengers a couple of times, and it's generally poor. Too many Communist Spies and not enough Retired Bee-Keepers Trying To Take Over The World.

The Diana Rigg episodes were on BBC4 late on Fridays, a few years back, so I've seen them all at least once. Of the rest, I've probably only ever seen half a dozen episodes in total, and it's such a treat to see them. The boxset is with its weight in gold! Honor Blackman is magnificent as Mrs Gale, and Julie Stevens was a hoot as Venus Smith.

I'd love to see a new Avengers series.

It's a media-thing I suspect. Dalek didn't do any better or worse in the ratings that anything around it from what I recall and that's a trend that exists throughout the series, old and new. The Daleks are something the media pushes more than the public demands from what I can see. And, of course, they are highly merchandisable due to their unique look. It's a bit like the Klingons and Star Trek. They have their fans but they aren't the most popular bad guys the show has. Yet, Star Trek without the Klingons? Can't be done

I was watching Marinus this week, with the production text on (as sad as I am). Apparently Terry Nation was accused of copying ideas from another writer for that episode though the text never mentioned if that was ever proved or not (so I'm assuming it wasn't proved). The Info Text on the DVDs are fab

but by star trek the next generation the klingons wrere no longer the bad guys.

Whatever you think of Terry (as a person or writer), we fans should be grateful for him for coming up with the concept of the Daleks. Ok he didn't design them but he did provide the basis on which they came into reality. You can argue that without the Daleks would Doctor Who had succeeded in the early years and subsequently would it still be here today? For this he should be remembered favourably.

Genesis of the daleks. . Wipes everything out.. end of