The Protectors

The Protectors

The Protectors is a British television series, an action thriller created by Gerry Anderson. It was Anderson's second TV series using live actors as opposed to electronic marionettes, and also his second to be firmly set in contemporary times. It was also the only Gerry Anderson produced television series that was not of the fantasy or science fiction genres. It was produced by Lew Grade's ITC Entertainment production company. Despite not featuring marionettes or any real science fiction elements, The Protectors became one of Anderson's most popular productions, easily winning a renewal for a second season. A third season was in the planning stages when the show's major sponsor pulled out, forcing its cancellation. The Protectors first aired in 1972 and 1973, and ran to 52 episodes over two series, each 25 minutes long - making it one of the last series of this type to be produced in a half-hour format. It starred Robert Vaughn as Harry Rule, Nyree Dawn Porter as the Contessa Caroline di Contini, and Tony Anholt as Paul Buchet. Episodes often featured prominent guest actors.

Action & AdventureCrimeDrama

Seasons

2,000 ft to Die

1. 2,000 ft to Die

Air Date: 1972-09-29

A friend of Harry's insists on doing a dangerous skydiving trick despite the fact that gold smugglers are trying to kill him.

Brother Hood

2. Brother Hood

Air Date: 1972-10-06

A wealthy recluse hires the Protectors to break his brother out of prison.

See No Evil

3. See No Evil

Air Date: 1972-10-13

While in Rome the Protectors try to help a senator who is being blackmailed.

Disappearing Trick

4. Disappearing Trick

Air Date: 1972-10-20

The Contessa ends up putting her life in danger when she agrees to help an old friend win a wager by making him disappear.

Ceremony For the Dead

5. Ceremony For the Dead

Air Date: 1972-10-27

The wife of a president hires the Protectors to guard her critically ill husband whom she fears may be kidnapped.

It Was All Over in Leipzig

6. It Was All Over in Leipzig

Air Date: 1972-11-03

While investigating a plot to overthrow the government of a Mediterranean nation the Protectors end up confronting two old friends of the Contessa, one with whom she was romantically involved.

The Quick Brown Fox

7. The Quick Brown Fox

Air Date: 1972-11-10

The West German government hires the Protectors to put a pension fund that is supporting fugitive Nazi's out of business.

King Con

8. King Con

Air Date: 1972-11-17

The Protectors devise an elaborate con to recover a priceless antique which a woman had been conned out of.

Thinkback

9. Thinkback

Air Date: 1972-11-24

Harry and the Contessa are the victims of a car crash that was engineered to get information out of them.

A Kind of Wild Justice

10. A Kind of Wild Justice

Air Date: 1972-12-01

The daughter of a gangster whom Harry helped put in prison fails twice in her efforts to kill Harry.

Balance of Terror

11. Balance of Terror

Air Date: 1972-12-08

The KGB hires the Protectors to capture a renegade Russian scientist who plans on destroying London with a new virus to show the world how dangerous biological warfare can be.

Triple Cross

12. Triple Cross

Air Date: 1972-12-15

A kidnapped Paul will be blown to bits unless Harry and the Contessa help steal jewels which they have been hired to safeguard.

The Numbers Game

13. The Numbers Game

Air Date: 1972-12-29

The Protectors only hope of putting a drug smuggling ring out of business lies in being able to decode a coded letter.

For the Rest of Your Natural ...

14. For the Rest of Your Natural ...

Air Date: 1973-01-05

The Contessa is captured by a psychotic killer who puts her on trial for her life.

The Bodyguards

15. The Bodyguards

Air Date: 1973-01-12

The police hire the Protectors to guard the corpse of a bank robber as part of a ruse to capture his accomplices.

A Matter of Life and Death

16. A Matter of Life and Death

Air Date: 1973-01-19

In Malta, with only the body of a dead hippie as a clue, the Protectors go after smugglers despite having no idea what it is that is being smuggled.

The Big Hit

17. The Big Hit

Air Date: 1973-01-26

After unsuccessful attempts on their lives, Paul and the Contessa are too late to warn Harry that someone is out to kill him.

One and One Makes One

18. One and One Makes One

Air Date: 1973-02-02

The Protectors are hired to track down Bennett, a missing Canadian agent who holds valuable information about a new American-Canadian sky project.

Talkdown

19. Talkdown

Air Date: 1973-02-09

Harry must land a small plane on his own when the pilot dies.

Vocal

20. Vocal

Air Date: 1973-02-16

Drug dealers plan on using someone who can impersonate Harry's voice in order to get information out of a blinded Paul.

With A Little Help From My Friends

21. With A Little Help From My Friends

Air Date: 1973-02-23

Harry finds his family being threatened after he agrees to guard a visiting president in London.

Chase

22. Chase

Air Date: 1973-03-02

The Contessa gives Harry a shotgun for his birthday which he soon puts to good use when while investigating political blackmail he becomes the quarry in a manhunt.

Your Witness

23. Your Witness

Air Date: 1973-03-09

An important witness to a murder who doesn't want the Protectors protection, vanishes soon after she is placed in the Protectors charge.

