About this season
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.
Episodes (5)
1. The Wheeler Dealers
Aired 9 January 1979 • 51 min
Bulman, Willis and Doran are undercover at the docks trying to identify the ringleaders in a series of bicycle thefts. Back at the office, Rainbow is displeased with their methods. After an accident on the quay, Bulman starts to get romantic ideas about the lady doctor.
2. Call of the Wild
Aired 16 January 1979 • 51 min
When Bulman successfully infiltrates a gang of villains, it isn't long before he finds himself on the run from the police — and desperately in need of the assistance of his undercover colleagues.
3. Clever Dick
Aired 23 January 1979 • 52 min
When counterfeit Deutschmarks flood Germany and the officers try to establish a connection in England, they find themselves facing violent and ruthless opposition from a murderous gang.
4. Friends in High Places
Aired 30 January 1979 • 51 min
When a successful businessman begins receiving blackmail threats, the squad expect a straightforward case. However, they discover far more than they bargained for and learn that people in high places prove to be bad losers.
5. Marriages, Deaths and Births
Aired 6 February 1979 • 52 min
Bulman's dedication to duty is so inense that he tries to arrest Carmos, a psychopathic killer, during his wedding, The squad must use all their ingenuity to extricate him from the villain's clutches — Bulman is wounded and in danger of dying.