For so many series, the type of characters was the same: two men (one possibly American) and a beautiful but intelligent young lady, a fashion icon. Behind them is a figure of authority who gives out cases. In The Champions, for example, we have Stuart Damon (American), William Gaunt and Alexandra Bastedo, plus ITC stalwart Anthony Nicholls as Tremayne (plus wig) as their controller.
In the production credits too are some very familiar names: production/writers like Monty Berman, Dennis Spooner, Terry Nation, Philip Broadley and crew like Alf Joint, Rose Tobias Shaw, John Barry and Albert Elms.
So many of the sets and locations were very familiar too, especially the back roads of Maidenhead and Cookham, and Borehamwood high street. There’s a mews in Hampstead where Simon Templar (and others) lived. I think it’s a school now, but the familiar chimney is still there. There was quite an obsession with cars too.
Many of the stories seemed very familiar too. Although ITC was a UK company, they wanted success worldwide, which meant the USA, so big stars like Gene Barry, Craig Stevens and Steve Forrest were used.
By the mid-1970s the great tv era for ITC was coming to an end. ITC moved on to other things.
You can still see these series, or some of them. As I write, one of the ITV channels is showing The Champions, and Randall And Hopkirk (Deceased) is on another tonight.