• Air date: 29 Sep '72 26 episodes
      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...
  • List of Episodes (26)
    • 1. 2000 Feet to Die

      29 Sep '72
      A friend of Harry's insists on doing a dangerous skydiving trick despite the fact that gold smugglers are trying to kill him.
    • 2. Brother Hood

      06 Oct '72
      A wealthy recluse hires the Protectors to break his brother out of prison.
    • 3. See No Evil

      13 Oct '72
      While in Rome the Protectors try to help a senator who is being blackmailed.
    • 4. Disappearing Trick

      20 Oct '72
      The Contessa ends up putting her life in danger when she agrees to help an old friend win a wager by making him disappear.
    • 5. Ceremony For the Dead

      27 Oct '72
      The wife of a president hires the Protectors to guard her critically ill husband whom she fears may be kidnapped.
    • 6. It Was All Over Leipzig

      03 Nov '72
      While investigating a plot to overthrow the government of a Mediterranean nation the Protectors end up confronting two old friends of the Contessa, one whom with she was romantically involved with.
    • 7. The Quick Brown Fox

      10 Nov '72
      The West German government hires the Protectors to put a pension fund that is supporting fugitive Nazi's out of business.
    • 8. King Con

      17 Nov '72
      The Protectors devise an elaborate con to recover a priceless antique which a woman had been conned out of.
    • 9. Thinkback

      24 Nov '72
      Harry and the Contessa are the victims of a car crash that was engineered to get information out of them.
    • 10. A Kind of Wild Justice

      01 Dec '72
      The daughter of a gangster whom Harry helped put in prison fails twice in her efforts to kill Harry.
    • 11. Balance of Terror

      08 Dec '72
      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.
    • 12. Triple Cross

      15 Dec '72
      A kidnapped Paul will be blown to bits unless Harry and the Contessa help steal jewels which they have been hired to safeguard.
    • 13. The Numbers Game

      29 Dec '72
      The Protectors only hope of putting a drug smuggling ring out of business lies in being able to decode a coded letter.
    • 14. For the Rest of Your Natural ...

      05 Jan '73
      The Contessa is captured by a psychotic killer who puts her on trial for her life.
    • 15. The Bodyguards

      12 Jan '73
      The police hire the Protectors to guard the corpse of a bank robber as part of a ruse to capture his accomplices.
    • 16. A Matter of Life and Death

      19 Jan '73
      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.
    • 17. The Big Hit

      26 Jan '73
      After unsuccessful attempts on their lives, Paul and the Contessa are too late to warn Harry that someone is out to kill him.
    • 18. One and One Makes One

      02 Feb '73
      The Protectors are hired to track down Bennett, a missing Canadian agent who holds valuable information about a new American-Canadian sky project.
    • 19. Talkdown

      09 Feb '73
      Harry must land a small plane on his own when the pilot dies.
    • 20. Vocal

      16 Feb '73
      Drug dealers plan on using someone who can impersonate Harry's voice in order to get information out of a blinded Paul.
    • 21. With A Little Help From My Friends

      23 Feb '73
      Harry finds his family being threatened after he agrees to guard a visiting president in London.
    • 22. Chase

      02 Mar '73
      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.
    • 23. Your Witness

      09 Mar '73
      An important witness to a murder who doesn't want the Protectors protection, vanishes soon after she is placed in the Protectors charge.
    • 24. It Could Be Practically Anywhere on the Island

      16 Mar '73
      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.
    • 25. The First Circle

      23 Mar '73
      Harry is hired to protect a disturbed Vietnam war veteran.