A Touch of Brimstone
The episode contained visual reference to sado-masochistic pornography, and featured Rigg wearing a kinky "Queen of Sin" costume, which she designed herself.
Consequently, it was not shown on American television; a scene where Peter Wyngarde's character The Honorable John Cleverly Cartney attempting to whip Peel was cut down for some UK screenings.
Steed and Peel are investigating Cartney, who is suspected of involvement in pranks on high profile political and business figures.
On Peel's recommendation, Steed applies to join the Hellfire Club and is given two membership tests; firstly drinking a large amount of alcohol (which he does easily) and then removing a pea guarded by an axe-wielding member.
Steed questions a drunk girl and deduces that the Club intend to blow up Culverston House, where three foreign leaders are staying.
It was a spy series that, according to Phelim O'Neill in The Guardian, "transcended its humble, gritty beginnings to become a colourful, surreal flagship for almost everything fun and groovy about the swinging 60s".
[4] After the initial series, which featured Ian Hendry, the main characters were agents John Steed, played by Patrick Macnee, and Cathy Gale, portrayed by Honor Blackman.
ABC Weekend Television, who commissioned the show, broadcast it in its own regions four days later on Saturday 19 February,[2]: 163 [7] as the twenty-first episode of the fourth series.
[9] The episode is known for the scene in which Peel dons a kinky[10] "Queen of Sin" costume (which Rigg designed herself), complete with a dog collar with three-inch spikes, whalebone corset, and high leather boots.
The full scene was included on a 1993 video release from Lumiere Pictures, from James Chapman counted "up to 12 cracks" but noted that at no point was the whip seen to have made contact with Peel.
[15]: 68 Media historian James Chapman wrote of the episode, "With its visual references to sado-masochistic pornography",[16]: 81 it was predictable that "A Touch of Brimstone" would experience censorship difficulties with the ITV network, and also not be broadcast in America.
Chapman believes that Peel "is therefore made to play the roles of both dominatrix and victimised woman ... [she] embodies aspects of both dominant and passive femininity.
[17]: 36 Inness describes the Queen of Sin outfit and argues that this emphasis on the character's sexuality "reduced her tough image and showed viewers that, despite her karate abilities, she was all woman.
