Strangers (1978 TV series)

Strangers is a British television crime drama series, principally written and created by Murray Smith, and first broadcast on ITV on 5 June 1978. The series, featuring the characters of Detective Sergeant George Bulman (Don Henderson) and his assistant Detective Constable Derek Willis (Dennis Blanch), was a spin-off from the 1976 TV series The XYY Man, adapted from the novels of Kenneth Royce.[1] The series was first suggested by Granada Television executives, who in 1977, outlined their plan to devise a new series to feature the regular characters of Bulman and Willis.[2]

"... I was sent here to be a stranger in town, a face they didn't recognise ..." - George Bulman

Strangers
GenreCrime drama
Created byMurray Smith
Starring
ComposerMike Moran
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons5
No. of episodes32 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producerRichard Everitt
ProducerMervyn Watson
CinematographyMike Thomson
Mike Popley
EditorDavid Rees
Running time60 minutes
Production companyGranada Television
DistributorITV Studios
Release
Original networkITV
Picture format4:3
Audio formatMono
Original release5 June 1978 (1978-06-05) 
20 October 1982 (1982-10-20)
Chronology
Preceded byThe XYY Man
Followed byBulman

The series began life as a fairly standard police drama, with Bulman positioned as its eccentric lead. The series' premise centred around a group of police officers, including Bulman and Willis, known as 'Unit 23', who are brought together from different parts of the country to Manchester to infiltrate areas and investigate crimes that familiar local detectives could not.[3] Five series were broadcast, with the final episode airing on 20 October 1982.

All five series of Strangers were released on DVD via the Network imprint as a complete box-set on 19 October 2009.[4]

Following the series, a further spin-off, simply entitled Bulman, ran for two series on ITV. It follows Bulman, again played by Don Henderson, as he retires from the police and becomes a private detective.

Characters

Initially Unit 23 consisted of Bulman, Willis and WDC Linda Doran (Frances Tomelty). Local liaison was provided by Detective Sergeant David Singer (John Ronane), while their superior officer was Detective Chief Inspector Rainbow (David Hargreaves). In the early years few episodes featured all five of these characters, most using just two or three of the regulars. The second series, shown in early 1979, introduced WDC Vanessa Bennett, played by Fiona Mollison, who replaced Frances Tomelty. David Hargreaves also departed the show following this series.

For the third series Bulman, Willis, Bennett and the newly promoted Detective Inspector Singer became members of the Inner City Squad under the command of Detective Chief Superintendent Jack Lambie (Mark McManus). The basic premise was similar, but rather than covering just the Northwest of England the squad's remit extended to the whole country. By the fourth series Bulman had also gained promotion to Detective Chief Inspector. This series also reintroduced the semi-regular character William Dugdale (Thorley Walters), a member of the British Foreign Office and the Secret Intelligence Service, who became involved when there was a political or intelligence aspect to an investigation.

Production

The first series was shot primarily on videotape, with only location footage being shot on film. The second series featured more use on film: the opening episode, "The Wheeler Dealers", was shot entirely on film and the final episode, "Marriages, Deaths and Births", was shot entirely on film except for the title sequence and a small number of scenes at the police station. From the third series onwards the entire production moved to 16mm film.

The first series was scripted by a number of writers, and only Leslie Duxbury wrote than one episode. He contributed one further script, for the second series. During series two the series creator, Murray Smith, became the principal writer, and he wrote all but six of the remaining twenty-five episodes.

Cast

Episodes

Series 1 (1978)

Episode Title Written by Directed by Original airdate
1"The Paradise Set"Murray SmithCarole Wilks5 June 1978 (1978-06-05)
Arriving in Manchester to work on their new patch as strangers to the local underworld, Bulman and Willis investigate a jewel robbery.
2"Duty Roster"Ivor MarshallOliver Horsburgh12 June 1978 (1978-06-12)
A routine assignment to follow up muggings of a local postman leads Bulman and Willis to a much bigger case, much to Rainbow's annoyance.
3"Silver Lining"Steve WakehamBill Gilmour19 June 1978 (1978-06-19)
Bulman becomes a bookie and Doran gets a job in a tipster's office to uncover a case of race-fixing.
4"Accidental Death"Brian FinchNicky Cooney26 June 1978 (1978-06-26)
After a prominent local journalist is murdered Doran goes undercover as a reporter on his old desk and Willis becomes a coroner's officer.
5"Briscoe"Leslie DuxburyYvonne Goode3 July 1978 (1978-07-03)
Bulman is assigned to establish whether the suspicious practices of a uniform branch sergeant point to his being crooked.
6"Right and Wrong"Cecil TaylorJ. Bruce10 July 1978 (1978-07-10)
Willis and Doran play man and wife to investigate their neighbour, a prominent local councillor who is suspected of receiving bribes to initiate controversial new education practices.
7"Paying Guests"Leslie DuxburyQuentin Lawrence17 July 1978 (1978-07-17)
Bulman co-opts Briscoe into lodging with the Parkers, who are assisting him with his enquiries concerning a bank robbery.

