Strangers
Strangers

Strangers (1978)

7.05 seasonsCrime, Drama

Strangers is a 1978–82 ITV police procedural created and principally written by Murray Smith, based on characters created by Kenneth Royce in his novel series and subsequent 1977–78 television adaptation The XYY Man. Don Henderson and Dennis Blanch reprise their roles, respectively, of Detective Sergeant (DS) George Bulman and Detective Constable (DC) Derek Willis. A group of police officers are brought together from across the country to the north of England. There, the fact that they're not well-known gives them the advantage to infiltrate where a more familiar local detective could not. Despite being based around a comparatively small team of detectives, a regular feature in its early years is that few episodes feature the entire team, with most using just two or three regulars in any major role.

📺 Seasons & Episodes

Series 17 episodes
The Paradise Set

1. The Paradise Set

51 min

Day one: While Willis investigates a jewel robbery. Bulman and Doran track villains who are systematically beating up nightclub hostesses. The two enquiries lead in one direction and the team ultimately find themselves working together on the same problem.

Duty Roster

2. Duty Roster

50 min

Bulman and Willis find themselves investigating the theft of a postman's mailbag. A straightforward case? Not when their enquiries point to something fishy afoot.

Silver Lining

3. Silver Lining

50 min

Assigned to investigate a betting racket, Bulman takes a job in a betting shop, while Doran finds employment as a professional gambler. It isn't long before the detectives discover a link to the horse-racing world.

Accidental Death

4. Accidental Death

50 min

As Doran goes undercover as a journalist, Willis helps out at a coroner's office. It's all part of an investigation to find out whether the death of a newsman was accident or murder.

Briscoe

5. Briscoe

47 min

Is a uniformed police sergeant, suspected of being crooked, really guilty? Bulman poses as a copper on the beat to find out what has led the sergeant to be suspected of being 'dirty' — but finds that an ordinary policeman's lot is not a happy one.

Right and Wrong

6. Right and Wrong

51 min

Convinced that a local politician is taking bribes, but frustrated that his enquires have brought no results. Singer assigns Willis and Doran to pose as newlyweds and move into the house opposite.

Paying Guests

7. Paying Guests

51 min

When a petty crook finds a hoard of hot money and begins receiving unwanted attention from the thieves, Bulman finds himself moving in with the man's family to protect him.

Series 25 episodes
Series 37 episodes
Series 46 episodes
Series 57 episodes
A Much Underestimated Man

1. A Much Underestimated Man

51 min

Bulman and Willis are assigned to trail an experienced hitman and discover the identity of his next target. But if the man gives them the slip and manages to make his next hit, who will carry the can?

A Swift and Evil Rozzer

2. A Swift and Evil Rozzer

50 min

When a group of prominent businessmen decide to choose crime as a short cut to riches, the Inner City Squad are on their trail when they kidnap a prominent politician.

The Tender Trap

3. The Tender Trap

51 min

Bulman and Willis set out to investigate corruption in a local government but ultimately are caught breaking and entering. Meanwhile, Bennett meets a jazz musician whose twin brother is behind the corruption, and Willis falls for local policewoman Sgt Jill Tender.

The Lost Chord

4. The Lost Chord

51 min

A number of extremist politicians die in mysterious circumstances. The squad investigates the academic world of Cambridge and the upper reaches of the law.

A Free Weekend in the Country

5. A Free Weekend in the Country

51 min

The squad participatr in a weekend seminar on urban terrorism. A hotel full of policemen should be a safe place, but a senior female officer is murdered by a crooked fellow officer.

Charlie's Brother's Birthday (Part 1)

6. Charlie's Brother's Birthday (Part 1)

51 min

When coffins are stolen but no one informs the police, the squad go undercover in a jazz club to expose an international smuggling ring.

With These Gloves You Can Pass Through Mirrors (Part 2)

7. With These Gloves You Can Pass Through Mirrors (Part 2)

52 min

Peter Mollett — aka the Sandman — acts as an agent smuggling stolen art treasures, often in coffins. A rival gang hope to cash in on his lucrative trade, but the squad are also interested.

Cast

Don Henderson

Don Henderson

DCI George Bulman

Dennis Blanch

Dennis Blanch

DS Derek Willis

Fiona Mollison

Fiona Mollison

DC Vanessa Bennett

Mark McManus

Mark McManus

DCS Jack Lambie

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