• title card: white all caps text reading ‘SLEEPER BY BRIAN CLEMENS’ superimposed on an extreme close-up of Brady wearing sunglasses
  • The gang of misfits aim a bazooka at the bank doors as Brady gives the order to fire
  • Purdey hides from the gang by posing in the shop window in her blue silk pyjamas, holding a white sign on which is printed, in red, ‘TODAY’S BIGGEST OFFER’
  • A young woman lies asleep outside her door, the newspaper and milk dropped, and her red and white striped dressinggown coming undone
  • Steed, pretending to be asleep carefully puts his umbrella handle around the neck of the gang member Bart, who has carelessly sat down on the same bench
  • Steed, Purdey and Gambit are all fast asleeep inside the helicopter after returning to base — but only because they’re exhausted

The New Avengers, Series 1 — Episode 10
Sleeper

by Brian Clemens
Directed by Graeme Clifford

The Cast

John Steed Patrick Macnee regular007
Mike Gambit Gareth Hunt regularDoctor WhoSpace 1999
Purdey Joanna Lumley regular007Doctor WhoPink Panther
Brady Keith Buckley regular007The ProfessionalsThe SweeneyRandall and Hopkirk
Dr. Graham Arthur Dignam
Chuck Mark Jones Doctor WhoStar Wars
Bart Prentis Hancock Space 1999The ProfessionalsDoctor WhoThe Saint
Tina Sara Kestelman
Fred Gavin Campbell UFODepartment S
Ben Dave Schofield
Phil George Sweeney 007The SaintThe Sweeney
Pilot Peter Godfrey The ProfessionalsThe Sweeney
Bill Leo Dolan The Professionals
Policeman Jason White 007Carry On..Indiana Jones
Policeman Tony McHale
Frank Hardy Joe Dunne regular007The ProfessionalsThe PrisonerPink PantherSpace 1999Randall and Hopkirk
Man in car Peter Richardson
Woman in car Denise Reynolds
Woman in taxi Anulka Dubinska
Man in car Tex Fuller regularAdam AdamantBlake’s 7Doctor Who007The ProfessionalsStar Wars
Professor Marco Colin Skeaping regular007Indiana JonesStar Wars
Army officer Walter Henry regularDoctor WhoThe Saint007The SweeneyBlake’s 7Department SCarry On..
Naval officer unknown
RAF officer Fred Machon regular007Danger ManThe SaintThe PrisonerThe ChampionsCarry On..
Waiter unknown
MP corporal unknown
MP sergeant unknown
Gang member Maxwell Craig regular007Doctor WhoThe SaintThe PrisonerThe SweeneyPink PantherUFOSpace 1999Carry On..
Gang member unknown
Gang member Robert Ramsey regularThe ProfessionalsThe SweeneyCarry On..
Gang member Gordon Hann regularStar WarsThe SweeneyCarry On..
Gang member unknown
Gang member Mickey Varey The SaintThe SweeneyRandall and Hopkirk
Gang member Reg Woods regularThe ProfessionalsDoctor WhoBlake’s 7
Gang member Lou Morgan regular007The SaintSpace 1999Carry On..
Gang member unknown
Gang member Jim Dowdall regularDoctor WhoStar Wars
Gang member unknown
Brian (bus driver) unknown
Bum Pat Gregory
George (doorman) Mark Taylor regularThe ChampionsThe SweeneyCarry On..
Taxi driver unknown
Sleeping copper unknown
Sexy housewife Mary Tamm Doctor WhoReturn of the SaintThe New Professionals
Returning reveller unknown
Brakeman unknown
Test subject unknown
Test subject unknown
Test subject unknown
Test subject unknown
Test subject unknown
Test subject unknown

The original TV Times listing for Gnaws credited Anulka Dubinska as “Pretty Girl” — and credited Peter Richardson and Denise Reynolds as “Couple in car”, but no such characters appear in the episode; I’ve tracked them down in this episode. They may be among the test subjects at the beginning of the episode as well.

There are publicity photos of Mary Tamm throughout the Seventies wearing the same necklace she is wearing here so it’s definitely her.

Credits Legend:
Credited
On screen
Press
Documented
Uncredited / unattributed rôle
® : illustrated from other sources

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