Series 2 (1979)

Episode Title Written by Directed by Original airdate
1"The Wheeler Dealers"Murray SmithSally Taylor9 January 1979 (1979-01-09)
With Rainbow growing increasingly frustrated at their unorthodox methods, Bulman, Willis and Doran are on a case involving illegally imported goods. Bulman's head is turned by a lady doctor who is involved in the case.
2"Call of the Wild"Leslie DuxburyBaz Taylor16 January 1979 (1979-01-16)
Bulman goes under cover with a gang to gather evidence on a number of robberies and finds himself involved in the perpetration of one of them, which, unbeknownst to him, Singer is pursuing.
3"Clever Dick"Brian FinchQuentin Lawrence23 January 1979 (1979-01-23)
When a hotshot former colleague of Bulman's comes up from London to take the lead in a counterfeit case Bulman's annoyance is matched by his curiosity as to why.
4"Friends in High Places"Murray SmithBill Gilmour30 January 1979 (1979-01-30)
Bulman and Willis are on the trail of a man who attacked a youth in a hotel toilet, unaware that there are other parties interested in the case for other reasons.
5"Marriages, Deaths and Births"Murray SmithCharles Sturridge6 February 1979 (1979-02-06)
Bulman attempts to arrest a gangland ringleader, but finds himself being kidnapped.

Series 3 (1980)

Episode Title Written by Directed by Original airdate
1"Retribution"Murray SmithCarol Wilks14 October 1980 (1980-10-14)
The team come under the command of DCS Lambie and a new Inter City Squad based in London. They immediately become involved in investigating arms trafficking in the capital.
2"You Can't Win Them All"Murray SmithBill Gilmour21 October 1980 (1980-10-21)
A fraud investigation gets complicated when Bulman and Willis find that the Foreign Office has an interest in one of the individuals involved.
3"Armed and Dangerous (Part 1)"Murray SmithWilliam Brayne28 October 1980 (1980-10-28)
Bulman and Willis are assigned to bring a suspect to London for questioning, but things do not go smoothly.
4"Racing Certainty (Part 2)"Murray SmithKen Grieve4 November 1980 (1980-11-04)
Bulman and Willis go under cover to flush out the person who murdered their colleague at a racetrack.
5"Clowns Don't Cry"Murray SmithWilliam Brayne11 November 1980 (1980-11-11)
One of Bulman's contacts is beaten up, and he becomes embroiled in a case that leads to international espionage and the involvement of Dugdale.
6"Tom Thumb and Other Stories"Murray SmithLaurence Moody18 November 1980 (1980-11-18)
Bulman disguises himself as a tramp to try to track down a drug smuggler at Liverpool's docks and finds himself caught in the crossfire of factions within the gang.
7"No Orchids for Missing Blandisch"Murray SmithBill Gilmour25 November 1980 (1980-11-25)
A tip-off leads Bulman, Willis and Bennett to an arms-dealing operation with a hired killer involved.

Series 4 (1981)

Episode Title Written by Directed by Original airdate
1"The Moscow Subway Murders"Murray SmithWilliam Brayne25 September 1981 (1981-09-25)
Bulman, now promoted to Detective Chief Inspector, feels frustrated with the office-bound nature of the job, but is soon challenged by an intriguing murder case.
2"The Loneliness of the Long Distance Copper"Murray SmithTristan de Vere Cole2 October 1981 (1981-10-02)
A convict who has a score to settle with Lambie escapes from prison.
3"A Dear Green Place"Edward BoydBill Gilmour9 October 1981 (1981-10-09)
Escorting a prisoner from Glasgow to London turns out to be anything but a routine assignment for the squad.
4"Stand and Deliver"Murray SmithBill Gilmour16 October 1981 (1981-10-16)
The squad is called upon to investigate a highway robbery.
5"The Flowers of Edinburgh"Edward BoydJonathan Wright Miller23 October 1981 (1981-10-23)
Bulman and Willis head to Edinburgh to investigate a blackmail racket.
6"Soldiers of Misfortune"Murray SmithWilliam Brayne30 October 1981 (1981-10-30)
The squad becomes involved in a conflict between rival groups of mercenaries.

Series 5 (1982)

Episode Title Written by Directed by Original airdate
1"A Much Underestimated Man"Murray SmithKen Grieve8 September 1982 (1982-09-08)
Bulman and Willis are on the trail of a hitman before he reaches his target.
2"A Swift and Evil Rozzer"Murray SmithWilliam Brayne15 September 1982 (1982-09-15)
The squad investigates the kidnapping of a prominent politician.
3"The Tender Trap"Bruce CrowtherBen Bolt22 September 1982 (1982-09-22)
Bulman and Willis investigate a crooked land developer.
4"The Lost Chord"Murray SmithBill Gilmour29 September 1982 (1982-09-29)
The squad visit Cambridge when a number of politicians die in strange circumstances.
5"A Free Weekend in the Country"Bruce CrowtherBill Gilmour6 October 1982 (1982-10-06)
A police officer is murdered during a weekend seminar on urban terrorism.
6"Charlie's Brother's Birthday (Part 1)"Murray SmithRoger Tucker13 October 1982 (1982-10-13)
The squad follow the trail of stolen coffins to uncover a smuggling ring.
7"With These Gloves You Can Pass Through Mirrors (Part 2)"Murray SmithWilliam Brayne20 October 1982 (1982-10-20)
As Bulman faces retirement the squad closes in on the smuggling gang.

References

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