John Steed (Patrick Macnee) is a Secret Agent working for the Ministry in the Security section. Highly intelligent and their top man, he has been with them for over twenty years and has had various partners along the way to help him. First was Dr. Keel who wanted to avenge the death of his fiancee, he was later followed by Cathy Gale (Honor Blackman). Then came, perhaps the most famous of his partners, Emma Peel (Diana Rigg) who teamed up with Steed when she wanted to avenge the death of her pilot husband. They had a light, teasing relationship which unfortunately came to an end when news reached them that her husband was in fact still alive and coming home. This marked the end of Steed pairing up with non Ministry people when he got his first official 'spy' partner, Tara King (Linda Thorson).

Steed's pleasant gentlemanly exterior belied the fact that underneath he could be a cold and sometimes ruthless person. He initially lived in an apartment in London but now resides in a country mansion complete with his own horses and substantial grounds. He never carries a gun, preferring instead, to use his steel plated bowler hats and an umbrella which doubled as a sword. Add to this an amazing cunning and an open admission to never fighting fair, you have quite an unusal but highly effective agent.

To me, Steed always seemed to have a strong friendship with Gambit although they come from different generations. This point is highlighted in the episode, Faces, when Gambit turns up at Steed's country mansion with a pump action shotgun and proceeds to clay shoot with him. Steed can't believe he's turned up with the weapon and even says that Gambit "can't help his background".

As for Purdey, well, Steed had a deep affection for her and even went against, not only, his rule of 'everyone's expendable' but also, Mike Gambit, to save her in the episode, Hostage.

Finally, I can't not mention, Steed's wonderful collection of cars. Originally he drove a classic Bentley but during the Gambit/Purdey years, he used to drive a custom Jaguar XJ6 Coupe (Big Cat). In British Racing Green with it's flared arches and huge wheels it was a far cry from the Bentley but boy, did it go!!

One of my favourite scene's is from, Three Handed Game, when Steed has to catch up with a Formula One car as it's being tested around a racing track. He overtakes it and even uses his indicator to pull the F1 car over - classic!!

Other cars he drove were a Range Rover and a Rover SDI but nothing looked as good as the Jag.

CLASSIC STEED QUOTE:

"You see my position Minister, I have to suspect everyone. My recurring nightmare is that one day I may have to arrest myself."  TNA: To Catch A Rat