John Steed

A man who wore a bowler hat and carried an umbrella investigated the murders of several amateur detectives with the aid of his partner, Georgie Price Jones, his regular partner being on holiday. At Betteredge Hall, the site of Miss Jane's murder, they encountered Iris Wildthyme, who joined in the investigation, much to the man's displeasure. The man and Georgie visited detective fiction expert Professor Proven, who recommended consulting the detectives trying to solve the murders. While Iris and Tom visited Hercule Smith, the man and Georgie visited Mr Sherrinford, who theorised that the murders were being carried out by a criminal mastermind. They discovered that Mrs H, Professor Proven's housekeeper, was also Sherrinford's housekeeper, and learned from Iris and Tom that the maid at Miss Jane's murder was also the waitress at Smith's murder. At the restaurant where Smith was killed, the man discovered that the same kind of teacups were used at both murders, and realised that the detectives were being killed by their servants and housekeepers. (PROSE: The Sleuth Slayers)

Behind the scenes

• The man, whose name is never given, is strongly implied to be John Steed from The Avengers. His partner, Georgie Price Jones, worked with Steed in the Avengers episode The Girl from AUNTIE.