History Trivia / TheNewAvengers

* CastTheRunnerUp: Lewis Collins was considered for Gareth Hunt. He made a guest appearance in "Obsession". Series producer Brian Clemens noted his chemistry with Creator/MartinShaw and cast them in ''Series/TheProfessionals''.

** Creator/PatrickMacnee told ''Starlog'' that he flat out disliked ''The New Avengers'':
--->''"I felt... I was being badly used. I wish I hadn't done it now. I don't like "The New Avengers". I think it was bad and ordinary and unimaginative and not interesting."''

* ExecutiveMeddling: The French financers kept demanding a sexier Purdey. Joanna Lumley remained as the character, but was given a sexier French wardrobe as a result.

* TheOtherDarrin: Creator/DianaRigg was asked to make a guest appearance, but declined. As a result, "K Is For Kill Part One: The Tiger Awakes" features old footage of her on the phone from "The Winged Avenger" and "The Hidden Tiger", while Sue Lloyd provides a voice cameo.

** In 1994, Creator/JoannaLumley and Gareth Hunt publicised the launch of the series on domestic videocassette. Sales were stronger than expected, prompting Brian Clemens to consider reuniting the two actors in a "{{spin off}}" series. Although both were keen to participate and a script was written, plans stalled at an early stage for undisclosed reasons.

** In 1994, Creator/JoannaLumley and Gareth Hunt publicised the launch of the series on domestic videocassette. Sales were stronger than expected, prompting Brian Clemens to consider reuniting the two actors in a "{{spin-off}}" series. Although both were keen to participate and a script was written, plans stalled at an early stage for undisclosed reasons.

** For the last four episodes, they had to film in UsefulNotes/{{Canada}}. Brian Clemens - who didn't even go there - called those the worst of the series.
** Creator/PatrickMacnee flat out told ''Starlog'' that he disliked ''The New Avengers'':

* CastTheRunnerUp: Lewis Collins was considered for Gareth Hunt. He made a guest appearance in "Obsession". Brian Clements noted his chemistry with Creator/MartinShaw and cast them in ''Series/TheProfessionals''.

** For the last four episodes, they had to film in UsefulNotes/{{Canada}}. Brian Clements - who didn't even go there - called those the worst of the series.

* BannedEpisode: The episode "Gladiators" was banned in some parts of Britain due to excessive violence. In UsefulNotes/{{London}}, it did not premiere until nine months after "Emily", and even then it aired at 11:25 PM.

* FollowTheLeader: The series' DarkerAndEdgier tone was made in the wake of tougher and grittier shows of TheSeventies like ''Series/TheSweeney'' and ''Series/TheProfessionals''.

* TheOtherDarrin: Emma Peel has a phone cameo in "K is for Kill", but she's voiced by Sue Lloyd and not by Creator/DianaRigg.
* RecycledScript: The episode "Complex" is essentially a remake of the ''[[Series/TheAvengers1960s Avengers]]'' episode "Killer". Meanwhile, "Medium Rare" was based on the ''Series/{{Thriller}}'' episode "Murder in Mind", while "Gnaws" is a reworking of the ''WesternAnimation/{{Thunderbirds}}'' episode "Attack of the Alligators".

** Creator/DianaRigg was asked to return as Emma Peel, but declined.

** For the last four episodes, they had to film in Canada. Brian Clements - who didn't even go there - called those the worst of the series.

* ExecutiveMeddling: The French financers kept demanding a sexier Purdey. Joanna Lumley remained as the character, but was given a sexier Frenchi wardrobe as a result.

* BannedEpisode: The episode "Gladiators" was banned in some parts of Britain due to excessive violence. In London, it did not premiere until nine months after "Emily", and even then it aired at 11:25 PM.

* InternationalCoProduction: The show was a joint British-French-Canadian production.

--->''"I felt... I was being badly used. I wish I hadn't done it now. I don't like ''The New Avengers''. I think it was bad and ordinary and unimaginative and not interesting."''

* CreatorBacklash: For the last four episodes, they had to film in Canada. Brian Clements - who didn't even go there - called those the worst of the series.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: After ''The New Avengers'' was cancelled, an American version of the series was proposed. They shot a pilot called ''Escapade'' but it was never picked up. Morgan Fairchild and Granville Van Dusen were to play the Purdey and Steed counterparts.
* YouLookFamiliar: Creator/IanHendry, who had played Steed's initial partner Dr. David Keel in ''The Avengers'' in 1961, reappeared in ''The New Avengers'' as a different character, Irwin Gunner.

** Lumley had long hair on her first promo stills for the series. On the first day of filming, she surprised the producers and crew by coming up with a bob, which would remain Purdey's trademark hairstyle.

** Creator/PatrickMacnee told ''Starlog'' that he disliked ''The New Avengers'':
-->''"I felt... I was being badly used. I wish I hadn't done it now. I don't like ''The New Avengers''. I think it was bad and ordinary and unimaginative and not interesting."''

** It's rumored that Creator/JoannaLumley suggested Purdey's name for ''The New Avengers''. She was originally called Charly but had to be changed when they discovered a perfume with the same name. Purdey was named after the most expensive shotgun in the world.
** Lumley had long hair on her first promo stills for ''The New Avengers''. On the first day of filming, she surprised the producers and crew by coming up with a bob, which would remain Purdey's trademark hairstyle.

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%%The new, gritty tone -- matching shows like ''Series/TheSweeney'' and (later) ''Series/TheProfessionals''[[note]] which was made by the same company as ''The New Avengers'' and continued the producers' trend toward more action-oriented material[[/note]] -- was felt like too much of a departure. The producers were forced by the network to mount several episodes in France and in Canada, which would have been fine if the scripts and production had remained up to par.

** Creator/PatrickMacnee came up with Steed's umbrella sword. He objected to Steed using a gun, as it reminded him of his military tenure.

* ExtensiveExecutiveMeddling: The French financers kept demanding a sexier Purdey. Joanna Lumley remained as the character, but was given a sexier Frenchi wardrobe as a result.