The Nutshell

"The Nutshell" is set in a secret underground facility intended as shelter from World War 3, where a beautiful girl (Edina Ronay, previously seen in "The Removal Men") manages to sneak in and photograph a file containing all the names of Britain's double agents. Security chief Mike Venner (Charles Tingwell, "Return of the Cybernauts") later finds the girl's dead body, along with a photo of her with John Steed, who is subsequently arrested for treason, the missing microfilm nowhere to be found. A terrific premise marred only by dialogue often drowned out by incessantly noisy machinery. This season's larger budget is apparent in the elaborate corridor set for the bunker, and we get our first look at Steed's new flat, which would be replaced next season. An excellent cast includes John Cater, later seen in "Death at Bargain Prices" and "The Living Dead," and lovely Patricia Haines, later seen in "The Master Minds" and "Who's Who???" (in which she became the only actress other than Diana Rigg to portray Mrs. Emma Peel).