Strangers (1978 TV series)

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 Inter 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 more 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

• Don Henderson as DS/DCI George Bulman
• Dennis Blanch as DC/DS Derek Willis
• Frances Tomelty as WDC Linda Doran (Series 1—2)
• John Ronane as DS/DI David Singer (Series 1—4)
• David Hargreaves as DCI Rainbow (Series 1—2)
• Fiona Mollison as WDC Vanessa Bennett (Series 2—5)
• Mark McManus as DCS Jack Lambie (Series 3—5)
• Bruce Bould as DI Tom Casey (Series 3)
• Thorley Walters as William Dugdale (Series 3—5)

Episodes

Series 1 (1978)

Series 2 (1979)

Series 3 (1980)

Series 4 (1981)

Series 5 (1982)

References

References

1. "..: THE STRANGERS / THE XYY MAN / BULMAN :..".
2. "Strangers & Bulman".
3. (12 July 2016). "Strangers (ITV 1978-1982, Don Henderson, Dennis Blanch)".
4. (19 October 2009). "Strangers - The Complete Series".