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The Classic TV Archive - UK Crime Adventure Series
 
The Champions (1968-69)
   Episode Guide compiled by The Classic TV Archive
with contributions by:
references:
TV Times /BFI/ Library of Congress (telnet://locis.loc.gov)
Internet Movie Database (https://us.imdb.com)
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THE CHAMPIONS
--------------
 Incorporated Television Company Ltd (ITC)(Lew Grade)
Made on Location and at Associated British Elstree Studios, England
Series Created by Monty Berman and Dennis Spooner.
Produced by Monty Berman
Associate Producer, Johnny Goodman

UK Crime Adventure series 1968-69   30 episodes x 60 min colour

starring
Stuart Damon as Craig Sterling
Alexandra Bastedo as Sharron Macready
William Gaunt as Richard Barrett
Anthony Nicholls as Tremayne

Opening Narration by David Baur (not credited)

'The Champions' theme music Edwin Astley and Tony Hatch.

writers include: Dennis Spooner, Donald James, Philip Broadley, Tony Williamson,
Brian Clemens, Gerald Kelsey, Ralph Smart, Terry Nation, Ian Stuart Black.
directors include Cyril Frankel, Paul Dickson, Sam Wanamaker, John Gilling,
Leslie Norman, Freddie Francis, Robert Asher, Roy Ward Baker.

Premise:
Three secret agents, operatives of the Swiss-based law-and-order group "Nemesis", are endowed with superior
sensory and extrasensory powers, which are not known to their boss.

############### The Champions ################
############# season 1967-68 ###############
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ITV [UK] (most regions) Wednesdays 8:00PM (25Sep68-30Apr69)

1.1 [--] The Champions: THE BEGINNING
prod. no. 1
25-Sep-1968 premiered on many ITV stations Wednesday 8:00 PM
Screenplay by Dennis Spooner
Directed by Cyril Frankel
Guest Cast:
Felix Aylmer ................. Old man
Kenneth J. Warren ............ Whittaker
Joseph Furst ................. Chislenkan
Eric Young ................... Ho Ling
Burt Kwouk ................... Chinese major
Anthony Chinn ................ Chinese commander
In the premiere episode, our three heroes are on a mission to China, when their plane is shot down in the
Himalayas. They are taken by an old man to a lost city, reminiscent of "Lost Horizon" and endowed with
super powers.

1.2 [--] The Champions: THE GUN RUNNERS
prod. no. 2
Directed by Robert Asher
Guest Cast:
William Franklyn ............. Hartington
Paul Stassino ................ Guido Selvameni
David Lodge .................. Filmer
Guy Deghy .................... Schroeder
Eric Young ................... Police captain
Wolfe Morris ................. Nadkarni
Nicolas Chagrin .............. Clerk
Anthony Chinn ................ Sergeant

1.3 [--] The Champions: THE DARK ISLAND (verified on film)
prod. no. 3
Screenplay by Tony Williamson
Directed by Cyril Frankel
Director of Photography, Frank Watts
Guest Cast: (end credits order)
Vladek Sheybal .............. Max Kellor
Brandon Brady ............... Withers
Alan Gifford ................ Admiral
Bill Nagy ................... Controller
Benito Carruthers ........... Perango
Andy Ho ..................... Kai Min
Richard Bond ................ Radar Opeator
*
Robert Lee as Tsi Chong (uncredited)
Nick Tate as Sailor (uncredited)
Synopsis:
Three agents disappear while investigating a tropical island, so Nemesis sends the champions in to
find an explanation

1.4 [--] The Champions: OPERATION DEEP-FREEZE (verified on film)
prod. no. 4
Screenplay by Gerald Kelsey
Directed by Paul Dickson
Director of Photography, Frank Watts
Guest Cast: (end credits order)
Patrick Wymark ............. Gen. Gomez
Robert Urquhart ............ Hemmings
Walter Gotell .............. Capt. Jost
Peter Arne ................. Margoli
Dallas Cavell .............. Ship's Captain
George Pastell ............. Colonel Santos
Michael Godfrey ............ Mendoza
Martin Boddey .............. Gregson
Derek Sydney ............... Zerrilli
Alan White ................. Hoffner
Synopsis:
Nemesis sends its superagents to investigate why a country is breaking
an International treaty by testing nuclear weapons under Antartica

