The Champions (TV Series) Full Circle (1968) User Reviews

One of the better episodes ...

[Matti-Man · 7/10 · 16 December 2021]

This actually turned out to be one of my favourite episodes in the single season of The Champions.

There's something of a plot, involving the theft of a microfilm, and British character actor Patrick Allen (as secret agent Westerman) is in the frame for it. But while Westerman is captured, the microfilm isn't, and it's down to Stuart Damon to get himself placed in the same prison cell as Westerman to try to figure out what happened to the microfilm.

Alexandra Bastedo (the main reason for watching this series) doesn't really figure in the plot, so the producers gave her a little "comedy" sketch at the front of the episode, where she picks up a couple of hitch-hikers, one of whom thinks it's okay to start feeling Sharon up. He gets himself slapped around (off-camera) for that. It's not the sort of thing you'd see it a tv show these days, or if it was, then it certainly wouldn't be treated as comedy.

The surprise bonus is an appearance by Gabrielle Drake, who'd be memorably featured as Lt Gay Ellis in the cult series UFO.

The episode was written by The Avengers regular Dennis Spooner, interesting because The Champions was running around the same time as the sixth and final season of The Avengers, the one which featured Linda Thorsen as Tara King.

I didn't really watch The Champions at the time and looking back at these shows I can see why. It's a little bland, especially when compared with The Avengers, and not even giving the three leads super-powers really peps it up much.

Production company ITC would continue trying to replicate ABC-TV's Avengers formula - eg, Department S, Strange Report and even Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) - without much success.

Fun

[Leofwine_draca · 6/10 · 3 January 2022]

A fun episode, nothing more, and with an amusing blooper at the outset involving the reflection of the cameraman in Bastedo's car window. This one benefits immensely from the presence of Patrick Allen as a tough Bond-alike and a plot which is different to those which came previously.

Craig does porridge

[ShadeGrenade · 9/10 · 11 July 2012]

The late John Gilling is best remembered for his work on Hammer horror pictures, such as 'Plague Of The Zombies' and 'The Reptile' ( both 1966 ). He also found time to dabble in television shows including 'The Saint', 'Department S' and. of course, 'The Champions'.

An intruder is detected inside the Columbrian Embassy in England. The police apprehend 'Paul Westerman' ( Patrick Allen ), who is carrying a camera but without any film inside. Convinced he has secretly photographed classified documents, they put him in Birch Hill jail on a holding charge. Tremayne tells the Champions that the incident is potentially embarrassing for the U.K. Government, as it had been on the verge of signing a major arms treaty with the country. Craig, posing as a convict, is put in Westerman's cell to find out what ( if anything ) he had photographed at the Embassy, and to whom he intends to sell the micro-film. A break-out takes place, but things go wrong. Another interested party - led by crime-boss 'Alf Booker' ( John Nettleton ) - grabs both of them. Stirling and Westerman swap identities. The former is tied to the roof of a gym and tortured by having lead weights almost wrench the arms from his sockets...

Unusually complicated by 'Champions' standards, this Donald James-penned episode does require some attention, especially as the final scene in Tremayne's office is top-heavy with exposition. From what I could gather, Embassy official 'Garcian' ( Martin Benson, who was 'Mr.Solo' in the Bond movie 'Goldfinger' ) organised the break-in as he wants to wreck the treaty in order to sign one with another country without losing U.S. aid. After a fight between Stirling and one of Booker's thugs, Garcian simply walks off, immune to arrest thanks to diplomatic immunity. Not a good episode for 'Sharron' fans - she's barely in it, apart from a delightful self-contained scene just after the main titles when she gives a lift to a pair of hippie hitch-hikers - one of whom tries to get fresh with her - and ejects them from the vehicle as they pass through a tunnel. Richard fares better - getting to impersonate an Irish priest who visits Craig in jail, and being ( a little too easily ) roughed up by Booker's mob.

As 'Westerman', the late Patrick Allen gives his usual, accomplished performance, making what could have been an ordinary character rather interesting. His panic attack during the break-out is convincing. John Nettleton ( 'Sir Arnold' of 'Yes Minister' ) is miscast as a London gangster though. Peter Vaughan would have worked better. His girlfriend 'Sarah' is played by Gabrielle Drake, just before she put on her purple wig to play 'Lt.Gay Ellis' in 'U.F.O.'.

Things To Listen Out For - during the gym torture scene, one of Nettleton's lines sounds as though it was spoken by another actor.

The Champions Go to Prison

[bensonmum2 · 5/10 · 24 March 2017]

Craig goes undercover as an inmate in a prison to get close a prisoner who may or may not have stolen something from a foreign embassy and may or may not be working as a spy. The plan is to have Craig breakout of jail with his new cellmate to discover what he took, where it is, and who he's working for.

As my rating indicates, while I don't think it's a total washout, I'm not much of a fan of Full Circle. First, I just don't care for the plot. I'm not sure how to explain other than to say plot didn't work for and I didn't find it overly exciting. The whole bit where Craig switches identities with his fellow escapee makes no sense at all to me. Why do it? Second, The Champions never get much of a chance to use their powers. In one scene, Richard is savaged in a fight with three attackers. How did that happen? Third, Sharon contributes nothing to Full Circle. She arrives in London to provide assistance, but is sent packing by Richard before she has a chance to do anything.

That's not to say it's all bad. Full Circle features an incredibly strong cast, including Patrick Allen, Martin Benson, and Gabrielle Drake. All are top flight talents. The episode was directed by the usually reliable John Giling – responsible for one of my all-time favorite Hammer films, The Plague of the Zombies. Here, though, I think his talents are wasted on a weak script.

In the end, I can't justify rating Full Circle any higher than the wishy-washy 5/10.

This one offers the viewer very little, quite poor.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 5/10 · 1 August 2023]

A British agent known as Paul Westerman is attested and imprisoned on suspicion of taking pictures of sensitive information at The Columbrian embassy, when he's searched, his camera is empty. Stirling is sent undercover to unearth their whereabout.

I found this episode hard work, it was a real disappointment. The plot was pretty thin to say the least, and some of the characters were just so blank. The story offered no excitement, no tension, it was just bland, Craig and Richard seemed to just be going through the motions. Only Patrick Allen offered something to it.

At least the prison made for a good setting.

'Well done Richard, well done Craig.....Sharron, you just go to Geneva'.... sadly this was another episode where Bastedo was totally and utterly wasted from start to finish, she had an amusing opening sequence, she's once again on Holiday by the way, she's like Judith Chalmers.

It was good to see a young Gabrielle Drake, but her character was sadly lacking.

Possibly the most forgettable episode so far.

5/10.