Boots, bowlers and umbrellas

Dr. David Keel

Ian Hendry (Dr. Keel) was highly acclaimed in the ABC 1960 series Police Surgeon and played the lead role of Dr. Brent. The series did not produce the viewing figures which the company had hoped for but Hendry proved to be very popular and received much fan mail.

ABC decided to reformat the programme and to move the doctor into his own private practice with the mysterious Steed arriving to involve Keel in a number of adventures; and so was born The Avengers. Keel was origanlly named Dr. Dent but it was decided that this was too similar to the Police Surgeon character and the name was changed.

The first episode was "Hot Snow" when David Keel's fiancee Peggy is murdered and Keel is set on revenge.

The Keel episodes first introduce a boss for Steed, something which is reurrected in Mother in the Tara King episodes. Steed reports to one-ten but we also meet one-six, one-seven, one-twelve and one-fifteen. Keel's receptionist Carol Wilson (Ingrid Hefner) was also "Police Surgeon" receptionist Amanda Gibbs.

Most of the Keel episodes are still missing with only the "Frighteners" being released to video although rumours are currently flying that another episode has been discovered. It is believed that most episodes were wiped after each show but that the last four were stored during the actors strike and The Friteners was put onto stronger film perhaps to market abroad.

Episode Guide for Dr David Keel

Hot Snow Written by Ray Rigby and Patrick Brawn

Directed by Don Leaver

Brought to Book Written by Brian Clemens

Directed by Peter Hammond

Square Root of Evil Wriiten by Richard Harris

Directed by Don Leaver

Nightmare Written by Terence Freely

Directed by Peter Hammond

Crescent Moon Written by Geoffery Bellman and John Whitney

Directed by John Knight

Girl on the Trapeze Written by Dennis Spooner RECENTLY REDISCOVERED! To be released on PAL format with the rest of the Blackman episodes in 2003!

Directed by Don Leaver

Diamond cut Diamond Written by Max Marquis

Directed by Peter Hammond

The Radioactive Man Written by Fred Edge

Directed by Robert Tronson

Ashes of Roses Written by Peter Ling and Sheilagh Ward

Directed by Don Leaver

Hunt the Man Down Written by Richard Harris

Directed by Peter Hammond

Please don't Feed the Animals Written by Dennis Spooner

Directed by Dennis Vance

Dance with Death Written by Peter Ling and Sheilagh Ward

Directed by Don Leaver

One for the Mortuary Written by Brain Clamens

Directed by Peter Hammond

The Springers Written by John Whitney and Geoffery Bellman

Directed by Don Leaver

The Frighteners Written by Berkley Mather AVAILABLE ON ec1 OF EVOLUTION COLLECTION

Directed by Peter Hammond

The Yellow Needle Written by Patrick CAmpbell

Directed by Don Leaver

Death on the Slipway Written by James Mitchell

Directed by Peter Hammond

Double Danger Written by Gerald Verner

Directed by Roger Jenkins

Toy Trap Written by Bill Strutton

Directed by Don Leaver

The Tunnel of Fear Written by John Kruse

Directed by Guy Vearney

The Far-Distant Dead Written by John Lucarotti

Directed by Peter Hammond

Kill the King Written by James Mitchell

Directed by Roger Jenkins

Dead of Winter Written by Eric Paice

Directed by Don Leaver

The Deadly Air Written by Lester Powell

Directed by John Knight

A Change of Bait Written by Lewis Davidson

Directed by Don Leaver

Dragonsfield Written by Terence Feely

Directed by Peter Hammond