1.05 [--] The Champions: THE SILENT ENEMY (verified on film)
prod. no. 5
Screenplay by Donald James
Directed by Robert Asher
Guest Cast: (end credits order)
Paul Maxwell ............... Sam Baxter
Warren Stanhope ............ Parker
James Maxwell .............. Startton
Marne Maitland ............. Minoes
Esmond Knight .............. Minister
David Blake Kelly .......... Lighthouse Keeper
Rio Fanning ................ Lighthouse Keeper
Synopsis:
When the crew of a Nuclear submarine are found dead, the Champions reconstruct its last voyage to find the truth.
Note:
1st Submarine Story: - 2nd Submarine Story see #14 "Twelve Hours"

1.6 [--] The Champions: THE SEARCH (verified on film)
prod. no. 6
Screenplay by Dennis Spooner
Directed by Leslie Norman
Director of Photography, Frank Watts
Guest Cast: (end credits order)
John Woodvine .............. Kruger Hailer
Reginald Marsh ............. Conrad Schultz
Joseph Furst ............... Doctor Rudolf Mueller
Patricia English ........... Suzanne Taylor
Ernst Walder ............... Allbrecht
Gabor Baraker .............. Innkeeper
Synopsis:
The Champions have to race against time when London is threatened with devastation by a criminal organization
who have stolen a nuclear submarine with atomic devices on board.

1.7 [--] The Champions: THE INVISIBLE MAN (verified on film)
prod. no. 7
1968
Screenplay by Donald James
Directed by Cyril Frankel
Guest Cast: (end credits order)
Peter Wyngarde ............ John Hallam
James Culliford ........... Charles Sumner
Basil Dignam .............. Sir Frederick Howard
Aubrey Morris ............. Van Velden
Steve Plytas .............. Boursin
Dave Prowse ............... Weightlifter (uncredited)

1.8 [--] The Champions: TO TRAP A RAT (verified on film)
prod. no. 8
Screenplay by Ralph Smart
Directed by Sam Wanamaker
Guest Cast:
(end credits -didn't list any guest cast! )
Guy Rolfe .................. Walter Pelham
Edina Ronay ................ Sandra
Kate O'Mara ................ Jane Purcell
Michael Standing ........... Edwards
Toke Townley ............... Peanut Vendor
Michael Mellinger .......... Ambassador
John Lee ................... Doctor
Michael Guest .............. Ambulance man
Synopsis:
Scotland Yard is baffled by the distribution of tainted drugs around the London disco scene. Sharon decides to
follow a desperate addict.

1.9 [--] The Champions: THE MISSION (verified on film)
prod. no. 9
Screenplay by Donald James
Directed by Robert Asher
Director of Photography, Frank Watts
Guest Cast: (end credits order)
Dermot Kelly ................ Hogan
Anthony Bate ................ Pederson (surgeon)
Patricia Haines ............. Sophia
Harry Towb .................. George
Robert Russell .............. Maltman
Paul Hansard ................ Emil Boder
Synopsis:
Craig and Sharron pose as a gangster and his girl to catch plastic surgeon who once worked for the SS in a
German Concentration Camp.

1.10 [--] The Champions: THE IRON MAN (verified on film) 
prod. no. 10
Screenplay by Philip Broadley
Directed by John Moxey
Director of Photography, Frank Watts
Guest Cast: (end credits order)
George Murcell ................ El Caudillo
Patrick Magee ................. Pedraza
Robert Crewdson ............... Callezon
Michael Mellinger ............. Gen. Tomes
Steven Berkoff ................ Carlos
Norman Florence ............... Cabello
Lisa Thomas ................... Maid (uncredited)
Synopsis:
The team face a deadly challenge from trained assassins when they they are assigned to protect a deposed Latin
American dictator now in exile in the South of France.

