JH: This is a genuine statement … I’ve tried hard to avoid the female of our species today, Remembrance Day esp. in choosing the jazz (now scheduled for 1530) but it was abject failure on my part … I had about eight songs but the best three of the eight were inundated with females.
Oh well, thought I … the new Templar episodes won’t be … went to the second on the list:
Oops … oh well, let’s look at the series on the whole:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Return_of_the_Saint
A review:
“There are likely several reasons why the programme did not extend beyond one series. Ian Ogilvy perhaps seemed a bit youthful compared to Roger Moore but his performances were fine and the programme was certainly popular at the time.
The Grade Organisation (incorporating ATV/ITC) had not really moved on by the late-1970’s, with its output still consisting of 1960’s style caper/adventure movies/TV shows when almost everything else had moved towards a grittier realism. It was probably very expensive to make and worldwide sales might not have been good overall.
It is difficult to imagine ATV/ITC making shows with gratuitous violence and foul language and we should be thankful that they didn’t. Their output, like the Hammer & Carry On films in the same period, had a brand quality and style particular to its maker and era. But by the late 1970s that era had gone and their empire was about to disintegrate.
That said, The Return of the Saint was not a bad way to depart, being entertaining in the best tradition of ITC, with good guest actors complimenting the competent Ogilvy. Remember also that the seemingly more realistic Professionals had many ridiculous plot situations and equally has a mixed though generally favourable reaction when being assessed by critics.”
Another review said that Ogilvy proved very popular but Grade had finally seen the writing on the wall with “lark” films … thus one season only. I’m thinking feminism had well and truly also raised its ugly head by then and women were demanding kick-butt “I can do anything a man can” roles, which of course are a huge pain in said butt.
https://spyvibe.blogspot.com/2018/08/interview-ian-ogilvy.html