It Could Be Practically Anywhere on the Island

24. It Could Be Practically Anywhere on the Island

Air Date: 1973-03-16

A small fluffy dog called Muffin is kidnapped from a hotel to place a microfilm in its collar. The dog is due to be ttansaported to NY. Harry saves the day.

The First Circle

25. The First Circle

Air Date: 1973-03-23

Harry is hired to protect a disturbed Vietnam war veteran.

A Case For the Right

26. A Case For the Right

Air Date: 1973-03-30

The Protectors end up in trouble in the Roman tombs.

Quin

1. Quin

Air Date: 1973-09-21

Harry travels to Spain in order to track down a bounty hunter named Quin.

Bagman

2. Bagman

Air Date: 1973-09-28

The Protectors are called to deliver the ransom for the kidnapped daughter of a Danish aristocrat.

Fighting Fund

3. Fighting Fund

Air Date: 1973-10-05

A revolutionary group steals and auctions off a priceless art collection in order to purchase dynamite to fund their cause.

The Last Frontier

4. The Last Frontier

Air Date: 1973-10-12

The Protectors are hired to smuggle into Britain a Russian scientist who wishes to marry her childhood sweetheart.

Baubles, Bangles and Beads

5. Baubles, Bangles and Beads

Air Date: 1973-10-19

In Denmark, a young woman and her father call on the Protectors to deliver a huge ransom for a stolen jewelry shipment.

Petard

6. Petard

Air Date: 1973-10-26

The Protectors go after industrial spies who are threatening to topple a chemical company by scooping their best products.

Goodbye George

7. Goodbye George

Air Date: 1973-11-02

Alone in Italy, the Contessa goes to Venice to find out why the son of a wealthy Brit is making huge withdrawals from his account.

Wam (1)

8. Wam (1)

Air Date: 1973-11-09

In Salzburg, the Protectors must rescue a group of vacationers whom are unknowingly being held hostage on top of an Austrian mountain.

Wam (2)

9. Wam (2)

Air Date: 1973-11-16

In Salzburg, the Protectors must rescue a group of vacationers whom are unknowingly being held hostage on top of an Austrian mountain.

Implicado

10. Implicado

Air Date: 1973-11-23

In Spain, an English boy is framed and arrested on drug charges after a drug dealer plants some hash in his backpack.

Dragon Chase

11. Dragon Chase

Air Date: 1973-11-30

In Britain, Harry is called on to protect a Russian author from publishing his anti-socialist book.

Decoy

12. Decoy

Air Date: 1973-12-07

An old friend who has a new lead on an insurance scam calls Harry and the Contessa to Venice, but he is murdered just before they arrive.

Border Line

13. Border Line

Air Date: 1973-12-14

The Protectors are hired by a Hungarian actress wanting to bury her now deceased revolutionary father in their homeland.

Zeke's Blues

14. Zeke's Blues

Air Date: 1973-12-21

Harry's college friend Zeke, a pianist, is blackmailed into setting Harry up by mobsters.

Lena

15. Lena

Air Date: 1973-12-28

In Venice, Harry aids Lena, a journalist, expose a corrupt politician.

The Bridge

16. The Bridge

Air Date: 1974-01-04

Undercover as an explosives expert, Harry seeks to rescue a kidnapped girl and prevent a bridge bombing.

Sugar and Spice

17. Sugar and Spice

Air Date: 1974-01-11

In order to protect the daughter of a rich industrialist who has received threats against her life, Harry poses as her tutor.

Burning Bush

18. Burning Bush

Air Date: 1974-01-18

Harry masquerades as a drunk in order to get a Canadian heiress out of a cult.

The Tiger and the Goat

19. The Tiger and the Goat

Air Date: 1974-01-25

The Contessa is used to lure her former lover, a British spy, out into the open.

Route 27

20. Route 27

Air Date: 1974-02-01

Knowing where a huge stash of heroin is hidden, Harry confronts the drug dealers.

Trial

21. Trial

Air Date: 1974-02-08

The Protectors are called upon when the father of a man on trial for murdering a policeman goes after the judge.

Shadbolt

22. Shadbolt

Air Date: 1974-02-15

Harry is stalked on a train by Shadbolt, a professional assassin.

A Pocketful of Posies

23. A Pocketful of Posies

Air Date: 1974-02-22

Harry Rule is called upon to see if Eartha Kitt's (guest star)home is haunted.

Wheels

24. Wheels

Air Date: 1974-03-01

The Protectors are hired to discretely research stolen secret Swiss bank account information.

The Insider

25. The Insider

Air Date: 1974-02-25

The Protectors aid a movie director in the retrieval of film being held for ransom.

Blockbuster

26. Blockbuster

Air Date: 1974-03-15

The Protectors chase after a stolen platinum shipment.

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Rating

5.6/10

Release Date

1972-09-29

Episodes

52 (2 seasons)

Status

Ended

Cast

Production Companies

ITC Entertainment

ITC Entertainment