1.11 [--] The Champions: THE EXPERIMENT (verified on film)
prod. no. 11
Screenplay by Tony Williamson
Directed by Cyril Frankel
Director of Photography, Frank Watts
Guest Cast: (end credits order)
David Bauer ................... Dr. Glind
Allan Cuthbertson ............. Cranmore
Madalena Nicol ................ Doctor Margaret Daniels
Caroline Blakiston ............ Marion Grant
Philip Bond ................... Officer
Russell Waters ................ Barman
Nicholas Courtney ............. Doctor Farley
*
Nita Lorraine as Susan Francis (uncredited?)
Jonathan Burn as Jean Giraud (uncredited?)
Peter J. Elliot as Paul Lang (uncredited?)
Synopsis:
While holidaying in England, Sharon is recruited by an organisation researching into superior physical and mental powers.

1.12 [--] The Champions: THE NIGHT PEOPLE (verified on film) 
prod. no. 12
Screenplay by Donald James
Directed by Robert Asher
Director of Photography, Frank Watts
Guest Cast: (end credits order)
Terence Alexander ............. Douglas Trennick
Adrienne Corri ................ Mrs. Trennick
David Lodge ................... Porth
Anne Sharp .................... Jane Soames
Michael Bilton ................ Dan Hedgely
Walter Sparrow ................ George Whetlor
Jerold Wells .................. Hoad
Frank Thornton ................ Clerk
Synopsis:
Strange things happen to Sharron Macready when she goes on holiday to Cornwall and becomes suspicious of happenings
at the local manner.

1.13 [--] The Champions: THE FANATICS (verified on film)
prod. no. 13
Screenplay by Terry Nation
Directed by John Gilling
Director of Photography, Frank Watts
Guest Cast: (end credits order)
Gerald Harper ................. Croft
Donald Pickering .............. Col. Banks
Julian Glover ................. Anderson
David Burke ................... Roger Carson
David Morrell ................. Krasner
Barry Stanton ................. Faber
John Robinson ................. Coilings
Synopsis:
Richard infiltrates a mysterious agency in order to investigate a series of assassinations of world leaders.

1.14 [--] The Champions: TWELVE HOURS (verified on film)  
prod. no. 14
Screenplay by Donald James
Directed by Paul Dickson
Director of Photography, Frank Watts
Guest Cast: (end credits order)
Mike Pratt .................... Raven
Peter Howell .................. Admiral Cox
John Turner ................... Lieut-Com Street
John Stone .................... Naval Captain
Viola Keats ................... Madame Drobnic
Henry Gilbert ................. President Drobnic
Laurie Asprey ................. Jackson
Rio Fanning ................... Telegraphist
Note:
2nd Story set on a Submarine - see #5 "The Silent Enemy"

1.15 [--] The Champions: THE INTERROGATION (***** excellent)
prod. no. 15
Screenplay by Dennis Spooner
Directed by Cyril Frankel
Guest Cast:
Colin Blakely ................. Interrogator
Synopsis:
Craig is captured during a trip to Hong Kong and is accused of being a double agent.

1.16 [--] The Champions: GET ME OUT OF HERE! (verified on film)
prod. no. 16
Screenplay by Ralph Smart
Directed by Cyril Frankel
(guest cast - not verified)
Frances Cuka ................. Anna Maria Mattes
Ronald Radd .................. Commandante
Philip Madoc ................. Angel Martes
Eric Pohlmann ................ Minister
Anthony Newlands ............. Enrique Cuevos
Godfrey Quigley .............. Josef
Norman Florence .............. Captain
Richard Montez ............... Detective
Synopsis;
The Champions are enlisted to help a world-famous woman doctor who has been put under house arrest.

1.17 [--] The Champions: A CASE OF LEMMINGS (verified on film) 
prod. no. 17
Screenplay by Philip Broadley
Directed by Paul Dickson
Director of Photography, Frank Watts
Guest Cast: (end credits order)
Edward Brayshaw .............. Del Marco
John Bailey .................. Umberto
Jeanne Roland ................ Claudine Merval
Michael Graham ............... Jacquet
Michael Slater ............... Pillet
Olive McFarland .............. Madame Carnot
Jacques Cey .................. French Man
Madge Brindley ............... French Womancouple
(Anne de Vigier as Woman)(uncredited)
Synopsis:
The Champions head for Paris to try to uncover why a spate of suicides has taken place.

