Following on from their excellent release of The Avengers, Series 1 & 2, Optimum have announced a February release of the second box set, The Avengers, Series 3.

The seminal classic The Avengers was at the height of the Cathy Gale era when Series 3 was broadcast to UK audiences. Starring Patrick Macnee as John Steed and Honor Blackman as Dr Cathy Gale, the show's popularity was such that the producers bestowed a very healthy budget to ensure the series' success and maintain its position as one of the nation's favourite shows.

Telling highly imaginative stories of secret agents in 1960s Britain, The Avengers is also an early example of the spi-fi sub-genre, which blends science fiction and fantasy elements into secret agent storylines. The Cathy Gale era is also where Steed was transformed from a trenchcoat wearing agent into the stereotypical English gentleman in a Savile Row suit, bowler hat and umbrella, attire that of course concealed all manner of tricks and gadgets. Gale, on the other hand, was clad in black leather and high-heel boots, making her one of the first true female icons of British television.

The longest running espionage series produced for English-language television, The Avengers eventually reached audiences in 120 countries, a record that still stands to this day.

The Avengers, Series 3 will be released on UK DVD on 15th February 2010 by Optimum Home Entertainment at the RRP of £59.99. The 7-disc set features all 26 episodes of series 3, all digitally restored:

1. Brief For Murder
2. The Undertakers
3. The Man With 2 Shadows
4: The Nutshell
5: Death of a Batman
6: November Five
7: The Gilded Cage
8: Second Sight
9: The Medicine Men
10: The Grandeur That Was Rome
11: The Golden Fleece
12: Don't Look Behind You
13: Death a La Carte
14: Dressed to Kill
15: The White Elephant
16: The Little Wonders
17: The Wringer
18: Mandrake
19: The Secrets Broker
20: Trojan Horse
21: Build a Better Mousetrap
22: The Outside-In Man
23: The Charmers
24: Concerto
25: Esprit de Corps
26: Lobster Quadrille

Extra features in this set are:

• Exclusive audio commentary with scriptwriter Brian Clemens on Brief For Murder;
• Exclusive audio commentary with Don Leaver on Man With Two Shadows;
• Exclusive audio commentary with script editor Richard Bates on The Grandeur That Was Rome;
• Exclusive audio commentary with scriptwriter Roger Marshall on Mandrake;
• Exclusive audio commentary with director Jonathan Alwyn on The Outside-In Man;
• Filmed introductions by Patrick Macnee and Honor Blackman on selected episodes;
• Avenging The Avengers documentary (extended version);
• Gail Force (part 2) – exclusive interview with Honor Blackman;
• Archival newsreel footage;
• Insert reprint of 'The Avengers beat TW3' ABC flyer;
• Extensive stills galleries (approx 2500 images);
• PDFs of all 26 scripts, TV Times front covers and more;
• Episode reconstructions of two 'lost' Series 1 stories;
• Armchair Theatre - The Importance of Being Earnest starring Patrick Macnee (Act 3 only).