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.
Every message says how much it gives away. You only see what your progress allows — the rest stays hidden, and you can open it if you want. Discussions about an episode live under that episode.
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.
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.
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.
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.
S01E05 Briscoe
1978-07-03 · 47 min
▸ Synopsis▾ Masquer
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.
S01E06 Right and Wrong
1978-07-10 · 51 min
▸ Synopsis▾ Masquer
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.
S01E07 Paying Guests
1978-07-17 · 51 min
▸ Synopsis▾ Masquer
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.
