The Avengers is a spy-fi television series of the 1960s. The show was aired from 7 January 1961 to 21 May 1969. The main characters of this show included Doctor David Keel, his partner John Steed. The female characters were Emma Peel (Diana Rigg) and Cathy Gale (played by Honor Blackman). The show began airing in the United Kingdom.