1.18 [--] The Champions: PROJECT ZERO (verified on film) 
prod. no. 18
Screenplay by Tony Williamson
Directed by Don Sharp
Director of Photography, Frank Watts
Guest Cast: (end credits order)
Rupert Davies ................ Dr. Voss
Peter Copley ................. Antrobus
Geoffrey Chater .............. Forster
Reginald Jessup .............. Grayson
Jan Holden ................... Miss Davies
Nicholas Smith ............... Postmaster
Donald Morley ................ Sloane
John Moore ................... Travis
Maurice Browning ............. Wittering
John Horslay ................. Chairman
Eric Lander .................. Hedges
Jill Curzon .................. Stewardess
Bruce Beeby .................. Pilot
Synopsis:
The Champions come to the aid of a group of brilliant scientists who have been duped into working on a
nuclear fission gun.

1.19 [--] The Champions: THE GILDED CAGE (verified on film)
prod. no. 19
Screenplay by Philip Broadley
Directed by Cyril Frankel
Director of Photography, Frank Watts
Alexandra Bastedo appears only in one brief scene
Guest Cast: (end credits order)
John Carson .................. Symons
Jennie Linden ................ Samantha
Clinton Greyn ................ Lovegrove
Charles Houston .............. Orley
Tony Caunter ................. Brandon
Sebastian Breaks ............. Haswell
Vernon Dobtcheff ............. Manager
Synopsis
Intruders break into the offices of Nemesis, an International Security Organisation, and obtain information
that puts Richard's life in Danger

1.20 [--] The Champions: FULL CIRCLE (verified on film)
prod. no. 20
Screenplay by Donald James
Directed by John Gilling
Director of Photography, Frank Watts
Guest Cast:
Patrick Allen .............. Westerman
Martin Benson .............. Garcian
John Nettleton ............. Booker
Gabrielle Drake ............ Sarah
Jack Gwillim ............... Carrington
James Donnelly ............. Pickering
Lawrence James ............. Sergeant Fairfax
Victor Brooks .............. Collins
Synopsis:
Craig Sterling (Stuart Damon) poses as a prisoner and embarks on an escape plan with a fellow prisoner.
But it leads to torture, not freedom ...

1.21 The Champions: THE BODY SNATCHERS (verified on film - opening credits only) 
prod. no. 21
Screenplay by Terry Nation
Directed by Paul Dickson
Guest Cast: (not verified)
Bernard Lee ................ Squires
Ann Lynn ................... Inge Kalmutt
Philip Locke ............... Yeats
J.G. Devlin ................ Frank Nichols
Gregory Phillips ........... David Fenton
Christina Taylor ........... Lee Rogers
Fredric Abbott ............. White
Synopsis:
The Champions are enlisted to help when the body of a top Pentagon official is found in Wales.

1.22 [--] The Champions: THE GHOST PLANE (verified on film)
prod. no. 22
Screenplay by Donald James
Directed by John Gilling
Director of Photography, Frank Watts
Guest Cast: (end credits order)
Andrew Keir ................ Dr. John Newman
Hilary Tindall ............. Vanessa Bailey
Michael Wynn ............... Coates
Dennis Chinnery ............ Bridges
Tony Steedman .............. Hardwick
Derek Murcott .............. Admiral
Paul Gist .................. Pilot
John Bryans ................ Crolic
(Michael Miller as Captain ?)(uncredited)
Synopsis:
The Champions are enlisted when a mysterious plane destroys a U.S. naval aircraft.

1.23 [--] The Champions: REPLY BOX NO. 666 (verified on film) 
prod. no. 23
Screenplay by Philip Broadley
Directed by Cyril Frankel
Director of Photography, Frank Watts
Guest Cast: (end credits order)
Anton Rogers ................ Jules
George Murcell .............. Nikko
Brian Worth ................. Bourges
Nike Arrighi ................ Corinne
Linbert Spencer ............. Clive
George Roubicek ............. Semenkin
Imogen Hassall .............. Cleo
Synopsis:
When a French businessman is stabbed to death in a Montego bay hotel, his real identity is revealed as a
dangerous GPU agent specialising in explosives.

