Purdey (The New Avengers)
Purdey | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Intelligence agent |
| Years active | 1976–1977 |
| Known for | Character in the British television series The New Avengers |
Purdey is a fictional persona featured in the British television series The New Avengers, enacted by Joanna Lumley during the years 1976 to 1977. She serves as an intelligence agent for the British secret service and works alongside John Steed (Patrick Macnee) and Mike Gambit (Gareth Hunt).
Character history
The creators, Brian Clemens and Albert Fennell, originally intended to name the female protagonist Charlie, but this was later altered. The name Purdey was proposed by Lumley herself, inspired by the prestigious shotgun manufacturer James Purdey and Sons. Lumley also influenced the character’s signature short hairstyle.
Character biography
Purdey is proficient in martial arts, particularly savate, and is a skilled shooter, mirroring the expertise associated with her namesake. She frequently leverages her feminine charm as part of her tactics. Additionally, she is an avid motorcyclist and practiced tap dancer. Her dynamic with Steed is marked by mutual respect with a hint of paternal affection, whereas her exchanges with Gambit include lighthearted flirtation without clear romantic involvement. The series leaves ambiguous whether Purdey is her given or family name.
Reception
According to the British Film Institute’s 1996 commemorative publication, Purdey was perceived as less conventionally feminine compared to earlier female leads. Joan Bakewell described Lumley’s portrayal as resembling "a hockey captain attending a royal garden party." Reflecting on the role in hindsight, Lumley remarked that it was "a huge disappointment, sex-wise." Alan Hayes noted that Purdey initially lacked the warmth found in predecessors like Emma Peel, which made her less immediately engaging but gradually more accepted by audiences.
Further reading
- The Complete Avengers: The Full Story of Britain's Smash Crime-Fighting Team! by Dave Rogers, St Martin's Press (1989)
- The Avengers by Toby Miller, British Film Institute (1997)
- The Avengers Files: The Official Guide by Andrew Pixley, Reynolds & Hearn (2004)
- The Avengers: A Celebration: 50 Years of a Television Classic by Marcus Hearn, Titan Books (2010)
- The New Avengers TV Times Souvenir Extra (1976)
- Avengerworld - The Avengers in Our Lives by Alan Hayes, Lulu (2016)
- Quite Quite Fantastic! The Avengers for Modern Viewers by Michael Scott Phillips (2018)