TV series
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.
Availability
Checked Jul 22, 2026
Strangers premiered June 5, 1978. We don't have a confirmed streaming, rental or purchase option yet.
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.
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Episode 1
Bulman and Willis join the new inter-city detective squad and are involved in tracking down a gang of sophisticated villains running an arms-for-sale racket out of London.
Directed by Bill Gilmour, Carol WilksWritten by Murray SmithGuest stars John Ronane, Bruce Bould, Malcolm Tierney, Sarah Neville, Kevin Whately, Geoffrey Hutchings, Andy de la Tour, Shirley Stelfox
Episode 2
Bulman and Willis are assigned to a case involving the widespread fraud of major banks.
Directed by Bill GilmourWritten by Murray SmithGuest stars Bruce Bould, Anthony Sharp, Arthur Blake, Adam Bareham, Thorley Walters, Tracey Childs, Sabina Franklyn, Fred Pearson
Episode 3
A routine escort job turns dangerous for Bulman and Willis when they're assigned to bring a villain to London for questioning, and two inter-city detectives are murdered.
Directed by William BrayneWritten by Murray SmithGuest stars Bruce Bould, Ann Hammersley, Geoffrey Leesley, Maurice Colbourne, Keith Buckley, Rachel Davies, Ken Kitson, Drew Dawson
Episode 4
Bulman and Willis find themselves going undercover to track down a gang hedging their bets by ensuring that the odds are in their favour during a racehorse meeting at Newmarket.
Directed by Ken GrieveWritten by Murray SmithGuest stars John Ronane, James Copeland, Maurice Colbourne, Rachel Davies, Ken Kitson, Jonathan David, Mark Sheridan, Barrie Houghton
Episode 5
One of Bulman's criminal contacts is beaten up for no apparent reason. The trail leads Bulman and Willis into the world of counter-espionage, and a circus that chooses the towns in which it plays.
Directed by William BrayneWritten by Murray SmithGuest stars John Ronane, Thorley Walters, Alan Ford, Bibs Ekkel, Zr Sieciechowicz, Yuri Borienko, Boris Isarov, Monica Grey
Episode 6
Bulman disguises himself as a tramp hoping to catch the smugglers' 'Tom Thumb' who works Liverpool docklands. He soon discovers that with a fortune at stake the organisation behind the ring will stop at nothing to protect their interests.
Directed by Laurence MoodyWritten by Murray SmithGuest stars John Ronane, John Horsley, Walter McMonagle, John O'Toole, Robert Oates, James Coyle, David Webb, Doreen Driver
Episode 7
Bulman gets a tip-off from an informer about a hired killer. With Willis and Bennett, he tries to find the connection between the killer and two arms dealers.
Directed by Bill GilmourWritten by Murray SmithGuest stars John Ronane, Ray McAnally, Richard Wilson, Bobby Pattinson, Martin Oldfield, Frank Birch, Greta Schmidt, Ralph Lawton
Episode information updated Jul 25, 2026
Available now in United States
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Don HendersonDS George Bulman
Dennis BlanchDS Derek Willis
Mark McManusDCS Jack Lambie
John RonaneDI David Singer
Frances TomeltyDC Linda Doran
David HargreavesDCI Rainbow
Michael ByrneSgt Briscoe
ITV1United Kingdom
Granada TelevisionUnited Kingdom