1.24 [--] The Champions: SHADOW OF THE PANTHER (verified on film) 
prod. no. 24
Screenplay by Tony Williamson
Directed by Freddie Francis
Director of Photography, Frank Watts
Guest Cast: (end credits order)
Zia Mohyeddin ............... Prengo
Donald Sutherland ........... David Crayley
Tony Wall ................... Riley
Hedger Wallace .............. Ralph Charters
Christopher Carlos .......... Doctor
Tania ....................... Girl in Red
Kenneth Gardiner ............ Waiter
Synopsis:
When a Nemesis scientist dies of fear in a Hiatian hotel, Sharon is despatched to find out what is going on.

1.25 [--] The Champions: NUTCRACKER  (verified on film)
prod. no. 25
Screenplay by Philip Broadley
Directed by Roy Ward Baker
Guest Cast: (end credits order)
William Squire ............. Duncan
David Langton .............. Lord Mauncey
Michael Barrington ......... Manager
John Franklyn-Robbins ...... John Warre
John Bown .................. Walcott
David Kelsey ............... Travers
Dervis Ward ................ Guard
Robert Mill ................ Assistant
Synopsis:
British Intelligence calls on NEMESIS to help test the intricate security system used to guard the top
secret "F" File.

1.26 [--] The Champions: THE SURVIVORS (verified on film)
prod. no. 26
Screenplay by Donald James
Directed by Cyril Frankel
Director of Photography, Frank Watts
Guest Cast: (end credits order)
Clifford Evans ............ Frank Reitz/Col. Hans Reitz
Donald Houston ............ Richtter
John Tate ................. Schmeltz
Bernard Kay ............... Emil
Frederick Schiller ........ Mine attendant
John Porter Davison ....... Hans
Stephen Yardley ........... Pieter
Hugo Panczak .............. Heinz
George Roderick ........... Dart player in Pub (opening screne)(uncredited)
Synopsis:
A murder investigation leads to the discovery of group of elderly Nazi soldiers being being kept in a disused mine.

1.27 [--] The Champions: AUTOKILL  (verified on film)
prod. no. 27
Screenplay by Brian Clemens
Directed by Roy Ward Baker
Guest Cast: (end credits order)
Eric Pohlmann ............. Barka
Paul Eddington ............ Klein
Harold Innocent ........... Dr. Amis
Richard Owens ............. George Brading
Rachel Herbert ............ Loretta Brading
Conrad Monk ............... Mechanic
Bruce Boa ................. American Colonel
Synopsis:
Nemesis agents find themselves programmed to kill their own colleagues.

1.28 [--] The Champions: THE FINAL COUNTDOWN
prod. no. 28
Screenplay by Gerald Kelsey
Directed by John Gilling
Director of Photography, Frank Watts
Guest Cast: (end credits order)
Alan MacNaughton .......... Von Splitz
Wolf Frees ................ Dr. Neimann
Derek Newark .............. Kruger
Basil Henson .............. Wolf Eisen
Morris Perry .............. Gerhard Schultz
Hannah Gordon ............. Anna Eisen
Norman Jones .............. Heiden
Michael Lees .............. Tom Brooks

1.29 [--] The Champions: HAPPENING (verified on film)
prod. no. 29
Produced by Monty Berman/ Script Supervision by Dennis Spooner
Screenplay by Brian Clemens
Directed by Cyril Frankel
Director of Photography, Frank Watts
Guest Cast: (end credits order)
Jack MacGowran ............ Banner
Grant Taylor .............. Gen. Winters
Michael Gough ............. Joss
Bill Cummings ............. Aston
Synopsis:
Three men find themselves alone in an atom test area where a bomb which will devastate Australia is due
to explode any minute.

1.30 [--] The Champions: DESERT JOURNEY (final episode)
prod. no. 30
Screenplay by Ian Stuart Black
Directed by Paul Dickson
Director of Photography, Frank Watts
Guest Cast: (end credits order)
Jeremy Brett .............. The Bey
Roger Delgado ............. Yussef
Nik Zaran ................. Said
Reg Lye ................... Curtis
Henry Soskin .............. Branco
Peter Madden .............. Sheikh
Tony Cyrus ................ Tuat
Yole Marinelli ............ Sonia
(Dave Prowse - NOT on credits)
Synopsis:
An atom bomb has gone missing in the Australian outback. The Champions set out to find and disable it.

############### The Champions ################
################# the end ##################
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