The penultimate release in the range, this series of box sets recreates the mostly lost first season of The Avengers.

Back in the early 1961, the show was markedly different from its latter incarnations and mainly focussed on the exploits of Dr David Keel (Anthony Howell), whose life as a GP was frequently interrupted by the mysterious John Steed (Julian Wadham) – embroiling him in matters of state security and seedy criminal goings on.

This volume comprises a trio of episodes; the first adapted from one of the two surviving films, while the other two are resurrected from the scant details available, such as the cast list, storyline and tele-snaps.

Adapting ‘The Frighteners’, Rae Leaver recreates Steed and Keel’s investigation into a gang who rough up people for money. On this occasion, the target is a young man who has some unwholesome financial designs for on marriage with the daughter of a well-placed businessman.

Although feeling rather of its time in terms of language, this remains is a clever and entertaining tale. Among the guest cast, Hugh Ross brings the nasty Sir Thomas Weller to life, a far more blunt character than his other Big Finish knight, Counter-Measures’ manipulative Sir Toby,

Recreating ‘Death on the Slipway’, Ian Potter brings us a serious Steed centred tale, as he goes undercover at a shipyard where a revolutionary new submarine is being built. With security compromised thanks to a blackmail plot, Steed finds himself caught up in a web of lies and undecipherable accents as he tries to get to the truth.

Dead Ringers star John Culshaw amuses as Sir William, head of the shipyard who is enjoying an illicit affair with his secretary Miss Wells (Nikki Wardley), an impressive social climber who sees straight though Steed’s cover as a government Metallurgist.

Finally in John Dorney’s ‘Tunnel of Fear’, perhaps the oddest and most overtly comic of the three, Steed goes undercover behind the scenes at a Southend funfair which is serving as a front for spies, smuggling information out of the country. Keel becomes involved when Steed’s informant, a former convict, turns up at his Chelsea surgery.

At the funfair, Steed finds a position with the belly dancers (of course) and there is a hilarious sequence where one of the villains attempts to hypnotise him.

Providing three enjoyable slices of sixties drama, replete with period music cues and some well-judged sound design, we can heartily recommend this tales which illustrate the show’s range and flexible format as they drop our heroes into different situations.

Both the principal actors fully inhabit these roles now, and it is only a shame that Carol (Lucy Briggs-Owen), Keel’s smart and ever-able secretary, has such a minimal role in these three stories.

Extras: Writers Rae Leaver, Ian Potter and John Dorney, who also script edits the range, discuss the process of recreating these lost stories on audio.

Released in July 2016 by Big Finish.

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