Airing between 1976 and 1977, The New Avengers was a stylish sequel that updated the surreal "spy-fi" formula of the 1960s classic for a grittier, action-oriented decade. Patrick Macnee reprised his role as the dapper, bowler-hatted John Steed, now serving as a mentor to two younger, physically capable agents: the tough ex-mercenary Mike Gambit (Gareth Hunt) and the high-kicking, sharp-witted Purdey (Joanna Lumley). Produced by the original creative team of Brian Clemens and Albert Fennell, the show retained some of the eccentric villains and sci-fi elements of its predecessor—including the return of the robotic Cybernauts—while injecting the car chases and fistfights typical of 70s television. The series is particularly famous for launching Joanna Lumley to international stardom and sparking a massive fashion trend with her character's signature bowl-cut hairstyle, known simply as the "Purdey."
