The Champions 

Craig Stirling, Sharron Macready and Richard Barrett were agents for Nemesis, an international intelligence organization based in Geneva. Their first mission as a team was to investigate ... See full summary »

Creators:

Monty Berman, Dennis Spooner

Stars:

Stuart Damon, Alexandra Bastedo, William Gaunt

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Stuart Damon	...	Craig Stirling 30 episodes, 1968-1969
Alexandra Bastedo	...	Sharron Macready 30 episodes, 1968-1969
William Gaunt	...	Richard Barrett 30 episodes, 1968-1969
Anthony Nicholls	...	Cmdr. W.L. Tremayne / ... 30 episodes, 1968-1969

Storyline

Craig Stirling, Sharron Macready and Richard Barrett were agents for Nemesis, an international intelligence organization based in Geneva. Their first mission as a team was to investigate some potentially lethal experiments in Communist China, but when they were escaping, their plane was damaged. They crashed into a remote part of the Himalayas where they were rescued by members an unknown civilization. They came away from the encounter with superhuman powers--telepathy, superior strength, memory, etc.--and returned to the outside world as "Champions of law, order and justice."

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Plot Keywords:

mutation | paranormal phenomenon | superhuman | telepathy | psychic power | 

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Taglines:

They're the Tops. the Best. the Peak. They're the Champions. [DVD Boxset]

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Genres:

Adventure | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 June 1968 (USA)

Also Known As:

Los campeones

Filming Locations:

Elstree Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Incorporated Television Company (ITC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min (30 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Alexandra Bastedo was cast after creative consultant and resident director Cyril Frankel saw her in a European advertising campaign. Once she landed the part, Bastedo refused to allow the campaign to be seen in England as she feared it would ruin her credibility as a serious actress.

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Quotes

Craig Stirling: It's what I've oft times said.
Richard Barrett: What have you oft times said?
Craig Stirling: You're cheap
Richard Barrett: I'm what?
Craig Stirling: Cheap, cheap.
Richard Barrett: You sound like a canary.

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Connections

Referenced in Remembering Nicholas Courtney (2013)

User Reviews

They are the champions!

I don't know what was the more "out-there" ITC fantasy series from the late 60's, this or the equally wonderful "Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)". I think I'll call it a draw and a high-scoring one at that.

As a child of 8, I slavishly watched this series on first release so my warm memories of it are very strong and long-lasting, completely over-powering my critical faculties screaming how improbable and incredulous the concept and plot-lines were.

The three actors in the lead roles gelled together so well, Stuart Damon, the handsome, smooth-talking athletic American, Richard Gaunt the more grounded, thoughtful Britisher second wheel while Alexandra Bastedo provided the glamour and feminine wiles, triggering a major crush in my boyhood self.

The trio's special powers weren't so all-powerful as to make them immune from danger (unlike say Steve Austin's in the next decade) and they invariably relied on teamwork to get the job done, usually to the consternation of their permanently flummoxed boss Anthony Nicholls.

Looking back, I just feel so pleased that I started watching TV as a boy when adventure series like this were airing, including "The Avengers","Mission Impossible", "Department S" and others too numerous to mention. How lucky for us nostalgia-freaks that they are almost all readily available again on DVD or streaming channels.