[sonicl]

 

Was that her christian name or her surname?

[Tokolosh]

Joanna Lumley?

[sonicl]

The character that Joanna Lumley played in The New Avengers (A TV series from the 1970s) was only ever known as Purdey. I've just found myself wondering, in a fit of boredom, whether her full name was something like Purdey Smith, or something like Ethel Purdey.

[Tokolosh]

Purdey was a character in the British TV series The New Avengers played by Joanna Lumley from 1976-77. She was a spy working for British intelligence, partnered with John Steed (Patrick Macnee. and Mike Gambit (Gareth Hunt).
When Brian Clemens and Albert Fennell first mapped out the characters for The New Avengers - an updating of The Avengers - the female lead character was to have been named Charlie (or Charley). The decision was made not to use the name, possibly due to the Charlie perfume brand, or the fact a new American TV series called Charlie's Angels had just premiered. Lumley is credited with suggesting the character be named Purdey, after James Purdey and Sons, a famous shotgun manufacturer.
Purdey is a martial arts expert and (true to her namesake) and expert markswoman, who is often called upon to use her feminine attributes to distract villains. Purdey saw Steed as an attractive, yet fatherly figure, and there was also ongoing banter and playful flirting between Purdey and Mike Gambit (although the series never indicated anything more in her relationship with either man).
During the two-year run of the series, no second name was ever given to the character and it was never revealed on screen whether Purdey was the character's first or last name.

Wikipurdey

[sonicl]

Originally Posted by Tokolosh

During the two-year run of the series, no second name was ever given to the character and it was never revealed on screen whether Purdey was the character's first or last name.

I somehow doubt if I'll ever sleep properly again

[Tokolosh]

 

Just hang this picture of her on your bedroom wall, and you'll be fine.