Diana Rigg, Star Of ‘The Avengers,’ 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service,' and ‘Game of Thrones,’ Dies at 82

As a teenager in the 1960s I had quite a crush on actress Diana Rigg, who appeared on the British TV series The Avengers. I also loved her in her role as James Bond’s doomed wife Tracy in 1969’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.

I also loved her performance alongside George C. Scott in 1970's The Hospital. 

I most recently saw her outstanding performance as Lady Olenna Tyrell, “The Queen of Thorns,” in Game of Thrones.  

So I was saddened to read that Variety has reported that Diana Rigg has died.

Diana Rigg, the Tony and Emmy winner who splashed into the world of television with her commanding turn as intelligence agent Emma Peel on “The Avengers” in the 1960s and played Lady Olenna Tyrell on “Game of Thrones” decades later, died Thursday at her home in England. She was 82.

Rigg was a venerable figure in Britain’s entertainment industry who worked incessantly on stage, TV and film. She famously thumbed her nose at convention in her private life and in later years seemed to enjoy her status as a grande dame. Having a key role in the biggest TV series of the past decade was a fitting career capper for Rigg.

On HBO’s “Game of Thrones” Rigg recurred as Olenna Tyrell, also known as the Queen of Thorns, beginning with the third season in 2013. She was Emmy nominated for guest actress in a drama for her work on the show in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

“She was a beautiful kind and generous human being that enhanced the lives of all that knew her as well as a great actress. She leaves a great void in my heart,” said Lionel Larner, Rigg’s longtime friend and talent agent.

You can read the rest of the piece via the below link:

https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/diana-rigg-dead-82-dies-avengers-game-of-thrones-1234765209/ 

Note: The top photo is of Diana Rigg in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service and the above photo is of Diana Rigg in The Avengers.

A Look Back At 9 British TV Shows That Made It To America In The 1960s

The MeTV channel's website offers a look back at 9 British TV imports to the USA in the 1960s

The British Invasion went beyond the Beatles and Herman's Hermits, beyond music in fact. Perhaps more so than any other time, the 1960s saw Americans devouring British pop culture, from Mary Quant's miniskirts to Mary Poppins. James Bond was the king of the big screen and MG advertised its cars in magazines.

Naturally, this carried over to television. The spy craze led to an influx of British television productions on American networks. Here were shows produced in the U.K. on the Big Three networks in prime time. Often, the imports were plugged in as summer replacements. Some of these shows were so massive, or used American actors, it's easy to forget they were English.

You can read the rest of the piece via the below link:

http://metv.com/lists/9-british-tv-shows-that-made-it-to-america-in-the-1960s

Note: I was a teenager in the 1960s and I watched and enjoyed 4 of the 9 British imported TV shows listed by metv.com. I loved The Prisoner, Secret Agent, The Avengers and The Saint.

I now own DVDs of these classic British shows.

The above photo shows Patrick McGoohan in The Prisoner.

Brian Clemens, British TV Writer Of Danger Man, The Avengers and The Professionals, Dies At 83

The BBC reports that legendary TV writer and producer Brian Clemens has died.

The scriptwriter and producer Brian Clemens, responsible for TV hits such as The Avengers, New Avengers and The Professionals, has died aged 83.

Clemens, honoured by The Queen in 2010 for services to broadcasting and drama, died on Saturday, his family confirmed.

He wrote various television series including The Baron, The Persuaders, The Protectors, Danger Man, The Invisible Man and Bergerac.

One of his sons, George Clemens, said: "He was a true inspiration."

He told the BBC: "The world has lost a really great man who has given so much."

You can read the rest of the piece via the below link:

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-30775352