In 1975 Rudolph Roffi, a French television executive, made a champagne commercial featuring Patrick Macnee and Linda Thorson, once more in their roles as John Steed and Tara King. Curiously, it was a few months later that Roffi actually learned from Brian Clemens that ‘The Avengers’ was no longer in production; after a few weeks, Roffi contacted Clemens again and announced that he now had the money needed to begin production on a new series. Clemens, Albert Fennell, and music composer Laurie Johnson then formed ‘The Avengers (Film & TV) Enterprises Ltd’; and after persuading Patrick MacNee to take up his bowler once again, they began casting the new series, called ‘The New Avengers’ in order to point out that this show would be a new spin on the original.

Joanna Lumley was picked out of three-hundred hopefuls to play Purdey, an attractive, feminine, but capable agent; Gareth Hunt was given the part of Mike Gambit, the tough, loyal, right-hand-man to Steed, who would take on the more demanding aspects of the show that Patrick MacNee was thought to no longer be able to handle (although he did prove quite capable, and insisted on more action for his character in the later episodes!).

‘The New Avengers’ was shot entirely on film, with high-production values, and was much more action-packed and serious than the original series of the Sixties. However, the interaction of the three main characters still retained the traditional ‘Avengers’ feel, particularly in the banter between Purdey and Gambit.

Unfortunately, after filming the first thirteen episodes, the production team began to experience problems with their financial backers; the French wanted Purdey to be sexier, while the Canadians wanted more location filming in their country. The production team compromised by filming four episodes in Canada and three in France; but then the French failed to live up to their end of the financial deal. Production moved to Canada, but the quality of the show soon declined, and demand for a third series never picked up.

Purdey's character was originally called "Charlie", but this was changed when it was realized that there was a perfume with the same name. It is rumoured that Joanna Lumley suggested the name Purdey, after the most expensive and revered shotgun in the world.

Purdey was never given a second name.

Diana Rigg, co-star of the original Avengers, declined an invitation to appear on the new series. Instead, archive footage from the 1960s was used in one episode to allow Emma Peel to make a guest appearance.

Ian Hendry, Patrick MacNee's original co-star during the first year of The Avengers, makes a guest appearance in a different role.

The last half-dozen episodes were made in Canada, under a production agreement that kept the second season afloat. These episodes, dubbed "The New Avengers in Canada", are considered the worst of the series.

The opening credits begin with the same fanfare that was used at the start of the original series.

The final half-dozen episodes begin with a brief title sequence bearing the title "The New Avengers in Canada", prior to the teaser. The episodes otherwise retain their regular opening credits.